“Good morning and hello, everypony! This is Robin Tweet reporting to you live with Twilight Sparkle! Twilight, could you tell Ponyville and I what has been happening in the past few weeks?” A brown-red pony with a straight black mane held the microphone toward Twilight, who looked a bit uncomfortable.

Rarity snapped to attention. She sat up in her overly cushioned bed and turned the volume up on the small old fashion TV in front of her.

“W-well, as you should know, there have been a few murders in Ponyville. They all happen to be my c-closest friends…” Twilight trailed off as she tried to keep the tears at bay, breathing in deeply

“Oh Twilight,” Rarity sighed, looking around the room. “I wish I could get out of this place so I could comfort you.” She looked around at the cushioned walls, the bare floor, the one big white chair in the corner. It’s not quite fair for me to be here. Rarity thought to herself. I’m not even crazy. I mean, sure, I am a bit paranoid but not insane!

“Yes, we all know of this. It’s very tragic.” Robin’s voice was mostly unemotional, with a hint of sadness. She probably had some wort of training to keep her composure on TV.“Could you tell me about the last murder? From what I know it was especially horrible.”

“I… I suppose,” Twilight looked down at her hooves. Rarity watched her friend, and wished she could hug her through that cold, glass screen.

“Well,” Twilight’s voice continued. “A friend of ours told us that Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie had asked to be alone together in Applejack’s old barn. Of course, Rarity and I found this suspicious, seeing how AJ is… gone. So we went to check on them. When we got there… we saw the most horrendous sight.” The purple unicorn choked on her words. Her faithful assistant, Spike, stood next to her and grasped her hoof in his paw, wiping a single tear from his eye and handing her a tissue.

“What was it that you saw, Twilight?” Robin asked, leaning a little closer.

Twilight’s voice got soft and quiet. Rarity hurriedly turned the sound up to hear, even though she has already seen what Twilight was about to describe.

“...Guts were all over the floor. In the corner was a tray of horrible looking medical things and a big, rusty cage. Pinkie and Rainbow were chained to the wall. Pinkie was long gone, her mouth was sewn shut. There were a bunch of cuts on her body, and blood was all over her. Rainbow Dash was still alive, but she had this contraption over her head…”

“And what was that contraption?” Robin asked, a little more emotion in her voice, causing it to waver.

“I’m not sure exactly,” Twilight answered. “I’ve never seen such a thing, and I couldn’t find it in any of my books. It was big and metal, and it was attached to her jaws. Rainbow started to yell, but right before she could something happened. Something in the … thing on her head snapped and it pulled her jaws apart with such force, I could hear her neck break. Blood and brains were pouring from her mouth… by then I couldn’t take the sight anymore and I ran home. Rarity stayed though. She took them to the police.” Twilight broke into tears as she finished, and hugged Spike to her chest tightly. The baby dragon cried a little too, but not nearly as much as Twilight’s loud sobbing.

Robin Tweet lowered her head, a solemn look on her face. “Thank you, Twilight.” She turned to the camera, looking into the eyes of all the ponies watching. “I’d like to say one thing. Whoever this killer is, if they are watching, stop. You’re doing horrible things to innocent ponies. Just, stop. The police will find you."

The news cast switched to the weather quickly, probably because Twilight’s sobbing grew to the point of hysteria and they don’t want that on live television.

Rarity sighed and curled up on her bed. The past few weeks had been horrible to her. Three weeks ago, she was creating dresses and going to the spa with Fluttershy, having fun with her friends. Now, all but one of her friends are dead and she’s locked in a mental ward.

Why, Celestia? Thought Rarity, as she began to drift off. Why is this happening to me?

---

“Miss Rarity, you have a visitor.”

Rarity awoke ungracefully from her sleep, almost falling off her bed. “A visitor?” She said aloud. “Who is it?” Rarity hurried to the door and looked through the small, square window.

A big, grey colt looked back at her. “It’s Princess Luna, Miss Rarity.” He answered.

“Princess Luna?” Rarity squealed. “W-why is she coming to see me? She must have the wrong... Rarity.”

“I’m not sure, Miss. But she gave us a description, and she wants you.”

“W-well, ok. Let me out, please.” Rarity quickly checked her mane and tail. They were both tied into messy buns. Rarity didn’t have much to work with, no brushes, no mane-spray, nothing besides a few hair ties she had kept on her hoof when they brought her in.

Several locks turned, then the heavy door opened wide. The colt guided Rarity to the visiting room. In a corner there was a small table. Sitting in one of the chairs was Luna herself. She looked slightly scared and had her head lowered, as if she didn’t want to be noticed.

Rarity walked over to her and sat down. “P-princess? What do you want from... me?”

Luna looked at her, worry glinted in her eyes. "Are you okay?" she asked, ignoring Rarity's question.

"I suppose," Rarity frowned. "But, Princess--"

"Oh, Rarity!" Luna wailed, standing up and throwing herself at the unicorn. "I'll get you out of here, I promise. You'll be back home in no time, where it's safe." Luna drew back and looked Rarity in the eyes. "I'm so sorry."

Rarity carefully wriggled away from the Princess's grasp. "Pardon me, Princess, but why--"

Luna rambled on. "Oh, Rarity, when I heard what was happening I came down here as fast as I could! I'll keep you safe, I'll keep you company. No need to worry when Luna's here." She smiled at Rarity.

