Luna flashed back into reality. Fallen leaves crunched under her indigo hooves. A wisping gale picked up and gave life to the Everfree's ocean of green, carrying with it the stink of mold and time. Luna knew very well where Zacora lived. She was one of the few subjects that stayed lively well into the night and she would visit her on occasion for somepony to talk to.

   Luna put herself a little ways from Zacora's hut, so to inspect the forest scape for anything amiss, but as far as her eyes and gut could tell it all was quiet and quaint.

   Nightmare Moon observed, "No disturbance here. Perhaps further in the wood?"

   Even after the Elements permanently broke her hold over Luna, Nightmare Moon remained inside her mind. It was Nightmare's turn to be trapped for one thousand years, to feel helpless. The one drawback, that at times made Luna want to drive herself horn first into a wall, was she could actually hear her speak and sometimes could speak through her. It was torture.

   Luna rolled her eyes, then ventured into the moist dank of the Everfree. She was nearing her destination, when a rustling of leaves sounded to her right. She turned, ready for a beastly attack, but saw familiar dark stripes with a hooded robe standing on a small up clime.

   "Princess? Of all the surprises made, this one bares no dismay." Zacora had a back bag full of light blue mushrooms and other herbs.

   "Good day, Zacora."

   Luna waved. "I come on important business. May we talk?"

   "Yes, Zacora figured you would stop by, but we must away from beast or spy." She gestured for Luna to follow her.

   They walked down a mossy trail, still trots from the hut.

   "No reason to await, ask her now."

   "Pray tell, I hearest much of a sudden violent nature in this forest's beast population. I ask, why?"

   "Of that, there can be little known. Its root cause has yet shown."

   Luna sighed. "I see. That bares little incentive."

   "I will say this. Something dark is making its way and the beasts are reacting violently causing much disarray."

   "But the cause still unseen?" Luna thought on it, but needed more to draw anything but wild theories.

   Nightmare huffed, "Hmmm, this Zebra knows something. I smell it upon her. Wait, what was that?"

   Luna's ears perked up, each hearing out the Everfree. She heard growling then looked at its origin. Five Timberwolves lumbered out of the brush, mouths dripping with tree sap like drool. A foul musty odor smelling of forest rot flowed from their nasty wooden jaws.

   "Timberwolves?"

   Zacora backed up, while the pack began circling them. "Oh, no, we must go!"

   "But mere rodents, cast them to the wind."

   "Tis I whom they should fear, behind me, Zacora!" Luna charged her horn while flapping her wings.

   The wind gusts from each flap swirled into a small tornado roaring with powerful winds around her horn. The Timberwolves yelped as the tornado sucked each one down the funnel, scrambling them into a mess of wooden limbs.

   Luna let the spell die and bits of Timberwolf fell to the moist forest floor. "That shouldst teach them manners."

   An ear shattering roar belted from the thicket in the brush. Zacora jumped when a huge Manticore burst out of the thicket.

   "Even Manticores venture here! Run for the life you hold dear!"

   "An alpha male no less!"

   "This way!" Luna sprinted down the pathway with Zacora at her side.

   The Manticore roared while it tailed them every bound.

   "Luna, to the left, blue leaves!"

   A patch of poison joke ivy glowed down a fork in the path.

   "Zacora, hide!"

   Zacora jumped into a bush, while Luna turned down the path.

   The Manticore was not fooled and went right for the bush the zebra hid in.

   "Ugh, here, Brute!" Luna cast a spell at the beast, angering it.

   It left the bush alone and charged at her.

   Luna dodged when the beast jumped at her with its claws out ready to rend her to bloody pieces. She nose dived into the poison joke patch, with the Manticore leaping behind her into the patch swiping and snarling.

   The Princess stumbled out, then trotted back on path. The Manticore lumbered out of the ivy patch behind her. It roared in anger at both Luna and Zacora, but to its surprise, it stood a few inches tall. It squeaked at them, then ran off into the jungle.

   Zacora laughed. "Well done! We must go, before more show."

   Arriving at the hut, they went inside.

   Zacora took off her robe, then hung it on a wall peg. "Now, talk we may."

   "Those pests are normally skittish around divine beings....Our lead is more than rumor."

   "I see the rumor's exaggerations are indeed fact." Luna stretched her stiff muscles, then noticed her vision began changing.

   The room was turning upside down. Soon, Zacora was standing were the celling should have been.

   "Yes, facts they are." Zacora poured her bag of mushrooms and herbs into a large boiling caldron in the center of her hut.

   Luna knocked into a shelf. Sighing in frustration, she just sat down.

   Nightmare Moon laughed.

   Zacora smiled, then grabbed a yellow bottle from the shelf. "Take this, for the poison joke."

   "Thank thee." Luna drank the remedy.

   The liquid filled her palate with the spice of herbs. Slowly her sight returned to normal.

   Relief washed over her.

   "Hast thou attempted to halt these happenings successfully?" Luna stepped closer to the warm caldron.

   "Hmmm."

   Zacora stirred her caldron.

   "I have tried many things. Potions, magic, even hexes and sprites, but all failed to bring this curse to the light."

   She thought to herself. "One fact is plain, a natural force is not to blame."

   "Now this commoner bores me. The source, make her tell you its source!"

   "Where did it begin? I must find the source posthaste."

   Zacora sipped the boiling contents of her caldron and smiled. "A pony near the old ruins I have seen cloaked in guise, but his white coat and fancy clothes did betray his disguise."

   "Hmm, this dark force at least has good taste."

   "The old fort Everfree."

   Luna sighed. "Yes, I know it well."

   "This cloaked one I watch, he always wonders where none dare trot."

   "Probably somepony that was hugged little as a filly. Our choice is obvious, recon the fort, lie in wait."

   Luna pondered her options. "Much gratitude, Zacora. I must now away-"

   Her stomach growled in defiance. She blushed in embarrassment.

   Zacora laughed.

   "Come, have a bite."

   She grabbed and filled two wooden bowls with wonderful smelling liquid from the caldron. "You will need it for the hike."

   "Non sense!"

   "Ah, thank thee." Luna looked at the steaming bowl dubiously.

   Although it smelled delicious, it looked like watery mud with small cooked glowing blue mushrooms bobbing in it.

   "Peasant feed. Nevermind your nose, you would be well advised to not consume it, otherwise risk — ugh — dysentery."

   "Um, pray tell, what is this? Soup?"

   Zacora watched her expression and giggled. "No fear, Princess. An old family recipe my blue mushroom stew. It will bring great health to you."

   "Bring great health to a God? That is rich." Nightmare laughed.

   Luna rolled her eyes, then looked back at her bowl. "Verily? I hath heard of such, but never had I the chance to try them."

   Horn glowing, she brought a spoonful to her mouth then sipped. It was the best stew she had ever tasted. Her body shivered, self control waned. She suddenly needed that stew like a fire was under her. Luna put away the spoon and gulped the whole bowl down like she had not eaten in months.

   "Well, I suppose even divine beings indulge at times. Now, allow her the pleasure of serving you again!"

   Zacora laughed, giving her another bowl. She took it greedily, downing it in a few gulps.

   Luna finished her second bowl and gasped, but still felt like she had a hole in her gut.

   She looked at Zacora with a beet red face, shocked and a little worried. "Gadzooks! What hast befallen me? Never have I been this...well...this ravenous!"

   "Quickly, Luna, claim that infernal caldron's contents in the name of your divinity!"

   "Quiet!"

   Zacora smiled, pouring them both another helping. "It is the magic you taste, for in the blue mushroom's glow you will eat in haste."

   Luna finished her fourth bowl, finally feeling satisfied. Luna got up and felt unbelievably good.

   "Forsooth, my body, tis marvelously rejuvenated!" She laughed in disbelief.

   The sudden strength made her feel like a mountain.

   Luna stood tall and puffed out her chest in stonewalled confidence. "Thank thee. I shall remember this well."

   "So shall all who will stand against a newly empowered God!" Nightmare laughed nefariously.

   Luna face-hooved.

   Zacora giggled. "You are most welcome."

   Luna trotted to the door. "Truly, I wilt ensurest thou a visit more often, but I must now go." She waved Zacora goodbye.

   Zacora returned the gesture. "Until then, Princess. The white pony should soon arrive, he you cannot miss."

   "Understood." Luna trotted out the hut, taking to the path.

   Her newly strengthened legs carried her towards the old ruined fort like her hooves were flying.

   "Just like before, turn here, ah, yes."

   Luna and the Everfree had a deep history. She knew her way around its age old trails, otherwise, it would have been nearly impossible to traverse the green sea of the Everfree forest. After about an hour of walking, the old fort was soon in sight over a small brush clearing.

   The moon had risen. It was getting late in the evening. Luna had to hurry.

   "Speed brought us early. There, that tree line is perfect for reconnaissance!"

   A cloaked white pony came into view after some waiting. Whomever it was, trotted up to the main entrance and looked around to check if he was followed. Satisfied with a seemingly clear coast, he moved inside.

   "Childs play."

   Luna waited until she was sure her flashport would go undetected. Once she flashed close, she went inside the dark and musty ruined doorway.

   Mossy age warn walls and floors lied in hallways before her, hallways she had walked before long ago.

   "Welcome home, Queen of the Night."

   Luna frowned. "Silence."

   "Even you must face your fears sometime, my dear Luna."

