//------------------------------//
// Drunken Wisdom 
// Story: My Little Investigations: The Silent Dirge 
// by Metool Bard 
//------------------------------//


April 9, 7:07 PM
Coltumbus Circle
***


With Symphony and Concerto incapacitated and nothing else lined up for tonight, we all left the theater early and went our separate ways.  I didn't really like that.  If the killer's goal is to stop us from playing music, then he won tonight.  Symphony didn't even get to play a single note.  Some ponies would probably say that she had it coming due to her attitude, but I beg to differ.  Nopony deserves to be held hostage like this.

My legs felt like lead as I dragged myself to the curb.  Just like last night with Vinyl, I couldn't get my thoughts in order.  But this time, it was due to exhaustion rather than shock.  The whole investigation really took a lot out of me, and what's worse, I don't feel like I made a whole lot of progress.  A proper detective would probably stick around and investigate more, but I just wanted to get back to my hotel room and collapse into bed.  I'd make a smart remark here, but I'm too tired to think.

I got ready to hail a cab when I heard an all-too-familiar voice call out to me.

"Hey, Tavi-doll!"

I sighed and turned around.  Sure enough, there was Sapphire Shores.  Oddly enough, Silenus was walking alongside her.  Well, if you could call it walking; it looked more like he was swerving back and forth at random.  Not wanting to be rude, I gave them a friendly wave.

"Glad I was able to catch you," said Sapphire as she walked up to me. "Listen, have you seen Pan anywhere?"

"Not since this morning," I said. "Why?  Wasn't he with you?"

"We parted ways at lunch," said Sapphire. "I haven't seen him since.  And meanwhile, this lush has been giving security a hard time."

"I'm telling ya, that shadow'sh shpying on ush!" slurred Silenus.

Sapphire rolled her eyes before turning back to me. "Anyway, I thought I'd give the security guards a break and walk him back to the hotel.  Would you like to join us?"

"Mmm, sure," I said wearily.

Sapphire's face clouded with worry. "Damn, Tavi-doll.  You look like you're ready to start singing the blues," she said.

"S-sorry," I said. "It's, just been a rough day for me."

"Wanna drink?" said Silenus, offering his flask.

"N-no, thank you," I said. "I, don't want to be an extra burden to Ms. Sh— Sapphire here."

Sapphire let out a muted chuckle. "Thanks for that, Tavi-doll," she said as we began walking. "So, what's got you down?  Ms. Heartstrings's disappearance?  Symphony's accident?  Or are you still fretting over last night?"

"Try all three, and then some," I said.

Sapphire whistled. "Yeesh, Tavi-doll.  No wonder you're so gloomy."

"Y-y'know what I think?  I think she'sh worrying too much," said Silenus. "Y-you shaid sho yourshelf, didn't ya, Shapphire?"

"Yeah, but I don't really blame her for getting all worked up," said Sapphire, furrowing her brow. "This festival hasn't exactly been running all that smoothly thus far.  Well, at least as far as the main events are concerned."

Wait a tick.  I think Sapphire has a point there.  Just to make sure, I decided to press further.

"What exactly do you mean by that?" I inquired.

"Simple, Tavi-doll.  Other than the main events, the festival has been simply sensational," said Sapphire. "From what I've seen today, most ponies are enjoying themselves and having a great time.  I know I am."

It was just as I suspected.  All of the victims thus far were only those who performed or were going to perform at the big events.  But, that didn't match up with what the death threat promised.  I can't even begin to guess why that is, nor do I really have the strength to try.

"Well, I dunno about any of that," said Silenus. "B-but, I do know one thing."

"Yeah?  What's that?" asked Sapphire.

"All that shtuff that'sh been happening sho far ain't gonna happen to you an' Pan."

Sapphire chuckled. "Well, we can only hope," she said with a shrug.

"N-no, I'm sherioush," said Silenus, quickening his pace and walking in between us. "I know thish for a fact."

Sapphire raised an eyebrow. "You do, do you?" she said. "Why do you say that?"

