Unbelievable...
Ditzy Doo arrested... for theft and smuggling...? This is why her daughter tried to kill me, isn’t it?
Tiara snagged the paper away from me, skimming through, then scowled.
“S-she thought you did that!?” Tiara was as shocked as I was, surmising why I was the target.
“Well she was wrong! She should’ve asked instead of trying to disembowel me!” I retorted.
Normally, when your family is subject to misinterpretations and slander by the media, of course the ones related would suffer massive amounts of humiliation, maybe even bullying. But it’s just us here, nopony else.
So why would she go that far?
Even if the article could be fabricated, this picture looks very real. So what happened?
It may be an Express paper, but I would never...!
“Wait, wait, wait, wait... What about-” I knew exactly who Tiara was gonna mention next.
“DON’T YOU DARE SAY IT! Featherweight would never do this either!” I snapped.
Perhaps I’m trying to convince myself here.
“Then who else?! Come on, tell me! Make it quick! One of you guys either wrote that stupid paper, or was that anonymous tipster!”
“Featherweight and I aren’t the only two who work at the express! Common sense would tell you that! Somepony from my branch must’ve fabricated this story, edited in a photo or something!”
I hope I’m not sounding desperate...
“But it’s Canterlot! You can’t just make up stories about that place! There may be a few white lies for the sake of politics, but this doesn’t fit that scope, idiot!”
“Look, I’m telling you, it wasn’t me. I didn’t even know her mom delivered mail to Canterlot anyway!” I grunted, knocking the paper down.
Yet, Featherweight and I are the only two reporters from the Ponyville Express that wound up in this game. One of us is dead... so naturally, one of us would become a target.
“Then we just need more information! Geez, getting scared and panicked like a coward! What’s wrong with you!?”
“Yeah, you’re saying that because it wasn’t Mr. Rich! If it was him, you’d probably would wanna kill me or Featherweight too, right?!”
“...........”
Tiara suddenly went silent, staring blankly into my eyes.
Suddenly, I began backing away slowly by instinct the moment I saw her empty stare move closer to my face.
Oh boy...
I... might’ve struck a nerve.
My back is against the wall, and the door is right next to me. I could escape, seeing as she’s lifting her hoof... to her mouth...?
“Pfft...!”
What.
“A~HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” Tiara’s laugh was hysterical. She even doubled over, holding onto her stomach as she pointed her hoof at me, leaving me confused.
“Oh, my sides! Hahahahaha!”
...............
The spoiled mare would get on her pretty hooves and proceed to explain herself. “Woooooooow, you’re such an idiot! You dare underestimate me?! I’m Diamond Tiara! The best mare raised by the best daddy ever! You dare compare me to a blank flank like her?! HUUUUUUUH?!”
...............
“No, I-”
“Oh, zip it! You obviously know too little about me to make those types of conclusions! Some reporter you are!”
“Well excuuuuuuuse me, princess!”
Ugh... why did I even get scared?!
No way I’m gonna tell her that her stupid laughter actually alleviated my fear a bit.
I’m not used to being laughed at, but it was still a reassurance.
“Pfft, that’s what I like! Call me Princess Diamond Tiara! Greatest mare in all of Equestria!”
“I don’t think I have enough air to inflate that ego right now.” I quipped, sighing and walking off, all while ignoring her complaints.
Just more noise.
Either way, Dinky’s reason for targeting me... I get the feeling this may be a huge hint if I can find the right time to use it in the trial.
NEW AMMO
- Dinky Doo’s Motive: A newspaper report containing etails of the arrest of Dinky Doo’s mother, a prize won from Monobear’s Aesop Madness. Perhaps the murderer won a similar prize?
“Hey, wait!” Tiara reclaimed my attention.
“What now?”
“OPEN YOUR NOSE!”
“What.”
Open my nose? Really?
“Don’t look at me like that! It makes you look stupid!” Tiara scowled, knowing what I’m probably thinking.
“You shouldn’t have said something so absur... huh?”
That smells like smoke...
“Told you... and it’s coming from Scootaloo’s house! I knew that blank flank was up to something!”
“You’re probably just being bias again.”
Although... she’s probably thinking what I’m thinking. Scootaloo and her friends read their motives.
With a quick click and squeaking sound, the door opened with only a single mare trotting away quickly.
“I’m so uncool...” She said to herself.
Scootaloo?
The moment I began to wonder what she was doing, the pink mare next to me suddenly called her out in her usual condescending tone.
