The scene was a mess. Blood streaks adorned the ground, and once-purple flesh was now a deep shade of crimson. Carrot Top was the first one notified. They had been very close, after all. When Carrot Top would arrive, not even she could be prepared for what Gumshoe was looking at right now. It was disgusting and sloppy work. The bear really did a number on that poor girl. She probably didn't even see it coming, if her face had anything to say about the whole ordeal. Gold Star pulled in as Gumshoe was examining Berry Punch's dismembered head. Gold Star was the pegasus sheriff of Ponyville, and his cutie mark was a bright gold star. It was rumored that Silverstar was Gold Star's brother, but Gold Star quickly dispelled that theory.

"By Celestia! What sick bastard did this number on her?" Gold Star had seen plenty of things in his life, but even this was overkill.

"Animal mauling. See the bite marks along the neck? The way it was torn apart with teeth?" Gumshoe pointed to

"Not really. Then again, I'm a police chief, not a detective. It's your job to figure out what happened, not mine." Gold Star spat into the bushes and licked his lips.

"This would seem like a typical animal killing... but something isn't right."

"You're telling me! No sane animal would go that far. But this does make me wonder; if it ain't an animal, then what is it?" Gold Star lifted up a bloody bone, examining the bite marks penetrating deep into the marrow.

"Ever heard of the Blut Flügeln, Gold Star?" Gumshoe levitated a few hairs into a bag. His normally grey hooves were lightly stained by the dried blood coating the dirt.

"What? That old mare's tale from when we were kids? Come on, we both know old 'Bloody Wings' ain't real. It was just a story to keep us on curfew." Gold Star scoffed at the very idea that a vampire could be in the midst of the town.

"Each year Equestrian scientists discover thousands of new species of bugs, birds, and fish. Every once in a while, we also find a mammal. What's to stop the Flügeln from being a real creature?" Gumshoe wasn't a big believer in faith and religion, but he was a true disciple of science.

"Even if they did exist, they just stole the blood of the victim. They didn't mutilate the body or anything of that sort."

"You've obviously only heard the Equestrian version. I remember distinctly that the original Flügeln tore their victims apart."

"What kind of sick childhood did you have? I just can't bring myself to believe stories for children involved mutilation."

"Do you even remember Strickmuster?"

"The one who stitched the skin of its victi-" Gold Star's face became very stern. "Well now I'm just troubled by the thought that a Bloody Wings could be right in our midst. You ever thought about writing horror, Gumshoe?"

"Quite often, as it happens." Gumshoe saw Peace Keeper walking with Carrot Top. Carrot Top was anxious, and seeing her dead friend was sure to make it even more difficult for her. "It's the girl. I'll talk to her first."

"I just don't understand why it had to be her! Oh Celestia..." Carrot Top was welling up in tears. This grey and white unicorn just didn't understand how hard this hit her.

"..." Gumshoes kept quiet. He knew how hard this must be for her. For a moment, he even saw himself in her. His minde went back several years, and he remembered his partner, Dioptre.

"Come on. I just got a call of a homicide on Sweet Street." Dioptre was a light blue mare with a white mane. She had a talent for discovering clues where Gumshoe had seen none. They were a perfect team, and they never once made a false arrest. This doesn't mean that they caught every criminal, but they did a pretty good job. On this particular day, however, the would never catch the criminal. The two made it to Sweet Street with fleet hooves, only to discover the crime never was. It was a trap, elaborately organized by Tom Diamond, a luxurious crime boss who was tired of their meddling. Dioptre never stood a chance; her head was blown off with little more than a click of the trigger. War-machines, they were called. The weapon used to kill her was a gun, long sealed away from the public. Why they couldn't have just killed himself, Gumshoe would never know. The blank-flanked detective felt like in that quick, powerful rush for Tom's throat, he could have died twice and still been running full force at him. It was the first and last time Gumshoe ever killed someone. He could still see the smug, satisfied look the dead stallion wore as Gumshoe lifted himself off of the bulky horse.

Gumshoe had cracked. Tom had won.