- >The candy cigarette isn't filling the craving embedded in your brain.
- >They're addictive, she told you.
- >They'll kill ya, she told you.
- >You didn't listen.
- >However, the last thing you want to remind your partner of is mortality...
- >So candy sticks it is.
- >You pull it out of your mouth, the sugary dust lingering on your lips.
- >Usually on these cases, you lead the charge, searching for evidence and clues.
- >Not tonight, however.
- >In the darkness and rain, Pinks walks ahead of you, her destination sure.
- "You seem on the up and up here, Pinks."
- >She turns back only briefly.
- >"I know who to go to in times like this."
- >That comment is sobering.
- >Has she dealt with this kind of thing before?
- >Shaking off the dread, you look up towards the horizon.
- >It may be tough to see beyond the overcast sky, but the road leading out of town is quite clear.
- >As the light of the streetlamps fade, your eyes adjust, giving the world an almost grey filter.
- >Not many p0nies live out beyond the city borders.
- >Jack's got her farm beyond the picket fence, and the Everfree hosts critters you don't need running around this time of night.
- >As Pinks marches on, you can only wonder why you're coming here, of all places.
- >The cottage comes into view rather quickly.
- >Fluttershy.
- >A reclusive one, for certain.
- >Dame never likes to travel outside her hut.
- >You've only seen her on rare occasions yourself.
- >"Let me do the talking, 'kay buddy?"
- >The cheerful tone has a clearly serious baseline.
- >Giving her a silent nod, you approach the door.
- >Three knocks oughta do it.
- >"H-hello?"
- >The sound of fear coming from the hut normally would spark suspicion.
- >This, however, wasn't out of the ordinary.
- >"Flutters, it's me, Pinkie!"
- >Her old cheerful self.
- >You knew it was mostly an act.
- >Then again, it usually was.
- >No person or p0ny could be that cheerful on end.
- >Pinks was more than willing to put on a show to please her friends...
- >...or trick the suspects.
- >Whichever case this situation warranted, it worked like a charm.
- >The door opens the slightest bit, revealing a tuft of pink mane, hiding her eye.
- >"Hello Pinkie..."
- >She eyes you, giving you a once over.
- >"A-Anon..."
- >She wasn't too pleased.
- >When Pinkie came by, it usually meant a party of some sort.
- >When you came by, it was often to enjoy some company or browse her pets.
- >When you two were together...it meant business.
- >And your kind of business brings bad news.
- >"What...happened?"
- >Down to brass tacks, it seems.
- >Normally you'd be the bearer of bad news, but your partner wished to take the lead here.
- >"Would it be alright if we came in for a little bit?"
- >The reluctant yellow mare closed her door.
- >A quick frown from Pinks shows this wasn't according to plan.
- >Being shut out by Flutters...
- >That's a new one.
- >However, the surprise fades when you head the loud clicks from the mahogany frame.
- >A lock?
- >No, she opened the door.
- >A deadbolt?
- >You didn't even notice it when she opened the door at first.
- >The light clinking chains this time around catch your ear.
- >"Come in..."
- >She makes way for you and Pinks to enter.
- >Walking by the door, your suspicions are confirmed.
- >Silver chain deadbolt, right in the door's side.
- >Looks recent.
- >You probably haven't noticed it.
- >Her pets don't see you THAT often.
- >Walking in, she shuts the door behind you.
- >The house seems a bit...disorderly, to say the least.
- >Things falling off of shelves.
- >"Would you two like s-some tea, or..."
- >A raised pink marshmallow silences the stuttering 'Shy.
- >"Flutters, I need you to do me a teen~sy favor..."
- >'Favor'.
- >What a dirty word.
- >A favor is what you ask for when you have nothing to offer in return.
- >Flutters took a step back, knowing this all too well.
- >"W-what...?"
- >"Gilda."
- >A visible wince is seen from behind her mane, trying to expose as little of herself as possible.
- >You know this griffon all too well.
- >One of RD's dive buddies.
- >They go way back.
- >Recently, however, they had a falling out.
- >Pinks and Flutters were at the center of it all.
- >"She's gone Pinkie, she skipped town."
- >The flat tone coming from Flutters concerns you.
- >Just how deep is this wound?
- "We think she came back."
- >Pinks shoots you a glare.
- >Guess you should avoid speaking out of turn.
- >Or at all.
- >"We need to know where she is."
- >If it was possible to hide in plain sight, this dame would be invisible.
- >"I t-told you, she's gone..."
- >It was a blatant lie, of course.
- >You could tell, however, that she wished it was the truth.