“Hey, you blank flank!”
Scootaloo would whip her head around, armed with the sharpest of eyes the moment she heard a very annoying voice. “What. Do. You. Want...?!”
“Whatcha burning in there, huh? Couldn’t help but smell the smoke of some oh, I dunno, bad cooking?”
Are we really doing this?
“Oh, what I burn is none of your business. Why should I tell you? You’re just gonna find some way to use it against me in the trial, right? Yeah, I know your tricks!”
“Puh-leeze! What’s a bla-mmmmmm!!” I wrapped my arms around her and covered her mouth, restraining her.
That’s enough, Diamond. Antagonizing a suspect isn’t gonna get us anywhere.
“Sorry Scootaloo, Tiara’s just a little jealous that she doesn’t know the first step to cooking! hahaha...?”
Smooth, Shady. Smooth.
“What are you doing with the likes of her, killer?” Scootaloo asked, focusing her bloodthirsty glare on me now.
“Really?” I asked, hoping she would remember that me being the killer is impossible.
“You tell me. You wanted Dinky dead anyway, you should be glad.” Scootaloo was pretty precise this time. But at least she’s not shooting daggers anymore.
“I don’t know what came over me, but putting that aside-”
“Put it aside!? You wanted payback! There’s nothing wrong with payback! There’s nothing wrong with revenge! Remember what I told you when I was working on my scooter for the race?!”
So much for changing the topic.
I don’t have time to try remembering what she told me.
“Wait, I thought you were against revenge?”
“I only pretended. I can’t cut loose when I’m around those two. If they knew how I really felt, we’d never be the same.” Scootaloo looked away solemnly, letting out a long sigh.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Scootaloo pointed at the mare in my arms, “Stop hanging around her, and I’ll maybe think about telling you.”
The moment Scootaloo walked away, Tiara forced herself out of my arms.
“Agh! You idiot, what was that for!?” Of course she’d be mad for silencing her.
One day she’ll thank me. Then again, that’s asking a lot from somepony like her.
“Oh, I dunno, maybe saving you from your own stupidity! We have an investigation! Trying to antagonize your enemies should be the last thing on your mind! You’ll end up dead if you keep this up!”
“Tch. I’ll never die! Now if you’ll follow me, I think we need to focus on another thing!” Diamond pointed her hoof at Truffle’s home this time.
I don’t think her ego would diminish even if she died...
And now I’m hearing some loud banging nearby.
“GET OUT HERE, FATASS!”
Grace Lightning? Don’t know why, but I guess she’s got a bone to pick with Truffle. I better go see what’s going on.
“What’s going on?” I asked, getting Grace’s attention.
“He’s being a coward, that’s what! All he cares about is Twist! He doesn’t care what happens to the rest of us!” She complained before banging on Truffle’s door again.
“He and Twist used to be in a relationship, so...” I reminded her, hoping she’d try to be reasonable.
“Used to be?” Tiara put a hoof to her mouth, pondering to herself.
“Wait, really? I didn’t think somepony like him could even land a mare! Good for him!” Grace grinned, but quickly returned to her usual scowl. “Now help me flush him out!”
“Wait, why are you-”
“He read a motive too! You didn’t notice the shelf?!” Grace hissed her answer quickly.
That’s right... Truffle DID read his motive.
Don’t tell me he...
“Oh hoh~ so we have another suspect?” Tiara looked intrigued, but knowing her, she’s probably disappointed that we’re not focusing on the CMC. “Well, I don’t get it, but looks like this is a job for the Tiara Special!” Diamond’s devious grin made my eye twitch more than anything.
This wasn’t scary, this was just plain breaking-and-entering.
The moment Tiara ran to grab her nameplate, Truffle stuck his head out of his window.
“Ah, Shady! Please get these crazy mares away from me! I’ll open the door if it’s just you!” Truffle quickly said, trembling at the window.
“You got it.” I immediately replied.
I wasn’t gonna pass up this chance. I needed to talk to him anyway.
“Grace, mind backing out of this for moment?”
“Ah, fine. I can’t trust him at all since he hasn’t done any investigating!”
“Just simmer down and leave this to me. I’m just gonna talk to him.”
“I’ll make sure that rich bitch doesn’t bug you guys!” Even though she had a quite cheery grin, I wonder why.
“That’ll be helpful.” I replied.
As Grace backed away from Truffle’s door, the cowardly stallion carefully poked his head out, looking for me. With a quick shriek, he slammed the door in my face.
