Sunset glared at Twilight, annoyed that the purple alicorn could be so nonchalant in this situation. "I'm telling you Twilight, the sun rose early today. Doesn't that mean anything to you in the slightest?"

"Of course it does. It also means something to me that the sun set early last night, as well the moon rising early."

"Then why are you being so calm about it?"

"Because the sun still rose," said Twilight. "If it hadn't, then I would be giving the issue my full attention. As it is, apart from rising a bit early, I don't see it as something we need to worry about."

"How could you possibly say this is something not worth worrying about? Celestia never rises the sun early! Or late! This could be a sign that something's really wrong!"

Twilight sighed through her nose, and stopped to face Sunset, who didn't seem to want to drop the issue. "I'm not saying it isn't something worth worrying about. Not at all. But I am saying it's not something we need to worry about."

Sunset stared at Twilight, her mouth hanging open. "How can you possibly think that?"

"Because the issue is in Equestria, and we-" Twilight gestured at the rocky, arid landscape around them, "-are in Saddle Arabia, with absolutely no way to do anything about it. I'm sorry Sunset, but this is something Celestia and Luna are going to have to fix themselves. We have our own job to do, as they have theirs."

Sunset seemed like she was about to argue, but a quick glance at the others confirmed that they were all waiting for her to admit that this was something they couldn't do anything about. "Okay, okay, fine, I get it." Sunset sighed deeply, "It still feels wrong to do nothing though. What if this is a sign that something's really wrong? What if this means that the war has started?"

"Then we still do what we're supposed to?" Trixie said like it was obvious. "Pretty sure we're supposed to be looking for that happy little deus ex that fixes everything. That's why we're here, in Saddle Arabia, getting baked by the sun and eaten by insects."

"But I'm not even hungry," Mayfly said with a pout.

"You really consider yourself an insect?" Moondancer asked the changeling.

"It was a joke," Mayfly explained flatly. "Too subtle? And no, I don't consider myself an insect. Insectoid yes, obviously, but not an insect."

"Anyway," Twilight said to Sunset, drawing the word out as she scowled at the others, "the point was that we help Equestria by doing what we're doing. The sun issue is something we can't fix, so let's not waste energy agonising over it."

Sunset sighed again. She could feel how wrong it was to have the sun rise too early, like an itch in the back of her mind. But Twilight was right in that there was nothing they could do about it, no matter how much it bothered her. Instead she adjusted her pack to be more comfortable, and smiled weakly at Twilight. "I guess we better get on and save Equestria then."

"Exactly," Twilight said back. "We're not far from the capital Ammare now, so we can restock with what we need, and start looking for that mirror, or however much is left of it. That also means you have to start disguising yourself Mayfly."

Mayfly nodded stiffly, like she was irritated by the suggestion. "Are you sure I must?"

"Positive," Twilight told her. "I hate to say it, but changelings tend to not be welcomed anywhere, so it's probably best you pick a disguise and stick with it."

"Okay then, how about this?" A wave of vivid green magic swept over Mayfly's body, leaving in its place a tall white Saddle Arabian mare, with a long, baby blue mane and tail. "Will this do?"

"Not... exactly," Twilight said, although she didn't want to. Mayfly did look the part, but there were other issues with the disguise she might not have considered.

"Why not?" asked Moondancer. "She looks exactly like a Saddle Arabian. She's going to fit in a lot better than we are."

"The problem is that while she might look the part, she wouldn't act it. She's not wearing the traditional garb of a Saddle Arabian, and I doubt she knows the cultural customs of a Saddle Arabian. Do you even know how to speak Saddlan?"

Mayfly twisted her hoof awkwardly, "I... don't even know what that is."

"It's the language of Saddle Arabia, and if you can't speak it, or act like a proper Saddle Arabian mare, I doubt it's a good idea to go around looking like one. Perhaps you should go with looking like a pony like us instead."

"Okay." Another wave of magic swept over Mayfly as she turned into a unicorn, using the same colour scheme, and with a horseshoe cutie mark. "Will this do?"

"Are we really going to get away with having another unicorn with us?" said Trixie. "I'm pretty sure we're going to look pretty damn tribalist soon. Why don't you go as a pegasus?"

"Because with my wings busted, I wouldn't be able to fly."

"Why not?"

Mayfly changed herself into a pegasus, and held her wings up to show them. Large chunks of feathers were missing, and what feathers were there were damaged. "Art reflects reality," she said sadly.

"Why not go as an earth pony then?" Sunset suggested, only to get laughed at by Trixie.

"Hah, good one."

"I'm not joking, and that was seriously tribalist," Sunset said coldly.

