> Light of my life > by Sushi4477 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Twinkle > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pinkamena looked at the little filly in her arms, and felt the urge to cry. She was beautiful, with her mother's big blue eyes and her own curly pink mane. Atleast when she had a curly pink mane. She was pink. Bright, bubblegum pink. A bright color that could cheer anyone, and she used to be like that. Pinkamena spent many months alone, in pain both emotionaly and physicaly, and tired. When her baby was born, she was surprised as to how quiet and calm she seemed, anyone who knew Pinkamena would have said she was'nt hers, but Pinkamena knew she was her's. She had been the only good thing to come in her life since granny Pie. Thinking of Granny Pie made Pinky smile. She was one fun pony. Pinkamena loved her grandma, and she saw alot of her in her baby. But Pinkamena Diane Pie wasn't a mother. Pinkamena knew it, she used to be fun, The life of the party, the comedian. Now she was a monster. Pinkamena looked at the sleeping baby in her arms and felt her eyes water. Was this who she was going to become? Her baby was going to be a monster? A cold hearted killer and cannibal? She hugged her. Carefull as to not stir the sleeping infant she cradled her in her hoves. She then placed her in the small crib, an antique from the Pie."She needs a name..." Pinky said outloud, as if the grey walls could hear her. To be honest Pinky had been so concerned about the pregnancy she hadn't even thought of the name. What a great mom she was... "What name should I give you hm?" She said to the sleeping filly. Pinkamena covered the filly's body with a blanket. "Maybe Light... I like Light. Are you my little light?"The filly turned her head and Pinkamena smiled. "You are my little Light. Light... Sugar... Pie."Sugar Pie was her granny's name. A kind, hopefull name for a baby. Oh, how Pinky hoped they could be toguether... She let out a sob as she walked away, "No..." Pinky said. "I cant do that to her... Her life would be ruined. " The walls remained Still. Months of isolation had led Pinky to start talking to the walls. The last time she got out, she fell in love with her victim. "Spades..." She hummed. "I must do it."She picked up the phone and dialed. "Ponyville Police department." A monotunous voice answered. "Evening, officer. You may know me, I am Pinkamena Diane Pie. And I have killed alot of people..." The line went dead for a second.She then heard the officer yelling curses and orders to track the call.Pinkamena glanced at her baby. "I love you Light" a tear streamed down her cheek. "I love you very much..." __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 18 years later... The pink maned mare groggily looked around her room. "Ugh..." She complained. "Great." She rubbed her eyes with her hoove and looked at the clock. Fantastic, it was four in the morning. She yawned lazily and rose from her bed. She walked to her mirror and tried her best to fix her hair. It was messy and short, just the way she liked it. Light opened the door and walked downstairs. She heard her sister's favorite song playing loudly. It wasnt a good song, especially after you hear it evereyday. Her mother was levitating a plate of buttermilk pancakes to where Sapphire was sitting. She was wearing a silk robe, not surprising for her mother the fashionista. "Morning darling!" Mom said. Light smiled and sat in the chair next to Saphire. "Morning mom, I love the robe." Sapphire levitated the maple syrup to her pancake, pouring it gleefully. "Isnt it a charm? Guess who made it." Saphire giggled, she always asked that."It was you wasnt it?" Light asked grabbing a pancake.Mom smiled. "I am Rarity! A very talented fashion designer with an eye for-" "For good taste." The sisters said in unison. "We know..." Rarity laughed. "Oh Light darling, Palette called, she said there was something important to show you." Light smiled and sighed. "Did she say what it was?" "It was Palette, she explained in detail how awesome it was. You know her, she is such an enthusiastic pony." Saphire snorted."Palette is very random, but she's fun. By the way does she still have her hair covered in paint?" "Duh." Light said The sisters laughed joyfully. Rarity rolled her eyes and went back to the kitchen to get the orange juice.It was then that Light saw a bundle of letters in the table. "Huh? Sapph, when did these come in?" Saphire shruged in the middle of a bite of pancake. Light reached out to grab one, but she never made it. Mom levitated the letters quickly to her robe's pocket. "Oh dear don't worry! Those where only the water bill and cupons for the spa, nothing big."Somehow, and Light couldnt explain how, she knew her mother was lying. She sat back, taking a glance at Sapphire's cutie mark, it was a swirl of hair and a comb, reflecting her sister's talent for hairdressing. Light sighed, looking down at her flank. "Hey, dont worry. I heard Evergreen Picket say that if you get your cutie mark later then you will become better at your talent. Of course he was wearing that awefull hairstyle that had-" Light spaced out. When her sister started rambling like that it was imposible to make her stop. Instead she went to the kitchen, determined to find out about those letters. > Spark > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I'm telling ya, she's like nothing we've ever seen." The warden tried to keep up with the captain as he walked. Shining Armor kept his steady eyes ahead, the warden continued. "When she came here, they told us she was a monster... Man where they right." Two guards stepped aside unlocking the large mettalic door resembling a safe. The hallway ahead was inmense, the floor was hard concrete and every few meters, a cell block apeared. It was several stories high giving it an erie look that made the warden gulp. Shining Armor, the guards and the warden walked forward. Shining Armor ignored the calls and insults of the convicts, he remembered several faces while walking. After what seemed like an hour, the group found themselves at the end of the hallway, facing yet another large mettalic door. "Bucktooth," Shining Armor began looking at the warden. "How long has she been here again?" The warden looked at him with his large brown eyes. "About eighteen years sir, nineteen next week" Shining Armor nodded as the door was unlocked. The guards stayed behind with the warden. One of them turned to the other. "How long you think its going to take?" The warden sighed. "He came in bain, it isn't going to take long" Shining Armor headed forward. It was quiet, way too quiet. The hallway had barely any light, except for a useless cheap lightbulb in the edge of the hall, where he was heading. A part of him wanted to turn back now, but the soldier inside persisted as he kept his pace.When he reached the end of the hallway he was met with a large glass wall, there was only a small light iluminating it, he heard laughter. Dark,maniatical laughter. "Well, well, well..." A mare's voice sounded throughout the hall. "If it isn't my favorite soldier." "Pinkamena Diane Pie..." Shining Armor said. "I came to make a proposal to you." From the shadows he saw a pink hoof move forward, followed by a sullen, straight mane and blue eyes. "How clever." She stated. "They send their boss to make the deal. The same damn deal..." "It will benefit you, and equestria." He said, his eyes devoid of any kind of fear. "We need your help-" "-capturing the Canterlot slayer. Im afraid my answer is still the same, Shining Armor. No." Her voice was calm, yet sinister. Her eyes had dark circles underneath. "He is following your MO, or Modus Operandi, you are the only one who can do anything about it." Pinkamena smiled, a scary and insane smile. Soon she began to laugh, louder and louder. Shining Armor stepped back, disturbed. It subsided after a few seconds, but it felt like hours to him. "Interesting, how it lies in my hands now. I'll help you, but I have one condition." Shining Armor's eyes widened. This was what he was fearing. "You must know, I have a daughter. Let me see her, and I will help you." Shining Armor narrowed his eyes. If he told this filly, she would be involved. "It's a top secret investigation. Only a handfull of people know. I can't just tell anyone." "Oh but she isnt just anyone Captain," she smiled. "She is my daughter, and I have set my condition. Now its up to you, either you get me Light, or Canterlot will be doomed." Shining Armor turned around, hiding his anger. "Oh, and one more thing," he turned around. She was blending back into the shadows. "Say hi to Twilight for me" The Warden watched the Captain come back. "Sir, did it work?" He said nothing for a few minutes, then he looked at Bucktooth. "Get me some kind of comunication, I need a chariot for Ponyville inmediately. Get me the Princess, this just got more complicated than I anticipated." The soldiers hurried to the main office as the Warden was left alone with him. Bucktooth rubbed his head with confusion and stress. 'Now its more complicated, may Celestia help us all' he thought, ignoring the laughter coming from the hallway behind them. > Glow > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Light opened the kitchen door, where her mother was washing the dishes and humming to a song. Her silk robe held in the back pocket a handfull of letters. Rarity looked at her and smiled. "Light dear, I was wondering what you would want for your birthday? You know the nineteenth birthday is very special for any mare. " "Mom, I was wondering what those letters where..." She said. Rarity halted. She turned around, her usual elegant smile now replaced by a frown. "Darling, we can discuss it tonight when your father gets home. I need you to wait darling. In the meantime the meantime why dont you go see Palette?" Light nodded, she had never seen her mother looking so sad. Light walked out of the house with her small denim outfit. She used it to cover her blank flank when she walked around ponyville. As she started walking away she heard the swish and rustle of a pegasus above her. She looked up, an orange mare flew down until she was nearly a few inches above the ground. "Hey Light!" She greeted. "How's it going?" Light smiled, "Whats up Scootalo? Nah just heading over to Palette's. Wanna come too?" Scootalo shook her head, "Nah. By the way, when you get there tell Palette that its her turn to clear the clouds tomorrow." "But Palette isn't a weather pegasus." "Every Pegasus is a weather Pegasus. I have to go practice you know?" Light smiled. "Yeah, you wanna be a wonderbolt. You've told me about it. The auditions are next friday right? Good Luck." Scotaloo smiled proudly "thanks! Bye Light!" The pegasus bolted away to a raincloud and began flying around it. Light just kept walking, she was never going to understand Scotaloo. Or any Pegasus for that matter. As she reached the edge of the Everfree forest, she saw the light of Palette's house. It was an old house But pretty none the less. As she reached the front door, she noticed the plants palette loved to keep in the windows where blooming. She knocked on the door and heard music inside the house. She heard horse hooves walking and the door opened. Palette had min green fur and a long,silky light blond mane. Her eyes where bright green and she