The murder of Aaron Crop was the talk of the town by the morning following the brutal discovery. Fear and uncertainty swept through the streets and many ponies began to question the loyalties of their own friends and family. Sweet Apple Acres was practically shut down as the Apple Family found themselves as the target of the town's suspicions.

"It just seems strange doesn't it?" they would say. "Is it possible that a member of the Apple Family is the killer?"

"No!" others would say. "It's unthinkable. The possibility of Applejack or any of her family members being the killer is as likely as the possibility of Pinkie Pie being a mass murderer!"

Pinkie Pie hid away in her room and watched as suspicion and questions tore the town apart from the inside-out. The weather schedule took a turn for the worse and now the town was caught in a dark, gray shroud. A lot of the weather ponies refused to work, partly due to depression based around Rainbow Dash's death and partly due to the fear that one of their own friends could be the killer. There were many questions floating about the air, but one thing was certain: the killer was a Ponyville native at least.

Twilight and Spike sat glumly on the train station platform. They had received a note from Joan a little while ago stating that he, Sunkick, and Scootaloo would be returning to Ponyville. The gray morning hue didn't make the unicorn or the dragon feel any better.

"How are you holding up?" Spike asked.

"Not really well, Spike," Twilight replied. "Our world is collapsing around us. There's a killer in our midst and who knows who will be next to die? Rainbow Dash...Aaron...I feel that there must have been a way to save their lives."

"Before Rainbow Dash's disappearance, there wasn't even any knowledge of a killer in Ponyville."

"I know. That's what sickens me the most. That many ponies fell at the hands of some sick monster and none of us even noticed."

"Do you think that they're ever going to be caught? Rainbow Dash and Aaron's killer?"

"I'm not really sure, Spike. I was definitely more optimistic about it a couple days ago. But now...everything has fallen apart."

"Don't give up, Twilight! I believe you can catch the pony who did it! I know you can!"

Twilight chuckled and patted Spike on the head.

"Thank you, Spike."

She looked away from Spike and looked towards the pillar of train smoke in the distance. An image of Pinkie Pie slowly appeared in Twilight's mind. Then she remembered the Pinkie Pie that she saw in the hospital. The one with the straight hair and the sunken eyes. She shivered at the thought. She remembered Aaron's suspicions of Pinkie Pie. And then there was the strange visions she had experienced. Could it be possible? Was...was Pinkie Pie really the killer? She couldn't be. Twilight felt the sudden urge to throw up. The mere thought of the possibility of one of her friends being a mass murderer made her sick to her stomach.

"Are you sick, Twilight?" Spike asked. "You look a bit...green."

"I'm fine. This weather isn't doing anything good for me," Twilight replied. Her mind then floated back to an image she had received mentally following her encounter with Rainbow's spirit. A mound of dirt located somewhere in Sweet Apple Acres. "Something's there. I know there is."

"Huh?"

"Oh! Sorry, Spike! I was just thinking out loud!"

A train whistle echoed from the distance. Twilight and Spike watched as the train slowly chugged its way into the station. It came to a halt with a loud hiss and a series of ponies disembarked. Sunkick, Joan, and Scootaloo were one of the first to get off.

"Is it just me or are things a lot more depressing around here?" Joan asked as he approached Twilight.

"It's not just you. Trust me," Twilight replied. "Where's Stormflower?"

"She went off by herself in order to find a certain somepony," Sunkick replied.

"Who?"

"A murderer locked away in a prison."

"Is it the same killer who murdered Pinkie Pie's sister, Bellamina?"

Joan's eyes widened as he asked, "How did you-"

"Irena told me about it after you four left."

"Oh. Well, yeah. Stormflower's gone off to talk to Bellamina's killer."

"For what reason?"

"Answers, I guess. She's trying to find the connection between Rufus's crimes and Rainbow Dash's murder."

"Joan...there's a reason why everything's depressing around town, even more so than how things were following Rainbow Dash's funeral."

"What is it then?"

"There's been another murder."

"WHAT?!" asked Sunkick, Joan, and Scootaloo together.

"Who was it?" Sunkick asked.

"Aaron Crop," Twilight replied sadly.

"That investigator that you were working with?" Joan asked.

"The very same. Applejack discovered him yesterday morning in the barn. His body was-"

Twilight looked down at Scootaloo and fell silent. A look of annoyance formed on Scootaloo's face.

"Come on! You can tell me the details!" Scootaloo protested.