"I know, and I'm sorry, but if ponies could pick what kind of pony they wanted to be, I imagine there'd be a lot less earth ponies in the world. Flying or magic against neither of those? Yeah, tough choice."

Twilight gawped at Trixie, "Are you even kidding right now? There is nothing wrong with being an earth pony!"

"And I'm not saying there is, but given the choice..." Trixie shrugged at all of them, "Why don't we ask the only one of us here that does have a choice? Mayfly?"

Mayfly shuffled awkwardly under the attention she was suddenly under. "Uh... not that I want to agree with Trixie specifically, but since I can't fly," she quickly changed back into a unicorn, "I would like to still be able to us my magic."

Trixie grinned at all of them, "I think I've made my point."

Moondancer narrowed her eyes at Trixie, "A moment ago you were worried about looking tribalist. What happened to that, hmm?"

"Nothing. I'm just saying that given the choice of being a unicorn, pegasus, or earth pony, hardly anypony is going to choose being earth pony. Mayfly just proved that for me."

"One example is not a case study!"

"Twilight, is there a way we can turn Moondancer into an earth pony?"

Moondancer backed off a few steps and protectively held a hoof to her horn. "Don't you even dare!"

"Example number two," Trixie said gleefully.

Twilight groaned into her hoof, "Trixie, there's no such spell capable of turning a unicorn into an earth pony-"

"Because why waste your time developing a spell nopony would ever want to use."

"There isn't a spell that could turn you into a pegasus either! You can't change the type of pony you are."

"Sadly for all those earth ponies."

Twilight kicked a stone at Trixie, hitting her on the chest. "Seriously Trixie? Are you done now?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Good, now come on. The sooner we get to Ammare, the sooner we can start looking for information on the mirror."

If there was one way to describe Ammare, it was busy. However, it was also capable of being described as dusty, hot, loud, annoyingly tall, and having an over fondness for onion domed towers. The palace on the small rise looking over the city especially had a thing for them.

It was also pretty well secured if the pairs of guards walking around in matching uniforms with their scimitars slung at their sides were any indication. She wasn't sure why, but their presence made Twilight nervous, like they were looking for something, and she hoped they weren't it.

Twilight stopped the group under an arch that bridged two buildings as another pair of guards wandered by. "This isn't exactly what I expected. Actually, I don't know what I expected."

"Everything here's making me feel really short," Trixie whined. "I mean, I know Saddle Arabians are tall, but did they have to make everything half as high again? I feel like a foal."

"Out of interest," Moondancer said, pausing as a trio of Saddle Arabians passed by, arguing loudly in their native tongue, "where were you expecting to find information on the mirror? If there's any to find."

"And not in the wrong language," Sunset added.

"Weren't you the one to bring up Saddle Arabia?" Moondancer asked Sunset. "Didn't whatever you were reading say more about where the mirror was?"

"Yes, but Starswirl travelled around here a lot, so I couldn't pin down where he kept the mirror, and this is a civilised country so I very much doubt nopony here has never found it. I was thinking it might be in a museum or something."

"Assuming nopony thought it was a piece of trash and threw it away," said Trixie.

"Also a possibility," Sunset admitted sheepishly. "A couple of days of trying to find out about it won't hurt."

"I suppose not," said Twilight. "So we'll start by looking for a museum then. Even if it isn't there, perhaps they might know something about where it could be."

Trixie snorted a laugh, "Great! That just leaves the issue of where to find the museum, assuming they even have one."

"We could ask somepony?" said Mayfly.

"Be my guest," Trixie replied, stepping aside and gesturing for Mayfly to go do that, adding a small bow for emphasis. "Of course, they might not understand you, and you probably wouldn't understand them, but I'm sure it'll all work out if you just speak slowly and loudly."

"Oh! Okay then." Mayfly nodded eagerly and started to trot towards the only ponies she could see, only to get dragged back by Twilight's magic."

"She was being sarcastic Mayfly, just ignore her. In fact, ignore her, period."

"Hey..."

"Come on," Twilight said, enjoyably ignoring Trixie. "We won't find anything standing around here. Let's have a look around, and if it comes down to it, we can always ask a guard, because hopefully they might speak Equestrian."

Twilight smiled encouragingly at her friends, then led the way deeper into the city. It really did remind her of Canterlot in some ways, with its many towers, bridges, and archways, as well as the bustle of many ponies. That's where the similarities ran out though. Dust blown in from the nearby deserts coated everything, and the roads were nothing more than solidly compacted dirt.

What did get her the most though, was the stares. Especially once they reached the marketplace, where ponies would stop what they were doing just to stare at them. So far she hadn't seen a single other pony from Equestria, so she could only assume that they were a bit of a rarity. None of the stares were hostile though. Most of them were simply curious. They were also mostly directed at Twilight, leading her to think that maybe she should have considered hiding her wings as ponies here were in all likelihood capable of identifying her as a princess. It was probably too late now though.

