February 13, 3:25 PM
Ponyville Hospital
Outside
After picking up on the trail with the help of Winona, Cestus and Scootaloo found themselves at their next destination: Ponyville Hospital. It was a rather odd location to be brought to, but so was the town hall, yet they were able to find some leads there.
They allowed Winona to keep sniffing around to find the scent of the killer, but she had much more difficulty. She walked around circles while trying to find where the pony she was looking for went, but she couldn't find the scent anymore without going backwards. As Winona gave up for the search, she reluctantly returned to Cestus with a sad look on her face.
"I was afraid of this." Cestus said. "He must've flown away or something. Sorry kid, but I think we just hit a dead end."
"Maybe they didn't go far. We have to look...somewhere, don't we?" Scootaloo asked.
But where exactly? Is there any reason why the killer would go to the hospital? Cestus asked himself. After asking himself the question, an answer immdiately came. There was indeed one thing at Ponyville Hospital that the killer would be after. "OH NO!"
Fearing the worst case scenario, Cestus charged into the hospital at full speed into the hospital, leaving Scootaloo barely able to catch up. There was only one thing at the hospital that would draw in the killer: Apple Bloom.
After barging his way through the front doors, Cestus looked for the nearest doctor or nurse that he could find. The first living thing he saw was, much to his surprise, a hippogriff, one with white and brown feathers. He was wearing a doctor's robe and was holding a clipboard, so he figured it was a doctor.
"Doctor! Do you know if anything happened to a patient named Apple Bloom?" Cestus asked.
"Hmm...Apple Bloom...let me check. Let's see." The hippogriff said as he began reading the notes on his clipboard. "Dear Celestia! She's not doing well at all!"
"Well I knew that much already. What I want to know is if anything else has happened."
"Oh, I'm afraid her condition has gotten much, much worse. I'm getting ready to go in and operate on her in a few minutes."
"Oh no!" Scootaloo said, horrified by what she was told. "How serious is it, Doc?"
"I'm afraid we must remove her prostate immediately."
Remove her...wha...? Cestus thought as he became disturbed by the doctor he was talking to. "Pal, you realize a prostate is a male only organ, right?"
"Did I say prostate? I meant tonsils." The hippogriff corrected himself.
"But she already got her tonsils removed!" Scootaloo said.
"Her medulla oblongata?"
The doctor's behaviour only got more and more strange as the coversatio went on. Cestus manage to reach a conclusion as to what was going on, but it was one that he didn't actually want to believe.
"Say pal...are you even a real doctor?" Cestus asked.
"W-what? O-of course I am." The hippogriff said nervously. "I have doctor coat, I own a set of golf clubs, and even a medical license. It's not here, but--"
"HEY! I SEE YOU THERE!" An old pony's voice screamed.
"Uh oh. Gotta go!"
Moving his legs as fast as he could, the hippogriff managed to run away before the old pony was able catch up top stop him. Cestus and Scootaloo were confused as to what in Equestria happened, but no words were needed to say that they didn't want to know what happened.
As for the pony chasing the doctor impersonator, it was Doctor Ratchet from earlier and he was well steamed. He had acted cranky when Cestus bothered him with his bandages, but this time, he was flat out angry.
"Ugh...he got away again." Doctor Ratchet said.
Again? If security is really that bad, then it's without question that something has happened. Cestus thought.
Since Doctor Ratchet, the pony in charge of taking care of Apple Bloom, was standing before Cestus and Scootaloo, they knew it was the perfect time to ask some questions. Doctor Ratchet even started to cheer up a little after seeing Winona, who he started to pet, and in return, he got kisses from her.
"So Doc, how has things been here lately?" Cestus asked.
"Oh, just sunshine and smiles." Doctor Ratchet answered sarcastically, losing his good mood in an instant. "First I got that weirdo playing doctor, then I had that pink weirdo coming back here, and then I miss my coffee break because of it. I sure needed that."
"Wait! What was that?" Scootaloo asked, who managed to catch the important little detail, just as Cestus did.
"The pink weirdo. Do you mean the defendant, Pinkie Pie?" Cestus asked.
"No, I was talking about the pink elephant. OF COURSE I MEANT PINKIE!"
This is much worse than I expected. Here I was hoping to find the actual killer I've been tracking, but it actually was Pinkie who we've been following? That's impossible.
"I-is Apple Bloom doing already?" Scootaloo asked.
"She's certainly a lucky filly." Ratchet said. "Definitely a strong one. The young at least have stronger bodies than this old fart."
"Can we see her? I-I know it's probably not the right time, but..."
"Well, she's stabilized, but she's still in a coma. But if you absolutely have to, I suppose I can supervise the visit."
Good old Auto Ratchet. He has an iron hip, but a golden heart.
