Meadowlark looked around the compact little encampment and snorted faintly in approval to see the sentries already posted while the others took up resting positions in the line, ready to 'Stand to' the second any alarm was given. The medics had set up their tent in the middle of the tightly-packed chariots – not that anypony was likely to need it unless they tripped over their own hooves. The main force had entered the Everfree Forest, but nothing in there would be suicidal enough to tangle with an entire Battalion – especially not with both Princesses present and in their current mood. All the rearguard had to do was sit tight and wait for their return, which would be morning at the latest.

Meadowlark was just turning towards her own bivvy when there was a bright flash and a pony appeared right in front of her in an untidy thunderclap of noise and burnt hair, collapsing face-first into a heap. She snatched up her spear, hearing the sharp rattles and curses of the others around her doing the same, and glanced reflexively over her shoulder to see the Corporal already on her way to cover her back. It was only once she felt Oak Heart tap her on the shoulder that she advanced cautiously out of the line to investigate.

The newcomer was a young Unicorn mare, twitching and shaking as she muttered unintelligibly to herself. She stank foully of blood and vomit, and although Meadowlark couldn't see any major injuries she clearly needed help. The Guardspony hesitated only for a second before scooping her up in her magic and hurrying for medical tent. Maybe they'll have something to do, after all.

To her irritation, the scene had caught the attention of the entire camp. “Corporal, get them focussed! Eyes outwards and watch those damn trees!” she barked.

“Yes, Sergeant-Major!” Oak Heart replied instantly, peeling away from Meadowlark's shoulder to canter towards the nearest sentries and issue a few firm reminders.

Muttering under her breath, Meadowlark wrenched aside the drab, olive-coloured flap of the tent and stepped inside, blinking at the brightly-lit interior. The doc looked up from unpacking his case and rose to his hooves as Meadowlark set her burden down on the nearest examination table.

“What have you got there, Sergeant-Major?”

“No idea. She just teleported in right in front of me,” Meadowlark started, only to be cut off by a startled oath from one of the medics.

“Holy horseapples! That's Twilight Sparkle!”

The doctor jumped in surprise and cut in between of Meadowlark and the medic, quickly pressing a stethoscope to the mare's chest. “You mean the Element of Whatsit?”

Meadowlark felt a cold chill run down her spine at the words. “Colonel Shining Armour's baby sister,” she corrected him. “She was here not long ago – what happened to her, Doc?”

“No idea. She seems to be unharmed, just completely exhausted,” said the doctor, peeling open the mare's eyelid to examine her pupil and pressing the frog of her hooves to elicit a pain response. “Somepony is, though – there's a lot of blood here. A lot. Miss Sparkle, can you hear me? I'm a doctor, you're safe-”

“He's dead!” Twilight whimpered, cowering away from the doctor's voice. “He's dead, Shiny... the Princess...” she trailed off in a mixture of tears and exhausted gasps as the three Guardsponies exchanged startled looks.

“Who's dead?” The Doc demanded in an uneven voice, shaking the mare gently by the shoulder. “Who's dead, Miss Sparkle? Where-”

“Silver... workshop...,” she sobbed indistinctly. “Too late, too late...”

The doctor tried several times, but could get no more response out of her. Shrugging, he reeled off an order to the medic, who passed him a filled syringe which he carefully emptied into the large vein on the inside of her leg. Dropping the used implement in a sharps bin, he looked down consideringly at her for a moment before turning to the frustrated Sergeant-Major.

“That's all we're going to get out of her, I'm afraid. She's burned way too much magic and her body's saying 'Sleep'. I've given her something to keep her under, just to make sure she gets some rest. What do we do now?”

Meadowlark chewed her lip for a second, her thoughts racing. “The silver workshop... it must be a place in town, or hereabouts. One of the locals will know. Make her comfortable, Doc; it sounds like I've got a body to find.”

With that, she marched grimly to the door of the tent and pushed her way outside. She found Oak Heart waiting for her, and forestalled the Corporal's questions in a low, hard voice.

“Corporal, take one of the Unicorns and a couple of Pegasus chariots, get fully tooled-up, and head into town. It sounds like there's a dead body somewhere in a silver workshop-”

Oak Heart's eyes widened. “A d-”

“Yes, and for pony's sake don't let on about it!” Meadowlark hissed harshly. “Find out where this silver workshop is, get in and search the place; if we're lucky, it's all a misunderstanding. If not, then act as you see fit. Remember, nopony goes anywhere alone. If you see anything weird, then bug out and we'll deal with it later.”

