Scars

by GarnetRose

First published 6th of April, 2013

A murder, a trio of investigators, and a history of defective destinies work together to reveal a dangerous enemy like no other.

Meet Scarlet Trace. The young, faulty detective sets out with her friends in search of a mysterious pony who holds the key to an unsolved murder. What she and her colleagues discover along the way may lead to one of the most dangerous encounters of their lives.

101: Filling the Quota

A tiny trickle of sunlight beamed down graciously on the slumbering city of Ponyville. The morning dew that had collected on the ground throughout Luna's night still clung to the flora, gripping desperately at the blades of grass. The moisture dampened the dirt road that swerved out of the borders, heading down South to the next settlement. Pools of residue had been frozen overnight, and the chilly atmosphere promised a painfully slow thawing.

There would be very few ponies awake at this hour. The mail pony would have just woken up to prepare for the morning deliveries, while local stores such as Sugarcube Corner had just begun preparing their stock for the crowd of incoming workers just a few hours from now.

Now would be a perfect time as any to go on with his plan.

Hooves came crashing down on the morning dew gathered on the grass just outside of the city. The sound they made against the road was absorbed by the emptiness, and the wind refused the pony's company. He paid no mind to the vastness of the trail ahead of him, a sigh slowly creeping from his mouth.

It was time; this was the day he had been waiting for his entire life. This was the day he would shine above all other equines in history, radiating with more intensity than the royal princess. He stopped abruptly, quickly pivoting so that his eyes could rest on the serene little village just a small trek behind. Everything felt distant looking in from the outside, his gaze darting through Ponyville, spotting several places that he recognized with ease.

The aforementioned Sugarcube Corner was easy to spot in the morning. It's bright colored rooftop and foundation almost looked as if it were made out of candy and gingerbread, the lone pony thought to himself. Visions and voices communicated with him as memories passed through his closed eyes.

"I'm sorry! I'm so very sorry!" A panicked brown pony coughed out through the smoke. He quickly fought his way through the smog, a thick piece of cloth fitted in his mouth. He made his way to the oven towards the other end of the kitchen, quickly opening the contraption and pulling out the tray of baked goods.

He frantically turned the machine off, his nose wrinkling at the awful scent radiating from the tray. He backed up towards the opposite end of the kitchen after opening up the back door, stretching his feathered wings as he did. Once he was in position, his wings beat firmly, wafting the smoke into the air outside. It didn't take long for the smoke to finally disappear, but the wretched stench of the burnt cupcakes still lingered in the house. Disappointed, he frowned, trying to shake off some of the leftover flour that had stained his coat in the preparations.

The pony's eyes flashed open again. Though the past quickly faded into the recesses of his mind, he could still hear Mrs. Cake scolding him for burning his fifth batch of cupcakes that morning. He apologized, as he always did, but in hindsight, he couldn't deny that their choice to let him go had probably helped- hell, saved- their business. Besides, the pink mare that they brought to work from the loft upstairs had already proven herself to be a more proficient baker than he could ever dream of being, and her potency at attracting customers completely overshadowed any skills he might have had.

Several strands of his dark brown hair fell in front of his eyes. He ran a hoof through his mane from front to back, pulling away the annoying bits from his face. His thick, mud-brown tail quivered as he spread his wings open. His feathers shivered as they grazed the still, icy air. He stretched them out along with his legs and neck as he prepared to take flight. As he did so, his eyes landed upon a huge plot of the red delicious apple trees just outside of the village.

"I still don't understand it," he finally spoke, his voice sucked into the silence of the morning.

"Apple delivery?" he asked the younger pony. A large, mighty colt stood eagerly at her side, waiting for the brown pony's answer to their offer.

"Yessir," the powerful farmer answered him. "Take fruit orders, and deliver 'em to the customer."

Finally, something that he just knew he could really shine at! He smiled while shaking the stallion's hoof, generously accepting the golden opportunity given to him. Delivering packages of apples around town? To say it was a piece of cake would be an understatement! He may not be as strong or as fast as other pegasi, but he knew that this type of job would be perfect for him.

Plus, it'd give him time to be in the air. He loved being in the air. It gave him time to enjoy himself without a single care for the world below.

His wings lifted his frame off of the ground without issue. He took one more deep sigh, his hazel eyes still locked on the direction of Sweet Apple Acres.

"'Ah'm terribly sorry, but there's just not enough orders coming in," the wife of the farmer pony told him one day after calling him in from his most recent delivery.

"But you can't!" The plain, brown pony pleaded desperately. "The money I get from this job is all I've got now!"

"'Ah understand, and t'ain't easy just lettin' ya' go like this, but we just can't afford to keep ya' around..."

A dooming silence fell over the two ponies. His betrayed hazel irises stared back at the wife. She couldn't bear to look back at him, avoiding his eyes. She pulled her hat down far enough to block his bleeding gaze.

"Ah'm sorry this had ta' happen to you, sweetie, but that's just the way it has t'be."

She walked past him, and straight into the field of apple trees. She refused to look back at his broken expression.

The feeling of wind in his face soothed the painful memories. He hadn't seen the filly that fired him since that day, and not once had he ever considered asking her, after these few short years, why exactly she had decided to let him go. Whenever he delivered the food packages to their hungry customers, the smiles on their faces and the juicy tips that they handed him always assured him that this was the job he had been looking for. He was absolutely certain that the delivery orders would continue to swarm the Apple Family as long as he was on the job. So, what exactly happened that changed this?

His body relaxed as his wings took him up ever higher into the morning sky. Down below, Ponyville was now small enough to fit on his foreleg. His mind numbed for a second before he remembered what he was doing here in the sky. The temperature was dropping steadily as he reached closer to the heavens.

With a newfound determination, his wings beat furiously, lifting him further away from the ground below. He looked back down as he continued to ascend. His eye caught sight of a symbol on his flank. It was a peculiar marking: A round, circular shape with what appeared to be two wings sprouting from either side of the circle. On his left flank, the image seemed to be imprinted perfectly. On his right, however, it appeared larger, as if it had been dragged along his body. The circular shape was more oval, and the wings appeared thick.

"What's the ‘B’ stand for anyways?" a child's voice cracked at him. He looked across from his tiny booth in the restaurant, placing his hay sandwich back on the plate. In the walkway was a white colt with a mane and tail that had a splash of several distinct blue hues.

"E-excuse me?" he answered back.

"There!" he pointed with one of his hooves. There was an application for the Ponyville weather control unit on the table next to his sandwich, only half complete. She read out the name written in under the section designated, "B. Slate. What does the 'B' mean?"

The baby stallion looked at the mysterious colt. His appearance was bland and uninteresting, but he couldn't help but notice the application he had been filling out.

Slate was lost in thought for a moment before replying with a shining smile, "The 'B' isn't anything important, really."

The child narrowed his eyes. "How come? Isn't it a part of your name?"

"Yeah, it's a piece," he replied, "But it's not something I'm particularly fond of showing off."

"Oh." He didn't seem the least bit interested in Slate anymore, nor did he ask him any more questions. The colt disappeared from sight minutes later, letting him finish his application.

Slate found another cloud to rest on, and didn't hesitate to land. Catching his breath from the long climb, he poked his head through the soft material and back down onto the city. It was but half of the size of one of his hooves now. The thin air at this altitude made him stay put for longer than he had hoped for.

"This is perfect," he told himself. Celestia's sun rose ever higher, generously warming Slate's body as he regained his strength. The rays of light crawled along the side of Ponyville, sweeping further into the city as time dragged on.

Other scattered memories ran through his mind, and many other distinct fillies and colts flashed by with every blink of his eyes. He had done so much for this town over the years. He always thought himself to be a helpful pony; a jack of all trades whose flexibility could be useful for any type of job. He did admit that he had been accident prone in the past, but he genuinely felt that his generosity far outweighed the errors he had made along the way. These thoughts only made his decision last night more difficult. His will felt strong though, and he was focused on sticking to the plan. Leaving Ponyville's borders that morning sealed the deal.

The wind made its presence known, albeit weak at that height. It wasn't as though it mattered to Slate either way. He stretched out his legs once more, his energy finally returning thanks to the break. He inched closer to the ledge of the cloud, taking one final glance at the sleeping town.

He thought back to that foal at the restaurant. Under his breath, he whispered the name of the Princess, followed by what appeared to be a prayer of sorts.

"No regrets."

He turned his back on the city. He tucked his wings back in. They quivered against his sides, begging him to reconsider. He immediately kicked his body's instincts aside, ignoring his urges for self-preservation.

He inhaled as much of the light air as he could.

His forelegs lifted off of the cloud, dangling right in front of him, his body completely perpendicular to the puffy surface.

Clearing his mind of every distraction that he experienced at the start of the morning, he tossed his body backward, beginning his decent towards the unsuspecting town.

=============

Five Minutes Later

Manehattan was bustling with activity, ponies clogging up the roads as far as the eye could see, each one out on business: setting up shop, attending meetings, or making their way home from their busy nights. Winter only made the streets more difficult for travelers to navigate, the pony-traffic moving at a snail's pace. Snow blanketed every rooftop within the city, mounds building up in small alleys or ditches. Flurries chilled the coats of those still roaming the gigantic metropolis, and in the park, younger fillies could still be seen hurling snowballs at one another behind benches, trees, and other unsuspecting civilians.

An older mare was looking out of the window of her second floor hospital room, struggling to stifle a yawn. Her bed had been raised so that she could watch the world outside go by, noticing the strips of white that covered the base outside of her window. Her mane was in shambles, running down her head in every direction. Her softened red hair was thick with sweat, and the tint of purple it carried, combined with her perspiration, gave it a very delicate appearance. A tail lazily hung from the side of the bed, waving gently like the swing of a pendulum. Her smile betrayed the concern flooding her bright purple eyes. Her husband would be there soon to check up on her the moment he finished up with a report to his boss. It would only be a matter of time before he showed up with a beaming smile spread across his face.

She wished to show him the tiny, bundled up filly wrapped up in blankets. She cradled the baby in her forelegs, hearing a weak, tired cooing from the sheets. She nuzzled the infant, causing some of the covering to shift along her child's shape. She worked her way down the foal's appearance, a perfectly healthy filly that turned in her sleep. Her shining ivory coat brightened with the streetlight pouring into the window, falling upon a peculiar marking on her body.

She shivered as the sheets fell from her delicate figure during the mother's nudges. The fortunate parent quickly wrapped her back up. Her attention was pulled back to the marking, the reason for her concern for her new baby daughter: A glossy, thick magnifying glass with a brown handle and a silver lining thirsted for attention from her flank. It was a simple, powerful image that rocked the mother to her core. She had never once heard about such an odd situation, nor did she have any idea what the implications may be for her poor daughter in the future. She cuddled the infant as her worries intensified.

The nurse hustled out of the room, giving the new mother the space she needed. A stallion stood in her way to the main hallway, his rugged face squinting in deep thought as he peaked into the room, watching continuous flashes of light behind the curtain. The futile efforts were commendable only for the persistence of the photographers, as if somehow, the next flash would reveal the pony in question.

"How's the mother doing?" the older doctor asked the nurse. He gave a slight cough and wiped his mane back, following the nurse to the lobby downstairs.

"She's a bit shaken up, and she's pretty exhausted, but there doesn't seem to be any indications of infection or internal injury. She just needs rest, doctor."

He nodded in approval, pleased that the delivery had gone so well. "I was afraid that perhaps she was a little too aged to give birth, but it looks like I may have just overestimated the risks involved." They opened a door, revealing a set of staircases that trailed downward to the first floor. The wall was glass, showing the small block on the street. Carriages full of publishers, writers, and more photographers were still pulling up, frustrating the doctor. "They're going to be a pain to get rid of. See to it that the patients on the first floor aren't disturbed by the madness outside."

"Absolutely, doctor," the nurse acknowledged the request, pulling ahead a few steps.

"Nurse, before you go," he started again, stopping her in her tracks, "What of the baby?"

"The baby?" The nurse asked. "We ran several dozen response tests. We even repeated a few of them for the sake of accuracy. She's in perfect condition to be with her mother right now."

"Considering the circumstances?" the doctor pressed.

"It's extraordinary to see a foal like her. I've never heard of such a rare case before in all my time of working in the medical field. However, even with her condition, she seems no less healthy than any other ordinary foal."

The doctor gave sigh of relief. "Excellent. Thanks for all of your hard work up."

"We're not quite done yet," she continued, "getting the media out of here is now our top priority."

"I also want you to keep an eye on that child. A safe delivery is a great sign, but this circumstance is still as abnormal as they get, and I refuse to let anything happen to this child in my hospital. Keep the mother and filly under heavy watch. Understand?"

"Understood, doctor."

The final doorway leading to the first floor swung open. The vigorous press had already broken through the main lobby, and the security guards that normally monitor the halls on the first floor were stuck in front of an impromptu blockade, doing all they could to keep anypony from breaking beyond the border they created.

The doctor grimaced at the ferocity of the mob, hoping that the mare and her child would be safe until they were able to remove the infestation from the hospital.

The aged mother one story above could hear the commotion taking place down below. Flashes from cameras reflected off of each square of glass from the other structures across the street, and the shouts from reporters echoed up the building from below, though completely incoherent from her distance. Nurses constantly popped their heads in to make sure that both mother and child were safe, and that nopony managed to sneak into the building. One of them whispered something rapidly to the other right outside the door. Within a minute, the same nurse trotted into the room with a large sheet, and in a single swift motion, completely covered the window.

Pegasi, noticing the movement from the second floor, jumped into the sky directly in front of the window. The nurse ensured the mother that it had been locked tight, but the sound and flashes from the cameras filled the parent with doubt. The persistence of the press scared her as she brought her filly closer to her body, wishing soon for her husband to arrive.

She was frightened for her child, taking in long, shaky breaths as the press tried time and time again to get through the lobby. They needed to find this unique young mare. Describing it as the biggest scoop of the century would be an understatement.

After all, it was the first time in Equestrian history that a baby was born with a cutie mark.

Author's Notes:

Hello. I'm a fairly new author around here, and I'm just throwing my little story into the swarm here. I'm still kinda fresh at this whole setup, so if there's issues or errors, I'll be more than glad to patch up what I can and improve on future chapters.

Please leave any feedback you have. I thrive off of it, and I can only improve with constructive criticism. I'd definitely appreciate anything you readers have that you can throw at me.

The first two chapters will be released simultaneously, so Chapter 2 should be readily available right after this one. It'll have the same Author's Note, more or less. I'll be doing what I can to pump out chapters on a consistent basis, so check back once in a while. I'll be doing my best to issue release dates for each individual piece, but I won't have anything concrete until after I get back to work from publishing these first two.

Either way, here's to a hopeful start of a story I've been workin' on. Cheers!

- Garnet Rose

102: A Special Resume

22 Years Later

A shoddy, pale brown structure was the only building that had managed to stand out in those lengthy years in Canterlot. Against the bright marble towers constructed around it, anypony passing through the area would catch a glance of the eyesore, its deviant features bordering on bizarre. Travelers that crossed through the glamorous city kept their distance from the shady appearance of the aging disaster, questioning just what type of business was conducted on a daily basis behind those large, wooden doors.

The lack of vacancy is what spooked civilians the most. A small handful of Canterlot's very own walked through those doors in the morning, afternoon, then eventually disappeared from the building at night. They were consistent visitors too, most likely employees for some unknown company. Even more conspicuous was the royal family's involvement. Princess Celestia's guards could be seen keeping a vigilant eye on the tower from afar, particularly when Luna blanketed the sky with her work, only brewing more questions from neighboring agencies.

Even the landscape around the foundation lacked the flair that the rest of Canterlot portrayed. The luscious, well trimmed grass covering most of the land in Canterlot never graced the office with its elegant presence. Instead, dry grass, whose color mimicked the walls of the building it surrounded, decorated the lawn. It crunched pathetically under the hoof of anypony who decided to trot through, each sickening crack in the grass praying for the moisture it surely deserved. Trees had long since abandoned the plot of land, and the worn concrete walkway that lead to the entrance of the building showed signs of wear and tear. Scratches from hooves and other materials paved the pony-made path. These scars ran along the entire length of the walkway.

Just outside the border of the monstrosity, and across the main road that led to such an awkward locale, appeared a small group of ponies. A commotion within the party trotting towards the foundation could be heard for blocks, over the many hills that adorned Canterlot's landscape, and through the windows of even the tallest towers that hovered overhead. Neighboring business and apartment windows opened up, pony heads peeking out from each one to inspect where the noise was coming from.

Forty or so hooves beat down on the well crafted road, most of the steps completely out of unison if the cluster of clopping sounds were any indication. The only sounds heard over the trotting were the hearty laughs of some of the bulkier stallions among the group. As the herd became easier to sight for the bystanders, their interest quickly began to fade.

"The ones from that strange place," one of them mentioned to herself before slamming her window shut.

==========

The music drowned out the sounds of the constant toasts that many of the employees made to each other. They quickly downed their drink, some of the lightweights already inebriated by the strength of the alcohol. The celebration had only been going on for an hour, and nothing but smiles were seen on everypony's face. Tunes echoed merrily out of the building's shoddy, half opened windows, chatter from the employees coherent during the downtimes between each song.

A light brown pony, whose vision and judgment were already beyond his immediate control, spotted a curious mare sitting at a desk, facing towards the crowd of party-goers that had been centered more towards the middle of the lobby. With a hiccup and another quick swig, he stumbled over to her, bumping into another colt that had drank himself into a similar stupor.

His vision and balance were depreciating fast, but were still enough to capture the appearance of the pony he was making his way towards. She wore a black, buttoned up coat that covered the majority of her body, hardly managing to capture her form underneath. The visible sections of her coat were of a dull, gray color, almost passable as white if she stood in the sunlight. Her deep red tail twitched when she saw him approach her. Her jade green eyes looked elsewhere to avoid his torpid stare. Her forelock draped itself over her left eye, covering it from view should one look directly at her. The rest of her mane running down her back was brushed over to the right side of her head, slightly curling back up at the end of it's length. The bridge connecting the two sections of her hair was covered by a peculiar black fedora, effectively keeping her ears hidden inside.

In her right hoof, dangling on a thick necklace that ran down her neck, was a magnifying glass, the one detail that the drunken colt used to finally recognize the pony and remember her name. Running along her flank was a similar looking magnifying glass, its lens shining against an unseen light in the distance.

"You're not getting away from this one, Scarlet!" he spoke a bit louder than she wished. "You should be," he hiccupped, "Should be the life of the party!" He slammed down the glass of vodka he had taken to her- and had taken several drinks from himself.

"Drink it up Trace!" another pony enthusiastically cheered on from the crowd.

"You deserve it!"

"Yeah, a round for the rookie heroine!"

The pony in the coat, Scarlet, let out a nervous smile to the rest of the group. "Sorry everypony, I don't really drink."

The music, as if on queue, suddenly cut off. "But you're-"

She raised a hoof to the mare who had tried to speak up. "No. I'm fine, really. And I mean...that's too," Scarlet momentarily stammered, sweat forming below the rim of her hat, everypony's attention drawn to her voice, "...I'm flattered, really, but it wasn't like I solved it all on my own."

Cases. That was Scarlet's job at the Agency. Here, in Canterlot, under direct control of the royal family- specifically Celestia herself- she was employed as a full time detective. Scarlet's mind ran through the case that had rattled some of the Agency's best for the past three months. The documents explaining the sudden death of the beloved mayor of Ponyville, the autopsy reports, a strange and seemingly irrelevant clue hidden by the twisted pony who had conducted the murder, and days upon days of heavy investigation of the crime scene left the office space in shambles.

"Tell us again Scarlet!"

She panicked at the growing crowd surrounding her. They hungered to hear of her amazing deduction that not even some of the finest detectives in Canterlot had considered. A rookie who had just managed to transition into her new job had toppled one of the most crucial cases in the history of the Agency. She wanted an escape from the group huddling around her, pestering her with remarks and questions concerning her work.

The party goers closed off the space surrounding the desks, desiring an explanation from the young detective. She backed up against her chair, tucking her magnifying glass into her coat while eyeing the gathering crowd, petrified. She was starting to suffocate from the attention.

A stray hoof wrapped itself around her foreleg. She quickly pulled away and looked in the direction of the offender. Her irritation quickly subsided when she recognized the deep red eyes staring back at her. He once again offered her his blue coated leg, his contagious, signature smirk stretching across his face.

"You look like you can use a breather," he calmly spoke over the blundering voices. Scarlet didn't hesitate to grab his hoof and pull herself out of her chair.

The drunken crowd recognized the silver key cutie mark on this peculiar pony's flank, quickly dispersing before any of them did anything they would regret. The music started back up with a lively jump, reviving the exuberance the blue pony had absorbed from the other employees' drunken advance.

"Detective Locks, thank you," Scarlet said as he escorted her towards the front door. She felt infinitely more relieved as she passed through the threshold and back onto the empty streets of Canterlot. "I assume we're heading to the usual?"

Locks turned around, his disheveled white mane swinging with his head. A single stripe of black ran down the dead center of his mane, which always caught one's attention. "Of course. I could use a cup, anyways."

Scarlet chuckled at the comment. If there was one defining feature of this excellent colt, it was the peculiar scent permanently attached to his coat. The alluring odor of roasted coffee beans always gave away his identity for her. Several times at the Agency, she would greet him without so much as looking up from her paperwork by catching no more than a quick sniff of his morning brew. During the pleasant reprieves they enjoyed from the heavy duty workload their boss enforced, Locks would take her out to their personal favorite hotspot.

The walk to the cafe from the Agency was always a calming one. Canterlot had a distinguished appearance to that of the crowded, bustling streets of Manehatten, or the cozy appearance of the more natural structures in Ponyville. It was much more stretched out than either of the other two cities, with sections of hills separating most buildings from one another. Almost every building was in the shape of a spiraling tower, many with stargazing equipment attached to the peaks. In the distance, from almost any point in Canterlot, one could see Princess Celestia and Luna's castle, where events such as the Grand Galloping Gala were held annually.

The lack of features along the hills didn't bother Scarlet. She was partially fond of the vast, empty lands that surrounded the citizens of Canterlot. Roaming about with Locks had to be one of her favorite pastimes away from her work. The sun beamed down waves of heat on the city, the light bouncing off of the blackened roads that lead towards the west district of town.

On the edge of this invisible boundary was a modest looking building, singled out from the rest with its unusual box shaped structure. Locks calmly exhaled when the sound of the bell tied to the door announced their entrance.

==========

The smell radiating from Locks' mug overtook Scarlet, sending her mind soaring through her history with the bold, young stallion. Locks rarely, if ever, worked alongside her on their assigned investigations, so his coffee induced flashbacks weren't a consistent occurrence in her line of duty, but there was something about the particular scent of his cup that screamed nostalgia from her intern days and beyond.

It was none other than the aroma of the fresh roasted coffee that called to her. Locks quizzically waited for Scarlet to speak up, aware of the glazed look in her eyes as she stared at his order.

"Scarlet...would you like a drink?" Locks politely asked her with a cocked eyebrow. He cleared his throat loud enough for some of the ponies sitting several tables away to hear, snapping his associate out of her trance.

"Oh!," she stumbled, "I'm sorry, what did you say, Detective?" Scarlet asked with a face decorated with embarrassment.

"Did you want some coffee? My treat."

"Oh no, Detective. I'm fine," she shook her head slowly, "besides, you drink enough for the two of us."

"True enough," he remarked with a prideful look. "Nothing wrong with being a coffeeholic. It helps me work." He took another look at the younger mare in front of him, his eyes focused on her unique fedora. "Funny how quickly things change, Ms. Trace."

"Excuse me, Detective?"

Locks took another sip from his mug, watching the brew swirl about in the cup after placing it back on the table. His eyes, steady and strong, peered right into Scarlet's jaded green irises.

"Every morning, I head to the Agency after my fifth cup. Steele gives me a new job, and I refuse to rest until I solve my case," he recalled in an uninterested, automaton-like fashion. "It's the way I've established how I work, and it's never lead me astray. Suppose I thought that it was just the way I was raised to deal with problems." He took another drink. "It bothers me if I can't solve a case, or find the meaning behind a clue; perhaps something in the evidence that guides me to the right direction. That was just the way it always felt like it was meant to be for somepony like me."