   Luna sneered, "Silence I commanded."

   It had changed little since then. Echos of the mind livened in the silent moist hallways. The iron clank of loyal warriors in motion, the chants of glory and pride in the campaign that was to ensue echoing down hallways, it all began there. She was hoping whatever was causing her home distress was not getting its start there as well.

   "Luna, feel that? Something foul is near."

   Luna came up on the main hall. The air began growing colder with each step. The feeling reminded her of that beast the Librarian fought in Argyle's dream. Mael it was called. She heard voices from inside. Luna felt the strong evil presence grow nearly overbearing. She got closer and leaned on a window sill, its glass pane lost long ago, listening to a room of strange voices.

   "Heheheheh, wooaahhh hahahaha! Hehehe."

   "What a racket!"

   Something monotone and yet powerful commanded, "Calm yourself."

   "Yaah! No fun, no fun, no fun! You know I hate sitting here, Dirge! Richter wants to know when we get to the fun parts already?! And I agree! It's. Been! Two! Weeks!"

   Nightmare Moon sighed. "Whatever they are, there is more than one."

   Something conceited and light toned said, "Patience, Mischief dear. There will be plenty time for that later."

   "You're no fun either, Vanity!"

   "Fun? Who needs that when your this beautiful? Right, Vigor?"

   A deep voice boomed from a dark corner Luna could not see. "Pelvis breaking?"

   "Oh, stop you big flirt you. What about you, my Mischief? What do you think?"

   Luna leaned closer to look inside the main hall. Just below, she could see six thrones lined in a half crescent shape facing the cloaked pony. Each stone headboard was far too large to see what was sitting in them.

    "Eh, your face, your ass, I don't see the difference."

    "Why you little- I'll make you pay for that!"

    "Alright, let's go! I need new parts for my meat Dragon!"

    "Hmmm, squishy."

    "Silence. You have returned."

   "Behold, I give you the origin of our Student's curse."

   Luna frowned. "He is my student, not thine."

   Nightmare laughed. "Of course. My mistake."

   The cloaked pony trotted up to the middle of the hall. "Assuredly."

   "And your mission?"

   "Unprecedentedly smooth. The captives are caged. Distain is looming. We have a perfectly set stage."

   "Oooh, live meat for me later, ahaha!"

   "Unharmed I assume?"

   "Physically? Certainly. Mentally? For their strength of will to decide."

   "So, I suppose that means we're almost ready, Dirgey?"

   "Success was inevitable. Step two begins immediately."

   "Hmm, this spells ill. We must find what they have done already."

   "Finally!"

   "Spine snapping."

   Luna could not see the monsters below, no matter how hard she tried. It frustrated her to no end.

   "Does that mean I can now, Dirge?"

   "He can what?"

   "I see reason. Entertain our guest."

   Luna blinked while eyeing around, wondering if she missed somepony. "Guest?"

   "Oh goodie! Just when all my other flesh toys went bad too."

   Luna noticed the cloaked pony was staring right at her, smiling.

   "Drat!"

   "It's a trap, Girl! Haste to the exit!"

   "Have fun, Mischief dear."

   Manic laughter boomed inside the hall. A dark creature scuttled from the throne he sat in, eyes glowing a crimson hue, each burning hotter when they connected on Luna.

   "More, more meat for me!"

   "Haste means run!"

   Luna leaped back down the hallway, sprinting at full.

   The hall behind her laughed and cackled, with heavy foot steps pattering and grinding sounds of metal sharpening.

   "Aww, just come back! Just a taste, I promise I'll just taste!"

   Luna was not about to fall victim to a lunatic. She was going to lure it away from its friends first. Luna heard a twisted song echo from behind.

   "Strip the flesh, solve the wound, cut the skin, then break the bones, mend it up, then cut it again!"

   "By the Moon." Luna second guessed fighting whatever it was.

   "Whatever happens, do not trip."

   Luna huffed annoyed, "Yes, thank thee."

   "Why run, Princess? No one's hurting you, that is, until I catch  you." A withheld giggle echoed.

   "Hide there! And fool this monster away."

   Luna saw a dark hallway to her right and hatched a plan. She turned and hid there, then ran in place while casting a spell, sending the hoof patters down hall as if she was still running.

   The creature sped passed her laughing and snarling. Luna closed her eyes, horn glowing, while concentrating on a spot to flash to.

   "Your room, anywhe-'

   "Ooooh, your skin's prettier than I thought."

   Luna eeped, shocked she did not feel the creature approach her.

   "Splendid."

   Two burning eyes stared at her from the celling.

   The beast dropped down, standing bipedal like Argyle and shared many Humanlike features. He was wrapped in dressing cloth head to toe underneath his tattered and torn dirty clothes. Only patches of matted hair, mouth and his burning eyes were exposed.

   "Aw, come a little closer...for a hug." He stepped towards her slowly.

   Luna backed into the darkest part of the hall. After her rump hit a messy cobble face, she froze in horror. The hallway behind her had collapsed, a dead end. It was mossy and eroded from centuries of time and rain water.

   "A weak rubble wall? Hmmm...."

   "I knew you'd hide here."

   He giggled. Two ornate blades shined in both his hands, each one differently shaped and decorated.

   "Like them?"

   He held the right one up.

   "This is Nigel."

   He held the left one up.

   "And this is Richter. I sharpen them every day."

   He looked at the right blade, then nodded.

   "I agree, she would make for a great hat."

   He looked at his left one. "Oooh, a pretty kite? That's an even better idea! You can't fly hats!"

   Luna just stood there, gaping, disgusted and confused beyond words.

   He held both his blades up. "No wait, I've got it! A kite hat! With it, I'll dive bomb the world in pancakes!"

   Luna's eyes glowed as Nightmare surfaced. "If you wish to die badly, then please, continue to threaten!"

   Luna brought out of her stupor fought back for control. Nightmare usually didn't force herself upon Luna's willpower, so that sudden butt in surprised her.

   "Just trust me, Luna."

   He laughed.

   "Oh, pretty flesh."

   He stuck his black tongue out, then sliced it down the middle with Nigel. Blood spurting, things crept from the spatters.

   It mended back within a few seconds. "I'm gonna skin you, put your face on and say hiii to your cockatiel!"

   "Fascinating."

   Luna was an Alicorn, the Princess of the night. She did not feel fear. It is the dark side of the moon that fearlessly faces the abysmal unknown, the depths of space, yet this monster frightened her to no end. The floor gave slightly on her hind hooves.

   "Are you thinking what I happen to be?"

   Luna caught on to Nightmare's plan. It was slightly impressive, for a monster of pure evil.

   "You do have a cockatiel, right?"

   The dark creature shrugged, then smelled the air. "Mmmm, ahahaha! The must of fear. That thick musty smell you get just before you cut. It's Richters favorite!"

   "Then forwards! Come, kill me badly!" Her horn glowed bright.

   "Yes, good girl."

   It grabbed one small creature that crawled from the blood, then ate it with a loud crunch of chitin. The creature screeched in pain for a second then silenced.

   "Hmmm, Richter wants to know if that horn would still glow, even after he takes it off?" He swallowed and smiled.

   Luna was revolted beyond nausea. "Wretched monster!"

   "Don't let him distract you- he comes!"

   It lunged cackling insanely at Luna, both blades poised to rend her to tatters. "Yaahahaha! New flesh, for my meat puppets!"

   "Now!"

   Luna put all her weight on her hind legs and pressed. The eroded floor gave way and she fell with it. The creature swiped at her.

   "Go, Nigel!"

    A sharp tip effortlessly cut a gash on her nose bridge. Luna yelped in pain, while tumbling down the eroded sinkhole. Her horn glowed bright as she concentrated on the hallway above her as she fell. Her backside hit the moist dirt.

   "Now you're mine!" The creature jumped into the ditch after her.

   Luna smirked, just what she hoped for. In a flash, she stood above the hole. The creature landed on his face, yelling angrily.

   Luna charged her horn, then a pressure blast hit the wall of worn rubble.

   The creature reached up to Luna. "Hey, no fair!"

   Nightmare grunted in Luna's mind. "The world is unfair, loathsome whelp."

   The wall creaked and groaned then gave way, right into the ditch she made, filling it with tons of stone and loose dirt in weight.

   Luna and Nightmare took a breath of relief in, thinking that a little too close an encounter, while hoping the entombed nightmare below stayed until Tartarus come.

   Turning to go home, they heard knocking under the rubble pile. "Hey, it's dark down here! Nigel hates the dark!"

   Luna stared at the rubble bewildered. "Of what make are these things?!"

   "Worry about it after we leave. It is nearly time."

   "Right." Luna quickly flared her horn, concentrating.

   Loud knocks beat under the floor. "Don't leave me! I need your face! And what about the kite hat!?"

   Luna grunted in disgust and flashed into safety.

   "Phew, I'm alive again."

   I complemented the chef for a wonderful meal. "Thanks, that was great!"

   "Hey, it's no problem, anytime."

   The head Palace chef laughed.

   "After the work you did, I actually owe you one!"

   He looked at his spotless kitchen, nodding in approval. "I can see why you're Luna's apprentice."

   I always wanted to try cleaning things with magic, wondering why it was such a taboo.

   Mickey Mouse may've had his blue hat, but he didn't have the genius of Johann Strauss the 2nd. After some tinkering, I found out how to project the music from my IPod's ear buds with magic.

