Ace looked at everyone in the elevator. They all seemed to wear different emotions.

Octavia and Lightning Sky just glanced at the others for a few seconds before returning their gaze to the floor.

Brandon was pressed into the corner, his small shape shuddering with fear.

Applejack was leaning against the wall, casting glares at pretty much everyone. Rarity stood by her, trying to look at anything but the other ponies.

Black Storm and Snowflake were together, Snowflake tightly hugging him. Blossom stood beside Flame Strike, her face devoid of motion while Flame seemed to be trying to tell who may be the murderer by a look of guilt.

Shining Armor had his arms folded as he glanced around the room, Twilight standing beside him.

Thunderlane stood beside Noteworthy, His face full of worry. Noteworthy on the other hand looked at everyone with disdain.

Lyra and Derpy Hooves were standing in the other corner, Derpy was petrified as well as Lyra.

After what felt like forever for Ace but was only a few stretched out minutes, the doors to the elevator opened and everyone filed out, all their movements seemed laden with some heavy weight.

"Helloooo Everyone!" MonoColt chirped from his seat on a stand. One of many which were in a circular formation. His legs thumped against the side as he dangled them over the side of the stand.

"I hate you. I hope you know that." Octavia said with her dead pan voice.

MonoColt just laughed and jumped off the stand. His laugh was eerie and there was no hiding the insanity that seemed to drip from it.

"Oh I know that! That just makes me all the merrier!" He said before laughing once more. Once he had managed to calm his laughter, he vanished and appeared on the single stand that wasn't in the circle. It was much larger and was golden.

When nobody attempted to make any movements MonoColt let out a groan before pointing at the stands. "Go already!" he shouted and everyone scurried to the stands with their names. Screens were above every stand, including one that was empty. And its screen was just static.

Odd.....

Once everyone reached their spots, a magic shield shot up behind every stand, trapping the ponies between them and the chest level banisters in front of each of them. In the center of the circle was a large circular screen on the floor.

"Now! Welcome to the Trial of Vinyl Scratch! The rules are simple! Figure out the killer and vote for them! If you vote right, everyone except the killer lives, vote wrong and the killer is freed while you all get executed! Sound good?" MonoColt said happily while everyone looked at him with horror.

"That sounds horrible!" Brandon squeaked in terror.

"Well I don't care! Now! Begin!" MonoColt shouted the last part and leaned back.

Twilight was the first to take charge.

"Okay. So lets discuss the murder scene." She said calmly. "Vinyl Scratch was killed in the Music Room at the DJ booth. It appears her head was bashed against the booth multiple times and from the look on her face, the death was almost instant."

" So the murder weapon was the booth itself?" Octavia asked and Twilight gave a curt nod.

"Yes. We discovered the body after Ace had screamed and fainted. The time was 1:12." Cloud said, looking at the image of Vinyl's body which was no portrayed on the large screen in the center of the stands.

"Yeah....By the way...What did I hit my head on? It obviously wasn't the floor....right?" Ace asked, feeling slightly awkward for asking the question while they discussed the body.

"Trixxie deduced you hit your head on this which had been on the floor beneath you." Trixxie stated as she held up a small ring. It had sharp edges and was covered in what Ace assumed was his blood.

"Speaking of which. Trixxie thinks you should get that treated." she directed to the side of Ace's head and Ace realized that he had been walking around with a small cut on his head, the side of his head coated in a thin layer of dried blood. It disturbed him to think about.

"Alright. Now to the position Vinyl died in." Twilight said, attempting to keep the conversation on the murder directly, for now.

"Vinyl died leaned over the stand. So I assume she was attacked from behind."

"Well. If we need to figure out any suspects...I found Snowflake's headband in the hallway on my way to the music room, Well. More like tripped over it." Ace said awkwardly, he felt terrible for putting Snowflake on the suspects' list but if it helped figure out Vinyl's killer....

"Well. I woke up without it this morning. And lets not forget you, Ace. You were the first at the crime scene."

Ace nodded. "I know. Twilight told me while we looked over the body. But I know for a fact that I didn't kill her. You don't believe me though. I understand." he found his voice surprisingly calm though.

"So...Let us go over all our findings in the Music Room." Twilight said, moving on to the next subject.

The courtroom went silent.

"I found a scrap of fabric behind a guitar." Derpy said, holding up a white piece of fabric. "It looked like it got ripped on the sharp thing on the stand."

Twilight reached out her hand and Derpy handed her the fabric.

"Well. That's all we got? A ring, A piece of fabric, and Ace being the first person to see the body...Kinda sad..."

Ace let out a groan as he looked at everyone.

"W-We can't give up!" Brandon shouted only to receive a glare from Noteworthy.

"Unless you have any other proof. We're all giving up."

Noteworthy's sentence made Ace's mind do a back flip as he remembered the gloves.

"Wait! I Found something in the plant pot in the hallway!" Ace shouted, catching everyone's attention, he held out the pair of blood splattered white gloves.