"No, Scootaloo," said Sunkick. "You're too young to hear about graphic deaths."

"That's what everypony says!"

Scootaloo then turned away from the group and ran off towards Sweet Apple Acres.

"Scootaloo!" Spike called.

"Let her go," said Twilight as she looked at Spike and Sunkick.

"Kind of over-dramatic," said Sunkick.

"I don't think this is the only thing she's upset about," said Joan. Twilight nodded.

"Yeah. She completely worshiped Rainbow Dash," she explained.

"It must be tough, losing an idol like that."

"It's tough for all of us."

"But we'll get through it!" Sunkick exclaimed. Twilight, Joan, and Spike nodded in agreement. "How are my parents doing?"

"Alright. They've bummed around town and have gotten to know the locals. They're still grieving though," Twilight replied.

"I should probably go see them."

Twilight, Sunkick, Joan, and Spike made their way out of the station.

"I'm going to head off to Sugar Cube Corner," said Joan. "I want to visit Pinkie and Irena."

Joan headed off towards Sugar Cube Corner and Twilight, Sunkick, and Spike made their way towards the cloud home that was once owned by Rainbow Dash.

They were halfway there when they ran across a familiar white pegasus.

"Brutus!" said Twilight.

"Morning, Ms. Sparkle. I'm just heading over to the crime scene," Brutus replied. "I've taking the helm as leader of this investigation."

"At least somepony's still willing to try and solve this case."

"Yeah. None of the other investigators would take the leadership position. I think they're all afraid that they might end up like Aaron if they did."

"Are you afraid?" Sunkick asked. Brutus sighed and shook his head.

"I'm not sure. A part of me certainly is but a larger part of me really wants to solve this case. I don't want Aaron or Rainbow Dash's deaths to go unpunished."

"Me neither. We will find the killer," Twilight said.

"Definitely," said Sunkick. Spike looked at Twilight and Sunkick, smiled, and nodded his head. Brutus smiled and gave a quick nod.

"So what's everypony nodding about?!" asked a familiar happy-go-lucky voice. Everypony turned to see Pinkie Pie standing about a foot away from Brutus.

"Hey Pinkie Pie," said Twilight awkwardly. Sunkick looked at the pink earth pony and felt a sharp pain rush through his body.

"Nice morning isn't it?"

"I guess," said Spike. "I think it could look nicer."

Sunkick's vision focused entirely on Pinkie's body. His bones turned to jello and his body felt like it was a bubbling vat of pudding. He then felt himself leave his body and fly straight into Pinkie's mind.

A dark void of nothingness awaited him. The air around him was cold and yet his insides were burning up. A saddened Pinkie Pie emerged from the darkness. Sunkick looked at her and cocked his head.

"Pinkie Pie?" he asked. Pinkie Pie turned around and Sunkick screamed. Half of Pinkie's face was missing. Blood was flowing from the gaping hole in the front of her head and tears were streaming out of her one, remaining eyeball.

"I'm rotting on the inside," she said with a gurgling voice. "She's killing me. She's killing everypony."

Sunkick backed up as the half-faced Pinkie walked closer. Her body slowly began to fall apart. Skin tore off, blood seeped from new cuts in her body, and her hairs turned gray and brittle.

"Get the hell away from me!" Sunkick yelled. He turned around and ran deeper and deeper into the void of darkness. He then found himself in the middle of a room consisting of nothing but walls made up of gray stones. There were no windows and no doors. A single light hung from the ceiling, which created a circle of light in the center of the room. Sunkick watched as Pinkie emerged from the darkness. She was covered with blood, only it wasn't her own. Her hair was straight and a sadistic smile was etched onto her face.

"Hello there!" she said happily. "Have you come to visit me?"

An axe materialized in Pinkie's mouth and she slowly trudged her way towards Sunkick. The half-faced Pinkie emerged from the darkness and also began making her way towards him.

"Get away! Get the fuck away from me!" Sunkick ordered as he tried to find some way out of the room. It was no use. He was trapped.

"Why would you want to leave?" asked the two Pinkies. "Why don't you stay and play with us? Forever...and ever...and ever...and ever."

Suddenly, a bright light flooded the room and the two Pinkies screamed. The light burned their bodies and reduced them to piles of ashes. Sunkick looked as a third Pinkie Pie appeared from the light. She looked sad but she gave off an aura of happiness and comfort.