This went on for a while, wherever they went in the city as they searched fruitlessly for a museum, library, or anything like that. Twilight was starting to think that they could have passed by any number of such things, and not realised due to not knowing the language. She was about to suggest they ask a guard when Sunset gasped and ran over to a small newsstand.

"Guys! Look at this!" Sunset picked a paper up off the stand and held it in front of them with her magic.

"It's in Saddlan," Trixie said flatly.

"I know that, but look at the picture." All of them focused on the picture, which was a map of Equestria with arrows pointing into it from Mareitania, one finishing at Vanhoover, and the other on the Crystal Empire. "This has to mean Equestria's being attacked! If only we could read what it says."

"Perhaps I could be of assistance?" All of them turned to the voice, finding it to have originated from a light grey Saddle Arabian stallion flanked by two of the armed guards that were patrolling the city.

Twilight cleared her throat nervously at the sight, suddenly feeling like they were in trouble. "I'm sorry, can we help you?"

"I believe it was I offering to help you, but no matter. Let me introduce myself." The stallion bowed deeply to Twilight, "I am Hakim, Vizier to the Sultan, and you," he said before Twilight could speak, "are Princess Twilight Sparkle."

"You know who I am?"

"But of course. The small number of alicorns in this world does make you rather easy to recognise. That does lead me to ask why a princess of Equestria is here in Saddle Arabia? We are also curious as to why you are here without informing us."

"Uh... Well, y'see-"

"Ah-ah, hold your answers. You can tell them to the Sultan directly."

"The Sultan wants to see us?"

Hakim nodded, "More you specifically, but the... invitation will be extended to your companions also."

"You hesitated on invitation," Trixie pointed out. "I'm guessing we don't actually have much of a choice here."

"Of course you do, but I very much suggest you accept his offer of hospitality." The stallion waited a beat as he let that sink in. "Please, if you would follow me."

"Wait," Sunset said quickly, then blushed as the Vizier raised an eyebrow at her. "Sorry." She held the paper up in front of him, "Could you tell us what this says? Please?"

"Put basically, the alicorn Faust has attacked Equestria, invading both the city of Van-hoo-ver, if that is how you say it, and the Crystal Empire, but a few days ago."

"She really attacked the Crystal Empire?" Twilight gasped. "Why would she attack there? How would she attack there?"

"I do not know," said Hakim, "and it seems to have gained her little as the city was swallowed by the voracious cold of the frozen north soon after." Hakim softened slightly as he watched Twilight's ears fall, "I guess you have been away from Equestria for a while to not know that."

"It's part of the reason why we're here," Twilight admitted quietly.

"I see. Perhaps these are things better discussed with the Sultan himself. Again, if you would follow me, I will take you to him. Then we shall see if we can perhaps aid you in some way."

The area around the palace was considerably different to that in the city, and that was before you even got to the palace itself. They were led through a large gate surrounded by an equally large wall, and immediately found themselves in a different world, or so it felt. A large water garden spread out before them, filled with lush green plants, and numerous fountains that playfully sprayed water into the large angular pools that made up much of the garden. All of it was built with the same white marble the palace appeared to be made of.

As the Vizier led them up the large path through the gardens, Twilight took note of the large number of exotic birds that called the gardens their home. Flamingos, parrots, parakeets, and far more stood around the pools, or flew around them, and there were plenty of other creatures besides.

Hakim smiled at Twilight, "It seems like you are enjoying the palace gardens?"

"They're wonderful," Twilight gushed, while behind her Trixie snorted.

"So this is half of where the country's water went to," she muttered bitterly. The difference between here and the city was reminding her a bit too much of what she and Twilight fought to overthrow in Mareitania. "Heaven forfend royalty not live like royalty for once."

"Trixie!" Twilight shouted, horrified that Trixie would say such a thing, even if she didn't entirely disagree. Her horror was soon replaced with confusion as Hakim chuckled at them.

"I'm afraid you'll have to blame the ostentatious nature of this place on the ponies that built it centuries ago as a rival to your Princess Celestia's palace in Canterlot. As for the water, the palace has its own private supply, and often shares that with the ponies in the city when times are hard. Free of charge I might add."

"That's generous of you," said Sunset.

"As you can imagine, water is quite the commodity in this land. Somepony could be your worst enemy, but you would still share a glass of water with them when times are hard."