- >"Where did she go, 'Shy?"
- >"I-I...I don't..."
- >She was about to crack.
- >The real question on your mind wasn't how much this mare could take...
- >It was why she felt the need to take it in the first place.
- >Pinks was ready to drop the bomb.
- >While this was no Sonic Rainboom, the shock would be about the same.
- >"Flutters...Rainbow's dead, and we think Gilda did it."
- >The tears flooded down her cheeks.
- >"I...I knew the skies...were supposed to be clear..."
- >She saw it coming a mile away.
- "I'm sorry for your loss."
- >Pinkie glanced back at you.
- >Sorry Pinks, it had to be said.
- >A few sniffles pass as Flutters picks her head up.
- >"I...know where Gilda went..."
- >Pinks flashes a victory grin.
- >Why was this such an important victory?
- >You would never suspect of Flutters running with griffons.
- >"She was looking for Rainbow..."
- >So she was after Dash.
- >How would Flutters...
- >"...I told her t-to try the Dash Fanclub..."
- >Then you notice it.
- >Her black eye, hidden by her mane this whole time.
- >The new deadbolt.
- >The disarray in her home.
- >Gilda's been through here.
- >You clench a fist, shaking lightly.
- >Hurting 'Shy...
- >"C'mon Anon, we gotta catch her before she skips town!"
- >Damn right.
- "Thank you for your help."
- >The black eye is hidden once more.
- >As you step out of the house, the last things you hear tear at your heart.
- >The lock of a deadbolt, and soft weeping.
- >You and Pinks are heading towards the clubhouse.
- >"Thanks for keeping quiet...for the MOST part..."
- "Sorry, but no matter the circumstance, you mourn the dead."
- >"I know...I'm just super duper focused on catching her."
- >You swipe another candy cigarette from her.
- >"Those things will kill ya, you know."
- >You serious?
- "Oh come on, toots. These ain't even the real deal!"
- >"Blood sugar is as important as blood pressure!"
- >Even in these trying times, Pinks has the energy and spirit...
- >...to tell you every little thing you enjoy is bad for you.
- >You munch the candy stick with vigor.
- >Blood sugar or not, you're keeping this vice.
- >"When I get my hooves on that griffon..."
- >The poison in her voice would kill anyone faster than your cigarettes, candy or not.
- "Cool it, Pinks."
- >The rain is starting to pick up again.
- >You wish the skies were cleared today.
- >Then all this wouldn't be happening.
- >In the forest, past the Apple Acres, lies the CMC Clubhouse.
- >They often held 'RD Fanclub' meetings here.
- >As you approach, something on the ground catches your eyes.
- >A large brown feather...
- >Bingo.
- "Pinks, I know she's in there."
- >Those words set off the powder keg that's been building up.
- >She charges ahead of you, up the treehouse steps and into the building.
- >"YOU!"
- >Guess you were right.
- >You hear louds crashes and banging...
- >Pinks must not be happy.
- >You rush in after her, and gaze upon the scene.
- >Pinks has Gilda pinned, her hooves stamping down her wings.
- >Try as she might, she can't budge Pinks.
- >"Let me go, please, let me go!"
- >Gilda pleads for her wing's freedom.
- >"YOU KILLED RAINBOW!"
- >She stomps down hard on Gilda's wing.
- >You could have sworn you heard something break.
- >"You have it all wrong, please, let me explain!!!"
- >The desperation in her voice heightens, as does Pinkie's pressure on her limbs.
- >"SHE WAS MY FRIEND!"
- >As raises her hoof for another devastating smash...
- >"She was my friend too..."
- >At that, you grab Pinkie's hoof before she can smash it down again.
- "That's enough. She didn't do it."
- >"Anon, how can...how..."
- >She's about to
- >You gently lead her off of Gilda, who curls up to ease the pain caused.
- >In Gilda's claw, you see it once more.
- >In it's clutches, a picture.
- >The same picture you had of her and Gilda.
- >It's RD and Gilda at flight camp.
- "What did I tell you before Pinks?"
- >You offer a hand to Gilda.
- >She looks at you with tear stained cheeks.
- >Not tears of pain, however.
- >Tears of sorrow.
- >She accepts the hand, and you pull her up.
- "No matter what the circumstance, you mourn the dead."
- >Gilda brushes herself off.
- >"Thanks."
- >She turns back to the walls of the clubhouse.
- >Rainbow Dash posters adorn the sides.
- >"Dash..."
- >Another soft sniffle comes out.
- "What're ya doing here, Gilda?"
- >She scoffs.
