CHAPTER 5

Hello again, everypony. I'm back with another chapter. Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long. I guess I'm down to about a chapter a week now, especially on this story. As the volume progresses, I also hope you are all finding it to be an enjoyable read. The story picks up a little bit this time around, and I'm sure you've all been waiting for that. So without further ado, here is chapter five. Enjoy and please review.

By five in the afternoon, my writing frenzy had run out of steam, and after struggling to get one more paragraph completed for thirty minutes, I gave up on the endeavor completely, and closed the notebook I was penning my autobiography in. I tapped my pen on the table a few dozen times, trying to drum up some inspiration, then decided it was a lost cause. I sat at the table for a few minutes, boredly spinning my cavalry hat on my right forehoof. Then I whistled Garryowen while leaning back carelessly in my chair. Finally, I walked to the kitchen and put on another pot of coffee.

After pouring a cup of coffee, I walked back into the study and browsed through Twilight's collection of books. I found something that seemed like a fun and light reading. It was a little tome called "A Diary of the 15 Day War: A Rebel in the Lunar Republican Army" I hummed in interest when I saw the title. Any chance to learn more about the history of my friend Luna was a welcome moment. I plopped down in a comfortable wing-back chair with my coffee and the book, and began to read.

The book was fascinating, and I learned more about the War of the Two Sisters in that little hour of reading than I had in my lifetime. The writer, a guard in the employ of Princess Luna, made it clear that he believed his duty was in the service of his monarch and his monarch only, and his willingness to fight against the flag of his own country to fulfill his loyalty to Luna was humbling. The last entry, written the day before his execution displayed courage and honor, and he showed no regrets at dying in the service of his beloved princess. I've said it before, and I'll state it again...If I ever had to choose between betraying my friends and betraying my country, it would be a terrible, difficult decision, but in the end, I would hope I'd have the guts to betray my country. I had just finished the book, when my sister came barreling into the room with a frightened look on her face.

"Bub! Bub!" Budder called, almost frantically as she ran into the room, Scootaloo close behind. My sister galloped up to me, panting and huffing.

"What sis, what?!" I asked excitedly.

"Itwas...wewasandthewindow...we saw..." Budder gasped and blurted out. "Anditwas...ohcrap..."

"For Luna's sake..." I groaned. "take a deep breath, calm down, and speak a coherent language, angel!" She never got this flustered over much of anything, and I knew whatever it was, it had to be bad.

"Okay..." She said after inhaling deeply and relaxing a bit. "Scoots and me were out in town...and we were walking past that bakery place..."

"Sugarcube Corner?" I pressed.

"Yeah...and I looked up in one of the top windows..." My sister continued. "And I think I saw a ghost, bubby." I stared at her a moment, then finally blinked away my confusion.

"Ooookaaaayyy..." I replied. "I have to admit, the fact that the place is haunted is kind of chilling to me for personal reasons...but that's not really a...freakout-worthy kind of thing, sis." The two fillies stared at me with questioning looks a few moments.

"You really think so?" Budder asked meekly.

"Eh..." I shrugged. "As opposed to all the other spooks you've seen looking out windows, walking through walls and rattling chains in the night? I'm kinda surprised you let it get to you so much." Budder sighed.

"Yeaahhh..." She whispered. "Just all the stories you told me and stuff..." I knew what she meant. She knew my history with the building. My history was, in a way, her history, and if the bakery was haunted, she was taking it personally.

"Like I said, angel. All the stuff that went on there...I'd be surprised if it wasn't haunted, you know?" I stated. "Tell you what, you two go upstairs and hang out. I'll have some pizza delivered for dinner, okay?"

"Kay." My sister said with a warm smile.

"Thanks, Lieutenant Drake!" Scootaloo chimed in. "Facing ghosts works up a heck of an appetite!"

"I know!" Budder replied. "That's why I'm always so hungry."

"Oh...that's why..." I said cynically. "Oh, and girls? Don't tell Dash about this, okay? That building is ancient history soon, and I don't want her getting stressed out thinking the story ain't over and all that. Got it?"

"Yeah." Budder said solemnly.

"Sure thing." Her friend nodded.

"Alright then. Go on and show your bosom friend there that whosi-whatchit geo-ghostometer you just got."

"Um...you mean my geophone, bub?" Budder asked blandly.

"Yeah, that particular thing." I replied. "Pizza in an hour or so."

"Okay. Be down soon, Drake." My sister said with a smile, hugging me. Then she and Scootaloo hurried up the stairs to the guest room. I sat in silence a moment, thinking about the fact that the bakery that had given me nightmares for so long was haunted. Was the spirit one of Pinkie's victims? Or was it the murderer herself? The latter thought gave me a sudden chill. Was the ghost of the psychopath I had killed still roaming the building where she had tortured so many innocent ponies? Or was it just some homeless pony squatting in the condemned building, scaring youngsters? One way or the other, I knew I couldn't tell Rainbow Dash. I also knew that as soon as we all ate dinner and turned in for the night, I was going to have to run a little recon.

Looks like something strange is going on at Sugarcube Corner, eh? What is Drake going to find when he investigates the ghost...or whatever it was the Budder saw? I will attempt to have the next chapter up soon, so if you don't have this story faved yet, do so, or keep checking back. In the meantime, please feel free to enjoy our Youtube Channel, conveniently named Lieutenant Drake. I will return soon with more story as soon as practicable. Thanks for reading everypony1 see you soon. -Drake