"Clearly you haven't found some proper enemies," Trixie grumbled as they made their way up the marble steps that led inside the palace. Even she had to admit the place was nice as she admired the silk drapes and many mosaics. She didn't have enough interest to admire them in depth though, which was fine as the Vizier seemed determined to get them to their destination.

He stopped them before a thick double door, and turned his rear to it to talk to them. "I feel I should warn you that the Sultan may be a little... distracted. We have been having some issues lately, and they do not seem to be resolving themselves to anyone's satisfaction, or at all really."

"What kind of issues?" Twilight asked.

"That is not for me to say I'm afraid. The Sultan may divulge more if you ask, but perhaps it is best you stick to why you're here rather than worry about our problems." Hakim smiled at them and signalled the guards to open the doors, "Sire!" he shouted happily. "I found our unexpected guests!"

Twilight followed the Vizier as he trotted up to the raised throne that was built on a raised platform much like Celestia's and Luna's, but that was where the similarities ended. The throne itself was more like an open oyster shell, although considerably more ornate, and was filled to the brim with cushions, amongst which sat a stallion with a simple brown coat under his simple royal garb. He couldn't have been any older than herself.

"Introducing Princess Twilight Sparkle," Hakim continued, "and her friends Moondancer, Mayfly, Sunset, and Trixie."

"It's an honour to meet you," said Twilight, dropping into a bow which the other copied with varying degrees of speed and reluctance. "We're sorry for intruding into your country uninvited, but we wished to avoid unnecessary attention."

"Then perhaps you might consider a disguise," said the Sultan. Thankfully he didn't seem offended, and gestured for them to rise. "I will have to admit to being surprised when my guards informed me there was an Equestrian princess walking around my city. Considering the duress Equestria is currently under, I doubt you have come here for a sightseeing trip."

"You've... guessed correctly, your Highness. We seek an artifact, one of many, that can lead us to the location of Starswirl the Bearded." A slight lie, but Twilight was pretty sure the secret retreat of Starswirl should remain a secret.

"Ah yes, the legendary Starswirl the Bearded." The Sultan rose from his throne and descended to stand before them. "It is my understanding that he vanished long ago, yet you hope to find him alive?"

"Not strictly, but wherever he is might have information on how to defeat Faust. As you can imagine, that knowledge would be quite valuable to Equestria."

"Indeed. While I have no interest in involving myself with a war Equestria made for itself, I see no harm in assisting you in this small endeavour if it stops the fighting." The Sultan made his way to the side of the room, where a curtained opening led into another room. "Come," he said, holding the curtain aside, "you must be hungry and weary from your travels."

Twilight led the way into the next room, finding a large dining room furnished with a long, low table that was lined with cushions. The nearest end was prepared, so Twilight took a seat near where she suspected the Sultan himself would sit. She leant back as a tall serving mare poured her a drink, that on closer inspection turned out to be wine. Twilight shrugged and drank a mouthful while Trixie attacked hers with relish. Sunset and Moondancer were a little more measured with their responses, while Mayfly sniffed hers and went cross-eyed.

"Please, help yourselves," the Sultan said as he took his own seat. "There's no need to stand on ceremony here. Eat your fill, then we will talk."

Twilight, or in fact none of them, argued with that, piling food on their plates to eat, even if it was mostly for show in Mayfly's case. What did bother Twilight though, was the fact that the Sultan was being so hospitable. It was making her think that he wanted something.

"So, your Highness," she begun, only to be interrupted.

"Please, call me Batal."

"Okay then, Batal. Your Vizier told me you've been having some troubles of your own lately."

"Indeed, but nothing so troubling as a war. Some of our citizens, a couple dozen at most, have gone missing over the last month."

"Ith that why there'th tho many guardth in the thity?" Trixie asked, her mouth half full. She swallowed quickly as Twilight gave her a look. "Sorry."

"Indeed it is," Batal answered, "although it seems to have made very little difference. Even with them patrolling, ponies still vanish."

"Do you have any idea how?" asked Sunset.

"All the evidence we've found would point at an animal attack," said Hakim. "The problem is though, that there's no blood or remains of any kind. They're taking the bodies away, which is unusual for animal attacks as you can imagine."

"Then what evidence is there that it's an animal attack?" Sunset enquired, her meal forgotten for now.

"All of the attacks happen on the outskirts of town, and always outdoors, and the tracks are nothing a pony would make, or even a griffon or some such creature."

"We were thinking," Batal said quickly, before anyone could speak, "if you're willing to help us with this problem, we could be able to help you with yours. What is it exactly you're looking for?"

"A... mirror," Twilight told him. "Specifically a magic one, made by Starswirl the Bearded." While the Sultan didn't appear to show anything towards what she was saying, Hakim was a different story. He stared straight ahead, his eyes slightly wider than normal. "We believe it's the key to locating Starswirl himself, as I believe I said."

