The Midnight Picklock

For the third time today, Shanna had whipped out of the house in a flurry.

Where would Merridee be this time of day?
She looked around the cobbled streets of Floraleyse at a loss, until the rhythmic beating of hammers into wood caught her notice.

Of course, the marketplace.
Perhaps she'd still be there in case the fathers decided to go for round 2?

She approached the square just in time to see Rosta, Cano and the other workers raise a large block with interconnecting planks aloft. Cheers from the workers resounded as it was successfully raised, and they sought to secure it to a robust stud.

The singer's platform for the Flower Festival was coming together beautifully.

Shanna couldn't help but recall last year when she and Rondy had been on the outskirts of Floraleyse sharing tender quiet moments together as the melody of the musicians song had carried their way thanks to the acoustics of the square.

What a wonderful memory… No! She needed to focus. Her head swiveled about as she looked for the lazy centaur, finding her rather easily in an outside canteen.

A large bandage was wrapped across her forehead and knotted at the back, the loose fabric flowing behind her as she chugged from a tankard.
"Ahh, Miss Elusi. Twice in one day." Merridee chirped, raising her mug by way of greeting.

Shanna wasted no time getting to the point. "Merri, this is huge! I think Rondy was attacked!"

Merridee's entire body seemed to droop as she realized this was not a simple greeting and her break was about to be cut short.

"He probably just exploded himself again." She said dismissively.

"No, no. Listen to me." Shanna said wringing her hands. "I don't think this is the usual potion explosion you were talking about. There was this huge mess in the storeroom, and a suspicious footprint-"

"Oh yeah?" Merridee said putting her pitcher on the table. It was clear she was starting to get intrigued.

Shanna raised a finger going for the kill. "I think it was an assassin."

That did it. Merridee's body had shifted from 'oh mercy me, this is work related' to 'oh boy, this is detective novel related!' Having been resting on her haunches, Merridee flew upright.
"What are we waiting for then!?"

The beautiful orange glow of the imminently setting sun accompanied them as they traveled back to the shop. Shanna's heartbeat had been racing, thinking over the implications of if her theory had been correct. Whether it was a potential witness to the accident, or a culprit linked to a more nefarious plot she'd at least have a better course of action with Merridee's expert opinion.

As she swung open the door to the store room, Shanna's face fell.
A shaky arm raised, pointing an accusatory finger.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!" Shanna squeaked.

Rondy, who'd been inside was shifting a tiny vial with liquid inside.
Expression deadpan, he answered her flatly. "…Tinkering?"

Rondy had accidentally sabotaged the room.
Books had been shifted, some of which had been re-organized onto the bookcase. And most crucially of all, the footprint was no longer clear, smeared, as the dust had been kicked about by careless footsteps.

Shanna's hands reached up to the side of her face, clutching it hard.
"Did… Did you have to tinker right now?"

He shot a perplexed look, exasperating Shanna further.

"Tampering with the crime scene, I mean! With-with everything here!" She was starting to feel a bit irate.

He tilted his head looking weary. "But aren't you the one who said no one was trying to kill me?"
"Well… yes, but-"

He tilted his head the other way. "…And about fulfilling Brava's order?"
Shanna let loose a thunderous groan. From being totally in sync and sharing perfect rhythm, to cacophonous, discordant chaos.

"Pardon me…" Merridee said with gleaming eyes. "But where's this crime scene footprint assassin guy?"

"Well it's clearly gone, isn't it?" Shanna said pinching the bridge of her nose. "Thanks to a certain SOMEONE."

Rondy's eyebrows shot up. "You are wildly unclear in your directives."
"I think I was pretty clear! 'Stay there, be good'?"
"How can I fulfill Brava's order, and stay there? As I said, inconsistent through and through."
"Why you-!!"
Merridee raised a hand. "I'm sorry, so just to clarify…"

For the first time since the accident, both Rondy and Shanna were in perfect harmony.
"It's gone!"

~ ~

Merridee's hooves lethargically dragged themselves across the floor as she slumped to the door. Preparing to head back, she let loose her longest sigh yet.
"Weeeell I appreciate the house call for assassins all the same." Merridee said with a tone indicating that she in fact, did not appreciate it.

After Rondy and Shanna's surprise double blow, her spirited mood had degraded quite spectacularly. What was also spectacular was how fast the turnabout had been, from animated to zombie in a matter of seconds.

"Wait!" Shanna said, tugging at her sleeve. "Um, before you go… I was just curious. Could you tell me a little more about that thief terrorizing the county?

Merridee gave a chuckle like she'd heard the most adorable little tale from a child.
"Oh don't get your hopes up." She said waving a hand. "I sure won't. There's no way a hotshot thief like that is in Floralyse."

"Even so…"

Merridee turned to face her, raising an eyebrow. "I told you before that Mr Cantarello had an accident right?"

Shanna waved her hands in front of her. "O-Oh, don't worry I believe you! It was an accident, definitely. But just think!" Shanna said leaning closer in. "About how exciting it would be if the thief really was here."

