//------------------------------//
// First case: Envious Apples Part 1 
// Story: Equestrian Judges! 
// by Zeno the Masked Writer 
//------------------------------//

The train ride into Ponyville was calm.....almost boring at times. Mako was looking at the scenery as it passed. Shiro was reading a book called "Samurais for dummies".


"I couldn't believe that someone would ever even attempt to read that thing." He thought as Shiro turned another page. 


Mako looked at the rising sun and felt a sense of dread pass through him. He noticed that he had felt this same feeling once before.....a long time ago. 


"I really hope that I'm wrong, however, I better prepare for the worst." He thought as the train whistle blew signaling their arrival in the small town of ponyville.


 


Meanwhile, in the dark of night two figures met in what looked to be an apple orchard. Both wore dark robes that covered their faces but the man on the left carried a very strange object tied to their back, it was covered in cloth so no one could see what it was. 


"Let's get down to business, shall we?" 


"Very well sir." The man on the right said with a posh accent.


"Were is the target?" 


"He shall arrive in that barn in exactly thirty minutes." 


The sun slowly rose into the sky and light covered the orchard. The two men exchanged an envelope to one another and then one of the men walked into the barn while the other walked towards town. 


"Now with the birth of a new day, another life comes to an end."




Ponyville train station 10:30AM 


As the train pulled into the station Mako and Shiro took what little luggage they had and exited the train only to see everyone running in around in a panic. 


"Well....I guess it could be worse.." Shiro explained as they both walked over to the help desk. 


"Um excuse me?" Mako said trying to get the owners attention, however, she seemed to be.....preoccupied. 


"THE HORROR, THE HORROR!" She exclaimed in an overdramatic fashion which only seemed to aggravate Mako more than he already was. 


"Ugh... I have a serious hangover right now and all this screaming isn't helping!" He thought before slamming his fist down onto her desk which nearly scared her to death. 


"Now then, do you mind telling us what's going on around here?" Mako asked as she tried to regain her composure. 


"I'm sorry about that. Everyone's a little startled right now." 


"You don't say?" Mako asked sarcastically as they watched everyone run around frantically. 


"Well can you blame us.... there was a murder after all."She explained, however, this news made the two men freeze on the spot. 


"Can you tell us were?" Shiro asked while resting his hand on his hilt. 


"It's over by the Apple's farm." She explained while pointing at a barn around the outskirts of ponyville. 


The two men thanked her before making their way down a dirt road. They noticed a couple of pegasus guards flying towards the farm and realized that many of the townsfolk had rushed onto the scene. Guards were holding everyone back and barking orders to each other as they tried to regain some order. Mako and Shiro pushed through the crowd and tried to speak with the guards. 


"I'm sorry but only the royal guards are allowed inside!" One of the guards proclaimed while the others shouted threats at them. 


"I understand soldier, however, were Judges. We were asked to come here to investigate the crime scene." Mako explained while he and Shiro showed the stallion their ID's.


"I-I see sir! My apologies!" The Guard proclaimed before letting the two inside much to the crowd's disdain. 


As they made their way towards the crime scene they noticed that even the soldiers seemed confused on what to do. Shiro decided to take the lead and walk over to the guards. 


"Listen up! I need a strict perimeter around the entire farm! I need all available guards to patrol the fields and search for anything out of place! And I need two more soldiers to help with crowd control!" He exclaimed while the other soldiers saluted in understanding and went to do their respected duties. 


"Nice work kid!" Mako exclaimed while Shiro stared at the barn. 


"You can smell it can't you?" He asked which caused Mako to sigh before taking out another one of his smokes. 


"How could I not? I could smell the stench of blood before we even got here." He explained while taking a long drag before walking over to the barn doors. 


Inside was a bloody mess. Thier was blood scattered all across the wall and at the center of the barn, nailed to the wall, was the body. The victim had both of his hands spiked to the wall as well as both of his feet nailed together. His body had been sliced open with his intestines spread out on both the left and right side of his body in the shape of short stumpy wings.  


Shiro couldn't believe what he was seeing. He had heard of the seven deadly sins cruelty.....but this was.....pure evil. Mako looked rather calm almost nostalgic as he observed the crime scene. 


"This your first time?" He asked as Shiro snapped out of his daze. 


"M-My first time?" Shiro asked while Mako finished his smoke and stamped out the remains. 


"Your first time seeing their work in person." 


Shiro could feel the atmosphere around him grow colder and colder as their stared at the body. Suddenly the door to the barn burst open and a guard saluted the two men. 


"I'm sorry to bother you both, however, I was told to send a message to all officers!" He explained as they walked over to the guard to listen to his report. 


"In the murder of Silver Locket, we now have the prime suspect!" 


"One Mrs. Applejack!" 


TO BE CONTINUED