had white freckles. She was taller than Light but not by much. She was wearing an apron and had red paint on the upper part of her mussel and in her hair. Sapphire would have strongly disaproved. "Yay! You made it!" She pulled Light inside the house. "How are you doing?" Palette's house wich she shared with her brother Network was slightly chaotic. The living room's furniture was made from old tree vines giving it a classy, yet bohemian look. On the other hand what made the room uneven was the large video game console hooked up to the widescreen TV. It was a X-buck 360 and a PonyS3. The brothers disagreed about everything, even videogame consoles. Light sighed "fine, say Palette. Remembered that talk we had a few days ago?" Palette nodded. "You think you're adopted. What happened?" Light rubbed the back of her head. "I don't know, I have a feeling mom is finnaly going to tell me..." Palette gave he a concerned look. "You know, you may not be adopted. It may only be in your imagination!" Light sat down in one of the couches. "Palette, I look nothing like any of my parents or grandparents! I went throught the family tree and There is not a single pony who looks somewhat similar to me." Palette opened her mouth to say something, but closed it. The normaly energetic mare was out of ideas. Instead she stood up and pulled Light to her studio. "C'mon I have something to show you." She said. Light sighed and followed. The pegasus opened the door to where her studio and her brother's office was. Network took off his headphones and looked at the mares. He was a darker shade of green and had a golden mane. The brothers where nearly identical, but Network was a large, strong stallion. Light waved at him and he waved back and went back to his programming. "Check it out!" Palette gestured to a painting. I was a sunset over Canterlot. "Its really good Palette. " Light said truthfully. "Its for your birthday! With this." She pulled out a poster of the amazing DJ Vinyl Scratch or DJ Pon-3."I asked a friend to send it ot me from Canterlot. Happy B-day buddy!" Light smiled and hugged her friend. The sound of a knock on the front door made the three ponies look at each other. Network removed his headphones and stood up. Palette fluttered her wings and hurried to the door. Light and Network looked at her from the studio door. Palette gasped and turned to them. "Holly Horsehooves its Prince Shining Armor!" She bolted to where she had a pile of paintstained newspaper and pushed it into a closet. "What?" Network asked. "Are you serious Palette?" The earth pony looked through the door and turned to Light. "She's serious. Quick the cables!" He and Light stuffed the cables under the table. Pallete opened the door after cleaning the paint from her mane and removing her apron. The stallion smiled at her as he walked into the house. Behind him a group of royal guards walked in line and finnaly an alicorn stepped into the house. He quickly looked at Palette her face flushed and her jaw dropped. "HeartFelt? Wha-What are you doing here?" She stuttered. "I- My dad he- Dad! " he sped up next to the captain and whispered in his ear. "You never told me it was her house..." Network raised an eyebrow at his sister. She smiled at him innocently. Light leaned at Network. "Umm, can I get an update?" "They used to date when she was in Highschool in Canterlot. He broke up with her to fullfill his duties as Prince. " ShiningArmor stepped forward. "We are here to let you know of a serious matter. There is a serial killer in Canterlot and we need your help." The trio looked at each other. "Why?" "Originaly we didn't know Miss Light would be here. But we where going to tell her anyways. The serial killer leaves a valuable peice of art after everysingle of his kidnappings. Then we find the victim, or what is left of the victim, turned into cupcakes or stuffed." Palette turned to Light. Then back at Shining Armor. "And what does this have to do with us?" "We need a genious and an artist to help. As for miss Pie-" "Pie?" Light asked. Shining Armor was confused. "You didn't know?" Tears formed in Light's eyes. Palette looked at her concerned. Shining Armor cleared his throat and kept going. "Your mother, she was a-" "A Serial Killer." Light spat out. "She was Pinkamena Pie wasn't she?" Shining Armor nodded. "She made a deal to help us if we let her speak to you. Its entirely your choice, but please keep in mind that the safety of Canterlot is in your hands." Light sighed. "I don't know... You know what? Fine. I'll do it." "Are you sure Light?" Network asked. He wasn't much of a talker, so it was kind of a shock. "Yes. I want to meet her, to give her a piece of my mind. " She stomped at the ground with one hoove. "Fine, If she goes with me I'll do it." Palette said. Network sighed and nodded. "I'll go too. I cant let her go alone, mom would kill me. " "Momma's boy..." Palette muttered. HeartFelt chuckled. "Its settled then. We leave in three days to Canterlot. Miss Light, I've let Rarity know where you're going.she doesnt know the purpose though this is a top secret mission so please don't mention anything to anyone, specially civilians. Lets go HeartFelt" The princes walked out of the house. HeartFelt returned one look at Palette before heading out. Light gulped back tears. In less than an hour her life had been turned around. > Shine > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palette never expected to be involved in a criminal investigation, especially with her brother and her best friend. Light just didn't seem to be the daughter of the infamous Pinkamena Diane Pie. She remembered being taught about Pinkamena in the eighth grade. How she was the first pony to commit murder that way, how the royal guard caught her. Some said she turned herself in. Others said she was caught in the act while working in her pastry shop. They closed the sweet shop after they retrieved all the bodies. Some brave ponies still take overnight camping trips there during Nightmare night. They leave first thing in the morning and never return. Palette had a suitcase with all the things she was going to need for the trip. Network packed his weigh in cables and other electronic devices she didn't know the name of. Palette only packed the basics, a sketch book, toothbrush, sweater, paint and pastels. Light had spent the past few days with them, and although Palette couldn't prove it she knew Network had feelings for Light. It was going to be an interesting trip if that was the case, or if Heart Felt was coming too. As they got ready to leave the house, Light gave one last look at Palette before leaving. "Hey, its going to be alright." Palette answered. She knew it was a lie, but what choice did she have. They walked for a few awkward minutes before finnaly spoting what apeared to be... A dragon? They turned to each other. "Is that a dragon?" Light asked. "Eeyup..." Network answered sounding much like his dad. Palette ran towards it excited. Light and Network followed at a slightly slower pace. I was a large, purple dragon with green scales and massive wings. He had what apeared to be a saddle on, but it was much larger in comparison to the ones Ponies use to carry things. Shining Armor was standing next to the dragon, aparently talking and Palette flew up to rest her suitcase in the saddle. HeartFelt walked behind her, making her jump with surprise. "Hi," he said. She rolled her eyes and turned around the Dragon "Aw come on Pallete! That was years ago, " "Buck off HeartFelt" she said quite clearly. The dragon snickered. Light and Network placed their bags with Palette's and climbed up. "Oh, I know you two!" The dragon said. "You look like BigMacintosh! Yeah, I remember the guy." Palette stood infront of the dragon. "How in Celestia's name do you know my dad?" The dragon smiled. "My name's Spike, we where friends when he used to live in Ponyville." The dragon and the pony began a happy talk. As the group climbed up Spike's saddle and he took off, Palette took a seat near his head to continue the conversation. After a few minutes finnaly Shining Armor settled everyone down. "Here's the deal, the events occured began three months ago, when a Canterlot musician named Prima Dona was kidnapped in her home. The kidnapper left behind nothing but a painting we are unable to identify." He pulled out pictures of a room from several angles. The living room had only a glass of half drunk apple cider and a lit cigarrete. The bottle had crashed against the floor and several thinks had been kicked and thrown accross the room. Sure enough at one side of the large love seat was a painting. "I recognize this painting style." Palette pulled the photo of the painting. "The image of the twenty pony ballerinas by Arabesque ilussion. He was a very talented stallion. He painted mostly ballerinas until he began slipping into madness and painted distorted faces and dead flowers. " Shining Armor placed another image. It was of a small shop, or atleast what was left of it. The place seemed to have sold china and silverwear for the amount that was thrown around the room. Once again the place was distroyed and a neat portrait of a mare laid in a chair in a corner. "This is one we have all seen in school. The master peice of Leonardo DaStallione, the Mare Lisa. A classic. I find it funny that the crime took place in a small shop. Hold on..." She seemed to flip through the pictures. "Did this happen to take place in Sunkiss corner? " Shining Armor froze. "Yes, that's exactly where it happened." "Sunkiss corner is known for being the capital of the arts in Canterlot, because thats where Arabesque painted most of his portraits. But who did he take?" "A pony by the name of China doll, an elderly mare in her late seventies. Thats whats wrong, none of the victims are related." Light furrowed her brow and kept flipping the pictures of the victims. A teenage stallion, a punk unicorn, an earth pony in her late thirties, a short mained pegasus. "There's atleast fifty ponies in here..." "Exactly. This is the most unusual and gruesome case to ever have come to my hands since Pinkamena Diane Pie. And this one steals the crown. The bodies apear in random houses all over Canterlot. In a small package. They open it and find cupcakes." He sighed and rubbed his neck. "You take one bite, and you taste the meat..." Palette and Network turned their heads disgusted. Light kept looking at the pictures. As she reached the near end she found a file reading, "PDP. DANGER LEVEL 5." She pried it open and a smal stack of papers apeared. Prisoner name: Pie Diane, Pinkamena. Crimes accused: twenty seven charges of Homicide in the First degree. Abduction. Endangering the welfare of a child. Age: 27 Celestian years old Gender: Female Fur color: pink Mane color: pink Eye color: blue Cutie mark: three balloons Scars or facial marks: N/A Hoove size: 7 1/2 History of mental illness: ADHD from the ages of six to twenty one History of physical impediments: N/A Date of trial: March 19 Light flipped around. An image apeared, a pink mare with faded pink hair looked intensely into the camera. Light shut the folder and slipped it back. "This whole, thing" HeartFelt said. "This guy, what is making him so messed up?" Shining Armor turned to him. He then faced the others. "Because he is a monster. A terrible, undescribable monster." Light held the folder in