Locks looked down at his steaming coffee, watching the half and half he added during his dialogue melt into the stew in the center of the cup. "Then of all things to happen to change me at the Agency, of all of the criminals I've talked with, of all the arguments with Steele, and of the discussions I've had with Conroy...what made me evolve was when you showed up.

"At first, I thought you did work in the same manner as I have. I never saw you socialize too often like the rest of your group, just like me. You always had your head in a book, or looking over important reports, again, just like me. Amethyst would escort you to investigate scenes, you'd gather eyewitness reports and other intel that mimicked my own personal style. I never thought anything of it before.

"The one thing that bothered me about your style was so simple," Locks sighed, not straying away from her curiosity.

"You smile when you work."

Scarlet tilted her head to the side, puzzled at the remark. "I had no idea that there was a problem with enjoying your work."

Locks waved a spare hoof at the question. "In our line of work, I'd originally see that as concerning, to be honest." He gulped down the remainder of his cup, putting it down on the table loud enough for the waiter to hear. She casually trotted over to the two and poured him yet another serving, vanishing from sight as swiftly as she had arrived. He waved the steam to his muzzle, at peace for the moment. "We work in a very special area, Scarlet. I shouldn't have to tell you that. High profile murder cases, kidnappings, conspiracies turned reality; the stress included in having to deal with noxious maniacs on a daily basis eventually burrowed under my coat.

"When I have to interrogate loose-ended suspects, it disturbs me. I'm sure you can believe it? Twisted convicts who treat everypony like toys that can be manipulated, or controlled like pawns in their sick little games. Criminals who consider all life expendable, taking those beliefs into the realm of absurdity. It makes me feel like with every case I accept, that I'm doing nothing more than wading through another layer of filth."

He leaned back on the padding of the booth. "Now, the fact that these crimes consistently occur irritates me. I can't stand to even smirk when I'm looking over case files anymore. We lock away one twisted pony, two more replace him somewhere out there, amongst thousands who deserve nothing but good fortune for living earnest, humble lives.

"Scarlet, we've worked in the same building for nearly the same amount of time. What is it that makes us so different? How is it that you can still enjoy something that I've begun to loathe so much over time?"

The red mane pony pondered the question for a few moments, the chatter from the other handful of customers always created a perfect atmosphere for the two of them to discuss their work. Rays from the setting sun peeked in through the windows hovering above each stall of the cafe, coating everything with a faint orange tint.

She looked back at Locks with a half smile. "It was just the way I was raised, Detective."

Locks repeated her response in thought, chuckling while taking another sip. "I should've expected an answer like that from the 'Daughter of Justice'."

Scarlet gave an indiscreet roll of her eyes at one of the many aliases she was given at the Agency. "When's the last time somepony's called me that?"

"Months, I expect," he returned. "Laya's the name of choice now, right?"

"The popular consensus, yes."

Justice. Coffee. That unmistakably similar blue coat. Scarlet couldn't help but reminisce on it all...

==========

Many Years Ago

"Daddy, come here! I found something!" a high pitched voice ecstatically called out from the other end of the busy room. An aged colt with a fine, solid blue fleece trotted over to the filly, a shining smile masking the bags of fatigue he wore under each individual eye. His daughter's faded white body jumped up and down with a vast reservoir of energy.

The room was an absolute mess. What used to be a kitchen was now riddled with tossed sheets and a shattered chair. Water stained the countertops, and the pieces of a broken jar were scattered along the floor. Mud caked hoof prints stained the shoddy tile, and a beeline of crumbs made their way towards the base of the broken jar in the center of the room. The baby filly had a magnifying glass loosely wrapped around her foreleg, aimed at the jagged hole above the foundation of the container. A particular red string dangled near the top, wedged between the floor and the rest of the object.

"What do you think, Detective?" the stallion asked her, fulfilling his part in the role-play.

The glass tool hovered above the strand, doubling the size of the filly's eye as she investigated the clue. "It looks like...a hair?"

"Hair, Detective?"

The young pony gasped. "Hair from the cookie thief!"

"Hmm," the blue colt pondered. He encouraged his daughter, "What color is the hair, Scarlet?"

It was a simple question to answer for the child. It's color shined in the kitchen lighting, "Red...just like-"

The colt smiled at her shaking voice, her exuberance evident as her young mind began to piece the scenario together.

"Our suspect has red hair too! Which means...!"

Filly Scarlet peered over to the den. A single couch was positioned with its back facing her gaze. A shuffling sound was heard from the other end, followed by a mess of a faded red peaking over the edge. Scarlet dashed ahead of her father, her speed forcing her to peel around the arm rest as she skidded over to the other room. A pair of violet eyes stared back at her, widening with surprise as Scarlet leapt onto the mare with gusto, the young pony invigorated that she had tackled another exercise successfully.

"Momma! She stole the cookies from the cookie jar!"

==========

Conroy was just about finished taking care of the disaster that he had personally arranged in the kitchen. Scarlet was quietly sitting at the dining room table across the room, watching her father work.

His strong voice demanded her attention. "Scarlet, do you remember why your mother and I do these practices for you?"

Scarlet glanced back at him. "You told me before, daddy." She wiggled her flank with a smile on her face. A large magnifying glass shined brightly in an unseen light, decorating her pale coat. "I'm gonna be a great detector!"

"Detective, sweetie."

"Defective!"

A rough hoof swooped down and ruffled up her fresh mane. "And how do you feel when you solve the practice cases?"

Scarlet stared up to the tall figure, her innocent little smile gracing his faded green eyes. "It makes me happy," she responded.

"And why does it make you happy?" he continued with a grin.

She looked back at him for brief moment. "Because it's fun! And," she jumped from her seat, running up to Conroy and nuzzling him against the base of his neck, "because it makes you and momma happy."

A flood of warmth spread through the colt. He returned his daughter's affection with a kiss on her forehead. Reaching up to his head, he lifted a dark black fedora, revealing his light engulfing raven black hair underneath. After shaking his mane loose, he tossed the hat towards Scarlet. It landed on her head with a bounce before swallowing her down to the bottom of her eyes, effectively hiding most of her rosy colored mane.

"I want you to wear this from now on," Conroy spoke through his daughter's giggles. She explored the inside of the accessory as he continued, "Can you do me a favor or two, Scarlet?"

She used a hoof to lift the rim of the fedora high enough to completely see Conroy's face.

"I want you to remember what you said just now. I want you to never forget why you said it, okay?" He placed a hoof gently on the hat. "And I want you to wear this as a reminder of it."

She let the hat bounce back down over her head. Her grin stretched across her face. "Don't worry daddy, I won't forget it! Ever!"

=========

Present

Scarlet had the exact same hat resting in a single hoof as she showed it to Locks. It's strong black color had aged from wear and tear, and it lacked the luster that it brilliantly displayed when Conroy wore it years ago.

"I wouldn't expect any less from Justis," Locks remarked after Scarlet's small story. He took a long, drawn out drink from his mug. "Always one step ahead of the Agency. A real clever bastard."

Scarlet was unaffected by the phrase. Treating Locks' words as a complement was something she found to be more affective; The way he respected another pony, from her experience, was utterly based upon how often he insulted them, and the library of terms he used whenever Justis' name came up was simultaneously extensive and vulgar.

"He enjoyed coffee too, you know. Almost as much as you do, Detective."

"It wouldn't be a surprise if you worked in my unit. Don't you remember who it was that accepted me into the organization?"

"Right." Scarlet let out a sheepish laugh, "Dad's the reason you and I are even here right now."

"I think it worked out very well in the end, don't you?" Lock tossed several bits on the table near his dry mug. "His coffee fetish eventually dragged me in. Next thing I knew, I'm drinking up to ten mugs a day.

"Guess you can thank him for that curse," he playfully spat out.

"Detective", Scarlet followed the colt as he pulled himself from their booth, "Can I ask you something?"

"Absolutely," he responded over the jingle of the front door.

"When I finally got accepted full-time, I stopped seeing my dad as often as I had during my internship," she tightened her black coat in response to the chilly, late afternoon breeze in the air. "When I wasn't there, what was he like?"

Locks turned to Scarlet in mid-walk with a devious smile. "He was a total slacker." Her shocked expression compelled him to continue, "As in, compared to Steele, I mean. His methods always felt surprisingly straightforward, and somewhat...lazy." Locks' stride dropped to a snail's pace. "Steele would have us seal off entire blocks of a crime scene and investigate every single last grain of dirt on the pavement. Justis? He'd stroll up to the witness, if any, and with a single line of questions, he'd make more progress than we could in the entire day dusting off pebbles." Locks quickly ran a hoof down his black forelock, "He'd even sneak out of an assignment every now and then to visit you. That's just how those two worked though. Steele analyzes everything under the sun except for the parties involved in a case. That was Justis' field of expertise."

"He always was good with others," Scarlet noted. Locks shook his head in contempt, coaxing her. "Isn't that what you meant, Detective?"

"Not exactly, but now that I actually think about it," Locks turned back to the direction of the Agency, "You grew up with him, so you've probably never noticed it."

"Would you care to explain, Locks?" Scarlet asked, the suspense grating to her patience.

Locks cleared his throat. "My pleasure. Recall basic pony biology, Scarlet. What's the difference between the major three categories?"

A pair of pegasi zoomed overhead at a blinding speed. Scarlet lifted her head to the sky, envying their raw ability of flight for a brief moment. The delivery mares disappeared beyond several buildings, heading north to the district housing the royal families.

"What makes each subspecies of pony distinguishable is the disposition of their magic...which is reflected by their biological features."

"Correct. Ponies born with wings and cloud manipulation, for example. Pegasus magic is manifested directly in their wings and hooves, hence their abilities to control the atmosphere. You also have other ponies, whose magic is concentrated completely into their horns. This concentration of magical energy allows them to cast simple spells that allow them to control their immediate environment in a plethora of ways. Enhancements, telekinesis, and alchemy are just some of the abilities that unicorns can master. It all goes into greater detail, of course, but these are just the basics we're establishing."

Scarlet nodded at his explanation. "101. Then there are the ponies like the two of us. Our magic is placed as an untraceable potency with earthly elements. Ponies focused in agriculture or seasons have testified to have the ability to "feel" a certain "language" of the land, which they say contributes to the success they have in their career paths. Locks, I understand all of this, so what does any of it have to do with my father?" Scarlet brought the conversation back full circle.

"Justis," Locks began, "you may not have really thought about it, but he's a special pony. No potency with agricultural businesses of any kind. I doubt he could even keep a single rose alive." Scarlet's narrowing eyes amused him as he continued, "My point is that he had zero potency with this "earth" element disposition. However, there's another area that earth ponies can understand that doesn't involve any type of agricultural foundation."

"Another disposition other than nature, Detective?"

"It'll make sense with a bit of practical thought, Scarlet. Ponies are a subsection of natural elements too, aren't they?"

"He was potent with...ponies?"

"Exactly. He had an aptitude with others because he could "feel" a language similar to farmers." Lock stretched his legs and neck to loosen himself up while he talked. "It became obvious to me during my induction. The way he'd handle a testimony was phenomenal."

"So he was an investigator with incredible speaking skills. What does-"

"Scarlet," Locks almost laughed, "He could "sense" the truth in ponies. It's why Steele valued him so much."

She stopped walking. "I don't-"

"You won't. That's what I mean," Locks interrupted, "You grew up with him." Locks' gaze suddenly felt distant, as if he was recalling a memory. "Talking with Justis always doubled as talking with a lie detecting spell. No matter how hard a pony tried to hide it, the truth always found a way to be pried from their very lips."

A long pause broke the conversation in half. Locks pondered, "Scarlet, did you ever get away with a fib as you grew up?"

Scarlet's fedora shuttered against the wind. "I've only ever tried once or twice, admittedly. My dad always destroyed my resolve before I could get it all out, though," she laughed.

"And that's why Justis was so valuable to the agency. That's something Steele himself personally informed me of." The light coated pony pulled his mane back and donned a fake angry expression. "Truth is synonymous with Justice."

Scarlet mocked the ridiculous impersonation with a laugh loud enough to grab nearby attention.

"Not good enough? It's reasonable. Comedy is not one of my elements-"

A hoof stuck itself to his lips, forcing him to cease the charade. He beamed underneath the appendage as silence filled the air once again. A deep rose and jaded green clashed against each other as Scarlet spoke.

"Relax, Locks. Now, can you escort me back to the office? No more of this talk for now."

Locks placed one of his own hooves on hers, moving it away from his mouth. "Scarlet Trace, it would be my pleasure," he bowed his head.

A silhouette of another pegasus swooped by overhead, the shadow stretching across the pavement with the descending sun suspended in the sky. A single brown feather waltzed with the wind before gracefully drifting towards the two. It landed gently in front of the pair, gathering their undivided attention. The two of them looked back towards the skies. A single, solitary pony with long, flowing dark hair hovered high above them. Her thick, brown coated legs and large body dropped quickly to the ground, her wings neatly tucked at her sides following her rough landing. Her royal purple eyes focused on the pair.

"Amethyst?" Scarlet called to her, the identity of the winged pony given away by the beautifully crafted silver shield adorning her flank. In hindsight, Scarlet couldn't help but notice there was something important missing from the pegasi's features. "Amy, where's your-"

A shrill, ear puncturing noise exploded from behind the couple. Scarlet jumped, spinning around in a panic with a yelp accompanying her shock. Her coat came undone, her heart racing and her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. Locks had been mostly unaffected by the ambush, fiddling with his ears to rid himself of the obnoxious ringing sound left by the shriek of a whistle.

"Jessica," Locks greeted without bothering to turn around. "Didn't think they'd send you too."

An eerie giggle confirmed the newcomer's identity. Scarlet shook at the sound of the familiar pony's creepy laugh, only just now realizing that her special fedora was missing from her head.

"Jess, give it back," she muttered with irritation smearing her demand.

Her black fedora spun circles in the air above the mare. It twirled around her long, sharp horn, teasingly gliding down her bright orange mane. Her forelock was swept to the side, dangling lifelessly from the edge of her head. The hat rolled on down her dark, pitch black coat before hovering right above her equally energy deficient tail. Her matching orange eyes mocked Scarlet's glare, her glistening smile garnering everypony's attention. The sunlight reflected off of a familiar small trinket wrapped around her neck. A small, silver whistle jingled with each of Jessica's tiny movements. The magic surrounding the helpless accessory faded, leaving the fedora to land directly on her flank.

"You want it? Come and get it, baby," Jessica taunted her while swaying her behind in front of Scarlet. The detective grimaced, a free hoof trying to create room between her face and Jessica's rump.

Locks gave her a long stare. "Steele sent you, didn't he? I'm positive that fooling around while on the job is going to upset him."

"Hah!" Jess laughed, the hat springing back to life. It spun around the entire group. "Blowing off some steam is exactly what the old man needs to do," the hat landed right on her head, "I'm doing him a service."

"I find our jobs more pleasant to deal with without him screaming in my ear," Locks tried to convince her.

"Besides," Jessica ignored him, "If playing with a hat is avoiding my work, then what would you call this?" She hummed obnoxiously amongst the pair as her mind went over the millions of possibilities. "Ahh," she practically moaned, "Now THIS is interesting. Scarlet, baby, I didn't think you were into the stiffs."

She moved uncomfortably close to Scarlet's body, Jessica's face rubbing up against the side of her own. Scarlet twitched at the contact, stopping only to realize that her hat was within grabbing distance. She used the chance and shot a hoof out towards her back, snagging the hat in her hooves before retreating towards the ever silent Amethyst.

"Whoa there," Jess smoothly called, "Take me out to a nice dinner first, Scarlet."

"We were off duty," Locks changed the subject, "There's nothing Steele can-"

"There's ALWAYS something Steele can get you for, Locks," Jessica noted. She trotted blissfully to the front of the party. A sudden burst of wind indicated that Amethyst had taken flight to guide them back to the office. Scarlet held onto her fedora to prevent another theft, her jacket flapped viciously as the gust the pegasus created ran through the material.

Locks flicked his tail. "That may be true, but truancy won't be one of those reasons. I'd suggest you and Amy take us back before his patience completely fizzles out."

The whistle wrapped around Jessica jumped to life, rocketing off of her body and landing perfectly around Amethyst's neck. With a soft blow of her beloved whistle, Amy led the small group back to the office.

"It looks much better on her anyways," Jessica commented. "And don't you worry about Steele, Locky. I can deal with him however I please. I'm the only one that knows how the old timer ticks."

Scarlet shuddered at her ghostly voice. Jessica Scrawl was the jokester of the Agency, always ignoring orders and fooling around with client and agent alike. That unsettling look the dark colored unicorn would give her fellow employees, colt or mare, gave Scarlet the impression of a hungry succubus. Her advances on Scarlet herself were especially awkward, the harassment never failed to test her nerves.

One problem with the entire deal involving Jessica would be her incredible skill set. Steele refused, time and time again, to fire the mischievous imp for a certain set of reasons. Scarlet herself could never pull much information from the spooky jester, but if Locks' own research held any merit, Jess' only recorded history prior to her employment was her connection to the royal families living in northern Canterlot.

An uncontrollable enigma, and probably one of the best scribes Scarlet had ever met in her life, the talent imprinted on her black flank. It was a simple picture of a sharp ended pencil, scribbling desperately on a blank scroll. Every inch of the Agency was an archive of records from past missions, including witness reports, testimonies, incredibly detailed sketches of clues and settings, as well as mug shots of suspected ponies. All had been done by Scrawl's will. Jessica's magical prowess always astounded Scarlet; watching her sketch, note, and transcribe interviews all at the same time always bewildered the detective.

Jessica's body bounced with each step, her form an endless tank of energy. It contrasted greatly with the dead weight her mane and tail dragged in each individual strand, save for the rich color that matched her irises. She turned around, feeling Scarlet's presence crawling on her skin. A sparkling smile bathed Scarlet in uncertainty as Jessica turned back to the road in front of them.

What really scared the detective about this mysterious mare was her mastery of a specific unicorn spell. She had never seen it herself, since they rarely worked together, but those who were unfortunate enough to be besides Jessica in the field compared her to a specter.

"She'd disappear from plain sight. There's no way at all to detect her," Scarlet recalled one stallion note after a single night with Jess. This, coupled with her devious behavior, especially towards Scarlet and Steele, always put Scarlet on edge.

Amethyst held a constant vigil on the pack down below. She bounced about in the air slowly, matching the ground pony's pace perfectly. Her capabilities in the sky were always the last thing in the group for Scarlet to doubt, right behind Locks' skills out in the field.

Amethyst was an interesting pony that Scarlet had met on the first day of her job. She had two jobs for the Agency: She spent a majority of her time protecting the building with several other guards. Having wings really helped her out for the position, giving her an easy method in which to circle the structure with ease. It was a simple job, one that didn't require much active thought, considering that so much of the general populace of Canterlot refused to tread nearby. In the case that an intruder ever did, and the record shows, break into the Agency for any reason, Amethyst would be the first to alert the entire block.

The silver whistle wrapped around her neck jingled, a soft sheen reflected off of its polished surface. Her giant wings kept Amethyst afloat under the clouds, low enough for her to survey the group from a safe and reliable distance. Her whistle was the key. When blown ferociously, as Jessica demonstrated, it made a shrill, ear piercing noise. Used in combination with her flight and maneuverability, it made her perfect for immediately alerting the ground soldiers. Even without the rest of the policing force of the Agency, Amethyst had also proven throughout her history that she was fully capable of handling a challenge solo.

Her body build wasn't exactly voluptuous like Jessica's. She was built strong and fortified, akin to a sturdy brick wall, while still managing to hold a firm grasp on the curves that made her out as the mare that she was. Her hair flowed freely in the wind, long and winding down near the lower half of her forelegs. Her light brown coat was smooth, made aerodynamic from the numerous flights she had taken through the years of her employment. Her wings, for that matter, were incredibly powerful and large, with an endurance and determination mightier than the raw strength she could charge into a well spaced buck.

Amethyst's hawk-eyes scanned the area down below. The wind kicked her forelock into her muzzle, but her determination to relocate her pack refused to falter. She spun around, balancing herself as she peered to the gray sidewalk. She spotted Jessica's color scheme several wing flaps behind. She bobbed in place like a lure in a lake while the party down below caught up to her hurried pace. Scarlet was shying away from another advance from the joker, while Locks kept mostly to himself, trying his best to ignore Jess' antics. Amethyst broke face, letting her lips curl up before shaking the smirk off her face.

Her second job was of a questionable difficulty, but something she seemed to enjoy the most in her line of work. The whistle on her neck was fantastic at alerting others during the investigation of a crime scene. Not all suspects preferred to play mental cat and mouse games with Locks, Scarlet, or the other handful of detectives on the job. Runners were a fairly common occurrence, and Amethyst was the number one pony on the job to hunt them down from the skies. Like a Griffon, she prowled above the clouds, hunting down her prey when they were unfortunate enough to fall into her line of vision.

Her whistle made the perfect tracking system. It informed the ground troops where the culprit had dashed off to, giving them ample time to regroup and pinpoint the runner's location. She quickly learned of another use for the clever weapon, it functioned as a perfect panic button for those who went into hiding. Ponies too anxious to escape wouldn't be able to contain themselves as the alarm drew closer to their hiding place, drowning them out and back into the open, where the chase would continue for as long as they desired: Amethyst's endurance was still a wonder begging for discovery to the organization. During her entire career, she had yet to completely lose track of the perpetrator.

The troupe still hadn't caught up. With a free hoof, she lifted the whistle to her mouth and bit down to keep it in place. Realizing that their attention wasn't on her, she locked her lips around the instrument before screeching down at the trio. Their pace sped up, indicating that the message was well received.

Amethyst was powerful, protective, and dedicated to her job. It was as if she was designed to be a bodyguard unrivaled by any other. The color of her eyes matched her name, glowing with an ethereal aura that permeated nearly everypony that met her face to face.

With another whistle, she hurried the group along, the three below responding by speeding up into a full trot. Scarlet's coat flapped wildly against the wind, the ends of her coat slapping against the edge of her flank. Her cutie mark continued to flash in and out of eyesight during what was now their gallop. Amethyst pulled out further ahead, still blowing her whistle to alert the pack.

Scarlet tightened her coat with her mouth, getting a quick glance back at her cutie mark. She couldn't remember a single time that she hadn't had her mark, not even as a young filly. Another memory was recalled from her younger days.

Special ponies came around from time to time. The media would cover their ability, trick, or whatever it was that made them stand out above the rest. Though she never truly knew how it felt growing up, her parents eventually shared several saved newspaper clippings and pictures from articles dated back to her immediate birth. One picture in particular was engraved into her mind as a priceless memory: Her mother, exhausted but beaming with glee, holding her tiny baby daughter in her hoofs. The wrappings that once held Scarlet together were tossed aside, sprawled out along the leg rest of a chair that Justis was standing next to. The two parents stared at their child with warm, unguarded smiles, the newborn resting peacefully in her mother's arms.

It was there at birth, ready and waiting for the world to see. She had a cutie mark, the very image she wore proudly at present. It was an event that, at the time, stunned the world. For weeks, nothing but harassment followed her parents around, proving difficult for Conroy and her mother to work and support the young Scarlet.

She always figured that this unwanted popularity- of course, she had to admit that it was intriguing for the time; it was history in the making for many ponies- was the prime reason that her father moved the family from Manehatten to Canterlot before she even knew how to walk. It had to be the only logical conclusion that Scarlet could manage to think of. Conroy was a famous sleuth by that time, employment was always the last issue on their family's mind. He'd find a job without much problem regardless of where they wound up.

Scarlet didn't get the chance to let her thoughts wander any further. The sounds of the doors to the Agency creaking open snapped her back to reality. Amethyst stopped above them, perching on a walkway placed on the roof of the building. She looked down at Scarlet, her expression emotionless, before waving a hoof to hurry her into the Agency. The detective pony sighed, putting on a grin before following up behind Locks.

