PONYVILLE DAILY BREAKING NEWS

By Purple Prose

Shocking developments have come to light in recent days. Rarity, a local unicorn, has returned from her week-long trip to Canterlot with her cutie mark STOLEN. Details are unfortunately minimal, because the traumatized victim has so far refused to make a statement to the press regarding the incident. What can be said for sure, however, is the Canterlot authorities have declared a state of emergency inside the city walls, and are searching tirelessly for any clues as to the whereabouts of the perpetrator. The incident was the first of so far three instances where ponies were approached by a mysterious veiled figure in the night, and were subsequently robbed of their cutie marks. Cloudloft, a pegasus stallion who fell victim to this mystery thief, testified that he had been offered a fortune reading before falling unconscious and waking up the next morning, flank blanked. Sugartwist, a Canterlot confectioner, reported a similar occurrence befalling her before her cutie mark was forcibly removed. Princess Celestia has announced a strict curfew to take effect immediately. All ponies in Canterlot must be inside by nightfall. Here in Ponyville, Mayor Mare so far has not taken similar measures. Ticker Tape, economist and journalist here at the Ponyville Daily, was able to get an interview with the mayor. She said, "We are fortunate enough to live in a small, close-knit community that is fairly anonymous. As of right now, it does not seem that curfews or other extreme measures seem necessary."

Despite the mayor's confidence, local ponies are worried. Aloe, one of the two spa ponies here in town, had this to say, "We're just terrified here. Everypony is afraid they might be next." To add to the terrifying prospect of having one's cutie mark removed, medical reports surfacing from Canterlot have indicated that, in addition to the loss of the physical cutie mark, the affected seem to have lost their knack for the talent their cutie mark entailed. Cloudloft, the aforementioned pegasus, has been unable to perform his weather control duties, and Sugartwist has not been able to produce candies correctly. While no formal actions have been taken here in Ponyville, we here at The Ponyville Daily Examiner suggest to the residents of town that they observe the Canterlot curfew to ensure their own safety.

* * *

Twilight had called a meeting at the castle to discuss what to do about Rarity. In attendance were Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie, along with Sweetie Belle and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Since Rarity's return, Sweetie Belle had been on an extended sleepover with the Apples, because in her state, Rarity was not capable of caring for her sister, and her incessant crying would not allow Sweetie Belle to get any sleep.

The Princess of Friendship began the meeting with a disheartened sigh, "I suppose you all know why we're here."

"Yeah we do!" Rainbow Dash shouted, "If you haven't noticed, this is the biggest freaking news in Equestria!"

The assembled ponies nodded, "Everypony in town is askin' me about Rarity." Applejack attested, "Ah keep tellin them that Ah don't know anything."

"We have to do something," Fluttershy meekly whispered, "We can't just leave Rarity like this."

"But what are we supposed to do?" Twilight asked, "I've looked through every book Celestia sent here twice, and every book in the Castle of the Two Sisters at least three times each, and I haven't found a word about this."

"Well, even if we can't get her cutie mark back, Ah still think we should try to cheer her up." Applejack said with fervor.

"How can we? I mean it isn't exactly easy to cheer somepony up when everything that made their life worth living is taken away from them suddenly and without warning." Everypony stared at the speaker, Pinkie Pie. "What?"

Applejack shook her head, "Nothin' sugar cube. It's just you're the first pony we'd want to try to cheer her up."

Pinkie solemnly bowed her head, her tail tucked sadly between her legs, "Applejack, I throw parties. Parties celebrate all the good things that happen in our lives. Not even I can think of a reason to throw a party now."

"Well, on that happy note, anypony else have any ideas?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"All I can think of is taking her to the spa," Sweetie Belle suggested, "Besides her work, that's the only thing that makes her really happy."

Everypony liked the idea. "That could work. I just have no idea how we'll convince her to leave the boutique." Twilight sighed, "Well, what do you think we should do to protect Ponyville?"

"Do you think that awful thief will come to Ponyville?" Fluttershy asked, shivering in fear.

"I do," Twilight solemnly said, "But I think it won't be for awhile. It just drives me crazy that we don't know anything about who or what is responsible. For all we know, this could even be some crazy new disease. That all the victims met somepony wearing a cloak could just be a coincidence."

