Taking Care of Animals

by Nicknack


Chapter 3

I didn’t like Rarity from the get-go.

And heck, after everything that happened, with all the ways she helped Earth Pony ’n me out, part of me feels guilty sayin’ that. But it was the honest truth—she was a generous pony, in her own way. “Her own way” just usually tended to be backhooved and darn near condescendin’ towards yours truly.

I first met her after draggin’ my tired behind up the entrance road to her house, led by Earth Pony. She hadn’t been lyin’ about Rarity’s house, either. It was a ways north of town, not quite on the outskirts, but I wouldn’t’ve been surprised to see a chauffeur pullin’ someone along in a cart. When I finally caught sight of it, I figured it must’ve been as wide as the town hall, and twice as tall.

It was less a “house” and more of a “small castle”. The darn thing had spires.

At the main entrance—the place had a normal-sized landin’, which looked tiny compared to the rest of the house—Earth Pony rang the bell. Surprisingly, it only took a matter of seconds for someone to answer. The door opened a crack, and a timid, fancy-soundin’ voice asked, “Yes, may I help you ladies?”

Earth Pony just grinned back until the door opened up more. Inside stood a well-groomed white unicorn in a purple nightgown; by now, her eyes were narrowin’ in a mix between confusion and growin’ fear.

Then, her eyes shot open and her mouth fell in a horrified realization. “Your mane!” she hissed. “Darling, what did you do to it?”

Earth Pony rolled her eyes in what I reckon was the most exaggerated manner a pony could muster. “Part of the job. I have to look inconspicuous.”

“But blue on blue? ’Inconspicuous’ doesn’t mean ‘monotonous’, dear. Pray tell, what job would even demand such guidelines?”

Out came the badge.

That unicorn looked at Earth Pony’s badge like it was a two-headed frog. She got over it right quickly, though. Her horn glowed and the door flung open the rest of the way. “Well, we certainly have a lot to catch up on, then! For Celestia’s sake, it’s been years. I didn’t even know you joined the Guard.”

“Heh… I guess I haven’t been keeping up with my P-Ville friends much.” Earth Pony rubbed her neck, and I felt another pang of guilt. “Oh! Yeah!” She turned to me. “Lemme introduce you guys. Applejack, this is Rarity. Rarity, Applejack.”

I tipped my head and held out a hoof to Rarity. She took it in hers and gave it a firm yet dainty shake. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Applejack. A friend from Canterlot, I assume?”

I couldn’t resist a chortle. “Ain’t even close. I work down in the rock farm, couple of hours south of town.”

“She used to live in Ponyville the same time I did,” Earth Pony cut in. Her voice quickly dropped to a whisper. “She was friends with… you know…”

Rarity’s ears fell and her voice took on a softer tone. “Right. I read it in the evening paper. I must say, I’m still having trouble coming to terms with it. I had seen her so infrequently as of late, but I always knew she was there. And now, to think we’ll never speak ever again…” She sighed. “But enough of that. You’re in Ponyville on the case, I assume?”

“Yeah. Me and Applejack need a place to crash while we’re in town. Think you could spare us one of your bedrooms? Two, if you’re feeling generous?”

“Dear, for you I’d gladly spare three. Now please, do come inside.” She turned and faked a smile at me. “And you, too Applejack. I have some water on the stove if you’re interested in tea, and help yourself to whatever’s in the cupboard. It’s been far too long!”

Earth Pony’s face lit up and she burst forward. “So come on! Show us your place. Looks like you’ve built on since last time I was here.”

“Oh, have I ever,” she began, strolling deeper into her cave-like home.

I joined them, already feelin’ like a third wheel.

Now, I ain’t much for the finer points of architecture, and I gather Earth Pony wasn’t neither. We both did our best impression of interested listeners as Rarity showed us around. Even after hearin’ her go on about it, all I could really say was it was a darn nice-lookin’ place. Everything was stone gray. Lotsa arches, pillars, and the like. Paintings and furniture offered colors, and they did spruce the place up without poppin’ out too much. If I were the artsy type, I’d say there was somethin’ like coordination goin’ on. Since I ain’t, I’ll just say the place was tall, dark, and gray.

Just like her decorations, Rarity stood out as peculiar in my mind. I remembered how Earth Pony’d said she ran the weather ’round those parts, and when I realized she wasn’t a pegasus… well, that struck me as a rarity in its own right.