"A magic mirror you say? What would it look like?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but it would be bigger than yourself most likely, and is surrounded by magical gems. The only way I could really be sure it is what I'm looking for would be to study it with my magic." Out of the corner of her eye, Hakim's pupils shrunk slightly, before he seemed to remember himself and relax.

"I'm afraid I know of no such mirrors," Batal continued, seemingly unaware of what his Vizier was doing. "Hakim? Do you know anything?"

"I'm afraid not your Highness," Hakim said smoothly. "Since we have no magic ourselves, I don't see how we Saddle Arabians could have produced such a thing."

"I said Starswirl made it," Twilight pointed out bluntly. A little too bluntly, but the way Mayfly was watching him had caught her attention. He was definitely lying to them, but she couldn't just call him out on it.

"Ah yes, my mistake. Still, I know of no such mirrors. It seems we cannot help you."

"A pity," said Batal. "I suppose this now means you're no longer willing to help us then?"

"I didn't say that..." Twilight trailed off as a guard trotted in swiftly, and up to Hakim, urgently whispering something in his ear.

"What?" Hakim stood quickly, banging his knees on the table. "I seek your permission to leave Sire, there has been a break-in at my family's estate."

"Of course, of course, by all means." Hakim bowed low to his Sultan, then to the rest of them, although not with the same depth. "Anyway, you were saying Princess Twilight?"

"Since you can't help us find the mirror, we'll be spending a few days here searching for it. I don't see why we can't do both." Twilight turned to Sunset, "Would you and Mayfly mind helping the Saddle Arabians while we search for the mirror?"

"Uh... no, I guess not," Sunset said unsurely. She looked at Mayfly, only to find the disguised changeling playing with her food. "In fact, we'd be happy to help."

Batal clapped his hooves once, "Excellent! I'm so glad you could help us! Your magic could make unravelling this mystery so much easier. Now then, I'm sure you must be weary, so once you finish your meal I'll have the servants show you to your rooms."

"Our rooms?" Twilight asked.

"But of course! I'd be a terrible host if I didn't allow you to stay here for the duration of your visit."

"Oh, uh..." Twilight invented quickly, not wanting to be kept in the palace where they'd be under quite a lot of supervision. "I appreciate the offer, but I feel our search for the mirror, and for whatever's taking your ponies, would be far easier to do from out in the city."

"Are... are you certain? The palace would be far more comfortable I think."

"I'm certain. We'll be out and about most of the time, and having to travel back and forth to the palace will only take up time we don't really have to spare since Equestria is under attack now. Sorry."

Batal waved a hoof, "Very well, no need to apologise. Please though, I insist you enjoy what hospitality I can give you before you depart again."

"What was that about?" Trixie asked Twilight angrily as soon as they had exited the palace grounds. "We could have stayed in a palace Twilight! An actual, honest to Celestia palace!"

"Yeah, where we'd be watched every moment of the time we spent there, leaving us totally unable to do the things that are going to be needed of us to get the mirror."

"What are you talking about?" Sunset asked Twilight. "We don't even know where the mirror is."

"Yes we do, sort of. I take it none of you except Mayfly noticed the way Hakim was acting when I brought up the mirror?"

"Not really," said Sunset. "What was he doing?"

"He was lying," Mayfly told them. "Or at least he felt like he was lying."

"He was," Twilight confirmed. "I'm not only willing to bet he knows where the mirror is, but that it's also in his possession. Probably in that estate of his that was broken into."

"I hope that means that somepony else isn't after the mirror then," said Sunset. "That's the last thing we need."

Twilight shrugged at the idea, "We still need some kind of proof he has it first. Then we can worry about who else wants it."

"Couldn't we offer to buy it off of him?" suggested Moondancer.

"He tried to hide that he has it," said Trixie. "Kinda suggests that he isn't looking to sell."

"So what are you suggesting we do?"

Trixie smirked at Moondancer, "Take a wild guess."

"Murder him for it?" The way Moondancer said it did at least suggest she wasn't comfortable with the idea.

"Woah there," Trixie laughed, surprised that's where Moondancer went. "Less wild Moondancer. Considerably less wild. I meant we just steal it off him, somehow."

Moondancer blushed with embarrassment at having been the one to suggest murdering the Vizier, then blushed in frustration at not really knowing why she was blushing at all. "This all sounds like a massive collection of long-shots so far. How are we meant to find out if Hakim even has the mirror?"

"I... don't know," Twilight admitted. "Let's just find a place to stay first, then we'll worry about it."

"But how? We don't have any money we can use here."

"Actually bits are widely accepted here," said Sunset. "Almost preferred actually."