   The music filled the kitchen, some Voices of Spring here, a little blue Danube to wash it down and some Chit-Chat to egg it on. The cleaning utensils not only stayed inline, they were the orchestra to my maestro.

   The whole kitchen was cleaned in minutes what would have taken the head chef and staff hours.

   "Well, I have business to get to, until later!" I waved him good evening.

   "Take it easy!"

   I entered the hallway, then went about searching anything I could think of for clues, even Fernsworth's room.

   That Butler was far too tidy for mishap, not even a layer of dust to indicate how long he stayed in his room, as it looked like he never left it. I asked around the Palace for information and nothing came up, to much of my dismay.

   A failed search later, I wondered what time it was. I asked a nearby Palace maid. She said 7:40 PM

   After thanking her, I moved on, inwardly sighing. Something was up with Fernsworth. I just knew it, but I lacked anything to support it.

   I frowned. "Support, huh? Well, maybe Luna found something."

   I strode to the Starswirl wing, as the walk was going to eat up time anyway.

   I reached the Iron gate and talked a bit with Zaner, mostly funny topics to pass the time. It sure beat talking about the weather. After he let me in, I looked at the hourglass.

   I struck a pose, pointing at the hour glass one hand out with my other one on my side.

   "8:00 PM on the dot?!"

   I arm pumped. "I'm like a caged beast!"

   I frowned when I heard giggling behind me.

   "Undoubtedly!"

   I let my arms hang. "How long have you been standing there, Luna?"

   "Oh, since 7:50 PM."

   She giggled again. "My caged beast."

   "Ah, yeah. I'm never going to live that down, huh?"

   Luna shook her head. "Never."

   I smiled and was going to laugh, until I turned around and saw her nose bridge was bleeding.

   "Luna, you're hurt." I walked over to her.

   "Tis but a scratch."

   She waved my hand away with her hoof. "Leave it."

   "But, It will scar."

   "Let it, we hath more things of import to waste magic on."

   "You found something, or did it find you?"

   "Both."

   I closed my eyes. "Alright."

   I walked to the nook, then sat down on the sofa. Luna came trailing soon after. "Tell me everything."

   After Luna finished her story, I remained sitting with my chin on my clasped hands, while thoughts raced like a slide show. "At least five more of them?"

   "Yes, each as awful as the first abomination in thy dream before."

   Yeah, but where did they come from?

   There was no answer for that in the library, so I got up. "Very well, what are you going to do?"

   "I know who cursed thee. I but need to find the beast."

   "And you want me to finish what you started in Ponyville? Switch roles, right?"

   Luna looked surprised. "Correct. Seekest thou the source of the disappearances."

   I smiled. "The case is mine then."

   I felt a rush of endorphins. I finally had a real challenge, something I could really sink my teeth in and truly test my new spine. Best of all, leeway was already been broken by Luna. I felt like I was on the winning side for once in my life. Who gets to save the world? And save it we will...right?

    I got up, standing like I was on top of the world. "Applejack said to meet at Twilight's library after the evening. Where are you starting your hunt?"

   "Here in the Palace. Whomever cursed thee is a servant here."

   "You said he was white of coat and fair of dress? Hint, it very well could be Fernsworth."

   "I hope thou art wrong about that. If not, I fear what implies."

   I think you may be denying yourself a few details, for the sake of love, my teacher.

   "That your sister's in direct danger?"

   "Yes, I couldst bare not any harm upon her."

   My heart sunk. I didn't want to imply that her sister was apart of that debacle, but something was off about Celestia. She was a keeper of secrets and had to be up to something, but in contrast if Luna did indeed pop the lid, she would discover that for herself. I just had to be there to comfort her when it, or if it, did happen.

   "I shall pray that never the case, for you."

   "Thank thee, but I doth not think it necessary." She waved her hoof in dismissal.

   Hubris, what a killer she can be.

   I turned towards the Iron gate. "I think I'll head to Twilight's, inform them of what happened."

   Luna followed. "Tis late, Argyle. Perhaps tomorrow?"

   "Late? Yes. Will Twilight be asleep? No, she has too much on her mind."

   "Hmm, if thou thinkest so."

   "If I'm wrong then I'll just apologize and fill her in anyway." I smiled devilishly.

   Luna giggled. "Very well."

   "Speaking of late, you stayed up all day. Aren't you tired?"

   "Nay, Zacora's stew still hast effect. I feel no strain."

   I laughed. "I should stop by her place someday."

  After reaching the Iron gate, I bid Luna a good night, then said later to Zaner.

   Closing my eyes, standing near the gate, I prepped myself for a rather large flashport. I ran my plan through my mind, making certain to not miss a detail.

   "Mission, find the source of the disappearances. First goal, inform Twilight and the others so they can protect themselves. Second goal, find Rainbow Dash, cannot lose the possible need for the Elements of Harmony at a later time. Plan sanctified."

   I imagined Twilight's library, the spicy smell of lavender and vanilla, the still dusty air, the age old book covers upon your finger tips as you ran a hand over them in alphabetical order, the horse head carving in the middle of the main room and myself standing right next to it.

   The stone floor gave way under my feet, as a flash of light blinked through my eye lids. When I reached my destination, my feet softly landed on something solid, after a final flash of light flared. It all happened in a split second.

   I heard a small sound of glass breaking suddenly. Opening my eyes to see if I had broken something, I saw nothing I could have. I noticed Pinkie surprised to my right.

   Leaning on the table, I waved my hand. "Hello, Pinkie."

   "Oh, uh, hey Argyle!"

   Pinkie looked caught off guard. "What a surprising surprise!"

   She stood off to the side near the doorway to my old room. Piles of books near her sides, she was right in the middle of two towered stacks of books.

   I tilted my head, wondering what she was doing hiding in the books.

   "Argyle? Oh, hello!"

   Twilight walked out of my old room. "What are you doing here?"

   "Yeah, what's up?" Pinkie walked near me.

   "The sky is up. I'm here to talk to Twilight about something."

   I gave Pinkie a testing glare. "But since Pinkie's here, I suppose that takes out two problems with one stone."

   Pinkie shifted in her stance, yet seemed undaunted. Something about her felt different, odd, out of place, like my skin crawled around her.

   "Um, alright."

   Twilight gestured at the book towers. "I was just returning the books back to your old room."

   "I hate to impose, but I have something to tell you."

   I pointed at my old room. "Have a second?"

   "Sure." She walked back into the room.

   "Coming, Pinkie?"

   I gave her an expressionless stare. "You don't wanna miss this."

   "I still have to help out here, but I'll be right in reeeal quick!"

   Why?

   I figured two answers, she was not herself and wanted work to keep her mind off things, or, she was separate in agenda and company for another reason. In Laymen's, she was hiding something. I wanted to know why. All I needed is time.

   Time brings to light all things, even pink mares.

   I smiled. "Alright. Don't work too hard."

   My old room looked good, still needed work, but it looked good. My old impromptu bed table was the table as God intended again, right in the middle of the room. Nearly full book shelves surrounded me covering each wall.

   "So, what's up?" Twilight tilted her head in the normal mammal reaction to a question.

   I proceeded and told her about my day to stall time. I knew Pinkie could hear outside, since the door was not fully closed, not that it would've mattered much.

   I told Twilight more interesting information to contrast any boredom and to test Pinkie's patience, since I knew she was listening for the juicy topics. I would increase the topics, each slice a light more interesting, but ever more madding to any who knew what he, or she, wanted to hear, thereby forcing his or her impatience, giving me more reason to suspect them.

   Sherlock Holmes would approve.

   I told Twilight how I was suspicious of Celestia's personal Butler Fernsworth and about my failed investigation.

   Talking back and forth between us, Twilight and myself had managed to burn almost 40 minutes.

   She informed me about how a missing pony report was filed on Rainbow Dash. Twilight looked very upset over it. I too, was rather upset, but I had no intention of giving that report time to mean something.

   I was impressed Pinkie was holding on for that long, then I remembered hearing about how Pinkie got in trouble with a cloning well and sat for hours surrounded by clones just to prove she was herself.

   I hope she's still not that patient.

   I inwardly sighed, as the what-ifs started pouring in.

   What if she just misses Rainbow Dash and is a bit off? What if, because I don't warn her, she goes missing too?

   I rubbed the back of my head, not knowing what to do. Stay the course, or admit that maybe, just maybe, my gut was wrong for once and I needed to protect my friend.

   Damn.

   I was about to throw in the towel and let Twilight hear what I had to say, until Pinkie opened the door.

   She giggled.

   "Hey guys! Sorry, but I forgot to feed Gummy, like a silly head."

   She yawned. "Plus, it's getting pretty late, so good nighty you two!"

   "Alright, good night Pink."

   Twilight hugged her. "Thanks for the help."

   "No, thank you!" Pinkie smiled.

   That was close.

   I waved her bye. "Don't worry about it, Pinkie. Just stay safe alright? Go straight home."

   "Okey dokey lokey!" Pinkie bounced out of the library.

   I went to check and see if she really left while locking the front door to make sure she was gone.

   Twilight raised her eye brow at me. She knew something was up. "Okay, did you really come over here just to tell me about your day?"

   "Nope. I have a very important message, for your ears only at the moment."

   "Why only me? Why are you avoiding Pinkie Pie?"

   "Have you not noticed she's been acting strange lately?"