Oak Heart nodded crisply, her professional side taking over. “Yes, Sergeant-Major. I'll take Humbug, he's sensitive to all that magical stuff.”

“Good thinking. Get moving, Corporal. Report back when you can.”

Oak Heart nodded again and galloped off. Meadowlark watched her go, then swore under her breath.

“I knew this was all going too smoothly.”

Shining Armour marched at his Princesses' side, using all his training to keep the frustration and irritation off his face. They'd been assembled at short notice and hurried out of Canterlot to blunder through the Everfree Forest all night with no particularly good explanation, and if it wasn't for the fact that both Princesses had accompanied them, displaying terrifying levels of power that he could barely even comprehended, he would have been demanding answers.

As it was, their night had been entirely fruitless, following a circuitous route which meandered randomly through the forest closest to Ponyville and seemed to focus heavily around several spots including a little cottage near the edge, but for all the Princesses' veiled comments and private conversations it was clear that they hadn't found what they were looking for. Finally, after a brief halt for the Goddesses of Sun and Moon to perform their respective daily miracles, they had admitted defeat and set off back to their jumping-off point.

So it was with an aching head and gritty-feeling eyes that Shining Armour halted the formation in the field beside the apple orchard that they'd started from. He turned a rather pleading look at the Princesses for some words of encouragement or explanation for his hoofsore troops but none were forthcoming, so he settled for, “Good work, ponies. Fall out!”

The formation quickly broke up along company lines, encouraged by the smells of breakfast wafting enticingly from the rearguard's encampment, but as he fell in again beside the Princesses he could see one of his Sergeant-Majors hurrying to intercept him, a grim look on her face. He slowed his pace and waited for her salute, returning it with his own.

“Sergeant-Major?”

“Good morning, sir. Any luck?”

The mare looked uncharacteristically antsy – especially for one of his veterans. Interesting.

“Not a damn thing,” he growled sourly.

The Sergeant-Major took a deep breath. “Well, it's all been happening here. Shortly after the Battalion moved out, your sister, Twilight, teleported in. She was in a real mess; covered in blood and all sorts, completely exhausted-”

Shining Armour barely restrained a startled oath, and the mare hurried on,

“-We got her straight to the medics and she's fine, no real injuries, but from what we could get out of her it seems that she's stumbled on the body of one of the locals.”

His heart contracted painfully and this time he did swear. Damn it, it better not be one of her friends! Poor kid – even if it isn't, this is really going to mess her up. He nearly jumped when he heard Princess Celestia's voice behind him, anxiety lacing her usually serene, composed voice.

“A body, you say?”

The Sergeant-Major snapped into a salute, and Shining Armour turned to see both Celestia and Luna striding towards them.

“We must continue this in private, sister,” said Luna seriously. Celestia hesitated, then nodded, turning for the medical tent. The two Guardsponies followed, having to trot a little to keep up with the Alicorns' longer legs, and they entered the tent to the frantic rustle of the doctor leaping to his hooves and trying to hide the crossword he'd been completing.

Princess Luna cut abruptly across his stammered greetings and apologies curtly. “We apologise for disturbing you, my little pony, but we have need on this room.”

To his credit, the doctor stood his ground, for all that his protests were weak and incoherent. “Er... yes, well y'see...”

The doctor glanced back over his shoulder, and Shining Armour couldn't restrain a sharp gasp when he followed the stallion's gaze and saw his sister's form reclining on a stretcher-bed, her grubby mane scattered across the thin pillow.

“Luna!” her sister chided her, but Shining Armour side-stepped them all to reach Twilight's bedside.

Her head lolled to one side, her mouth slightly open in her sleep. Shining Armour could see the swirls and flattened spots in her coat where it had been crudely cleaned, but flecks of dirt and dried blood still clung tenaciously to her neck and left their mark on the rough, white sheets. She looks kinda scrawny, too, like she's not been eating right, he thought for a moment, then snorted at himself. Listen to me! I'll be baking her baskets of muffins and asking her when she's bringing a nice colt home with her next! He shook his head, Oh, Twily, what have you got tangled up in this time?

He looked up with a start when he realised that there were two forms towering over him. Glancing around, it seemed that they had persuaded the medics to take a walk, after all, but Meadowlark remained standing stiffly by the entrance.

Luna gave him a nod of encouragement. “Courage, Shining Armour! Your sister shall be fine. The doctor assures us that all she needs is rest.”