The doors swung open with an ominous creak, the lack of music and lighting proof that the party had moved on elsewhere. Alcohol and a peculiar, heated scent mixed together in a snout cringing blend that forced Scarlet's hoof over her nose. Jessica's coat worked as a camouflage with the setting, her hair and eyes the only traits that kept her somewhat visible in the darkness. The hum of a magic spell caught Scarlet's attention, Jess' horn pulsing with a faint purple aura.

"You lovebirds have a date with Steele," her voice cooed while she started a shoddy cleanup effort. "The old geezer is waiting for you in his office."

Scarlet looked over to Locks, nodding for him to lead the way to the hallway ahead. The sounds of a haunting tune Jessica sung faded as they approached the entrance to the hall.

The Agency had a very easy layout to navigate. Directly behind the front door was the main room. The murky gray walls were hidden away behind the seemingly endless rows of bookcases that wrapped around the room. The workspace in the center was completely box-shaped, with desks neatly lined up for use by all of the employees. File cabinets had been placed against the back walls on each side of the main hall, copies of various common case files stored for a quick and easy reference guide whenever needed. On either the left or the right of the room were additional hallways designed with pictures of the finest workers throughout history that the Agency had to offer. The offices placed in these halls belonged to group managers or detectives a tier higher than those that worked in the main hall. Other rooms, like lounges or bathrooms, filled up the void at the end of each of these hallways.

A staircase spiraled upward to the second floor from the end of either hall. The second story to the structure deviated very little in appearance or function from the first floor. The stretching out halls of the second story mirrored the first floor perfectly, as well as the main room. The center hallway exposed in the back of the main hall for the second floor, however, was meant only for the patrol officers. Their own special lounge was housed in the back of this hall, and a staircase leading to the roof of the building worked as a secondary entrance for the Agency's pegasi. Ideally, most of them were placed on the second floor because of this additional entrance.

The hall Scarlet and Locks walked down was barren of doors, pictures, and furniture. The stale, graying walls stretched towards the other end of the building, opening up and revealing a row of doors, five in total, lined up in a row in a large area.

The two doors on the furthest ends of the room belonged to the top detectives currently employed at the agency. In this case, and with their records, Scarlet and Locks both owned one of these offices. Scarlet's office, which was on the left, was situated right next to another door with large, attention grabbing letters above the handle that read, "Jessica Scrawl".

The office next to Locks' had become vacant, and belonged to the company vice president. Above the handle, in modest lettering, the name "Conroy Justis" had yet to be removed. In the dead center of the row, the final door, belonged the office of none other than the leader of the Agency: President Steele.

Scarlet took a deep breath, expecting a quick yet painful verbal beating from her boss. He was vicious, generally unforgiving, and a colt whom she believed valued the dignity of the Agency over all else, including its workforce. He was notorious for letting ponies go, even some of the finest, off of minor code violations.

Celestia help you if you ever locked eyes with that monster.

Locks raised a hoof and tapped twice on the wooden barrier. A gruff, tired voice was heard on the other end, the exact words muffled by the thickness of the door.

"Come in," the voice invited, giving the detectives the green light to enter his office. Their boss' domain was cramped. Much like the main room, the walls were covered by a series of filing cabinets and bookcases. A sleek, brown desk housed several piles of stacked paper work, and a large ink bottle with a stained quill. A dark, purple curtain covered a large window that hung over the back wall, blocking out the light from outside. A series of chirps from the crickets near the window confirmed that the sun had finally given way to the rising moon.

A fairly large colt stood behind the desk. His coat was a cold, icy gray color, with a mane and tail stained white by his unforgiving age. His hair was in a dreadful condition, his worn down appearance emphasized by the huge sacs under his faded green eyes. Across his neck was a bright white collar that clashed against his coat's scheme, with a deep red neck tie hanging right underneath his chest. On his flank was an image of a manila folder, cramped with a pile of papers. Next to this intimidating creature was a familiar black unicorn, merrily scribbling away on a roll of parchment. Scarlet noticed the seal of Princess Celestia on the note. It then dawned on her that somehow, Jessica managed to reach Steele before either she or Locks could.

She felt uneasy recalling Scrawl's stealth skills. Unless there was some secret to the way the building worked, the only way for Jessica to have reached the boss was to sneak by the two ponies and dart into the office, which would be impossible since the door never opened before they had done so.

In hindsight, it shouldn't have been so surprising to her. Jessica was an age old veteran here at the Agency. Scarlet could only conclude that Jess had lurked the entire building at one point or another. With the exception of Steele, and perhaps Amethyst, Jessica probably knew the foundation of the building better than anypony else.

"...Well being of the Agency, I will do all within' my authority to ensure that the issue is resolved completely," the same voice continued from before.

Jessica looked back at Steele. "Excellent sir. Now sign here," she presented the levitating scroll to her boss.

He grabbed the quill from Jess' grasp, quickly jotting his signature on the parchment. "Now send it."

"At once, Mr. Steele," Jessica saluted sarcastically. Using her magic, Jess rolled up the letter and floated it right next to the curtain. Steele only had time to brace himself before the roll fired through the curtain as if shot from a cannon, ripping through the fabric and shattering the closed window. The whistle the roll of paper made as it whirled through the air silenced the insects outside.

"Get the hell out of my office," Steele growled at the gremlin after a short pause, her giggling all that could be heard from the mare skipping away into the main hall. Her figure quickly vanished into the stretched out walkway.

The weak lighting from the firefly lamp hanging from the ceiling shimmered. Steele looked at the fresh hole in the window and sighed, walking to the front of his desk to avoid stepping on any glass that may have fallen into his office. He looked over to his two most prized detectives, his irritation with Jessica not giving the couple a good foundation to start on with their boss.

"I called you clowns in over two hours ago," he began.

Scarlet tried to reply, "I can explain sir. We-"

"I snuck Scarlet out during the festivities, Mr. Steele. Responsibility for our tardiness is on my hooves, not hers."

Steele lets his mind wander, giving the ponies some time to breathe. "Nice try, maggot," he blurted, "Scarlet has a brain. She consented to your invitation to leave the office. Responsibility for your actions belongs evenly to the both of you."

Locks snorted at his failed attempt to lessen the blow on the mare. "My apologies, sir."

"Mr. Steele, forgive us for being late. I had just completed my assignment. I didn't consider the possibility that you'd call us in so soon."

Steele's voice was already rising. "It's an occurrence, 'Detectives'," he emphasized the last word, "Having me sit here and wait for you to get back is a waste of MY time. I don't give a damn that either of you managed to complete your cases today."

'Locks finished his case?!' Scarlet thought to herself, stealing a quick glance at the light blue pony next to her. 'He just started it yesterday!'

"If the two of you weren't personally affiliated with Conroy, I'd have kicked your sorry flanks to the curb for this. This company has zero tolerance for ponies who like to loaf about. Consider it your only warning."

Just then, a whistle chirped in through the hole in the window. The beating of giant wings could be made out as well, the gust they kept summoning forth causing the curtain to drift. The whistle called again, not frantically, but enough to grab Steele's attention.

Their boss cringed, still staring straight at Scarlet and Locks. "Everything's okay, Amethyst. Scrawl just decided to donate half of her paycheck to the Agency."

Scarlet winced at the punishment. Jess loved getting those nice, fat checks that Steele dished out biweekly to his top employees. She wasn't the type of pony Scarlet wanted to be around ever, but seeing Scrawl angry was something she never dreamed to entertain. Another whistle from outside came in through the gap, much softer than before.

"No one's hurt," Steele replied as if he understood, "Now get back to your post before I write up an occurrence for you too."

Amethyst's whistle rang quickly before she took off, the curtain finally dropping back to its stationary position.

"Scarlet. Locks," Steele cleared his throat, "There's only ever one reason I've ever had to call you to my office. The two of you have new assignments to deal with." He walked back to his desk, careful of fragments of glass. In the center drawer, he pulled out two thin manila folders, placing them on the table and waving the detectives over.

"You two have been in this Agency for how long now?"

Scarlet's voice was uneasy, "Uh...including our internship, sir?"

"The better half of a decade, if my memory is correct, Mr. Steele," Locks answered mechanically.

"Correct, Locks. You've both been around long enough to understand the intricacies of the Agency. Do I need to inform either of you what this symbol means?" His hoof tapped on one of the folders. Their eyes traced where his hoof pointed, right on the tab. There, in plain sight, was the same insignia that was on the roll of parchment from earlier.

Locks' eyes jolted for just a moment. "The Seal of Princess Celestia, sir."

"Exactly. And what cases do we have here in the Agency that have this symbol?"

Scarlet was beginning to understand what Steele was planning. "Un...unsolved case files, sir," she stammered out.

"Scarlet. Locks. You two have seen some of the most difficult cases that have come to our doorstep in the last ten years. Some of them you personally have worked on. It took this Agency a ton of effort and thousands of financial resources to get through all that you've witnessed until today.

"Having said that, I feel that the time has come to finally put your skills to good use," he tapped on the folder to the left, next to Scarlet. "These two cases were hand chosen by both Princess Celestia and I for the two of you to attempt to solve." He pushed the folder over to Scarlet, who eyeballed the digits on the tab next to the symbol. "Scarlet, I'm assigning you Case #075-283."

Locks expression froze as the number registered in his mind. His head suddenly burned red hot, his eyes flaring in the spur of the moment. He quickly took control over his emotion with a heavy gulp, letting Steele finish.

"The entirety of the assignment requires a 'Dedicated Full Scene Investigation, Scarlet. You're required to take immediate action concerning the case starting tomorrow. You are to relay any information to me via messenger pegasi, magic delivery, or if available, dragon mail. Do I make myself clear?'

"D-dedicated...Full Scene Investigation...right, understood Mr. Steele," Scarlet barely managed to say. The term was easy to understand. All it meant was that the case occurred somewhere outside of Canterlot, in a region inconvenient to travel back and forth to. She was required to set up a location to treat as her central office, and stay within that boundary until the mission is complete. Only for relevant case information was anypony allowed to move beyond those borders.

She quickly glanced over the first page of the file, Jessica's writing detailing the summary of the case. "Ponyville? My mission is in Ponyville?" Scarlet's surprise momentarily washed away her anxiety. A peaceful small suburban area like that was the last place a crime should take place in. The mayor case she had just solved was the first instance in years of any occurring activity.

"Of course," Steele replied, "That's where the assignment originates from. Read the summary to understand."

Scarlet's eyes flew through the document. It was a simple case, which struck her odd that it had gone unsolved for so long: It was a "missing pony" assignment, the difficulty of the mission was displayed by the date it was created. The case had gone unsolved for decades.

'Whoever this pony is, they've been able to hide themselves incredibly well,' Scarlet thought while blazing through the thin file. 'No records. No name. No occupation, no description. The only evidence of disappearance is a sudden drop of a single pony value in the Annual Equestrian Population Census.'

Several dozen signatures were at the bottom of the first page, which Scarlet had briefly returned to. The names written here were the names of those ponies from the past who had taken control of this case- and failed to solve it. Reading off the names of many big name ponies of yesteryear, Scarlet couldn't help but freeze at the final one:

"Conroy Justis" was written in plain sight at the very bottom of the document.

Steele cleared his throat. "I want to make one thing very, very clear, you two. This job has the potential to be very dangerous, and the Agency cannot be liable for anything that may happen to you guys if something goes wrong.” Scarlet and Locks felt the tension in the room thicken, “Because of the gravity of this scenario, I’m making this mission optional. It’s your decision to take these files open yourselves.”

Locks immediately responded, “I’ll take on any mission you assign to me, sir.”

Scarlet looked away, hesitating before she responded, “Yes, Mr. Steele. I accept the case.”

“Very good, detectives,” he looked towards Scarlet, “Do you have any questions before your deployment, Trace?"

Scarlet looked back in his general direction. "I...I understand the assignment sir. I'll leave in the morning."

The young mare's mind was racing wild. 'Ponyville? A pony missing that not even dad could find? This can't be the same case...that...' She shook her head, tilting the fedora over her eyes to hide her emotion. 'Maybe I'll talk to mom about this before I head out.'

"One more thing," Steele halted her from leaving, "Ponyville isn't renowned for its living space, and there aren't any hotels in that area that are close enough to be considered DFSI. However, we found you a temporary post for the duration of your mission. The local town librarian volunteered to house you in her living space. She's already been informed of your arrival by the royal family."

"Ponyville librarian?" Scarlet pondered. The archive in her brain didn't take long to identify the pony in question. "The Element of Magic?"

Steele ignored her question. "Good luck, rookie. You have all the time in the world to complete this case. Don't let the Agency down."

Scarlet dropped her head before making a quiet exit from the room, shutting the door behind it.

Locks made sure to give Scarlet plenty of time to leave. A quick succession of hoof steps approached Steele. A light blue hoof grabbed Steele from his desk, pulling him around before shoving him into the nearest filing cabinet. Papers stacked on the cabinet trembled before falling over from the impact. Locks' hoof kept Steele trapped between the files and his wrath.

"What in the world is wrong with you?" Locks' asked. Though his eyes and body trembled with rage, his voice was still as smooth and as calm as when he was back at the cafe.

"Locks," Steele's voice was incredibly thick with irritation, "Do you realize what you're doing?"

"What I'm doing right now isn't important, sir," Locks eyed the closed door, "I'm more concerned with the possibility that you lack a soul. Just what the hell are you thinking?"

"So you're aware of the case too, huh?"

"Didn't you see her face?" Locks pulled Steele by the tie before slamming him against the cabinet again. "Everypony knows that case number! What kind of a pony are you, sir? This is sick!"

"Locks. You don't know what you're doing," Steele told him, "Stand down. Immediately."

"Give her case to me. NOW."

"Locks," Steele warned him, "STAND. DOWN." He looked into Locks' red eyes with a heart piercing gaze. "Do NOT forget your place here." With a grunt, Steele managed to shove Locks off of him. Locks backed away, and though his glare was weaker now, the fury in his gaze refused to fade.

"The Princess and I chose these missions for a reason. Rest assured, Locks, that I'm not doing this as a kind of twisted prank."

"Then give her case to me! I can't understand why she's the one who has to deal with...HIS work."

"Trust me Locks," he straightened his collar and tie as if the confrontation never happened. He reproached his desk and tapped on Locks' folder, "We've heavily considered our options."

Hesitating, Locks reached out and took the document. He opened it up and began to read his summary. "Sir, I don't understand. Case #587-847? That case doesn't even exist."

"It does now," Steele commented, tapping the folder again.

Two distinct signatures adorned the list of previously assigned detectives. Locks' almost stopped breathing when he read the names. "Steele...and Princess Celestia?"

"Too many factors interrupted the royal family and I in solving this case, Locks. It's difficult to handle when your best resource runs a nation, and you're too busy trying to train hundreds of rookies at the same time." Steele approached the young detective, "However, these two cases I've assigned are unique. The Princess and I don't quite understand it yet, but we believe there's a significant link between the two. We feel that the further you two manage to progress in the assignments, the more possible it will be for the answers to be uncovered for at least one of these mysteries."

He tapped Locks on the shoulder before turning off the lights. The room was covered in almost complete darkness now, save for a weak light from the shattered window. "You will stay here in Canterlot for this mission," Steele continued while grabbing a nearby suitcase, "I want you to follow the same protocol as Scarlet. I will personally be analyzing the data you send my way during your investigations, and will be presenting my information to the Princess herself for discussion."

"I understand sir, but," Locks closed the folder and looked in the direction of Steele's voice.

"What's the problem, Locks?"

The young colt's eyes narrowed, "Mr. Steele...this case is a murder investigation."

"And...?"

"Conroy Justis was not murdered..."

Author's Notes:

Hello. I'm a fairly new author around here, and I'm just throwing my little story into the swarm here. I'm still kinda fresh at this whole setup, so if there's issues or errors, I'll be more than glad to patch up what I can and improve on future chapters.

Please leave any feedback you have. I thrive off of it, and I can only improve with constructive criticism. I'd definitely appreciate anything you readers have that you can throw at me.

The first two chapters will be released simultaneously, so Chapter 2 should be readily available right after this one. It'll have the same Author's Note, more or less. I'll be doing what I can to pump out chapters on a consistent basis, so check back once in a while. I'll be doing my best to issue release dates for each individual piece, but I won't have anything concrete until after I get back to work from publishing these first two.

Either way, here's to a hopeful start of a story I've been workin' on. Cheers!

- Garnet Rose

103: Independant Inquiry

Shadows, drawn by the cloud coverage, engulfed the entire city of Canterlot. The sun's heat and delicate light were rejected by the weather control work , several stray, gray stratus blanketed the sky thanks to the dedicated team of pegasi. The strips hovered slowly over the city, ominously traveling through at a sloth's pace. Pockets occasionally leaking sunlight were patched up with additional fluff.

Scarlet clenched her eyes shut, groaning and begging her body to return to the comfort of sleep. Her hoof reluctantly reached to her side, feeling for the clock that buzzed relentlessly in her ears. It flopped onto the alarm, smacking it hard enough to silence the noise. She had time for a final moan before tossing the sheets off, rolling over to the edge of her small bed. The tiny, one pony mattress squeaked with each movements.

Rubbing her eyes helped her adjust to the dim lighting of her room in the gloomy morning. She slipped out of her bed and landed on all fours, stretching out her legs one by one before heading straight to the shower.

The pipes whined as her hoof twisted the faucets, giving her the queue to step inside. The alarmingly cold water sent synapses flooding through her body. She clenched her teeth, waiting to adapt to the bone chilling temperature. She paused for a brief sigh as she finally adjusted, her mind recapping what had happened the other day. Scarlet stepped directly underneath the showerhead and watched her mane and tail droop straight down from the added weight of the water.

'An assignment that dad never finished,' she remembered reading the unmistakable signature. She recalled a time before Conroy's disappearance, right before becoming a full time agent.

'He went to Ponyville for a week, I remember, but,' Scarlet thought while she recalled the information from the case file. 'I have a hard time believing that he found absolutely nothing. Clues, statements, something should be in the file, but it's completely blank.'

She reached for a bottle resting on the floor of the tub. Her body mechanically ran a squeeze of rose scented shampoo into her mane, using her hooves to create a creamy lather. 'The Equestrian Population Census is the only indication of a pony going missing. It's an annual mandatory head count of everypony living in Equestria. Nopony ever left the region without being marked, and as a safety measure, the consensus ensures that the numbers were kept under constant vigil.

'There's no known way to be removed from the list, but the Equestrian Census also doesn't go into complete detail on its own. That's left to the individual cities and towns. If a number from Ponyville dropped without warning, then the city census would have the actual identity. He wouldn't go to Ponyville for any other reason for a case like that...'

Her crimson hair was riddled with leftover suds that clung to several strands after a quick rinse. Scarlet ran a stray hoof down her forelock several times, letting the shower head slowly work its way through her mane. Her coat shimmered as the water reflected the dim lighting of the bathroom, a quick flick of her tail tossing water whichever way it pleased against the tiled wall and the shower curtain. She helped herself to another deep breath when the last of the formula ran down the drain.

The shower knob squeaked to a stop, a soaked Scarlet shook herself dry before pulling the curtain open. The more she considered the available information, the more confused she became about the problem.

'It's too easy. Everything’s laid out for me, I just have to go and get it,' a stray hoof grasped both her toothbrush and toothpaste situated near the sink, and started to scrub away. 'Then why is it classified as an unsolved case? How come he couldn't figure it out?' She rinsed her mouth out, rubbing her tongue along her cleaned teeth in the mirror before returning to her room.

Her fedora hung on her bedpost. She stared at it momentarily before plopping it over her moist hair. 'There's something strange that I'm unaware of. I hope it becomes clear when I head into Ponyville. All of these thoughts are useless right now.' On her nightstand was a small necklace, down the center hung a useable magnifying glass. Tossing it over her head, and quickly grabbing her coat with the file tucked neatly inside, she exited her tiny apartment.

'Steele probably sent the equipment over to Ponyville already,' she shut the door behind her. After the lock clicked in place, she tucked the key into another pocket on her coat, 'I still need to go and visit mom before I take off...'

==========

"The weather has everyone down and tired. That'd explain why it's so packed today," Locks commented in an aggravated tone. "Everyone wants a drink. It's already late in the morning, and I've only had two mugs."

The cafe was stuffed with ponies at the hour, lines of weary colts and droop mares swarmed the small shop. The smell of the roast was powerful, a heavenly aroma for the aficionado. He took a small drink from his cup, disappointed that the dark gold remaining had been completely drained in a single gulp. He placed it back on the table next to his own folder.

"I don't even want to talk to you right now," he joked to the file. "Can't make heads or tails of this insanity. Murder?" Locks looked around for a waiter, "What murder?" The workers scrambled frantically around the shop, unprepared for the compulsive volume of the brunch rush.

The folder went against everything he was told about that dreadful day. Locks couldn't believe it the moment his eyes shot through the text. It completely contradicted everything he was told by the royal family. Everything the Agency had so surely confirmed.

Everything Scarlet and her mother cried for.

==========

Years Ago

"Locks, head up," a colt with a dark blue coat and jaded green eyes ordered.

The savvy intern bolted awake at his supervisor's voice. A pack of worksheets were spread out below him, numerous reports that he had yet to complete. He shook his head and looked up to his boss.

"My apologies, Detective Justis, I haven't had much sleep lately," Locks explained, looking over to his empty white mug in a daze.

"Relax, detective. Let's just consider it a verbal," Conroy pat him on the shoulder. His hoof was strangely cold to the touch. "Go walk around, get some blood flowing through your body. I made another brew in the lounge too, so don't be afraid to help yourself.

As Locks stood up to take the wise suggestion, he caught sight of Conroy heading to the front door. He quickly caught up to his mentor, confused and groggy.

"Detective Justis, where are you going? I don't recall our team having any assignments issued for today."

He turned around slowly, giving Locks a warm smile. His eyes focused intensely on his student, sizing him up for what seemed like an eon, "Locks, let me ask you something. Pony to pony and off the records," he extended a hoof over to another desk on the other end of the main hall.

Two familiar mares stood behind the desk. The pale, white coated pony with deep red hair reiterated a report to the other. The quill froze, suspended by the enchantment the younger Jessica had cast on it. Scarlet reached for it, grabbing it with her mouth and signing the bottom of the document.

Justis stifled a quiet laugh when Scarlet tried giving the quill back to Jess. It stuck to her lips, gripping her muzzle with the help of a potent adhesive. Jessica's devilish grin exploded into a quick round of giddy cackles before fading away towards Steele's office. The document hung in the air before rolling itself up and following in tow. Scarlet tugged at the quill before it finally gave way, spinning through the air. It landed in Scarlet's wastebasket with a hollow clank. She looked over towards Locks and Justis, waving with a nervous, yet radiant smile at her dad before running to the washroom.

"Did you see that, Locks?" Conroy continued.

"See what exactly, sir?"

"Scarlet, Locks. Did you see her smile?"

"Yes sir."

"I'm still trying to understand why she does it," Conroy lied to the young colt.

Locks paused, surprised by his teacher's mood, "Sir, ponies smile when they're happy."

He turned to Locks. "So she's happy, according to you. Makes enough sense. How about you? Are you happy, detective?"

"With regards to what, sir?"

"Your career."

"Well," he thought, "I don't smile like Scarlet does, but that's something I'd consider a personality trait over a problem. However, I do find a certain sense of satisfaction when I work here."

"Sleep here."

Locks looked back to the hall. "Sorry, sir. Detective Justis, is there something wrong?"

Conroy shook his head in response. "No. I'm just letting my mind wander. I'm going to get some fresh air."

Locks had never seen Conroy so scatterbrained before. Justis opened the front door, letting in a freezing winter breeze through the main hall. The older colt looked back into the Agency, spotting a cleaned Scarlet back at work at her desk with the same smile on her face. She looked up at him, and upon realizing that he was leaving, waved him a good-bye with her free hoof.

"Watch the group for me, Locks," Conroy ordered while waving back to Scarlet. "She enjoys it here...Guess that's all that there ever was to it." The door shut behind him with a definitive bang.