   "Strange? That's just Pinkie Pie."

   "Exactly."

   She shrugged. "I don't understand."

   "Pinkie is strange, so normal for her is strange. Since your visit at the Palace, she's been quiet a lot of the time, but when she does talk she makes sense...more than usual."

    "Oh, that's all?"

   Twilight waved her hoof. "She's just putout. With the animal attacks and Rainbow missing, we all are."

   I walked over to Twilight, looking around, not seeing Spike. "Where's Spike?"

   Twilight pointed at the stairs. "He's asleep, why-"

   "Twilight listen close...and you might want to sit down. If Starswirl's book hit you, this is going to knock you down."

   "U-uh, alright." Twilight looked worried suddenly.

   "Back in my old room if you mind?"

   "Ookay."

   She sat on a chair once we went into the room. "So, what gives? Why are you acting strange?"

   I told her every bit of information I withheld, my dream involving the Crystal Empire, Luna's little adventure, the real investigation I was on and how she needed to discreetly inform the others to be vary careful. I put emphasis on keeping it a secret and to tell the others that as well, as the information could endanger them as much as it protected.

   "Uh, whoa."

   Twilight put her hooves on her head. "This is far worse than I ever imagined! Are you certain of all this?

   "Yes, please take great care. Luna still has the scar on her nose to prove it."

   "Okay, I'll take care of my end, but what about you?"

   "I have a culprit to catch, here in Ponyville."

   "Hey, there're two friendly guards I heard about looking into the missing ponies here."

   "Celestia sent them, yes. Do you know them?"

   Twilight shrugged. "Sorry, I never got a chance to actually meet them."

   "For tomorrow then."

   I was not catching anything in the dead of night, plus, I was really tired. "It's really late. I think I should go. Good night and again, caution."

   "I will, good night, Argyle." Twilight went up the stares.

   I stepped near the wooden horse head, then pictured my room. I was about to flash away, when I remembered the sound of something being broken. I decided to have a quick look around. At first, I found nothing but dust, until I glared at where Pinkie was hiding.

   "Why where you hiding in the books, Pinkie?"

   I searched near the book stacks, soon finding the remnant of a glass something. By the look of the increasingly smaller shards all trailing to a single origin point, it had been hastily stomped on. Then, I found it, a thin metal needle.

   I held the needle. The bits of still connected glass tube glittered on it like a dirty snitch telling a secret, a syringe, still wet with a clear trace liquid.

   "Why indeed?"

   I took it for evidence, then flashported to my room.

   I got dressed for bed after checking my room for abnormalities. Having found non, I put my little secret in a safe place. I had a few décor pillows for my bed, pillows with ruffled edges. I stuck the needle between the ruffles, completely hiding it. I even cast a camouflage spell on it to blend in. I only read about the spell once, but never got to really try it until then.

   "Not too shabby." I put the pillow down near my bed.

   I got in bed, clearing my head by reading that book I was immersed in. I finally got to the first battle of the war.

                                              The battle of Canterlot.

      On August 2nd, 2980, Nightmare moon's three Lunar Legions swarmed the entire Capital from the ancient Fort Everfree in a single fleeting night, swamping the Celestial Guard elements and forcing the entire 1st Suncaster Brigade — always stationed countryside since it was the Equestrian Capital — to fall back to the Palace.

      The sudden attack was brutal and shock trooper fast on all fronts, literally crushing all but the Palace defenses in hours. After a whole night of siege, the Palace fell.

       The entire 1st Suncaster Brigade — along with Brigadier General Suncaster himself — lost their lives while buying the inhabitants time to escape. I remember every moment like it happened yesterday. No pony who took up hooves was spared our steel.

       It is projected over 7,981 lost their lives that single night, 181 guards and the entire 1st Suncaster Brigade, with none wounded.

       Losses for the Lunar Legions remain inconclusive. Some reports say a few hundred, others dozens, to even non at all. Most speculate further Lunar Republic subterfuge poisoning even the casualty reports with half truths and full out lies, always depicting the Lunar Legions suffering little to no losses, while the Equestrian forces suffered entire Brigades.

      Therefore, historical casualty reports are impossibly inconsistent.

      Celestia had been off on royal business that night, so she did not hear word of Equestria being at war until a full four days later, thanks to Lunar spies and rogue raiding parties finding and eliminating most of the runners sent to warn her.

      This night marks the beginning of the Equestrian civil war and my part played in it.

   "Sun Tzu would approve." I laughed wearily, thankful we were not fighting anything like that.

   I put the book down, blew out my candle and tried sleeping. It was very hard. I knew what happened to missing people on Earth. I cringed on the inside about what could have been happening to Rainbow Dash, or the other ponies.

    Gripping my pillow tightly, my heart was burning with passion to find and stop whatever was responsible. But I also felt pain, for there was nothing I could do about it that night.

   "Trouble sleeping?" I heard over my shoulder.

   "Huh?"

   I would have jumped, if it were not Luna asking that. "Yeah, a lot on my mind."

   "Allowest my aid." Her horn flared and she leaned towards me. It touched my forehead, then a rush of calm hit me.

   My worries washed away with it.

   I slumped down, suddenly wanting desperately to sleep. "What the hell was that?"

   Luna giggled. "Twas a calming spell. Twas also coupled with another. Both shall ensurest thou well off tonight from brigands of the mind."

   The warm and fuzzy feeling was so intense, I felt like I was about to float away on a barge filled with happy plum sprites and stuffed animals, yeah.

     I giggled. "You say the darndest things. Why do you still talk that way?"

   Luna scrunched her nose in part laughter at my groggy voice, part vexed at my brash question. "And for what is that supposed to insinuate?"

   My vision blurred a little. My eye lids felt like they weighed a ton. "Oh, nothing rally, just wandered why."

   "Tis how I was taught. I knowest it not current speech, but it suits me fine. For what reason thou thinkest otherwise?"

   Giggling, I patted her neck. "I have my raisons. Antediluvian is bardocucullated shore, but it's sooo old-fisted. Try something more Mormon, butt if it's two hard...for...ya...."

   "Mormon, hard!?"

   Luna proceeded to talk, but I do not remember much after that. I had already dosed off. It was a dreamless sleep, more of a magic induced limbo hibernation if anything.

                                                            Day three.

   I felt like someone had punched me in the face.

   "Ugh...." I gripped my pounding forehead. It was sometime after dawn and the sun was not helping, for once.

   "Good morning, Argyle."

   Luna was lying on the plush rug near my desk.

   "Did thout sleep, oh, did thou- drat. Did you have a good night!?" She sounded like she was talking to someone deaf.

   "Whoa, Luna. For the love of Jesus and his pogo stick, why are you shouting?" I tried to get out of bed with my head splitting.

    I just sat bedside with my hands on my head.

   "What's the matter?" She walked up to me.

   "Oh, it's my head-"

   I froze, head still reenacting the battle of Antietam, I thought I heard Luna say something not in archaic, even a conjunction.

   I thought it could have been just the headache. "Did you just say something in slang?"

   "Verily, I took your advice and became more Mormon, as you call it. A word I never heard before, but it matters little."

   "That's good."

   My head committed metaphysical suicide. "Gyah! Ugh."  

   "Hmm, It might be a reaction to thy curse being dispelled. Such dark things often leave mental scars."

   "How long will it last?"

   "Not too long. You canst heal yourself if thou want to speed it."

   "Alright."

   I tried to imagine the headache gone, while my left hand glowed and the pain slowly died down.

   "Thank you, Darling. I promise I'll never cheat on you again." I looked at my left hand and chuckled.

   Luna looked side to side, thinking I said that to her. "Um, right, you are welcome."

   Feeling better, I shot up. "Right! I have a case to solve."

   "As do I."

   I got dressed, grabbed my IPod and the needle from last night, then wished Luna happy hunting. After she left my room,  I concentrated on Twilight's home again. But right when I flashed, what Luna said before finally hit me with my head pains gone.

   Wait, Mormon!?

   I flashed with a broken picture.

   I saw nothing but the sky above me. I started to fall, tumbling end over end.

   "Fuuuucking whooaaaahhh!"

   I hit a tree branch and held on, sighing like I had won the last hand of black jack against the devil for my soul.

   By the wisdom of Buddha's third chin, that was close.

   "Oh, my, Celestia! Argyle!"

   I looked below me. Twilight stood on her balcony wide eyed at me.

   "Are you alright?!"

   "Phew, am I ever!" I let go, landing on the balcony, counting my lucky stars.

   Twilight hugged me. "What happened?"

    I chuckled at her surprising action. "I just lost my image for a split second right into my flash."

   Twilight let go and pointed at me, slightly angry. "You could've been killed! You have to be more careful."

   She's right. Flashporting needs a clear picture, or there's no telling where you will go. Flashport in Canterlot, end up stranded in Hollow Shades. Have fun with that vacation.

   "It was an accident. I am no daredevil."

   Twilight shook her head. "Well, alright."

   "What happened?"

   I saw Spike look up from the stairs. "Oh, hi, Argyle!"

   I waved.

   "Argyle had an accident and fell on our tree, but he's fine."

   "He fell on our tree?"

   Spike wondered how one can fall on a tree, then realized what Twilight meant. "Oh, no, he should take it easy. That stuff can be dangerous."

   I joked, while knocking on the tree trunk with my knuckle. "Honestly, I feel bad for the tree."

   They just glared at me.

