Kat hated lying, but Twilight was so innocent and oblivious. For all her genius she does not want to face the reality. Her friends are dead, ponynappers leave behind a ransom, or means for the victims to be found.

No Kat knew he was dealing with a killer. His first stop was the crime scene of the latest victim, Rarity.
The boutique looked so wonderful from the outside, but nothing can mute colors more than death. Death is some pony that Kat has dealt with all his life, eternally his dance partner and always Death leads.

The inside was unsettling; the smell of cat urine, bad food, and stale air was prevalent. This scene was so familiar, he had seen it so many times and yet not even experience makes it any easier to look at.
Kat hated scenes without a body it made the scene clean and void of obvious evidence. The house was neat and tidy, everything in place and all in order. It’s the things that are out of place that stand out in these kinds of scenes.

Yet nothing was out of the ordinary, either the killer was meticulous in recreating the house as it was. Or the victim knew the killer and led the victim away from the house.

The killer is smart and makes his or her self well known to all. The issue is that Ponyville is a small town and almost every pony knows every pony.

“Well this in great” Kat said frustrated as he walked over to a trash can. “Whoever is behind this is a true demon, preying on the oblivious and_” Kat stopped, at the bottom of the trash can was a small envelope.

Kat smiled, “well looks like our demon has slipped up” Kat said happily as he levitated the envelope out of the trash can.
His smile faded though as he found the envelope empty, “well it’s something at least with this we have a delivery system.” Kat looked at the envelope meticulously for any defining features. The only feature a balloon on the flap of the envelope.

Kat believed there was nothing left in the house it was clean as a whistle and nothing is more frustrating when on the hunt.
The killer operates within comfort zone; the down side was that this killer operates in the whole town. The envelope is a lead and it was most likely from a party store, so that was Kats next stop.

Sugarcube Corner, such a light hearted name in a town with such a dark secret. The store was operated by two married ponies, Mr. and Mrs. Cake. Indeed the envelope was from this store, however they only used one style of envelope so the killer could have bought this but so could anyone else.

The next possible crime scene was the house of Rainbow Dash. It was located on the edge of Ponyville, so if the killer did take her from the house then some pony would have had seen them exit the town.

The house was large and very luxurious, odd given that Rainbow Dash had such a low pay job as weather control. Something was wrong with this picture and maybe a killer was not the only evil that lurks Ponyville has. Kat needed to be sure though, these thoughts were un-healthy and could lead to a killer slipping through the cracks of Kats resolve.
Kats cutie mark glowed as two small bumps protruded from his back. The pain was only a small annoyance as the protrusions grew into wings.

Kat and Night brought themselves to the entrance of the house and opened the large front doors to the inside. It was a nightmare inside, the words rainbows covered the walls with the pictures of countless pegasus ponies littered the walls and floor.

“Jeez what happened here?” Kat said as he continued to walk through the house. The house was unfurnished not so much as a bed to sleep on, or a chair to sit in. the upstairs was not that much different with one defining feature a small bed side table with a book resting on top in the very center of the room.

“Well I’ll give her this she is quite the thespian.” Kat said as her observed the rest of the empty room. The book was bound in black leather and worn after years of use; there was no lock on it.

Kat did not see another source of information here. No notes on the wall, unless rainbows in various sizes and shades is considered a clue, and nothing to indicate a hidden compartment. Kat knew this book would be eight ways of crazy, but he had no other choice.

Kat opened the book; it was a diary, the first entry dated almost 10 years ago.

Dear diary today after the race to defend the honor of my friend Fluttershy that resulted in pulling off the greatest stunt in Cloudsdale history and gaining my cutie mark. Three large colts came to me in black coats wearing some pretty sweet shades came to me and offered me a job at the weather factory. I am stoked I will have a job and no longer have to deal with the bullies here. I begin in a few weeks.

The first entry was not as deranged as Kat thought so whatever happened to this pegasus must have had been something that developed over time. Kat decided to skip to a more recent entry maybe it would yield better results.