“That is true,” Celestia said pensively, “But time may not be a luxury that we can indulge.”

There was a definite note of anxiety to the Princess' voice, and she and Luna exchanged an indecipherable look which ended in a tiny nod from Luna, a small frown setting across her face. You mind letting everypony in on the damn secret!?

Celestia's horn glowed, and all sound from outside the tent ceased. Their breaths echoed faintly in the abrupt silence with a strange, metallic ring, almost like they were suddenly sealed in a tin box. Shining Armour couldn't restrain himself any longer,

“Forgive me, Your Highness, but does somepony want to tell me why my little sister is tripping over dead bodies, and why I just took half the Guard's active strength on an all-night nature hike?!” he demanded acidly.

“Shining Armour, please, I must beg your indulgence a little longer,” Celestia said apologetically. The usual serenity to her voice was gone, and he felt a sudden rush of uncertainty – If this is bad enough to worry the Princess, do I really want to know?

“Your sister has been involved in a matter of tremendous national importance over the last several months, the culmination of which brought us here to the Everfree forest tonight,” the Princess continued. “And I don't think I will surprise you when I say that we did not find what we sought. That is no fault of Twilight's – and I very much fear that this Guardspony will provide the explanation.”

The two Princesses turned their gaze on the unfortunate Sergeant-Major who, to her credit, remained impassive. And you didn't tell me about any of this? Shining Armour took a deep breath and started to introduce her. “Your Highnesses, this is-”

“273151 Sergeant-Major Meadowlark, Company Sergeant-Major of Echo Company, Fourth Cavalry Regiment,” Princess Luna took over, “Twenty-three years in the Guard. Born in Hoofington. Turned down a commission twice?”

Luna's voice rose questioningly at the last sentence and she narrowed her gaze at the stunned Sergeant-Major, whose ears had flattened themselves against her skull. Shining Armour restrained a smirk. Welcome to the weird world of the Lunar Goddess, Meadowlark, he thought briefly, A thousand years on the moon and the first thing she does when she gets back is spend months memorising the name and history of every single pony in Canterlot Castle.

“Luna!” This time, Celestia's voice had a hint of exasperation, and the darker Alicorn waved a hoof in apology. “Sergeant-Major, perhaps you can tell us what transpired tonight?”

Meadowlark swallowed heavily and, if anything, stood even straighter. “Shortly after the Battalion moved out, I was making a circuit to ensure our sentries were well-positioned and had clear lines of sight. Everything was in order, when suddenly a Unicorn appeared right in front of me and collapsed. She was clearly... unwell, so I retrieved her and brought her here. She was crying, covered in Celestia-knows-what. She kept saying, 'He's dead', and something about a silver workshop.”

Celestia jerked back as if slapped, and Luna muttered a low curse. Meadowlark broke off for a moment, glancing apprehensively between the two grim-looking Alicorns. When it was obvious that neither were going to speak, Shining Armour cleared his throat. “Go on, Sergeant-Major.”

“We couldn't get anything more out of her, so the doc put her to sleep. I detached one of my corporals with some magical muscle to get a location for this workshop from the locals in the town, and sent them with a couple of pairs of Pegasus scouts to investigate. One pair of scouts returned an hour or so later with a note from my Corporal.”

Meadowlark took a deep breath. “It's a bad one, sir; as bad as it gets. I sent our scouts back with another pair as reinforcements, told them all to sit tight until dawn. After that, they're to bring the civvies in and let them handle it.”

“Why Pegasi for the guard?” Shining Armour asked.

“It's close country, sir; a vineyard. Visibility is limited at ground level, but if they kick a cloud over to stand on, they can see everything that moves for miles.”

Shining Armour chewed his lip for a minute, thinking. “Good work, Sergeant-Major. We're breaking camp to head back to base; get Echo Company packed and loaded, then report to my Adjutant. We may have further questions for you later. I dare say the civvies will, in any case.”

“Yes, thank you, Sergeant-Major,” Celestia added in an oddly stilted voice. There was a ripple of light and suddenly the murmur of ponies and the thump of heavy-shod hooves came flooding back into the tent.

“Yes, sir! Your Highnesses.” The Sergeant-Major saluted sharply and left, looking thoroughly relieved, but almost as soon as the flap fell behind her the sound of the outside world disappeared again with a snap, leaving a foul oath from Luna ringing in the air.