   Huh, tough crowd.

   Rubbing the back of my head, I waved them good bye. "Well, I have to go now. Nice seeing you guys!"

   I flashed down below the balcony.

   They both waved.

   "Good luck!"

   "Have a good one!"

   I walked into town, saying hello to everypony walking by. It was good I knew everyone.

   Something heavy was bobbing in my left pant pocket. Reaching into it, I pulled out a bit purse, to my pleasant surprise. It also had a letter wrapped up with it. That was the third time I found something with a letter in my pocket. I wondered if it was an Equestrian thing. Regardless, it happened a lot.

   Shrugging, I read the letter.

      Argyle,

      I gift unto thee spending coinage. Useth sparingly, doth not grow on trees.

      Considerately, your teacher, Luna.

   After chuckling at the letter, I grabbed my chin with my hand. I had an idea.

   I grabbed a seat and took in a breath. "Alright, Argyle, you got this."

   I sat down and weighed my options. I had little time left to get it right, or I would regret it forever.

   A well dressed pony approached me. My pulse quickened. It was time. I had to make a choice.

   "Good morning, Sir."

   The pony nodded to me. "May I take your order?"

   "Um, yeah, I think I will have eggs, alfalfa sprouts and a bowl of fruit please, oh and some coffee."

   "Hmm, very good, Sir." He took my menu and trotted off.

  This was my first time ordering at a restaurant alone. Before, I never knew quite how to put what I wanted and always felt like I was bullying someone by ordering them around just to give me food. Strange, I know, since I had to pay them for it. But, now I'm not shy anymore.

   Checking my cash purse, I counted about thirty-five bits to burn.

   After eating, I put down twenty bits, then went back to what I was doing, finding my first lead.

   "Oi, Boy'o!"

   I turned around, then saw the guard with an accent and the one with a scar.

   Well, look who it is.

   I went to greet them. We stood near the middle of town square.

   "Hey you two." I waved.

   "Hello, Argyle, it has been awhile." The guard with a scar waved back.

   "Fancy meetin' you here, Ladd."

   I shrugged. "What are you two doing here?"

   The guard with a scar answered, "We are searching for the missing citizens."

   I crossed my arms and smiled. "When Celestia said she sent her two best, I figured it was you."

   "That's what she called us?" The guard with an accent laughed.

   "General Arco requested us. Her Majesty accepted."

   I thought for moment. "So, how many have gone missing?"

   The guard with a scar hung his head down. "Thirteen."

   My eyes widened. "Thirteen?! There should've been a man hunt after five!"

   "Aye."

   The guard with an accent nodded. "Celestia didn't want a panic."

   "So, she sent just us to keep it quiet."

   This is far worse than I thought.

   I shook my head. "Not anymore, Luna and myself are now looking into this. That's why I'm here."

   "Really?"

   The guard with an accent laughed. "Why didn't ya say so earlier?"

   "Well, we could sure use the help." The guard with a scar nodded.

    I snapped my fingers, remembering to ask a question that bugged me. "Oh, hey, what are your names, by the way? I never got a chance to ask last time."

   The guard with an accent laughed. "No worries, the name's Canagan."

   The guard with a scar smiled. "I am Augeron."

   "Pleased to finally meet, so what do you two think is the cause?"

   Canagan looked to his friend. "You wanna tell him?"

   He nodded. "Alright, Argyle, if we tell you, you have to keep it to yourself."

   I narrowed my eyes. "I would never disclose information, even under pain of death."

   "Well, that's good." Canagan smiled.

   Augeron however, was not smiling. "We have reason to think it may be a ponynapper."

   As I thought. Now, I just need a suspect, then something tangible to prove guilt.

   "Any pattern to the disappearances?"

   Augeron shook his head. "Non at all."

   Canagan shrugged. "Completely all-over-the-place random."

   "Have any leads?"

   Augeron shook his head again.

   "No, we have already interviewed every report and checked into every lead."

   He looked annoyed. "We were nearly thrown blind into this, little briefing, no real leads except the reports."

   Canagan waved a hoof, also annoyed.

   "Celestia just said she had The utmost faith in us."

   He snorted, "Whatever in Saint Pasture that means."

   Augeron patted his friend on the shoulder. "Easy now, no need to get worked up."

   "Still, that's less than ideal for sure." I was really starting to get a full picture of Celestia.

   What I was seeing did not sit well with me and it took a lot to get under my skin.

   I do believe it's time for a slightly more elementary approach.

   Nodding in confirmation at my plan, I asked my two new friends, "Hmm, alright then, who was the first victim?"

   The two guards thought for a minute, then Augeron told me, "Minuette, I believe her name was."

   Canagan sighed. "Aye, her mother filed the report over two weeks ago."

   "Then that's where we start." I turned to walk towards the dense side of town, where the most houses were.

   Augeron cleared his throat and stopped me. "Argyle, before we start I must ask, are you certain? Do you have experience in this?"

    I sighed, not out of annoyance, but towards how I could put it the same to them as I did to Luna without repeating myself.

   "Back on Earth, crime's a daily obstacle. Ponynappings are called kidnappings there. They happen every day in the thousands across my land."

   They both looked at me wide eyed.

   "Saint Grove, by the thousands ya say?"

   "That is very disturbing."

   "Yes, it's a very serious problem. So, I suppose I do have a natural born experience in this, as being Human is to know such a thing enough to avoid it after all."

   "Then you are going to be an asset."

   Augeron rubbed the back of his head. "If we are right, then this will be the last mass ponynapping in centuries, in other words, a very long day."

   "Us guards 've the occasional apple thief now an' then, or an animal attack. Not murder or ponynapping an' saints never in that order!"

   "Then, we have work to do."

   "Wait!"

   I turned around, eyeing over towards the café. My waiter trotted up to me, holding out his hoof, on it a small bag.

   "You left ten bits too much, here."

   I smiled pleasantly surprised. "No, it's alright. Keep the change."

   I turned on my heel and started walking.

   The waiter persisted. "But, it's too much!"

   I looked back and smiled. "Consider it a tip then."

   I walked for a few seconds while Canagan and Augeron followed.

    "A 10 bit tip? Wow, uh, thank you, Sir!"

   I gestured welcome with my hand so the waiter could see it.

   Canagan laughed. "Well, ya made somepony's day."

   "I guess I did."

   I smiled then asked Augeron, "So, do you remember where Minuette lives?"

   "Yes, just down this road." Augeron pointed his hoof towards a distant Ponyville home.

   It looked no different then any other.

   We arrived at the door. "This is it?"

   I've never been to this home before. I knew Minuette, but I never met her family.

   "Yep, this is the place, Boy'o."

   "You'd better knock first."

   I gestured to Canagan. "She's not used to me."

   Hesitant at first, he knocked on the door.

   A Maya blue mare with solid steel blue eyes and a solid periwinkle coloured mane answered the door.

   "Yes? Oh."

   She noticed the two guards. "Have you found my Minuette?!"

   She had a kind French accent, mild but there. Her sudden excitement crushed me.

   "No, Ma'am. We're still lookin' for her." Canagan seemed crushed too.

   The mother looked to the floor. "I see. Then why are you here? I answered all I could days ago."

   "I will take it from here, thank you." I put my hand on Canagan.

   He looked dubious, but let me go forwards.

   Minuette's mother eyed me curiously. "Who are you?"

   "I am here on behalf of Princess Luna. By her order I am to solve this case and find your beloved daughter."

   I hoped my words would ignite something in those sad eyes, like she was just a shell, empty, without purpose. Someone had stolen her life away.

   She seemed to warm up a bit. "It's alright kind creature. It has been 16 days, 18 hours and 48 minutes. I have already made my peace. All I want now is to bury my daughter."

   What monster does this to others?

   I swore no rest to everything. Mortals can sleep when they are dead. I had work to do.

   "May I ask for the honor of knowing your name?"

   She looked at me, slightly stunned. "Edel."

   "Edel, I know your daughter well. She is a sweetheart. I will do everything in my mortal power to find her. However, I must ask you for one thing."

   "Oh, my Minuette spoke of you."

   Her eyes flared with a glint of hope. "Wait, are you not the Human that helps around town? I've heard of you. Of course, if it will help!"

   Even with the smallness of the flare, it made me smile. "If you may permit, these guards and I would check Minuette's room for anything that may lead us to her."

   Edel thought to herself and smiled slightly. "Only if you tell me your name, Human."

   "Argyle, Ma'am."

   "Ah, yes, come inside, Argyle. My Minuette's room is just this way."

   "Thank you."

   Canagan huffed. "Let 'm answer the doors from now on."

   Augeron nodded. "No joke."

   It was very cozy and quaint inside, like any other home in Ponyville. Edel took the three of us up a set of stairs. We turned left into a hallway once at the top. A guard rail moved towards three doors down the wall on my right, two on a wall, one facing me at the end of the hall.

   "Her room is your first right." Edel opened the door. "I kept it as she left it last."

   The others and I entered Minuette's room.

   "That is well news."

   Canagan eyed around the room. "So, what 're we looking for?"

   I looked around. "Anything out of place that may tell us why she disappeared."

   We looked through her room very respectfully, but thoroughly. Even after about twenty minutes of looking, we found nothing.

   Without a real picture of what we need to consider out of place, this is like finding a certain sea shell blind folded.

  I remembered Pinkie and the syringe I found where she hid that prier night.