"Hmm..." Twilight murmured before looking at Octavia.

"May I see those?" Octavia asked and Twilight handed them to her. Octavia stared at the for a few moments before rubbing her hand on the fabric. "Hmm....Its interesting.....Its a high quality fabric. Something like Canterlot ponies would wear." When everyone looked at her she quickly added "But I don't wear gloves."

"Hmm... Who here has been to Canterlot and is likely to wear gloves?" Twilight asked and everyone looked at each other.

"I have a pair of gloves. They're a aqua color but I have worn gloves." Lyra said calmly.

"So now we assume its a female, right?" Lightning Sky asked.

"Yes. These gloves appear to only be a fit for smaller hands."

"Wait...I'm female!" Derpy shouted and looked at her hands. Or at least Ace assumed so. He couldn't really tell that well because of her eye going the opposite direction.

"Ah' don't wear any gloves." Applejack said, crossing her arms.

"Wait.....Does anyone else wear gloves?" Ace asked, fear creeping into his voice.

"Rarity...You wear gloves, right?" Shining Armor asked, leaning over his stand to see Rarity.

"Yes. But they aren't made of that lovely velvet fabric. I wish though."

Wait a minute.....

"Rarity.....Octavia never said those gloves were velvet...." Ace pointed out and he noticed beads of sweat beginning to form on her head.

"I-I just assumed-" Rarity began but Ace was onto her.

"No. Rarity, you've been to Canterlot, I know because I saw you at the gala at one point a year or two ago. And you wore those exact kind of gloves!"

Rarity seemed stunned before her face turned red.

"A-Are you accusing me!? Cause last time I checked, you were the one to storm off all angry!" she snarled back.

"Yes." Ace said bluntly "Now it makes sense. Your the Ultimate Designer! Figuring out a material to make clothing wouldn't be to hard for you at all! Especially if you wore them!"

Everyone had gone silent, even Twilight. All eyes trained on Rarity and Ace.

"So what!? A pair of identical gloves to one you may have seen me wearing end up splattered in blood in a plant pot!? That doesn't prove sufficient evidence!"

Ace then managed to connect the dots between the ring and the murder.

"You know...On our first day here... I saw you wearing a green gem ring....And now I see its gone.. I wonder. Could it be that you dropped it when you fled from Vinyl's dead body!?" Ace snapped at her and Rarity's face paled.

"And that fabric. If you turn it inside out, you'll find it to be covered in sequins. Just like your dress!"

"B-But what about the murder itself! I am no were near strong enough to have slammed Vinyl to the point of death into a DJ Booth!" Rarity screamed back.

"Maybe you aren't." Ace muttered "But really...That is hard to believe. And plus, Vinyl's glasses. You probably used your magic to make them fall off. So Vinyl would lean over to grab them. You could then jump at her from behind, smashing her skull into the booth. Then you would put them back on her. Then as you ran away, you dropped your ring and disposed of the gloves in a pot. Using Vinyl's invite to me as a way to turn me into your scapegoat!"

The room went quiet. MonoColt watching in interest. Rarity staring at Ace with horror and anger. Everyone else terrified.

Ace stared at her, unflinching. When he had attended a few court cases, it had been over theft mostly but one had been about murder. He still remembered how the accuser would glare at the defendant. Until they gave up.

It was harder than he thought. Beads of sweat dripping down his face.

Finally Rarity looked down. Her eyes dull and full of defeat. Ace continued glaring.

"Well! That was interesting! Now! Time to vote. Turn your dial on the front of your stand to who you think is the killer! Simple!" MonoColt shouted, breaking the silence.

Everyone looked at each other. Ace swallowed around the lump in his throat as he stared at the dial. It seemed so simple to turn a simple dial. But he couldn't find it in himself. Taking a deep breath, he turned his dial to Rarity.

The screen above him flickered and portrayed Rarity's face. Although Rarity wasn't at all like the image that portrayed her. Her face was devoid of color and emotion and tears were beginning to form in her eyes.

Slowly everyone else began turning their dials to Rarity. Rarity looked at them all with horror.

Brandon and Derpy just stared at everyone else in terror.

"Guys...Do you want us to get killed?" Octavia asked and the two violently shook their heads before timidly turning the dial to Rarity.

Rarity looked at everyone before turning her dial. Ace sighed as his face flickered onto Rarity's screen.

The screen in the center of the stands flickered to life. It appeared to be a slot machine. The slots began spinning, flicking over faces at a fast pace. Soon the slots began slowing over faces and then they slowly stopped at Rarity.

Everyone bit their lip. That single moment, when the world seemed to stop, Ace could tell that Rarity was horrified, everyone was nervous.

Then a loud fanfare began to play and fireworks shot into the air. The word "GUILTY" flashed above the slot machine and everyone gasped, Rarity screamed.

"Well done! You figured it out! Rarity, The Ultimate Designer killed Vinyl Scratch, The Ultimate DJ!" MonoColt shouted as the image faded

Everyone stared at Rarity. Horrified.

