Spike groaned as he finally made his way into the main sitting room. Everypony was already there, enjoying some quality cider - the kind he wasn't allowed to drink. He grumbled sourly and walked up to Twilight, panting. "S-sorry it took so long..."

Twilight tussled his spines, chuckling. “Don’t worry about it, Spike. Why don’t you sit for a minute while I start the instructions?” Spike smiled as he fixed his spines, nodding. Twilight couldn’t help but roll her eyes as he decided to sit next to Rarity, who was currently chatting with Applejack. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie were in the corner, seeing who could drink more cider in one gulp - they were both already on their second glasses. Twilight was suddenly quite glad she had gotten the watered down kind. Lastly was Fluttershy, sitting on a chair alone, quietly sipping her first glass.

Twilight checked her mental checklist one last time.

Get everypony who needs to start off gathered - Check

Copious amount of cider being passed around to lighten morale - Check

Make sure you look absolutely fabulous - Check and double Check

Check checklist - Check

Make sure everypony knows their names - Check

Make sure everypony knows their personalities - Check

Double check checklist that we checked the checklist - Check and double Check

Triple check checklist - Check!

Twilight sighed, smiling. Tonight promised to be amazing. She held up her cider glass and tapped it with one of the finer silver pieces she had gotten for the party. It made a satisfying ‘Chding’ sound, catching everypony’s attention. Everypony turned to look at her curiously. She cleared her throat, smiling. “Now then, since we’re all here and have had a bit to drink, it’s time to go over the rules for tonight.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Pfft. Called it!”

“Called what?”

“That you’d toootally take all the fun out of tonight by making up a bunch of rules and stuff!” Rainbow sighed, lounging against one of the chairs. “What’s the fun in a murder mystery if there’s a bunch of rules to follow? It makes it all structured and totally pointless!”

“Rainbow, darling,” Rarity said, swirling her cider around in her wine glass. “You must get into the spirit of things. Even with rules, tonight is sure to be a treat~”

Twilight cleared her throat again. “As I was saying, Rainbow, there’s a very important reason for these rules. You see, I took into consideration how any rules will take somepony out of the experience. As such, I took the time to research a certain memory spell!”

“Hold on a minute, Twi.” A.J sat up a bit, tilting her head. “Y’mean t’say you’re gonna be castin’ spells on us?”

“Just one spell, Applejack. You see, that’s why I had you memorize your personalities so much. The spell I’m planning on casting will sort of lock away your real memories, leaving behind only the personality of your character!”

Fluttershy ‘eeped’ and hid her face behind her mane. “I-I’m not sure I want to forget who I am…”

“You’re not going to be forgetting, Fluttershy.” Twilight smiled reassuringly, putting down her glass. “Your memories will be slowly unlocked through playing the game - that is, if you’re good enough,” she added, smirking at Rainbow.

Rainbow grinned right back, leaping out of her chair with her wings flared. “Alright! Now that sounds like a party!”

Pinkie bounced up and down, her hoof high in the air. “Yes, Pinkie?”

“Oh, I was just wondering if we’d still remember other important-ishy stuff, like where the bathroom is! Cause, lemmie tell you, cider goes quick, and I reeeeeally don’t wanna forget where the bathroom is in case of a bathroom emergency!”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry, Pinkie. You’ll remember where the bathroom is.” She held up her hoof as Pinkie opened her mouth to speak again. “AND the kitchen.” Pinkie nodded approvingly as she sat back down.

Rarity cleared her throat. “Forgive my doubts, darling, but I’m not quite sure I want to be wandering around a castle all night without thinking of any consequences in… well… my own mind. What I mean to say is, ‘Scarlet’ and I do not really think exactly alike…”

“Well, for one thing, I’m only going to do the spell if everypony is up to it. If even one of you objects, then no spell, and we’ll play the alternate version I have set up. For another thing, there are safety precautions in place. Should any of you start to do something too out off place of your usual self, the spell will auto correct the situation, making the character devise a clever reason to do something else."

Rainbow tilted her head, processing. "So, what you're saying is..."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Like, if you decided mid way through the game to murder somepony, you would devise that that would make the night even harder than it already is."

Fluttershy cleared her throat. "I-Isn't it supposed to be that we kill somepony?"

Twilight smiled. "Yes," she said, winking. "But your characters won't know they're under a spell. The obviously fake murder will be all too real to them."

Dash smirked, hoof punching the air. "Aw yeah! I'm game for this spell!"

Pinkie trotted back from wherever she had gone (seeing as she suddenly had cookies, Twilight could only assume the kitchen. How had she done that so fast?) and giggled. "Sign me up! Oh, and make it a pink pen! Pink ink is so fun!" She munched a cookie happily.

AJ chuckled, downing the rest of her cider. "Aw shucks. If it's all in good fun, Ah guess Ah'm game. Just make sure Ah know my real name when t'mystery's solved."

"And mine too, Darling," Rarity said. "I would simply hate to forget about all those dress orders that came today! Not to mention Sweetie and all of you, of course."

After a moment of silence, Fluttershy sighed. "A-alright... I-it kind of does sound like fun..."

She smiled as Twilight nodded, checking off another item on her list. "Alright then! Now that we've all agreed, I'd like you all to get comfortable around me." Everypony glanced at each other and compiled, each taking a nearby seat. Without anypony noticing, Twilight subtly nodded to Spike. He smiled and silently left the room to go prepare.

Everypony got comfy, as suggested. Twilight smiled. "Is everypony ready?" They all nodded - Fluttershy noticeably hesitantly - and Twilight checked off the last box on her current list. "Very well then. Think of your character and close your eyes..."

Ponyville was sleeping. Fillies and colts were tucked away, sound and safe in their blankets embrace. The storm became the background lullaby to their dreams as they dozed. Thunder roared, but it was merely the roar of a dragon. Lightning flashed through windows, quickly becoming fireworks. But the piercing scream that echoed through the crystal castle could only be heard for what it was - the start of quite the thrilling night.

"She's fainted!"

Author's Notes:

FINALLY! Been struggling with FiMFiction all day to try and post this. For some ungodly reason, it keeps redirecting me to different sites each time I do something new. I'm still paranoid it'll do it again!
Oh well. Here you all are!