To honor Scootaloo's request, Doctor Ratchet gave up his chase for the doctor impersonator and allowed her and Cestus to follow him to Apple Bloom's room. He even allowed them to bring Winona up to the room since he was Apple Bloom's dog. As nice as he was being though, the old doctor still kept a grumpy look on his face.
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February 13, 3:33 PM
Ponyville Hospital
Forth Floor
After a short elevator to a higher floor, the three ponies were taken to Apple Bloom's room, though before Cestus and Scootaloo were allowed to enter, Ratchet raised his hoof and made a hushing sound, telling them to be quiet as they slowly went into the room. They were in a hospital after all.
"Apple Bloom?" Scootaloo said as she walked in.
They didn't really know what to expect, but if they did, it would've been worse then what they'd predict. Little Apple Bloom was still in a coma caused by her injuries, and those injuries are only separated from the word due to the thick layer of bandages covering them up. She even had a ventilator hooked up to help the poor kid breathe, further showing her bad condition.
Winona let out a short, whining cry from seeing one of her masters in such shape, and while Scootaloo wasn't a dog, she looked as if she was about to do the same. Cestus didn't even know Apple Bloom, but he didn't look much better either.
"I was so close to finding the guy who did this. AAHHH!" Cestus said angrily as he slammed his hoof on a nearby monitor. "I'm going to catch the jerk!"
In his reckless moment of self-assurance, Cestus had hit the monitor much harder than he intended to, causing it to turn off. It especially didn't help that it was the heart rate monitor.
Oops. Cestus thought awkwardly.
"CESTUS! I NEEDED THAT!" Doctor Ratchet yelled. "Okay, you stay out in the hall and let the kid see her friend. Out, out, OUT!"
Before Cestus could break anything else or ruin the sad atmosphere any further, Ratchet used his magic to push Cestus out of Apple Bloom's room. The old doctor then chose to stay outside with Cestus for two reasons: To give Scootaloo and Apple Bloom some privacy. To keep Cestus from breaking anything else.
"Say Doc, if you wouldn't mind, I've got a question or two I'd like to ask." Cestus said.
"I hope you're going to ask if you can pay for the repairs on the hospital's equipment. Either way, go ahead." Ratchet said.
On MY salary? Heck no. Cestus thought. "Ahem. So you were saying that Pinkie Pie was not so long ago? What was she doing?"
"Oh, you're not going to believe this. She came in and tried to kill that kid again! As if she hasn't already been through enough already." Ratchet said as he got angry, even for him.
"WHAT? Did...did you see her yourself?"
"Who do you think was the one who caught her?" Ratchet answered. "She tried to take a pillow and smother her. We had to hook her up to that ventilator so she could breath after that. Would you care to smash that up too?"
He sure can hold a grudge. But to think that "Pinkie Pie" actually came back here to try and finish the job. Even if there as an eye-witness to see it though, something about doesn't seem right.
Cestus didn't want to believe that it was actually Pinkie Pie, but with somepony as stubborn as Doctor Ratchet saying otherwise, it would be hard to disprove. The best thing to do was to get more detailed information out of the doctor.
"Doc, if I were to tell you that I'm confident that Miss Pie isn't the serial killer I've been after OR was the one who tried to kill Apple Bloom, what would you say?" Cestus asked.
"I would give you a straitjacket and send you back to Canterlot kicking and screaming." Ratchet answered.
I don't even want to know if he was joking. Cestus thought. "Well right now, I'm going to give you a chance to prove that my hypothetical question is incorrect. Could you tell me what exactly happened when Pinkie Pie was here?"
"If it would speed this visit up so I can get back to work, then I'll happily play along."
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--Testimony: Pinkie was here--
-I left her side once while the filly was stabilized, and I guess none of the nurses noticed.
-I saw Pinkie Pie smothering the kid as soon as I came back up here.
-No other pony was in the room at the time.
-I've never seen a pony as pink as her, so I knew it was Pinkie.
-After that, she jumped out of the window and was gone.
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"Hmm...doesn't really sound like ground breaking testimony." Cestus said.
"Testimony? This is a hospital, not a courthouse!" Ratchet argued. "Besides, I already said I saw Pinkie in there smothering the kid with a pillow! What more proof do you need?"
Everything he said...makes....perfect sense. Cestus admitted to himself, but he didn't want to say it in front of Ratchet. "But after you saw her, where did she go?"
"I already told you. She jumped out of the window."
Cestus shook his head, not happy with the answer. "No, I mean AFTER that. We're on the forth floor of this hospital. There would be no way for Pinkie Pie to escape."
"That's ridiculous. Why couldn't she escape? If anything, it was a great idea on her end."
What is he talking about? I know Pinkie is an odd one, but there's no way she could survive a thirty or thirty-five foot drop, especially since I didn't find a bloody corpse on my way in here. Why would he think Pinkie could survive it?