"Becaushe Pan'sh mushic ish shpecial."

I gave Silenus an odd look. "All music is special, Mr. Silenus.  At least in my book."

"Nononono, you don't undershtand," said Silenus. "Pan can do magic with hish mushic."

"Right," I said, not believing him for a moment. "I know you're a big fan of his, but don't you think you're exaggerating just a tad?"

"Madam, I-I would not exaggerate about shomthing like thish," said Silenus indignantly. "I've sheen it with my own eyesh."

Sapphire stroked her chin in thought before her face lit up. "Hold up there, Silenus.  Are you talking about Pan's Music Code?"

That's, honestly a new one on me.  Then again, I don't claim to know everything about every musician in Equestria.

"You got it," said Silenus with a wide grin. "Whatever goesh wrong, he'll make it right.  You'll shee onche he takesh the shtage."

"But, I thought that was just a myth," said Sapphire. "Y'know, like the one about him inventing the panpipes."

"No, it'sh quite real.  I've sheen it," Silenus insisted. "But you're right about that panpipesh one.  Sherioushly, where do poniesh get that crazhy idea, anyway?"

"Um, forgive me for interrupting, but I've never heard of Pan's Music Code before," I said.

"I wouldn't expect you to, Tavi-doll.  It's not exactly common knowledge," said Sapphire. "Heck, I only know about it through this obscure book I got from a library in Ponyville."

"Well, what exactly is it?" I asked.

"According to what I read, Pan developed a theory that magic could be performed through music," Sapphire explained. "I don't exactly know where he got this idea or how it would work, but magic isn't really my forte.  To make a long story short, he supposedly figured it out and wrote out an entire songbook full of incantations.  That's Pan's Music Code in a nutshell."

"It's actually more complicated than that," said Silenus, sounding a lot more sober. "See, any satyr can perform magic if they choose to pursue it.  It's part of how they become one with nature, which is the cornerstone of satyr society.  But to combine that woodland magic with music is something only Pan came up with.  It's practically been his life's work."

"You don't say," said I. "And, that's why you think Pan will have no problems during his performance with Sapphire Shores?"

"I'd bet my flask on it," said Silenus firmly. "And trust me, Sapphire.  It's no myth."

"I'll believe it when I see it, Silenus," said Sapphire. "Besides, Pan never mentioned the Music Code to me while we were planning our performance today."

"Eh, I'm sure he'll get around to it," said Silenus, taking a swig from his flask. "Th-the point is that if something does go wrong, Pan's prepared.  So you've, got nothing to worry about."

Sapphire giggled. "I'll be sure to make a note of that," she said just as we arrived at the hotel. "Well, looks like we're here.  I'm gonna go ask the concierge if Pan's come back yet."

"Right, good thinking," I said. "I'll just head back to my room.  I've had a long day."

"Yeah, I hear ya," said Sapphire. "See you tomorrow, Tavi-doll."

"Have a pleasant evening, madam," said Silenus with a bow.

"Right, thank you," I said with a nod of my own. "Good night."

As I headed up to my room, I took a moment to reflect on our conversation.  It doesn't seem like Pan's Music Code has anything to do with this mystery.  Or, does it?  The way Silenus brought it up, it sounded like he was expecting something to happen at the performance.  Plus, he has been eyeing Mare-Do-Well's shadow with a great deal of suspicion.  Could it be that Silenus suspects foul play, just like I did when this whole mess started?  And does Pan know about this?  It didn't seem like it when I talked to him this morning.

Ugh, it seems like every time I get some new information, it just leads to more questions that need answers.  I-I'm almost at the end of my rope, and I've only been at this for a day.  If it wasn't for Vinyl and Fiddlesticks supporting me, I'd surely crack.  Whose bright idea was it to make me play detective, anyway?

...

Oh, right.  Mine.  Ugh, bollocks.  Well, not much I can do about that.  I just have to hope that I can at least make some sense of all this tomorrow.  I'm fed up with simply spinning my wheels and not getting anywhere.