//------------------------------// // In The Dark // Story: Smiles at Night // by Kingsley //------------------------------// Chapter 5: In The Dark Lilith returned home, tossing her armor aside and shaking herself dry. As she continued into the living room, she was still unsure of what she should about Grimm. "Alright Grimm I'm home..." Lilith said drearily. "Listen I haven't thought about what to do so..." "LILITH!!" Grimm cried, leaping off the couch towards Lilith. "Listen to me please HeHe!... I'm sorry okay? I'm really truly sorry HeHe!... I want to stop but I can't! It's who I am Lilith HeHe!... I like hunting small animals and it's what's I usually did for food before HeHe! I'm not meant for city life... but I've tried to contain myself for so long because... I knew you liked it here HeHe..." Lilith brought Grimm closer to her. She caressed her head and held onto her tightly. "...I'm sorry Grimm... I'm sorry I was so blind... Why should I punish someone who can't control themselves, when I myself can't control myself at times..." Lilith expressed. "I've truly been a horrible friend haven't I?" "No no... it isn't your fault HeHe... I should have told you much earlier about how I feel HeHe." Grimm revealed. "But I just didn't want to ruin anything for you HeHe..." "Look at me Grimm. If I was given the opportunity to rule over all of Equestria, but leave you behind in the process? I would turn it down in a heartbeat if it meant abandoning you." Lilith said. "You're everything to me. If you don't like it here... then tell me, and we'll return to Ponyville right away." Grimm thought about it for a little bit, and then proceeded to look up at Lilith. "...Give me one more chance HeHe. I know how much you like it here and I want you to be happy HeHe..." Grimm said, turning around and walking back onto the couch. "...I can't promise it won't happen again HeHe... but please, give me just one more chance HeHe." Lilith smiled and shook her head in agreement. "Why don't I make something for you to eat, even though it's already pretty late." Lilith said, starting to walk towards the kitchen. "Actually, why don't you head to bed HeHe? You look like you've had a long day and I want you to get some rest HeHe." Grimm said. "I can get the food myself HeHe..." Lilith, surprised by the gesture, agreed and walked upstairs to the bedroom. "Will you be up soon after?" Lilith asked, yawning. "I will don't worry HeHe, I'm sure it won't take long for me to eat, it usually doesn't HeHe..." Grimm said playfully. Lilith went upstairs and collapsed onto the bed, covering herself and immediately passing out with a smile on her face. - 2 Weeks Later, 2:31 P.M., Lilith's Office - Lilith sat at her office desk, sorting through various papers and reviewing past documents. While working, someone knocked on her door. "It's open." Lilith said. The door opened and Princess Celestia entered Lilith's Office. "Your Majesty." Lilith said, moving to Celestia and kneeling before her. "Hello Lilith, how are you today?" Celestia asked. "I'm doing well Celestia, I was just reviewing some papers on previous events." Lilith said, returning to her desk. "I see... Lilith it's been quite a while since those... incidents have occurred. Have you turned up anything at all on the matter?" Celestia asked, with a serious tone. "Oh... I'm... I'm sorry Celestia but... I can't seem to turn up anything on the subject. It's really... amazing honestly." Lilith said, not looking at Celestia. "N-Now Celestia, I don't mean to be rude at all, but if you wouldn't mind I do have a lot of work to do right now..." "...Of course Lilith." Celestia said, suspiciously. "I'll leave you to it then." Celestia left Lilith's Office with a perturbed look on her face as she walked down the hallway. "Hello sister." Luna said, passing by Celestia. "Are you alright? You seem bothered by something." "...Tell me sister, you are aware of the murders that happened in the past correct?" Celestia asked. "Of course, it's not exactly something we can forget." Luna said. "Have you not found the perpetrator after all this time? Don't we have Lilith working on this case? Shouldn't she technically be an expert on this matter?" "That's exactly why I'm suspicious of her actions dear sister." Celestia said. "This should be a cakewalk for her, but she hasn't turned up a single clue since the start of it all... she even tried to bury it by assuming it was caused by wild animals." "So... do you think she's hiding something from us? You suspect she's maybe... sabotaging the case somehow?" Luna asked. "...Listen to me sister, these murders tend to happen at night so I won't be immediately aware of another one happens. If another murder does occur, do NOT tell Lilith about it." Celestia ordered. "Tell all the guards to NOT inform Lilith about it, I want her to stay in the dark about it. Have Shining Armor investigate it by himself... maybe then we'll turn up something different." "I understand sister, I'll let the guards know immediately!" Luna said, rushing off in the opposite direction. "...I don't want another murder to occur... but it might be necessary..." Celestia said sadly, walking away. - 3 Weeks Later, 10:15 P.M., The Marketplace - "Princess Luna!" A Guard yelled, as he entered the Throne Room. "What is it? Speak!" Luna demanded. "I have unfortunate news... another murder has been committed in The Marketplace, the victim this time was an elderly pony on the sidewalk near an entrance to a nearby alley." The Guard explained. "Has Lilith been alerted of this?" Luna asked. "No Your Majesty, directly from your orders we did not inform her." The Guard said. "Good, let it stay that way. Go tell Shining Armor about this and tell him he will be leading this investigation." Luna said. "But do it discreetly." The Guard saluted and quickly made his way to Shining Armor's Chambers upstairs, knocking on his door. "Yes? What is it soldier?" Shining Armor asked. The Guard explained the situation to Shining Armor. "I see... and were not to inform Lilith of this right?" Shining Armor asked. "Correct." The Guard replied. "Then let's go right away!" Shining Armor said, running together with the soldier out of the castle. - The Next Day, 11:00 A.M., Lilith's Office - "Lilith!" Twilight said, opening Lilith's door. "Twilight? What are you doing here?" Lilith said, surprised. "A meeting's been called by Princess Celestia... she wants all of us in the conference room right away." Twilight said. "I don't know the reason, but she was pretty serious about it and said it was urgent. I just got here not too long ago and she told me to come get you." "Oh, I wasn't informed of any meeting today... I wonder what it's about." Lilith said, walking together with Twilight out of her office. "You and me both..." Twilight said worriedly.