- >"You already said it, bub. Mourning."
- >She holds up the photo.
- >"Me and Dash go way back..."
- "I know, Gilda. What I NEED to know is how you figured out how Rainbow died."
- >It's only been a few hours.
- >No way it's hit the presses yet.
- >"I...heard it through the grapevine."
- >Bullshit.
- >"You ain't foolin' us, bird brain!"
- >Gilda bears her claws at Pinks.
- >Clearly not happy with what happened before.
- >She puts them away, not looking for another fight.
- >"Hmph. I told ya the truth, I happened to hear it."
- "Gilda, you don't 'happen to hear' plans about someone gettin' whacked."
- >"Fine, I heard it from a rat."
- "A rat? Rats don't often hang out with griffons."
- >Pinkie's joke goes far over Gilda's head.
- >"Not that kind of rat, candy-ass. The local snitch."
- >Every town's got one.
- >Well, almost.
- >'Gabby Gums' hasn't been around for a while.
- "So you came here?"
- >"I wanted to try and save her."
- >The sobering tone causes the mood to flatten.
- >She stares solemnly at her picture.
- >"When I saw the skies...I knew it was too late..."
- >A single tear lands on her photo, quickly wiped away by her feather.
- >"And that's all of it. Nothing more."
- "Fine. We're out, Pinks."
- >"WE'RE LEAVING?!? Anon, how can you even TRUST-"
- >You press a finger to her lips.
- "I know the sound of loss, Pinks. We're leaving."
- >You turn to leave, Pinks walking out first.
- >Turning back to Gilda, you leave her with a piece of your mind.
- "You know, you didn't have to be so rough on Flutters."
- >"The yellow mare? I didn't touch her. I'm not like that anymore..."
- >You go silent.
- >Pinks follows closely behind as you rush through the Ponyville streets.
- >"Anon! Slow! Down!"
- >She yells at you through breaths.
- >No time to slow down.
- "We gotta move, Pinks! Gilda didn't give Flutters that shiner!"
- >Upon hearing this, Pinks catches up to your speed, as if she was never out of breath.
- >The trees rush by as you eventually come upon the cottage.
- >Something wasn't right.
- >As you come closer, the door is slightly ajar.
- >She deadbolted it.
- >Without hesitation, you force the door open in it's entirety.
- "FLUTTERSHY!"
- >Your cry of worry was not in vain.
- >Three Griffons back 'Shy into a corner.
- >"ANON!!"
- >Fluttershy cries with a desperate plea of freedom.
- >The trio turns their heads towards you in confusion.
- >At this, Fluttershy takes her leave, slipping through a gap.
- >She takes off, flying out of the door behind you.
- >The griffons aren't far behind, as they take flight, knocking you to the floor as they bolt out the same exit.
- >"Anon!"
- >Pinks pulls you up.
- "C'mon, we gotta help her!"
- >You rush outside, and stare up at the sky.
- >The rain blurs your vision, but cracks of lightning illuminate the sky, silhouettes of the airborne few being shown briefly.
- >Loops, turns, ducks, dives.
- >It would be a majestic display of aerial acrobatics if it weren't for the impending murderous intent.
- >You can't fucking help from the ground.
- >"AAAAHHHHH!"
- >It's too late.
- >The three griffons caught their prey.
- >In the sky, you see a griffon holding Fluttershy by her wing.
- >She dangles freely, struggling to escape, but to no avail.
- "FLUTTERSHY!"
- >You call to the skies above, your voice booming above the lightning.
- >The griffon looks down, a malicious grin on his beak.
- >Bearing his razor sharp talons, he lets out a final statement.
- >"Consider this a WARNING."
- >The final crack of lighting hides the sickening slice.
- >In a flash, it happened.
- >The yellow form falling from the sky too fast for you to react.
- >The griffons dashing away, their prize in tow.
- >Pinks screaming, louder than any lighting could ever be.
- >Fluttershy falls to Earth in front of you...
- >...followed shortly by the trail of blood, left from her now empty right shoulder.
- >You rush to her side, falling to your knees.
- >The barely concious p0ny looks at you through her blackened eyes.
- >"A...Anon...I'm...Sorry..."
- >As she passes out, her heartbeat still goes on weakly.
- >She's still alive.
- >You wrap your trenchcoat around her, and pick her up.
- >"Pinks, hospital, now!"
- >The tearsoaked Pinkie follows behind you as you rush Flutters to safety.
- >Another pegasus is not dying tonight.
- >Not on the cold, unforgiving ground.
- >And not in your arms.