her hooves and looked down at it. This was going to be a lot scarier than she thought. > Shimmer > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Canterlot maximum security prison was the largest prison in Equestria. It could hold thousands of convicts and had the best security system ever designed. No prisoner had escaped CMSP ever and those who had dared only managed to get themselves killed by the officers or by the electric fence outside the barracks. Inside the prison there was a small room used to interrogate prisoners, in wich Pinkamena Diane Pie sat at. Her mouth was covered in a mussel, and her forearms cuffed toguether. There where guards every ten feet. Two inside the room, five outside and ten in the halls. She tapped her back hoove impatiently against the floor, wich caused a hiss and a snap from one of the guards. She turned her head at him and halted. The room was quiet enough to hear as the guard gulped. She closed her eyes and listened to her soroundings. A trick that had come in handy when finding elusive victims. The door slammed open, it was a younger guard that looked as if he had been running a thriatlon. "He's here" he said breathing heavily. Pinkamena smiled under the mussel. The two guards straightened and looked at each other. "You think he's gonna make her talk?" One asked quietly. "I don't know, " the other answered. Pinkamena chuckled. "Quiet!" The guard slammed a hoove against the table. "He better..." His partner said. Pinkamena quieted her laughter slowly. But she kept smiling. . Light never thought Canterlot could be so large. To the edge of the city she saw Celestia's castle, what Saphire would have said if she was there... She missed her very much, Sapphire was her sister. As annoying and proper as she may be, Light still loved her and knew her as the pony with whoom she played dolls and would have races with. She tought about writing her a letter. Yes, a letter will make her feel better. As Palette went to analyze the paintings, Light and Network headed to the main office. Light was nervous, and she was even more concerned about having to be without her best friend. Atleast she had Network, the quiet, genious, handsome stallion... *Snap* 'did I just think of my best friend's brother as handsome?' She thought to herself giving Network confused glances. The pony cleared his throat, obviously uncomfortable. 'Snap out of it. You have better things to think about than Network.' "So, what do you think about the art?" Network asked out of the blue. "Huh?" She said. 'Idiot,idiot, idiot!' "Well, that this killer is linking the paintings to the victims. It's gotta mean something." Light shrugged. "Maybe that killer is following Pinkamena's Killing style because he or she idolizes her. You know like some singers copy their idol's lyrics in their songs? " Network nodded, they where reaching the main door. "And if this pony is worshiping her, maybe they where close." "Not necesarely, you just gotta be as insane as she was and idolize her. " she swished her mane in a flirting method. "That makes sense. Listen, I have to go to the second floor to localization. I'll meet you later?" He faced her, his eyes where diferent from Palette's. his where turquoise. "Okay, bye. " she managed to look at his cutie mark, an atom, and sigh. 'Great, Palette has a swirl of color, Network an atom, HeartFelt an iron heart with a rose, and me? A blank flank, because the universe HATES ME,' she screamed the last two words in her head. Shining Armor was standing right outside the door to the interogation room. He had his armor on, next to him Light was surprised to see the figure of a well known alicorn. "Ah, Light. This is Princess Celestia, you probably know her. She wished to be present for the discussion." Shining Armor said as if he was talking about the events of yesterday. The alicorn smiled, "pleased to meet the famous Light. Your actions today will help save lives, I admire your courage." Light just stared wide eyed, almost unaware her jaw was wide open in shock. "Uh,its a plesure to meet you, your majesty" she said simply. Shining Armor stepped away from the door and frowned. "Are you positive you want to continue?" She nodded, decided to go on with it. Shining Armor opened the door, light engulfed the darkened room blinding everyone inside for a moment. His voice spoke the words Light knew would mark her life. "There is someone here to see you." Light took a deep breath and stepped inside the room, leaving the safe hallway where the captain of the royal guard and the princess where. And entering the darkened, grim room where she would meet her mother. > Iluminate > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Light was expecting somepony who would generate inmense and irrational fear to her. She expected her to look like she did when she brutally murdered those ponies. To have the darkness in her eyes that showed her black soul and a mercyless glare, but what Light witnesed was entirely diferent from her own picture of Pinkamena. She looked more like a lybrarian than a pshyco, with calm eyes that seemed to give out an air of elegance and superiority. Her mane was straight and graying, with small white hairs perfectly in line with the other pink ones. Unlike her bright pink coat, her's was graying, maybe due to age and madness. She seemed to be perfectly composed and if Pinkamena wasn't wearing a mussel and cuffs, Light would never have guessed she was an insane killer. What shocked her the most was how remarkably similar she was to Light. If her hair was, "poofier" and filled with life, and if her coat wasn't as dull, they would have looked almost identical. Light froze a meter from the door. She wanted to be invisible and run away from her, from all the history of what happened. Pinkamena looked at her blankly, showing little to no emotion. Light on the other hand, was virtually sweating fear. She took a deep breath and walked forward, taking a seat in the cheap mettalic chair oposite to Pinkamena. They stared at each other, Light fidgeted with her hooves and sighed. This was going to take a while. Surprisigly Pinkamena was the first to talk. "I never thought I'd see you again." She said. It was the voice of a pony that had seen too much. Light couldn't explain it, but her voice seemed to give out a sense of comfort she hadn't felt in years. Light nodded, "eighteen years,yeah." She couldn't think of anything else to say. "How's school?" A very simple question, "Just finished it a month ago. I'm working in Ms. Pumking Cake's bakery temporarely." Not temporarely, probably for the left of her life until she earned her cutie mark. That is, if she earned her cutie mark. "Thats intersting. And friends?" She asked. How this mare managed to keep her voice so calm and controled while talking to her long lost daughter was beyond Light. "I have friends. I hang out with them and my sister." She mentioned Sapphire on purpose, to trigger some kind of response from her. To prove that she still actually cared for her. Pinkamena raised an eyebrow. "Sister?" Light nodded "Her name is Sapphire Rich. She is one of my best friends." The mare nodded, keeping her eyes on Light. "I guess you know you came here to try to get information from me. I did agree to help them. But the reason I wanted to see you Light, other than you are my daughter, is that I will speak to you and to you alone." Light opened her mouth to speak. But only silence came out. She was as sinister as everyone said she was. Light nodded in fear. "Don't be frightened, I won't harm you. I worked in such a way that no one would find out what I was doing. Not even my landlords. I would grind the ponies thin enough to make them untraceable by taste." Light turned away, slightly disgusted. Pinkamena chuckled, "My most sincerest apologies, I honestly never tought it would be so disturbing to other ponies." Light nodded and looked back at the insane mare. "But it is true, this pony obviously has no baking talent. He is unable to recognize how to grind like I did. On the other hand he is an artist, you can tell by the frosting design. Anyone has to have talent enough to hide such hideous cupcakes must have a talent decorating them. In the best sweet shops, separate ponies are selected to ice cupcakes, cakes and other desserts. If you want to find a killer, figure out who is icing those cupcakes." Light nodded, but looked back up. "What about the cooks themselves? The icing pony could be nothing more than a helper, like an assistant. But its the cooks that do all of it. Maybe in some way they are trying to be more noticeable and thats why they are making the... Chunks, bigger." Pinkamena nodded and smiled. "You have a sharp mind. That is always a probability. Go to the best bakeries in Canterlot and figure everything out. You might find your killer there." Light nodded. At the same tine the large mettalic door opened again and Shining Armor's head apeared. His strong presence seemed to give the guards a bolt of electricity as they straightened up and saluted. "Light, its time to go." He said. Light nodded and stood up. For a split second she swore she saw a flash of regret fly through Pinkamena's eyes. But they returned back to normal soon enough. Light gave her a small smile. "It was nice to meet you." She said. Pinkamena nodded. "Remember my words, and keep thinking for yourself, Light." Light nodded, she turned and looked at the door. She wanted to cry, to roll over in a little ball in a corner and cry. How could someone who abandoned her for so long be so cold? She blamed it in the madness of her mother. What else could she do? Light walked away from the room, unable to see as her mother spilled a single tear. A tear she had been saving for eighteen years. It slipped ober the mussel and hit her shoulde. Blending with the orange overals she was forced to wear. She closed her eyes as the gash of bright light entered the room when Light opened the door. Maybe she wouldn't close her eyes to the light next time she saw it. After all, a bit of light never hurt anyone. > Gleam > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- As Light exited the enclosed cell, she felt a wave of disapointment hit her. Sure, she had finnaly met her mother, but she never expected her to be so cold. What is to expect of a Serial killer after all. She sat on one of the chairs that where placed next to the door. What Pinkamena had said made little sense, but it was all she had for now. The hallway's erie silence had been broken by the soft sound of hooves walking towards her. Light looked up and was shocked to see Princess Celestia herself standing before her. The earth pony sighed at the sight of her "I'm sorry your majesty, I guess I didn't get as much help as I thought it would." Celestia smiled then took a seat next to her. "Light, have you ever heard the tale of Twilight Sparkle?" She asked. Light blinked, the name rang a bell. "I don't think so." Celestia nodded, "she was a great friend of Pinkamena, back then they called her Pinkie Pie." Light smiled. "That name seems so sweet, and considering how she ended up..." "After Pinkie Pie... Snapped, Twilight Sparkle fell into a deep case of depression and paranoia. Her friends seemed to have all separated and she just couldn't bare it, but then Twilight decided to remain loyal to her friends, she spent months looking for the