Chapter 11: The Puzzle

The Royal Treasure Seekers stood in silence. They watched until the powerful dragon had flown far from eyesight. They were blissfully unaware of the showdown currently taking place in Saddleback. After standing there and staring for far too long, Twilight finally came back to her senses and spoke.

“It…” her voice cracked. She cleared her throat and spoke again, “It looks like we have some tough competition.”

Pinkie Pie was the next one to speak.

“Ooo! I love competition! Especially if it’s a baking competition…”

“Pinkie,” chided Twilight.

But the pink pony was on a roll, “…plenty of cupcakes and chocolate and…”

“PINKIE,” said Twilight a little more forcefully.

“…And the best part is that I get to taste test…”

“PINKIE!” Twilight shouted.

“Oh! Hi Twilight!” Pinkie said ignorantly. Then the pony noticed Twilight’s frustrated glare, “Oops, I got on one of those tr…tag…tag-net things of your again, didn’t I?”

The purple unicorn let off a sigh, “Yes Pinkie, you got off on a tangent. But that’s beside the point. After our encounter with Grallix it reminds me of how many teams we’ve bumped into recently. It might be a good idea to write them all down so we know who we’re up against.”

“I’m on it Twilight!” Spike said as he pulled a parchment and quill from the supply bags. “Never leave home without some paper.”

“Good.” Twilight smiled pleasantly.

“I’d put the dragon down first,” mentioned Rainbow Dash.

“Alright, d-r-a-g-,” Spike spoke aloud as he wrote.

“It was Grallix, dear. I shall never forget that brute,” commented Rarity.

“Ok, so g-r-a-l-l-i-x, Grallix. Who’s next?”

“That fun pegasus couple!” added Pinkie with glee. “Their names were Juliet and Boomer.”

Spike wrote down the names of the pegasi.

“Oh, and that nice University team,” Fluttershy recalled with a smile.

“And those nasty griffins!” fumed Rainbow.

Spike was writing as quickly as he could. “Anyone else?”

“Can’t ferget that Trixie,” declared Applejack.

“Alright that’s one…two…three…four…five teams and we make six,” counted Spike. “That means we there’s only one other team to find before we know all seven.”

“Spike,” Twilight said abruptly, “I may know who the seventh team is.”

“Really? Who?” he asked.

“Remember that Society of Sun group I was telling you all about back in Canterlot? I have a hunch that they’re in this thing too.”

“If your hunch is correct that means that we know every team,” Rarity said with a hint of excitement.

“This is great and all, but there’s one thing that we’re forgetting,” Rainbow Dash stated.

“And jus’ what might that be?” asked Applejack with one eyebrow raised.

“We need to figure out which teams know that we’re in the hunt and which ones don’t.”

“That’s a very good observation Rainbow Dash,” Twilight agreed.

“Well, the griffins obviously know,” Applejack said.

“And that nasty Grallix too,” commented Rarity.

“And somehow Trixie found out,” Rainbow Dash added.

“I don’t think the pegasi couple knows,” said Pinkie Pie.

“And the U of H team doesn’t know either,” responded Spike.

“That leaves just the Society of Sun,” stated Fluttershy.

“We still don’t know if the Society of Sun is in the hunt or not, but if they are, I doubt they know,” replied Twilight confidently.

“Ok, so as it stands,” Spike read from his list, “around half of our competitors know that we’re in the hunt. The others are clueless.”

“That could give us a serious advantage.” Rainbow smiled.

“All of this information is good, but it won’t help us if we don’t get back on the hunt,” Twilight reminded. “I think we’ve rested here for long enough, it’s time to keep moving.”

The bookworm readjusted her saddlebag and began a slow march toward the distant city of Canterlot. The others followed suit and the team was once again back on the road and back in the hunt.

* * * * * * * * *

The scenery began to change as the party made its way closer to the glimmering mountain city. The dusty hills and scraggly brush slowly morphed into green pasture and open plains. The change was hardly noticed until the group had made it a substantial distance away from Saddleback. Not a sign of civilization seemed to be evident in these wide open lands, but they knew that when they got close enough to Canterlot, many towns would become visible.

The group had been walking a long time and Rarity insisted on another break. So, the party set themselves down once again and let their heavy saddlebags come to the green earth. The ponies had been resting for a few moments when Spike leaped to his feet.