"Oh."

"What I was going to say though," Sunset continued, "was that you should probably hide your wings Twilight. The less attention we draw the better."

"Good thinking." It had been a while since Twilight had used the spell, possibly since leaving Mareitania, but she was nowhere near forgetting it, and with a spark of magic her wings disappeared from sight, so long as you didn't touch them.

Sunset nodded in approval, "There was also something else I was going to ask. Do you really mean for Mayfly and I to help with their missing pony problem?"

"Up to you," said Twilight. "I just agreed so that the more you at least appear to help them, the less attention they'll put on the rest of us. If you actually want to help them, go right ahead. I'd happily help them myself if we had the time."

"Okay, I was just checking. Let's find a place to stay, then we can all get to work."

By the time they'd found a place to stay, and Sunset and Mayfly had wandered back to the palace to begin their investigation, it was nearing mid-afternoon. Sunset wasn't sure if daylight hours in Saddle Arabia were the same as those in Equestria, but she didn't really need to know to tell it was going to be light for hours yet.

Two guards were leading them silently and stoically towards the location of the last abduction, although whether they were quiet through instruction, or because they simply didn't speak Equestrian to have a chat, was a mystery to Sunset. She didn't mind though, as she wasn't sure what to say to them. Seeing as how the weather tended to not change for months at a time here, talking about it seemed a bit pointless, but she didn't know what else to talk about. The coarseness of the sand? How hot it was? How about those drinks strong enough to feel like they've burnt holes in your oesophagus?

"Here," one of the guards said, stopping at a part of the narrow street they were in, between two buildings that had been cordoned off. Sunset waited for him to say more, but the stallion remained resolutely silent.

"Okay then, are we supposed to get started?" Again the guard said nothing, so Sunset shrugged and ducked under the barrier into the closed of section, Mayfly following after her. There were some gouges cut into the compacted dirt of the ground, and some knocked over crates which could be indicative of a struggle, but other that that there was nothing much to see. It did feel a little off though.

Sunset stood and studied it for several moments, wondering if this place had already been investigated by the Saddle Arabians, then sighed explosively. "I have no idea what I'm doing. Are you getting anything from this Mayfly?"

"This place smells weird," Mayfly said, raising her nose in the air and sniffing rapidly. "Something was here, but it wasn't an animal."

"A pony then? Or something like that?"

"No. Something... something different. Not mammalian at all."

"Oookay... Keep doing what you're doing then, and I'll try something else."

Not sure what else to do, Sunset decided to focus on the feeling of the place. It was a feeling she was all too familiar with, having performed the cause of such a thing herself, as well as be around others that had. The entire place had the unusual chill of somewhere that had recently seen dark magic. What could have performed dark magic here was a mystery since Saddle Arabians couldn't do magic of any kind, so she was left with more questions and no answers.

Still, it was somewhere to begin. "I hope I can still do this," Sunset said, raising her horn and casting a spell that cast a soft glow over the area. Nothing happened at first, but slowly wisps of a dark mist started to appear, the lingering remnants of dark magic, growing in number until they started to join together. Then they started appearing along a path, showing the direction the caster came and went from, which seemed to be the same direction in this case. The only problem was that it went straight up the side of a three story building.

"That's impossible," Sunset whispered to herself as Mayfly crawled around, her nose to the ground as she followed it to wherever it was leading her. Sunset wasn't so crass as to actively mention the comparison to a dog, but that certainly didn't stop her from thinking it. "Found anything yet?"

Mayfly didn't answer, too wrapped up in what her senses were telling her. Something smelled oddly familiar now she was really smelling for it, and it was leading her over to the crates. She clambered over them, then squeaked with surprise as her face got stuck in something sticky. She tried to pull it off with her hooves, only for them to get them stuck too.

Sunset jumped up on a crate as Mayfly struggled, and pulled the changeling free with her magic, although it cost her disguise some of its facial hair. Sunset pulled some of the thick, white, sticky strands up to inspect them, but couldn't work out what they were. "Do you know what this is?" she asked Mayfly.

"Webbing," Mayfly replied shortly. "I thought something smelled a little familiar."

"So this was changelings?" Mayfly shook her head. "What then?"

"Changelings don't use webs. That's spider web."

Sunset smirked lopsided at Mayfly, "Spider webs aren't this thick."

"Depends how big the spider is."

"And how big do you think this spider was?"

Mayfly looked up the side of the building where the lingering remains of the dark mist were. "Big enough to drag a pony up the side of a building."

"That's..." Sunset released the webbing and stepped back. There was no way what Mayfly had said could be true, or so she hoped. "There has to be some other explanation."