==========

Locks was busy working back at his personal desk. Hours had passed since his short chat with Conroy, and the stack of files was nearly nonexistent. His scribbling echoed in the emptied hall, most of the employees already gone for the day, and many of the lights had been shut off. He didn't notice the hoofsteps inching closer to his work space.

"Enjoy your nap earlier?" Scarlet asked him.

"It set me a little behind, and got me in a bit of trouble with your dad," Locks signed another sheet and placed it in a thin compartment in his desk, "but I still got everything done."

"Good. It's late already, and I'd like it if somepony walked with me back home."

Locks cleaned up his area with the impatient mare pacing back and forth near the entrance. "You sure you can't go with Jessica tonight?"

Scarlet shivered at the thought. "Absolutely not. She'd turn it into a date."

Almost on queue, the pony of the hour burst through Steele's office down the hall, her boss immediately following suit. The two frantically rushed past the interns at a blinding speed, the front doors mechanically flung open from Jessica's magic. A sharp, constant tweet carried over from above, rapidly traveling in the direction of the two runners. Scarlet looked at Locks with a curious glance before they chased into the night, following Amethyst's signature alarm.

Canterlot was built resting against a set of mountains; aside from pegasi landing spots in a series of clouds above the grand city, there were only three entrances. Running along the south and east entrance to the region, coming from up in the mountains, was a large river. The winter weather froze sections of the river and slowed the current to a crawl as it dragged down into the land.

A walkway leading to the North eventually came up to a bridge suspended over a large gap, the river running steadily underneath during most of the year. It was an alternative scenic route that lead to the royal lots. An open chariot shining with a golden luster burned across the stone bridge. White pegasi with gold-plated armor pulled the cart in haste, being wary of their precious cargo as they galloped. The sounds of a whistle further down the mountain traced their path, pointing at a spot at the base of the incline on the outer barrier of the city. The colts quickly shouted commands behind them before lifting into the sky, making a beeline for the marked spot.

Amethyst's whistle fell silent, forcing Locks and Scarlet to a halt. The icy air burned at their lungs as they searched for any sign of their missing comrades.

"Locks," Scarlet pointed, "Up there!"

Above the pair and towards the river, they spotted an airborne chariot, coated by the shroud of darkness manifested by Luna's night.

"Princess...Celestia?" Locks guessed by the large silhouette sitting on the carriage. Her flowing mane and large stature were staple attributes of her figure. Locks tore through the hill the princess descended behind, the sounds of voices and the slush of the winter river creeping over the apex. He could hear Scarlet's hooves pounding at the ground right behind him.

A dozen ponies were gathered around a central area, surrounding a spot right off of the riverbank. Steele stood just outside of the circle, talking with the large figure from the chariot. His face was strained and his voice was shaking, failing to mask the painful drag in his tone.

Jessica was eerily quiet. Her smile was absent, and her horn flowed with powerful energy as both a sketchpad and a notepad furiously swung around in the air above her. She darted from pony to pony in a circle near the river bank, pages of transcript and images stacking up as she questioned the swarm with a level of concentration that Locks had never seen before.

Steele caught a glimpse of the two interns, bowing to the princess before dashing over to them. He stood his ground, blocking their path towards the crowd.

"We came when we heard the whistle," Locks reported, Scarlet tried to peek over her boss. Locks spotted hesitation in Steele's posture: he was physically shaking, a sight that didn't fail to stir up his curiosity.

"Scarlet, come with me," Steele ordered her, waving towards the direction of the princess. Celestia stood her ground, her expression solemn yet her form unwavering. Steele and Scarlet hastily made their way over and bowed to the large alicorn, beginning a conversation that was blocked out by the distance between them and Locks.

He used the opportunity to head into the crowd, working his way around several of the larger colts that had scrambled around. Wheels screamed into the night, a bright white carriage sprinting off road towards them.

Jessica was still buzzing, pulling a stationary guard from the Agency aside to interview, giving Locks the room he needed to break through the ring.

A soaked, black mane was drying off on the floor. A trail of flattened, icy grass led from the water's edge towards the still figure on the ground. His eyes were closed, his body motionless and cold. The dark blue coat shimmered in the moonlight.

The scales of justice decorated his flank.

"Scarlet, wait!"

Locks turned around to the source. His younger colleague walked stiffly over, almost ready to break into a full run straight through him. Locks blocked her way into the ring. The guards, Amethyst included, made their way towards the detectives. Scarlet didn't give Locks a single word; she lifted a hoof and tried to pull him to the side to let her through. With a grunt, Locks pushed back, using his legs to anchor himself to the ground.

"Let me through," Scarlet ordered. Her voice was rattled with anxiety, frantically driving out of control.

"Get back," Locks demanded simultaneously.

Steele ran towards the two. A pair of light brown legs wrapped around Scarlet while she shoved Locks harder. They pulled her back gently, a series of weak, shaken whistles sounded with each grunt of the pony behind her.

"No. Let me through," she raised her voice.

The white cart pulled to a stop nearby. The crowd had no choice but to part to allow the stretcher through. In that one moment, Scarlet's sharp eyes caught sight of the cutie mark on the fallen colt.

Her patience vanished. Locks felt something sharply ram into the side of his muzzle. He caught sight of a dozen notes falling to the floor as he plummeted to the floor. Jessica dashed over to help Amethyst pull Scarlet away from the scene.

Voices bled into Locks' ears.

"LET ME GO!"

"HOLD HER DOWN!"

"GET HER OUTTA HERE!"

"I NEED TO SEE HIM!"

The unmistakable sound of a spell erupted throughout the field.

Locks pulled himself back to his feet, his head throbbing with pain. His vision slowly focused back on the scene in front of him. The crowd, the emergency carriage, and Princess Celestia's group had all vanished. All that remained were the Agency's employees.

Scarlet was held back by the combined efforts of Amethyst, Steele, and Jessica, the latter pony getting control of her limbs through her magic. Scarlet's face was frighteningly pale, and tears slid smoothly down her sides. The energy left her body in a flash as the three ponies let go of her. She fell helplessly, like a newborn, onto the grass. Jessica hurried off to gather her scattered notes from the floor before the wind could carry them away. Many members of the security team had taken flight, heading back towards the Agency in a hurry to prepare for the impending investigation.

Her hoof reached up to the fedora suspended on her head. Scarlet stared at the hat now resting in her grip while Locks, Steele, and Amethyst stood by. Her ears sagged, as what resistance she had relentlessly vaporized.

She whispered something into the hat; her eyes clenched shut and her sobs grew in volume. Tears squeezed themselves from her eyes as, in a burst of frustration, she threw the fedora into the sky. It flipped gracefully in the air before landing gently amidst the waterlogged ground nearby.

Amethyst took the initiative and approached the broken mare. Scarlet looked at her for no more than a second before throwing herself into Amethyst's hooves. Steele turned away from the group, staring off into space. Locks stood his ground, silently enduring Scarlet's heart wrenching cries as they drowned out the song of the crickets near the riverbank.

==========

Present

"Here you go sir," a voice alarmed him. Locks blinked, looking back at the waiter.

"Oh. Thank you," he responded quietly, Scarlet's agony still carving away at his heart. He lifted his cup for a sip, exhaling a deep, heavy breath.

"It all points to suicide," Steele's voice echoed from Locks' past. "We turned the scene at the bridge upside down at least a dozen times by now. We didn't find a single damn thing."

"Suicide," Locks repeated, "that's what the higher ups ended up with. What Steele, who personally worked on it, regretfully resigned to." His attention turned back to that hauntingly thin folder. "What could have possibly happened recently to suggest otherwise? What could've changed Steele's mind?" Locks lost himself in his own questions.

"Steele wants me to investigate a potential murder," he started creating his plan, "So I need to think about this from a different angle if I want to find anything." Something finally clicked inside Locks' head, his coffee charged expression confident, but his eyes still tinged with a hint of pessimism.

"Baby steps," he reminded himself while messing with his forelock, "this is gonna be a pain." He chugged the final bit of his mug, leaving behind a hefty tip for the kind waitress.

"Instead of trying to prove a murder...I need to disprove a suicide."

==========

A rapid pounding on the door rattled the lump of mass on the couch under the covers. The aged mare stifled her irritation and pulled her body off of her makeshift bed, dragging her hooves towards the door. Her bloodshot eyes wrenched themselves open to look through the petite peephole placed in the center of the door.

She spotted that ever so familiar fedora hovering above a mess of red mane and a pair of earnest, jaded green eyes. A burst of energy ignited from within the confines of her exhausted form. She scrambled to undo the chained locks that she had recently installed, pulling the door to the side as fast as she could.

Scarlet couldn't utter a single syllable before she was smothered by her mother at the entrance. She felt her mom's older body pull tightly against her neck, affectionately rubbing the back of Scarlet's mane. A smile escaped from the detective's mouth as Mystery Hart broke the hug before hurrying her into their small home.

The inside of the apartment had been recently cleaned. The aroma of brewed coffee radiated from the couch and nearby furniture. The dinner table, a tiny, humble structure, was isolated in the corner of the room near the entrance, complete with two simple chairs. The den, positioned across from the table, consisted of two long, teal colored couches that created an L-shape in front of a moderately sized, unused fireplace. To finish the room off was a coffee table that stretched across the center of the den, filling in the gap between the two couches.

Scarlet felt a warm kiss on the side of her cheek. "Have a seat on the couch Scarlet. You want anything to drink? I can make you a daisy sandwich if you'd like. Would you like tea? I also have some punch leftover from..."

Mystery's voice lost coherency to Scarlet, her gaze working up and down her mother's figure. The vigor she managed to conjure up was brief, the flare of life she displayed beginning to fester back to its normal state. Several weeks had gone by since her last visit- the last case required more attention than Scarlet had initially anticipated. Mystery's mane and coat were sleek and cleansed, the sign of a very self-attentive pony. Her face had been spoiled by Justis' passing, but despite the ragged, tired expression her eyes gave, they seemed to carry a sense of dignity and willpower that Mrs. Hart had managed to keep a firm hold over as the years went by.

A pair of reading glasses hung from a necklace of beads around Hart's neck in a manner similar to Scarlet's magnifying glass. She was an avid reader, evident by the slew of books stacked on a small shelf stashed in the room towards the back end of the apartment. Along the counter near the kitchen, and surrounding the fireplace, were large frames holding pictures of random ponies, civilians that Scarlet had never met outside of those images. The pictures were divided into misshapen pieces that fit into one another.

Mystery often killed time by solving jigsaw puzzles when she wasn't working or reading. She had a tendency to frame the most elaborate ones she had completed throughout her life as a testament to her hard work- as if the puzzle piece on her flank didn't already indicate her talent enough.

Scarlet's eyes focused on Mystery's light pink irises. Her mother's offers of food and drink swam back into her mind, a tinge of guilt hitting Scarlet when she realized that she was drowning out her mother's kindness with her inner thoughts.

"Some tea would be fine mom," Scarlet interrupted Mystery's never ending flow. Her mother abruptly paused, letting the smile on her face widen as her daughter accepted the generous proposal.

"Go ahead and sit down in the den, I'll bring us some tea in just a moment. Hot or cold, Scarlet?"

Scarlet worked her way to the couch perpendicular to the fireplace. "Cold's fine, mom. Thanks."

A choir of clinks and clanks sang from the kitchen, an ambiance that bothered Scarlet's wandering mind. Her visits to her mother were always brief, but they were seldom this monotonous. The pouring of the tea could be heard through the silence, and the lack of any contact between the two made Scarlet too nervous to initiate a conversation.

'This is different from work,' Scarlet thought to herself. 'This is mom I'm dealing with. It's not like I can just go up and talk to her like I do some random pony on the job.'

She jumped in her skin when she heard a glass placed on the coffee table in front of her. It was already perspiring on the outer rim. A simple straw stuck out from the top of the cup to help Scarlet drink it down. A chuckle from her mother came from the other couch, Mystery leaned back and let the cushions gently rub against her sore muscles.

Mystery and Scarlet took a quick sip of their drinks almost simultaneously, the tension forcing sweat to build from underneath Scarlet's fedora. She removed her hat and wiped her head with a spare hoof, her eyes widening when she heard her mother's voice, this time in a focused, more familiar tone:

"How's work? You haven't changed positions, have you?"

"...No mom," she winced at her mother's heavy voice. "I've been working on a case for the last month now," a pause while Scarlet took a sip, "I'm sorry I haven't been around since then. The Agency had me running from Canterlot to Ponyville on a daily basis."

Mystery's brow rose. "Ponyville? This isn't about the mayor murder, is it?"

Scarlet nodded, trying her best not to look directly into her mother's eyes. Hart's sigh of relief eased her body for a brief moment.

"You reckless child, you'll be the death of your mother one day," she sarcastically joked with a smile. She reached for her own glass, drinking nearly half of her beverage in one shot.

"It's just the way of the workplace mom. We're prepared for any violent possibilities during travels to and from dangerous locales."

"Your father bothered me to no end with the same thing. I don't need to be hearing it from you too," she chuckled, recoiling the moment the words came from her mouth. Eager to change the direction of the conversation, she pressed on another point, "...So how did it all end? I read about the story in the paper, but it wasn't too detailed."

Scarlet looked back to her mother in contempt. 'She's trying too hard.'

She didn't wish to prolong her answer any further. "Jessica and I analyzed the blood left at the crime scene in Ponyville. I suggested that we scan it for traces of magical disposition, similarly to tests applied on the body. We found traces of another magical force that didn't match the victim's.

"We had the mayor's attributes, including her personal disposition, down on paper. It's a mandatory process all heads of state need to go through. We had all of the records on hoof back in Canterlot. It didn't take long to find that the disposition in the blood not only failed to match the body, but also failed to match our records."

Mystery's grin shined, a genuine trait that Scarlet was nothing short of relieved to see, "So it was all a set up? A fake murder?"

"Exactly."

"And the motive?"

Scarlet hesitated, "He said it was "to experiment."

"The real murderer?"

"Mmhmm."

"How did you find him? I'd think a criminal capable of something like that would be a little more discrete?"

"Once we realized it was a hoax, we went back to look into what type of magic could potentially lead to such a bizarre impersonation spell. Jessica helped out here mostly. She's a library on all things magic-based." Scarlet took another quick sip of her tea as she got into the meat of her tale.

"Turns out it was a form of black magic."

"Ah. I see. Your father worked on several cases involving black magic," Mysty replied as she placed a half-empty drink on the table.

"Yeah," Scarlet replied. "Black magic is painfully easy to trace to its source because it requires a certain disposition. I'm pretty sure our culprit had very little idea how strongly black magic sticks out to a magically inclined pony. A quick sweep by Jessica, and we found him, no sweat."

Mystery's facial expression turned to worry. "Did he try anything? When you found him, I mean?"

"Of course. I stayed away from the action since my part of the job was over, but Jessica actually led the charge. She's still alive and well, so I assume everything went her way."

"...running headfirst into a duel with a black magic-capable unicorn. That girl must have a death wish."

Scarlet couldn't help but agree. "In any case, the only reason it took us so long to finish was because Steele was too focused on the physical evidence left at the scene. Jessica is simply a scribe, so she didn't help me act on my suspicions about the black magic until after I almost begged her to."

"So it's all over then?"

"Yes mom. The mayor was found in the criminal's house bound up. She was spooked, but nothing out of the ordinary. She's a tough mare- she forced us to put her back in office immediately."

Hart grabbed her glass and chugged the remainder. She hiccupped, covering her mouth with her hooves before continuing, "Sounds like you've had a month to remember."

"The entire agency's guilty of that one. We were constantly on the clock. Celestia herself at one point issued a 'crunch time'. I never knew that it even existed for this line of work before," Scarlet explained.

"You couldn't have been the only ones," Mystery replied, "Ponyville was in a state of panic for the first week after the news spread. They're lucky they had Twilight Sparkle. I can't even say that Ponyville would still be on the map otherwise!" she laughed.

"Mom, that's kinda...not funny," Scarlet's ears flopped at her mother's reaction.

"So," her mom enthusiastically ignored her daughter's response, "I take it you and that Locks-boy are free for the time being? I'd love to see him around again, and it'd be nice if we could all settle down for a dinner sometime."

Scarlet's eyes shot to her mother's drink for a quick moment before returning to her face. "Actually..."

"...Oh. Another one already?"

"Y-yeah. Sorry mom."

"Oh," Mysty peeped out in a tiny, disappointed voice. "Well, you do what you want to do if it makes you happy, dear. If simply talking about your job makes you smile as much as you did during your story..."

Scarlet hadn't even realized it until Mystery pointed it out.

"...then as long as you're happy, I suppose I should be happy, too."

Scarlet finished her drink, the sound of the straw sucking up the remainder of the tea obnoxiously filling the room. After she finished, she grabbed her hat, slapping it back on her head. "I'd love to stay longer mom, but I have to leave already. I was supposed to be stationed in Ponyville by now."

"Ponyville? Again?"

Scarlet nodded while picking up both of their glasses to take them to the kitchen for her. 'It's the least I can do.'

"But dear, I haven't heard a thing from the newspaper. What could've happened? What's the new case about?"

Scarlet paused. It was a direct violation of Agency conduct to speak a single word of her missions to anyone outside of the work force. However, and she had seen it herself, Conroy would always share his adventures with Mysty. Growing up in such an environment shaped her up to never hesitate to tell her mom of the potential dangers she was taking part in.

'Today is different...but what can I tell her?' Scarlet thought while her mother waited for a response. While waiting, Mysty reached under the coffee table. A long, rectangular box plopped on top, a picture of a strong stallion posing on a windy hill. Upon opening the box, Mysty came across hundreds of different shapes and pieces of the picture on the front cover. She began working on it immediately, turning back every few moments, waiting for Scarlet's reply.

"Is it 'confidential', Scarlet?" her mother slurred, teasing the young detective.

"N-no," Scarlet replied. "It's a...kidnapping case. It's very recent, but it's a handpicked mission by the royal family."

"Ah. Kept under the radar, I get it, I get it," she hiccupped. “Well dear, I won't keep you any longer."

Scarlet dropped the dishes into the sink. On the counter next to the faucet was an unusually large bottle of cheap brand whiskey. The cap was on the floor nearby, with a rather large amount of the drink missing from the bottle. A quick sniff of Mysty's glass revealed a powerful odor, one that she wondered how it slipped from her mind for so long.

Scarlet felt the manila folder inside of her coat. She pat it down with one of her hooves before looking back to her mother, who was already working frantically at completing the puzzle in the other room.

'Just hold on for a little while longer. Please.'

"Scarlet," her mother suddenly burst from the other room.

'Oh no.'

"...Serve me some more of that delicious tea before you leave, will you?"

She sighed. "Sure thing mom. How much?"

"Two glasses please, I'm expecting company."

"Company?"

"Why yes. A friend from work is coming over for a nice visit."

Scarlet decided not to say a word, obeying her mother's wishes. 'Just let me solve this case once and for all, mom,' she told herself, 'just let me figure out what happened to dad...and then I'll come home and help you. I promise.'

"A friend?"

"Yes dear, a good ol' friend of mine wanted to come over and see my collection of puzzles."

Scarlet felt uneasy by the idea, but there was nothing more she was able to do about it. The Agency couldn't wait forever, and the more she found out about her father's final case, the closer she could be to finding out the truth.

'Hopefully then, after this is all over,' she looked to her mother, holding a tray with two drinks in her mouth, 'we can start over.'

She placed the drinks on the other end of the coffee table. Mysty's hiccups were becoming more prominent, making her puzzle placement jump in unison. She glanced back at her mother, who looked up for a moment from her work.

"Scarlet, give me another hug."

==========

"You sure you have everything you need, mom?" Scarlet asked as she opened the door.

"A-huh. And thanks for the drinks, honey. Oh, and tell that handsome Locks fella I said hello. Now off you go, my friend should be getting here any minute now."

Scarlet masked her face with her fedora as she shut the door behind her, letting her breath go almost the moment the pressure eased up on her conscience. "Be safe mom, I'll see you when this is all over."

Scarlet galloped away from her house, making a bee-line straight for the Agency. "And company...from work?”

"Mom," Scarlet spoke to herself, "nopony but you works at the cemetery."

==========

"C'mon Scarlet," she whined, reaching out to the gray pony with her hooves, "It's so chilly and quiet over here."

The detective curled closer to the corner of the airborne carriage, on the opposite side of her associate. She tightened her outfit to prevent any unwanted entry that the black coated mare might consider. "Not on your life, Scrawl," she tried to intimidate the unicorn.

"Why are you so icy to me Scarly~? I just need someone to cuddle with."

"NO!"

"Oh Scarlet," Jessica whined with tears in her eyes, "but you let me just a few minutes ago."

The carriage budged as they hit a bit of turbulence. Scarlet gripped the edge of her seat as hard as she could as Jessica inched closer. "I didn't agree to anything! You jumped over and fondled me for no reason!"

"Pleeeeease-"

"NO!!" Scarlet had to scream, getting the attention of the pegasi up front. "Personal space, Jessica! There's a bubble here, and you shouldn't go past it!"

None of Scarlet's rejections seemed to phase the eager pony. After making it to her side of the carriage, Jessica jumped up on her hind legs, stretching out her forelegs as she collapsed right next to the detective, who reacted by curling up as tightly as possible.

"Stay away!” She ordered, edging closer to the opening on the side of the carriage. The corner of her eye caught sight of the clouds hovering at eye level just outside of the gap; the ground was a combination of greens and browns, with dirt roads that, from Scarlet’s perspective, looked no thicker than a sliver of string. Her pupils dilated as the altitude of the carriage dawned on the detective, forcing her hastily towards the center of the carriage.

Scarlet felt a pair of hooves wrap around her neck, the heat of Jessica's breath brushing up against the back of her mane. The pair of appendages caressed her mane and back, easing up the tension she built up from the breach of her personal space.

"When I was a foal, I always loved to pop bubbles," she traced a spare hoof up Scarlet's neck, "It's something I'd prefer never to change." Jessica felt Scarlet quivering, “Something the matter? Your coat is much more pale than usual, love.”

Scarlet struggled to move away, but it had no effect on her flight partner. Jessica imitated a purr as she moved closer to the detective’s ear. “You’re not afraid of flying, are you?”

She shook her head, obliging Jessica in hope that it’d take her mind off of the witch’s assault. “N-Not of heights…or flying. I’m afraid of falling.”

“Falling? Doesn’t sound like much of a difference to me.”

She stuttered, “I-it’s COMPLETELY different, trust me.”

Jessica ignored her comment, resting her head on Scarlet's shoulder, caressing the younger mare as though she were a pet. The detective grumbled under her breath, most likely muttering obscenities at the situation. Embarrassed, but with nowhere left to run inside the tiny carriage, she sat still, as Jessica's plaything.

"Why, of all the ponies that work at the Agency, did Steele send YOU to help ME unpack and associate myself with the town?" Scarlet whined.

"Shh, shh, it'll be okay, my love," Jessica reassured her, kissing the back of her neck.

Scarlet's eyes widened at the sensation. Her face burned red with a combination of shock and humiliation. She jumped to the other end of the cart with a burst of energy, immediately balling up once again in a defensive position. Jessica's frown was short lived, the toothy grin Scarlet associated with the menace returning after a short reprieve.

"What in the world is your problem, Scrawl! Can't you just for a single minute act professional!? Can you once, in our time together at the office, get off my back!?"

Jessica's hooves shot to her chest, gasping as she suffered from an invisible, devastating blow. She fell over on the seat, gagging as though she were on the verge of passing. Sucking in a pocket of air, she whispered over to Scarlet, "How could you? Denying MY love without so much as a sign of emotional distress! Nopony could resist such charm, such skill with my graceful hoof! As I cling desperately to my final breath, you do no more than stare at me with such spite burning in those graceful eyes! Your apathy is the sword that dices my heart to pieces!"

Scarlet's stern look pierced beyond Jessica's act.

"...Too strong?"

