Author's Notes:

Well gang. Looks like we've got another chapter on our hands

After making her call, everyone hopped right into Amethyst's SUV and hit the streets. Trixie sat up front in the shotgun seat with her, while everyone else took the back seats.

"Alright so tell us, who is this girl you just called up out of the blue?" Amethyst asked, turning the wheel around.

Trixie took a deep breath and sighed. "She's an old friend of mine. She attended CHS but... she doesn't anymore."

"Expelled?" Vinyl asked.

"No, she was scared out. The Rainbooms scared her really bad." Trixie answered.

"But you still talk to her, right?"

"Well... not as much as I like, but I do when I get the chance."

Vinyl and Octavia looked to each other, both sharing interesting glances. Trixie's change in tone didn't sound too good. Sounded more like there was more to this girl than what she was telling them right now.

"But what makes you think she's a suspect?" Bon Bon asked.

"Because even though she doesn't go to CHS, I think I've talked to her about a few things regarding our new friends. I haven't told her the big secret, though!"

"Well that much is good," Bon Bon shrugged.

"Yeah... maybe. Oh, here's the place! Just park it here!"

Amethyst parked the car directly into the parking space, and turned off the engine. Everyone got out of the car, all carefully following right behind Trixie.

"So how do you want to approach this? Good Cop, Bad Cop? Stalk her?" Lyra asked.

"No, and I don't think any of that would work. We should talk to her as calm as possible, and as much as I don't want to do this... I think we may have to do a bit of snooping. Does that make me an awful friend?"

"No, it doesn't. Trix, we know you wouldn't do this out of your own personal gain."

"Well, I... alright. Here goes nothing."

Trixie tapped the button on the side of the door frame, ringing the doorbell. The girls waited for a moment or two. When the door opened up, they were met with a sight that wasn't quite new. On the other side, bare a teenage girl who opened up the door.

She wore a black sleeveless vest over her green shirt, a pair of leggings with some holes showing her bare skin, and a little purple sparkling beanie on her head.

"Trixie?"

Trixie sheepishly turned her head to the side. She couldn't get herself to look her in the eye.

"H-Hey, Starlight..."

Trixie braced herself. By now she had been anticipating some hate, or even a bit of some angst. This was a girl she hadn't spoken to in a long time. But it never happened. Instead she was nearly thrown around in the air as the girl grabbed her into a giant big hug.

"Trixie! Its so good to see you!" She smiled.

Trixie looked back at her old friend. "You're... you're not mad?"

"Why would I be mad? I haven't seen you in forever!" Starlight smiled, hugging her again.

Trixie was a tad bit confused, but she eventually opened up some more. She smiled and she hugged her old friend back.

"Its good to see you too, Starlight. Oh, girls, this is Starlight Glimmer. Starlight Glimmer, meet Vinyl, Octavia, Lyra, Bon Bon, and Amethyst," Trixie greeted, showing the beanie wearing girl her friends.

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Glimmer," Vinyl greeted.

"Yeah, pleasure to meet all of you! Oh, please, come in, come in!"

The girls politely walked inside, one by one. Once they made it in, they each took of their shoes, putting them near the front door.

"Trixie told me about what happened with your friends. Also, I saw that news broadcast that everyone else got which was right out of nowhere." Starlight said with some sympathy. "I'm really sorry girls..."

The Song Of The Sea had a few snarls and gritting teeth on their faces.

"Believe me, we want them back as fast as possible," Octavia growled.

"And we are going to get them back," Vinyl confirmed.

Starlight nodded. "Anything you girls want me to do to help?"

"Mmm... maybe. Maybe not. We'll have to wait and see..." Amethyst said, looking at Starlight with a look of suspicion. The girl was just left in the dark.

"Sorry, we've all been really stressed out right now," Lyra stated.

"I understand. Really, I do," Starlight replied. "Oh, where are my manners, I'm so sorry. Please, make yourselves comfortable, I'll go get some drinks." Starlight said, walking into the kitchen. But she stepped back out after a few seconds. "Um... perhaps you all could tell me what you'd like?"

"Allow me to help," Trixie said, walking into the kitchen with her.