“I just remembered! In all the confusion we forgot to listen to Sun Cloak’s next puzzle!”

The little dragon ran over to Twilight’s bag and retrieved the small ruby.

“Wait, Spike,” cautioned Twilight.

She peered into the sky and then began to comb the area with her eyes and ears.

Finally, she seemed convinced, “Ok, it doesn’t look like anypony else is around. Go ahead.”

Spike smiled excitedly and then spoke to the enchanted jewel, “Sun Cloak, what is the next riddle?”

The ruby began to purr melodiously. A crackle of sparks and a large flash brightened the sky as the visage of Sun Cloak appeared. The wizened unicorn stood regally with his shining cloak and his mane half pulled over his left eye. Then, the message began to play.

“ ‘Where the ol’ ring-a-round scores a coup de grace

  And where pegasi fall with a bumbling ace,

  Here you will find the next challenge awaits;

  Only at small: for one…for all’.”

Sun Cloak vanished from sight and the humming gemstone became silent and dim.

“Now what in the hay does that mean?” Applejack mumbled to no one in particular.

Twilight scratched her chin in thought.

“Maybe THIS time it’s a race track!” Pinkie shouted excitedly.

“Pinkie, I’d love to go to a race track, really I would,” replied Rainbow, “but why would such a powerful unicorn lead us to a sports arena?”

“I’m sorry Pinkie, but I think that RD here might be right,” confirmed Applejack with a nod.

“Well, it was worth a shot anyway!” The pink equine shrugged cheerfully.

While Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash talked about going to the races, another conversation was brewing.

“Pegasi fall?” murmured Fluttershy.

“What was that, Fluttershy?” asked Rarity.

“Oh…um…just the line about pegasi falling. I don’t like it much.”

“It does sound rather odd, doesn’t it?” the white unicorn pondered. “Do you think it has some major significance?”

“I don’t know, but after what we experienced in the tunnel, I’m afraid that my ability to fly might be taken away for the next challenge.”

“That sounds rather serious,” Rarity replied with concern. “We should see what Rainbow Dash thinks of that.”

The dressmaker broke into the other’s conversations, “Rainbow darling, Fluttershy had a thought about that ‘pegasi falling’ line. She thinks Sun Cloak may take away your wings for the next challenge.”

Rainbow Dash looked over at Rarity and couldn’t hold back her laughter, “Ha!Ha!Ha! Take away my wings! That’s a good one Fluttershy!”

She slapped her yellow friend on the back, but when she actually looked at Fluttershy, she saw a dim seriousness etched across her face.

“Wait. You don’t seriously think Sun Cloak could really take our wings away…right?” Rainbow grew visibly worried and her breathing became faster.

“Not being able to fly is not good. Not good,” she shook her head and began to pace nervously.

“Girls, calm down!” Twilight intervened. “Sun Cloak didn’t say anything about taking your wings away. I say we get back on the march as we discuss the ridd-err…puzzle. The sooner we get back to Canterlot, the sooner we can get some real research done.”

Twilight then calmly proceeded to place her bag on her back and motioned for the others to do the same. They all did so, and Rainbow began to clam down as she took some deep breaths. Soon, the team was on the road again and the discussion on Sun Cloak’s newest mystery ran the gamut from sporting arenas all the way to Los Pegasus, but the sun’s time in the sky was nearing an end and soon a soft glowing moon arose to take its place. The group set up camp and Twilight made mention that, “We should reach Canterlot by early afternoon.” The ponies and baby dragon quickly fell asleep after a hard day’s march.

* * * * * * * * *

Canterlot, the city of royalty to some, but to Twilight this gleaming city was once home. The Royal Treasure Seekers had arrived right on schedule, but were no closer to finding an answer to the elusive riddle. They walked through the streets and continued their discussions.

“I’m tellin’ ya’. It must’ve been some famous carnival or somethin’ that he went to. Ring-a-round makes sense to be one of them prize winnin’ games or some kind of ride and pegasi fallin’ could be referin’ to some sort of clowns,” Applejack was explaining her theory to Rarity.

“And I say that’s simply ridiculous. I had a dream about it last night where I watched as a ‘small’ pegasus jumped out of a spinning windmill and into a lake below. I believe that we need to find some sort of peaceful lake town.”