Scarlet's stare eased up. She chuckled at the ridiculous play Jessica had put on, "Far too dramatic, Jess. You ever consider a career in acting?"

"Not in the least. Besides, I'm already fully employed."

"True, the Agency keeps us both busy," Scarlet replied, looking down at the floor. Her thoughts took her back to her mother for but a moment.

"Heehee, you silly foal," Jessica responded in that signature, creepy tone. "Who said the Agency was my job?"

Scarlet looked back up at Jessica. Her eyes widened in panic at what was in front of her. Sitting on the other end of the carriage was a tiny doll of a mare. She had a black coat with additional, orange colored fabric, and tiny orange buttons for eyes. It was an unconvincing copy of the pony currently missing from her sight.

She felt a bulge in her coat. In her panic, she failed to notice that her trench coat was now expanded to twice its normal size. Two glowing orbs poked out from the collar, growing as they shot out of the material. Scarlet came face to face with Jessica, her trusty magnifying glass wedged in between Jessica's teeth by the handle. Scarlet felt the rest of her body within the coat, resting on her haunches.

"This is probably the best paying job I've ever had, baby," Jessica spoke through her clenched teeth. She moved closer, her nose touching against Scarlet's .

The detective fell to her side from the sudden surprise, allowing Jessica the room to maneuver herself on top of the helpless mare. She nuzzled Scarlet with her face, humming a beautiful tune all the while to Scarlet's discontent.

"Invading my personal space is a job to you?" a defeated Scarlet groaned.

"The best I've ever had. My only wish is that you'd enjoy this as much as I did. We could have so much fun together~."

"No, no, and no!" Scarlet boomed to divert Jessica's attention away from her reddening face. "It's irritating, it's annoying! I'd wish for just a single day, that you'd cut it out! All the pranks, all the jokes, all of this touchy, feely, uncomfortable nonsense you put me through...why?"

Jessica wrapped her hooves around Scarlet again, this time in an embrace that lacked any of the warm feeling that typically went along with the act. "Because I love you, Scarly~."

"Ugh...please just get to Ponyville faster," Scarlet begged her prison cell.

Time ticked by slowly for Scarlet. Seconds stretched on for minutes as she lay ensnared against her will by Jessica, who had by then moved to her back, leaning in against her. The witch's hooves were still wrapped around her, inside of her coat. She continued to sneak in licks up the detective’s neck, each one creating a new wave of shivers that made Scarlet more than uncomfortable. Miserable, she continued to pray Godspeed to the pegasi up at the front of the carriage.

"Hmm?" Scarlet heard Jessica coo from behind. "Scarly," the dark coated pony prodded at several spots along the base of her neck, "You feel tense. Is there something wrong?"

"My personal space is being completely disregarded by a somepony that’s just a bit too comfortable with crawling around my body."

Jess let out a small chirp of joy at Scarlet's aggravation. "Well yes, there's always that, but there's something else."

Scarlet's eye wandered over to the window outside. "Something else, huh?"

"I know your body quite well," she slithered, Scarlet responding with a chilling shiver. "Your body doesn't get quite so rigid when I do little things like this."

The detective growled. Jessica's eye was sharp, and her demeanor throughout the carriage ride forced Scarlet's defenses to falter. "I took my time getting to the office this morning."

"I noticed," Jessica nodded, still rubbing her hooves along Scarlet's body. "I thought you were sneaking out of our little date. It almost broke my heart, Scarly."

"Knock it off, Jess."

They shared the silence for but a moment before Jessica replied, "So how is Mrs. Hart?"

"You-"

"Come now, I know that there's no one else for you to visit in Canterlot besides Locks, and he was too busy hiding from Steele all day. You need to be more creative with your life, baby."

Scarlet groaned, failing to understand why it was that Jessica refused to become a full time agent. "She's doing fine, Jess."

"Your body says otherwise."

'Damn it.'

Scarlet narrowed her vision on the clouds that swooped on by. The numbers that populated the sky outside were dropping sharply as they descended towards their destination. "I visited her, and we had a drink together."

"A drink? Or a drink?"

"Me the former, her the latter, without my discretion."

"Oooh," Jessica cried, pulling Scarlet ever closer, "That sounds rough, Scarly."

"She still hasn't let go. I'm not sure what to do anymore."

"I assume you didn't tell her about your new job?"

Scarlet gulped, remembering the context of her respective folder. "Absolutely not. She'd explode."

Clouds mingled on by in the world outside, a luscious design and comfort that Scarlet could only dream of. Another stroke of a tongue ran up her neck, which she tried with all her might to ignore, looking back at the sky beyond the window to ease her mind.

It was only for a blink, but the sight of a speedy, cyan colored pegasus zoomed right by, a streak of rainbow flashing right behind in the form of a tail, instantly taking Scarlet's mind off of her predicament.

"...That was...the Element of Loyalty! That means we're close to Ponyville! Thank Celestia!" Scarlet praised, eager to be free of Jessica's grasp, smiling for the landing soon to come.

A voice boomed from the window, "Pardon me ladies, but we'll be arriving in Ponyville in just...a few...min-"

Scarlet's eyes swung open, catching sight of one of the pegasi that was pulling the carriage at the opened section of the window, his eyes as wide as saucers and his mouth ajar. She looked back at her surroundings. The seats were wrinkled and worn from her constant struggle, Jessica was still inside her coat, licking blissfully at the back of her neck, and there she was, sighing in relief with a huge smile on her face.

"I...I apologize. Just prepare for landing," the stallion stammered out before flying back to the front of the cart in a haste.

"WAIT SIR, WAIT!!! I CAN EXPLAIN!"

==========

"What if they don't keep quiet!? Do you realize what this could do to my reputation?" Scarlet barked at Jessica after the trickster wiggled her way, slowly, out of Scarlet's jacket. "The looks I'd get...oh Celestia, and Locks!"

Scrawl was still stretched out against the other side of the carriage, relaxing with a hind leg mindlessly bobbing in the air. Her mane covered most of her face when she turned over to the detective, her carefree demeanor clearly showing how little she cared. "Relax, Scarly. You're making a big deal out of nothing. Besides," Jess purred, "Since when did the great Scarlet 'Laya' Trace care about her reputation? I thought you did the job for the thrill of the hunt, not for a spot in history."

"I enjoy finding the truth, Jessica."

"I'd sure hope so, baby. The look you have on your face sometimes at the office gives me the impression that you get off to this kinda thing."

Scarlet cocked an eyebrow at the unicorn. She opened her mouth to reply, but nothing short of another groan of frustration came out. She neared the open window, the breeze whipping her mane wildly to the sides. She kept a hoof on her head to keep her fedora still. Hoof steps from the other side of the room came up to her side, this time at a respectable distance. Scarlet was thankful that Jessica seemed to calm down for the moment.

"They're preparing for landing. You won't have time to comb out the city landmarks from the ground today, so memorize the locales from up here. I can help point out some major hot spots for you."

'Business Jessica...thank goodness,' Scarlet rambled, glad that her associate finally started to buckle down about the case.

The sound of a magical spell filled the carriage. Scarlet caught sight of a single inked feather floating just outside of her peripheral vision, while a scroll unraveled itself almost simultaneously. She looked back outside of the window to identify the important landmarks.

She recognized the large red roof of the building almost directly in the center of the town: Ponyville City Hall, where she had momentarily visited the month before with Jessica for the mayor murder case. A small blue flag hung at the peak of the construction, hovering over the entirety of the city as its highest point. Several ponies could be seen wandering the plaza that surrounded city hall, much of the buildings made of eerily similar material, but subtle difference in window placements, roofing, and color.

A large area of land stretched for acres just southwest of central Ponyville, beyond a small bridge and over a river. Various amounts of vegetation could be seen even from the height of the carriage. A large red barn house stood out above the plantation as the central point of Sweet Apple Acres. A herd of cattle just further down the pasture were peacefully minding their own business, grazing blissfully as the package from Canterlot soared overhead.

A tickling sensation ran through Scarlet's ear, the extension flickered wildly as her eyes scanned the source of the touch. Jessica's feather jiggled in the air, a flirtatious smile on the other mare that garnered her attention. The quill turned towards the window, pointing southeast of the central plaza.

"There's a central point you may need to keep in mind, Trace," Jessica directed with the feather's end. The building she targeted was fairly similar in design to city hall, albeit scaled down significantly. A reddened flag hung above a building of indigo and lavender design, with golden drapes covering the windows on the first floor.

"Carousel Boutique, Scarlet. Miss Rarity, the Element of Generosity, lives and works there. She may prove to be a valuable asset."

The town grew larger as they swooped over the southern portion. The drop in altitude gave Scarlet a more detailed look at the town. Further north from the plaza was a building that Scarlet couldn't believe evaded her gaze for so long. The roof was decorated with a texture that looked no different than gingerbread, a white border used to imitate a frosty icing. A giant pink, bulbous cupcake erupted from the top of the building, with three large candles poking out from the top. The extravagant building passed them by as they continued their descending path.

"And that interesting little number is Sugarcube Corner, home of one Pinkamena Diane Pie, the Element of Laughter."

Scarlet nodded as Jessica listed off each of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. "Applejack, the Element of Honesty, lives and works on Sweet Apple Acres, and if you head back due South from there, you'll find a cloud home belonging to Ms. Loyalty, Rainbow Dash."

"Understood," Scarlet confirmed the information, the sounds of Jessica's quill dashing madly across the scroll. "Fluttershy, the Element of Kindness, lives on the outskirts of Ponyville, towards the Everfree Forest that lies West of Ponyville."

Jessica's hoof tapped Scarlet's back, causing the detective to jump in place. She coaxed her over to the window on the other side of the carriage, giving Scarlet the view of a forest shrouded in darkness. The sun's rays failed to penetrate the thick foliage, making it hard for Scarlet to discern anything beyond its borders. Poking only several hundred yards from the forest was a tiny hut, almost camouflaged as a large, bulky tree. The river that ran through Ponyville stretched across a small bridge. The walkway to the hut had been wedged between the road that reached towards the barrier of the forest, and the other end of the open valley.

"We're finally here," Jessica pointed almost directly downward. The carriage had stopped moving ahead, opting to descend almost straight down. Scarlet caught sight of a strange structure shaped like a tree. The lights from inside glowed brightly, blinding Trace from the contents inside. She spotted a purple unicorn waiting outside of the front porch just as the carriage landed with a thud. The pegasi in the front called out to the carriage, indicating that it was finally safe to exit the cart.

Scarlet made sure to avoid all eye contact with the winged carrier who had spotted her in such a compromising position earlier, focusing all of her attention on her new command post for the remainder of the mission. She almost didn't notice, in the midst of this, the purple unicorn walking up to both her and Jessica.

"Ms. Twilight Sparkle," Jessica grabbed Scarlet's attention, "It's a pleasure to see you again so soon."

"It's good to see you too, Ms. Scrawl," Twilight greeted in a soft tone. Her glance turned over to Scarlet, who was too busy thanking her fortune that the pegasus stallion didn't say a word concerning the incident earlier. "And you're Detective Trace?"

Scarlet jumped to attention, looking Twilight square in the eye before bowing as a means of respect. "Y-yes ma'am. It's nice to finally meet you face to face," she stuttered. Granted that she was aware of Twilight Sparkle and her numerous exploits, Scarlet had never physically met the Element of Magic before.

Twilight waved them to the door, leading them into her library. "Several ponies from Canterlot came by earlier in the day to deliver all of your supplies, Ms. Trace."

"Please, you can just call me Scarlet, Ms. Sparkle," she replied.

"Sure," Twilight giggled back, "and you can call me Twilight."

"Aww, look, already making friends in her new cozy little home," Jessica awed quietly enough for only Scarlet's ears to pick up. She gave Jessica a quick, venomous look before turning back to Twilight.

"Most of your materials were already placed in the workplace in the suite above the library, so don't worry too much about unpacking. Most of it is already done."

"Oh," Scarlet sounded surprised, "Who do I have to thank?"

Had Scarlet been paying attention, she'd have spotted the impish smirk on Jessica's face. The door to the library swung open, the blinding light forcing Scarlet's eyes closed.

She suddenly felt a blast of balloons, whistles, and confetti wash over her entire body. The smell of sugar and punch flooded her nose, music booming from a set of speakers nearby numbing her sense of hearing to all but one word:

"SURPRISE!!"

==========

"What's all this?!" Scarlet gasped as she peeled off several streamers that had wrapped around her neck and hat. The library was crammed to the ceiling with ponies, some mingling in large circles, others moving to the beat of the song on a makeshift dance floor to one side of the room. A large table stretched across the wall by the door, hundreds of bite-sized sweets were piled atop one another in large, white bowls that littered the surface.

A pair of transparent, giant bowls guarded either end of the tables, full of a sweet cherry punch. A drink soaked ladle took its place hanging off to the side of the bowls. The sugary scent Scarlet picked up was traced to a giant, chocolate cake that towered above the rest of the table, looming over the heads of even the tallest of ponies. The succulent smell of chocolate brought Scarlet further into the room, teasing her sweet tooth.

She flinched as several streamers flew right by her head. Her body spun around, coming face to face with the pony behind the party's construction.

"Surprise! What do you think," a bright, pastel pink pony shouted above the music, snatching Scarlet's attention. Her mane and tail curled wildly around her head, bouncing freely with every move she made. She bounced blissfully in place, reveling in the perfect atmosphere she had created in the library.

The detective gave her a timid smile, somewhat overwhelmed by Pinkie Pie's beaming grin. "It's very well done, it must've been difficult to put together on such short notice." Scarlet continued, "You must be Ms. Pinkie Pie, right?"

"Yup!" She barked back immediately. "It wasn't hard, Twilight told me that you were coming to visit Ponyville yesterday, so I thought I'd throw a party to welcome you!" The sound of popping balloons worked as a queue, the party pony almost leaping into the air with unprecedented jubilee.

Scarlet could only observe as Pinkie turned to the direction of the sound. "Make yourself at home and have some fun!" Pinkie Pie said, "there's plenty of snacks and drinks to go around!"

At Pinkie's hasty leave, a group of ponies gathered around, many of them giving Scarlet a quick greeting with a gentle, unguarded smile. Twilight and Jessica coaxed her along, allowing her the time to reply to everypony. Scarlet fought her way through the waves of friendly faces before finally making it to a table nearest to the staircase, which undoubtedly lead to her workplace upstairs.

She threw herself into a vacant chair, startling a yellow coated pegasus nearby. She jumped at the sound of the squeak, unaware that anypony was even nearby. Twilight casually sat down next to her, making herself comfortable, while Jessica had somehow disappeared into the crowds.

'Jessica doesn't constantly party, but she's even more unstable than normal whenever she makes it to one,' Scarlet thought to herself. 'I'll need to keep a close eye on her.'

"Allow me to introduce you to some of my friends," Twilight started. She waved a hoof over to the bashful mound of yellow on the other side of Scarlet's chair. This particular pony, a pegasus as indicated by her wings, had a long, pink mane that extended to the base of the chair she sat in, her matching tail hung frozen on the ground leading to her seat. Her light blue eyes kept darting to and from Scarlet's jaded green, a whimper almost going unheard thanks to the music pumping only meters away.

"This is Fluttershy," Twilight continued, "She takes care of many of the animals that you'll see running around in Ponyville."

Scarlet bowed her head in respect to another of the six element bearers. "Hello Ms. Fluttershy, it's good to meet you."

Fluttershy responded with a frail grunt in Scarlet's general direction. The tunes helped drown out the awkward silence. The detective eyes softened as if she had been glaring at her beforehand, her hoof retreating a bit to give Fluttershy some much needed room.

"Don't worry about it too much, detective. Fluttershy takes awhile to warm up to new faces, so you'll be fine."

Scarlet sighed louder than she had intended. She gave the quiet pegasus one final glance before looking at the party in front of her. She caught Jessica in the center of the dance floor, her orange hair bouncing and flowing about her body as the song took control of her energetic form.

"Actually, before we continue," she felt for the folder secured in her coat, "can I put something upstairs in my work area?"

"Absolutely. Follow me Scarlet," Twilight ordered as they jumped from their seats. She lead her to the staircase right nearby, the two mares climbing up to the top as the party under them grew louder.

The workspace area doubled as a large bedroom. Two beds rested on either side of the room, with a tiny basket near what Scarlet deduced was Twilights' bed space. A lump was covered by a single blue blanket, rising and falling in sync with a creature's steady breathing.

On Scarlet's side was a hefty sized desk. She pulled out the drawers: Mail scrolls, notepads, quills with ink, and folders full of some of Scarlet's personal files from the Agency were placed neatly inside each compartment. Reaching inside her coat, she pulled out Steele's report, placing it atop the desk before returning to Twilight, who was double checking the basket to make sure its inhabitant wasn't disturbed by the noise.

Scarlet caught the spines running up to the skull of the sleeping mass. "Is that a dragon?"

"Oh," Twilight looked back to Scarlet. Her horn glowed as the blanket on the dragon tucked itself in at her beckoning. "This is Spike. He's my assistant from Canterlot." She smiled back at him, "He's still a baby dragon, so he needs to be sleeping during most of the night. It's the only reason I was hesitant to let them use my house as the party location."

The two ponies walked over to the balcony near the staircase. They could see most of the activity taking place downstairs, though it was difficult to discern anypony through the dim lighting and wild dancing.

"Unfortunately, I couldn't get all of my friends to come to the party today," Twilight's voice caught the white mare's attention, "Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow were all busy today."

Scarlet counted up the names in her head. "I've already had the liberty of meeting Ms. Pinkamena."

"Oh? Pinkie Pie?" Twilight asked her, as if she had never heard her friends full name before. "Then I need no reason to worry about introducing you to her."

Scarlet chuckled, looking back at a mess of black and orange tearing up the dance floor, "Is miss Pinkie a party animal, Twilight?"

"Woohoo!" a shrill, high pitched squeal came from the direction of the sweets. Scarlet watched as a pink blur zoomed back to the dance floor from the snack table, causing several cupcakes to tumble over onto the floor of the library in a frosted mess.

"I take that as a yes?"

Twilight's smile grew as she observed her friends bizarre, erratic behavior. "Pinkie sets up most of the parties here in town. She's the one who gathered everything for your 'Welcome to Ponyville' party."

"Hmm," Scarlet shuffled back off of the balcony she had been leaning on. "I'm...not particularly a 'party pony', Ms. Twilight," she added, "but I have to give credit where credit is due. She must've worked hard to set everything up. She couldn't have had much time since the Agency notified you."

"It's no problem at all." Twilight assured the dazzled investigator.

Another excited howl came from the dance floor. Over the balcony, the two mares spotted the same, brightly colored mass wildly spinning a pair of poor colts in circles, their eyes begging the hyperactive young pony to stop.

Pinkie Pie abruptly hit the brakes on her chaotic dance, her grip vanishing, sending the ponies flying towards the opposite ends of the library. Simultaneously, Scarlet heard the colts crashing against the walls, leaving comical imprints where they had landed after they pooled onto the floor.

Scarlet tipped her hat towards Twilight before heading downstairs.

"She's sweet enough to burn a hole through your teeth," a voice snuck up on Scarlet halfway down the steps". She jerked her head around to come muzzle to muzzle with a familiar black mare with a wicked, mischievous grin.

"A bit too much cake, I'd guess," Scarlet replied, trying her best to ignore how unpleasantly close to her body Jessica was. The jester trotted a few steps ahead of her as they descended the rounded staircase, catching Scarlet by surprise.

"She's the element of laughter. I wouldn't be surprised if 'Pinkie Pie' was always like this," she wondered.

Pinkie had made a hasty retreat to the confections once again. She playfully tossed a cookie straight into the air, leaving her mouth wide open. It passed down her throat in a seamless series of motions, leaving Scarlet and Jessica's eyes to widen as Pinkie chugged a normal serving of punch in no more than half of a second.

A curious look adorned Jess' face as they watched Pinkie giggle her way back towards the dance floor, the other ponies giving her room in fear of becoming her next two dance victims.

"Come on, Scarlet," Jessica teased her as she pulled Scarlet towards the dance floor by her coat. "You can thank her by being more proactive with the party."

Scarlet tried to pull away from her, but it was of no use. Jessica's ambitions overpowered Scarlet’s timid behavior, her vision of the party pony becoming more clear as they drew themselves closer.

A new song had just begun. The bass rattled the floor in a systematic rhythm, giving the dancers on the floor a guideline for their movements. Bystanders, surprised by the twist in the musical styles, found themselves absorbed by the beat.

"Wooo!!" Pinkie's scream dominated the atmosphere. Jessica was heard chuckling ahead, bringing Scarlet's attention back to the pink coated sugar-monster.

In a truly extraordinary display, Pinkie tore through the dancers on the floor, appearing next to a mare, spinning her around crazily before disappearing into the crowd. She appeared from the back end of the floor once more, tossing a colt straight into the air with a thrust. Her shouts vanished yet again, Scarlet's eyes hunting manically for the speed demon.

Jessica's head turned towards the DJ onstage, Scarlet following right behind. Pinkie Pie made it onto the stage in a flash, in a full run straight back into the crowd. She leaped from the stage, the crowd's hooves raised in unison as she was swept across the party.

"How...is she that fast?" Scarlet asked after the series of manic events ended. Pinkie was flung in the air before she landed perfectly on her four hooves. Scarlet looked back up at Jessica. She spotted a twinkle in the mare’s gaze that filled her with a dooming dread.

"Scarlet, socialize with the locals. I have a date with a special someone." Jessica disappeared into the crowd once more.

Scarlet used the opportunity to escape from the swelling crowd, retreating to the table she had seen Fluttershy at. The timid yellow mare had vanished. Her eyes caught sight of the punch nearby, her lips pursed as she made her way over to the drink. As she poured the drink into a nearby cup, she caught sight of Jessica once more, lurking around the other end of the table.

The sorceress looked up at Scarlet, an expressionless face and wide, orange eyes that felt strangely out of place for Jessica's normal demeanor. Jess looked away, staring back at the punch for a brief moment before trotting away in a hurry. Scarlet caught sight of a pulse of magic that discharged from her horn.

"What in the world is she up to? I thought she was looking for Pinkie Pie."

"Enjoying yourself?" Scarlet heard Twilight's voice. She looked over to see the purple mare pouring herself some punch, the cup levitating in the air as she carried it back over to their table.

"Yes," Scarlet bluntly replied. "It's not very often that I attended parties back in Canterlot. Work always kept me away from these kinds of social things."

"I wouldn't worry about it too much. Parties happen often, but we understand that some ponies can't make every single one. Even I sometimes get too caught up in my studies to set hoof outside my home."

Scarlet nodded to the comment. Countless nights in the last month were spent analyzing and reanalyzing data from the mayor case, and the lack of rest was beginning to have an effect on her body. She could understand the heavy bags underneath Steele's eyes, and he always appeared angry or upset. 'Maybe the boss needs a break from all of his work.'

"So what do you think so far, of Ponyville?" Twilight asked her before taking a sip of her drink.

"I never had a chance to go look around today, but Jessica showed me around town from the carriage, so I have a vague idea of how everything looks. It's somewhat cozy looking from the outside in."

"So you haven't really walked around town then?"

"Not much. My last trip into town only saw me at City Hall. I'll probably explore tomorrow, just to get a solid feel for the area. I could also go about asking questions to the veterans of town concerning my new case." Scarlet took a decent sized drink of her punch before continuing, savoring the juicy flavor, "I'll probably go and visit Sweet Apple Acres first. I understand that it's one of the town's older establishments. I'm sure there's someone there I can gather some form of intel on."

As Scarlet lifted her drink, she felt a sudden pang in her gut. Gasping, she dropped the punch, spilling it all over the table, the juice splashing over the covers and onto the floor.

"Oh! Are you okay?" Twilight said as she lifted herself from her seat. Scarlet caught sight of Twilight stumbling over her own feet before getting off of her chair. She shook her head to ease the dizzy feeling.

"You felt it too?" Scarlet panted with shock riddling her face, looking at Twilight's surprised expression.

"Yeah. What in the world happened?"