Once the two went away into the kitchen, the band started to gaze around her house. A few family pictures hung on some of the walls and on a few tables. On some of the shelves in the main living room, there were a few books and some movies all stacked together nice and neatly. A video game console sat in the shelf underneath where the TV was mounted. And off to the side in the hall that was directly to the door, they could see a small paper kite was resting against a wall.

"So Starlight, do you own this place?" Octavia called.

"Sort of! My father's a landlord, and this is the place he wanted us to stay in!" Starlight called back.

"Oh okay!" Octavia replied.

Vinyl turned her gaze towards the dining area. Walking over, she could see several papers and folders all out, spread over. There was also a single black laptop with the lid closed, and a few stickers placed randomly over the lid. Some of the papers were assignments that clearly had been printed off, with Starlight's handwriting in the empty spaces that required them.

"Are you taking an online school, Starlight?" Vinyl asked.

"Yep!" Starlight called out.

Vinyl just shrugged and kept looking around.

"Hey Starlight! Do you have a restroom?" Lyra asked.

"Go up the stairs, it should be the first door down the hallway."

Lyra dashed up the stairs in a flash, instantly darting into the bathroom.

"You think she's going to snoop?", Amethyst asked.

"Yes. Yes I do."

In the kitchen, Starlight opened up the fridge and started to pull out a few drink cans and some other refreshments.

"Okay, so what do your friends like? We've got soda, OJ, purple stuff..."

"Amethyst and Octavia like soda, Lyra would probably prefer herbal tea, Vinyl and Bon Bon like milk and--"

"--You'd probably prefer milk but with a twist of chocolate powder mixed in, right?"

Trixie looked back at Starlight with a smile. "You know me so well."

"Always have, Trixie." Starlight smiled.

Trixie sighed, pulling out some of the cups from the cupboard.

"Um, Starlight?" Trixie asked.

"Yeah?"

"I... well... do you... do you still, like me?"

"Of course I do! Why wouldn't I?" Starlight asked, putting some soda cans out on the counter.

"Well, I just... I know we haven't seen each other in a long time and I... I just feel awful for not staying in better contact with you."

"Trixie, its fine. Look, I'll be honest, I haven't been as good a friend as I should have been as well," Starlight said, pulling some baked goods out from a plastic bin. "I mean, all I've been doing these days is trying to get a good education with my online school, and I can't remember the last time I've even talked to a friend face to face."

Trixie frowned a bit, putting some hot water into a kettle.

"But if I can be honest Trixie? I'm glad you came. I haven't seen you in a long time and... it makes me glad that I still have you."

Trixie smiled back, a little bit of some relief lifting off her shoulders.

"And I'm glad I still have you," Trixie's frown came back, "Sorry I haven't contacted you as much as I should."

"Hey, don't hurt yourself over it. Its okay," Starlight said, speaking calmly.

Trixie nodded. "Okay, I'll... I'll try. But there's no saying I'm going to stay as calm as I should given what's going on right now."

"I understand. But if there's anything you want me to do or need me to do in order to help, I--"

"Um, Trixie? You may want to see this!" Vinyl called from the living room.

Trixie and Starlight looked confused. What could be so bad that they needed her? The girls scurried out of the kitchen and gathered around Vinyl. Looking down they saw the image on her phone was going into an intense static, and several blurry images hiding behind the static.

"Vinyl, what's wrong?"

"Well, I think I have a bad feeling about who's calling us..."

The screen turned black, but only for a second. A question mark flickered on the screen, accompanied by the same distorted and demonic voice.

"Hello ladies."

They all gasped.

"The Markless?" Starlight asked.

"You guessed correctly. So. I've heard you all have been on an extensive case. Looking everywhere, asking everyone... doing what you can to find the girls you treasure so much..."

Octavia and Bon Bon growled like hounds.

"Listen you criminally insane psychopath, if you dare harm our friends back we're going to--"

"--No, you need to listen. Listen carefully girls, I have no interest in harming these girls. In fact, I'd like to reunite all of you as soon as possible. These three... they're innocent. Sexy, slender, and innocent..."

If Trixie's eyebrows could have grown thicker, they would.

