The Town That Changed Everything (Ichabod X Reader)

The Legend

The next morning, Y/N was peacefully sleeping in her bed. She was having a dream. In the dream, she was on an endless field with her sister and a cat. Y/N and her sister were a bit younger. Maybe five or so years younger. They were talking and laughing while sitting in the grass full of pink and white flowers, and the cat was sitting in Y/N's lap. Suddenly, her sister stopped laughing. She stood up and started hitting Y/N on the head. It didn't really hurt, but it made a really loud noise. And then...she woke up. Someone was knocking on the door.

"May I come in?" Asked the person on the other side of the door. By the person's voice, Y/N figured out it was Ichabod. Y/N sighed and looked to check what time it was. It was 8am. "Yes, you may." She replied.

"Did I wake you up? I am so sorry if I did." Said Ichabod as he walked into the room. "Yes, but I was supposed to wake up anyways. Actually, I was supposed to wake up ten minutes ago. I would've slept in if you hadn't knocked. Thank you for that." Replied Y/N with her morning voice.

"Oh, alright then, I came to tell you that we can have breakfast together if you want to, here or in my room, you choose. After that, at 8:30, we have to talk to Baltus and the others about the murders."

"Okay, I'll be in your room in a moment. Just let me change." Said Y/N and Ichabod walked out of the room, letting her change in peace. Y/N got out of bed, put some pretty clothes on, did her hair and walked out of the room.

When she walked into Ichabod's room, he was sitting on his bed. He looked up at her and froze. "What?" Asked Y/N confused. "Its nothing. Just that you look b- I really like whatever's going on with the outfit and the hair. I've never seen you wearing that." Stuttered Ichabod. "Oh, thank you. I bought it a week ago." Said Y/N while blushing a bit. "Come, sit. The servant girl made us breakfast. Some pudding. It looks delicious." Said Ichabod.

While they were eating, Ichabod said: "By the way, you looked like you enjoyed the kiss yesterday."

"What?" Asked Y/N, almost choking on her food. "Yesterday, when Katrina kissed you. You looked like you actually liked it."

"Oh, that. No, I was just surprised that she kissed me. Not that I liked it or anything..." Said Y/N even though she knew that she really liked it. Y/N wasn't in love with Katrina and wanted it to keep it that way. It would be complicated falling in love with a girl in a time when it was illegal to do so.

"Are you sure?" Asked Ichabod. "Yes. Why are you asking, anyway?"

"No reason...It's okay if you did, you know. I got excited about your love life for a second. Just be careful, you know the law." Said Ichabod.

"I didn't! Well...It felt kinda nice, she has...soft lips but that doesn't mean I want to marry her. Now eat."

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When they were done eating they went downstairs in the room where Baltus was. However, he wasn't alone. There were a few more people there, including Baltus's wife and the servant girl.

"Ah, Constable Crane! Come in, come in. You may leave us, my dear. You too, Constable Y/N..." Said Baltus and his wife and the servant girl left the room.

"She's my partner, I'm afraid she has to stay." Said Ichabod, while coldly looking deep into his eyes.

"Right, I just thought this was something that should be discussed by us, men. But uh...If you say so...Right then. We are joined by Dr Thomas Lancaster, Reverend Steenwyck, our Magistrate Samuel Philipse and lastly, James Hardenbrook. Our notary." Said Baltus a bit embarrassed.

"I see." Said Ichabod. "And...you?"

"A simple farmer who has prospered. The town looks to me as friend and counsel." Replied Baltus, looking weirdly at Y/N.

"Thank you." Said Y/N and Ichabod at the same time. "So...Three persons murdered." Began Ichabod. "First, Peter Van Garrett. And his son. Dirk Van Garrett. Found together. Decapitated." Continued Y/N while walking around the room. "A week later, the Widdow Winship. Also...decapitated." Continued Ichabod while also walking around the room.

"Now, we will need to ask you many questions, of course. But first, let me ask, is anyone...suspected?" Asked Y/N and stopped walking. So did Ichabod. Right as they said that, Philipse choked on his tea.

"Something wrong?" Added Ichabod. "Yes. There most certainly is. How much have your superiors explained to you, Constables?" Replied Baltus.

"Only that the three were slain in open grounds with their heads found severed from their bodies." Mumbled Y/N.

"They haven't really told you anything, have they?" Replied Reverend with an attitude. "Their heads were not found at all."

"So...The heads are...Gone?" Asked Ichabod a bit concerned.

"Taken. Taken by the Headless Horseman. Taken back to Hell." Said Hardenbrook, almost whispering. "Pardon, I-"

"Perhaps, you better sit down for this." Said Baltus, cutting off Y/N. Ichabod and Y/N looked at each other, sat down and grabbed some tea from the table.

"The Horseman was a Hessian mercenary." Began Baltus. "He was sent here by German princes to keep America under the yoke of England. But however, unlike his compatriots, who came for money, he came for love of carnage... He rode a giant black steed named Daredevil. He was infamous for riding his horse hard into battle, chopping off heads at full gallop to add to the ferocity of his appearance. But eventually, he finally reached his end at the end of '79. Or so they thought so... Not far from here, in our Western Woods. He tried to run...To fight...But they eventually chopped off his head with his own sword and buried him right then and there. What was planted in the ground that day was a seed of evil...Now, the Horseman returns. He has returned and started chopping off heads once more."

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When he finally finished, both Y/N and Ichabod were so creeped out that their hands were shaking. "So...Is that what you believe?" Asked Ichabod, still shaking. "Seeing is believing..." Replied Hardenbrook. "This is a book I recommend you read." Said Steenwyck and handed them the Holly Bible. Y/N and Ichabod looked at each other and sighed. Neither of them were religious, but out of politeness, they opened the book and looked at the first page. They saw something like a Family Tree.

"Gentlemen. Murder needs no ghosts to raise from the grave." Said Y/N.

"Yes. We have murders in New York without...Ghosts." Added Ichabod. "You are far away from New York, Constable." Said Baltus, trying to convince them both that it is a ghost that is murdering people.

"The murderer is a man of flesh and blood and we will find him. Now, if that is all you have to say, we have to go." Said Y/N and they walked out of the room, leaving the four men furious. They decided to go for a walk around the town since they were not so familiar with it.

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"Yeah, I am definitely going to get killed by a ghost tonight. Pray for me, Ichabod. Pray for me!" Cried out Y/N sarcastically while they were walking and they both laughed so hard, that they could barely breathe. "People and their beliefs. Remember five months ago when there were five dead, also with their heads chopped off and taken?" Asked Ichabod a few seconds after they were done laughing. "Yes! And the murderer was a horseman, but I am sure he was pretty much alive. At least till they found out that he was the murderer. Someone is probably doing the same thing here now, we just have to find out who they are."