Ratchet's Claim:Something made Auto Ratchet think Pinkie can jump out of tall buildings and live.
Cestus had a lot of questions that he needed to have answered, but that's exactly what his rebuttal is for. He just hoped that Doctor Ratchet would be less cryptic.
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--Rebuttal--
-I left her side once while the filly was stabilized, and I guess none of the nurses noticed.
HOLD IT!
"Why would you leave the hospital? Didn't Princess Celestia personally tasked you to keeping Apple Bloom alive?"
When Cestus asked his question, Ratchet gave him a very angry glare in return. The fear-inducing look caused Cestus to remember exactly why the doctor left his post.
Oh, right. I had one of my guys go get him so he could bandage up my hoof. I guess I was the one who dropped the ball there. Cestus realized. Sheesh, Doc didn't even say anything and I lost this. No wonder I keep losing to Twilight in cross-examinations. I better just let him continue.
-I saw Pinkie Pie smothering the kid as soon as I came back up here.
HOLD IT!
"Before you say anything..." Ratchet said. "Yes, I DID see Pinkie Pie here."
"Th-that wasn't my question." Cestus said, even though it WAS the first question he planned on asking. "Uh... when did you say you saw her here?"
"I just told you. As soon as I came back." Ratchet said angrily.
"No. I meant when EXACTLY. What time was it?"
The doctor had to think about it to try and remember, but he came up with an answer. "About an hour ago, at ten after two. I came back like five or ten minutes after I patched you up. After that, I guess Pinkie went to the hospital to go after the unguarded filly. I guess that also would've been after you failed to catch her."
"You don't say." Cestus said, as a thought entered his mind. "Doc, could you, for argument sake, repeat that last bit of information?"
Ratchet groaned as he was asked the question. "It's not a good sign when youngins have worse hearing than an old pony like me."
-Pinkie Pie would've came here right after she gave you the slip, some time after 2:10 or 2:15.
FREEZE!
"Oh, freeze yourself." Ratchet said.
Never a dull moment. Cestus thought. "Something is wrong with your testimony, Doc. It contradicts with another pony's testimony."
"I thought I already made it clear that this is a hospital, but what the heck. So who's testimony did I contradict?"
With a smile on his face, Cestus answered. "It contradicts mine." Cestus then took out the note he wrote after Pinkie Pie escaped. "I chased after Pinkie Pie myself. She ran right into the Everfree Forest.
"Yeah? So?" Ratchet asked.
"It's simple really. At that time, me and most of my squad were waiting outside the forest waiting for her to leave, which also happened at 2:10. During the time you were there, she was never seen leaving. Therefore, we have to assume that during the time Apple Bloom was getting smothered, Pinkie Pie was still in the Everfree Forest."
"Baloney." Ratchet said. "Oh wait, I guess I should say it like, "BALONEY!", since that's how you ponies have been saying it."
Have we really been sounding like that? Cestus asked himself. "But with such timing, doesn't it makes sense?"
"Your claims are based off of something you couldn't see. Mine are based on what I DID see. Unless you can prove to the court that Pinkie was in the forest when I saw her here, then maybe I really should get you a straitjacket."
I guess he really was joking before about the straitjacket. Cestus thought. But he's right. After 2:10, we had no idea where Pinkie ran off to. Is there anything that can prove that Pinkie wasn't actually here?
Cestus was really thrown into a bind. He still believed in Pinkie Pie, but because he didn't have an answer to all of the questions, he would still be all alone with the obvious exception of Twilight, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. Even if convincing Doctor Ratchet wasn't important, convincing Prosecutor Hope and the rest of the court was, and if Ratchet was brought in as a witness, the trial would likely end in an instant.
As Cestus thought about his position, a nurse, after arriving to the floor via elevator, ran to Doctor Ratchet. She whispered a few things into his ear, and none of it was something he almost didn't want to hear.
"Where was she?" Ratchet asked.
"I don't know. I just know she's here."
"I see." Ratchet wanted to think about the situation in more detail, but he knew that he had no time to do it. He then stuck his head into Apple Bloom's room to call out to Scootaloo. "Hey kid! Your visit with your friend has to come short!"
"Why, what happened Doc?" Cestus asked.
"Well old friend, it appears that we're about to find out where Pinkie Pie was this whole time."
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February 13, 3:42 PM
Ponyville Hospital
Entrance
With the news that Pinkie Pie was at Ponyville Hospital, Cestus, Scootaloo, Winona, and Ratchet ran back down to the ground floor as quickly as they could, although the need for the elevator limited their speed. As they were told, the pink menace was found in the waiting room, sitting on a stretcher with police escorts all around her. Even though she apparently needed a doctor, she still looked like her usual bubbly self.
"Hi Cestus! Hi Scootaloo! Hi grumpy-looking doctor!" Pinkie greeted.