“By all seven hells!” she snarled, stamping a hoof furiously. “A matter of hours, sister! Maybe even one hour!”

“One or many, it was enough. I feared this. I feared it all along,” Celestia agreed sadly, her head sagging in despair.

“Damn it, will somepony please tell me what in Tartarus is going on, here!” Shining Armour snapped, his temper rapidly coming to the boil. “I can't protect you if you're going to leave me blundering around in the dark while there's some sort of threat out there, killing ponies! You know who the victim is, too, judging by your reactions, so how about filling me in so I can do my job!”

The Royal Sisters exchanged another indecipherable look before Luna looked pointedly away and Celestia sighed.

“You're mostly right, Shining Armour, but forgive us – there are certain things that must not leave this tent. For several hundred years, we have been hunting a creature of some sort; a serial killer, if you will, who takes a victim and then vanishes. By a stroke of luck, we – or more accurately, your sister – recognised that Ponyville was threatened and investigated carefully to try to determine who or what the killer is. Certain things fell into place late yesterday, and we thought we had a solution-”

“We did have the solution, and still do!” Luna interjected darkly. “You remember as well as I do.”

Celestia inclined her head in acknowledgement and continued, “We had the solution and roused the Guard to hunt the creature down, but it appears to have slipped through our hooves. The body is the proof. The body will be the proof.”

“The silversmith,” Shining Armour said, understanding dawning.

Celestia sighed again, and for a moment the immortal, ageless Alicorn suddenly looked old – and tired. “No, not a silversmith, but a name. Silver Braise, a local craftspony. Your sister knew him well.”

Despite his rapidly-draining anger, Shining Armour winced. Oh, Twily!

“She suspected him at first,” Luna added. “Or perhaps more accurately, he was a newcomer and she found him suspicious, rather than suspected him, if you take my meaning. Obviously she could tell him nothing, and I suspect he was rather suspicious of her, too, albeit for different reasons. Eventually, she discounted him, but from her reports some of rest of the town were not so inclined.”

Shining Armour felt his brows knit. “If this was all some big secret, why was the rest of the town suspicious of him? Was he some sort of bad apple?”

Again, the Royal Sisters exchanged a look, and Shining Armour got the distinct impression that he was missing about half of the conversation somewhere. “I think it's best that we give you the whole story back in Canterlot. Suffice to say, we gambled – and failed. And now, we must decide how to manage the fallout of this affair.”

Celestia rested a gentle hoof on Twilight's shoulder for a second, then stood tall and lowered her horn until its tip touched that of the unconscious Unicorn. Soft light gathered on the Princess' horn, and slowly Twilight's began to glow in response. Shining Armour felt a stirring around him, a change in potential similar to the prelude to a thunderstorm. There was no breath of wind, but he could feel a gentle drawing of energy, tiny motes of magic flowing almost imperceptibly towards the stretcher from all around them. Unnerved and slightly awed, he held his tongue for several long minutes until the Princess raised her head and stood back.

“It is done, or as much as I dare,” she said, before turning to the anxious Guardspony with a faint flicker of a smile. “She had drained her magical strength deeply, and I have returned some of that to her from the magic which surrounds us, the magic that is found in all living things and even in the soil of Equestria. She would otherwise have slept for days to recover her strength. Now, she should awaken in a matter of hours.”

Shining Armour swallowed heavily, “I'm not too sure that she'll thank you for that.”

“Perhaps not, but it is necessary.” Celestia's smile was slightly bitter. “Time, time, always time. It is remarkable to think of all the aeons I have seen trickle past, and yet always at the crux of things there never seems to be enough time.”

She shook her head and continued, “I think that after we return to Canterlot it might be best for you to take a leave of absence, my Captain. Twilight will need as many friends as she can get – and also, I fear, somepony who can protect and counsel her. There are likely to be those who will seek to make political capital from this, and Luna and I must not be seen to be involved at any level. You will understand more fully later, but there has been considerably anger and resentment in Ponyville during this affair, and some of it has been directed towards Twilight.”

Shining Armour opened his mouth, then shut it again, forcing down the torrent of questions and disbelief which threatened to spill forth. She said that she'd explain back at base – stop blathering and focus on business. “What are your orders, Your Highness?”

“Let the Guard finish their breakfast; there's no point in hurrying them. No doubt the medical corps are anxious to have their tent back, so I suggest we carry Twilight to the farmhouse; it's owned by friends of hers. If you would oblige?”