As more heated debate exploded from their wild imaginations, the Castle suddenly loomed in front of the group. Discussion ceased as the friends found themselves once again entering the large palace. A couple of guards came to escort the seven to Princess Celestia. The party was led to the throne room, which was still filled to the brim with scurrying war horses who were busy making plans and attempting to keep the peace throughout Equestria. Princess Celestia looked up as the group entered the room and motioned them over. Her eyelids had bags under them and she was in what seemed to be a heated argument with an officer.

“We don’t have enough forces in the city your Majesty,” sounded the officer.

“And I don’t have any to send yet. I just sent out a group to help in Cloudsdale. As soon as I have the forces to give, I will give them. But as it is, I cannot send any additional support at this moment.”

The officer snapped a salute and briskly walked away with a small grunt. The Royal Treasure Seekers took their place by Celestia’s side.

“You’d think that after over a week and a half since Sun Cloak sent out his first message that Equestria would settle down a bit, but they haven’t seemed to figure that out yet,” sighed the Princess wearily.

“I’m so sorry Princess,” Twilight sympathized.

“There’s no need to be sorry, I just need to take a breather from all of this fuss. Come; let’s go back to my chambers. I have something important to share with all of you and a much needed nap to take.”

The Princess of all Equestria led the party out of the crowded throne room and to her own private chambers, where things were much quieter. The group soon revealed their findings from Saddleback and spoke of the next riddle to the white alicorn.

“It seems that you’ve learned a lot my little ponies,” Celestia said after she had heard their tale, “but I have some information that may be helpful to all of you down the road. After Sun Cloak first appeared, I was certain that I had seen him somewhere before. I believe I mentioned this to you the last time you were here, but something bothered me about the whole thing. For some reason I couldn’t remember where I had met him. Just last night it finally dawned on me where Sun Cloak and I met.”

She walked over to her curtains and drew them shut before continuing.

“It was at my old castle in what is now the Everfree Forest. I held a reception there for many brave ponies who helped in the Third Dragon War. I’m sure you remember reading about the War, Twilight. Although it shouldn’t really be called a war;  seeing as it was more or less two years of small skirmishes on the outskirts of Equestria, near the Dragon Lands. That’s beside the point though. Sun Cloak was one of the tacticians or, more specifically, he was a strategist during the War. I honored him and several other ponies during that night nearly five hundred years ago.

I was on the verge of writing to you to let you know this information, but I was informed that you had just arrived in Canterlot and wanted to tell you in person.”

“Thank you Princess,” Twilight said gratefully. “Do you think this information has anything to do with Sun Cloak’s puzzle?”

“I do not know,” the Princess replied.

The group took in this new information as Celestia yawned.

“Come on y’all let’s give the Princess some space,” Applejack suggested. “She’s been workin’ mighty hard these past few days.”

The orange earth pony headed for the door. They all left single file, with Spike taking up the rear. Just as the baby dragon was closing the door he looked back in to find Princess Celestia sinking into her covers.

“It’s like melting into a sweet slice of pie,” purred the powerful ruler as she gave off a contented sigh.

Spike closed the door and chuckled quietly to himself.

* * * * * * * * *

The group of friends had debated and researched their afternoon away. They currently found themselves in the Royal Archives. Each one was busy scouring through books and records, searching for some sort of clue or insight into Sun Cloak’s confusing riddle.

Tomes lay sprawled haphazardly across various tables. Some of them were opened to certain pages that may or may not be leads while others were closed shut. The Archives seemed to have an endless supply of scrolls, papers, and manuscripts, each from different eras and on countless topics.

Rainbow Dash had called it quits and lay snoozing in a corner with a book over her head, Rarity began pouring over manuscripts detailing the fashion from other centuries, and Applejack had found a paper detailing the Apple family’s history. Luckily, Pinkie Pie was still hot on the trail. The party pony made it like a game of “Where’s Waldo” and was having a blast doing it, even if she wasn’t really getting anywhere. Spike was simply looking through the massive library and putting anything that sounded vaguely interesting into a large pile for Twilight to pick through. He was used to late night studies, thanks to Twilight, and knew that she would want a sizeable pile to pilfer for information when everypony else slept that evening. The purple scholar, herself, was in the process of re-reading “The Tragedy of Sun Cloak”. She slammed the small tome down in frustration.

“Come on! Tell me something!” she vented into the old pages.

“Twilight, are you all right?” asked Spike worriedly.