Scarlet's gaze fell on the rest of the party. She couldn't understand what was happening; more than half of the ponies were struggling to stay on their feet. The music continued to play as the dancers on the floor grew weary from the influence of a mysterious force.

She looked back to her drink, reminded of the moment she spotted Jessica at the table. Her expression changed from dumbfounded confusion to absolute horror in seconds. She looked back to Twilight, "How much punch did you drink?"

Twilight shook her head violently one more time before looking back at Scarlet, who was faring worse against the strange feeling. "Not much. Just whatever was," Twilight's eyes widened, "You don't think-"

"That's exactly what I think."

"But...who? How?"

Scarlet felt a strange heat rising in her body. She heard the sounds of something similar to a struggle going on near the dance floor. Fighting against the urge, she lifted her head to see what the commotion was for.

A colt and a mare, both of whom seemed unmemorable to Scarlet's dizzying eyes, had tossed several props and books over on one of the desks nearby. Before the detective could question why, the pair of ponies locked lips with one another in a heated display so sudden that the rest of the party-goers were left speechless. The music was pulled almost immediately.

The agency had a special policy in place, and though it rarely helped, they would fight to the death to uphold it:

"Never allow Jessica near the food," Scarlet whispered to herself, "I can't believe she did it."

"Spike the punch?" Twilight muttered.

"It's not that she spiked the punch," Scarlet added, finally pulling herself to her feet. "It's more about WHAT she spiked the punch with."

Twilight looked back to the couple on her desk. "What!?"

"Twilight, we need to get everyone out of here as fast as we can, before something happens that somepony will regret in the morning."

"No problem," Twilight responded with a shaky voice that didn't ease Scarlet's worry. "Can you even stand? You're not looking too good."

Scarlet fell back onto her hind legs. "I drank more than you did if that's your only glass tonight," she struggled, doing her best to avoid any attention she might gather from any given colt under the influence. "Just get everyone out. I'll...I'll try to go and-"

"Get upstairs detective, you've been too heavily influenced. I can handle it," Twilight sternly ordered, concentrating as her horn pulsed.

Scarlet, finding that she could barely even manage to pull herself up on her own four legs, decided to obey Twilight’s demand. She dragged herself to the staircase as the Twilight Sparkle blared instructions out into the crowd. She heard a struggle take place to separate the new couple, and other than a few moans or groans, and a heavy, uncomfortable feeling bubbling inside of her, Scarlet managed to get herself to the second floor.

"What's wrong with her?" Scarlet growled as she took off her outfit and pulled herself into bed, "What an awful way to end the night."

Minutes passed by as she fought against her body under her sheets. Her coat, hat, and magnifying glass hung on one of the bed's posts, the report shrouded in the darkness of the library. The lights were cut off the moment the final guest left the house.

The stench in the air was a mixture of sugar, sweat, and that raunchy scent oddly familiar to the one she recalled from the Agency before their new assignment.

"She must be testing out a stronger spell," Scarlet muttered, irritated at her coworker. Exhausted from the entirety of the day, Scarlet's mind didn't even process the sinking feeling she had as she fell asleep.

==========

His hooves beat against the stone road as he made his way towards the Western District of Canterlot. The previous day was spent almost entirely at the cafe, and Locks made it a point to stay home that morning and ponder on where his first step should be, away from the hustle of the offices at work. The life of Canterlot was booming in the streets, unicorns were running around on business, while the foals mingled with each other in the streets, practicing their magic that they'd need if they dreamed of being enlisted in Celestia's advanced classes up in Northern Canterlot.

Locks casually ducked when the sound of a discharged spell exploded behind him. An apple shot through the air where his head had been moments before, slamming into the side of the building down the road. A magical aura surrounded it after impact, and with another enchantment, it returned to its natural state: a dull, gray stone that had apparently been pulled from the edge of the road.

"Keep practicing," Locks muttered to himself, relieved to have some of the stress building up in his mind alleviated by the flying fruit.

He had just come back from the Agency. It was noticeably quieter without Jessica and Scarlet around to keep him company, and Amethyst was away on another mission. His conversation with Steele was as effective as he thought it'd be. Glad to have such a straightforward boss, Locks was already on phase two of his outline for the case.

"Mr. Steele, mind if I have a word?" Locks' muffled voice came from outside of Steele's office.

"You may enter," his boss replied back immediately. Locks opened the door to the sound of the air whistling from the hole Jessica had made two days before.

Steele hadn't even bothered to look up from his paperwork. He was busy writing another letter, the seal of the royal family prepped for the delivery. Locks cleared his throat, trying in vain to get Steele's undivided attention.

"Sir, I spent the majority of yesterday trying to create a series of steps to follow through on the case you assigned me the other day."

"Interesting," Steele replied emotionlessly. "I take it you have something for me?"

"No sir," Locks adamantly said. "However, after considering the factors surrounding Conroy Justis' life, I felt like the most effective path I could take to start off my investigation would be to talk to you in regards to his behavior prior to the incident."

"Go on, maggot."

"Well Sir, you and Mr. Justis were on good terms, correct? I thought you might have some type of insight on the situation, especially considering that you and the Princess took on this case momentarily."

"I'm not gonna bullshit it any," Steele boldly spoke, "Conroy and I were close. If there was something wrong with him at all, you could bet your badge that I'd have noticed it."

"So you did notice some strange behavior?"

"Typical crap, Locks. Justis was really effective at keeping it locked up, though. I doubt many of you maggots would've noticed much until...maybe a few days before the incident took place."

Locks thought back to Conroy's behavior during the last time he saw the detective alive. "He did have a strange aura about him that day, but I couldn't really sense anything malevolent about it."

"And that's coming from Detective Locks himself," Steele mocked. "He had a great aptitude in hiding his emotions."

"So you're saying that his behavior somewhat hinted at the incident?"

Locks body was still locked on his future destination. He was already at the border of the Western District. The sounds of magic could be heard all around. In this region of the town was where most of the families lived, and where magic had a tendency to backfire the most. Despite the danger present from the untamed magical potential, very few incidents caused serious injury, and it was rare that anypony was ever sent to the hospital for it.

He passed by a house that lit up every few seconds, the sounds of magical potential being tapped into by the younger ponies. He nodded to himself, looking forward to the future generation of colts and mares that would run the city. Locks could distinctly feel their presence by the magic they fired off, some of them in rapid succession even.

"To be able to manipulate the elements of life around us. Unicorns have so much power behind them," he thought passively before Steele's words replayed in his memory.

"I was worried for him, but get this through that idiotic skull of yours, Locks: I had utmost faith in Conroy's ability to control himself. It wasn't the first time something had bothered him before."

"So why is it that you feel the case to be a murder? From what you've told me...and from what I've seen, and what the reports themselves say, suicide seems to be the most probable. At least, more probable than murder."

"Locks, you goddamn moron."

"Excuse me, sir?"

"Scarlet Trace just solved the mystery involving the mayor murder in Ponyville. Remind me: How did she figure that the corpse was an impersonation?"

"She recorded the disposition of the dead body's magic, and compared that to the mayor's personal records."

"More or less. And what happened?"

"They...didn't match. Sir, what relevance is this to the case?"

"Locks, how long has it been since you've read Justis' records involving the supposed suicide?"

The detective replied, "At the cafe yester-"

"Wrong answer, rookie." Steele reached into a drawer, instantly pulling out a document; a copy of Conroy's records. He slammed it down onto the desk before pulling Locks in by the neck, dragging his face to a specific attribute on the records."

"Look at this, Locks," Steele muttered through clenched teeth. In front of Locks' face was a simple set of values: "Disposition Discharge: <10".

"This...what in the hell?"

"Locks, get back to training class. What happens when a pony dies?"

Locks knew the answer, and as he explained, he began to piece together Steele's implication of the records, "When anypony passes away, the magical disposition in their body gets discharged into the atmosphere."

"And?"

"And this disposition is recycled by natural forces, to be used as raw materials for basic pony magic."

Steele thrust Locks' face off of the paper, causing the young colt to stumble away for a blink before regaining balance. Locks' eyes narrowed as his mind began to spin conclusions about the information.

"Do you understand now, or am I going to have to walk you through the entire process?"

"On average, a typical pony Justis' age would discharge approximately one hundred units of disposition upon death. Ponies with a higher potency for magic tend to discharge more."

"Justis' disposition was one of the highest on record, a trait that helped him get into the Agency no sweat," Steele added.

"Yet when he died, the atmosphere gauged during that time period didn't see a spike of any type of value. The atmospheric magic value only increased by a tiny amount, no stronger than a newborn's disposition."

"Do you understand what I'm trying to say to you, Locks?"

"Yes, sir."

The cobalt detective was deep into the district now, beyond the spells and frantic magic that occupied the majority of the daytime. As he continued, the age of the ponies around him increased, older mares and colts carried themselves with dignity and grace, their hard worked lives garnering nothing but Locks' respect.

"The only time a magical disposition can be tampered with, that I know of, is by the use of malevolent magical influence. According to Steele, Justis never mentioned anything of the sort to him, and they shared nearly everything with one another since they were so close.

"If Justis wasn't inflicting black magic on himself," the very thought sickened Locks, "then someone was tampering with him, with or without his knowledge. If this is true, then the case turns from a suicide, into a murder. That would prove that the case is impossible to assume as a suicide, but...I have no proof to back up any of this information outside of that single record, and using the disposition tracker alone isn't enough to make for a strong lead."

Locks finally turned down the street he'd been following since he left the Agency. As he made his way down the alley to his left, a series of doors decorated the enlarged pathway. Several older mares gave him beckoning looks while they carried on with household chores, or talked amongst one another. He waved back to a few of them as a token of appreciation before focusing on the trail ahead.

"I knew almost everything there was to Justis, and I just couldn't figure it out before we had to drop the case," Steele told Locks as he left the office.

"You guys took on the case almost immediately after his death. I could understand, at the very least, why you'd need to focus on other cases. Crime doesn't wait."

"Indeed, Locks. Also, since it had just happened...I never got to..."

"...Never got to?"

Locks finally approached his destination. A bright red door in the center of the row lay before him. Refusing to hesitate, he raised his hoof and knocked on the door in steady, hardy raps.

"I didn't want to trouble her at the time. I never got the chance after I dropped the case. If there's anypony who knew him better than I did..."

The door swung open. An older mare with light red hair and an ivory coat answered, staring into Locks' blood red eyes.

"...It's his wife."

Author's Notes:

Hello again. Just thought I'd update with the next chapter.
I've had some trouble with the labeling and whatnot, since this is my first piece of work that I've updated to this site. That being said, I'd like to just clarify some things for the future:

*The Mane Six, Celestia, Luna, and Zecora ARE indeed in this fanfic, but they aren't as "main character" as the label leads on. As you can probably already tell, this story mostly revolves around the OCs that were created, namely Scarlet, Jessica, Amethyst, and Locks. Celestia and the Mane Six will have heavy influence over the story progression, but they won't be seeing as much time in the chapters as the OCs.

Reason being mostly because I'm somewhat timid when it comes to approaching preestablished characters, and I get nervous when handling their behavior and whatnot. I'll do what I can to improve on that in the future.

*This takes place within the FiM universe, but not before the season finale in Season 3 (meaning Twilight isn't an alicorn yet). I'd like for this fic to take place at the last possible point before any canonical finality with the Twilicorn, but until Season 4 clears up some of the questions that need answering, it'd be best to just assume this happens before the finale for S3.

Or Alternatively, in a FiM-verse where the Season 3 Finale never happens. Whatever works for you readers :P

=====

With that out of the way, I'd like to thank those of you who have liked the story and given it a read, and I appreciate your commitment. Spread the word around if you can, get others to read it and see how it is. Also, leave comments or criticisms! I, like any other author on this site, love to see comments about the story I've made, and it'd all but encourage me to speed up production on the rest of the content. Thanks in advance for your contributions.

Finally, speaking of content, Chapter 4 should be out relatively soon (within the next 3 days), but after that, it'll depend on how much time I get to work on the story. Again, comments and views help drive me, and I'd definitely appreciate the reviews, if any. I'm hoping I can consistently update one chapter weekly or biweekly, based on how fast I'm able to pump them out, so keep your eyes peeled.

Once I get on that pace, it'll probably update every Saturday, but until that schedule settles in, I'll be doing what I can to release them asap. Again, expect the next one in the coming days.

Thanks for reading guys!

- Garnet Rose

104: First Steps

The atmosphere was thick with the scent of cinnamon. Lines of smoke steadily rose to the ceiling of the restaurant, creating a perfect scene for the two ponies below. One, her coat as black as the night, sat on one end of the small, rounded table. One of her hooves traced shapes into the table, while the other kept her head perched on a hoof. A pair of luminescent, bright orange eyes relaxed as she sighed, her attention on the pale, white coated pony on the other edge of the table.

Scarlet peered around the large room. Darkness shrouded the rest of the tables surrounding them, isolating the pair. A single, sweet scented candle was placed nearest to Scarlet, giving her just enough vision to make out the depth to Jessica's softened facial features. The detective struggled to make any words come out, feeling the air escape her lungs while a bead of sweat slowly made its way down the side of her forelock.

Jessica's affectionate gaze snared Scarlet's attention, broken only by the parting of the dark mare's lips.

"Scarlet, it was so, so wonderfully kind of you to take me out to dinner like this, and at such a fancy cafe no less," she dragged her words out with a whine proven to work against most of her previous colt-friends.

'What?' Scarlet thought. 'But I didn't offer her-'

"I never would've figured that you'd know my favorite place to eat at in Canterlot," she interrupted her train of thought.

'I don't even know where we are.'

Jessica continued, "And to think that you'd...feel this way about us. It's sweet, baby."

'W-w-what?! What's going on?'

"Oh! Just in time."

Steam rose gently from the table. Scarlet looked down, surprised that the tabletop now had a large plate of spaghetti resting atop. Marinara sauce leaked into the heap of noodles on top, a thin blanket of herbs and spice giving the meal a nice, savory appeal.

'Where did this come from?'

"What are you waiting for?" Jessica asked while her head plunged her face into the pile of Italian cuisine. Sauce scattered messily around the table, Scarlet doing her best to dodge, mostly in vain, every splatter brought about by Jessica's ravenous feast.

Scarlet's stomach rumbled on queue, the raw aroma of the meal lighting up her appetite. She wiped the sweat from her head with a spare hoof, feeling her napkin tighten around her neck by an invisible force. She moved her hair to the side, reaching for a fork that had appeared right next to the plate on her end of the table. Jessica's sauce stained mane covered her head as she pulled herself back up, recklessly slurping several strands in.

Scarlet sunk her fork into the pasta. She took a breath as she took the fork in, the flavor of her meal enough to lighten up her face.

"Good, ain't it?" Jessica asked through another mouthful. Her date nodded anxiously, surprised at the expertly crafted dish.

Scarlet plunged her fork back in like a shovel, evoked by the taste. The noodles helplessly hung off the edges of the utensil, leading back into the pile slowly shrinking from sight. Jessica had since calmed down, now passively reaching over, without utensils, to take another, smaller bite.

Scarlet closed her eyes and she slurped up the remainder abandoned by her fork. She was met with little resistance at first, but a strange pull forced her closer to the table. Her head followed the trail to the center of the plate, completely unaware that Jessica was in the same circumstance.

A soft, squishy source obstructed Scarlet's advance on her food, prompting her to open her eyes in wonder. Jessica's nose was pressed against her own, the two ponies connected only by a single noodle that separated their mouths by mere inches. Scarlet's body froze, staring back at Jessica, whose eyes slowly lit up like a firecracker at midnight.

Scarlet caught every single detail of her wonderful, orange orbs, watching as her irises shined in the candlelight with a soft, warm sheen. Jessica pushed further into Scarlet, the noodle that bridged their mouths together shrank to a miniscule size. The pale white pony could feel Jessica’s breath brushing up against her forelock.

The gravity of the act finally took hold. Scarlet’s mind shut down, her face in total shock as the pair remained suspended, locked by a single thread of food. Jessica’s eyes narrowed, as if asking for Scarlet to finish her part of the meal. The detective couldn’t breathe, the touch of Jessica’s nose upon her own was too much for her thoughts to handle.

A giggle came from across the table. Scarlet felt a final tug from Jessica’s end. She felt Jess’ lips…

Twilight Sparkle, who was already downstairs preparing for the full day ahead, jumped at the sound of a mare upstairs, writhing in false-agony.

==========

Sunshine from the window in Twilight’s loft upstairs blinded Scarlet’s vision. She coughed, lifting herself up from the ground where she had fallen during her sleep. She felt a pounding on the side of her head, rubbing the injury with a hoof before pulling herself up on her feet. Her eyes finally adjusted to the morning, prompting her to begin her daily ritual.

“Scarlet,” a voice rang from the library below, “Are you alright? You started screaming.”

“I-I’m fine…just a nightmare,” Scarlet stammered, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She looked around for her belongings, spotting her magnifying glass, fedora, and coat near the bed. Stretching, she looked along the walls of the loft, much of the space occupied by stacks upon stacks of disorganized books and reports.

"Ms. Twilight?" Scarlet called out, her nose wrinkling when the taste of last night's punch came jumping back, "Where is your shower?"

Twilight's response guided Scarlet to a small hallway jutting out of the top of the staircase, leading to a secluded door that housed the bathtub and other toiletries. "Come down as soon as your done," Twilight continued, "Spike woke up extra early today to clean up downstairs; there's some breakfast waiting for you on the table."

"Oh, t-thank you, Mr. Spike," Scarlet said before shutting the door behind her, the whining sound of the faucet drowning out any response the baby dragon may have had. With a sigh, Scarlet entered the tub.

"What the hell happened last night?" Scarlet asked herself in the shower, struggling to recall the final moments before she fell asleep. Her entire body jittered when the vivid dream flashed into her memory. She clenched her teeth as the events that boiled over from her welcoming party begun to fall into place. She recalled a similar situation back in Canterlot at the Agency headquarters. The account played back like a documentary.

"Lacing the punch with a magical aphrodisiac...Jessica ended up getting several fillies at the Agency pregnant. I think it was during Steele's anniversary or...something of similar importance. He was furious for months, reasonably so. The mothers had to take maternity leave, so their roles in their cases had to be filled by others who were already preoccupied. Jess' stunt set the Agency back several months, now that I remember."

She groaned as she rinsed out her hair, "Hopefully nopony did anything stupid after...the..." Scarlet struggled to recall the conclusion of the festivities. "I know I took a drink, but what happened after that?"

You and Ms. Magic ruined my fun, that's what happened.

Scarlet gasped, backing up against the back wall of the tub at the sound of an all too familiar voice. "J-Jessica?! What the hell are you doing in here?!"

A giggle perked Scarlet's ears. Relax, this is "prerecorded". Hope you enjoyed your nap. Anything..."interesting" happen while you were dreaming your sweet, sweet dreams?

Scarlet was speechless. Yes, I know, My magic's amazing. In any case, I left you a letter downstairs. Read it as soon as you can, 'kay Scarly? I'll keep in touch! Love youuu~

Whatever booming presence that had come with the eerily gleeful voice evaporated, the sound of the shower running slowly bringing Scarlet back into reality. "H...how can she...agh!" the frustrated mare let out a groan of defeat. The dream, and the final moments before she finally broke free of the spell, haunted her thoughts. With a spare hoof, she reached up and pressed on her nose, trembling when the image of the black mare appeared right before her eyes.

==========

"What does it mean to touch noses?" Mysty repeated after her daughter in their Canterlot home. Rain pounded fiercely against the windows outside, blurring any vision either mother or daughter would have of the outside world.

"W-well, I see you and dad do it all the time," she peeped, "but...I see a lot of the other couples doing it at work too."

Mystery Hart quickly shot her hoof from Scarlet's neck to her mane, playfully ruffling her hair. "Let's see here, where do I start?"

"It's like...I suppose kissing, but it's definitely not the same, if that makes any sense to you."

Scarlet beamed, as if it had suddenly dawned on her, raising her hoof to add to her mother's vague description. When nothing came, her smile turned into a frown, "I...guess it kinda works out?"

"Well, kissing your mate...for example, let's use me and your father."

Scarlet winced.

"Oh Scarlet, don't be like that! It's the best way I can explain it. From personal experience."

Her mother’s words failed to comfort the budding teenager.

"Kissing is something I see as the most intimate public thing you can do with your mate," she slowly started, a goofy grin illustrating her joy in the subject, "When Conroy and I kiss, it's one of the best feelings in the entire world."

Mysty's grin turned into a playful frown, "But then Steele, being the complete hard-ass that he is, cracks down on that type of behavior at the office, so nopony's allowed to kiss, lest they get penalized."

"C-can't you just do it somewhere discreet?"

"Oh, Scarly!" Mysty yelled, "I love the enthusiasm, but no. Jessica always knows, and it was her job to prowl around for anypony willing to break the rules. Anyways, since we really couldn't openly do that kinda thing, we decided to fall back on a more...traditional approach. You know where I'm going with this?"

"Uhhh-"

"You might find something like it in the Princess' archives. Check it out next time you visit the palace. It's under "Ancient Cultures and Civilizations" in the library. It's something that fell out of style some time ago, but still manages to leak out here and there among ponies, even if they have no awareness of it."

"What is it then?"

"Steele wasn't the first jackass to instill a policy so ridiculous. In the past, ponies would communicate their affections for another like this..."

Just as Scarlet had observed from several of the couples at her parents' workplace, Mysty approached her, calmly squishing up her nose against her daughters. Scarlet tried to move back from the warmth her mother's act brought to her face, but Mysty's movements toward her kept them together.

"Open your eyes, Scarlet," her mother chuckled. Obeying her mother’s request, she took in the sight of her mothers' dazzling, purple eyes. The smoothness of her iris smothered Scarlet's vision, soothing her body and mind. She let out her breath slowly as Mysty broke the contact she had with her daughter. "So, what was it like?"

"...W-warm...and wet," Scarlet rubbed her nose with a hoof.

"Did you notice anything at all?"

"I couldn't see anything except for your eyes."

Mystery nodded. "Back in those different times, touching together like that was the only safe, public way to get close to your partner, or mate without being scorned. Weird rules, right?"

"Kinda...stupid."

"Exactly. Anyways, it's not just getting close that's important," Mysty closed her eyes, pretending as if she was being taken to another world, "Scarlet, when you find a mate someday, and you get the opportunity to get that close to their eyes, you'll see what I mean by that 'closeness'. It's comforting for mates to be able to see each others with so little, erhm, interference."

"That's...ridiculously romantic, mom."

Mysty shrugged, "I'm hopeless, what can I say? Scarlet, what I'm trying to get across is that it was the most intimate thing back in the days that you could get away with, and even now, though many ponies aren't aware of it, ponies practice this as an almost natural occurrence. It evolved from a simple solution to an idiotic rule, into a feeling and act all of its own accord."

"So it's like kissing because of the closeness...but different because of the way it's done, right?"

"Right. It's another way of saying 'I love you', more or less."

"More or less?"

"You'll have to do the research yourself, my heart's fluttering," Mysty fanned herself.

"W-wha?"

"I'm gonna hunt down your father," Mysty blared, getting up from her spot on the couch and darting out into the rain, leaving Scarlet clueless.

"I think this is like something out of a cheesy romance novella," Scarlet spoke to herself, shaking her head in embarrassment at the thought of a wet, love hungry mare running through the streets of Canterlot.

The door burst back open, her mother's burning eyes intimidating Scarlet. "You're coming with me, we're finding you somepony to practice this with!"

"W-W-WHAT?!"

"If my daughter's gonna eventually do it too, then she's gonna do it RIGHT!" her hoof wrapped around Scarlet's, dragging her out into the rainy afternoon, making a beeline for the Agency.

==========

'Things were so different,' Scarlet thought as she turned the faucet to the shower, shaking off the feeling of vertigo presented by the randomosity of the memory. 'She was so...crazy back then.' Scarlet's eyes hardened at the sentiment. She thought back to the dream, 'is Jessica trying to tell me something?' The carriage ride to the library perked up, 'of course not. I don't think Jessica's even capable of being serious about anything like that. Besides, when's the last time she's ever been subtle?"