"Princess Luna!" Rarity shouted, pulling away from her. "Please, just explain to me what is happening."

Luna looked hurt for a moment, but nodded. "Sorry, Rarity." She said, blushing. "I came out here to Ponyville to keep you company! Oh, and to help keep order. It is one of the many duties of a princess to comfort her subjects in times like this. Celly thought I could use the practice."

Rarity blinked. That sort of made sense. "But why me?" she asked.

Luna grinned. "Well, you've obviously been the most affected, and I just can't allow you to stay here in this dump! Celly also told me to get you out of here, you are of royal blood, you know."

Rarity stared at Luna, her jaw dropping to the floor. "R-royal blood?" she stammered.

"Well, of course! Your family is not-so-distant cousins of mine." Luna frowned at Rarity. "You didn't know?"

She shook her head. "N-no! I knew that my family was wealthy and of a higher class, but not royal!"

The princess giggled. "Anyway, let's get you out of here, Miss Rarity." She smiled and walked towards the door. "I paid a good amount of bits to have you taken out." she added, nodding to one of the guards.

A royal carriage awaited them outside. Luna and Rarity stepped in and got comfortable as the carriage strolled down the road towards Ponyville. Luna sat across from Rarity, never taking her eyes off her. "Thank you." she said suddenly.

Rarity turned her gaze away from the passing scenery. "Whatever do you have to thank me for, Princess?" she asked.

"For saving me, of course! If it wasn't for you, I would still be Nightmare Moon!"

"Oh, yes. You're welcome, Princess." Rarity smiled nervously.

They were silent for a moment. The young princess couldn't stand the awkwardness. "Do you mind if I stay with you?" she asked. "I'll need somewhere to sleep and eat while I'm here. Your house is big, right? Fit for a princess?"

Rarity nodded. "It would be an honor for you to stay with me, Princess." she smiled.

---

The carriage neared the entrance to Ponyville, stopping to let the two ponies off. One of the horses that pulled them in smiled at the princess and said in a gruff voice, "You be careful, Highness." Luna smiled back awkwardly and turned away. Rarity glanced at the colt, seeing a almost saddened look in his eyes. She wondered what kind of drama went on at the royal castle.

"Oh, I can't wait to meet my subjects!" Luna squealed. "They all seem so nice!"

Rarity nodded, smiling slightly. "Ponyville is a very hospitable place, Princess. I'm sure they will welcome your with open..." Rarity trailed off as she heard whispers fill the air. They were almost too quiet for the two ponies to hear.

It's the dark princess.

Has she taken Rarity as a hostage?

What's she doing here?

Has she come to make eternal night, again?

Ruby, stand back. She's evil.

Princess Luna held a stone cold facial expression, keeping her eyes straight ahead. The two ponies swam silently through an ocean of biting insults until they reached Rarity's home.

The two stepped inside, the door closing loudly behind them. They were silent for a few moments as Rarity watched tears well up in the Princess's eyes. She turned to Rarity.

"I'll go unpack my th-things," she stammered. "Please direct me to m-my room."

Rarity pointed down the hall. "Very last door on the right, dear." she said, sympathy heavy in her voice. Luna nodded and speed-trotted down the hallway, obviously trying to hold back tears.

Sighing, Rarity turned to her big, full body mirror she kept in the center of the main room. The mirror was almost as tall as the ceiling and shaped like an oval, golden roses and vines carved into the sides. The leaves were so well carved, you could see all of the veins and wrinkles. One would be afraid of touching a leaf in fear of it breaking off and falling to the ground. It was given to her by her grandmother before she passed on. She had told the young Rarity, “There's a legend that is you stare into your own eyes in this mirror, all the answers you seek will be found.”

At the time, Rarity had thought Grandmama was going batty from old age, and didn’t think a thing of what she had said. Now, after all that had happened, Rarity wished with all her heart the legend was real. “Oh, Grandmama,” Rarity sighed, looking at herself in the mirror. “I wish you were still here. I need help, and you were always so good at solving problems.” Staring into her own blue eyes, Rarity searched for her soul. “I’ll always be with you, Rarity.” Her grandmother’s voice echoed inside her head.

Suddenly, Rarity understood. Who would have killed off all of her closest friends, besides her and Twilight? What was so special about those two ponies? “Of course!” Rarity exclaimed, staring at herself in the mirror, a grin on her face. “It would have to be somepony close to twilight and I. Somepony who just happened to know where the bodies were… who happened to not be around when they had gone missing. Well maybe not somepony but some dragon!” Rarity squealed happily, knowing she had found the killer.

“Wait,” Rarity deflated. “Why would Spike kill the ponies… I know he is quite in love with me, and Twilight has always been like a mother to him… but, why would he kill the others?”

Luna popped her head around the corner, much happier than before. She must have given herself a pep talk or something. "Hey, Rarity. Whatcha doin'? she asked.

"Nothing." Rarity replied briskly, lost in thought.

Luna looked at Rarity more intently, and saw the detachment in her eyes. At first anger flared inside her that the pretty unicorn wasn’t paying attention to her, but then she calmed down. Scaring her won’t make her like me. “What’s wrong, Rarity?” the princess asked.

Rarity ran to Luna and put her hooves on her shoulders, shaking her slightly. “I’ve figured out who’s been killing ponies! I’ve done it! ...I think.”