“Shady, Shady Shady Shady Shady!!”
I couldn’t even get out a good sigh feeling a quick grip on my collar, pulling me inside. With a loud slam and a click, I could hear my name frantically called.
“What the heck? You should’ve just let me walk in!”
“She suspects me... she thinks I’d harm Twist... well she’s wrong!” Truffle walked around the table, grinding his teeth as he cursed those who see him as such a heinous stallion.
To be fair, I kinda suspect you too. But I’ll keep that to myself.
“Soooo... uh, what’s going on, really?” I asked. He did say he’ll talk.
“That motive... that mindboggling motive! I don’t get it! Why did this have to happen?!” Truffle started to breathe heavily for some reason...
So I instinctively grabbed a paper bag from under the sink and gave it to him. He quickly snatched it away, inhaling deeply.
Yeaaaaaaaaaaah... he needs to calm down just a moment.
“You’re okay, right?” I asked.
“Yes, I’m fine. I thank you for such a quick act of kindness!” Truffle sighed with a bit of relief.
“Now what’s that supposed to mean? What are you talking about.” I asked.
“That... lemmie see!” Truffle rushes over to his trash can, revealing a crumpled yellow envelope, similar to the one in Dinky’s home. The front part of it is gone for some reason though...
“It was a newspaper clipping from Ponyville Express... so I needed to ask you if you wrote this behind my back!” He said as he revealed the other piece he got from the trash...
Another newspaper clipping? Seriously?
“Were you gonna kill me?” I instinctively asked.
“NO! Of course not! I don’t have it in me! I’m a super duper pacifist! I’m all for love, not war!” Truffle vehemently denied.
............
“Okay, show me what you’re talking about. Calmly of course.”
I grabbed the crumpled clipping from Truffle, placing it on the table so I can press the wrinkles out.
Oh great...
______________________________________________________________
PONYVILLE EXPRESS LOCAL NEWS SECTION
-----------, -----------, ------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--immediate surgery to close the wounds found on the victim’s head.
Upon recovery, the victim seems to have lost his memory about the incident.
_____________________________________________________________
The most important part was already torn off!
Okay, this is way too fishy.
“Where’s the middle?” I asked without looking at him. I have to approach the topic carefully so he won’t clam up.
“It was taken from me right after I read my motive. I bet it’s probably in their hooves now...” Truffle answered solemly.
Seriously?
“Whose?” I asked.
The fat stallion grabbed his head with his hooves as he frantically explained his situation.
“The crusaders. They talked to Twist before I could! She saw my motive when I was reading it, and panicked! Maybe she was afraid that I’d kill somepony and wanted me to keep me sane, I don’t know! I never got to read the whole thing!”
Hmm... Well, she did seem to be running away from him much earlier today. I remember that.
Something’s way too fishy here though. I don’t have much to go on with this clip either.
“What was the aesop then?” I asked, hoping I could have some kind of connection.
“Mmmm...” Truffle put a hoof to his chin and pursed his lips. “I think it was something about scorched earth! Yeah, scorched earth!” Truffle repeated himself, as if he were convincing himself more than anything.
“Scorched earth?” I asked.
Truth be told, I thought that was a word used in economics.
“It’s something you’d do to permanently sever a relationship to somepony!” Truffle immediately answered.
“Like killing them...” I answered. Truthfully, I’m testing what his reaction will be.
“N-no! NO NO NO NO! No way! It means more like, using the most burning, scathing words possible to make somepony hate you! It’s a thing that’s used with a hundred times of spite!” Truffle frantically explained.
I totally don’t suspect him of anything. Totally.
Somehow, I’m gaining a little too much ammo to use in the trial.
The only thing I can conclude is that if Twist went to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, then maybe his motive might’ve been meant to make him target her. She knew that and probably went to the them for help.
But something still doesn’t quite add up.
The Crusaders are looking more suspicious by the second, and that’s a little too convenient... I have to find them.
I’m already beginning to think that the scent of burning might’ve been the erasure of vital evidence.
“Alright. That’s all I need to ask.”
“T-then you don’t suspect me, right?! I’d never hurt Twist! EVER!”
“Thou doth protest too much.” I said a favorite quote of mine.
Though at the rate this is going, I’m gonna need to follow my own advice.
“Ah! Err... mmm...” Truffle started grunting and sighing, unable to find any new words to follow up with.
“Relax. Just help with the investigation and the others will stop suspecting you.” I reminded him.