Shining Armour carefully cradled his sister's stretcher in his magic and manoeuvred towards the entrance, doing his best not to jostle her on the soft, uneven ground. There was the same ripple of light as the privacy spell was dispelled, and raised voices came from immediately outside the tent. Shining Armour ignored them and stepped carefully through to find one of his Guardsponies stonewalling a thoroughly-annoyed tan Unicorn stallion in a heavy blue serge coat over a shirt and tie.

“-an ongoing inquiry!” The civilian rounded on Shining Armour, his gaze taking in the unconscious pony on the stretcher. “Ah, we seem to be getting somewhere at last! Are you in charge h-?!”

The civilian's tirade abruptly cut short with a little squeak, his eyes widening as he took an involuntary step back, and Shining Armour didn't have to look to know that the Princesses had emerged behind him. It was a little beneath him, but he took the opportunity of the distraction to set off towards the farmhouse.

“Please rise, Sergeant,” came Celestia's voice in the calm, serene tone she always used in public. Her hoofsteps sounded to his left and Princess Luna's to his right, forcing the civvy to scurry awkwardly after them. “You will forgive us, I hope, if we are a little pre-occupied at the moment.”

“O-of course, Your Highnesses. My apologies, my name is Sergeant Nightjack, Ponyville Police Station. I am here in connection with-”

“The death of poor Silver Braise, I understand.”

The Sergeant floundered in confusion for a moment before attempting a recovery. “Yes, Your Highness. I believe that the patient is Twilight Sparkle? I shall need to speak with her.”

“That might be a little difficult, what with her being unconscious and everything,” Shining Armour grunted acidly. What seemed like half the Battalion had stopped to watch the odd procession, stoking his temper even more. Come on, it's not their fault. You'd be doing it, too.

“Colonel!” Celestia's voice carried a mild rebuke before introducing him. “Sergeant, this is Colonel Shining Armour, Captain of the Royal Guard. Twilight is his sister.”

“I'm not getting in your way, Colonel, I was just saying that I will need to speak to her at some point,” the Sergeant pointed out carefully.

Shining Armour looked him over more closely. He was somewhere in late middle-age, greying around the muzzle and mane, with little round glasses perched on the end of his nose. His uniform was immaculate but rather worn, the silver buttons gleaming and the fabric washed and carefully pressed so often that it maintained its shape through force of habit rather than force of starch, and it stretched comfortably around a body which had softened a little through age but still retained a considerable bulk of muscle. His voice was mild, but carried a tone of authority that was accustomed to being obeyed.

“I will also need to talk to the Guardsponies who discovered the body. Is Twilight badly hurt?”

Shining Armour strode doggedly onward down the long driveway. “I'm sorry, Sergeant, I've had a very long day and right now I have a lot of things to deal with. Once Twilight's safe, they and I will be at your disposal. The doctor tells us that she'll be fine.”

He could see a big, beefy red stallion walking slowly through an orchard just past the house, stopping to inspect each tree, nipping twigs and inspecting blooms and whatever else made up the orchardist's arcana. A filly in a bright bow orbited him like a satellite, bouncing in high spirits, while on the porch of the house itself, a wizened form nodded gently in an old rocking chair, bundled up in a bright patchwork quilt despite the warming sun. Behind him, Princess Luna expanded on his answer, a hint of disapproval in her voice.

“She is but deeply exhausted, Sergeant Nightjack. We take her to her friend's house to find rest and peace, for we must return to Canterlot.”

“Of course, Your Highness.” They walked in silence for a moment before the police pony noted quietly, almost to himself, “It's a long way from the scene to here.”

Shining Armour forced himself to let that one go.

The little party halted at the foot of the steps to the porch, but there was no response from the old, green mare dozing in the rocking chair. Feeling slightly ridiculous, he cleared his throat. “Good morning.”

The mare's head jerked up off her chest, and she mumbled blearily for a few seconds before squinting down at him with the belligerence of the truly ancient and truly myopic. “Wha... eh? Who's that we got there? Speak up, young 'un! Darn youngsters ain't go no 'spect fer-”

The old mare was peering around the group and jumped suddenly in her chair, continuing in a much warmer tone, “Princess Celestia! Well, I'll be! I ain't seen Yer Highness in these parts since I don't know when!”

Celestia gave her broad, genuine smile. “It's been too many years, Granny Smith, and I apologise for that. The farm certainly looked a lot different back then!”