Mayfly shrugged, uncaring of what Sunset thought. "You can think that if you want, but I know a giant spider when I walk into the web of one."

"But there's no such thing as giant spiders!"

"Tell that to the giant spider that did this."

"There's no such thing as giant spiders!"

Mayfly looked sideways at Sunset, "Then explain the giant cobweb."

"I can't!" Sunset growled in the back of her throat, trying to release the frustration she felt from how ridiculous this was. There was no way this could have been a giant spider, because there was no such thing, even if what little evidence they had would suggest so. Apart from one thing that is. "Even if it was a giant spider, what does that have to do with dark magic?"

"What do you think made the spider so big? There's no such thing as actual giant spiders. Even I know that."

Sunset blinked at Mayfly, "Uh... you just said this had to be- What? Now you're saying giant spiders aren't real? Will you make up your mind!"

"I have made up my mind. Giant spiders aren't real, but this was clearly the work of a giant spider, made that way by the dark magic you say is here, and possibly controlled by it since a spider wouldn't really come here with the intention of abducting ponies."

"And the changeling would know all about that," Sunset said, immediately cursing herself as Mayfly's expression turned hurt. "Sorry! Sorry... that was uncalled for. I didn't mean it. I'm just frustrated, and I shouldn't take it out on you. How could this be a giant magical spider? That shouldn't even be possible!"

"I can only tell you what my senses are telling me," Mayfly said sadly. She stiffened as Sunset pulled her into a hug.

"I'm sorry Mayfly, I didn't mean what I said. And for what it's worth, I'm not saying you're wrong, but a lot of me really, really hopes that giant magical spiders aren't a thing. I don't think this is really something we can take back to the Sultan either. I'm pretty sure he's not going to believe giant spiders did all these kidnappings."

Mayfly smiled as she gorged herself on Sunset's affections, "Perhaps we should see what Twilight has to say on it first?"

"Not yet. Let's see where the trail goes first." Sunset focused her magic, teleporting the both of them up to the top of the building. Then she put her horn to work revealing the remnants of dark magic in the area, and swore as the mist formed a trail that leapt right over the street to the building opposite. "No way..."

"A giant spider could do it," Mayfly said a little smugly.

"And I'm still really hoping for some other explanation." Sunset teleported them over the street to the next building, finding the trail leapt over a wall and out into the open desert. A quick glance at the position of the sun told her it was going in a southerly direction. "Yeah, I'm not following that out there."

"Twilight?" Mayfly asked.

Sunset nodded, "Twilight."

"Giant spiders..." Twilight said flatly, the book she had been reading floating in her magic, where it had stayed since Sunset and Mayfly had told her what they'd found.

"Giant dark magic spiders," Mayfly corrected her.

"Oh I'm sorry, I forgot the thing that makes this even more ridiculous. Giant dark magic spiders."

"I know what it sounds like," said Sunset, "and I really wish I could give you some other explanation, but between the lingering dark magic, the giant cobwebs, and climbing up the side of a building and leaping across the street while carrying a full grown pony, I have nothing else I can think of capable of doing that-"

"Except for giant dark magic spiders..."

"You don't believe us do you?"

Twilight snorted with mirth, "Can you really blame me?"

"No, I guess not," Sunset sighed. "I'm telling you though, there's literally nothing else I can think of that could do such a thing."

"How about changelings?" Trixie suggested. "They can climb walls and stuff."

"Not how changelings work," said Mayfly, a little coldly. "I do believe myself capable of telling if this was a changeling attack."

"What if they're a different kind of changeling?"

"Then are they really a changeling in that case?" said Moondancer, who still hadn't looked up from her own reading material.

"Ooh, deep."

"It's not. It's really, really not."

Twilight rolled her eyes at the both of them, then turned her attention back to Sunset. "I'm guessing you've decided to not tell the Sultan?"

"Yeah, there's no way he's ever going to believe that. I don't even really believe it myself if I'm honest. We were kind of hoping you might have some input on it."

"Mmhmm. Hey Trixie?"

"Yeah?"

"Did you ever feel you were capable of turning a spider into a huge, pony-napping freak of nature while you were into the whole 'dark magic' thing?"

"Uh... no, I don't think so. Of course that could be down to Trixie never wanting to do something so utterly horrifying as creating giant spiders."

Twilight shrugged at Sunset, "And there you have it, we know exactly as much as you do."

Sunset pursed her lips at Twilight, "I'm guessing that since you have your sarcasm dialled up to eleven, you haven't found anything about the mirror?"

"Not in the books we've found that were in a language we're capable of reading."

