“Emergency call! Room 217!”

Twilight’s head snapped up. “That’s the birthing ward! Fluttershy’s room!”

“How’dya know that?” Applejack questioned.

“I’m well-read! Now hurry!” The girls sprang to their hooves and barreled through the doors, Twilight in the lead. They reached room 217 just as the doctors reached it. Twilight slammed the door open.

Then there was dead silence, as all the ponies stared at the four doctors, dead on the floor, gaping holes in their chests. Blood dripped down the walls, already beginning to congeal. And in the center bed, Fluttershy, her eyes wide.

“I can explain.” The Pegasus whimpered.

XXXXXXXX

Fluttershy sat rock-still in the interrogation chair, waiting for someone to enter the small room. She wished they’d turn that bright light above off. It was blinding her.

A door opened, then closed. “Gah, damn light…” came a voice; there was a thump as a hoof struck the bright light above, and it dimmed to a normal level. “Sorry. Dumb thing always acts up.” Said the pony across from her as he sat down. He had a slate-grey coat, a black mane, and a drooping walrus-style moustache.

“Oh, it’s okay, Chief Ironhooves.” Fluttershy said, smiling at the police chief of Ponyville.

Ironhooves pulled out a manila folder. “Well, I have good news. You’re free to go.”

Fluttershy blinked. “You mean… the hospital didn’t press charges?”

“No point. It’s obvious you didn’t do it.” Ironhooves said, flipping over a page in the file.

“But… but I was alone, in a room, with four dead ponies!” Fluttershy cried in disbelief.

“Yeah, at first things looked real bad. But then homicide got on it, and we discovered some key evidence.” The chief tapped a line of tiny printed text. “Cause of death for all four was severation of spinal cord and destruction of several vital organs; instant and painless. The thing is, the holes in their chests were huge; far too big to be made by a normal pony. You were only in there for ten minutes, tops, for god’s sake; a wound that size would require, at barest minimum, a half hour of cutting and hacking.

“Of course, your alibi was somewhat unbelievable.” Ironhooves stared at Fluttershy. “A tentacle monster crawled out of your vagina and used giant tentacles to impale the doctors.”

“Um… yes.” Fluttershy said quietly, realizing not for the first time just how ridiculous her story sounded.

“Well, it turns out, there actually is some evidence to support that.” The chief turned another page. “Multiple witnesses can testify that when you entered the room, you were nine months pregnant; obviously, that is no longer the case, meaning that something came out of there.

“In addition, we ran some DNA scans on some tiny traces of abnormal flesh left on the bones of the victims. It isn’t yours or theirs, and it doesn’t even match those on record in the department, meaning that it’s something else.”

Chief Ironhooves closed his folder. “On top of it all, we questioned over half the people in Ponyville; every last one of them testified, without hesitation, that you would never murder so much as a gnat.”

“Oh, goodness no!” Fluttershy said, nodding.

“Therefore, under overwhelming evidence that it wasn’t you, it’s been decided that a trial would be a waste of time.” Ironhooves nodded. “Like I said; you’re free to go.”

“Oh, I’m so relieved!” Fluttershy said, as Ironhooves got up and opened the door, leading her out into the hallway. “I’m wondering, though,” she continued, “did you ever find that… thing?”

“Afraid not. DNA trail leads to the bathroom where your unconscious friend was found, then goes cold. Rest assured, though, we’ll be looking for him day and night.”

“All right. Thanks again!” Fluttershy said as they reached the door. She flew off, actually doing a loop as she raced to tell her friends the good news.

Next Chapter: 2: What is this, Evil Dead? Estimated time remaining: 19 Minutes