“You’re right, Shady Daze! You know, for an almost-killer-guy, you’re a good guy!” Truffle hugged me tightly, slowly cutting off my breath.
...Should I be offended?
NEW AMMO
-Truffle’s Motive: A torn newspaper clipping with it’s missing part stolen by Twist, and probably in the hands of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Is the article hinting towards an accident of sorts or...?
_________________________________________________________________
Generosity District - Central Courtyard
I got some much needed information, but I feel like somepony’s lying to me. Too much of the suspicion is going to the CMC...
I need to find them fast.
If I’m gonna go on the hunt, I’m gonna have to ditch a certain bully. I can’t have her antagonizing them while I get answers.
I head back to the Honesty District gate, but before I could pass through, I find Silver Spoon standing there, looking my way.
“You there.”
Was she waiting for me?
“What is it?” I asked, looking from the corner of my eye.
“You’re looking for those three, right? I’ll come with you.”
Way to get straight to the point, eh?
“Yeah. Did you see’em?” I asked before going anywhere.
“They’re over at the barn to help look for evidence. Just know that Scootaloo’s not with them.” Silver Spoon walked ahead, prompting me to catch up.
“Uh, what?” I hurriedly asked as we approached the orchid.
“Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle went back, but not Scootaloo. I don’t know where she went.”
“..........”
“You take my words for lies, yes?” Silver Spoon stopped in the middle of the orchid trail.
Did I offend?
“Oh, I don’t know, everypony seems to think the CMC are the prime suspects. In fact, that’s not sitting well with me. Too convenient.” I explained.
“Perhaps that may be. But allow me to make a counter-point: Those three DID read their motives, and if anypony has motivation to get out, then it has to be them. Apple Bloom, little sister of Applejack. Sweetie Belle, little sister of Rarity. Scootaloo, surrogate sister of Rainbow Dash.” Silver Spoon said in a matter-of-factly tone.
“Counter-counter point!” Did I really just say that? “Those three have the least chance of being a killer! If anything, they’re counting on the elements to rescue us!”
“And that brings us back to Scootaloo. Notice how she looks at Diamond Tiara and I. See my point now?”
“Ah!”
Of course she’d notice Scootaloo’s behavior... she’s been coming off as irritable lately. Probably because she’s building up some form of anger. Every time she laid eyes on those two, it’d be filled with rage, unlike Apple Bloom or Sweetie Belle...
Would Scootaloo really betray her friends like that?
“I respect your ability to not avert your eyes from the truth, as harsh it may be.”
“That remains to be seen.” I sighed. Honestly, I’d rather not think on morals right now.
“I suppose so. I imagine I’m not the only pony who suspects her either. Anypony who made their way here most definitely saw who read their motives.”
“Then why aren’t you questioning Rumble?”
“I may have the genes of the highest class, but I cannot bend reality to take flight!” Silver Spoon answered with a hint of irritation.
Of course... Rumble... just where did he go? He’s marked himself as suspicious, but I just can’t suspect him this time around.
He still wants me to make that stupid contract with him, so it wouldn’t make sense to send Dinky off to kill me.
“You’re right about that, Rumble’s just as suspicious as the others. So is Truffle, but I just talked to him.”
“What did he say?” Silver asked.
Truth be told, I didn’t know why I decided to just spill everything I just learned from Truffle and Dinky’s motive to her, but that sharp glare is really intimidating. Normally I’m not one to reveal who my sources are, but I can’t really play by the rules this time.
Not when lives are on the line.
Not that I deserve the right to uphold such a noble purpose... not after what I almost did...
“I see. Did he think you wrote that article too?”
“No, surprisingly. He didn’t get to read it.”
“So he says.” We both said the same thing back-to-back.
Guess we agree somewhere.
“Shady Daze, before I let you go to question those mares with your current, disgusting disposition, I’ll leave you with a family saying.”
Geez, that was quite harsh and really out of nowhere...
“What’s that?”
“Eyes forward.”
“Huh?”
“It’s a Sterling Family matto. It means to focus on the future, now and always, for the spoils of the past have long been claimed.”
“Is that some book quote?” I sighed.
It really sounds like a quote from a dictatorship.
“Not that I know of. My mother and father would remind me of this as they brought me up. It just took me so long for me to see the real truth behind those two words...” Silver gave a faint, yet, bittersweet smirk.
“Gotcha. I’ll lament on my attempted murder later.”
“Not quite what I meant.” SIlver sighed at my response.
