[[I can see why most fanfic writers write one fic at a time; it becomes somewhat difficult to balance two or more at the same time. Therefore, I have decided to put Road Trip on hiatus. I'll be focusing on this story for the time being. Sorry is anyone is disappointed, but would you rather I have one story that I update often than two that I don't update for weeks at a time?
Also, if I don't write the next chapter by Thursday, I wish a happy Thanksgiving to all of my American brethren.
~DD~]]
Chapter 1: One for the Money
Twilight Sparkle trotted down Ponyville's main street, her bags thumping against her back every time she took a step. A week at Hoofshire Manor should be quite enjoyable. She thought to herself. Then she turned a corner and saw twelve other ponies hanging around the front gates of the estate.
Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity each wore a confused expression on their faces as they talked to each other. Octavia and Vinyl Scratch were arguing about which genre of music was best while Zecora looked on in amusement. Lyra and Bon Bon looked like they were whispering dirty talk to each other. Big Macintosh eavesdropped on the two while he also kept an eye out for Derpy to make sure she didn't get her head stuck in between the poles that made up the iron-wrought gate labeled "HF".
Twilight went over to the rest of the mane 6. "What are you all doing here?" she asked. "Oh, hey Twi'." Rainbow Dash replied. "Well, we all got an invitation to come here, so we did."
"Everyone…?"
"Yep. Everyone here. Smells kind of fishy, don't it?" Just then, the gate creaked open and revealed a cobblestone path that twisted up to the entrance to a large mansion.
"…Shall we?" Rarity asked. "Ah guess." Applejack shrugged and started up the winding path. The rest of the group followed suit.
After a long and somewhat-tiring walk, the procession stared up at the mansion. Twilight counted: At least 6 stories, 60 plus rooms, and several chimneys. Despite being weathered throughout the decades it stood, it looked fairly new. Just then, the door swung open about a foot and a white-maned older pony popped his head out. "Greetings. I'm Shivers, the butler here at Hoofshire Manor. Welcome, come in." he opened the door all the way and stood aside as the guests filed past. They were all astonished as they gazed upon the main hallway. It was vast, with multiple paintings and statues adorning the majority of the room. A central staircase winded upward all the way up to the top floor. Many doorways led to other rooms within the mansion.
As the ponies took in the sights, Shivers made his way in front of the group and turned to face them. "As per guidelines, I am to take you on a tour before you get settled. So, if you will, please follow me." He led the group down the hallway and up the central staircase.
The tour started out fairly smoothly as Shivers pointed out many of the manor's rooms: the kitchen, the library, the billiards room, the dressing room, and so on. Then, Applejack felt her stomach rumble. "Hey, mister butler guy, but where is the kitchen?" she asked Shivers. " Second floor, first door on the right." He responded. "Thanks." She head back the way the tour came.
After getting lost twice and nearly tripping down the stairs, she finally found the kitchen. Breathing a sigh of relief, she swung open the door and entered it. She honed her sights in on the massive refrigerator, swung the door open, and looked for anything apple-related. Just then, another pony entered the room. Applejack turned to see who it was. "Oh, it's just you. Ya also want a snack or somethin'? This place has loads of 'em!" She turned her back. Bad idea.
As quick as a flash, the other pony grabbed three knifes off the knife rack and threw them at Applejack. The butcher knife bounced off the freezer door and fell with a clang to the floor. The steak knife grazed Applejack's cheek and lodged itself in the wall next to the fridge. The other steak knife hit its mark; it torpedoed straight into the base of Applejack's spine, effectively paralyzing her. She yowled in pain as her hind legs gave out and her chin slammed into the tiled floor. "WHAT'N THE HELL ARE YOU-?" she was cut off as the other pony slapped a piece of duck tape over her mouth and silenced her. Then, she turned Applejack over and admired his/her handiwork. This lodged the knife even further into Applejack's body. She started crying. "There, that ought to keep you from spoiling my fun!" the other pony giggled. Dislodging the other steak knife from the wall, he/she kneeled over Applejack's underbelly. With a few swift and precise strokes, the pony made an "I" shape on Applejack's underside. Warm blood seeped out of the cuts on her belly and rear and onto the floor. She started losing consciousness. "Don't quit on me yet! We still have the main attraction…" grinning evilly, the other pony snatched the two flaps of skin and opened them up to reveal Applejack's internal organs. The sight of her own guts caused her to throw up. However, since she was silenced with a strip of duct tape, it went right back down.
Meanwhile, the pony had located exactly what he/she wanted; a mixer. Grabbing the appliance, he/she bent down on the now-fading Applejack and gazed at her small intestine. He/she grabbed the organ and ripped it from Applejack's large intestine in a messy burst of blood and waste. He/she carefully tied it around the beaters on the mixer, plugged it in, and turned it on. A sickening wet and slimy sound resonated throughout the kitchen as the small intestine wrapped around the speeding mixer. Applejack was barely conscious as of this point. The last thing she experienced was the killer laughing maniacally as her stomach and esophagus also went with the small intestine, culminating in a bloody explosion that rocked her whole body.
Then she was gone.
The killer ducked down to avoid the whip-like guts that flew around the kitchen before being sucked onto the now completely-soiled mixer. Then, the appliance abruptly shut off. Well, it lasted as long as I wanted it too before it died. The killer thought. Then, he/she glanced at the bloodied and eviscerated corpse that lay on the floor. So did Applejack. The killer smiled until he/she looked at his/her body. Aw, shit. I look as blood drenched as her. He/She felt a hint of panic before a moment of sudden inspiration struck her like a lightning bolt.
Opening the kitchen door a crack, the killer made sure the coast was clear before dashing across the hall and into another room. He/she breathed a sigh of relief when it turned out the room was a bathroom complete with a bathtub. The murderer ran the tap for a few minutes before sinking into the hot water and sighing with relief. "Good thing that butler guy told us were the bathrooms were…" he/she murmured to herself before closing his/her eyes to enjoy the warm bath.
[[I just know someone's going to get pissed at me, so I'll say it right now: I DON'T DECIDE WHO GETS KILLED. I stated in the prologue that the reviewers should pick their choice. The pony with the most choices dies next. Please don't get mad at me.
Even though I already said this, please read and review and, if you want, message me or put in your review who you want to die next. You can also try to guess the killer if you want to. Whoever guesses right will be included in the Credits page. Thanks!
~DD~]]