[IC] STOMP Super Spooktacular Special!

[CoffeeHorse]

"Oh hey there everypony... there's another body in the library, we'll have to tell somepony about it." Maple says, calling out to the other team

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"Another body?" Static's ears drooped. "Damn this night!" He gave a heavy sigh. "We found another clue."

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Scarlet merely groaned at Maples blunt revelation.

"We found an unpleasant librarian ghost and... problems."

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Rhapsody looked to the other team as the looked beat up and more slime coated then usual, however those purple eyes of hers seems to focus intently on Static, as if watching every little move he made.

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Static was oblivious to Rhapsody's study of him. The night had visibly taken its toll. Joints crackled as he rolled his neck. He hoof went up to his forehead to soothe away a headache. As his hoof his his mask instead of his forehead, he wearily took it off, revealing some nasty scaring and an increasingly cataracted eye from where he'd gotten all scratched up. Weariness just seemed to flow off of him. "You mean problems aside from ghosts and yet another dead body? Luna!" He blew a long heavy sigh. "Well, out with it. What did you find out?"

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[CoffeeHorse]

"Ahhhhh... vell... erm..." Misty fidgets nervously as she notices Rhapsody's glare.

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Amber deflated at the news of another innocent pony's death, but nodded at the clue Caldwin offered and copied it into her notes. Take a stab - it must have something to do with that troublesome clue about knives and pans.

She looked herself over again with chagrin. She wanted a shower, but if she even had a comb or some kind of -

"Ah, Miss Monsoon?" she said to Misty. "Might I have your assistance?"

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"Sure, I guess...? Vhat do you need?"

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Static perks up a bit at Misty's hesitation. He looks as Misty glances to Rhapsody, only then realizing Rhapsody was studying him. Then when Misty all too eagerly breaks off to talk to Amber, he drops the mask, almost horrified to ask the question."Guy's? What's going on?"

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She craned her neck as she gestured with her muzzle at her goopy back, while setting her notes in her saddlebag a safe distance away. "I seem to have acquired a problem to which I think one of your water blasts might be just the solution."

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[CoffeeHorse]

Rhapsody huffs and turns away from Static as the mask drops. It wasn't hard to tell that she seemed to be rather upset about something, but she was trying to not act on it. Even if Scarlet was right... well she's still deeply wounded by what happened, and it was hard for her to just let go of that... wither it was her own stubbornness of the Mask's influences she couldn't be sure of, and either way acting on them wouldn't do anypony any good.

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"Oh... right."

Misty obliges and gives Amber a rinse, using a more gentle water spray.

---

The fact that Rhapsody apparently didn't want to tell him, and seemed more than a little pissed off at him for whatever it was...coupled with the fact that Misty and Amber were straight up ignoring him, Static became even more edgy. "Guys? Seriously? What the buck is going on?"

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Amber thanked Misty and gave herself a light shake, still sopping wet but at least somewhat freed of the slime. It was only just settling in for her that she was seeing Rhapsody back to normal, finally, after all of this. Rhapsody seemed upset by something and it didn't seem best for Amber to approach her, but still she smiled warmly in the pegasus's direction.

Still, she was perplexed by Static's question and looked around the group. Maple was cheery and entirely bereft of tact, Rhapsody seemed upset, Scarlet was focused on the mission - it seemed like a very ordinary state of affairs. But Rhapsody did seem distrustful of Static. Amber didn't know what might have happened between the two of them while Amber was avoiding the Mistress, but of course, Static had certainly seen Rhapsody the last time he saw Rhapsody, so should know what upset her, and ever since then he'd been with Amber herself. Was it something they'd found? But what could that have to do with Static?

What did she know about Static tonight? Angry at everything, recently on a date night with a Siren in Pony form, probably the one the mask used to stab Rhapsody in the first place, although Amber hadn't mentioned that suspicion to anypony -

"Oh, ah," said Amber, looking back and forth between Static and Rhapsody. "I wonder if she might still be upset that you stabbed her, Static. Rhapsody, dear, we've all been brainwashed to attack somepony at some point or another, haven't we?"

---

Scarlet felt as if his chest was squeez9ng his heart. Now Static was here, now he could be told. Scarlet almost choked and ran sway. Afraid of how his friend would react to manipulation, mind control and bloody murder.

He almost ran.

However, if tonight had taught him anything. It's that there was no running away, no going back.

Stepping closer to Static, Scarlet tried to smile. It came more sad and pained.

"The pony we...found...in the library. Before she got so hysterical the ghost attacked her, she...added the last piece of information to who it was that attacked Amber and Rhapsody...

Or in this case, the pony unfortunate enough to be mind-whammied by the spirit of the masque into attacking them...

Static, she was terrified of us. Terrified...of you.

Luna curse me for this. She saw you attack Amber and Rhapsody.