We have to solve this mystery. I can’t go dwelling on my actions right now. Not until this is over.
____________________________________________________________________________
Honesty District - Barn
“Howdy Shady! Ah’ was just wonderin’ how long ya was gonna take to find us!” Apple Bloom quickly greeted, while poking her head from the pile of rubble, which was quickly lifted with Sweetie Belle’s magic.
“Sorry for not coming back for you! We were just taking care of something really quick!” Sweetie Belle frantically explained.
She didn’t even have to say that.
“Yeah, I have some questions for you two.. and Scootaloo.” I said.
“Oh, Scoots is with Rumble right now!” Apple Bloom quickly answered.
“With him? Really? I thought-”
She wanted him dead?
“Meeeeee too! Ah’ coulda sworn she couldn’t stand him! Sure had a change of heart pretty darn quick!”
“Right... now about those questions-”
“Also, we gotta show ya somethin’!”
“...Okay...?”
“Somepony’s patience is crumbling.” Silver Spoon commented, smirking my way. All I could do was click my teeth in response.
“No seriously, Shady! The girls figured something out! It’s something we needed!” Pip quickly put his hooves on my shoulders.
“Okay, just tell me already!” I yelled.
“Alllllrighty! Just hold out that there ID Band of yers!” Apple Bloom instructed, pointing at my left hoof.
“Right...?” I held it up, opening the holographic menu.
“Now go under that evidence menu! Scroll down and you’ll see it!” Apple Bloom held out her own hoof and physically demonstrated by example.
Guess I’ll do as she says. After that, I’m getting my answers.
Let’s see here...
Watching the evidence scroll through, I desperately looked for whatever Apple Bloom was talking about.
Got to the end of the evidence, now let’s see... huh?
I see a special menu at the bottom of the screen that reads, “Luminol Bubble”...?
The moment I switched it to ‘on’, a dark green sphere enveloped a portion of the barn, enough to cover the whole thing if I stood in the center of the wreckage. It also made our surroundings slightly darker as well and made the wreckage pitch black.
A quick gasp escaped from under my breath, for this bubble’s quick activation was a little startling.
This might be something the princess brought from that other world...
The ‘other world’ that Princess Twilight went into in order to retrieve her element from the culprit, Sunset Shimmer.
That incident that happened several years ago though. I was just a little colt working for the Foal-Free Press at the time with no concept of the word, ‘future’.
I know the princess went to this world, fulfilled her objective, and had an experience that nopony but the princess herself could begin to describe. All I can really say is that it allowed her to meet an entirely new species.
However... there is one thing that stood out: the Technology.
It was said that the technology in that other world was more “advanced” than the stuff here in Equestria.
It was some time later that Twilight decided to work with Sunset to make Equestrian technology a bit more ‘convenient’. Apparently Sunset had turned over a new leaf, so they worked together to bring about the beginning of Equestria’s “Magitech Age”.
These ID bands are prime examples of that...
“Interesting... so he’s allowing us use of this technology?” Silver Spoon asked.
“Neato, huh? We found a white stain with this!” Apple Bloom happily declared.
“Stain?” I asked, looking around the area, noticing a ‘white stain’ by Dinky Doo’s corpse.
“Yeah, and Snails here thought it was something different.” Ginger sighed.
“Well, I couldn’t help it! That kind of assumption made itself when Apple Bloom said it, okay?!” Snails quickly defended himself, pouting.
“So Ginger you seem to know what those ‘white stains’ are.” I surmised.
“I do, actually! I took the time to look up some of the new technology the Royal Guard and law enforcement is authorized to use a while back. I can’t become a member if I don’t know my stuff!”
“Can you tell us?” I asked.
“Luminol is a handy tool that law enforcement would use to find traces of blood whenever they’ve been wiped off or washed away. Though this technology is still pretty new...” Ginger happily explained.
“I see... so those spots is actually blood? That’s convenient. Serial Killer flicks never have to worry about that, ya know!” Pip chimed in.
Alright, let’s start by checking the corpse...
Looks like there’s a small spot on the forehead.
“You’re seriously getting that close to the body?!” Snails asked.
“If I don’t, who will?” I retorted as I got a closer look.
Looks like that’s where she hit her head. The file did say something about a concussion...
Let’s look around a bit more. There’s gotta be something else!
“Hey, look at this!” Pipsqueak yelled out, as he pointed at the ground a little bit outside the barn.
I hurry over to him to see what he found.