The unicorn took some deep breaths and closed her eyes for a moment.

“Yes,” she stated coolly, “I’m fine. Just frustrated is all. I’ve read through this story twice today and still can’t find a hint of any ‘ol ring-a-round’ or ‘pegasui falling’ or even a mention to anything being significantly ‘small’.”

“It’s getting late. Maybe we all just need some rest,” the dragon suggested. “Then we’ll be ready to tackle this riddle tomorrow.”

At the mention of “riddle” Sun Cloak’s ruby sputtered to life as his message echoed loudly throughout the library. The sound bounced around the open room and Rainbow Dash jumped up from her nap with a huge snort. The others lost any semblance of concentration on whatever they were doing. Heads popped up from books and dusty papers. They looked at Spike who was chuckling nervously.

“Sorry about that,” he apologized with an awkward smile.

“Spike,” Twilight stated, “I think you’re right. Why don’t you all get to bed? I’m going to take a short walk outside to clear my head and then do a few more hours of research.”

“But Twilight-” Rarity said with concern.

“I’ll be fine Rarity,” Twilight interrupted her friend. “You all look tired. Plus, I’ve stayed up doing research way later than this before. Don’t worry about me.”

At this, the young dragon gave out a powerful yawn. Then Rainbow Dash began to yawn and soon everypony was busy yawning.

“I’m all for bed,” admitted Rainbow Dash wearily, “I’ll see you in the morning.”

She trotted out of the Archives and the others slowly trickled out behind her. Soon, the room was empty except for Twilight Sparkle.

Moonlight poured in through tall glass windows and a sizeable amount of small candles gave off a soft orange glow around the library and cast strange flickering shadows upon the bookshelves. The unicorn stretched, yawned, and headed outside for a quick walk.

The air was clean and crisp. It was a beautiful evening with many bright and shimmering stars in the sky. Twilight knew all the constellations and loved to tell others about the wonders of the heavens. She was looking up and rattling names off under her breath when something fell in front of her face. It landed upon the bridge of her nose and clouded her view. She shook her head free from the nuisance. She looked down at the ground to see what had hit her. A small, neatly folded, piece of paper lay before the unicorn’s eyes and there appeared to be some writing on it. With magic, Twilight opened it began to read.

“Twilight Sparkle,

It would seem that you and your group have hit a road bump. I very much wish to help, but I can only meet you tonight. You will find me at the Prancing Gardens. Come alone or don’t come at all.

-A Friend”

Unsure of how to take this message Twilight did the only thing she knew to do, she headed back to the library and began to make a list.

* * * * * * * * *

Twilight was pacing up and down the empty Archive aisles and rambling to herself.

“Pro: I could get good information on Sun Cloak’s puzzle. Con: It could be a trap. Pro: I would get a nice dinner. Con: I could be wasting valuable time. Pro: I could find a supporter. Con: It might be a false lead. Urgh! None of this is helping.”

She re-read the note, “I can only meet you tonight. Come alone or don’t come at all.”

The unicorn closed her eyes and thrust her head down. Her hooves tapped against the cold stone flooring as she debated what to do.

“To go or not to go? That is the question.”

She let out a small but determined snort and opened her eyes. It might be crazy, it might be a false lead, and it might even be a trap of some sort, but the chance to come home with an answer was worth the risk.

The purple mare quietly gussied up her mane and found the outfit Rarity had helped her prepare a few days before for the very same high-class restaurant. She was going to the Prancing Gardens, and she was going to get some answers.

* * * * * * * * *

11:43 PM read a clock on the restaurant’s back wall. Twilight had been waiting for nearly twenty minutes for this mysterious ‘friend’. She told the maitre d’ sitting behind a fancy counter that she was expecting someone and had spent the rest of the time fidgeting in a small waiting area.

“Nice to see you again, Miss Sparkle,” said a vaguely familiar voice from behind her back

Twilight turned around to find herself staring into a pair of yellow eyes. A unicorn stallion stared back for a few moments until the maitre d’ spoke.

“Table for one Sun Chaser.”

“Here,” replied the yellow-eyed stallion with dignity as he rose up a hoof.

“Right this way sir.” The maitre d’ bowed and then walked around a bend.

The maitre d’ then pointed toward an empty area reserved for private parties.

“Come along Miss Sparkle,” the stallion, Sun Chaser, prompted.

