//------------------------------// // D n' A // Story: Something Sour at Crystal Prep // by Stratocaster //------------------------------// Chapter 2: D n' A Twilight stormed into her room, all her friends sitting where they were before, as if nothing happened. They’re eyes immediately went to her and the blood sample and they immediately asked what happened. “Twilight, you still agreed to help those bimbos?” Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “Why should we be concerned about them? They still hate us!” “Even though they’re holding a grudge against us--me, specifically--doesn't mean we should hold a grudge against them.” Twilight replied. “Treat others how you wish to be treated, Rainbow.” “Well did you have to bring that...uh...blood over here?” Fluttershy quivered. “I think I’m going to be sick.” Twilight mentally face-palmed herself for not shoving the sample in her backpack on her way over and quickly hid it under her desk. “Sorry, Fluttershy,” she mumbled, “I forgot to put it in my backpack beforehand.” “So what do you plan to do with that blood anyway?” Sunset asked Twilight, standing beside her. “Do you even know how to analyze DNA?” Twilight nodded proudly. “My great great great great uncle Holmes was a detective.” She said dismissively. “I got one of his journals for my 10th birthday. Taught me everything I know about this kind of stuff.” “Still, it just seems so farfetched to me.” Rarity said, braiding Fluttershy’s hair. “Who would have any motive to senselessly murder a student? Obviously it wasn’t any of us, but could anybody still have a grudge against the poor girl?” Twilight nodded, gingerly placing her backpack under her desk. “It’s possible,” she said, “Sour was...pretty sour, for lack of better terms…She could have gone to far with her sarcasm and hit someone where it hurt.” “You don’t think it was anybody at Canterlot High, do you?” asked Fluttershy, a bit nervy. “Honestly?” Twilight responded, giving the jugs of milk back to Pinkie, “I can’t say ‘no’ to that. It could have been someone at Canterlot High, but it also could have been someone from Crystal Prep. It’s hard to say.” “Well, whoever did it,” said Applejack. “What do ya think takin’ Sour’s blood will prove?” “This blood might contain traces of the murder weapon.” Twilight explained, “then, maybe, I can somehow connect that to the murderer.” “Then let’s crack to it!” Pinkie said determinedly as she donned her detective cap again. “The scoundrel shall be apprehended post haste!” Sunset chuckled slightly at Pinkie’s enthusiasm. “Let’s let Twilight analyze the sample first,” she said gently, taking Pinkie’s hat off her head and setting it on Twi’s bed. “We would look even worse if we were to go back to that stuck-up high school and not have anything to show them.” Twilight proceeded to her closet and threw open the folding doors. Her friends marvelled at the arrangement of scientific instruments sat upon the shelves, from microscopes of varying sizes to vials of dubious chemicals of many colors. “Um, Twilight,” said Rarity. “Normally people use their closets for clothes?” Twilight was barely paying attention, she was so excited to use her scientific equipment. She hadn’t used it since she transferred to Canterlot High, for her new friends had constantly kept her busy. “Hmm?” She mumbled, “Oh, yeah. Uh...I put my clothes under my bed and in my nightstand drawers...” With a stretch of her arm, Twilight grabbed a curious device from the top shelf, a small metal box with several dials and meters on the side. Setting the device on the table, she carefully opened the tube of blood and poured the contents into an opening on top. A few of the dials on the machine twitched and flashed as she waited patiently to analyze the results of what she had gathered. The rest of the seven gathered behind her, watching the dials quietly and somewhat patiently. After a few minutes and impatient sighs from Pinkie, the device finally dinged. “What’s it say, Twilight?” Pinkie asked immediately, shoving her way so she could be next to the science girl. “Tell us! Tell us now!! I can’t wait a moment longer, just tell us already!” Twilight stared for another suspenseful moment longer. Pinkie, irritated, took the paper from Twilight’s hands and read it silently to herself. She gasped and nodded and gave a few ‘mm-hmm’s’ before being interrupted by a very annoyed Twilight. “Since you already have the paper, Pinkie…” she said, “why don’t you tell us what it says? Aloud?” Pinkie looked at Twilight guiltily and apologetically, handed the paper back to her. “I didn’t understand what it said.” She confessed, “I was just looking at the squiggly line at the top.” Twilight sulked. “If you knew what that meant, you would know that there is no trace of foreign substance in Sour’s blood.” Her friends all breathed a grunt of disappointment. “According to the data, it dosen’t show any trace of any DNA that would go back to a murder weapon…” Twilight sighed, “I guess this sample isn’t any good to us now.” “So, um, can we please, ugh, get rid of it?” asked Fluttershy, feeling queasy. “Oh! Right! Of course.” Twilight mumbled, quickly scrambling to throw it away in her already full wastebasket. “Well then, I guess that means Sour Sweet’s murder will never be solved.” Rainbow shrugged nonchalantly and sat back down to play video games. “How tragic. She will be missed. Blah blah blah blah blah.” Applejack elbowed Rainbow in the side. Hard. “Rainbow Dash!” She hissed, “that ain’t how ya’d treat a friend, now, is it? Ah understand they still don’t like us and we might not like them, but imagine if Sour was….was Sunset!” Sunset took a small step towards the door as soon as Applejack mentioned her being murdered. “Would you just brush off Sour’s--ah mean Sunset’s murder case so easily, too?!” “Jeez, AJ,” Rainbow rubbed her side. “Just a minute ago you were steamed about those Crystal Prep girls just as much as I am.” “Ah know…” Applejack mumbled, blushing a bit at Rainbow calling her bluff. “I just got ta thinkin’, is all….” “I think we’re all just getting a little antsy.” Sunset said, laying a hand on Twilight’s shoulder. “It’s been a hectic night. Why don’t we all just head to bed for now? I’m sure we can get back to solving this tomorrow.” “I guess,” Twilight sighed; on one hand, she was beyond tired and really wanted to get to sleep, knowing she’d have a more focused mind in the morning and things wouldn't be so muddled. On the other, with the drastic events the night had brought them, she doubted she’d get any sleep anytime soon. “It has been pretty tough for everyone, has it?” Pinkie Pie was already slumped over Twilight’s bed sideways, sleeping with a loud, nasally snore. It was a surprise after her energetic romp the entire night. Rainbow stared at the party girl with bewilderment, wondering if she was just acting so she could pull a fast one once everyone was asleep, or was truly tired. “Yeah…” She said, “I’ll stand guard...just in case the ‘murderer’ sneaks into the house tonight.” Fluttershy gave a small squeak and pulled the top part of her sleeping bag over her face so only her eyes showed. “Y-you don’t think they’d r-really come in here, w-would you, Rainbow Dash?” She stammered, visibly shaking. “Who knows?” shrugged Rainbow. “We’re somehow tied to Sour Sweet so we might be next on their list.” “Rainbow would you stop?!” scorned Twilight. “You’ve been watching too many crime shows.” “Well I don’t think you’ve watched enough!” Rainbow turned away in a huff. “Would you please be quiet?” Pinkie yelled from her position, her eyes wide open. “Can’t you see I’m trying to sleep?” With that, she closed her eyes and resumed her snoring. The rest passed confused looks and small eye rolls before heading off to sleep themselves.