//------------------------------// // Part 1 Chapter 2-"Loathsome Letters" // Story: Deduction is Magic-The Final Chapters // by Raot //------------------------------// “The murders had been occurring for some time, but it was not until recently that we found a pattern. At every scene there was code and a riddle written on a strange yellowed parchment. However, I was stumped as to where to go from there. I tried to find another pattern for hours, but I couldn't think of anything. I knew the letters were written strangely as well, so I asked the princess if she had an expert writer or detective on the subject. She said she knew just the Colt!...” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “So, your the Princess' star pupil.” Said the colt. He had a brown mane and a strong frame. There was a pen with red ink on his flank. “Oh My Gosh!” Twilight's eyes went wide when she saw the door open and he trotted in. “Y-Y-Your...” “Richard Stable, at your service.” Twilight had to resist the urge to tackle the colt. “I've read all your books! The Filly Heat ones are my favorite... But, why are you here? I thought you were in...” “Detective Buckit can survive a few hours without me.” he said with a smile. “But it better not be any longer or she just might try to replace me. Now, what can I do you for.” She held out a pen a paper with her mouth. “My Pleasure.” he signed it. Twilight couldn't contain herself as she hugged the piece of script. “... Oh, right...” she shook her head. “There's... um...” she turned back to her work and lifted a few pieces of paper. “I needed you to look at this. There have been a string of murders all across Equestria, all of them died with these notes in their possession. It has a code, and a riddle. I think these is something strange about the note, and the words themselves...” “Let me see...” Stable took a look at the parchment. A light upon a string A door upon the floor The pens mighty sword The horse that won the war “Well.” Stable started. “Yes?” “They're words alright.” Twilight frowned and her brow turned inwards. “This is the only one I found that wasn't sent yet.” she said. “I was able to get it from the mailmare during my search. We need to find out who it's for.” “Well, the paper I recognize.” he said pointing at the yellowed ends. “Yes?” Twilight asked. “Zecora uses it.” he said. Twilight blinked. “You know Zecora?” “Of course! She publishes poems and stories in the Equestrian Enquirer. We've been pen pals for a while and only she sometimes uses this kind of paper.” he said. “Lets go on a field trip.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the Present, The funeral was small. Clopson recognized almost every pony there as a fellow veteran. No other relatives arrived, no children, siblings, or parents. Once the small group of mourners gathered, an elderly pony with a golden cross on his flank walked up to the grave and gave rights to the deceased, who's casket was carried slowly by four black colts. Once the coffin was lowered into the ground, the priestly pony asked if anyone wished to speak. At first there was silence. Clopson was afraid. Afraid that he was the only one who even remembered the fierce mare. He cleared his throat and started, “She saved my life, on many occasions. Red Dot was a fighter. It was her talent. She told me that she got her cutie mark when she threw a ball smack dab between her brothers eyes... popped the ball, made him cry his eyes out.” Clospon giggled. “Since then she honed her skills. Aiming her spells and throwing things. But she only truly knew her calling when the war started.” His jovial attitude diminished. “She told me when I spoke to her yesterday that she wished she had died in the war. She said...” he paused, but then summoned up the courage. “That she would rather burn up then to fade away.” “Just like her.” grumbled an old veteran. “Cotton pickin pony once got me an Bruiser over their into an ambush. Didn't blink an eye. She took em all out before we could find out where the shots came from.” there were some other murmurs, and from this, the mourners began to take turns telling stories. Talking about the mare as if they were reliving her life again. It continued until they had all said their piece. “I just can't believe she's gone... after all that.” spoke one of the vets. “Would any pony else wish to speak?” asked the priestly pony. “When, um...” every pony turned to Pinkie pie. She had been silent through the whole proceeding. She spoke slowly, and hoarsely. “When my granny pie was alive, she would always talk to me when ever I was sad or scared, she always knew how to cheer me up. Well, one day, she got sick...” Pinkie smiled, “She said she didn't want to make anybody sad. So she said if anything happened to her...” her eyes began to glaze over a like dew collecting on a flower, “She said she wanted a party. She didn't want people to feel sad, she wanted them to celebrate. Because she had a good life. And she had friends who loved her a whole lot.” she smiled, blinked, and tears began to trickle down. “And... well... you all really look like you liked Red Dot a lot and... and..” “Red Dot couldn't have said it better.” Clopson helped her out and put a hoof around her. “Er, sugar cube?” Applejack spoke. Clopson turned to her and realized that she was looking at Dash, who's face was red and covered in tears. “Are you okay?” “I'm Fine!” Dash shouted back. “I... I mean... I'm sorry.” she said quietly. “You got something you want to say Rainbow?” Applejack asked with with a caring smile. “... She... She sounds like she was good friend.” Dash managed to say. “And... and... she didn't deserve this.” she shook her head. “Not at all. I just...” The look in her eyes said in all. She felt more anger then anything. “We'll find who did this.” Clopson said. Dash turned and looked him in the eye. “Don't you worry.” Dash paused, then gave him a confidant nod and a smile. “You need anything, we're all on your side.” Clopson heard once of the veterans say. The others agreed unanimously. Clopson smiled and nodded. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As Twilight and Richard Stable entered the house, Zecora saw and welcomed them in. She was busy at work with a steaming potion in a cauldron. “Richard stable is that you? And Twilight, do you have business too?” “Actually,” Richard started, “I really wanted to ask you when you were going to release the next part of your story... ” Twilight looked at Stable with slight annoyance. “Uh, and we have a mystery to solve.” Stable told Zecora. He gave her the parchment with the riddle. “Can you shed any light on where this came from? It might save a few lives.” She paused to read for just a moment. “I know this Script, I've seen it before. It comes from lands far from these shores. The answer to the riddle though, I may know...” But before she could finish, a great wind began to blow inside Zecoras home. “That's not how the game is played.” Twilight looked around in a panic. The voice was like an dark, deep echo in her mind, blowing in like the wind. “You tell them nothing... This is not your riddle... But I'll give you all another...” The voice was female, and old. It was dry and raspy, like a voice from a thirty throat. She spoke again in an archaic ascent... “ A hero of light , with tears of white,” Twilight saw a memory flash in her mind. She was fighting Nightmare moon again, her friends were all around her, she floated into the air and her eyes began to glow with a bright white light, with rays shining out like tears... “Surrounded and penetrated by golden might” She saw herself again now, in the future, older, stronger, with more powerful magic. All around her was gold and riches and symbols of power. “Millions gone, a life in darkness.” Chaos. Destruction. Horrors that made her try to shut her eyes and run, but there was nowhere to run in her own mind. “After the final moments on a honeyed fuse” She saw herself again, looking at the ruins of a civilization. Crying tears of regret and guilt. She was back now. Back in the room with Stable and Zecora. Darkness began to spread across the room, bleeding in with the wind to swirl about. “What were you cooking in that pot Zecora?” Richard asked sceptically. “This isn't a hallucination... this is magic!” Twilight's' horn started to glow as she tried to fight it back, but the darkness continued unabated. “I can't stop it!” “Er, Hey! Monster thing! I really like your riddles! Yea, I'm a writer myself and I can recognize talent when I see it...” Stable tried to talk to the thing. “I know who you are.” the voice continued as the darkness swallowed the walls and ceiling, blotting out almost all light from the room. “But your not leaving here alive. Not without an answer. I don't have all day, i have bigger plans...” “Pickles!” Stable yelled as Twilight tried to think. “Kumquat! Oatmeal... Uh... ” The three ponies had to lean together now in order to stay away from the encroaching oblivion. “Light, honey, gold, darkness...” Twilight tried to think, recounting some words of the riddle. Time was ticking. She had to do something. The light was running out now. She wished she just had more time. Suddenly, She knew. “A candle.” The Darkness stopped. The small patch of light they where on slowly began to expand, like a growing fire. “You... You couldn’t have guessed...” the thing seemed... scared, almost hurt. “...Another day then.” And suddenly, it was gone. “Wow...” Stable started. “How did you know...” “A candle lets you read at night.” Twilight explained, running the riddle back through her mind. “A hero of light... and as it melts it leaves drops of white wax. The golden might is the light and fire it gives off. The millions gone refers to the words on the page, and the honeyed fuse refers to the fact that candles are usually made of beeswax.” “I would never have gotten that.” Stable said. “It's almost like that riddle was made for you.” “... yea...” Twilight said with insecurity. “... I cannot help you, I apologize.” Zecora stated. “If I do, it might mean my own demise.” “I understand.” Twilight said. “So long as your not part of the investigation, it won't...” Suddenly Twilight's eyes went wide. “Oh no... The others!” She sprinted out of the house. “All of my friends are in danger! We have to warn them!” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “I should be out there.” Clopson said with anxiety. The others had left to go back to the palace, leaving him alone with Dash. “Everypony knows you an awesome pony Clopson.” Dash responded. “It's just... you know, you might not be thinking strait. I'm angry just thinking about it.” “I'm fine.” Clopson said. He sighed and stopped at sugar cube corner. “Sherlock shouldn’t be out there on his own.” Dash couldn’t find a proper response to that. But she changed the subject “Hey, I've been meaning to talk to you about... you know, what I said to you in Joes Donut shop...” “...I understand.” Clopson said. “No, just... lets sit down okay?” Dash asked. Clopson agreed and they found themselves a grassy clearing just off the road. “Can I start?” Clopson asked. “I have a few things to say too.” Dash nodded. “I know what your going to tell me.” He started. “And I want you to know that I'm okay with it. I saw all the signs and I realize that I should have moved slower, or asked first. I can move on. You don't have to explain anything or defend yourself, I understand that your just not into...” “Clopson?” “Wait, I'm not fin...” Her eyelids lowered, and her head seemed to grow larger and turn to the side as her lips quickly touched his. He was frozen solid for an amount of time that he could not discern. She broke off the embrace and looked into his eyes, just a few centimeters away. When her lips moved once more, she said the most beautifully crafted words that a mare had ever said to a colt, “I want to be more then friends.”