"What books are those? Why are you even looking in books?" Twilight flipped her book around so Sunset could see the cover. "Artefacts of Saddle Arabia," Sunset read aloud, "by B. Spectrum. Broad Spectrum? You're really reading something by that charlatan? According to him half the people of the world are uncultured savages Twilight, so I really don't think he's the best source of information."

"And the fact that I found this in the recent history section suggests he might not be far wrong," said Twilight with a faint smile. "Unfortunately this, and a few other books are all we have to go on."

"And you're hoping they might mention the mirror and what happened to it?"

Twilight grinned at Sunset, "And that's where you'd be surprised by this book. Rather than go looking for artefacts like a proper archaeologist, Broad Spectrum wrote about ones that had already been discovered and were on display in museums and suchlike. He also mentions that several items had fallen into the ownership of private collectors, the most prevalent of which happened to be-"

"The Vizier?"

"Currently yes, although I was going to say his family. According to this, there should be any number of artefacts kept at his estate, and since he went all coy about the mirror when we brought it up, I think that's good enough reason to go and have a look for it."

"I really think we should just bring it up with him," said Moondancer. "Breaking into his estate seems like such a stupid thing to do. If we tell him why we need it, I'm sure he'll be reasonable."

"He already knows why we need it," said Trixie, "and he decided to act like he knew nothing about it. The only way we're going to find it is to go looking for it ourselves, so I'm with Twilight."

"Which automatically wins any arguments," Moondancer grumbled bitterly.

"Actually, I have a different idea for now," Twilight told them. "While you were off investigating your giant spiders, and we were looking for surprisingly helpful yet trashy books, I heard some of the guards shouting, and when I went to have a look they were dragging a pony in robes through the street."

"So?" Sunset asked hesitantly.

"So she was an Equestrian pony, the only other one we've seen, which strikes me as odd seeing as how Equestria should probably have an ambassador here somewhere. Probably sent home after the whole Mareitania thing upset the Sultan so much," Twilight answered herself with a shrug. "Anyway, my point was that I highly suspect that since she's not native, and was clearly a wanted mare, she might be connected to the break-in at the Vizier's estate."

Sunset raised an eyebrow at Twilight, "And you want to go ask her some questions, even though you have no idea who she is, and if she'll even want to help us."

"Ah, well, that's where we say that since she was caught trying to steal a magical artefact, or so we hope as we'll be bluffing, we're wondering if she's involved with the ponies disappearing, and would like to ask her some questions."

"Sounds better than reading this," said Trixie. "I'm in."

"Actually you'll be staying here," Twilight told her. "Sunset and Mayfly are the ones investigating the missing ponies, so they'll be less suspect of them going to ask some questions."

"But I suspect you're going too," Trixie said flatly."

"Of course! Being a princess will probably smooth over any issues we might have. I need to get some perks out of this somewhere."

"No," the guard at the desk said plainly. "Nopony is questioning the prisoner until the Vizier has had a chance to talk with her."

"But we suspect that she may be involved with the disappearances taking place in the city. We were asked by the Sultan himself to investigate the disappearances, and you are interfering with that." Twilight smiled inwardly as she let that sink in for a second. "If you want us to go to the Sultan and tell him you're impeding our investigation, I'll just go and do that. Of course, I'm sure his authority supersedes that of the Vizier, so I'm sure we'll see her one way or another. One of those ways involves you not getting in trouble with the Sultan."

Twilight could have sang as she watched the hamster wheels start turning in the pony's head. Very few ponies had the balls to stand up to the fear that disappointing their leaders instilled. Yes the Vizier had some sway, and this did involve his property, but the Sultan was the Sultan, and tended to win arguments of authority.

"Alright, I'll give you ten minutes with the prisoner, but that is it. If she doesn't answer your questions, you'll just have to wait until after the Vizier is done with her. If she's still capable of speaking afterwards that is." The guard laughed to himself as he stood from the behind the desk, missing Twilight's face as she failed to hide her small desire to shove Swordy where the sun didn't shine.

He led them back into the hot and unpleasant cells, where more than a few ponies were being kept in poor conditions, and back to a separate room with a small flap being the only way of seeing in. The guard opened the flap and peered through, nodding to himself before unlocking the door to let them in. "Your ten minutes begins now."

Twilight, Sunset, and Mayfly hurried into the room, the door slamming shut behind them. Inside the room was a single table, with a brown pegasus slumped over it, her forehooves shackled down onto the table. Twilight gasped in surprise, as even though she couldn't see the pony's face behind her tri-toned dark grey mane, she didn't need to, to recognise her.

"Daring Do?"

Author's Notes:

I have to tell you guys, I miss Twilight and Trixie, which is why we're going to have a few chapters with them dicking around in Saddle Arabia. Simply so I can get my fix of them.