"Rarity.....Rarity Why?" Twilight asked, staring at her best friend.

"I....I couldn't take it......And...I-I thought I could make it...I didn't...I didn't know it would kill everyone else in the process.... But...But I had to see Sweetie Belle again....I had to take care of her..." Rarity stated, her eyes staring into her stand.

"Well. Since you all voted, Its Punishment time!"

Rarity's eyes widened. "N-No! Please no! I beg you! Don't kill me please!" Rarity wailed and Ace had to look away to avoid crying like everyone else was ready to do.

"Too bad! You Killed Vinyl! You pay the price!" and the ground beneath Rarity vanished, plummeting her into darkness.

As everyone stared at where Rarity had vanished, all the screens flickered before going to a different image.

Every screen had a bold white text over a black background.

Rarity, Ultimate Designer, Has been found guilty

Commencing Execution.........

Everyone looked at each other in pure horror. None of them able to speak. The only audible sound was Brandon's sobs.

Then the words on the screens changed to something else.

Punishment: Over Worked.

The words faded to a boutique. Rarity was sitting at a chair. When she realized where she was she began looking around. Then bolts of fabric fell onto the desk in front of her, smashing the sewing machine that had sat there moments earlier.

Rarity screamed, or at least that was what Ace believed she was doing, as he could not hear her.

More bolts of fabric, along with some over sized spools of thread fell down next to her chair. Rarity jumped out of the chair out of shock, only for the chair to be crushed by a pack of what Ace assumed were dress patterns. Splintered wood went everywhere and Rarity jumped back to avoid it.

Everyone's eyes went to the door which is where Rarity ran to first. She opened it only to see what appeared to be shouting, angry fake ponies. Rarity backed away from them in fear and more items fell to the ground. Rarity spun around and bolted to the windows, shaking and pounding on them, her eyes wide with fear.

The fake ponies started moving towards her. Ace could now see their sharp teeth.

Rarity began screaming, though Ace couldn't hear, and she began ramming her hooves into every possible exit.

Soon she was enclosed by fabric and sewing supplies. No where to run from the fake ponies. Though Rarity was only focused on destroying a window to escape. It was only when the fake ponies where a few feet away did she give up, only to turn around and let out a terrified screech.

"Wanna hear!?" MonoColt shouted before pressing a nearby button. The room was quickly filled with wails and screams of terror.

"Help me! Someone please help me!" Rarity began to sob as she pounded, again and again on the window. Every motion getting weaker and weaker. Soon the fake ponies were upon her. Rarity slid to the ground screaming in horror as the ponies all crowded around her.

Everyone couldn't help but listen as Rarity let out the most terrified and painful wails they had ever heard. Brandon had become transfixed to the screen, as had many others, including Ace.

Ace suddenly realized what was about to happen and let out a small outcry. Right as he did so, pink splattered over one of the fake ponies.

Ace watched on in stomach-churning horror as more and more blood splattered across the wall and the fake ponies faces and hooves. He clamped his hooves over his ears, although it did no good, as Rarity's screams became louder and more full of horror and pain.

He saw her hold a hoof in the air, waving it as more blood splattered across it, soon enough, the hoof dropped, as did Rarity's wails and the fake ponies, now covered in Rarity's blood, refused to stop until all the items that had stocked up around them, had fallen on top of them, crushing everyone and everything remaining. Then the screen faded to black.

Everyone's mouths were open. Ace heard the force fields fade away but no one moved. Ace heard the sound of gagging and something soft and fluid-like hitting the floor. He bit his lip as the putrid smell of vomit hit his nostrils. He looked at everyone. All of them horrified at what they had seen, others a mix of angry and mournful.

Black Cloud was the first to break the silence.

"What....What the hell....." He glared at MonoColt. "How could you........ do such a thing?" he asked, MonoColt looked passive as though nothing had happened.

"Hmm? How? Well its rather simple, drop a bunch of items in there, watch as a unicorn is mutilated by fake ponies....rather simple isn't it?" MonoColt asked, only for Applejack to start screaming.

"What is ta' matter with you!? You sick, twisted pony! How could ya just watch, not even feel a little remorse for mutilating a poor mare who just wanted to get home ta' her little sister!?" Applejack had tears streaming down her face.

"Hey! She's the one who killed Vinyl Scratch! Not me!" MonoColt snapped back. "Now back to the elevator! I have to clean up the stupid mess your little friend just made!"

Ace looked over to see Brandon shrinking away from MonoColt's furious eyes.

Ace looked at everyone before walking over to Twilight. Her eyes were still transfixed to the blank screen, tears still pouring from her violet eyes.

"C'mon, Twilight." Ace whispered, helping Twilight towards the elevator. Soon everyone began to follow suit.

Once everyone got inside the elevator, and the doors shut. Ace thought of something.

I successfully avenged my friend's murder, and saved thirteen lives....So why do I feel like I just lost everything?