"For the meantime, we'd best try an' protect Ponyville." Applejack suggested.

Twilight groaned. "This town will be a nightmare to protect. We have no walls, and our police force is one pony strong." Sheriff Blue Star was a competent enough police officer, for a town where a pony could count the number of crimes committed in recent memory on their hooves. But there was no way he would be able to protect the town from a major threat alone.

"I know Cloudsdale has started running a night watch, maybe we could start one here?" Rainbow Dash suggested, "Wouldn't need to be huge, maybe thirty or so ponies."

"Do you think you could get enough volunteers?" Fluttershy asked.

Rainbow Dash nodded. "Leave it to me, I'll organize the whole thing."

"Wait!" Twilight exclaimed, "We'd need to get the mayor's permission first."

Applejack laughed, "Ah think as Princess, you have a mite more authority than Mayor Mare, darlin."

"But I'm the Princess of Friendship. I don't actually rule over anypony." Twilight had begun to nervously back away from the table. She was still getting used to the whole princess thing. She felt strange issuing orders. It felt wrong.

Pinkie put her hoof around Twilight, "Who lives in the giant crystal castle that looks over all of Ponyville?"

"She does have a point," Fluttershy admitted, "I think if you did call for a night watch, ponies would listen to you."

Twilight conceded to her friend's urging. "Alright, I'll talk to the town tonight. Applebloom, can you girls make some posters asking for volunteers for the watch? "

"Ah'd be honored to do it for ya, yer highness." Applebloom chipped, comically bowing before her.

"Please don't call me that." Twilight snapped, "Fluttershy, why don't you see if you can get Rarity to go to the spa with you."

"Okay, I'll try." She squeaked, "But don't get your hopes up."

Twilight turned to Pinkie and Applejack, "Can you two tell everypony that I'm calling a town meeting here tonight?"

"Sure thing darlin'" Applejack saluted, "C'mon Pinkie, let's round up them ponyfolk."

"Rainbow Dash, stay here. If you're going to lead the watch, I want to figure out some details first."

"Like what?" The cyan pegasus impatiently inquired.

"How many ponies we need, what kind of ponies, hours, that sort of thing," Twilight explained. "We have to have a plan for something like this." Twilight smiled. She could see the beginning of yet another glorious checklist in her mind.

* * *

Twilight's plan proved to be a success on almost every front. The posters were made and hung, the townsponies all turned out to the meeting, and she felt that she and Rainbow Dash had hammered out a fairly solid plan for the night's watch. Only Fluttershy had returned with bad news. Rarity was adamant that she was not coming outside ever again.

Twilight Sparkle stepped onto the balcony atop her palace. Most, if not all, of the town's population had come out to hear her speak. She spotted the Mayor in the crowd. I'm sorry that I have to go around you like this, but it's for Ponyville's good. Twilight cleared her throat and addressed the populace, roughly a thousand ponies, about half earth ponies and the rest split evenly between unicorns and pegasi. "Ponies of Ponyville, I am sure you have all heard about the 'Cutie Mark Thief' that has been making news lately. So far all the cases have been in Canterlot, but I still believe that we should take the necessary steps to keep our little town safe." There was a rumble of agreement from among the crowd. "My friend Rainbow Dash has suggested that we create a night watch to patrol the town for any suspicious activity. We are looking for about thirty volunteers to work the guard. Rainbow Dash will explain the details." Twilight stepped back, and allowed Rainbow Dash to step up to the ledge.

Rainbow Dash took Twilight's spot. Unlike her friend, she had no qualms with issuing directions to others. She spread her wings and flew down, hovering a fair distance above the onlookers, "Alright, lemme explain how this is gonna work! I'm looking for thirty strong young ponies to keep watch over the town. I'll give the full version to anypony who thinks they've got what it takes to volunteer. Any questions?"

Bon Bon raised her hoof. "Do you think the Cutie Mark Thief will come to Ponyville?"

Rainbow Dash thought carefully before she answered, "Maybe. The only cases we know about are in Canterlot, but I don't think anypony wants to risk their Cutie Mark." The comment prouduced  a rumble of agreement from the listening townsfolk.  

