Taking the Case in Hand

by IGIBAB

Chapter 7 - Who?

In front of me, the crowd. Ponyville, more worried than ever, expecting me to speak reassuring words. How did I end up here exactly?

It's simple, in fact, Twilight started her speech, announcing Open Skies' suicide, and as all of Ponyville was whispering with anxiety and surprise when faced with such a news, Applejack came to find me in the midst of the crowd. Twilight had asked for my help, wanting me to expose my point of view, my suppositions. She's actually standing by my side, waiting for me to talk.

Why did I accept? It's not my role to communicate with the citizens, at best it is Whooves' role, even if, from my point of view, it's mostly Twilight's job. But I can understand that she needs some help, it's an unprecedented situation. She's afraid to say something wrong. The problem is that, now, it is I who's facing this exact situation. With the same fears, the same doubts. But one doesn't refuse the request for help from a princess...

So here I stand, by Twilight's side, facing more than a hundred ponies, almost all of whom I know. The death of Open Skies didn't reassure them. Even if Twilight made it clear it's a suicide, the most pessimistic among them rather doubt that, even if they have no informations. My legs are shaking slightly.

It's on me to convince them. To lie to them, in fact. Euphemize the truth, so that all those brave ponies may be able to sleep in peace, without worrying about a potential murderer amongst them. Amongst them...

My tremors are getting worse, as I try to hide the doubt and the fear that just settled in me. He's here. In this dense crowd. The maniac responsible for those two murders meticulously orchestrated. The one that took pleasure in leaving clues behind, who just thinks of this as a game, he's looking at me right now. His eyes are on me.

My heart is racing. My breath quickens progressively, as my eyes are going left and right in the crowd. Where? Where are you? Who are you!? I know you're here! A sign, a clue in the gaze, something!

Nothing! Everywhere I lay my eyes, I just see the same stupid incomprehension in all those ponies looking at me silly!

I suddenly jump as a purple hoof arrives on my shoulder. Turning my head abruptly, I see Twilight, worried, asking me:

"Bonbon, are you alright?"

I slowly get back to reality, trying to calm down my breath, as my shivers continue. How many seconds did I just spend like this, without saying a word, simply panicking? I don't know. At least twenty, I'd say. And I know where that comes from, I know those shivers.

"I'm good, thanks Twilight," I answer, attempting a smile that, I can feel, looks more like a rictus than anything.

She looks at me for a few moments, not understanding what happened, before removing her hoof, letting me continue. But I can distinguish in her expression that she's wondering if that's a good idea, seeing my state.

As I turn to the crowd again, a pink lollipop appears right in front of me in a cyan flash, levitated by magic. I look around for the pony, or rather the mare, at the origin of this, without finding her. But the colour of the halo can't be mistaken, I know from who it comes from.

I accept the treat, taking with a great relief my first dose of sugar since breakfast. The moment the lollipop touches my tongue, my legs stop shaking and everything becomes quiet in me again. I breathe in deeply, my brain finally able to think normally.

In the crowd, there's the murderer. It's a certainty. He's listening to me. He wants to know where the investigation is, if we uncovered his little game. Should I take the chance of letting him understand it's been noticed, risking he could keep on going for his own enjoyment, or rather make it look like we believe it's a suicide, hoping he would stop here, satisfied of the fact he duped us? In both cases, there's a risk that he'll continue, and a chance that he'll stop.

I briefly clear my throat, before finally launching myself, trying to appear as confident as possible:

"There are still many analysis we have to wait the results of, but everything seems to point towards the fact that Open Skies indeed committed suicide tonight. With our current informations, he was the last one to have seen Mr. Cake alive, and the letter found in his home confirms he would be his murderer and that, because of remorse, he put an end to his own life."

I don't want to play into the murderer's little game. I'm convinced he genuinely tried to hide his crime to lie low. His clue was only there to give us a chance to catch him. But I want him to believe his little masquerade worked, that he can feel safe. Most of all, I'm afraid he will start again, that he will lash out to another one of those innocent Ponyville's inhabitant. "Leave them alone, you don't need to kill anymore," is what I want to say.

"Of course, captain Whooves and his team are going to make sure it is indeed the truth, but with the current elements, here's the main lead we're studying."

I roll the lollipop in my mouth for a moment, fully savouring it, doubting. Do I stop here? It's probably the better choice. Twilight speaks again:

"This event is a tragedy," she says with sorrow and a heavy tone. "Those two deaths affect each of us. That something like this happened here, in Ponyville, none of us could have expected it. But together, we can share the pain from this loss. We can support each other and take the time to think back about our lost friends. And right now, all of my support goes to Mrs. Cake and her two children, now orphans, as well as Open Skies's relatives. I hope, with all my heart, that we will be able to understand what pushed him to commit such things."