Twilight fell behind the stallion and decided to take a good look over him. It was the unicorn from the Society of Sun that had talked to her only a few nights ago. She noticed that his hair had been dyed a deep brown, but what the original colors were Twilight couldn’t make out. His cutie mark appeared to be a trio of deep blue question marks with sparks dancing around them. His voice was not deep, but not high either. It had an air of dignity to it, like a true gentlecolt. He was also wearing a sharp looking tuxedo.

“We hope you thoroughly enjoy your meal, Sir,” the maitre d’ turned around to find Twilight standing there, “…and to you as well Miss.”

He then hurried off to help the other guests and left the two unicorns alone at their small, but private, dining table.

The two took places across from each other. Twilight wasn’t quite sure what to make of this stallion.

“Well Miss Sparkle,” he began, “it seems you’ve been rather busy since the last time we met. Allow me to formally introduce myself, I am Sun Chaser and I have asked you here to help you.”

Twilight nodded politely and then spoke up herself.

“It’s nice to officially meet you Sun…oh, Mr. Chaser.”

“Please, no need for formalities. Just Sun Chaser will do fine.”

“Very well then, it’s nice to meet you, Sun Chaser. Now, how exactly do you intend to help me? And what exactly do you know?”

Chaser had a mischievous glint in his eye as he began to speak.

“I know a great deal Miss Sparkle. It seems that you and your friends have been quite busy. For starters, your brother is Captain of the Royal Guard and he married royalty. You, personally, are the student of Princess Celestia herself. Not to mention the fact that you and your friends bear the Elements of Harmony and defeated both Nightmare Moon and Discord.”

Twilight had the appearance of one who has just been praised at an award ceremony and also one who had just been run over by a train.

“It’s a wonder what somepony can learn if they only put in the proper research,” Sun Chaser chuckled when he noticed Twilight’s emotional crisis.

“And why would one need to do the ‘proper research’ on myself and my friends Mr. Chaser?” Twilight squeaked.

Twilight peered nervously at the stallion.

“Why, Miss Sparkle, don’t be startled. I do the same amount of research on all of my competitors.”

Twilight was again taken aback. It took all of her focus to calm down and regain her posture.

“Now I would love to continue our discussion, but let’s do it over some food shall we?” suggested Sun Chaser nonchalantly.

Twilight gave her agreement with a small nod and a waiter soon appeared to take up orders. A light salad started off the fancy dinner with the finest of toasted grains for an appetizer.

“Well Miss Sparkle, it seems I know an awful lot about you and I find it only fair to allow you to learn something about myself. Ask away.”

“For one, please stop calling me ‘Miss Sparkle’. You’re going to give me a headache. Just Twilight will do.”

“I believe I can handle that, Twilight.”

She smiled softly at the mention of her name, but soon remembered that she knew next to nothing about the stallion across from her. The smile faded as she began asking questions.

“So, you’re part of the Society of Sun?”

“Why yes. In fact, I’m the head of the Society.”

Twilight almost choked on a piece of lettuce. She cleared her throat politely and then continued.

“The head of the Society? Then where’s the rest of your group?”

“Oh. I’m here by myself, same as I asked from you. And, before you ask, no, my peers do not know I am here.”

“Then why are you here?”

Sun Chaser swallowed down a few oats before answering.

“Mmm. Simply delicious! Ah yes, like I said before, I’m here to help.”

“Help with what exactly?”

Twilight asked cautiously between bites.

“With the hunt of course.”

“And how do you know that we’re even in it?”

“Because you have a stunning red ruby with a long since deceased unicorn seemingly trapped inside who just so happens to talk to you. You’re either in the hunt or you’re delusional.”

Twilight gagged at the forthright manner with which Sun Chaser talked.

“Ooo! It looks like it’s time for the main course,” Chaser smiled as a waiter came to take their orders. “I’ll take the Chef’s Choice of the Day.”

“And for you Madame?” asked the attentive server.

“Um…I’ll have…the same,” Twilight somehow managed to reply.

“Very good. I can take those menus, if you please.”

The menus were handed over to their server and conversation soon started up again as the chef prepared the meals. Tonight the Chef’s Choice was a tasty flower based dish in a spectacular white sauce and topped with carrots, but Twilight wasn’t very concerned with food at the moment.

“But, how did you know-?” Twilight started.

“Because,” interrupted Sun Chaser, “ours is a beautiful blue sapphire.”