  "Why indeed?" I saw something in one corner of the room, wedged between books in a small bookcase.

   I picked it up, it was a party hat.

   "Miss Edel?" I showed her the party hat.

   Canagan looked at it. "A cone hat?"

   "Oh, that was from the party Minuette was invited too, um, Sugarcube corner I think?"

   She thought to herself and giggled. "It had one of Pinkie Pie's humorous names, Glad You're Not Dead Party I believe, but that was over 17 or so days ago."

   "Yes, it was." I glared at the folded paper cone hat, like it was the first prime witness, the things it could tell, the secrets contained in that cone.

   I wondered what formula would be used to find the volume of a cone filled with truth.

   And the plot thickens.

   I asked Edel, "Is it alright if I my keep this?"

   "Yes you may." She smiled.

   "That's all we need, I think. Thank you for your help, Ma'am."

   "No, thank you." She showed us to the front door.

   Edel looked at me once we were out the door. "Argyle, please-"

   I nodded to her. "I will with every fiber of my being, Miss Edel."

   She shook her head. "No, I wanted you to be careful, all of you. Whoever is doing this has no soul and is capable of anything. Please, be careful and do not join my daughter while finding her."

   "No worries, Madam."

   Augeron smiled. "You have the best there is on this."

   She hesitantly nodded and smiled.

   I put the party hat in a bag I bought off a street vender.

   "What's goin' on, Argyle?"

   Canagan pointed at the bag. "We spent twenty or so minutes searchin' a victim's room an' all we take's a paper hat?"

   Augeron stared at me, quizzically. "You have an idea of who we are looking for, do you not?"

   "It's honestly too early to make any assumptions, even theories."

   "But ya must hav' a reason."

   "I do. I was at that party. Pinkie threw it for me. If I'm right and the other victims were there-"

   Augeron's eyes widened. "Then the disappearances might not be random at all!"

   I smiled. "Bingo. Now, who's next guys?"

   Canagan scratched his head. "A young mare, Sweetie Drops I think 'er name was."

   Oh, no, Lyra's friend.

   I sighed. "Aright, lead the way."

   We went door to door, all thirteen victims. Each one had a piece of the party in their rooms, or had attended my party. I had hit pay dirt. There was a connection.

   Sloppy, Pinkie Pie, very sloppy.

   I still did not know if she was directly guilty, but I knew she had something to do with it. It all lead to her. I always suspected two things at once. Either she was guilty, or somepony else who was at the party was framing her. Either way, it looked grim for her.

   After some walking, a strange guard flew down from the sky. He saluted Augeron, then whispered something to him. After Augeron thanked the Pegasus guard, he flew away.

   Augeron looked sickened suddenly.

   I wondered what happened. "What's up?"

   "New missing pony report."

   He gestured to follow him. "I know the way."

   We came up on a bridge. I saw Rarity's home and narrowed my eyes. We were walking right towards it.

   Why are we?

   "Who sent this new report?"

   Augeron sighed. "I believe he said a filly sent it in."

   Canagan thought to himself. "Aye, but what was the name again? It started with an S...Swe...sweee somethin'."

   Oh, no.

   I cringed. "Sweetie Belle?"

   Canagan nodded his head. "Yes that's it!"

   I froze, pulse raising.

   "Who's gone missing?" I hoped I was wrong.

   Augeron frowned. "It was her sister, miss Rarity."

   I bolted towards Rarity's house, running like a German King Tiger tank just rolled into town.

   Canagan and Augeron ran after me.

   I had no time to waste. Rarity could have still been alive. I had to find that psychopath, theory or not. I knew where I was looking first, but I needed a few final bits of the puzzle from Sweetie Belle.

   I ran up to the door, knocking on it hard. I did not mean to pound on it. I was caught in the moment.

   Canagan held his hoof up. "Whoa, calm down, Boy'o."

   Augeron added with sense, "Getting angry will not save miss Rarity."

   I agreed with them, but if I found Rarity, I would find Rainbow and the other victims.

   I heard on the other side of the door. "Um, who is it?"

   "Sweetie Belle, it's Argyle. I heard about Rarity!"

   "Argyle?!"

   Sweetie Belle opened the door. "Have you found her?!"

   She had been crying. Her eyes where puffy and red.

   Her appearance got to me a little. I shook my head, both to answer her and to clear my mind.

   Sweetie Belle broke down crying again. "Oh, nooo. Where is she?"

   "Sweetie Belle, I am going to find her, but I need you to tell me something. Can you be strong for me?"

   She sniffled. "Alright, what do you need?"

   "When did you see her last?"

   "Yesterday evening."

   "Where?"

   "Here, in her home, the Carousel Boutique."

   "When did she leave and why?"

   "Well, Pinkie Pie came over and asked her for some help designing some dress she wanted."

   All the pieces melded together in my mind. "One last question, did she leave with Pinkie Pie?"

   "Well, yeah, she needed help. Rarity took some stuff with her, then told me she would be going with Pinkie and to watch the shop until she got back."

   She sniffled again. "But, she never came back."

   My eyes widened. I had my suspect. "Alright, stay here, Sweetie Belle. I'll take care of the rest."

   I got up to leave the Boutique and have a nice little chat with a certain pink mare.

   Sweetie Belle tugged on my pants. "Um, mister Argyle? You don't think Pinkie took her, do you?"

   "I just need to talk to her, but we'll see what happens after that. Stay here and continue being a little angel for me while I get your sister, alright?" I robbed her head.

   She smiled and saluted me. "You have a Crusader's promise!"

   I laughed and turned to face my psychopath.

   I jogged to the road leading to Sugarcube Corner.

   What will I do exactly when I find her?

   The other two guards trotted with me. I could tell they were concerned.

   I saw Pinkie walking over on the other side of the street. When she saw me, I froze in place.

   My eyes trained on her with knifes. Pinkie tilted her head, staring at me without expression. Once she caught on, she grinned at me. Then I saw it. Something about that grin made an artic chill freeze up my spine. That was not Pinkie Pie.

    A crowd came and passed over us, market rush hour. They broke eye contact, then Pinkie was gone when the crowd cleared.

   I took off running after Pinkie Pie. I had no time to waste. I was too focused to notice what Augeron and Canagan had to say about my brash behavior.

   I stopped near Pinkie's bakery, the lights on. She was inside.

   Augeron stopped me before I could close in. "Alright, I understand you are upset, but stop for a breath and talk to me. Why are we here?"

   "Think, Augeron. Party hats, other favors from a party that Pinkie threw, then everypony who attended started disappearing suddenly. That includes Rarity, who went missing the day she left with Pinkie Pie."

   "That's true, but what evidence gives the pink one guilt?"

   Canagan shrugged. "Even if you're right, there's not enough to prove it."

   Augeron thought to himself. "Still, we have to ask her what happened last time she saw miss Rarity."

   I took a breath in, needing them to follow my lead. Not for vanity reasons, I just knew exactly what I was looking for. I decided to show them my last piece of evidence.

   "This is what sparked my suspicion of her." I reached into my pocket, bringing out the broken syringe. I had it stuck in a cork I grabbed from the Café.

   The both looked at it.

   "A needle?"

   "Where 'n Saints did ya get that?"

   "I found this at Twilight's house last night, after I caught Pinkie Pie hiding near a doorway. I found this crushed right where she hid. The shatter marks are consistent with a hoof print."

   They both looked at each other and sighed.

   Augeron nodded. "Alright, Argyle, what now?"

   I looked towards the entrance of Sugarcube Corner.

   "She expects me, so I will go in first and talk. Canagan, head over and cover the rear exit while I head in. Augeron, when I give you a signal, you will know it when you see it, rush inside from the front. If you do not hear from me in 10 minutes, rush in. Alright?"

   Both guards looked worried.

   Augeron narrowed his eyes. "What if you are wrong, Argyle?"

   "What if I'm right?"

   Canagan slowly nodded. "Alright, Boy'o. Ya can count on me."

   I took a breath in, handing Augeron my bag.

   It had all the evidence to prove probable cause of suspicion, including the broken syringe. "If for any reason something happens to me, bury her."

   Augeron took it. "Do not fret. I got your back, Argyle. Just let me know when."

   I went up to the door. It rang with a bell once I opened it. I walked up to the counter and sat down.

   No pony else was in the store, just me and my suspect. Even if it went bad for me, in nine minutes and twenty-five seconds my two friends would have ensured her downfall, as my death or harm would have proven her guilt.

   Guilty, or innocent, time was the deviser, myself but baring witness the dividend.

   Sherlock Holmes would approve.

   "Oh, hey, Argyle!"

   Pinkie popped out of the door leading to the kitchen. "What a surprising surprise, again!" She giggled.

   "Hello, Pinkie." I waved to her.

   "Soooo, you want a cupcake!? I just made a batch of my super-duper-oh-so-yummy-tipy-top-secret rainbow cupcakes! That's why you're here huh?" Pinkie giggled.

   "Well-"

   "Say no more, back in a jiffy!" Pink poofed back into the kitchen.

   "Cupcakes, huh?" I figured I had at least eight minutes left.

   I always wondered what speaking with a psychopath would have been like, always curious as to what made them tick, why they needed to kill. Genetic, difference in mentality, or just a basic hatred for ones own race, it was all speculation, however that pink in front of me was real.