Merridee, simple fish that she was, needed no bait to be hooked. Just the sniff of potential thrills.
"Well, okay." Merridee said with a shrug. "What's the harm!"

Merridee turned from the door and faced her, clearing her throat as she did so.
"It all started with this oldster alchemist out in a place more dead, boring, and peaceful than here. Which is honestly the most shocking part." She said with a bemused shrug. "Anyway, the fellow was a bit of a recluse, and as it turns out, an insomniac. Regularly took all kinds of different sleep aid concoctions. Because you see, the thief uses sleeping agents against their victims!"

Shanna drew in a tense breath. "What happened?"

"Well, the Alchemist despite being drowsy from the affliction remained awake for a good few minutes and vaguely caught sight of the thief stealing his recipe books! Managed to raise the alarm and all before finally succumbing to sleep. As soon as the alert was posted on the town boards, a lot of other alchemists came forward to report thefts as well. Turns out there had been quite a few alchemists claiming they'd been stolen from. But as you can see they're a bit clumsy. Explode themselves all the time. And Mr Cantarello is like the most super clumsiest, accident-prone of them all." Merridee finished with a yawn.

"…I didn't know this at all." Shanna said biting her thumb.
"Maybe Mr Cantarello was trying not to worry you? Or didn't want to seem uncool in front of you?"

"My Rondy is always cool!! Always, no matter what!!" Shanna burst out rearing up on her toes.

"Ah, well be sure to let that guy know too, yeah?" Merridee said thumbing over her shoulder to where Rondy now stood.
"Ah." Shanna said defiant expression falling off her face.

"Well I'm off then." Merridee said with a yawn. "Let's not buck trend and go for a second explosion. I can only be so bored and tired." And with that she opened the door and cantered away, the sound of her departing hooves the only sound to be heard within the room.

For whatever reason the air in the house felt… tense.

Tentatively, she turned to look at him and once again saw him looking her way as well. And to her great chagrin, Shanna found that she was not getting the usual butterflies when their eyes locked. In this case maybe it had something to do with the frankly churlish look he was giving her.

"…Did we actually date?"

It was asked so suddenly Shanna couldn't help but splutter out her reply.
"W-what!? Of course we did!" Her expression turned serious. "Why? Who said we weren't?! Who are they?! Where are they!?"

"Right here." Rondy said breathing out exasperatedly, before shaking his head. "I must've been desperate."

Affront was an understatement to what Shanna was feeling. Her booming reply practically rumbled the room. "You weren't desperate!! You were desperately and passionately in love, that's what you were!! If anyone was desperate it was me since I was so out of your league, do you hear me!!!" Shanna said stomping the floor and shaking her fists around.

The force of the proclamation had seemingly caused Rondy to crash to the floor.
"O-Okay, I get it…!" Rondy said, placing a protective hand in front.

"You should be careful." Shanna said puffing her chest out and waving a finger. "Anyone who dismisses my feelings for Rondy, is my enemy!! Even if… I guess they look like Rondy." She said, finger suddenly losing its robust point.

Even if they look just like him, huh…?
It was really starting to hit how bizarre this whole situation was.

Rondy had an incredulous expression on his face. Contrary to his usual scaredy-cat antics, his gaze almost seemed to be sizing her up.
"I was just trying to say..." He began. "That I can't imagine ever dating someone like you."

Shanna placed her hands on her hips. "Someone like me? What does that mean?"

"Someone selfish."
Shanna's cheeks puffed out in irritation.
"Spoiled, childish." He continued with a dismissive hand wave.

"You used to say you liked when I was a little bit selfish." Shanna said walking towards him. "That it was cute."

"Who could possibly like something like that?" He said looking away.

"You used to say when I pouted, it made you fall in love with me all over again. Over and over again, like you were tumbling deeper and deeper into a net."

"How could pouting be cute…" He muttered before folding backwards.

He hadn't realized how close she'd gotten to him. She was crouched beside him, her large eyes inquisitively staring, and seemingly catching every ray of the departing sun within them.
Rondy's thoughts immediately disorganized.

"You used to call me your Sunshine. Is… Is that not true either?"
He took a huge breath.

She almost felt the definition of sunshine in this moment. She was all encompassing, a warmth that hugged and cradled every dark corner, reducing shadows to the slightest of sights. He was starting to realize that his breathing was actually becoming… laboured. She really was too close after all.

Yes, his mind had helpfully supplied the word he was looking for. Choking.
He was choking.
The proximity was way too much.

A groaning mumble escaped his mouth.

".…What?" Shanna asked, tilting her ears towards him.
"Too c-close-"

And out he went.

His body crumpled backwards, arms flopping to his side as if the spirit had decided it was a good time to be liberated and slipped away from the burden of being human.

'Sunshine indeed', were his last thoughts as his consciences slipped away. He could vaguely make out the concern on her face.

If she is the "Sunlight", then I must be the shadows.
For I'm no match at all.

There was a brief beat as Shanna registered what had occurred.
Before her head drooped.

"Am I going to have to carry him upstairs everyday?…"