Twilight was caught off guard. For all intents and purposes, he seemed very high class, but he could also be very curt.

“So is the entire Society of Sun on the hunt, or just you?”

“Oh, the entire Society is in the running.”

“Another question, how did you know the color of our crystal?”

“We found out in Saddleback.”

“Saddleback? But we never saw you there,” Twilight’s voice was beginning to sound a little edgy.

“When Sun Cloak first revealed himself in the center of town. You remember? Those young hooligans rushed at you and the shield came up. Well, we were standing in the crowd and saw the whole thing. You really need to be more attentive.”

Twilight had already been reprimanded by a team of griffins but now a snobby unicorn?

“Well excuse me if a random unicorn pops out of a crystal in the middle of town without a proper warning.”

“Calm down. Calm down. I was merely stating a fact.”

Twilight gave Sun Chaser a hard glare, but the stallion didn’t even notice.

“Oh look! That’s our main course right there,” he said happily and looked hungrily at two plates of food, being carried by the server.

The delectable food was placed before the two equines and Sun Chaser began to dive in.

“Chef Whiskwisher has really outdone himself tonight,” commented the stallion between bites.

Twilight stared at her food and then back at Sun Chaser, she didn’t eat a single bite.

“So remind me again why I’m here?” Twilight sighed.

“Yes, that’s right. I am here to help you solve the riddle that you’re stuck on.”

Twilight tensed up at the mention of ‘riddle’, but no there was no humming and no light sparked to life.

“However,” continued the stallion, “there is one stipulation.”

Twilight played around with her dish, not looking into Sun Chaser’s eyes.

“Let me guess, you want me to join your Society?”

“I would gladly welcome you into the Society of Sun,” he said happily. “We truly need more of a…feminine presence. But I will only accept your generous offer after the hunt is finished.”

Twilight’s eyebrows raised and she looked up at the stallion, who continued to speak.

“No, in exchange for a valuable hint, you will pay for our dinner. It shouldn’t be too much of a problem for somepony with Celestia’s ear.”

Twilight instantly turned from confused to angry in the blink of an eye.

“Nopony treats Princess Celestia like some kind of a money machine or speaks of her that flippantly! No! I’m done,” she got up and started to leave. “We don’t need your kind of help.”

“Sure you won’t reconsider?” Sun Chaser called calmly. “My group and I leave tomorrow and I won’t be able to see you again for quite some time.”

The purple mare stopped with her back turned to Sun Chaser. She thought about the riddle and how long everypony had searched to get this far. Finally, she turned back around.

“Fine,” she sighed. “I agree, but I have a condition of my own.”

This made even Sun Chaser raise an eyebrow.

Twilight continued, “Only if the information is good enough will I pay. We have a deal?”

“Agreed.” The stallion smiled.

Twilight moved back over to her plate and began to thoughtfully chew on some of the carrots while she waited for Sun Chaser’s next move. He leaned in close to Twilight’s face and then looked around at the other patrons suspiciously before speaking.

“Our dear friend, Sun Cloak,” he whispered into Twilight’s ear, “used some ancient sporting terminology in his latest riddle.”

Twilight’s eyes went wide at the revelation. Pinkie Pie was right?! Sun Chaser chuckled when he looked at Twilight’s expression.

“I’ll take that as information well worth the meal. It was a pleasure talking with you, Miss Sparkle. I hope we have the pleasure of doing it again some time.”

He got up and turned to leave but Twilight voice stopped him in his tracks.

“Wait! Before you leave…I have one last question.”

Sun Chaser turned back around.

“Why are you helping us?” she asked.

The stallion smiled ever so slightly before giving a reply.

“My intentions are my own. And, I’m sure that if you continue the excellent work you and your team have already begun, then you’ll find out soon enough. Have a pleasant evening.”

He nodded his head courteously toward Twilight and turned to leave. But he had not walked more than three steps before he spoke again, with his back still turned to Twilight.

“Oh! One last word of advice, if I may. He gave you the crystal for a reason. I would suggest that you actually start using it.”

This time Sun Chaser did not stop, but calmly left the building and headed into the late evening air. Twilight took a few more bites of her meal as she pondered over all she had learned. Eventually, the bill was paid and Twilight went straight back to the library to look for some answers.

Next Chapter: Chapter 12: The Findings Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 37 Minutes