The smell of pancakes rose up the staircase, growing stronger with Scarlet's descent. "Ms. Twilight? Is there any way to make coffee here?"

"I don't drink coffee, but I can probably send Spike out to go grab you a cup if you'd like,"

"O-oh no, that won't be necessary."

"I've heard that some brewers in Canterlot have 'coffee spells'. I can try that if needed," she offered.

Scarlet flinched, "No thanks, Ms. Sparkle. Trust me, the magic brews are overrated."

Scarlet managed to get to the kitchen, having a seat on the table end opposite Twilight's. A small, purple dragon with green spikes was already setting about his morning chores, sweeping the kitchen clean. "Sometimes you can still taste the traces of magic in the cup."

"Oh?"

"It's not palatable," Scarlet nervously laughed. "I'll just grab some coffee before heading to work."

"Oh. Well, Spike made us some pancakes, so feel free to dig in."

A plate stacked with three of the sweet smelling cakes levitated to Scarlet's plate, followed by a fork and a knife. The detective wasted no time tearing apart her much needed breakfast. "Do you know of any places to grab a mug of coffee, Ms. Twilight?" she asked between mouthfuls.

Twilight set down a book she had been reading at the table. "I'm not sure. I've never actually checked, but maybe Sugarcube Corner might be able to help out."

"That's perfect," she replied, "I'm probably going to head over there sometime today anyways. Can't keep my work waiting."

"That reminds me," Twilight floated two scrolls over from the other room, "You had two letters come in this morning. One of them is marked with Princess Celestia's insignia, so I thought I'd let you know as soon as possible."

Scarlet chased the last of her breakfast down with a pinch of water before looking at both of the letters. As Twilight had said, one of the scrolls had the official marking of the Princess on the wrapping, juxtaposed in its elegance and neatness with the wrinkled, hastily rolled scroll leaning against it.

'The scroll from the Agency comes first,' Scarlet reached over and grabbed the tidy roll of mail, unraveling it slowly as the purple coated mare across the table went back to her reading. Her jade eyes darted across the page, quickly downing the large block of content.

'Cookie cutter mission statements. I thought it might've been something useful,' she sighed, 'report all findings as soon as possible. Mail via pegasi is the most efficient method, but perhaps there's a faster way.' Her eyes continued down the page, losing any interest she had with the letter.

'Steele really needs to change up the protocol. This information should be a given for investigators.'

Scarlet rolled it back up and put it aside, looking back at what seemed to be Jessica's writing. Upon opening the scroll, several smaller sheets of paper fell out, each one folded into neat little squares. Ignoring them for now, she looked back at the page:

Dear Scarly,

Plans for our role in the mission have changed. As the leading coordinator, I am as of this moment entrusting all activity, leads, and findings from the Ponyville sector to you. This is all due to some findings I discovered last night upon arriving in Ponyville that have relevance with an unrelated case Steele's taken great interest in. I'm now partaking on an independent investigation regarding this newfound information, and thus will be unable to completely cooperate with you during your assignment.

Best wishes and good luck to you, Trace. I'll be swinging by for check ups now and then.

Jessica Scrawl
Official Scribe and Archive Management

More writing at the bottom of the page followed, this time in a more hastily written manner:

PS: That sounded so boring and tacky. Protocol, baby!
Anyways, Scarly, I'll be keepin' in touch with you during your mission, so don't be afraid to go to sleep.

Oh, and I've attached the conclusion to your dream, since you broke out of the spell much earlier than I anticipated. Good job, sweetie.

"Huh?" Scarlet cocked an eyebrow, looking back at the scattered notes along the table. She grabbed the nearest one, unfolding it with a curious hoof.

Twilight looked up from her reading, noting the harsh, blood red color of Scarlet's face upon reading one of the notes. Sweat formed on Scarlet's brow. The detective’s eyes looked back up at Twilight's. Scarlet gasped, frantically crumbling up the lewd and oddly detailed image Jessica had drawn out.

'Harassment! That's the definition of sexual harassment!' Scarlet boomed in her mind. She reached over to the other folded up documents, finding each to contain a thoroughly thought out picture of Jessica and Scarlet in compromising positions. She ran through each fold, balling them all up with great prejudice. She looked back up at a confused Twilight Sparkle, waving her forelock out of her eye.

"Hey, what's this?" Scarlet heard another voice next to her. Spike knelt at her side, picking up another folded attachment to Jessica's scroll. His claws were on the verge of opening it to view the contents.

Scarlet's world moved in slow motion as her hoof fired over towards Spike, grabbing the note right out of his grasp. Without hesitation, she shoved it in her mouth, downing the document faster than she thought possible.

Everypony's eyes were on her, begging for an explanation.

She caught her breath, "D-destroy all official documents upon reading. Agency...policy."

"...Makes sense to me," Twilight smiled after pondering for a moment. "But then, what about those?" Her hoof directed Scarlet to every other scroll on the table.

Scarlet dryly swallowed, looking at the letters, and then the waiting mare on the other end. She winced as her hoof reached over and grabbed a balled up picture. For the next few minutes, Twilight and Spike watched in awe as Scarlet forcibly downed each and every piece of mail she had received that morning.

'These damn pictures...all because of last night,' Scarlet felt a spark ignite in her mind. 'Last night!'

"Oh, Ms. Sparkle," she tried to pull attention away from her paper feast, "About last night...I fell asleep as soon as I managed to drag myself upstairs. Did I miss anything important? Clean up go well for you guys?"

Twilight, just as eager to move on, replied, "It actually went very well. I was able to disenchant quite easily while some of the sober ponies helped keep everypony apart from one another. Once I cracked the binding on the spell, I was able to cure pretty much everypony that was still here."

Scarlet hesitated, "Almost everypony?"

"I'm afraid some of the more 'enthusiastic' ponies made it out of the library before we could stop them. Time will tell if they managed to," she cleared her throat awkwardly, "get far enough."

"I sincerely apologize on behalf of my associate, Ms. Sparkle. It was irresponsible of me to assume Jessica wouldn't try something like this. She's infamous back in Canterlot for pulling pranks of this caliber."

"It's fine, Scarlet."

"Come to think of it," Scarlet remembered Jess' letter, "Any idea where she ran off to last night?"

"I'm not sure. Last time I saw her was during the outbreak. I caught her pulling Pinkie towards the back exit of the Library, but that's all I can honestly remember."

Scarlet almost jumped in her seat, 'She...she what?"

"Pinkie had far too many cups of punch at that point. Jessica volunteered to handle her while we took care of the rest of the ponies. I figured she'd be able to help her out, being that she's as magically inclined as I am."

"Not to mention it was her that did the initial enchantment."

"Precisely."

"I...I, see. Umm," Scarlet gulped, "have you heard from Miss Pie since then?"

"She was the first pony I went to go visit earlier this morning. She's home at Sugarcube Corner resting up from the night. Says she's pretty sore from last night, and she has a slight fever. Probably just her body responding to the overdose of magic in the drinks. She doesn't remember a thing though."

'Jessica did show some kind of bizarre interest in Ms. Pie earlier last night, but what could she possibly want with her...other than...' There was a long pause as Scarlet mulled over the idea. 'No. It'd be the first time she'd have taken advantage of somepony like that. It doesn't sound right, not even for somepony like her,' she shook her head.

Scarlet considered the possibilities. The sun rose higher and higher outside, a distant rooster's call snapping the detective back into the real world. 'I can think about this nonsense later. I need to focus on my assignment, with or without Jessica.'

"Ms. Twilight, can you point me in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres from here? I think it'd be best to start there and sweep my way through the town."

"That'll be no problem Scarlet," Twilight smiled. She had been scribbling something on a piece of parchment for the duration of the conversation, her quill jerking voraciously in the air. "I just need to finish writing out this note to Princess Celestia. During all of the commotion last night, I forgot to inform her of your arrival, as well as how last night played out."

Spike reappeared at Twilight's side, eagerly awaiting the letter. Scarlet looked on curiously as the baby dragon grabbed the parchment. He sucked in a great, deep breath, exhaling a curious magical dust onto the parchment. Scarlet watched in shock as the letter materialized in his breath, flowing seamlessly out of the library and into the sky outside.

'That's the same magic Jessica uses. Incredible that such a young dragon is already capable.'

"I think I'll plan out the rest of my investigation after my trip to Sweet Apple Acres. Once I know where I am, it should be easy to figure out how I should go about investigating in town," Scarlet told Twilight as Spike carried out the writing materials. "And actually, since I'm already here, I might as well start with you, Ms. Sparkle."

"That's fine with me," Twilight responded. "How can I help?"

Scarlet took another sip of her water, the condensation creating a ring of moisture on the flat surface. "Just a few questions in general. How long have you been here in Ponyville? I know you lived in Canterlot for quite some time beforehand."

"Not too long," Twilight said, "It's only been a few years at best. I moved here from Canterlot after my friends and I managed to take down Nightmare Moon."

"I recall hearing about that in the papers back in Canterlot," Scarlet remembered. 'If she's only been living here for three years or so, then it's impossible for her to really know much about the case...but just to be safe...'

"Twilight, have you ever heard any stories about a pony going missing here in Ponyville over the last few years? Anything at all from anypony who’s lived here for most of their life?"

"Uhh," she thought, "I don't think so. I don't know too much town history from before I arrived, and I haven't really gotten around to learning much yet."

"I thought as much," Scarlet replied, "Can you tell me of anypony who might be able to help?"

"You might be able to ask the Mayor. She's lived here for quite some time. Oh! The Apple Family at Sweet Apple Acres has been here for ages. I'm sure they might have a better idea about any information regarding something like that."

'Good call then. I have a solid trail to follow.'

"I think that's about all that I need for now, Ms. Sparkle. Thanks for the tip." Scarlet pulled herself away from the table, beginning to head back to the stairs.

"Wait, Ms. Trace!"

Scarlet turned back to face Twilight.

"If you don't mind me asking, what exactly is this case about?"

Scarlet sighed, "I'm sorry Twilight. I can't share that kind of information with you. It's classified."

"Huh. That's interesting."

"Interesting?" Scarlet questioned. "I suppose I can see that."

"No," Twilight shut down the sentiment, "I mean it's interesting because of the letters you got this morning."

"How so?"

"One of the scrolls had the insignia on it, and when you ate the contents, you also ate the non-marked information. I take it that it also had classified information on it as well, right?"

Scarlet felt a bead of sweat, "Y-you...you can say that, yeah."

"The insignia means that Princess Celestia is involved in your line of work, and it's curious to me because I lived under Celestia for half of my life, working as her protégé to learn all I could about magic."

Scarlet knew where Twilight was going with the line of reasoning.

"I've heard of little projects straight from her mouth from time to time, whether in private or by accident. I wasn't aware that she owned a sector for private investigations."

"...Celestia likes to keep us heavily under wraps, Ms. Sparkle."

"It makes me want to know more, but I understand that you're not the one who can tell me."

"She is. Is that what you're thinking?"

"Yes, Scarlet."

Scarlet fixed her forelock, which had fallen down over her eye once again. "Well, do what you wanna do if need be. It's not my mission to keep my activities under wraps, and I'm not going to tell you anything regarding the Agency. That's up to you to decipher from the Princess herself."

"It's interesting," Twilight continued, "maybe I'll have a chat with her sometime soon about it, but right now it's not possible. Nor is it important."

Scarlet grinned, "Good deduction, Twilight. Now, about Sweet Apple Acres..."

"Oh yeah! Just head due south after you leave this library. Keep on the main road until you come across the apple orchards. You can't miss it."

"Thank you kindly, Ms. Sparkle."

Twilight nodded before heading off to the main room in the library downstairs. Scarlet went back to her bed, gathering up her fedora, coat, and documents. She waved off to Twilight and Spike, who were busy organizing a new shelf on the other side of the main room, before shutting the door behind her.

"Let's begin."

==========

The smell of apple filled the mid-afternoon air. Scarlet felt suffocated by the trees bunched together in rows and columns on either side of the trail. The faint breeze accompanied her long walk through the apple scented countryside, catching sight of several pieces of fruit dropping off trees of their own accord. A giant red farm house lie beyond the path, an arching gate wedged between the white picket fence that bordered the farm welcomed all visitors. A wooden plaque hung above the arch, a spot hollowed out with an apple shape matched the apple hovering above the highest point of the farm house.

Coops, farm equipment, mounds of hay, and pens were expertly placed around the yard. Scarlet made her way through the arching gates just as an orange pony came walking out one of the many coops.

"Howdy there!" the work pony waved over from the distance. Her hooves were marked with mud from working that morning, and her hair was undone in several places. She quickly fixed what little she could of her mane before walking over to Scarlet, her Stetson bobbing up and down with every step in her trot.

"Hello there," Scarlet gave her greetings, taking a step back from the eccentric expression of Applejack's face. "Am I right in assuming that you're Ms. Applejack?"

"Absolutely, Ms...?"

Scarlet cleared her throat, "My name is Scarlet Trace, and I'd like to ask you several questions regarding Ponyville. I'm running a," she paused for a second, "...A series of articles regarding the town's history, and I figured it would be a good idea to come visit the Apple Family."

"Well, okay," Applejack started, "but come walk with me, I have to go get Applebloom from school already. They're about to let the fillies out."

"That's fine by me," Scarlet assured her, "I have other business to deal with later in town anyways."

"Alright then, follow me."

The walk back into Ponyville was riddled with Scarlet's investigation, starting with minor, easy to answer questions regarding her family history.

"Your family has resided in Ponyville for a long time, is this correct?"

"Yes ma'am. The Apple Family's been here even before Ponyville was founded. We have a long runnin' history with the town."

"Perfect, "Scarlet scribbled in a notebook for a quick second before catching up with Applejack. "Would you say that your family has come across most of the ponies that lived here?"

"Most, if not all of them," she said matter-of-factly, "Our Apple business sees ponies who want to buy our products from all 'round Equestria. We've probably seen everypony in Equestria at one point or 'nother, but a'hd need to see their face before I remembered any of them."

"I see," Scarlet mused, "Well, since your family's been here so long, I assume you've heard about most of the big stories that take place?"

"Big stories? What do you mean by 'big stories'?"

The border of Ponyville could be seen by now, the swarms of Apple trees lining the trail behind them. "Have you heard anything regarding ponies...disappearing from the region in the last decade or two?"

"Missin' ponies?" Applejack reached up and fixed her hat. "Can't say a'hve ever heard a peep about missin' ponies."

'Damn it. And there's so little documentation in general...'

"And would you know of anypony else who has been here for more or less a similar length of time as your family has?"

Scarlet's ears flickered at the sound of a distant bell. "Well, 'ah can't say much about it, but you could try asking Pinkie Pie ."

"Pinkie Pie?"

"She says she remembers everypony in Ponyville, and she's been around for a long time, ever since she was only a little filly. If somepony went missin' lately, then she'd be the one to talk to about that."

'Perfect. I need to talk with her regarding Jessica anyways.'

"Was that everythin' you needed, Scarlet? 'Ah still have a heap of work to finish back at the farm after I pick up mah lil' sis."

"Oh! Y-yes, that's perfectly fine, Applejack."

Several fillies came pooling out of a small, single classroom building nearby. A handful had already run past the two older mares, shouting in celebration of the end of their school day. A lavender colored pony followed up at the end of the line of students from the schoolhouse, waving them goodbye for the day.

Scarlet watched the younger ponies flock on by, her attentive eye paying special detail to some of the cutie marks she spotted.

"Scissors...a silver spoon? Ah, is that a candy cane?"

Scarlet pulled out her notes and finished jotting down the remainder of information she had ciphered from the farmer. Her hoof reached inside of her coat for her pencil. Her grip slipped, cursing herself as the utensil fell limp upon the dirt road.

"Oh," a child-like voice sung out. "Excuse me miss," the young colt lifted the pencil off the ground, handing it back to Scarlet with a beaming smile on his face.

"O-oh, thank you very much," Scarlet nodded, struggling to make eye-contact with the foal. Her eye wandered as she grabbed the pencil from him. As he turned to make his leave and catch up to his friends, Scarlet caught a glimpse of his flank.

"B...blank?"

"What was that?" Applejack asked, still waiting for Applebloom to meet her.

"A...that foal had no cutie mark, Applejack," She nearly gasped.

"Y'sound awful surprised."

"I've...never seen one before," Scarlet admitted, "In my line of work, I've never...not once, seen a...a blank.."

"Really? You didn't see any at school when you were a lil' filly?"

"N-no. I was home schooled."

Applejack tilted her head, "well yeah, having a blank flank is normal for ponies their age. It's kinda surprisin' to hear about somepony who’s never come across one before."

Scarlet struggled to look away from the colt, narrowing her eyes before finally breaking free. The image continued to linger in her mind as she turned back to Applejack.

"Well, thank you very much for your time, Ms. Applejack. I'll be sure to talk to you again if need be."

"Anytime, Scarlet."

Scarlet turned back towards town. She quickly glanced at her cutie mark, her face still bewildered by the empty space on the colt's body. "See you around."

'I've found nothing, and the day's half over. This isn't going to be much of a report...'

===========

The door swung open with ease. Mysty's soft, rosy pink eyes gazed upon that familiar coat and those dark, crimson eyes. His mouth shaped an inconsistent expression she immediately found familiar.

"Oh my!" Hart shouted, squinting her eyes. 'C-Conroy!?'

"Hello Mrs. Justis," the young, cobalt detective replied.

"Oh," Mysty popped, "It's you Locks. Please, come in." She moved to the side to let him come in, 'How funny, the resemblance is still uncanny after all these years.'

Locks took a look around the tasteless, bland apartment. "The place looks great, Mrs. Justis. Nice and clean." His eye caught sight of an incomplete puzzle resting on the coffee table in the den. "I see your appetite for jigsaw puzzles is still voracious."

"It's what I do, you know better than that." Mysty gave him a welcoming smile, "Can I get you anything Locks? A drink? A bite?"

"Hmm, a glass of water would be sublime, thank you." Locks quickly found a seat on the couch near the wall by the front door. 'There's not many pictures of the family in here. Everything seems plain and dry.'

"I'll be a minute. Make yourself at home, sweetie."

The detective sighed. 'Nopony calls me that except her. It's been awhile, but it's still...awkward.' He turned back to the kitchen, 'She worked at the Agency too. I can't be too routine about this, or she'll catch on right away. Be passive.'

"No problem," Locks said with a twinkle in his eye.

Mysty returned with two glasses in tow, placing one near Locks, and holding onto the other with a lazy hoof. "How've you been, Locks? I haven't seen you around in ages. It's so nice of you to pull yourself away from work to say hello. I really appreciate it."

Locks took a small sip of his cool drink, "I had several cases that got stacked up over the last month. Most of them were textbook, but you know how it goes. Lots of paperwork to deal with."

"Heh, so Flex is still as inefficient and bossy as ever, huh?"

'She used his first name...sounds a bit harsh.' "If by that you mean the policies at the Agency haven't really changed since you quit, then yes."

"Hmph," Mysty mocked Locks' boss, downing a third of her drink in another gulp before letting out a long sigh of relief. "That hit the spot. Steele's always too busy drowning in files and flirting with the princess to really get his hooves nice and dirty. That second rate officer wouldn't be able to solve a simple murder without tossing his fancy gadgets and shiny badge around like a little filly with the hall pass in elementary."

Locks stared at her eyes. 'Bloodshot...is she...?' Her glass was tinged a dark, toxic brown. "I'm sorry you feel that way, Mrs. Justis."

"What? You mean you don't?"

"In my experience, he's been efficient enough to get the job done. Amy and Jess think so too."

"Efficient enough isn't efficient enough," she downed another third, "And you can't fool me, Locks. Jessica Scrawl doesn't give a shit about the Agency."

"I'd like to believe otherwise."

"How so? Prove it to me."

Locks chuckled, "How else would she get her jollies without getting arrested?"

Mysty face momentarily wrinkled, interrupted only by the hiccup that crept up through the back of her throat. "Good 'ol Jessica. And Amy too. They still in your sector?"

"Jessica's always bouncing around. She became a free agent shortly after you quit, Mysty. Amy's still in my company though. It's nice to have a familiar face to work around.

Mystery Hart downed another fraction of her drink. "Would you care for something to drink, dear," her voice boomed beyond the walls of her house. The sound of beating wings came from the window, a light brown-coated mare hovered just outside of the closed window. Her lavender eyes found Mysty, followed by a series of whistles loud enough to make it through the window's thick barrier.

'Damn. She's practically drunk, yet her senses are just as sharp,' Locks noted as Amethyst shot back up into the sky.

"What a sweet girl," Mysty continued, "How is Amy doing these days?"

"Well," Locks automatically said, "She's doing well."

"She looks as beautiful as I can remember. Her mane is so long and wonderful." The veteran narrowed her eyes, "and she's become...somewhat edgy."

"She's taken excellent care of herself over the years."

"She got," another hiccup interrupted, "Bigger too! Hard to imagine that once upon a time, she was but a frail little-"

"I know. Coincidentally, Scarlet was in a similar place."

Mysty laughed the remark off, taking another large, hearty drink, remorseful that the glass had been dried. "Oh...I'm all out. Be right back."

'We're going nowhere. I need to lead the conversation,' Locks grunted as Scarlet's mother swayed her way into the kitchen. "What do you think, Mrs. Justis?"

"I'm inclined to disagree. Why wouldn't I?"

"It just makes me curious. Did you ever pay close attention to both Amethyst and Scarlet during the induction months?" he quizzed. His eyes concentrated on her face, his irises shining with focus.

"Locks, that upsets me. You know better than to say something so ridiculous."

"They both struggled to adapt. Circumstance aside, you can't tell me that they didn't-"

Glass shattered in the kitchen, "Oops. My bad." The sounds of her broom filled the void in the conversation, the jingle of the fragile shards chilled Locks' backbone. Mysty eventually stumbled back into the den, a new glass in her hand. She took a deep breath before downing another hefty portion of her brew. Her body shuddered as the liquor burned a path through her body.

"I was never on the case with Amy, so you're right. I can't say much about her to that extent. Anything that happened outside of the reports, at the very least."

Locks snorted, as if insulted. "Jessica, the Western sector, and I were all on site that day. What I saw that day can't be illustrated in something as generalizing and heartless as a report."

"Haha! I'll drink to that!" Mysty celebrated, bringing the glass to her lips once again. "Conroy fed me some of the information, but he wasn't on the case either. We didn’t know anything until we were called in on the last day. Poor girl...I'm happy for her though, she's become stronger for it."

"Amazingly strong. One of the most valuable ponies we've ever had, I'd bet," Locks paused for a moment to sip at his relatively tame drink. "To be fair to Scarlet, I'm in a similar boat. I have very little idea of the aftermath regarding his case."

"Conroy’s? Flex is still keepin' it locked up in his super 'special vault'?"

'Not anymore.' "More or less. There's not much to inspect, I imagine. Nothing ever really turned up to help it progress."

An eerie, knowing chortle came from the widow. "There's nothing in those documents that I don't know MORE of. I was his wife, you know," she took a seemingly relaxed drink out of her cup.

"Interesting. Have you ever told anypony?"

"Of course not."

"Really? Not even with Steele?"

"HA! Work with FLEX? Absurd," she failed to hide her hiccup after exhausting the glass, "The Agency can't help us anymore anyw-"

Mysty stopped mid-sentence, looking at Locks through her weary perception.

'Her face shifted,' he hesitated. "Mrs. Justis?"

"...He sent you, didn't he?"

'Fuck,' "Your eye is amazingly well trained, Mrs. Justis. I can't hide it appropriately against somepony of your caliber."

"You only got so far because of this!" Mysty hollered, raising her empty glass into the air. She slammed the cup down on the coffee table. "This isn't just a visit."

"...I was assigned a new case-"

"Cut it. It's not NEW if you had to come to a relic like ME for information. My stories died with my husband."

The detective sighed. "Steele put me on a revised case regarding the circumstances of Conroy's death. I finally had the chance to look at every last bit of the records, but nothing gave me any clues or leads. At first I rejected the idea of coming here...but if anypony could put me on the right path, it's you."