...

For the love of the moon princess don't freak out on me Static. You've seen what the masque spirit 'Rasophae' can do. You've felt its power. You've also seen how other ponies tonight have reacted to us. Buck it! You've seen what 'Rasophaes' minions did to Harmony.

You didn't do this, but the masque used you all the same.

Static... I'm sorry."

Then, in a strained voice. He layed out all the clues they had about the killer, plus the (now dead) ponies scared accusations.

The killer was a Stallion, with blue eyes, clearly under mind control and was the color of fear.

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[CoffeeHorse]

"...oh dear..."

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Static's eyes widened. "No! No...I didn't!" His eyes squeezed tightly shut as he shook his head fitfully. "I...I couldn't!" *flash of steel* "I would never..." *splash of blood* "Amber? Rhapsody? I couldn't..." *heat of rage, move in for the kill, hero pegasus leaps in front of the target* "No no no no no!" Static's knees buckle as he collapses to the ground. "I...I..."

I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
And I'll fear no evil because I'm blind to it all
And my mind and my knife they comfort me
Because I know I'll kill my enemies when they come

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life
And I will dwell on this earth forevermore
Still I walk beside the still waters and they restore my soul
But I can't walk on the path of the right because I'm wrong

'Cause I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
And I'll fear no evil 'cause I'm blind
And I walk beside the still waters and they restore my soul
But I know when I die my soul is damned

Static looked up to Scarlet, tears streaming down his face. "Kill me," he pleaded. "If what you're saying is true...if I can be manipulated into...into..." His eyes squeezed shut as he shook his head fitfully again. "Please, don't even allow me the chance of doing it again."

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"Static, NO! Ve... ve saw... Harmony as vell... so, next time, it could be any vone of us..."

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Amber had walked back toward Static after his odd question and nodded as Scarlet spoke, then looked at Rhapsody again, slowly recognizing that Rhapsody was focusing on Static.

And then Static imploded. Amber squinted, cocked her head, somehow not entirely certain what she was looking at. She slung her saddlebag back to her with her magic and buckled it on, then turned to Rhapsody.

"Oh Rhapsody, dear, really, hasn't everypony been brainwashed to attack somepony at some point or another?"

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Amber seemed to consider this momentarily and then simply nodded approvingly.

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[CoffeeHorse]

At Static despairing cry, Scarlets eyes blazed!

"NEVER! Not a Breezie in Tartarus chance, Static!"

Reaching down, Scarlet his friend up and stared at him.

"Static, listen to me. Listen to us! You aren't the only pony the masque has used tonight! Hell, if things had worked out differently, any one of us could have been in your place right now.

You aren't responsible for this. Its what 'Rasophae' preys on. Darker emotiond. Rage, fear, paranoia. Any #%^@^ in a ponies mind it can get into, it will. You, Rhapsody, Harmony.

This whole night has been masterminded by the masque itself. Using and discarding anypony it can get a hook into."

Scarlet then tapped the medallion Static wore.

"Three important things to note here Static. Ever since we left the ballroom. We've had these to protect us from the ghouls magic. Ever since then, you have been with us and, barring a sgorter temper than usual. You have not succumbed to anyth9ng!

Most importantly though. Maple has manahed to subdue the spirit, for now. We all need to work fast to rescue Symphony and pull together the artefacts needee to seal the twisted magic. All of of us!

Static. I will not kill you. Nopony here will. Not mow. Not ever!"

---

Amber had walked back toward Static after his odd question and nodded as Scarlet spoke, then looked at Rhapsody again, slowly recognizing that her aura of distrust was focused on Static.

And then Static imploded. Amber squinted, cocked her head, somehow not entirely certain what she was looking at. She slung her saddlebag back to her with her magic and buckled it on, then turned to Rhapsody.

"Oh Rhapsody, dear, really, hasn't everypony been brainwashed to attack somepony at some point or another?"

Rhapsody huffs and nods some. "I suppose so." She replies, there was still anger there it was hard not to. Even though she knew better.

"Not me. I'm immune to that sort of thing."

Rhapsody huffs with a shake of her head. "Of course you are, you'd have to have a mind worth taking first."

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Static seemes shocked awake by Scarlets words, though less than convinced as he gives a stiff nod in return. "You keep an eye on me. I may be fine now. But if that thing works it's way into my head again...just...don't let me." He looks around. b]"We've found everything there is to find in the dining room. Probably better we don't go into the library right away. So...where to?"[/b]

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"We were going to go to the room with the torches." Maple sighs.

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2color=#ff0000]"Yes. The Trophy Room seems like it has something to give us still. The torches, the knights. It has to fit somewhere. If not for the overall victory, then at least letting us find Symphony.

Static, don't go second guessing yourself now. Just focus on what we're doing right now."[/color]

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