When I found a good gap to fill with a question, I piped up. “So, Rarity, ma’am. No offense or nothin’, but I ain’t ever heard of a unicorn leadin’ a weather team.”

“Oh, no offense taken, dear.” She smiled at me politely, like I’d just tracked mud in the house. “Destiny leads us to strange places, after all. I have to say, though, it wasn’t always easy, what with biology against me.”

“She had the town’s clouds stuck in a grid pattern for three months,” Earth Pony interjected.

I nodded. “I actually remember that.”

Rarity sighed. “Yes, it wasn’t my finest hour. Honestly, I sometimes wonder how I managed to make it as far as I did. But in the end—”

“I came in and saved the day,” Earth Pony butted in. “Taught her everything she needed to know about the weather, and being awesome, and from there…” She motioned around at the enormous hallway we were walking through. “Like I said, she owes me a favor.”

“Oh darling, you know you enjoyed helping me make those storms as much as I enjoyed painting your sky.”

I felt like I’d been left a few stops back in the conversation, but neither of ’em seemed to be offerin’ to bring me up to speed.

“But anyway,” Rarity continued, “enough about my work. You’re an Investigator now! And on the notorious White Ribbon case, no less! Do tell, has there been some new development preceding your arrival? Do the authorities have a suspect?”

“Nothing yet,” Earth Pony said. “I’ve been a junior detective on this case since I joined EGI. This is the first time I’ve actually gotten to leave Canterlot, though. When I heard about Twi, I asked to be bumped up to lead detective. They kind of laughed and said have at it. But it really felt like I should be here, you know?”

“I understand.” Rarity led Earth Pony and me into the living room—it was as big as mine, I noted with an ounce of pride, even if Rarity had more house built around hers. She gestured for us guests to take seats on the cushions ’round her brass-trimmed coffee table, which we readily accepted. She sat on the same side as us, on the opposite side of Earth Pony from me.

With a shimmerin’ sparkle of magic, Rarity summoned up a kettle and teabags from the kitchen and poured out three cups. “But tell me they’ve at least been making progress up in Canterlot?”

“We’ve got a bushel of horseapples,” Earth Pony shot out. “It’s been years and we haven’t found so much as a witness. Even when we plant undercover guards, the murders still happen—once, to the guard himself!” She sighed and looked down at her teacup, mighty glum. “We’re running out of options. It’s like he’s a force of nature. It’s been two years, and we still don’t know the first thing about this guy.”

“Or girl,” Rarity countered. “You must admit, there is something nefariously feminine about the calling card. A delicate white ribbon, tenderly tied in a magnificent bow around the victim’s neck…”

She stopped before I could get any jeebies to go with my heebies. I wasn’t gonna say nothin’ but ‘tweren’t right to go on about murder like you were dressin’ up a doll.

Earth Pony shared my sentiment and glared back flatly. “Anyway, the weirdest thing isn’t the guy’s gender, Rares. This one’s about Twilight’s death.”

“Oh? Do tell, provided it’s not too gory.”

“I looked at the crime scene photos as soon as I arrived. She’s got the white ribbon and everything, but her actual wounds… they look like a suicide. What’s your take on that?”

Rarity didn’t even blink. “I’m not surprised, to be honest.”

“Not surprised?” I cut in. “Beg pardon, Rarity, but the Twilight I knew wouldn’t take her own life. That filly was a fighter to the very end.”

“And when was the last time you spoke with Twilight Sparkle, Miss Applejack?” Rarity glared at me like I was speakin’ out of turn. “Because for me, it was less than a month ago, and I can tell you this: she was not the Twilight you knew. She hadn’t been for years, not since poor little Spike met his unfortunate end. She barely spoke to anyone, she never left the library, and…” She paused, thinkin’ somethin’ over. “I assume that my promises of confidentiality do not extend posthumously, so I’ll say that when last we spoke, she said what could be interpreted to be suicidal ideations.”

Now, I was mighty shocked by that rant, but Earth Pony’s cloudy mood turned into a storm like lightning. Afore I knew what was happenin’, she grabbed Rarity by the neck and flipped her onto the coffee table.

Earth Pony stood over her as she seethed rage. “You knew she was thinking about killing herself, and you didn’t tell anyone?”