Granny Smith let out a dry, croaking laugh. “Right after my Pappy raised the first cottage here an' Ponyville weren't no more'n a barn at the river-bend!”

Celestia's merry look faded. “I remember, but first, we were hoping you might have a bed for Twilight? She's completely exhausted and needs-”

“Ya don't even have ta ask, Yer Highness, Twilight's practically one o' the family. Jacqueline Apple, you get yersel' down here right now, Missy, ya gots visitor's that needs ya!”

Shining Armour managed not to jump, but it was a close-run thing. How in Equestria do you get that much volume out of a doddery old mare like her?!

After a moment came the loud clatter of hooves from inside and a blonde-maned, muscular young mare appeared. “How many times I gotta tell ya, don't call me that, Granny!” she grumbled, before stumbling to a halt and dropping a clumsy curtsey.

“'Til ya stop biting, o' course, ya silly filly!” the matriarch cackled, but the younger mare was already scrambling to her hooves.

“Twilight! Princess what's wrong, what happened to her?!” she exclaimed in a panicked voice.

“It's all right, Applejack, she's just worn out. We needed a bed to put her in, and the farm was closest,” Celestia said soothingly.

“Uh... uh, sure, she can have mine, that ain't no problem at all...” the mare stammered nervously, already backing into the house. Shining Armour felt his eyebrow quirk upwards in confusion but followed along behind her, easing the stretcher carefully through the narrow hallway and up the stairs.

The mare waited at one door, shifting her weight from one hoof to another and her eyes darting furtively around. “Jus'... jus' set her down there on the bed,” she said in a half-whisper.

Shining Armour complied, then stepped back as the mare tucked Twilight in with care and fussed at the covers before tugging the curtains closed. It was a small room, neatly kept, with a brightly-patterned quilt on the bed similar to the one Granny Smith was using downstairs and a plethora of sporting ribbons and awards pinned carefully around the small dressing table mirror. The furniture was simple and rather worn, but it and the floor shone with the signs of decades of care. He looked up to see the fidgety mare staring at him.

“Twi's gonna be okay, ain't she?” she asked. While she might be unaccountably nervous, there was no faking the worry and naked anxiety on the mare's face.

“They tell me she's going to be fine,” he said soothingly, although that didn't seem to provide the mare with much comfort.

“Oh, uh, that's great. I, uh, I guess we'd better go on back down, let her get some shut-eye.”

He followed her back downstairs, trying to keep his hoofsteps light on the wooden treads, and found Princess Celestia sitting beside Granny Smith, chattering happily of times only they remembered.

The Princess looked up when they emerged onto the porch. “Is everything all right, Applejack?”

If anything, the nervous mare's fidgets got even worse. “Yeah, she'll be jus' dandy up there. Nice an' quiet – least 'til Applebloom gets home, but...”

She trailed off, before swallowing nervously. “Princess... do you know if Twilight managed to get to Silver Braise's place last night?

Princess Celestia stilled, her merry look fading. Behind Princess Luna, he could see the police pony's ears prick up.

“Yes. Yes, I believe she did,” Celestia said carefully.

“Oh. Oh, that's all right, then. That's dandy. And he's, uh, he's all right, is he?”

“No. Actually, he isn't,” came Sergeant Nightjack's voice, quiet but diamond-hard.

The young mare jumped, and let out a nervous laugh. “Ah. Nightjack, fancy seein' you here? Well, uh, tell him I'm plumb sorry, but it was all a misunderstanding! I'll be right on over to explain. And apologise, and if there' anything I can do to make it up to him-”

“I'm afraid that will be rather difficult,” Sergeant Nightjack replied. “Applejack, I'm very sorry to have to tell you that Silver Braise is dead.”

The last word fell between them like the slamming of a tomb door, and the young mare's eyes widened and a look of utter horror swept across her features as she collapsed abruptly onto her haunches.

“Oh. Oh, Celestia, no,” she muttered in a sick voice. “Oh, great Goddess forgive me, I killed him. I killed him! I didn't mean to, I swear! It was an accident, a misunderstanding, I swear-”

“Applejack, stop!” Nightjack barked in a firm voice.

“But-”

“Please, Applejack, not another word. For your own good.”

There was a short, horrified pause, all of them aghast at the unexpected revelation. Shining Armour could almost see the thoughts whirling in Nightjack's head, but finally the police pony cleared his throat and spoke slowly and clearly, enunciating each word carefully into the gaping silence.

“Applejack, I am arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Silver Braise. You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand?”