“Check this out! It’s a block!” Pip said enthusiastically.
“A... block?” I couldn’t help but be thrown off.
No specifics behind it? for all we know, it’s just another burnt up piece of wood!
Despite that, it too has blood on the corner of it...
“Oooh, like one of those falling ones you match up?” Sweetie Belle asked, then let out a quick ‘eep!’ the moment she noticed Silver Spoon’s glare. “S-sorry about that... I don’t know why, but I thought about him for a moment...”
Who’s ‘him’? Unless...
“Let’s see that block.” Silver Spoon requested. When Pip handed her the block, she began to ponder. “This feels like a brick...”
“A brick? Wait a sec, we had a brick in here?”
“Oh come on, now! Ya’ll know that a classic barn like this is made of wood, nails, sweat n’ tears! Ain’t nopony gonna make a barn outta brick! It just ain’t how it works!” Apple Bloom interjected.
But if what she says is true...
“Was there maybe a supply of bricks in here?”
“I dunno!” Apple Bloom rose her hoof enthusiastically... not that it helped.
“I don’t know either. Sorry...” Sweetie Belle followed up.
Yet the brick has blood on it...
“Perhaps... this is the true Murder Weapon?” Silver Spoon surmised.
She has a good point... If there’s one thing that’s been bothering me, it’s that head injury that the file documented. Now that I think about it, Twist was also injured in the head...
Better take note of that...
NEW AMMO
Bloodstained brick- A brick revealed by the luminol bubble with a stain of blood on the corner. It’s possible that this may be the murder weapon.
The culprit must’ve tried to wipe the evidence with the explosion...
But there’s still something off about all of this. Something I can’t quite put my hoof on...
I need to ask Apple Bloom some questions.
“Apple Bloom, did you talk to Scootaloo earlier? Before she started burning something in her house?” I asked out of the blue.
“Ah... Ah don’t know bout that one!” Apple Bloom suddenly trembled.
You’re a terrible liar, Apple Bloom....
“Apple Bloom, we’re becoming suspects at this rate!” Sweetie Belle rushed up to her friend, trying to make her get a hold of herself.
“Don’t try directing suspicion onto yourself again! Tell us the truth! Lives are at stake here!”
I’m not letting her pull that stunt on me again.
Before I could press her... those damn horns start blaring. The last sound I wanted to hear.
“Alright you bastards! Make yourselves more useful than pack mules and report to the king’s court so we can have our main event: The Class Trial!!” Monobear announced.
“Saved by the bell. You’re quite lucky you two.” Silver Spoon commented.
“W-we didn’t...” Sweetie Belle tried to explain.
“Don’t waste my time with your protests. You should’ve been ready to deliver facts and explained yourselves. Any secrets you lot hide will be your fault, and possibly your undoing.” Silver Spoon stormed off, heading for the Central Tower.
Sweetie Belle could only express sorrow at this point...
Looks like I’ll have to get the answers during the trial.
Damn it!
__________________________________________________________________
Honesty District - Central Courtyard
Silver Spoon’s right. There’s no sense in hiding secrets. Not during this trial.
Another truth to unravel, another secret to expose...
Once more, we’re herded into the Central Tower, with the Monoguards herding us in. As I approached the double-doors, I felt a abnormal breeze brush against the back of my neck...
Is it getting cold around here?
Not that I could check or ponder. The trial is about to begin.
Once all of us is in the tower, the double-doors make a loud slam shut. The only road ahead is another elevator to take us to the trial room.
Down the hallway, I could see an entire gallery of Apple Family portraits: pictures and paintings of the hundreds of members of the Apple Family.
Once again, we step into this familiar elevator... only this time, theres just twelve of us...
Twist is still injured, so she can’t participate.
With the elevator’s ascension, all I could do was just wait for the inevitable game of whodunit.
“Fear not, everypony, I’m gonna find the culprit! I, Diamond Tiara, swear to not be swayed by lies! Not this time!” Tiara bragged.
“Let us hope that your path to victory doesn’t blow up in your face.” Ginger replied, then gasped. “I’m being horrible again, aren’t I?”
“Where were you, Rumble?” Pip suddenly asked.
“Gathering answers, and wallowing in a sea of disappointment.” Rumble answered. He didn’t look too happy either. Normally he’d always have this cool demeanor.
What’s gotten into him?
This elevator ride’s a little longer compared to last time.
But we’ve finally stopped.
The doors open, and all I can see is that dreaded room where friendship is rendered worthless...