remaining members and united them toguether, to this day the four of them still keep in touch and never forget they have each other." Celestia placed something on Light's lap, when she turned her head down she saw it was a necklace with a lightning bolt in it. "I think you have what it takes to be the most loyal to everyone, even if they hurt you. To forgive is the mark of great hearted pony." Light looked at the necklace and held it in her hooves, she felt a strange sensation covering her body, a sudden burst of hope hit her as she unfolded her denim outfit to reveal that in fact, she finnaly had her cutie mark. It was a heart with a crown, a symbol of loyalty. She had a smile plastered in her face and turned up to anounce it, but princess Celestia was gone. The only thing that remained was the necklace, who seemed to have changed too, it was now her cutie mark, a heart with a crown. How had it happened? More importantly, what had happened? "So, she gave you a necklace and then you had your cutie mark..." Palette said. "I'm not sure I'm supposed to understand that..." Light rolled her eyes. She, Network and Palette had decided to spend the entire trip on Palette's parent's house instead of in a hotel. Palette had insisted on them doing that because it was snap apple season and her aunt Apple Bloom made the best Snap apple jam in Equestria. "Yeah, well, thats what happened." Light stated. "I have no idea how, or why but now I have my cutie mark. " "Well good for you." Network said, "but how on Celestia's name did it happen?" Palette who was flying a few feet above them interrupted them with a laugh. "Hey guys look! " she said gesturing a hoove ahead. "We're here!" Ahead of them stood a large red barn and next to it a nice farm house. They where less than a mile ahead, and they had already reached the apple orchards. Palette flew above and picked an apple, sending it down to Light. "Best apples in Equestria!" She said. Light took a bite and sure enough it was the sweetest and juiciest apple she had ever had. "Wow! You're right!" She said in a muffled voice. As they aproached the farm house, Light saw a yellow mare feeding a group of chickens. Palette and Network seemed to have seen her too because before she knew it, both of them where racing at the other side of the fence. "Mom!" They yelled in unison. The mare turned around and broke into a smile. "Kids! Oh look at you two! I'm so happy you came to visit, " she hugged the pair tightly. "How have you been?" Palette stepped back "great! They took my paintings in the Ponyville galery, and Network finnaly ended the design for the video game he's working on. Oh, and mom, " she stepped back to let Light step forward. "This is Light, she's my best friend, can she stay with us?" The mare smiled warmly. "Of course she can dear, pleased to meet you. I'm Fluttershy." She said. Light smiled back "Its a pleassure, this is a beautiful farm by the way." Fluttershy laughed, "Oh you should thank my husband for that. By the way your father should be inside, go meet him." The three friends trotted inside, leaving the butter-colored mare tending her animals. Network opened the door to the house and let his friend and sister inside. Light noticed the decorations inside the house weren't as different from Palette's and Network's house. When the headed for the kitchen, Light saw a tall, middle-aged stallion placing a barrel of apples near the counters. He turned around and broke into a smile as soon as he saw the two siblings. "Ah was hopin' you two would trot around here soon!" he hugged Palette. "How's mah princess doin'?" he asked her. Palette smiled. " Dad! I'm 21 years old, how long are you going to keep calling me that?" the stallion gave a hearty laugh " As long as i'm alive honey, and you! How's it going buddy!" Network hugged his dad with a smile. "Its going great dad. This is Light, she's a friend. Mom said she could stay with us." The stallion raised an eyebrow. " Do you like apples?" he asked. Light nodded with a smile, leading the stallion to laugh yet again. "Don't worry, I'm only teasing y'all. The name's Big Macintosh, Pally, go show her to her room. Network, come with me, Ah need help sorting these apples." Network sighed and sat next to his father As the two mares walked up the stairs, Light raised an eyebrow at Palette. " Paly?" she asked. Palette sighed. "My name is Palleta Red Apple. Please don't tell anyone back home..." she gave Light a pleading look. Light had a hard time trying not to laugh. When Palette opened the door to her room, Light was stunned. The place was beautiful. The bed was red with a squared pattern and had three, lime green pillows. In front of the bed was a wooden dresser and a large window in the wall next to it. The place looked like something pulled out of one of her mother's decor magazines. "Lovely isn't it?" Palette said. " Every piece of wood is apple tree wood and the quilts and sheets where al made by my aunt Apple Bloom. Oh, I can't wait for you to meet her and my aunt Apple Jack!" Light settled her bag in the floor. She was really impressed by this. "Okay, dinner is in an hour. My entire family will be here! Say, maybe you can meet one of my cousins. They are all really handsome and nice! Well, some of them." Light raised an eyebrow at her. Palette sighed. " Alright, none of them." Light let out a laugh as well as Palette, then she left. Light spent an hour organising her stuff in the dresser. She didn't own much, but she needed something to do. When she was finished she looked down at her denim outfit and frowned. She really didn't need it anymore. She unzipped the back of it and took it off. Light looked at her flank and smiled, she was so happy to finally have her cutie mark. She turned to her bag and pulled out the golden necklace. Carefully she placed it in the dresser, then she shut it. She could hear Palette calling her for dinner, and gave one last look at the dresser before leaving. Dinner at the Apple's was more fun than anything Light had ever experienced. Network and Light's cousins seemed excited to have them there, and never seemed to be quiet. An orange mare, whom Light later found out was Palette's aunt Apple Jack, made the best apple cider Light had ever tasted. She had two twin boys who never seemed to stay still. Palette had a great time playing tag with the boys and telling them jokes. Her aunt Apple Bloom was a beautiful red haired mare who made delicious apple fritters for all of them. Light had a great time with her one year old filly, called Apple slice. Their male cousins and relatives horsed around (literally) and took every opportunity to flirt with Light. Of course, she rejected all of them. Overall, Light had a fantastic night. When Light woke up and went downstairs for breakfast, she saw the two siblings holding objects in their hooves. " 'Morning." she said. " what is that?" They had two packages in their hooves. They where wrapped in brown paper wrapping. The two of them tore the paper open and pulled out two necklaces, almost exactly the same as the one Light received from Celestia before. " Nice!" Palette said with a smile. She pulled it out and looked at the gem stone. " I got a balloon gem stone?" Network pulled his out. " Its a butterfly, like mom's cutie mark." he tried to find if anything else was in it. The three of them gasped as the gem stones began to glow. When the gleam faded, Palette's necklace also had her cutie mark, a multi-colored swirl. The same thing had happened to Network's as it turned into an atom. "What do you think it means?" Palette asked Light. She shrugged and leaned forward to see it better, "I don't know, we can ask somepony today when we go back to CMCS" "I think its some sort of magic, maybe we should ask a unicorn." Network said. " Do you think Shining Armour can help us?" As he said this, Fluttershy opened the door to the house holding the mail. She dropped it in the counter, not having noticed the necklaces yet. " Good morning, well what do you know?" she said with a smile. "What?" Palette asked. Fluttershy turned around with a small box in her hands. Light felt uneasy for some reason, but it wasn't until the middle aged mare pulled open the box that she felt her heart stop. "Somepony sent us cupcakes this morning!" > beam > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- When Captain Shining Armour reached the farm, what he saw stunned him. Guards brought out the box with the cupcakes and investigators sliced the treats open to reveal that in fact, they did contain pony remains. When he saw Pinkamena's daughter in the scene, he was even more suspicious. The mare who had opened the box of cupcakes, sat cowering, comforted by her daughter and husband. It was a terrible image. Shining stepped up inside the house and turned to the mint-colored mare. She had a scared look in her eyes, one that throughout the course of his work, Shining Armour had seen way too many times. "Don't worry, the cupcakes have been sent to the forensic lab. Your mother will be fine." He stated. She didn't seem convinced, slowly and silently she turned back to her terrified mother. He couldn't help but wonder, what if that had been Cadence who had received the package? Shivering, Shining Armour walked up to the lead investigator, his niece Andromeda. Andromeda was a very smart mare. Ever since she was small, her mother had taught her advanced magic skills. Everyone was surprised when she demonstrated talent for investigation, and no one ever understood why any of Twilight Sparkle's daughters ever decided to become scholar like their mother. They light blue mare frowned at her uncle. " I didn't think the killer would go all the way to the outskirts of Canterlot." Andromeda stated. She secured her investigator hat in her violet and dark blue mane. " All the cupcakes where delivered within the city..." Shining Armour shook his head. " He's a monster, but we are getting closer to finding him." Andromeda frowned. " You know, sometimes I wonder what Day Dream would have done." she muttered. Shining Armour sighed, ever since her sister's death Andromeda had never been the same sweet, kind mare. She vowed to find the Canterlot killer for her, but this worried her uncle about her sanity. "Andromeda, Day Dream would have wanted you to keep your head high. Trust me when I say that we'll bring him to justice." Andromeda turned towards a soldier and motioned for him to dust for horse shoes. So far they had none, but she was an insistent pony. Shining Armour went to the forensic, maybe he would have an idea of who it was. "Well, the muscles seem to have been cut by a medical scalpel. No cut is this precise, this shows he or she had some kind of medical training." she told him. "Not even when I analysed Pinkamena's victims where the cuts so clean." Shining Armour stomped a hoof in anger. " What about the cutie mark? Any signs of what it might have been?" The forensic nodded. "By the looks of it, the cutie mark had to be an instrument of some sort. The coat of the pony murdered was between turquoise and aqua, but no signs of identification yet." Shining Armour nodded. "Thanks , send those samples to the lab, I want to know the victim as soon as possible." the forensic nodded and placed the chunks of meat inside a plastic bag. Shining Armour gagged at the sight of it and turned away. He turned around towards