I have been working at the rainbow factory a year now. The task of harnessing the spectra of the sonic rainboom is nearly impossible. The reaction is too sporadic for our machines to capture it. But I have a theory; supposedly what makes a sonic rainboom is a magical discharge of latent magic within a pegasus that is released when one reaches a high enough speed. If there is a way to separate the spectra from the pegasus then we can simply create rainbows at a phenomenal rate.

Kat was surprised, most ponies that get into the rainbow factory are rarely seen again let alone given a home outside and free roam to other cities. Something big was here and Kat knew he had something, but one case at a time. So Kat went to the last entry of the diary.

I have been at this too long; my last link to the outside world is now in the vats of the factory. I have an appointment with my friend today at her place it may be just the thing I need to get my mind off of recent events.
Vague but it was what Kat needed to get this investigation really moving again. Kat checked his list of names and a map of Ponyville. Fluttershy and Applejack were the most likely since they both live on large patches of land and would be very easy to conceal a body.

The only other friend was Pinkie Pie but her house being in the middle of the city would make it the least likely but not impossible. But Kat needed to make sure that his suspects don’t catch wind of his presence in Ponyville lest they get the chance to run.

“Alright Night I want you to fly over to Fluttershy’s cottage and keep an eye on her whereabouts while I fly over to applejacks and investigate her.” Kat said putting the diary in his other coat pocket.

Night nodded his head and began flying with abnormal speed. Kat closed up Rainbow Dashes home in the sky. The name did not fit the home, more like Rainbow Dashes Asylum in the sky. Kat hoped that whatever happened here died with whatever happened to Rainbow Dash for the sake of her friends and the rest of Ponyville.

The air was cold and uninviting, fitting since Kat didn’t feel like this was going to be a case to remember. The cold always was a comfort to Kat it brought clarity and a sense of freshness. Maybe it was the silence or maybe the fact that it reminded him of the dead that he surrounded himself with was comforting.

This moment of clarity allowed him to think. Why was this happening, why did this feels so familiar where had he seen this. So familiar, so cold; rains, screams, death all were here but no creature to stir the fear in this town.
Kat was so deep in thought that he almost flew past Sweet Apple Acres. The trees were without leafs and were drenched with ice cold water, the trees looked like claws reaching out of the ground, maybe a cruel irony or Kat had been at this for far too long.

Kat landed at the entrance and retracted the wings back into his body. He could remember the day he had his mark forced on him, the magic that the Slender Man had cast on him was meant to regenerate lost limbs so that he could be cut up forever. But the magic was old and required a ritual in where vile acts were forced on Kat, he saw so much blood, he wondered how he kept his sanity. The spell worked and it forced an ancient form of magic that was long forgotten. It was forbidden to infuse this magic on any creature, let alone any pony.

Kat had spaced out long enough he needed to think of now and what monster was plaguing this community. He made his way over to the house and knocked on the door. It was not long until her heard the sounds of hooves moving towards the door.

A large red Colt now stood before Kat, He was a good two feet taller than Kat and wider than him by a significant amount. He simply stood there looking at Kat for a moment and the colt in a very dull voice asked “Can I help you?” and continued standing there with his expressionless face.

“Um uh yes I’m sorry is a Miss Applejack here?” Kat asked finally able to get his mouth to work again.

“Eyup” was the only thing to come out of his mouth as he stood aside for Kat to enter.

The home was very classy; it was a very old west style home. It did not scream psycho or anything really, but it’s not always the décor that gives a killer away.

As that thought crossed Kats mind he heard hoof steps coming down the staircase in front of him.
The pony was a peach color with long blond mane as well she had an aura of wisdom about her yet something that troubled her was apparent in her posture kind of slumped over and a face of worry on her. But was it of her missing friend or of being found out.

Kat did not like this situation the big guy was obviously the muscle and having this large colt behind him did not put Kat at any kind of ease.“This here fella was wondrin where you were cous’” the large Colt said as Apple Jack finished making her way down the stairs. “Thanks Big Macintosh. And what can I do you for Mister?” Applejack said still hanging her head slightly.

