//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Murder // by Pendo //------------------------------// Twilight woke with a scream. The nightmare faded quickly as she realized where she was and what was happening. She pushed the memory away, flailing around half-awake until the sunlight through the window hit her eyes and helped bring her completely back to reality. She was alive, no one was chasing her, and her friends were all fine. She sat up and ran through a few mental exercises to focus her mind. It was a wobbly first few steps, but she gained confidence as she went through her morning routine, remembering what she and Far Sight had accomplished yesterday. The killer was still out there, but he couldn’t hide from the Solar Guard forever. Downstairs, she found that Sight had woken up early, and was already being served breakfast and a chat from Spike. “Good morning, Far Sight.” “Good morning, Miss Sparkle.” “Please, call me Twilight.” Twilight levitated over a bowl, but paused before pouring herself some oats. “I guess you couldn’t sleep either?” “I work for the Everfree Watch, Twilight. To be honest…I’ve seen worse.” Even blind, Sight still reflexively screwed her eyes shut at whatever memory must have flashed through her mind. “It’s nice to be away from the Everfree once in a while, but I guess I’m just not used to sleeping alon-I mean…um…” Twilight felt a blush begin to form, but thankfully, Spike seemed oblivious to the nature of their conversation, and Twilight waited until he headed back to the kitchen before continuing. “So…I’m guessing that visiting Malachi’s tower isn’t really a…sometimes thing.” “…I might as well live there, really.” Sight absentmindedly stirred her oats, looking down and away from the gaze she felt on her. “Malachi was…accommodating, even after we realized we’d have to get a lot closer than the next bed over. It was awkward for both of us, at the beginning, but at time went on, well…I came to enjoy his company.” “And there’s nothing wrong with that! He seems like a very nice colt-er, man.” “Nothing wrong with what? What? …Oh, nononononono, Twilight, it’s not like…that…I just…we just…I…” Sight dropped her head, dejected. “I keep looking for excuses to spend time with him.” “You really like him, don’t you?” “No, I don’t! It’s just…I-I’ve never even dated anypony before, and now I’m sleeping with someone! Only for the most practical reasons, of course, but…he is a very nice man, even through he’s the scariest thing outside of the Deep Woods. He looks out for me when we’re on patrol, and he keeps the nightmares away when I’m sleeping. He’s always there for me, and…and…andIdon’tknowwhattothinkanymore!” Twilight put a hoof on her shoulder as Sight caught her breath. She raised her head and gave a weak smile. “Have you…tried talking to him about it?” “No!” “Why not?” “Because! What am I supposed to say? ‘Say, Malachi, I just realized we skipped a few steps before we started sleeping together, maybe you could buy me dinner sometime?” “…You probably shouldn’t say that. But you know that the longer you put it off, the worse things are going to get.” “I know. I’ve known for a long time now. But when I compare how things are now to what might happen…I just can’t work up the courage.” Sight finished the last of her breakfast in a few quick gulps. Twilight returned to her own meal, and they sat in mutual contemplation until there was a familiar whoosh from the kitchen and Spike bounced back into sight, holding a scroll. Instead of the familiar Royal crest, it carried the seal of the Solar Guard. Spike started collecting dishes while Twilight broke the seal and began reading. After a moment, she snapped it shut and motioned for Sight to follow. Upstairs, Twilight closed the door behind them to get a little privacy. Sight fidgeted as Twilight opened the scroll and read it again. “They found Bruce.” “That’s great!” “Dead.” “What? How?” “They aren’t sure. Only that he hasn’t been deceased for long. The Guard are trying to puzzle out the details, but it looks like someone killed him and tried to hide the body.” “That…that makes no sense! We know Bruce killed Ironhorn. But…then who killed Bruce? Who else is there?” “Dion. He’s the only human that hasn’t been accounted for, but he left Ponyville the night before to make a delivery. They’re going to question him, but at first glance, he has an alibi for both murders.” “And Ironhorn’s…horn?” “It’s still missing.” “And they have no other suspects? No idea who the killer could be?” “I’m afraid it looks that way. Malachi won’t be back for a little while though. It seems like he stayed in Canterlot to try and help Shining Armor with the investigation.” --------------------------------------------------- “Did he have horn and saw?” “No and yes. But we’re certain, from Ms. Sight’s post-cognition spell, that Bruce did kill Ironhorn and take his horn.” “Then who took horn from Bruce?” Armor sighed and shuffled his notes. He’d been interrogating Malachi just ten minutes ago. Now he was consulting with him. “Not many suspects to fit that role. Assuming it’s even a human.” “Big market for unicorn horns?” “Sweet Celestia, no. There are only a few creatures that might actually want one, and fewer still depraved enough to do the deed.” Malachi sighed and leaned back, raising a hand and tapping fingers as he spoke. “Bruce wanted a horn. He chose to kill, instead of digging for grave, and chose Ironhorn to kill…for unknown reason. Bruce stole saw. He killed Ironhorn at a time most ponies would be asleep. He spent time planning murder.” Malachi looked up. “What was next step? Where to go after killing unicorn?” Armor frowned. There were many places one could hide in the wilderness, but even outside of the Everfree, few of those places were particularly safe, and they hadn’t found any evidence that Bruce had stockpiled or carried any supplies. Even in the larger cities, there weren’t many places where a human could remain hidden. Malachi tossed in the question of how Bruce would know where these places would be, and Armor dismissed that line of thought. Bruce was a stranger to Equestria. Humans were, to his knowledge, still unknown outside of the country. Even Malachi had only traveled as far as the Equestria/Griffonstan border. Bruce would stand out wherever he’d planned to run to. “Then if he could not make the next step alone, he must have been planning to meet with someone. But why would they kill him?” “Cut loose thread.” “What?” “Bruce was caught killing. So Bruce’s comrade kills Bruce, buries evidence. We look for Bruce, but not for one now having horn. Bruce became weakness in plan, could be made to tell comrade’s name, so Bruce was killed by one who wanted horn, so Bruce could not name comrade, and if we did not find Bruce’s body, we would not know to look for comrade.” “I see…Yes…That makes sense. But that still leaves the question of who would want Ironhorn’s horn? Do you still think it was an attempt to…steal his magic?” Malachi’s lips made a tight line, and his eyes went into sharp focus at something only he could see. “If the other criminal was human…yes. If Bruce wanted unicorn magic to cure poison, he would have begged for help. If some-thing wanted unicorn horn, how would Bruce meet such a creature, and why would they ask him? Bruce was poor, but he could never sell it, or eat it. A horn is useless for him. Only the magic matters. There is no other reason to take horn. …What kind of magic did Ironhorn have?” “I believe…” A few papers floated over, scattered references on Ironhorn’s past. “Alchemy. He was a well-known chemist who did industrial work and research. Some of it was for the Guard. And no, while some of his work is under government seal, there’s no way to gain knowledge or insight into his work from his severed horn. After he retired, though…he set up a small brewery of all things, to pass the time.” “Brew-er-y? Cider? Alcohol?” “That’s right.” “…Strange.” “What is?” “All the magic in Equestria, of fire and thunder, warping space and time, controlling elements and forces of nature…and killer wants horn of brewer?”