Pinkamena's daughter, who was talking to a green-colored stallion. "Thank you so much Network, I think Equestria needs more ponies like you." she said. Shining Armour saw as the stallion blushed and turned to walk away. When he was gone he made his way towards the mare. "Its quite chaotic here isn't it?" he asked her. She nodded. "I never thought the killer would go this far, Mrs. Fluttershy is a very shy and nervous mare. its not fair." she said. Shining Armour nodded. "Nothing about this is fair, but when we catch him it'l end, Canterlot can rest in peace." Light looked at him with scared eyes. "Yes, but Captain Shining Armour tell me, how long is it going to rest in pieces?" Shining Armour didn't answer, he just gave her an empty look and turned around. He didn't know the answer to that. Pinkamena Diane Pie opened the newspaper that had been tossed inside her cell by a guard. The heading told her what she already knew, there had been another attack. Remains of victim found in farm just outside Canterlot, Captain Shining Armour refuses to comment. She smirked, Shining Armour was an idiot. He wasn't going to find the killer if he kept looking for remains. She read the article and slowly her expressions began to change. The farm belonging to Macintosh Apple and his wife, Fluttershy, has been one of the many in which remains of the Canterlot killer's victims have been found. During the delivery, the couple had been visited by their two children, Network and Palette Apple, and no other than Light Pie, the daughter of infamous serial killer Pinkamena Diane Pie. Pinkamena Diane Pie has been accused of murdering over twenty mares and stallions, including element of harmony Rainbow Dash. It is still unknown if Light had anything to do with the packaging. As she finished the last sentence, Pinkamena felt the way too familiar wave of rage overcome her. How dare they accuse her poor innocent little Light of doing that! Light was innocent! she screamed at the top of her lungs in rage. She wanted to kill now, she wanted to hurt anyone who did something to Light! A guard hollered through the hallway for her to shut up. Pinkamena gave a final scream before breaking down. She cowered towards the wall and began to sob. It was her fault they where accusing Light of this. She was the one who committed those crimes, she had been the one to cut their throats, slice them open and served them with frosting. If they where going to charge someone, let it be her. She took a deep breath and flipped a few strands of greying pink hair behind her ear. Pinkamena looked around, she couldn't be in the shadows anymore. It was going to drive her more insane than she already was. Pinkamena Diane Pie broke into a sinister smile as a single dark thought spread through her head. Slowly she turned towards the bars and began to plan it. The guards seemed to ignore the maniacal laughter coming from the hallway where the legendary Pinkamena Diane Pie resided. Little did they know it was the beginning of the end. > Dim > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- BREAKING NEWS: INFAMOUS KILLER PINKAMENA DIANE PIE IS LOSE Last night, the famous killer of twenty seven ponies, Pinkamena Diane Pie, broke free from her cell in Canterlot Maximum Security prison. The guards responsible for watching over the prisoner, where found right outside of the mare's cell with their throats slit. It is thought that Pinkamena has fled to Ponyville, yet no evidence has been found of her ever leaving Canterlot. Lead Investigator, Andromeda Sparkle, has said the following. "If Pinkamena Pie has fled CMSP, she must be found immediately. " It is advised for citizens of Canterlot to remain inside their houses for today, and not open the door to strange ponies. Captain Shining Armour of the Royal Guard has not commented on the fleeing of Pinkamena, but Princess Celestia has pleaded ponies all over Equestria to be safe and protect their loved ones. Search parties have been sent to both Ponyville and Canterlot, and Princess Luna has temporarily left her night guard to aid on the search. Yet, here in Canterlot, ponies are still wondering when will the panic end, and when can Equestria's capital city be called safe again. Network shut the newspaper and turned to look at the two mares sitting in front of him. The trio was back in CMSP, sitting in the mess hall table and awaiting news. They could hear the hoof steps of Heart Felt, walking over to them with four mugs of coffee levitated with magic. He gave one to each of them and sat beside Network. As he did this, he didn't speak a single word. Palette stared at her coffee, and strangely seemed devoid of any kind of cheerfulness for now. Light had a blank stare in her, making Network increasingly concerned. They had been called immediately after Pinkamena's escape. Light seemed to have gone into a state of shock since then. Finally, and unsurprisingly, Palette broke the silence. "Do you guys think she's heading to Ponyville?" she asked in a voice without its usual spark. Network sighed and shrugged, Heart Felt frowned and took a sip of coffee. "Well, one thing is for sure. We now have two killers in Equestria and barely a clue on how to catch either of them." Light's head snapped up, her eyes widening. " wait..." she hummed. The other three turned to her. "Wait, I think I know how to catch the Canterlot killer." she said. Palette raised an eyebrow. "Light, what do you mean you know-" "I mean that she told me how! She gave me hints!" Light almost screamed. "We have to leave now." "Are you crazy, the entire city is in a state of lockdown, where would we go?" Heart Felt asked. Palette rolled her eyes. "Honestly Heart Felt, loosen up. Haven't you ever broken the rules?" Heart Felt huffed. "Well, I am a prince heir of a throne who has to live up to his mother the princess and his father the captain. So no, Palette, I have never broken the rules." Palette narrowed her eyes. "You can be such a stupid buck." Heart Felt scoffed, "Well don't you dare start this! You always pick up fights." "No I bucking don't! You are just a self centred prick all the time!" "And you are a silly little filly with no sense of responsibility and common sense!" "Responsibility and common sense are BORING, Heart Felt. We've been over this, and I'm not a filly you dumb foal!" She said with a smirk. "Celestia all mighty, you are insufferable now aren't you?" he said shaking his head. "I mean you never understood anything!" By now Network and Palette where sitting in the table,watching the other two ponies argue. Network felt like he had to intervene at one point or another, but he knew that arguing with his sister was like arguing with a wall. She was just too hard headed. "Oh I never understood anything? You left me and never even gave me a decent excuse as to why." She turned to walk away. "Come on Light, lets go break the law, because we aren't stupid Goody Goody two shoes who need their parents approval all the damn time!!" She yelled the last part of that sentence to Heart Felt. Light and Network stood up and turned to follow Palette. The two of them did it like foals do when their mother had just scolded them. Heart Felt was left alone and after a while groaned loudly and turned to follow the trio. 'This is creepy.' Palette muttered to herself. 'You really did it this time Palette.' The mare stood before an old abandoned bakery in the edge of Sun kiss corner. It was dark outside, with Luna's night reigning over the sky. Her friends had all done exactly what she told them not to, they split up. 'Oh, I've seen enough horror movies to know how this is going to end...' the mare thought grimly. 'I'm going to end up in pieces in the basement of a psycho pony with personality disorder. Yep, they're going to have to carry my remains in ziplock bags.' Had every ounce of optimism abandoned her when she saw that place? She slowly stepped in, careful as to not ruin anything inside the old place. It looked pretty average for a bakery. The counters where barren and dusty, and old advertisements for apple fritters hung on the fading walls behind her. It was definitely an erie place. Palette held the flashlight in her mouth and analysed the counters. She was looking for employment records of any sort, to find who might have done the murders. After putting aside three cook books, she finally came across a binder with yellowing page inside. She opened it, eliminating the cobwebs covering it. Palette browsed through the costumer records, Ponies who owed money, Ponies who hadn't received their deliveries... Bingo, she finally found a long list of employees. She read through each name carefully and her heart began to sink. China Doll age 29 Free Bird age 16 Dandelion sun age 17 Rain Water Cloud age 19 Prima Donna age 15 Tree Hugger age 32 Lorelei Yodel age 18... Those names, where the names of all the victims. They had all worked at this shop at one time or another. Palette read through the names, these ponies probably took the job in their youth as a way to earn fast money. It was a natural thing for a young mare or stallion to look for work, but who would have guessed it would cost them their life. Palette then realised something disturbing. The killer seemed to be going in order. China doll being the first kill, and going on and on. Then who was at the end of the list. Palette gulped and ran a hoof through the page until reaching the bottom and when she saw the name, she had to take a step back. Palette packed the book under her wing safely and began to run towards the door. The pegasus began to feel a wave of unnatural fear hit her. She tried to open the door but it wouldn't budge. At this the mare began trying to buck it down, but she lacked the earth pony force to do it. "Come on you stupid thing!" she said as she gave one earnest kick. "Oh Celestia, open up already!!" Then Palette felt the sharp pain of a needle on her neck. She stumbled back in shock. "Wha-" she began to say, but she began to feel weak. Her legs gave in and her wings fluttered open, dropping the old binder to the floor next to her. Palette fought the drug given to her, but it was no use. The mint-colored mare now laid defeated on the floor. The last thing Palette heard was a soft chuckle and a voice, "clever filly. Just not enough." before everything went dim. > reflect > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heart Felt was walking down the empty and dark street of Canterlot. Why was he doing such foolish thing? Specially with two serial killers on the lose and after curfew. He wasn't even sure what he was looking for. Network had given the idea to split up, which Palette had argued against. Now, Heart Felt thought she was absolutely right. The alley before him seemed deserted, all he needed was a quiet place to rest and contact somepony with magic. He was convinced the four of them where screwed unless a guard or figure of authority came and helped them. The only reason he had truthfully agreed to join them was because he still had a thing for Palette, which of course he wasn't about to admit. Right before he entered the alley he heard something. Heart Felt snapped his head towards the source of the noise. 'Its only a rat...' he thought to himself. 'just a rat...'