   It smiled, giggled and bounced. No one would have ever suspected it a cover for psychosis. Perhaps, it was not just a bubble of personality, but a façade for whatever was truly behind that pink mane, something hungry.

   "Alrighty!"

   Pinkie walked out, a filled plate of dark cupcakes with rainbow icing balanced on her back.

   "Get 'em while they're hot!" She put the plate on the counter in front of me.

   I reached for one. "How much do I owe you?"

   Pinkie laughed. "Silly Argyle, you don't pay for gifts!"

   She walked away from the plate.

   "You going to have one?"

   "Oh, I already had a bunch!"

   She pointed at me. "So you eat up!"

   I still had at least seven minutes to burn, no rush. I looked at the cupcake. It was rather beautiful. It would have been a shame to eat such a thing. I never knew rainbows could be instilled into food without a Zap apple.

   "Zap apple cupcakes?"

   She shook her head. "Nope, even more super special, a one-of-a-kind ingredient!"

   I laughed. "What is it?"

   Pinkie metaphorically zipped her mouth shut, buried it, built a house over it and locked the front door, then shook her head.

   I inspected the cupcake, then I tilted my head. "That reminds me. Why were you hiding in Twilight's home?"

   Pinkie looked at me and shrugged.

   "I was helping Twilight out with her books, Silly, not hiding. Just ask her or any of our friends." She kept eyeing at the cupcake then back to me.

   There was something about that cupcake that was really alluring. It had a sent to it I just loved. It made my mouth water. I tried to ignore it.

   "Yes, I'm sure you said that, but did you tell them about the needle you had? The one that I found crushed where you were hiding?" I smiled, but she was not.

   Pinkie blankly stared at me. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

   "Hmm, sure you don't, since nothing happened to Twilight that night, you dodged a bullet, but the glass cuts on your hoof would attest otherwise."

   Pinkie just glared at me, then showed me all four of her hooves one at a time. "See? No cuts, Silly head. Guess that puts a few holes in your claim?"

   I leaned towards her. "And yet it moves, Pinkie."

   I shifted back into my chair. I figured five minutes left.

   "Pinkie, where's Rarity?" I was about to put the cupcake down, but something made me want to at least taste it.

   I took a bite out of it, then put it down.

   Pinkie huffed like she had been holding her breath, then grinned at me. "Oh, I would not be worried about her." She giggled.

   "Why-" I froze.

   Once the wonderfully flavored icing wore off, I tasted something strange.

   I looked back at the cupcake. The part where I bit had dark chunks in it. I felt around in my mouth, chalk full of chewy chunks of something. The taste was very familiar, like iron. I knew that taste. I had eaten blood sausage once by accident and nearly threw up over it.

   The taste of iron and another flavor, it all tasted like meat. It was not a cupcake, but an impromptu meat pie.

   Where could she get...meat?

   "Gack!" I dry heaved then spit out the chunk of cupcake.

   Why did I bite that!? How stupid am I?!

   I realized to my shame it was but an impulse of nature. Humans are omnivores and crave meat after a while. The brain's want-center would release hormones that would trigger the need for meat and the impulse to eat it.

   I cursed at myself.

   Sherlock Holmes would not approve.

   Damn my omnivorous nature! It may very well have killed me!

   I glared at Pinkie. "Where did you get meat?"

   Pinkie giggled. "Aw, what's the matter, you don't like it now? But, I thought you loved your friends?"

   She grinned.

   I gaped.

   "Friends?"

   I looked at the bitten cupcake, then grimaced. "No...."

   I turned to give Augeron the signal, but my legs gave, horrified to discover they were numb.

   "Oopsy daisy!"

   Pinkie laughed. "Somepony's clumsy womsy! Well, I did put enough sleepy stuff in that cupcake to knock out two Earth Ponies."

   I was slowly losing feeling. "Ugh."

   I had been drugged inside a psychopath's hunting grounds. Three minutes was still too long. I dragged myself by my arms over the floor. I had to get to the door, or the window. My arms were long enough to put a hand on the glass, signaling Augeron, anything at all, even getting close enough to yell at it.

   Pinkie danced around me, singing.

   "Ring around Argyle, his mouth was full of Rarity, once I gut him out, then cut him up, I'll sell him as a specialty!"

   Pinkie laughed. "Whoohoo! This is fun!"

   "Gah, gotta...get...door."

   I pulled harder, my arms going limp. I had lost feeling in my lower torso, but I felt my heart. It pounded in my chest like a jackhammer.

   "Man, are all Humans this strong? Everypony I did this to barely lasted a few seconds. Even Rarity was out in ten, yet you've been crawling for almost a minute!"

   She laughed. "You really are a Super Spark!"

   Stupid, I'm going to die an idiot.

   My arms were almost fully numb. I slipped trying to pull on my elbows.

   I dragged my limp self and reached for the window. "Got...to, window!"

   It looked closer than it actually was. My vision started blurring and depth perception was going with it.

   No, I'm going t make it!

   "Oh, Argyle."

   Pinkie walked over and stomped on my hand hard, the one thing that could still feel pain.

   "I know about the two meany guards outside, waiting to take you from me."

   She smiled. "I know you suspected me from the moment we last met at the Palace. I just wasn't exactly sure you'd do anything about it, that is, until you caught me at Twilight's."

   I kept crawling, towards whatever I could grab.

   Pinkie laughed and followed me.

   "So, I thought in my brain and made a clever little trap for you. That needle was meant for Twilight, sure."

   She leaned right up to my ear. "But, I crushed it just for you. I knew you would search for it, then come here right into my hooves."

   My eyes widened.

   So, she was the one hunting me? I fell right into her trap, thinking I was the one trapping. Even still, Augeron and Canagan now have the proof they needed, my death.

   I was so close to the door, just one more numb pull and I could ring the door's bell. "Must...try."

   "Where're you going, Silly? The party's not that way!"

   Pinkie trotted next to me.

   "We still have other cupcakes to try and there's that one batch I need your help with." She giggled.

   Reaching with a nearly numb hand for the door knob, I touched it and smiled. "Got...you-"

   I gave out right then, falling unconscious. I suppose the endorphin boost from reaching the door, however small, must have relaxed me just enough for my will to give.

   I smelled musty air and something else stunk, the metallic smell of blood and the nausea of petrifying flesh. I woke up inside a dark room, tied down on what felt like a cold slab of steel. A cushion was under my head supporting me. I looked around, large and thick leather strap belts held me in place.

   I did not struggle, knowing it would not help. A normal person would have screamed and panicked.

    I really thought about it. While parts of my body and mind wanted to howl in terror, other more versatile parts knew if I made little noise I had a few more seconds of life to burn. I would need every tock, every beat.

   I saw a bluish thing to my left through the corner of my eye. It was over towards a dark side of the room. I could not turn my head much to see it, as I did not want to be lively. I needed more time. It could have been Rainbow Dash, but it was not moving, or making noise.

   I closed my eyes. Sounds, smells, lights, anything I could get I took. It took all of my will power just to keep my emotions from wrecking me. They swirled and burned, crashed and turned into a maelstrom of panic, fear, anger, hate, worry and most importantly an emotion I had never felt before that moment.

   It was difficult figuring it out, like a kind of fearing-worry drop of the stomach that pushed a burning passion for survival. Not because I did not want to die, it was not that primitive. I did not want to fail my friends before I was sure they were safe. Even with that cupcake filled with meat, I still had yet to see bodies. I knew very well the kind of position I was in. I was very likely to die horribly that day.

   No, not a room. A...cellar? Dungeon?

   Excerpts from the show Dexter slide showed in my mind. I followed that show very closely back on Earth. It was a great show. I finally understood what it felt like to be on someone's table. I would soon be Pinkie's trophy.

   I heard a door open and hooves patter down stairs. I steeled myself. I was going to die badly. I wondered, what was first? My teeth? My nails? My skin? What will she take first to watch me squirm like the insect she thought I was?

   "The gusts pulse again."

   Each creaking step sounded, like every step told me how many minutes, or hours, she would work on me. I counted them. A normal person would have screamed. My breath was held in. Even if I tried, nothing would have happened.

   The hooves got closer. A cold breeze from the doorway washed over areas one should not feel on a psychopath's table. My clothes were gone. My mind shuttered in glim gray.

   I felt a hoof beat on my chest. "Wakey, wakey, sleepy head!"

   I stayed perfectly still. Hoping she was just checking on me and would move on.

   "I said wake up!"

   I felt a hard slap strike my face. "You think I'm stupid?!"

   I tasted blood. My teeth had cut my cheek from that slap.

   "Just hoping you are." I chuckled and spit out the blood in my mouth.

   She smiled.

   "Amused? Good, I'll soon be too."

   She giggled. "That I can promise."

   Her hair was flat and not its usual pink bouncy glory. She wore a dress made of different coloured patches of skin, each one with a cutie mark. I felt like my guts were getting torn out when I saw the Maya blue one with an hour glass on it.

   I also saw a horn of the same colour on a makeshift necklace with two other unicorn horns around her neck. Three different sets of Pegasus wings were also stitched into the back of her morbid dress.

   "Truth has many faces."

   My friend Minuette, I was too late.

   Miss Edel, I am so sorry.

   I choked at the sight and had to look away.

   I glared at the dark room. It was more like a basement.

   A sheet hung in the background on a moist wall, Life is a party! on its tattered surface.