Rarity took her compromisin’ situation in stride. Calmly—a little too calm for my tastes—she explained up to Earth Pony, “Twilight confided in me, and I promised her complete confidentiality. Imagine if she had a worse secret, but no one she could trust! And as I said, it was only an interpretation of her statements. Based solely on her words, I’d be hard pressed to conclude that she intended to take her own life.”

The words did little to calm poor Earth Pony down. At that point, I’d wrapped my head around the situation enough to try’n defuse things. “You mentioned her ‘statements’, Rarity. What all’d she say to you?”

Rarity uneasily rolled her head to look at me, ignorin’ the blue pony on top of her. “Strange things. Vague things. She kept mentioning a horrible mistake she’d made. One day she arrived at my home in a panic, tears streaming down her face, and kept asking, ‘Where’s Luna?’ over and over again. Another time she was furious, telling me she’d killed her younger brother.” She turned quickly up to Earth Pony. “She blamed herself for Spike’s death, dear. She may have held her secrets, but murder was not one of them.” Her head rolled back to me. “But to answer your question, the last time we spoke, all she told me was that she was glad I had made something of my life. She seemed defeated, but in an exhausted manner. Content, is the word. It was… strange, to say the least.”

Earth Pony blew out a huge sigh, climbed off our host, and retook her seat. She didn’t say nothin’ at first, instead decidin’ to rub her hoof between her eyes. “Alright, so great. My best friend, Twilight, was crazy and killed herself. Then a prolific serial killer appeared in her home and managed to tie a ribbon around her neck without leaving any sort of trace. And I’m supposed to make heads or tails of this, and somehow catch the guy—” She looked at Rarity. “—or girl behind it. Just great.”

A pregnant silence hung in the room. I reckon you could’ve heard a snowflake drop on the rooftop. Rarity, she let it hang a bit, then slowly climbed up and wrapped her hooves around Earth Pony.

She spoke firmly and without a mite of hesitation. “I have seen dozens of detectives come into Ponyville to try to solve this case. Every one of them has failed, leaving them right where you are now. But something deep inside tells me that you’re going to be the one that makes it, dear.” Rarity pulled away and lifted Pony’s droopin’ head. “Because you, my dear, have a tendency to boldly rush into danger where the less courageous would falter.” She pressed a hoof against the sagging pocket on Earth Pony’s raincoat. “And that’s why you earned this badge.”

A blush under Earth Pony’s fur turned that filly purple as a blueberry. “You’re just sayin’ that, Rares.”

“I’m saying it because I believe it.” What with Earth Pony back on track, Rarity took the opportunity to magic a sponge into the room and mop up the spilled tea—her tea kettle had taken the brunt of Earth Pony’s pile drive.

“Also,” Rarity went on, “I recall you saying that I owe you a favor. While I’d certainly be willing to call it even after providing you and your friend with temporary housing, I might have something you would be… more interested in.”

Earth Pony, gazin’ over Rarity’s shoulder, got a weird, skeptical look in her eyes. “It’s not another weird hat, is it? Because every time you said that to me before, it was a weird hat.”

Rarity smiled. “No such luck, I’m afraid.” She climbed off Earth Pony and turned around. “Come, dear…” As an afterthought, she added, “And of course, you as well, Applejack.”

*        *        *

The longer Rarity led the two of us into that maze of a house, the more anxious I got at tryin’ to remember my way out. I didn’t feel lost, and heck, the more practical side of me saw how many thin-lookin’ windows were in the rooms we passed. But still, somethin’ about the place just felt off to me—like I was bein’ watched, always from behind. I kept a look out the corner of my eyes, but I never saw anythin’ out of the ordinary.

When we finally reached the our destination, my heart was poundin’. Rarity opened the door, and I wasn’t quite sure what to make of the room inside. I really wasn’t sure what to make of the red velvet carpet and ceiling, either, but I put that back in the cart for a moment.

Everything in that room—walls, tables, and corkboards—was smothered in information. Documents, folders, and pictures were pinned up all over and tied together with a web of multicolored string.

Earth Pony must’ve known what it was right away; she zipped past me and right over to one of the tables. I walked in a mite slower, but I still got a closer look at it all.

My heart skipped a hard beat when I realized what it all was.

Victims’ names, newspaper reports, maps with pins… Rarity had certainly gone all-out in reassemblin’ every recorded word, color, and location of the sixty-four White Ribbon murders. My stomach churned when I saw Twilight’s name, picture, and news article already pinned up with the rest of them.