. then he heard it again. Heart Felt looked around the alley, down the road and through the trash cans. Yet he couldn't find the one responsible for it. "Hello?" he asked, masking his fear. "Who's there?" An unsettling silence answered back, leading the prince to stand straight. "I'm warning you, this is prince Heart Felt, heir of the crystal throne and son of the captain of the royal guard, nephew of princess Celestia herself. Show yourself!" he began to form an energy ray in his horn, and beamed ahead. When he saw there was nothing there, he lowered the power and sighed. "I guess it was just a sewer rat." he muttered to himself. Heart Felt suddenly felt a sharp pain on his neck and instinctively bucked his legs behind him. Somepony kicked him to the ground, but whatever had been injected in him had weakened him, causing him to not be able to stand up. He furiously fluttered his wings. His attacker stepped up from behind him and snapped a hoof down to the rebellious wing. Heart Felt cringed at the pain, but was unable to scream as the darkness consumed him. "Who would have guessed it took two shots to bring down an alicorn." the voice said. "and no, I'm not a sewer rat." Network and Light walked ahead through the street. Palette was supposed to have met them ten minutes ago in Candy Cane Lane, and she hadn't arrived, neither had Heart Felt. Network held an oil lamp with his mouth and walked behind Light. "Are you sure this is a good idea, Light?" The stallion asked. "Maybe they went back." Light sighed. "No, Palette wouldn't have done that, and Heart Felt is a prince, we have to find them Net." the stallion nodded and followed. It was dark, the time was around twelve or one in the morning. Light was used to sleeping late, as she had a mild case of insomnia. On the other hand, Network had been raised in a farm and was used to going to sleep early and waking up early. The stallion kept yawning, telling Light it would be best to find them soon. After a few minutes, Light finally felt bad for letting him up so late. "Network, you can head back and go to sleep, I'll find them if you want." Network shook his head. "No, I'm not leaving you here alone and besides dad would kill me if he found out I left Palette." He stopped to yawn. Light sighed. "Look, please just go? I can take care of myself Network. Just tell them we are still in the station, they'll buy it." Light gave him a sympathetic look that melted his heart. "Alright. Are you sure you're going to be alright?" he asked her doubtfully. She rolled her eyes. "Puh-lease, I've spent three hours helping Sapphire with hair, I think I can stand a bit of time in the dark." Network narrowed his eyes. "Alright,just be safe okay?" Light smiled "Okie Dokie Loki!" she said with a little jump. Immediately she straightened and frowned. "Where in tartarus did that come from?" Network laughed, then turned to walk away. "Be careful Light! Bye!" he walked softly across the side walk, and could hear the hoof steps of Light also walking away. He sighed and continued his pace, trying hard not to fall asleep right then and there. The young stallion felt a chill crawl up his back when a breeze blew near. He shook his golden mane in protest and refused to show fear. He tried to remember a song he had just heard in the radio not so long ago, it was a classic but he loved it nonetheless. He began to sing it to himself as a resource to calm him down, 'Close your eyes and I'll kiss you, tomorrow I'll miss you, Remember I'll always be true.' he hurried his pace when he heard hoof steps behind him. 'And then while I'm away, I'll write home everyday, and I'll send all my loving to you.' He turned his head to see if anypony was behind him, but only the faint mist that had collected for the lack of pegasi in the sky was there. He continued humming to himself. 'I'll pretend that I'm kissing, the lips I am missing, And hope that my dreams will come true.' there was the noise again, he gulped and began to trot instead of walk. 'and then while I'm away, I'll write home everyday and I'll send all my loving to you.' 'All my loving, I will send to you. All my loving, darling I'll be true.' he trotted faster as the noises increased. He turned around as he kept trotting and at the sight of no one chasing him slowed down. He then turned his entire body and stopped, maybe it was in his imagination. He was tackled, somepony was holding a sheet to his mouth making him have to breathe through it. He felt dizzy, slowly the lights faded and everything turned dark. Network dropped to the ground, his attacker standing before him and panting. As he picked up Network's body he kept whistling the end of the tune, and disappeared into the darkness at the end of the ballad. Light feared what lay ahead in the dark alley. She was left alone by Network, and now had to find her friends on her own. She kept her pace as she kept walking ahead. There was no sound, but at some point she could have sworn she heard somepony whistling to the tune of "All my loving.", but she must have been hearing things. Light sighed and stopped to look around. "Thats what I get for not reading the map before coming here..." she said. "Now I'm talking to myself, thats a sign of insanity." she huffed and kept walking. "Its alright, everything is fine. Everything is perfect, Light.." she tried to reassure herself. "You'll find them and we can all go home to have apple fritters." Light hoped Palette would be there. She had a way of making everyone laugh at the darkest times, it was actually a really great talent. She suddenly lifted her head. No, she wouldn't be leaving her friends here. She kept walking, and as her spirits began to go down, Light was frightened by the sound of a rat coming out of a trash can. She winced and let out a squeak, stepping backwards and lowering her ears at the sudden sound. "stupid rats..." she said as she managed to take a deep breath. "You seemed to get surprised easily." Light's ears shot straight. That voice was unmistakably familiar. It was calm, controlling and almost relaxing, if she hadn't known who the owner of that voice was. Light felt her legs shake and her heart begin to beat rapidly, still she tried to sound as controlled as possible when she turned around. She saw the familiar straight, pink mane and the dull, pink coat. "Hello Light." she said to her with a calm expression. Light took a deep breath before responding. "Hello Pinkamena." > flicker > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: The killer will be revealed in this chapter, just so you know. Pinkamena took a step forward from the darkness. Light wash't used to seeing her out in the open, she seemed almost like a regular pony. The older mare kept her stare, and Light could see deep within the tense calmness of her eyes, the glint of madness she was well known for. "I don't think it was a smart idea to come to Sun Kiss corner," Pinkamena began. "Specially with me on the lose." "I'm not afraid of you." That was an astronomical lie. "I've never been afraid of you." Pinkamena walked around her, with each movement Light became more nervous. "You have been. Everyone has." The young mare gulped down her fear and looked her straight in the eyes. "What have you done to my friends?" she asked with the last bit of courage in her system. "Me? Now why would you think I had anything to do with that?" She said with a hint of sarcasm. Light narrowed her eyes. "Where are they? You did something to them I know it!" Pinkamena seemed slightly startled by the accusation, but kept her glare. "It isn't nice to make those accusations, Light." Light straightened. "I am not leaving without my friends, Pinkamena." she said, spitting out her mother's name like if it where poison. Pinkamena was about to answer when she suddenly snapped back, her eyes scanning behind her. Light noticed of this behaviour and raised an eyebrow, "What?" she asked her. "What is it?" Pinkamena lowered her head, much like a lion preparing to pounce upon its prey. Light instinctively took a step back, keeping a close eye on the serial killer. The older one stepped quietly behind her, until her back was facing Light. She then suddenly and violently kicked at the wall with both hind legs, causing it to shake for a second. What happened next shocked Light. The figure of a pegasus stallion walked up to the entrance of the alley. He was facing Pinkamena, who glared at it with enraged eyes. Light stood behind her, completely stunned by how she had done it. Pinkamena stepped back, but didn't disconnect her stare. The stallion stepped up to the light, and finally his face was revealed. At this, Pinkamena broke into a twisted smile that made Light take a step back. Pinkamena swished her tail. " its been too long." The stallion smiled at her. "Its great to finally meet the great Pinkamena Diane Pie." Pinkamena chuckled, "Oh no, you don't understand. I am going to kill you." The pegasus placed himself in a position similar to Pinkamena's. He fluttered his wings and gave her the smile of a mad man. The mare raced towards him, her earth pony figure making her faster than most. He bucked her below the chin with his forelegs and as she stumbled from him, he took her head and attempted to slam her away. Instead she evaded his hooves and gave him an expert kick on the side of the face, blood trickling from his mussel. The stallion had madness beaming in his eyes as he took Pinkamena by the throat and tossed her against the wall, making the mare drop unconscious. Light remained watching Pinkamena's body colapse into the ground. She took a step back and turned to Him. The pegasus cleaned the blood from his mouth and turned his rage filled eyes to her. Light looked back, only to see a brick wall behind her. She desperately leaned against the wall as he approached. She had never felt so afraid in her life. He aproached her and with swiftness, pulled out a clothe and wrapped it in her mouth. She struggled uselessly as her attacker pressed the clothe, blocking her airways. "Sweet dreams, daughter of a killer." he said those words as Light's eyes closed and her body collapsed like Pinkamena's. The killer turned to the limp body of the pink mare and then back at the younger one before him. He smiled as he scooped up Light and carried her in his back. "you've gotta love reencounters." He said to no one as he walked into the cheap flickering light of the street. As Andromeda Sparkle stepped into the erie road, a chill ran up her spine. The wind seemed to blow at an unnaturally cold degree, perhaps due to the lack of weather pegasi managing Canterlot. She kept a steady walk ahead, and bolted her head up to a strange sound. Close your eyes and I'll kiss you, tomorrow I'll miss you, remember I'll always be true. And then While I'm away, I'll write home every day, and send all my loving to you. Andromeda blinked, was somepony singing a classic? She used her horn to send a soft light signal before her and was surprised to see what apeared to be three ponies. Andromeda lifted the collar of her coat, and walked forward. She kept a mdest distance from the three strange figures, but made sure to always have their sights on them. Whoever was there seemed to have taken notice of her, for now he or she had disapeared into the mist. The unicorn sighed, defeated. That was until her eyes took notice of something the pony had dropped into the floor after he or she dissapeared. It seemed to be an old binder, like the ones her mother kept old records