As Pinkie waved her hoof at the group, they all got a very a quick idea as to why she was at the hospital of all places. The tip of all four of her hooves had taken some serious damage. The pink fur had disappeared, and even the exposed skin was a burnt red and was flaking.
Wh-WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS MARE? Cestus asked himself.
Doctor Ratchet, as soon as he saw Pinkie's hooves, ran over to take a closer look. As a doctor, he didn't like what he saw.
"These are chemical burns." Ratchet said. "Miss Pie, what in Celestia's name happened?"
"It's a secret." Pinkie answered, being as uncooperative as possible. "All I can say is that I don't plan on doing it again anytime soon. It hurt a little bit."
A LITTLE?
"Nurse! NURSE! Help me treat this victim!"
Wanting to treat Pinkie as quickly as possible, Ratchet used his magic to push Pinkie's stretcher into the next room. The speed he went was amusing to Pinkie, as if she was on a ride. Since it was Pinkie Pie, the officers tried to follow her to make sure she wasn't going anywhere.
"Wait! You there!" Cestus said to one of the officers. "Where was the defendant? How did you find her?"
"Sir!" The officer answered with a salute. "We found her near Sweet Apple Acres. A young mare found her and reported it. She's right by the entrance."
As the officer pointed out, there was indeed a mare waiting who was standing by the hospital's entrance. She was a pony who Cestus was already familiar with, as well as Winona, who ran over to the pony. There was only one pony he knew with the orange coat and cowboy hat like she did.
That's Applejack. I guess they finally let her go. Does that mean she really didn't have anything to do with the poisoning?
Regardless of whether or not she was the one who tried to poison Pinkie Pie, it was clear that Applejack was the one who called for help. A question that needed to be answered though was: Why would she do that?
"Miss Applejack!" Cestus said as he walked over to her. "You of all ponies called for help?"
"Huh? So what if I did?" Applejack answered. She then nudged Winona out of her way. "Look buddy, I'm in a bit of a hurry, so let's just leave it like that."
FREEZE!
"Hold on, Applejack!" Scootaloo said, stopping Applejack. "We actually need your help! We're looking for the guy who framed Pinkie."
Did she just steal my freeze line? I liked it when everypony else just said objection. Cestus thought. "While I don't want the kid to speak for me, she's right. My investigation has lead me to believe that your friend was framed."
"Don't be silly. Of course she's your gal." Applejack answered.
"You seem so certain that Pinkie Pie was the one who tried to hurt your little sister. You definitely seem like the pony who would rather get revenge on her if you had the chance."
Applejack turned away from Cestus when he brought up that point. With such a desire for vengeance, she could've done much worse if she wanted to, but for some reason, she didn't. She had a reason that she did what she did.
"You don't know Pinkie Pie. She's not a pony that you can simply harm." Applejack said. "You could take any kind of weapon, find her, trap her, but you'll fail to harm her every time. Why? She simply had a sense for things like that. No pony brain is capable of comprehending it and nopony should either!"
Wow. She's scarier than Pinkie Pie herself. I sort of wish I didn't bring a kid with me. Cestus thought with fear. "Well look pal, if you were to tell me what you can, maybe we can both figure something out about Pinkie Pie. I've got some questions for you anyway."
"The questions can wait. I need to see my little sister. We'll talk then."
As she had no interest in talking to Cestus, Applejack tried to walk away to see Apple Bloom, but Cestus wouldn't allow it. He stopped Applejack by reaching out and grabbing her hoof.
"Now hold on there, pal! I made a promise to Twilight that I would solve this mystery, and if you really were a friend of hers, you'd help me help her."
Applejack was shocked from what she heard. In fact, Cestus was surprised that he said it. He wasn't suppose to tell anypony that he was working with Twilight, but it did manage to keep Applejack interested.
"Fine then." Applejack said. "Let's go somewhere private to talk. How about the farm?"
"Lead the way, pal."
With Applejack moving ahead, Cestus and Scootaloo began to follow Applejack as she began to lead them to Sweet Apple Acres with Winona following all three. Cestus had questions, but he wasn't the only one. Scootaloo stayed close to Cestus to ask something.
"Hey pal. What is it you're trying get out of her?" Scootaloo asked.
Great, now she's stealing my favourite word. Cestus thought before answering the filly. "I'm finding it hard to believe that Applejack has been honest with us, especially after seeing her at the trial today. I plan on getting the truth out of her, even if I have to punch it out of her."
"But how much can she really know?"
That was a question Cestus decided not to answer. Even though they made sure Applejack wasn't hearing, Cestus wanted to make sure she didn't know his real opinion was on the matter.
I don't know Applejack as well as Twilight does, so I can't put my trust in her. THAT will be my greatest weapon in our upcoming battle of wits. As soon as I knock-out Applejack, I will prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she's the pony that I've been looking for all day.