"Sunkick," she said as she extended one of her hooves. Sunkick was somewhat skeptical about whether or not he could trust this Pinkie but, seeing as she was the only way out of this room, he really didn't have a choice. He approached the glowing Pinkie and grabbed her hoof. There was a flash of light and the dark room disappeared.

Sunkick then found himself standing on the edge of a hill overlooking Ponyville. Pinkie was standing next to him. It didn't take Sunkick long to realize that something was off. Ponyville seemed grayer and foggier than normal and a large cloud dome extended over the surrounding area like a curtain.

"What is this?" Sunkick asked. He looked at Pinkie, expecting a response. The pink pony looked down and sighed.

"This is where they all end up," she replied.

"Huh?"

"This is where they go...when they die."

It was just then that Sunkick heard a series of footsteps from behind him. He and Pinkie turned around to see a young, gray filly running towards them. She came to a halt about ten feet from where they were standing.

"It's you...it's really you!" the filly said with a hopeful tone. Tears slowly began pouring from Pinkie's eyes.

"Yes, Bellamina. It's me," she replied. Bellamina smiled and looked at Sunkick.

"Sunkick. We've met before."

Sunkick looked at Bellamina in shock. Was this the Bellamina? The filly that had been murdered ten years previously? How could they have met before? Another series of footsteps began emanating from the bottom of the hill. Bellamina looked at Pinkie and then disappeared.

Three ponies and a griffin ran up the hill towards Sunkick and Pinkie. They came to a halt when they realized who was waiting there for them. Sunkick's eyes widened. There, standing a few feet away, was Rainbow Dash and Aaron Crop. They were accompanied by a stallion and a female griffin whom Sunkick had never seen before.

"S...Sunkick?! P...Pinkie Pie?!" Rainbow gasped. Aaron, the stallion, and the griffin glared at Pinkie angrily. Pinkie looked down towards the ground and wept.

"Dash," Sunkick breathed. Everything fell silent. Rainbow began to approach them but Aaron pulled her back.

"You fucking bitch!" Aaron snapped as he glared at Pinkie angrily. Sunkick looked at Pinkie to see that she was crying a practical ocean of tears.

"I wish...that I never remembered...that day," Pinkie said as she looked up.

"What?" Sunkick asked. Suddenly, Sunkick felt something take a hold of his shoulder.

"Susie!" Rainbow gasped. Sunkick looked up to see a strange, female creature looking down at him. The creature turned to Pinkie and grabbed a hold of one of her shoulders.

"Pinkamena is breaking the link. It's time for you two to go back to where you came from, for now," Susie said sternly.

"No! Susie! Please! Sunkick!"

Rainbow pushed Aaron aside and charged towards Sunkick. Sunkick tried to run towards Rainbow but found Susie's grip to be too strong to escape.

"RAINBOW DASH!" Sunkick cried as he extended his front hooves. Rainbow jumped towards him. Their hooves were about to touch when the world around Sunkick faded. Rainbow, Aaron, and their friends disappeared, Susie disappeared, and Pinkie disappeared. The ground beneath Sunkick collapsed and he fell down into the never-ending pit. Sunkick then felt a sharp pain and his eyes shot wide open.

"I wish the weather ponies would at least give us some happier weather so that we wouldn't feel as shitty as we do right now," said Brutus with a smirk. Sunkick looked and saw that he was back in the Ponyville that he knew, standing with Twilight, Spike, Pinkie Pie, and Brutus.

"At least it's not as hot as it was a month ago," Twilight said.

"Are you okay, Sunkick? You look a bit...off," said Spike. Sunkick looked down at the dragon and nodded.

"Don't worry," he replied.. He looked at Pinkie and suddenly thought about the bloody Pinkie from his vision. "I'm...just fine." He gave a forced chuckle and began to slowly back away. "I'm going to go check on my parents."

Twilight watched as the yellow pegasus took off. She instantly got that feeling that told her that something was off...though nowadays it wasn't that strange since she got it almost every day now.

"I better be heading off then," said Brutus as he gave a polite nod to Twilight, Pinkie, and Spike. He then began walking off towards Sweet Apple Acres.

"I guess I'll be seeing you around, Twilight!" said Pinkie happily as she trotted off towards the center of town. Spike looked up at Twilight and cocked his head.

"Why do I get the feeling that things are getting...stranger?" he asked.

"That's because that's exactly what's happening," Twilight replied ominously.