on. She picked it up and browsed through it, but as she reached the end of it she began to feel worried. Several words and phrases had been scratched out with some kind of red marker. Instead of recipes, some of the ingrdeients had been changed for things like "bones, liver, brains, hooves." She felt a wave of revulsion inside her as a detailed diagram of a dismembered pony was drawn on the backside. "You sick, sick freak. Go to tartarus.." She muttered to herself and stared ahead towards where he had gone. "I swear on Luna's name, I won't let anyone else fall victim of this." With those words, the young, investigator mare trotted securely ahead. > Ember > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- When Light opened her eyes she saw only darkness before her. It took a second for her eyes to adjust to the darkness, but soon she hoped they hadn't. She had been tied down in a sitting position, her forelegs where bound with heavy ropes and her back legs where on chains. Her mouth was covered by a cloth, and only her eyes where free from the bounds. She turned to her left, and saw Palette tied the same way she was. Her beautiful silky main was messy and untidy, and her once strong wings where tied tightly by the base. She gave Light a pleading look and a whimper, her hoof pointing next to her. Light craned her neck to her side, and her eyes widened with fear. Network was badly bruised, with deep cuts in his back and neck. He had more chains and ropes than they had and his mouth instead of having a cloth had a mussel, much like the one Pinkamena had when she was in CMSP, this was probably due to the size and strenghth of the stallion. Light desperately looked around for an escape, but it was useless. She felt despare taking over her and her eyes swell with tears. She felt something strange, she could see her bangs covering her face now. Her once wild mane was now completely straight, it was the least of her worries of course, she was at the lair of a serial killer. An oily voice seemed to apear out of nowhere. "He put up a good fight." Their captor said. "I don't usually need so much effort to control a pony. The pegasus wasn't a walk in the park either, but the killer's daughter? Now she was easy, too innocent I tell you." Who was he talking to? Light shifted her head trying to find the source of the calling. "What?" Another voice said, it sounded weak. "Who ar-are you?" It was Heart Felt. "Ah, My name? Oh well, you see, I haven't used my name in a while. " there was a deep chuckle. "I think I might be going insane, can you believe it?" "My horn..." Heart Felt said. "My horn! Wha- what did you do to me?!" Another deep chuckle followed. "Tsk tsk tsk," he scolded. "Haven't they taught you not to talk out of turn, prince Heart Felt." "You sick bastard! Go to Tartarus!!" Heart Felt screamed with all his might. A sudden groan of pain and a smack made the two mares jump. "Ah, there is a special place in tartarus for me. As for you, I'll be happy to make your death long and fun, how about that?" "Please, just please, they have nothing to do with this." Another smack. Light could see Palette's eyes filling with anxiety. "You are only the entree, the main meal is yet to come. " Light fought her bounds but it was useless. "Please... Pallette... Not her, please..." Heart Felt was weeping, his pleading sobs sending a pain in Light's chest. Another Smack, Palette squealed. "I have yet to finish with that horn, I only took out the magical part of it. Now it would only be fair to remove it all, am I correct." Suddenly a light flickered on. Light could then see just how terrible Heart Felt's situation was. He was bound to a mettalic bed. The straps took hold of all his legs, and his alicorn wings where tied securely behind him. As for his horn, Light saw a cut just in the base, a trickle of dried blood resided in his faceco coming down his forehead. It was also the first time she got a good look at the killer, and could admit he seemed strangely familiar. A speck of pink caught her eye as she made out a figure tied to the wall behind them. Pinkamena was still unconcious and her long, straight, pink mane fell over her face. It was hard to believe how Pinkamena had turned into a hostage all of a sudden. "Good to see you're awake ladies!" The Canterlot Killer said cheerfully, his voice was the voice of a mad man. "Time to create magic, " He pulled out a neat scalpel and examined it in the light. Palette's eyes widened as she fought her bounds, Light saw the cloth covering Palette's face drop and the mare's mouth open in a scream. "No!" She pleaded. "Please! He is a prince! All Equestria will fall upon you if you hurt him! Stop!" The killer stopped in mid air and sighed, annoyed. "Well my dear, that will just make me more well known, now won't it?" "Please! I-I love him! " Light gulped back the tears as Heart Felt turned to Palette. His face was striken by guilt. "Oh how sweet." Their captor said. "And the best part is that, it changes absoloutly nothing." He walked and carelessly tied the cloth back into Palette's mouth. The mare fought, and did attempt to bite her attacker. As she did this he connected his hoof to her face, letting it aside as he walked by. Light's fearfull stare had turned into a glare of rage. She wouldn't let her friends die, she just couldn't. She tried to struggle out of her ropes. "Now, lets start with that horn shall we?" He tapped the shiny scalpel on Heart Felt's horn playfully. He then began to slice the horn. Heart Felt screamed in pain, his head attempting to jerk away from his captor's grip. The scalpel went around the horn cleanly, yet blood oozed from the fresh wound into Heart Felt's eyes and cheeks. "Hmm, the horn is too large. I'm going to need a bigger one..." He muttered to himself. He dropped the bloody scalpel and rummaged around until he found a large cutting knife. Heart Felt's eyes widened at the sight of it. "Now this is used by hay farmers to slice the grain cleanly. I usually use it for the stomach and liver, but today is a special ocassion isn't it?" He smiled lovingly at the shiny knife and then at Heart Felt. He then inserted the knife inside the large insicion he had made around the horn. Light began to shake violently in fear at what she saw, and Palette was weeping. He did the same thing with the scalped and rounded the horn, then placing the blade towards the base he pushed forward, letting the horn out. By now Heart Felt's screams had turned into roars and cries. Light could see the pain in his body and felt tears fall down her eyes. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine she was at home, in the table with her mother in her pink silk robe serving her pancakes. Sapphire was rambling about something again, but she didn't mind. Palette was working on a painting of ponies playing poker, and Network was smiling at her from behind his computer. All was well, all was well, all was welll..... She snapped back to the sound of Heart Felt's screams. His blood mixed with his tears dripped into the floor and through the floor boards. Network lay next to her, unconsious, and Palette was shrieking madly. Light saw nothing ahead, only the blood of her friend. 'Please, Celestia, please, mom, someone. I need a miracle, I need hope, I need something. Please let me save them.' At that moment, Pinkamena's eyes snapped open. It wasn't natural for anyone to wake up from a blow like that like she did. Pinkamena saw Heart Felt's bloody face, then her eyes drifted towards three figures. The mint-colored pegasus fought her bounds and her eyes seemed connected to the scene before her, by the looks of it the two ponies felt love for each other. A green stallion lay tumbled and heavily chained to the floor, he was unconcious and severely injured. A pink mare sat on the center, her eyes as wide and scared as her companion and her mane straight. Pinkamena then turned to the stallion. Yes, she remembered him. How could she forget the little pegasus she once took care of. He had changed drastically though. His mane was no longer charmingly messy, but simply an insane and untidy mess. His beige coat was now stained with blood and was badly kept, his cutie mark wasn't that much of a surprise, it was a simple vanilla cupcake. Pinkamena brought her eyes to his weapons, a large hay knife? She almost laughed, what an amateur. A meat knife would prove much more effecti- What was she saying? She had to kill him. When Pinkamena made a promise, it would always be kept. She looked around the table until she siezed her goal, a simple scalpel. Her back leg bent forward, until her hoof was nearly touching the back of the scalpel. She gave a swift kick and the cutting utensil flew into her mouth. She gripped it tightly and extended it towards her cuffs. A long time ago when she was a teenager, she found out by accident that a scalpel could make a very usefull key. A scalpel actually let her free from CMSP, as a matter of fact. Those fools never expected a simple utensil from the forensics department go missing. She heard the soft clank that ment she was free, and she dropped herself into the floor. The pegasus halted his actions, as he was about to open Heart Felt up, and turned his head towards her. His jaw dropped and his eyes widened. "You escaped?!" He asked. Pinkamena raised an eyebrow and stared at Heart Felt. "Even I'm not stupid enough to kill a prince, " after she said this she twirled the scalpel in the air and pointed it straight at him. The stallion stood in his hind legs ready to pounce upon her, but a swift kick in the stomach led him to step backwards. Pinkamena raced towards Light and the mint-colored mare. She cut the ropes holding their forelegs and unlocked the chains to their hind legs. The pegasus inmediately raced towards the prince, undoing the straps holding his body and pulling him towards her. Light on the other hand stood in defense position next to Pinkamena, there was almost no diference in their eyes. Light raced forward, punching him in the eye and letting him back. He tried to get to her, but the pink mare avoided his hooves like a lightning volt and bucked him hard on the chest with both hind legs. As they fought, Pinkamena carelessly and like the proffesional she was, took the hay knife, cleaned it with a rag that lay next to the other tools, and analyzed it making sure it met her standards. She took the knife in her left hoof and walked calmly next to the fighting duo. A trickle of blood came from his mouth, he stared insanely at Light who was glaring a him with anger. He once again tried to charge forward, but the mare ducked as he leaped for her. The stallion landed stupidly against the wall and stood up again, he looked around and found the scalpel. He held it in his hoof and walked forward, Light didn't break." He froze stared ahead blankly and staggered back. He spat blood and fell sideways, his scalpel landing centimeters from Light's hoof. Pinkamena stood calmy with the knife in her own hoof. Only a thin layer of blood was seen in the blade, she calmly sighed and rested the knife on the mettalic bed. On the floor lay the injured Heart Felt, Palette's hooves holding his bleeding head. She stroked his mane and weeped softly. He reached his hoof towards her, letting short breaths escape his lungs. He was losing a lot of blood, and fast. Palette's fur was now coated