"Well if they're innocent then why did you KIDNAP THEM!?"

"Because I knew I couldn't invite you all willingly, so I had to put in some extra leverage to try and get you interested."

Trixie's teeth grit together. "Listen Mr, Markless or whatever you're called, you don't want to mess with me when I'm mad. If you don't give them back to us now, I'll show you just how awful I can be!"

"I wouldn't do that. You wouldn't want to put the safety of your friends in serious trouble now do you, Miss Trixie?"

Trixie's eyes widened. "How do you know my name!?"

"Trixie, don't question them, its an evil overlord, they'll know everything." Amethyst shook her head.

"I know plenty, Miss Lulamoon. But as I've told you before, I don't wish to harm them. In fact, I'm making sure they are kept in good health as we speak."

"But you just said--"

"--I KNOW WHAT I'VE SAID. Now listen up. You all want them back alive, correct?"

"Yeah," everyone clamored.

"Then I'll give you all a chance to get them back. I want you all to play a game. Its a game I've played many years ago, and while my memories of it are not fond... I'm positive you all will have more fun with it."

"What kind of sick game are you having us play?" Vinyl asked.

"Its not sick, Vinyl. Its a rather simple game of rudimentary knowledge. Apply your skills, your wit, and your intelligence and you will do fine. There isn't going to be any life-or-death challenges. Succeed and beat my game... and I will bring them back to you unharmed, and you will never have to hear from me again."

The group of seven looked at one another, everyone looking worried and a tad concerned.

"I don't know," Lyra bit her lip. "Something doesn't seem right here..."

"How do we even know you'll keep your word?" Trixie sneered.

"Listen to me girls. I know you all are really bright. I know you all value your friends. If you truly love them... you'll come and find me. Don't worry though... I'll make sure you all will be able to see them."

They still were not sure. Whoever this person was, man or woman, wasn't making it reassuring that the Dazzlings were okay.

"Ugh, fine! But I swear to the gods above, if you put one finger on them--"

"--Your message is made loud and clear, Lulamoon. Once the game is set, I'll be sending you all coordinates of where you must go. Have a nice day."

"No, wait, where do we--"

She never got to ask her question. The phone dropped to a dial tone, the message coming to a close. And all that was left on their faces were scared and angry. Grunts could escape their lips, and they all shared equal feelings and tone.

"Girls. We're playing that madman's game."

"How do we know we'll--"

"And how do we know we won't get them back? I know there's a lot at stake here, but if we don't find out, then we could lose them forever. And we can't." Trixie stated. She sighed for a moment and looked to Starlight. "Starlight, I'm really sorry you got dragged into this, and I'm--"

"--Wait, wait, wait, just a moment. You girls are going out there to try and play this madman's game by yourselves?"

"We have no choice." Octavia frowned.

"Well there is something you can do."

"And that is?"

Starlight smiled and reached to the coffee table. Her hands grabbed the two green fingerless gloves, and she laced them onto her phalanges and palms. Finally strapped on, she clapped together, making sure they were tight enough. "Let me in. I want to help you all. You're going to need all the help you can get."

Trixie wanted to desperately say no. A series of pros and cons ran through her head. Pro; an additional friend tags along. Con; an additional friend could get hurt. Pro; I could finally get to catch up with her some more! Con; She may not really want to hear what's happened with me on my end. Pro; I could finally show her what I've done. Pro; I could tell her about the cool adventure that I had in September! Pro; I could get her to come back to CHS!

Trixie's face after a few seconds, crept with a smile. "You know something Starlight? I think we'd be appreciative to have your help."

"Trixie, I don't know, we barely know her, you sure you can trust her?"

"She's an old friend of mine. She always has had my back. And I always have hers. I trust her." Trixie said with sincerity.

The other band members didn't look convinced.

"Well, I suppose so... I guess it wouldn't be so bad to have some extra help on our side."

"Then its settled. Once we have the location, all seven of us will go and play this challenger's game. Until then, we better prepare ourselves for any tricks she may put on us."

"You think they'll keep their word?" Bon Bon asked.

"I don't know. But if they're not... then I'd like to be prepared."