The pleasant gust had abandoned me and I was left with no choice but to flap my wings. A few seconds earlier, I saw a strange glint over Mt. Topazora. Why? The topaz mines were abandoned due to hazardous conditions; so someone must be there. Or something. What were the possibilities? A stranded ewe? They couldn’t climb that high though. I sighed and kept course. It most likely wasn’t anything interesting. As I had told Twilight, the Crystal Empire was quite predictable. Something, I concluded almost wistfully, with a thud as my hooves skidded on rocks. Walking around, I saw the Unidentified Shimmering Object.

          It was anything but predictable. Or mundane. It was a crystal rose, and a very big one.

   The gigantic crystal rose, at least 20 feet tall, towered above me. It had a crimson blossom with a grey-green stem. Despite its size a mountain ledge cleverly concealed it. The closed bud seemed to be hollow upon inspection. I glanced inside. It almost appeared to have something in it…..

Blue aura danced to life on my horn. I wanted to know what was inside. The flower splintered out of existence; blown to smithereens with the spell. I moved my hoof away from my eyes.

   The flora’s contents floated down unscathed. It was nothing more than a dark crimson cloak. An old fashioned rather plain kind. A wizard's humble attire.  It wasn’t electrifying, thrilling, or even breathtaking. The opposite. Boring. Dull.

What a disappointment.

   Tears streamed down my face. How stupid of me, to think that I might do something interesting-memorable even. I flew back to the palace leaving the silly no-good time-wasting piece of junk to the wind’s mercy.

  Wake up, brush mane, don crown/necklace/shoes, and eat breakfast. Check, check, and check! Perhaps today might be better than last evening.

Just as I was heading out of the Royal Chamber's dining wing to begin the days duties just as a guard rushed over. With his helmet askew and two shoes missing, complete with his panting, Platinum Laurel looked downright ridiculous.

Then he spoke, still gasping. “You are needed immediately in the interrogating room.”

This was bad. We had never used that room yet. It was only meant to be used in certain kinds of emergencies. With no time to spare I teleported us to the correct hall.

No time for delays.

  The room was nothing special.Its exterior was flanked by three guards in a secure yet little used area of the palace. Inside there were four guards in a secure yet little used area of the palace. Inside there were four guards with a table and magic barriers glowing softly on the walls to prevent magical escape. A noise canceling spell blocked out all interior noises.

I entered coolly without revealing my angst. I gazed over at the table where two guards poised over my ‘guest’.

The two guards parted to reveal the interrogatee, face and body hidden with…

A deep crimson cloak.

The same one. I was sure.

Not letting my shock show, I dismissed the guards. “I’ll be fine.”

They nodded and left.

Clearing my throat, I aggressively addressed my guest. This was a sick prank at the very least.

“Take. The. Hood. Off.”

The figures hood was enveloped in magic aura. A familiar grey-red aura. But how was it familiar? I ran my head for a mental search of unicorns who might be visiting. It wasn’t Rarity. Discord maybe? Or anypony I knew…. My mind stopped dead.

It was somepony I knew.

Somepony it was a crime to forget.

Somepony who I never wanted to meet again.

Somepony who should be dead. Blown up even.

I swallowed nervously.

Why?

How?

The hood dropped and in a voice that to me was nothing but unnerving. The alarming voice the not-so-stranger said, in a voice dripping with sarcasm,

“Miss me?”

Next Chapter: Chapter 2: Tyrants Make Fashionable Necklaces Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 6 Minutes