//------------------------------// // Chapter II: Then There Were Nine // Story: Ten Little Balloons // by menameh //------------------------------// The four mares walked back downstairs after comforting the children upstairs. "How could this happen?" Pinkie kept repeating to herself like some cultist chant. They all then saw the monograph replaced with a piece of paper. Twilight rushed to it and began to read it; Ten little balloons went out to dine; One choked its little self and then there were nine. Nine little balloons one sat up very late; One overslept themselves and then there were eight. Eight little balloons two now in heaven; One said they’d stay there and then there were seven. Seven little balloons chopping up sticks; One popped themselves and then there were six. Six little balloons playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five. Five little balloons going in for lore, One got stretched and then there were four. Four little balloons all trying to flee; The killer surprised one and then there were three. Three little balloons one popped to the loo; An oven hugged one and then there were two. Two little balloons sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was one. As Twilight read the poem the others became frightened. Fluttershy had limped in with her head sagging with sadness. AJ and RD both grew in anger. Twilight stared at the poem in curiousity. The room was cold yet again and the friends all exchanged glances and glares. RD spoke up in frustration, "ENOUGH! I need a drink!" She wandered over to the cider bowl and poured herself a big hefty glass. She turned to the others and pointed the cup at them. "This is not going to help us find the one to blame." She chugged her glass and slammed it down and went to speak again only for her voice to give out only ghastly squeaks. The others looked at her in shock and rushed to her only for her to fall of her own weight and collapse on the floor with her face all blue and still. Twilight put her fingers to her throat and pulled away. "She's dead." The others gasp in shock. Aj rushed the cider bowl and knocked it over so no one else would drink from it. Pinkie walked to RD's body and held it close to her form, weeping into the chromatic hair. The others all held each other with tears falling down their faces. Spike had left the CMC in Pinkie's room and walked down stairs to look upon the scene in horror. Spike picked up the paper that Twilight had read and looked at the first line. "Ten little balloons went out to dine; One choked its little self and then there were nine." He looked up to the balloons on the dinner table and looked in shock. "Guys?" The others glanced at Spike. "Weren't there ten balloons there?" They all looked at the balloon arrangement and saw bits of blue rubber on the table with nine balloons above it all multi-hued. "I guess this killer has a thing for patterns." Twilight spoke up only to have the others all stare at her, some stares with hatred burning in their eyes. "What are you all looking at me for!?" "Well darling," Rarity spoke up, "You are the one who likes patterns." Twilight steamed at the accusation. "I DIDN'T DO THIS!" Spike rushed up to Twilight and held her in a hug. "We're not blaming you-" "Speak for yourself!" Applejack spoke with venom in her voice. "Just calm down Twi, it'll be fine if we all stay together." Twilight used the breathing technique she got from her sister-in-law. "Thank you Spike." She returned the hug. She sat up and looked at everyone. "We need to find the killer, now." Everyone looked around. And Pinkie spoke up, "Well everyone had time to put poison in the cider bowl during the party just before the lights turned out." Twilight nodded at her acknowledging her observation. Spike walked over to the cup and picked it up, "Hmm..." "What is it Spikey?" Rarity said using his pet name. "There's a hair on it." He picked it up, "Nevermind it's grey, none of us have grey hairs." Twilight nodded but bagged the hair anyway. "Best not waste any potential evidence." The room then filled with discussion yet again. With Fluttershy hiding in the corner from everyone else. Twilight then looked at the poem and thought further. "If the killer is into patterns then they will follow this poem exactly." Spike recited the next line. "Nine little balloons one sat up very late; One overslept themselves and then there were eight." He slouched, "Does that mean we can't sleep. "No just sleep with one eye open." Twilight's warning sent shivers down Spike spine. The night had drawn out and they all decided on sleep being a great option. "Let's sleep in separate groups to ensure we find out who this killer is faster." AJ suggested sourly. So they went there separate ways with Twilight and Spike sleeping together in the lobby, Rarity and Sweetie Belle in the master bedroom, AJ and Applebloom in the twins room, and Pinkie keeping Scootaloo company and trying to console her after delivering the news about RD. The house fell quiet and dark as they all slipped deeper into slumber. The wind blew outside seemingly empty streets. The world around the remaining nine seemed to vanish as the next day drew closer. The next day would surely be hell. Ten little balloons went out to dine; One choked its little self and then there were nine.