in his blood, but that was the least of her concerns. "Palette... Don't hurt Palette..." He kept repeating. "Its okay, he won't hurt anyone anymore." She said softly, sounding like her mother. "Now now, its okay." Palette tried to wipe the blood from his face, " Listen to me, its alright. Concentrate on my voice Heart Felt, don't fall asleep." A burst through the door made everypony jump, Palette turned her tired and worn face towards the intruder, feeling a familiar sense of despair. "What in Luna's name..." A female voice said. It sounded familiar, was it that investigator who arrived at her home when the cupcakes where found? "Heart!" The mare leaned against the bleeding stallion. "Heart?! " she pleaded. "Its me your favorite cousin, Andromeda!" The alicorn opened his eyes slowly and something sparked inside them. The mare turned behind her, to Light, Network and the body of the Canterlot Killer. Her main problem wasn't the still missing Pinkamena. "All patrols to Sun Kiss corner as fast as posible. We have a code ember, I repeat, code Ember!" She said through her walkie talkie. "Don't panic, " she said to Palette. "Help is on the way." > Light > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The next few hours in Light's life passed in slow motion. Soldiers and paramedics invaded the basement, pulling the killer's body away from the scene. Pinkamena had been very accurate, hitting the jugular swiftly and on the first try. The killer died before even figuring out what had happened. When Shining Armour arrived at the scene, he ran inmediately to his dying son, held his hoof and hollered orders at the paramedics. They took Heart Felt away, Palette left with him and Shining Armour did too. Light stepped into the street, Celestia's sun was rising beautifully illuminating the scene before her. She saw a squad of weather pegasi clear the skies in a V formation. The eerie mist from the night before cleared in seconds, and it seemed as if it was never there. Network opened his eyes shortly after the soldiers arrived, his body was badly beaten and he had broken a few ribs. He was taken by the paramedics to get treatment for his injuries and Light was left alone in the crime scene. The young mare sat on the steps of the bakery, she saw a light blue mass sit next to her and sigh. "I never expected it to end this way," Andromeda said. "I knew him, he used to live with his sister in Canterlot. His parents where bakers. "Light turned her head to listen "They called him Pound Cake. We went to the same High School,he was a Junior when I came in, He wasn't very popular though. I sat behind him in music class, I wouldv'e never imagined he of all ponies could do those things, even kill a filly like my sister." She looked down for a second, taking in all that had happened. Light nodded to her. "He killed your sister?" Andromeda didn't respond, she merely gave her a look that answered her questions. "I'm sorry if I said something-" "No, its alright." She reassured her. "She was a very intelligent mare, her name was Day Dream. She loved gardens and planting, as harmless as a filly could be." Light nodded and looked down. "So, why did he do it?" Andromeda sighed. "I think he did it for power, he wasn't liked a lot in school and practically needed attention. He was a born showman, the fact that Pinkamena was his foal sitter made him want to copy her MO, probably because he saw how much attention she recieved. " she knocked on the bakery's wall. "This was his parents' bakery, he worked here most of his life, and I remember the employes treated him poorly because since he was the boss's son he got better pay. He thought it would only be normal to get rid of those who made his life a living hell first. " There was a silence before Light turned back at her, "So why did he go after us?" Andromeda shook her head. "Thats what I can't figure out. So much has been going on lately that everyone is just losing their minds. Mothers would find out their sons where gone, husbands would spend days looking for their wives and Colts and fillies would be left orphaned. And now I have to tell Celestia that Pinkamena's on the loose..." Light had almost forgotten about Pinkamena's disappearance, she ran as soon as she killed Pound Cake. Light noticed something about her mane now, it had gone completely straight. "Well, this is goodbye. I have a ton of paperwork to do now on this so I might as well get started besides, I have to go visit my cousin in the hospital. Goodbye Light." The mare stood up and picked up her badge. Light shook her hoof and watched as the mare walked away. She gave one last glance at the building and from the corner of her eye she could have sworn she saw a wave of pink run through, then again it might have been her imagination. The Canterlot Central Hospital was going slightly mad at the moment, the prince himself had just arrived from an attack by the Canterlot Killer without a horn followed by his father, Princess Celestia was flying over there right now with Princess Luna and to top it off in the main desk, the secretary was being yelled at by an enraged yellow mare and a dramatic pearl coloured mare. "I want to see my son!" Fluttershy said in a dangerous voice. "I want to know where in Equestria is my daughter! YOU are going to be in heaps of trouble if you don't answer this RIGHT NOW." The desk attendant stared at them wide eyed. "P-Please take a seat ladies I assure you w-we can-" "Assure me??!" Fluttershy said. "Now listen here, No one and I mean NO ONE hurts my babies UNDERSTOOD, Now tell me where is Network or I swear to the goddess I'll END YOU!!" The attendant shivered and clutched his folder with all his might "...room 478" "Thank You!" She said. "Oh and it was nice to see you Rarity, come honey." She said in her normal sweet voice. Big Macintosh was standing behind next to Fancy Pants, both had their mouths open in surprise. Mac didn't hesitate and followed his wife silently. Rarity was now alone with the traumatised attendant. Before she had a chance to yell at him a gentle voice came from behind which made her jump. "Hi mom," Light was smiling weakly at her mother. Rarity took no time in clutching Light in a bear hug. "Oh my baby! What happened? You are all over the news, and Network and Palette oh my..." Fancy Pants hugged his wife and daughter tightly as well. "Light you had us worried sick. Shining Armour assured us you where in Canterlot with some friends. Next thing we know you are nearly killed!" Fancy Pants said. "I'm sorry I had to go, I had to help in the case. They sent me to talk to Pinkamena-" "P-Pinkamena Diane Pie?!" Rarity bursted. "Oh sweet Celestia," "Its alright mom, I know I'm adopted. I don't blame you, but this saved lives." Rarity hugged her again in tears. "I'm just glad you're okay." Rarity said sincerely. Light smiled and hugged her back. "Say, where's Sapphire? Shouldn't she be with you?" Light asked them, Fancy Pants was about to respond when someone opened the large white doors. Three security guards held the mare in their muscular hooves. Sapphire was arguing as much as she could. "Is she yours?" One asked. Fancy Pants face hooved and nodded. They let her go and Sapphire dropped into the floor. She stood up, dusted herself off and turned ahead. She broke into a smile and ran for her sister. "Lighty! OH you won't believe this, I had to go to the main office to ask for where you where but apparently and how stupid is it you need a pass to enter the office. How on tartarus was I suppose to know that? So I enter and like this mare tells me 'you shall not pass' and I go 'umm yeah I can' and she sends me to the security office when I tell her why I had to go to the main office on the first place, okay so I go and now again I need a pass and like these four meat head stallions just give me the same stupid speech so I say-" "SAPPHIRE!" The three chorused. Light smiled and hugged her younger sister. "Sis I missed you too," "Daww, you're gonna make me cry." Sapphire hugged her back. Light then turned to her parents. "We should visit Heart Felt, it was bad what they did to him." The older pair looked at each other and nodded. The news of the prince's state had hurt everyone in Equestria, and many prayed for him to be fine. "His wounds are bad." Palette said. "The scar eventually will fade until its less than a mark, but he'll never have a horn again." Light nodded as they both watched the prince with an oxygen mask and two nurses by his side. Shining Armour held his wife as she grabbed on to her son's hoof. Both had tears flowing down their cheeks. The nurses where also looking upset. Palette turned to Light, her face wasn't sunny and filled with life anymore. "Remember what he said in the bakery? Do you really think he meant it?" Light smiled weakly, "I know he did, he wouldn't have begged for your life if he had not." Palette's eyes filled with tears. "They need him more than they need me Light! He's a prince and he's meant to rule a nation I- I'm just an artist." Light held her friend as the pegasus weeped in her shoulder. Palette took a deep breath and stepped back trying to control herself. "He won't hurt anyone anymore." Light said reassuringly. "Yeah, at least we're all alive." A mare tapped on Light's shoulder, "Miss Light? There someone at the phone for you." she said. Light raised an eyebrow and walked up to the phone and picked it up. "Hello?" "Hello Light." It was her. There was no one in Equestria with a voice like Pinkamena's, so dark and dangerous yet calm and collected. "You're alive." Light said. "Where are you?" She chuckled her insane laugh. "I won't tell you and don't bother to track the call Light, its an enclosed number. It'll take decades for it to begin to find me." Light held the phone with both hooves and narrowed her eyes. "Light, do you know why Pound cake wanted to kill you? It wasn't for him to gain another trophy, it was for competition. He wanted you out of the way because he wanted me to see him act in the spotlight." "You knew it was Pound Cake all along?" She chuckled once again. "Surprise, Surprise. He thought that because you where there, you'd end what I started and take away the attention. Your friends had the misfortune of being there," Light gulped and kept listening. "Now I must say it was a pleasure to see you again but I must go," "Where are you going?" "I have some business to attend to, besides there's a friend I'm having for dinner. Farewell Light." And with this Pinkamena hung up. Light stared down at the phone for a few seconds before hanging it up. She turned back at Palette who was talking to Light's mother. "Oh Light who was it?" Rarity asked carelessly. "No one, just ... a friend from Ponyville asking how we where." Light answered sitting back in the couch behind them. "Network will be fine, he'll leave the hospital in a few days." Palette told them. "Thats good, we'll go visit him as soon as we can." Rarity said with a soft smile. "You guys are stars all over Equestria. You survived the Canterlot Killer, and now everyone thinks you're gods or something." Sapphire said, "'The Canterlot Killer killers' If you may" Palette turned to Light, "So what are we going to do now?" "We won't be the same again," "My mother told me once there's always a light at the end of the tunnel," Rarity said. Light smiled for a second, "Yeah, there's always light."