"That concludes tonight's business." Twilight declared. "Please return home immediately. The patrols will begin tomorrow night, but everypony should follow the curfew starting today." The sun was beginning to set below the horizon. The townsponies left to take care of any business they had to attend to, and then hurry home.

Twilight retreated inside the castle. "That takes care of that." She smiled to herself. She hadn't done too poorly for herself. She shouted to Rainbow Dash, who was in the castle's main foyer, briefing the volunteers. "Hey Rainbow Dash, have you counted the volunteers yet?"

"I'm almost done!" The pegasus yelled from the castle's ground floor, "Let's see... twenty-nine, thirty, and Caramel makes thirty-one. Pretty good turnout!"

Twilight flew to her friend's side. The group was fairly evenly distributed between the three groups of ponies, the majority of which were stallions. She looked over the schedule book she and Rainbow had drawn up. Each night called for ten ponies, split into five pairs. They had agreed that it would be a bad idea to sent ponies alone, because each victim of the Cutie Mark Thief had been by themselves at the time. Rainbow's plan called for two pairs of pegasi on flight patrols around town, and Twilight had suggested the other pairs be one unicorn and one earth pony each, to get the best of both races' strengths.

The two mares looked at their applicants, "If anypony would like to pick their partners, please do. Just remember, all pegasi must pair with other pegasi, and earth ponies should pair up with unicorns." There was an uneasy rumble as ponies rapidly reorganized themselves to stand beside any friends that had turned out.

Twilight looked over the new pairs. Lyra and Bonbon, Derpy Hooves and Bulk Biceps. Everypony stepped forward with their teammate to recieve their timeslot. Rainbow held a pencil in her mouth as she signed up each pairing, "Lyra and Bonbon, day 2, southern Ponyville. Cherry Blossom and Sparklehoof, day 3, Everfree forest outskirts. Thunderlane and Rainbow Shine, day 1, northern skies."

Soon everypony had vacated, with the exception of the local timekeeper, an earth pony who had moved to town at about the same time as Twilight. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but we're full on guards." Twilight apologized. "Your name is Time Turner, right?"

The brown stallion bowed, "I prefer to go by Dr. Hooves, or just The Doctor, if it's all the same to you. I just thought I'd share some insight about this Cutie Mark Thief."

"If you know anything, please tell us," Twilight encouraged, "Anything, no matter how small, could be a huge help."

"Unfortunately, I can't be sure right now as to what is doing this, but I believe that if you can get Ms. Rarity to reveal what happened to her, that could provide you with a lead. I have a suspicion that something very sinister is going on. If you wouldn't mind, I would like to help you find out what it is."

"Any help is appreciated. Thank you." Twilight smiled. Twilight enjoyed a good mystery, and this pony, who she reckoned was from Trottingham, might be a good partner.

"You're certainly welcome." Twilight realized how little she actually saw of this particular pony. Sure, he did not have a very high-profile occupation, but the princess found herself straining to remember a single time she had seen him doing anything that separated him from the crowd.

"So do you have any idea how to get Rarity to talk?" Rainbow asked, "We're her friends and we haven't been able to get her out in a week."

"I have the utmost confidence that I will be able to get her to come out to you," the good doctor assured, "Just allow me to work my magic."

"What magic? You're an earth pony!" Rainbow Dash pointed out. Something about him rubbed Rainbow the wrong way. She didn't know if it was his voice, or his personality, or something else entirely, but something about him rustled her feathers in all the wrong ways.

"This Trottingham accent is magic by itself," He joked. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.

Twilight coughed, "It's worth a shot. Meet us at Carousel Boutique tomorrow morning at nine."

"I will see you there." Dr. Hooves gave Twilight a polite kiss on the hoof, but was refused when he offered the same gesture to Rainbow Dash. He opened the door, and casually strolled off toward the setting sun.

"Does that pony seem odd to you?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Twilight shrugged, "Everypony has their own quirks. So he's a little mysterious. I think it's kind of attractive."

Rainbow groaned, "If you haven't realized, we're in a state of emergency. Anypony mysterious is bad news right now."