When listening to her talk, I understand a bit better why she's a good princess. She puts all her heart in each word she pronounces in front of her people. She's mourning as much as they are, it shows, it can be felt, and I think that, in such a situation, it's probably what can best comfort Ponyville. In comparison, my own speech is too formal, detached and cold. But, at the same time, it's my role.

The crowd is covered with murmurs. Some already speculate on the reasons behind such actions, others are still destabilised by the news and try to comfort each other. I even spot the silhouette of that pink-magenta mare, Clear Skies I think, completely collapsed and in tears, her friends around her.

Twilight looks at the crowd, sees their trouble and she adds:

"If you have questions, doubts, you can ask me."

A hoof raises in the air immediately.

"Yes?" invites Twilight, as ponies are slowly getting silent around it.

Huh, it's Lily, who seems particularly preoccupied. She's always been very emotional.

"Do you know where Rose is?"

My teeth slip on the lollipop, breaking it. Of course, someone was going to ask this question, but I didn't expect it to come up now.

"S-She told me she had to watch Open Skies' house for the night," continues Lily, her voice all shaky. "She was supposed to come and water the flowers before going to bed, but..."

She doesn't dare to finish her sentence, almost bursting into tears. I slowly turn my head towards Twilight and notice that this question totally took her by surprise. But she tries to answer it, hesitating a bit:

"Well... She..."

"She's missing," I abridge. "Whooves is focusing his efforts to find her, and if someone saw her, or knows where she is, we'll appreciate any useful info-"

"I saw her this morning," suddenly says a voice before I have time to finish my sentence.

All eyes abruptly turn to Colgate, who replies with a:

"What? I saw her going out of Ponyville when I was opening my surgery."

"At what hour?" I immediately interrogates.

"Around..." she says while thinking," Six hours, six and a half, I'd say. She looked like she was in a hurry."

Open Skies' body was found at a little over seven thirty, a bit before Rose's relief. It leaves enough margin to commit the crime. But why would she have left her post?

I quickly go down in the crowd and come to Colgate, still nibbling on my broken lollipop in a hasty manner.

"Where was she going?"

"North I think."

"Alone?"

"Eh, yeah."

"That's it? You didn't see anything else?"

"I didn't pay attention," she answers me negligently, as if it doesn't matter to her.

I internally sigh. Rose is missing, she's probably the last person to have seen her, and she's not even trying.

Oh well, don't dramatise Bonbon. At least, we have a direction for the search. I need to see Whooves to tell him.

"If something comes back to your mind, even the slightest detail, go to the police station please."

"Got it," she nods.

It's hopeless, she's not even going to try and remember it. I look away and set off quickly, her nonchalance is making me angry. I nibble on the lollipop stick, since it's all that's left of it. It only relaxes me as I'm going through the crowd without seeing it.

Talking about lollipops and getting mad, I hear someone trotting next to me. Quietly, out of nowhere. I know who it is.

We get out of the crowd, and I'm not calmed down yet. On the contrary, even. I slightly accelerate my step, and so does she.

"I thought you'd taken your day off," I coldly say to her before she even pronounces a word, without looking back.

"Still with your sugar issue..." she answers me, worried, with that same shy tone as yesterday.

Well mind your own damn business! What is that way of dodging the answer!? Oh, just you wait my pretty, dodge this:

"At least it didn't lead me to Manehattan."

She stops short. I hit a sensitive topic. Too sensitive in fact, even for me. I feel a knot forming in my stomach. I already regret what I just said. My legs stopped on their own. I shouldn't have. I really shouldn't.

"Just a "Thank you" would have been enough..."

Her voice is shaking. She had a hard time saying this. Is she crying? Most likely. I don't dare to turn around to verify it. Why did I say that...? What was I thinking...?

"Lyra, I..."

She doesn't leave me the time to continue. I hear her galloping away, and I don't have the courage to catch up to her. I don't have anything to say to make her forgive me. No words will heal what I just said.

Once again, my hatred vanished in the blink of an eye. But, this time, I know why. I may detest her for what she has done, but it's not worth hurting her like this. Treating her like this, it's unfair. Worst of all, it's also painful for me, because I was the only one that had always supported her in that story.

She avoided me a crisis in front of all Ponyville, and I hurt her in return.

I'm an idiot.

Author's Note:

Sweet and bitter are two opposite that one doesn't always expect to find in the same place.

Comments

[MatTheBook]

nice going Bon bon

Stabbing her again like that

[IGIBAB]

11571275
Thank you for never missing a chapter and always leave a comment ^^