   Tools also littered about the room, bloodied, obviously used. Horrifyingly, some ponies were on the walls as taxidermy heads on wooden boards.

   "Is that what you have planned for me?"

   Pinkie looked at the head boards and shook her head. "Oh, no, you're far too special for that!"

   "Lucky me." I cursed her soulless existence.

   "Oh, yes, you really are!"

   She nodded her head. "You see, you're going to help me with something extra super important."

   "Other than to satisfy your sick cravings?"

   "Ha!"

   She trotted to my right.

   "You think I like this?"

   Pinkie suddenly snapped at me. "You think I like doing this to my friends?!"

   She pushed the table to my left. It swung. I faced that corner with the blue figure I noticed. My eyes widened. It was Rainbow Dash. She was not only dead, but butchered and turned into a taxidermy stature.

   That pushed me over the edge. "Aaahh! Rainbow, nooo!"

   I saw another dead corpse farther to my left, also on a table. It was completely skinned and gutted, a void in the center of its skull where a horn might have once been. It was so mutilated I had a hard time telling who that was at first. Then I saw the eyes, blue and stunning. Rarity, I was too late to save her as well.

   I had failed Sweetie Belle.

   "Purpose still remains."

   I gritted my teeth at Pinkie. "You monster!"

   I tried to lash at her, but the belts of course held me in place.

   "Don't tire yourself out yet!"

   She swung the table back.

   "The fun's just starting!"

   Pinkie laughed, trotting to her tool table, grabbing a knife from it. "Once I finish, I'll be done for good!"

   "Pinkie, you're a serial killer! You will never be done!"

   "I don't kill cereal silly!"

   She laughed. "I'm going to kill you."

   I shook my head. "Why? Who told you to do this?"

   Pinkie froze and looked at me slightly gaping.

   "Bravo, Argyle. Out of all the ponies I have done this too, not one asked me if somepony else was involved. It was always, Oh, no, Pinkie, why are you doing this?! Or, Stop, I'll do anything!"

   She sighed. "That's why I wanted to save you for last. You're extra special."

   "Tell me Pinkie, who is it?"

   She shook her head. "You would never understand. She's not of this world, a monster."

   I blinked. "The little girl, you mean?"

   Her eyes went wide. "H-How...do you-"

   "She brought me here, Pinkie. I've been hunting her since day one."

   Pinkie closed her eyes.

   "She came to me, shortly after your party and told me everything."

   Her eyes watered.

   "She even showed it to me. It was so horrible." She knelt down and held herself. "She told me she and her friends were hungry and they fed on hate. She wanted our friends for food, my friends."

   Pinkie got up, shaking her hoof at thin air. "But, she can't have them! I spent the last two weeks making cupcakes, because love's the only way to beat the monsters!"

   "Ugh, love? Sweet Jesus, Pinkie, you have the Elements of Harmony!"

   "I know that! They're not powerful enough!"

   Pinkie pouted.

   "She showed us using them. We all died anyway."

   Her face lit up with a sickening smile. "So, I thought what's a more powerful symbol of love than cupcakes? I turn everypony here into a symbol of love and I starve the monsters!"

   I closed my eyes, hardly able to believe my ears.

   "So, now you understand why cupcakes are so important."

   Pinkie walked in front of me.

   "Although you were last on my list and this will accelerate my schedule a full week, I think I can make do."

   She eyed my arm while licking her lips. "I heard about a mage's focus points from Twilight one day. I'm curious, are there really special points on your body? Like organs or glands?"

   I turned my head away.

   Pinkie looked at my whole figure and giggled.

   "Now I understand why you always have clothes on. Humans really have everything upfront, unlike colts where you have to cut to see it."

   She tilted her head. "Any other points I need to know about?"

   I held my mouth tighter.

   She giggled.

   "It's alright. I wanted to see and explore all of it for myself anyway."

   Pinkie walked to her tool table. I saw my IPod on it.

   "Hey, Spike told me about this. An IPod he called it?"

   Pinkie nudged it and the it flashed on.

   "Ooooh."

   She giggled. "All I need to do is press on it right?"

   "Only if you press really hard."

   I chuckled. "In fact, you'd better smash your head on it, as hard as you can, just to be sure."

   "As hard as I can, huh?" She smiled and grabbed my IPod then brought it down on my head.

   It bloodied my nose. "Ah!"

   Pinkie laughed. "Hard like that?"

   "Fool."

   I guess my nose hit the play button. It started playing a rather appropriate song.

  "Hey, it worked!" She grabbed the ear buds, then turned up the volume to max and listened.

   I knew that song. Need to, by Korn. "You've got to be kidding."

   "You Humans and you're strange angry music, I love it!"

   The song filled both of our ears while she let the tip of her knife just touch my left arm. My body tensed like a vice at the cold steel.

   "Oh and I made sure your magic would not work. No pony likes a party pooper!"

   She leaned in next to my ear. "Now let's begin."

   The blade dug into my left arm. I felt a sudden electric surge of horrible pain, as the blade cut deep. My face contorted with agony. I yelled as she drug the blade down my upper left bicep. The blade let up, then pulled out of the wound.

   "Give in."

   I breathed hard, eyes watering, heart about to burst.

   The blade came again while Pinkie whispered, "Shhh."

   I felt it cut even deeper. I yelled again. The tip scraped the bone that time.

   Pink huffed. "Oh, its not here. Unless it's inside your bone? But, it's a little too early for that."

   I felt like fainting. The room spun. My head hung, only feeling the gash in my left arm.

   "Let go."

   I felt something inside stir, a very familiar cold.

   Pinkie came back with a tool doctors used to pry open a ribcage. "Man, with all this blood it's hard to see. This should help!"

   "Hurry, you must let go."

   She jammed it into the gash and cranked.

   I rasped, the room was getting dark.

   "Release me!"

   I was numbing all over as the cold pressed at the base of my skull. After I heard skin tearing, I blacked out.

   I woke up standing while yelling at something. I shook my head. I had no memory of how I got there, or what was going on.

   Pinkie hid in a corner in the fetal position. I saw the steel table to my left bent nearly in half at the head board. The room was trashed to shambles. Thankfully, the song had stopped.

   Pinkie babbled in absolute fear. "Y-you're- you're a m-monster, just like...h-her."

   "Pinkie, what happened?" I held my hand out.

   Although she did try to kill me, something else had scared her half to death.

   Pinkie saw my hand and screamed in fear. "Nooo! Stay away!"

   I recoiled.

   She broke out crying while rocking herself.

   "I thought I was stopping them, but now I see you've always been watching me. I need more time...."

   She grabbed her knife on the floor with her mouth, then poised to charge at me. "Killing one of them should slow them down, it has too! I'll start with you!"

   I waved my hands. "No stop Pink-"

   Pinkie charged and jumped at me with an insane look of bloodthirst and a howl that would have made a Viking piss himself.

   "Truth will not be denied!"

   My left arm brought itself up. A black lightening bolt shot out of my left hand at her. It hit her square in the mouth, tearing a burning hole into the back of her throat. She fell down next to me after I dodged her. Her bloodied and bruised body twitched like she was having a seizure, then stopped after a half a minute.

   I looked at my hand and arm. For a second it looked wrong, different, but it went back to normal when I blinked. My mind was cracking under the stress. I eyed around the room. I could have sworn the walls and celling were closing in, that the room was getting smaller, that the air was getting thinner.

   I heard a large bashing noise up the stairs. The door was being kicked in, then it gave with a loud crunch.

   "Argyle! Ya down there, Boy'o?!"

   "Pinkamena Diane Pie! Surrender now and come peacefully."

   Two sets of hooves quickly trotted down the stairs. "Stop where you stand scum! Your spree is at an...."

   Augeron and Canagan froze at the foot of the stairs.

   "Saint Pasture."

   Canagan stood agape at the grizzly sight of Pinkie's killing room. "No, not the pink one...."

   "My Celestia...Argyle!" Augeron ran up to me. "Are you alright?"

   "Yeah...fine." I gave way, but Augeron caught me.

   "His arm!"

   Canagan pointed at my mutilated arm. "She really did a number on you, Ladd!"

   "We must get him to the hospital! Help me, quick." Both guards helped me to my feet.

   I was so tired, yet so unbearably happy to have made it out.

   "I'm deleting Need to...."

   Augeron and Canagan looked at each other confused.  

   I laughed, then rasped in a low pain stricken voice, "Hey guys. We solved the case."

   "Yeah, Boy'o, that we did."

   My eyes watered, a different pain ebbed inside. "But, they died anyway."

   "There was nothing you could do about it."

   Augeron cleared his throat, "You did good."

   I looked at him with blood shot eyes. "How did you find me?"

   "After ten minutes passed with no signal we searched the shop. You were not there."

   Canagan huffed, "Which I'm still tryin' to figure out, since we had the place locked down tighter than Captain Ferrell's safe."

   "We searched all over town. An hour later, we got a tip that Pinkie was seen with a large bag entering her house."

   "So, we rode right over here, with some of are boys."

   Other guards trotted up to us, after we worked our way up the stairs. Augeron ordered them to secure downstairs and apprehend the culprit.

   "Ah, Saints! Augeron, our friend's losin' a lot of blood!" Canagan tried to put pressure on my arm with his side.

   I grunted.

   "Sorry, Ladd, but pain's better than dead."

   "Alright, cover him up first, then we haste to the Doctor!"