I felt like I was in the heart of some sort of predator’s lair.

“Do you like it, dear?” I heard the hint of pride in Rarity’s voice.

“Rarity… how…” Earth Pony shook her head. “This is awesome. EGI isn’t even set up this neatly.”

Rarity made a proud little humph before walkin’ over to Earth Pony. “It hardly makes sense to keep living in this town if one isn’t willing to take necessary precautions.”

“Beggin’ yer pardon,” I cut in, “but is all this necessary? I mean, it’s sure… good and all, but I don’t reckon everypony needs a getup like this.”

Her baby blues cut right into me. “Perhaps I’m not as fortunate as you, to be able to live outside of this town, but that doesn’t mean I will succumb to a carefree lifestyle.” Each word grew hotter and hotter like she were strikin’ an anvil. “You’ll find that throughout this house, there are several security measures and countermeasures: locks, sensors, alar—”

“Okay…” Earth Pony stepped between the two of us. “Play nice, girls. No killing in the murder investigation room.”

I felt my choler rise at that; I hadn’t even asked nothin’ that hadn’t needed askin’.

Luckily, Rarity nodded and immediately apologized. “But it is growing late, I suppose. Will you excuse a few curt words from me at this hour?”

I shrugged. “Depends on if you were serious about puttin’ me up for the night.” Realizin’ how it came off, I tried to tie it together with a grin.

She forced a too-toothy smile back at me. “Of course.” Turnin’ to Earth Pony, she dropped me like a bad habit. “By the way, if you’re up for it… tomorrow morning, I may have discovered some refinements to our spell.”

Earth Pony’s eyes lit up like she were watchin’ a fireworks display. “You mean…”

Rarity nodded. “I’ve at least figured a way to weave the gossamer to give it a more rigid structure. I can’t make any promises…”

“No, no, I understand!” She started jitterin’, and I gave up on ever understandin’ what she and Rarity talked about right in front of me. Like I weren’t there. “But, I mean, it’s not too late…”

“Alas, it is for me, my dear.” Rarity put a hoof to her forehead. “But tomorrow morning, for sure.”

Earth Pony glared daggers at that, and right then, I knew Rarity’s type. She was a tease. All the times I’d sought after a prissy city gal, but they just turned out to like their teasin’ and carrots on sticks… Well, I remembered why I avoided those sorts.

Anyway, by that point, I was fightin’ between bein’ creeped out of my skin and wantin’ to sleep for a good long decade. There wasn’t room in my mind for callin’ Rarity out on her horseapples. ’Sides, she was puttin’ me up for the night; I didn’t like her or the house, but I’d slept in worse places.

Rarity and I bid each other good night, and I turned to go find some furniture to barricade myself in a room with. Maybe I’d read the signs wrong, but I was a little surprised when Earth Pony turned away from Rarity, too, and started followin’ me. She didn’t go to the same room as I did, but she at least showed me the way.

Part of me felt a little better knowin’ an EGI agent was just one wall over.

My bedroom was as grand and gray as the rest of the house; even with the velvet rug in in the center of the room, my hoofsteps echoed off the high, vaulted ceiling. Tired as I was, I slid the chest of drawers in front of the door and put my folded-up coat in it.

With my own peace of mind taken care of, I sauntered over to the bed and dove under the purple satin bedsheets. Boy howdy, Rarity was a bitch, but at least her mattress had an ounce of warmth and depth.

Before I drifted off, I took a moment to collect my thoughts. Tired as I was, concentratin’ on one particular thing was a challenge in its own right. Best I came up with was a weird, tiny feelin’ about everythin’. There I was, in town with some freshfruit investigator I’d met yesterday. Every resource in Equestria had been thrown at the case she was investigatin’; compared to that, Earth Pony looked like just one more drop in the bucket.

Couldn’t help but wonder if Earth Pony was feeling the same way ’bout it. More I thought on it, more I put pieces of her puzzle together. Best I could tell, she had confidence and courage, but that was stretched thin over a pit of self-doubt. I felt sorry for the girl, but darned if I hadn’t been there myself during the time I ran the clothes shop.

As I drifted off, I grinned to myself and thought of her flank. Maybe in the end, just like a butterfly strugglin’ to hatch, she’d come out on top and be all the better for it.