“Oh pardon me I am Detective Kat I am here to investigate the disappearance of a Miss Rainbow Dash and Miss Rarity and many others” Kat said taking off his hat as a common courtesy.

Apple Jack perked up at the mention of Rainbow Dash “Have ya found anything? What news do you have? is she okay?” Apple Jack asked in a flurry of words.

“Well I was hoping you could help me by looking around for any clues I have reason to believe that Rainbow Dash was in the presence of one of the remaining friends and I need to find out which one.” Kat said already moving around the room looking for any oddly placed items or creaks in the floor boards.

“Well gosh I haven’t seen R.D. since she got back from her last trip to Cloudsdale.” Apple Jack said looking right into Kats eyes, If she had a tell it was the hardest tell in the world to spot.

“Did she seem out of sorts?” Kat asked knowing that she would have been if the diary and home were any indication.
“Well yes she was going to help me pick the apples for the orchard before winter but she worked very slowly and left with the job half way done” Apple Jack said once again never showing any tell.

“I see do you mind If I look around I just need to clear the area with such a large area and with the amount of people gone missing I need to make sure that there is nothing suspicious going on here” Kat asked very coldly knowing that this was personal for Apple Jack. Applejack gave a nod and returned to her sulking.

Kat didn’t have to wonder what was going on. Applejack must have had a relationship with Rainbow Dash. Kat wondered if she knew whatever happened with Rainbow Dash or what her “link” was.

Kat decided to put these thoughts behind him and proceed with his search. The farm was very standard. Live stock and produce for the entire town seemed to be here. But there was no sense of unease in the area, that sense of fear and panic always lingered when someone hides a body be it living or dead.

Kat had one final test since the gut feeling was not enough to clear the area. He took his hat off his head and put his horn to the ground. Channeling magic through it the sensation of electricity coursed through his body. He saw visions of the seasonal harvest and of the annual Sisterhoof Social and all the wonderful times that were had here, but no dark past or terrible events at all.

Kat put his hat back on his head and began moving back to the house. A smile was on his face, he could denounce the Apple family in this ordeal. Kat was glad that such a nice family was not involved with whatever was going on in this town. But as this thought passed his mind Kats frustration started to nag at the back at his mind, He had remembered that there are still two more places to investigate and it was already late in the day.

Kats mark again began to glow and he to glow as the same wings took shape. He batted his wings cleaning them of the blood from his body and making sure that they were correctly placed and even. With a powerful thrust he lifted off himself off the ground and headed towards Fluttershys cabin.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Twilight had finished packing up a small dish for her lunch with pinkie pie. This was exactly what she needed to get her mind off of recent events. She packed a dandelion sandwich since Pinkies lunches were more like deserts then actual lunches. She also packed some rubies twilight had found in the pantry in the kitchen.

She levitated her bag onto her back and told spike it was time to go. She walked out the door to the cool winter air, the trees where bare and the town was quiet. Twilight had an uneasy feeling as she made her way to Sugarcube Corner she had a feeling that she was being watched. She looked at spike that was oblivious to her worried state. Twilight thought about going back but Spike was a still broken up over Rarity, She knew that if anyone needed to get there mind off of things it was Spike.
Twilight was in sight of Sugarcube Corner now and she could not be more relieved, this sense of being exposed was unnerving and was not getting better as she got further from her home. She got to the door and time seemed to move slower for her she was about to knock on the door, but before she could even lift her hand.

“Geez Twi whats wrong with you I’m starving, you have been acting weird for weeks” Spike said as he knocked on the door. Twilight looked at Spike and shook her head clearing her thoughts, “Sorry I just have allot on my mind right now with all of my studies.” The door opened up and a Pink blur was all they saw before they were inside, “Oh Goodie you’re here I’ve been waiting aaaaall say” said their good, ever energetic, friend Pinkie Pie.