Mysty's expression was conflicted between disgust, anger, and respect, all directed at the younger colt sitting across from her. She clasped her hooves together, pinching her eyes shut as she made sense of his request.

"...You have exactly five minutes starting now. Good luck."

"Good luck?" Locks' repeated, "With what?"

"With convincing me to tell you anything about Conroy. If this is being used to that pathetic colt's gain, then you're going to struggle to justify it."

Locks rattled his brain for something, anything to say to convince her. 'Something that doesn't involve Steele makes it difficult. Damn it!' he struggled, 'and she knows me too well, it's impossible to just make up an excuse...what can I say?'

Mysty took several drinks from her glass every minute, her hind legs crossed, one of them bobbing up and down while she waited for a response. Her kept her hooves busy by messing with her unkempt mane, trying to force down several strands of her hair that looked as though they were trying t escape from her ivory head.

She cleared her throat, almost enjoying watching Locks under pressure, a sight rare for the common agent back at headquarters. "Time's running out, Locks."

"Steele wanted to," Locks paused the moment his boss' name left his mouth.

"Nuh-uh. Any reason primarily involving Steele is NEVER a good reason."

'What do I say, then? Think!'

Locks tapped his chin, pondering the many reasons he could use, but finding none that could sway Mysty towards accepting his plea for help.

"Less than a minute left, Locks. The clock is ticking."

Mysty took another drink, her eyes darting back to Locks. His eyes glistened, and an aura of confidence filled his body. Interested, she pressed on, "Hmm? You look like you just had an epiphany, sweetie."

"We...we chose to accept it."

Mysty was forced to double take as the words registered, "...What did you say?"

"Steele gave us the assignment, so it stands that in the end, he'll gain from it. There's nothing I can say about that. But, he made it an optional task, so nothing's been imposed on us like it usually is at the Agency. I accepted this job because I wanted to find the truth."

"So you chose this path yourself. Fair enough, but I'm still not fully convinced. What of Steele?"

"Steele will be benefiting, and he'll be feeding Princess Celestia the information as it comes, but WE are the ones who actively and willingly decided to continue this mission, willingly throwing ourselves out there to hunt for the answers we desperately need.

"The way I can best portray it in a nutshell," Locks paused, "We chose to give your family the justice it verily deserves."

Mysty mulled over his words carefully. "I did say that using Steele wasn't a good reason, but you did a great job trying to avoid that." She pushed herself off of the couch, wobbling back and forth in a lazy attempt to control her balance. "But if what you say is true..."

"It's entirely true. He profits, but he's the last person I care about in regards to the mission."

"You're using Steele as a stepping stone?"

Locks nodded in response. Mysty turned around, lifting her glass off of the coffee table as she did. A laugh, as soft as a feather at first, started to grow from the back of Mysty's throat.

"Stepping stone," Locks thought aloud, "You could say that, but it sounds like you're antagonizing us."

Mysty walked to the kitchen, her laugh audible enough to bring Amethyst back down to the window, curiously looking in at the new development. "I still don't like this all too much, Locks, but you've humored me."

"So what happens now, Mrs. Justis?"

"An eye for an eye, Locks. You made me smile, so now I'm obliged to do the same, right? You get one question about Conroy. Think carefully about it."

"I already have one," Locks started with a tad more enthusiasm, "In the documents, Steele notes that Conroy was on "independent research" that lacked Agency involvement prior to his death. We have no records or evidence from Conroy proving that he was even on any type of assignment. Since you're his wife, and once a part of the Agency itself, I feel like you should be able to tell me more regarding this little problem.

"Unless of course, he kept it from you as well."

"That's an excellent question, Locks," she bobbed her head in approval, "Conroy and I shared everything about our assignments. Secrets can only fester a relationship, don't you agree?

"In any case, before I say anything, I want you to understand something about what I'm about to tell you."

"Oh? And what exactly is that?"

"I'm nearly one hundred percent positive that Conroy's...death was a direct result of his independent research, and nothing more. There's," Mysty's voice lost its directness, "something strange and...eerily overreaching about the assignment, and what with becoming a...a widow, and having to take care of Scarlet, I never committed myself to finding out why after his passing."

"I can understand that much. You're a mother, you can't risk your life and your daughter's welfare over a dangerous case like that. Scarlet would've been left alone if something were to happen."

Mysty turned her head the other way. "Just promise me that you won't do something stupid with this information, okay? I'd hate to be the one who killed our family's closest friend."

Locks scooted closer to Mysty, his concrete stare softened at her reserved physique. "I promise, Mrs. Justis."

"Conroy had always been fascinated with Scarlet, ever since she was born."

"Everypony's heard of it by now, the Premature Cutie Mark. He was reasonably curious, Mrs. Justis, it was a first time for Equestria."

"He scoured the Agency looking for related material on cutie marks, and collaborated with Steele concerning the topic, but he always came home empty hoofed.

"Being one of the best detectives at the Agency, and a friend of the Princess, he was able to grab an audience with Celestia regarding the matter some weeks before his death. I think that's the point where everything began to change.

"He came home with a hardened look that I think we both know all too well."

"It's the look when he knows exactly where to go next for his answer," Locks added.

"...Ponyville, to the Everfree Forest."

"Everfree?"

"He was oddly cryptic about it, but he said that the answers were in the Everfree Forest, so he moved to Ponyville for a few days. I sent him letters, but he didn't respond. The fact that the Everfree Forest is what it is got me anxious."

"Timberwolves, Manticores, Cockatrices, Dragons, and Ursas. Makes sense."

"I eventually did manage to get a letter from him one day."

Mysty paused to catch her breath. Locks pressed on, "And what did that letter say?"

"The answer to his investigation was close, he said. The key was within a 'missing colt' that had been wiped from the records. It sounded...grim. I...I know it sounds crazy but..."

"But what?" Conroy asked, eager to drain her of all the information she was willing to give.

"I...I don't think Conroy wrote that letter. If it was him that sent it, then something happened that changed him."

Locks' eyes grew wide with curiosity and confusion. Mysty took another breath, "The next letter I received was from the Agency, reporting that he...he was found dead near the bridge leading to Northern Canterlot."

"M-Mysty," Locks blurted, "that can't be right."

"What?"

'Scarlet's case...and Mysty...but,' "Justis was back in Canterlot that day!"

Mysty turned back around, staring him straight in his crimson eyes, "What did you say?"

"I TALKED to Conroy Justis that day. I talked to him the day he died. Scarlet saw him too! Mysty, what time did you get that letter?"

"I got the first letter only a few hours before the second, and I'm positive that it was addressed from Ponyville."

'What the hell is this!?' Locks backed up, "I talked to him. He didn't seem completely there. Like he had zoned out from everything else that day."

"You...you really saw Conroy back in Canterlot that day?"

"Absolutely, but can you tell me more about this?"

Mysty inched closer, hungry for more information after this sudden outburst. Her mouth opened, Locks eager to hear what she had to say. Suddenly, Mysty paused, retreating back to her seat, finishing off with another drink. She sighed as her back pressed against the soft cushion of the couch, "No can do Locks. Our transaction is complete."

"What?" Locks almost gasped.

"An eye for an eye. My debt is paid off."

"I see," he wiped his sweaty brow with a spare hoof, lifting himself from the couch, "Thank you for the information, Mysty. This'll definitely give me something to prod over."

Mysty gave him another warm smile. "No prob-"

Mysty froze in place, her expression and body suspended in mid-sentence as a dooming realization dawned upon her. "It took me awhile to catch it," Mysty croaked, her voice trembling. "Please don't let this be true, Locks."

'What is she talking about?' Locks asked himself. He shuddered, the temperature in the room dropped, a sharp chill ran through his black and white mane. "What's the matter, Mrs. Justis?"

"Us. We. Our. You've been slipping during our entire conversation. Locks...who's working with you?"

"In regards to Amethyst and myself, Mrs. Ju-"

"Bullshit!" Mysty's voice banged against Locks' ears. Her hoof swept across the table, kicking up the glass and slinging it against the wall, splitting it into tiny fragments all across the carpet. "You can hardly call the guardians 'coworkers' on a case, Locks! They don't do the things we do!"

'This is bad, I've lost control!' Locks recoiled, watching Mysty spring off of her seat. She stomped over to Locks, and before he could do anything, pinned him back against the cushion with a single hoof. "I'm not going to ask again. Who's working with you?"

'She's entitled to know, I can't keep it a secret from her,' Locks' thoughts echoed in his mind. He strained against her as he answered, "You don't need to hear it from me. You already figured it out yourself, haven't you?"

Locks felt a sharp sting against his gut. His vision panned down to a sickle of glass prodding against his delicate underbelly, the only thing separating him from a trip to the emergency room being a sudden jolt from the hectic mare. "I want to hear it from your mouth!" Mysty demanded.

Locks eyes panned to the window, spotting Amethyst preparing to burst through the glass. He quickly shook his head against the plan, holding a spare hoof out while the other stayed at his side, doing what he can to avoid tempting the ex-detective's hoof from plunging her weapon any deeper. Reluctantly, Amethyst stayed hovering beyond the barrier, hoping Locks would be okay.

"...Scarlet's working with me," he finally admitted, "She volunteered, Mysty."

The glass fell as he finished his sentence. Mysty let him go, walking backward towards her side of the couch, "I...I see."

"I'm sorry Mysty, but it was her decision," he added, rubbing the spot she had poked. A small trickle of blood had made its way a few centimeters down his belly from the light jab Mysty made. He blew it off, approaching Mysty as she fell back onto her seat.

"She's going to be killed. Just like him," she muttered silently, burying her face in her hooves. A spare hiccup interrupted her quiet sobs as Locks approached her, doing what he could to console the frightened mare. She raised her head to Locks, "What...what's her assignment? Tell me, now!"

"I can't Mysty. It's classi-"

"I'M HER MOTHER!" she bellowed, causing Amy and Locks to wince.

The detective shook his head, rubbing his eyes with a hoof, "She's investigating in Ponyville. She's looking into the missing pony case Conroy was working on."

"She," Mystery wiped her face clean, properly sitting herself back on the couch, "She might die."

"We're not going to let that happen."

"Please," Mysty snorted, "You couldn't save Conroy. You and your shitty boss couldn't do a damn thing. How can you promise me Scarlet's safety?"

Locks was stumped. "To be honest...I can't promise you. Not right now. I'm sorry."

Hart's eyes spaced out, looking at the wall behind Locks without so much as a tinge of emotion, "You know, you've been a friend of our family for a long time, Locks. I could even call you a stepson if I wanted to."

Locks remained quiet.

"Can you do something for me, Locks?"

"...Of course," Locks shifted.

"Bring Scarlet home."

"M-Mysty, I don't know if I can do that just yet."

"She'll come. She always has when I've asked."

Locks shifted around the couch and into the hallway leading back to the front door. "...I'll request an immediate departure from Ponyville for her as soon as we're done here, but that's all I'm afraid I can do for you right now."

"And watch her." Locks stopped in place. "Watch. Over. Her. If I can't convince her to stay away from this mess, then it's your job to make sure she stays alive. You, Amethyst, and Jessica."

"I understand, Mysty. I'll do everything I can."

Mysty sniffed as she cleared her drink down to the very last drop. She returned to the kitchen, sniffling as she set herself up with another generous serving. "Now get out of my sight, Locks. You've upset me plenty today."

Locks opened the door for himself, 'Yes, Mrs. Justis." Amethyst's giant wings carried her above the complex, watching Locks' movements like a gargoyle. Locks signaled to her, "C'mon Amy, we're heading back now." He turned to close the door after his pegasus protector lifted from the rooftop, looking back at the worried mother in the kitchen, who hadn't moved from her spot.

"I'm sorry."

Locks made his leave, pulling the door closed behind him. The wind pushed against the determined colt marching back towards the Agency, contemplating what he'd have to include in his report. The gust of wind, unknowingly to him, shoved Mysty's door back open.

Hart didn't so much as flinch when the door slammed against the wall of the house. She casually downed another mouthful, slowly moving her heavy eyes to the door.

"Can you be a dear and shut the door for me? There's a chill outside." Mysty asked the empty house.

Her door, as if it had a mind of its own, jerked in place before swinging completely shut on the outside world. The lock turned until a loud click made Mysty's ear twitch.

==========

2 Weeks Later

Scarlet's body flopped helplessly against a pristine white bench near a detailed, ivory statue of a pony in the middle of Ponyville’s park. Her back pressed against the seating as she stretched out her legs, taking up the entire seat. She let a petite yawn escape her jaw while she fixed her hat to block her face against the sunlight. Her left hooves slung uselessly from the edge of her spot in a frustrated defeat. Her magnifying glass slumped off to her side as well, swinging as a pendulum, suspended in the air above the dirt road.

"Ms. Pie, do you remember anything at all from last night? Anything particularly interesting that stood out to you?" Scarlet recalled from yesterday.

The pastel pink pony's eyes darted around the room from her spot on the bed, "Nopey dopey. Didn't see, hear, smell, or taste anything."

"You missed feel. Did you feel something?"

"Hmm," Pinkie rubbed her chin with one of her energetic hooves, "I remember something crawling."

"Crawling?"

"It felt like being lifted high into the sky by a swarm of parasprites!" she enthusiastically exploded in Scarlet's face.

"Can you tell me anything else concerning that feeling? Of being lifted, I mean."

"...Oh! I DID feel somepony brush up against my face! Does that count?"

'That was Jessica,' Scarlet made a note to herself, "Mmhmm, good. Anything else?"

"Uhh, nope, sorry," Pinkie Pie shrugged.

"I've talked to half of the ponies in this town, and I've come up with absolutely nothing!" Scarlet moaned into her fedora, flicking her tail against the bench in aggravation. "I've even managed to get a one on one with all of the elements, AND the mayor!"

"Letter!" a ditzy voice bounced above her head. Scarlet jumped to her haunches immediately, adjusting her hat and her mane, blowing air to move it out of her right eye.

"Who's there?" Scarlet asked.

"Letter!" the voice sang out again. Scarlet looked above her and smiled in relief. A gray coated pegasus with a sleek, blond mane was hovering just above her, holding a single scroll rolled up in her hoof. "Letter!"

"A letter for me?" Scarlet asked, hesitating to reach out and grab it.

"Letter!" she replied with enthusiasm, jerking her hoof out farther.

"Thanks," Scarlet saluted the mare, grabbing the letter and waving the mail mare off toward her next destination. The scroll had the royal seal pinned on the wrapped parchment, which Scarlet didn't hesitate to rip open in the middle of the park.

"Return back to Canterlot?" Scarlet repeated from the reading, "...Mystery Hart requests a meeting? Tomorrow morning?!" The young mare crumbled up the scroll and tucked it away in her coat. "What the hell did Locks do?!"

She jumped back on to her fours. "Carriage will be arriving late tonight to transport back, please gather what you need before returning," she memorized from the scrunched up ball of paper. "What are Steele and Locks up to?"

==========

The sun was still hiding behind the eastern sky of Canterlot when Scarlet was face to face with the door to her mom's apartment. She didn't expect to be back so soon, but knowing that Locks and Steele meddled in her mother's affairs made her incredibly uneasy about talking to her.

'What did they tell her? She's no slouch, she could read them as well as they could probably read her,' Scarlet's nerves trembled. Knowing that standing outside in the chilly weather would do her no good, she reached for the door knob, letting the door swing open as she took her first steps inside.

"Mom? Are you home? I was told that you wanted to see me...?" Scarlet called out, leaving the door open. The house still looked just as it had before she had left. 'There's an empty bottle on the shelf. I doubt she'd leave that sitting around, and it looks fresh," Scarlet walked to the den on her right, recognizing a small blanket that had been left ruffled on a corner of the couch.

Scarlet's entire body jolted when she heard the front door slam behind her.

"Hi Scarlet. Welcome home," Mysty beamed.

'How did she get behind me,' Scarlet jumped back. "H-hi mom. I...I was told that you wanted to see me?

"Yes," Mysty nodded. She strolled up to her young daughter, "First, how was your trip? Oh, and don't mind, feel free to take a seat," she motioned to the couch.

'Much better without Jessica,' Scarlet shivered, "It was fast, and pretty uneventful. Jessica left after my first day on the job. Something about some "independent research."

Mysty's eye twitched. "You know," she sat on one end of the couch, "I had a visitor come to the house the other day.

Scarlet could feel a chill slowly making its way into the room. She tightened up her coat, feeling the air crawl up her neck. "Is that so? Who was it? Steele?"

"Detective Locks, of course," Mysty was oblivious to the temperature change, "We talked for a bit, and shared a drink. Caught up with one another. He's looking more and more handsome by the day."

'So it WAS Locks. Does he already have a lead on his end?' Scarlet fiddled as she found her seat. "And what exactly does that meeting have to do with me? Sounds like he just wanted to be a little friendly."

"I'm Mystery Hart, sweetie," she clicked with a grin, "What do you think happened?"

'Damn it, Locks. You took a gamble coming here, and now it's biting ME in the flank,' she moved her forelock from her face, "Why don't you tell me? I have no idea what's going on in Canterlot."

"Steele's on the move again, and this time, he's using the two of you. Isn't that right?"

'She's being odd...she's taking this too well,' Scarlet looked down, "That's somewhat true."

"And Locks told me something interesting," Mysty scooted closer. "He said that Steele gave you the option to refuse that request.

Scarlet moved away from the advancing Hart. "H-he did. We voluntarily accepted the assignment," she gulped.

"Ah, so Locks really WAS telling the whole truth, then. Scarlet," Mysty's eyes pierced Scarlet's hide, "Why?"

"Why?"

"Your father traveled down the same road."

"Because I need to know the truth, just like he did," Scarlet replied immediately.

"Locks said the same thing," Mysty sighed, "I don't buy that. That's not a 'Scarlet' response.

"Your father died because he found something that somepony didn't want him to uncover. There's no other reasonable motivation behind his death beyond that," Mysty squinted her worn, baggy eyes. "He knew too much, and I know you feel the same way about it. Unless I missed some crucial point of development for my own daughter, I know that you'd never justify something as ridiculous as 'the truth' for why you accepted the case."

"Mom, what else do you want to hear me say? It really IS the truth," Scarlet moved closer to her less hostile mother.

"That's not everything, Scarlet. You're hiding something more."

'She's reading me like a book,' the detective winced.

Mystery chortled, "That face you're making. It has nothing to do with me reading your mind. I'm just really good at catching your tell. I'm your mother, remember?"

Scarlet froze, her eyes looked away from her mother's face.

"Scarlet, we aren't on the job here," Mysty spoke in a hush, "You're at home. I asked for you so we could talk. Your only role right now is to be my daughter, none of this detective bullshit."

'I know that, believe me,' Scarlet inhaled, "So you pulled me away from Ponyville, and my job, to drag the truth out?" Mysty affirmed the question. "If...if my job right now is only to be a daughter."

"It is."

The room fell into a catatonic state, the sound of the rippling wind filling the atmosphere with a thick, dreary pressure. Scarlet's mind struggled to decide on what to say. 'I'm going to have to tell her, or else I'm not getting out of here on a good note.'

"I did it to fix us," she finally replied with absolute certainty.

"What did you say," Mystery's eyes lit up.

"I accepted the mission to fix us, mom."

"Fix," Mysty repeated, looking beyond Scarlet in a stupor. "Scarlet, are we broken?"

Scarlet let the silence take control of the room.

"Scarlet, baby, answer me," her mother pleaded.

Scarlet tried to shift away from her. Mysty nearly bounced over to Scarlet from the other couch, wrapping her ivory hooves around the front of Scarlet's neck. She pulled Scarlet to her, resting her head on the back of her daughter's. "Please, answer me honestly. We're family, right? You know me. I won't get mad with you."

"We're," Scarlet hesitated, pulling the fedora further over her head, "I think we're broken. When he died," she felt Mysty's grip tighten, "you changed. It was immediate, but I could feel it, slowly transforming you into something else. You started spending all of your time at the cemetery, wandering aimlessly along the tombstones. I'd...I'd come home from my day at the Agency, and you'd..."

Mysty spotted Scarlet's pause, "Say it Scarlet. It's okay to say it, I know what I've done."

"You'd walk the other way," she sniffed, feeling the heat rise to her face. "Dad's death destroyed the bond we had when I was a filly. I couldn't stand living under the same roof that we'd spent so many happy days under any longer."

"So you moved out," Mysty's words trembled with each syllable, her ears folded down along her head.

Scarlet shook her head. "The next time I showed up for a visit, I found you drinking." Her hoof ran up one of Mysty's forelegs, feeling her mother's smooth coat. "Just constantly, always drinking, or sleeping your life away on the couch. You even went so far as to get a job at the same cemetery you wasted so much of your time at."

"Scarlet..."

"I knew that I needed a solution. I," she felt moisture building up in her eyes, "I wanted to go back to the days we had when I was younger." Scarlet slowly dragged another breath in, "When Steele finally gave me the option to take this case, I thought that maybe..."

"Scarlet, ssh," Mysty ran one hoof through her deep, red mane. "I understand completely now. You don't need to say anything else. You were scared for me. My health. Our health."

"Mom?" Scarlet reacted to Mysty's weakening hold.

"I think I get it now," Hart started. "If I begged you right here, right now, to drop the case, it wouldn't change your decision, would it?"

"No," she shut her eyes, "I need to do this."

"Not even if I said that you could die...just like your father?"

"Mom," Scarlet's frame tightened up, "I'd rather die than live any longer like this. I want us back."

The carefree breeze outside beat against the window frame, making the glass tremble.

"Locks wasn't sugar coating it. There's really nothing else I can do now," Mysty whispered. "I guess that leaves me no choice."

Scarlet's ears perked up. "No...choice?"

Mysty released Scarlet and turned her around. "I told Locks that there's information that only I know, of which goes far beyond what the reports say. Beyond what even you were aware of here at home, Scarlet."

"But then why didn't you tell him?"

"Why would I," Mysty almost gasped. "I despise Steele with all of my heart, and Locks works directly under him. However, I did part with some details. That's the only reason they let me pull you out of Ponyville for this.

"I was hoping I could convince you to stop." Mysty's purple-pink irises linked with Scarlet's jade green, "You're all I have left, sweetie. I just...I just don't want to lose you too. that's why I never took on the case after I finally had the freedom to do it. I was afraid that I'd leave you alone.

"But," she continued, "If you're not happy with how things have been...then I can't allow it to continue any further."

Scarlet wiped her eyes, "Mom...thank you."

Mysty tugged Scarlet in for a hug. "I'm your mother, Scarlet. I'd do anything for you."

Scarlet smiled at the feeling of her mother's warm embrace. "So then you...you have information?"

"The mission is deadly, but you're going to tackle it head on regardless of what I say. My only choice is to help you out then, right?"

The tension pent up inside the house was completely incinerated by the sound of Mystery's hearty laughter, "Don't think I'm going to stop drinking NOW though. I've got the cider fever!"

'Beggars can't be choosers,' Scarlet shook her head, tightly squeezing her mother back. "That's fine. We can deal with that some other time. What can you tell me about dad and his case?"

"I'll do you one better," Mysty boldly claimed with a cocky grin, "I'll show you. Come on."

Scarlet followed her mother, the two of them jumping to their feet and making their way down the hallway that lead from the front door to the back wall. "Where are you taking me?"

Mysty's hoof extended to the back end of the hallway, directing Scarlet's attention to the door that stood waiting for this day to come.

"Dad's locked work room? He never let either of us in there."

"Your father was very organized in his work up until the day he died. He trusted me with a spare key that'd unlock the door, but specifically asked me to avoid the room whenever I could."

"Avoid it? How come?"

"Oh, I don't know," Mysty shrugged, "I've just kept my end of the bargain because I'm his wife."

"So have you ever been inside the room?" Scarlet felt the cold air sting the back of her exposed neck again, forcing her to readjust her coat.

"A few times, just to dust and clean. I haven't touched anything otherwise."

"Just to dust," Scarlet cocked a brow.

Mysty hummed, "You really need to remember the level of dedication and respect your father and I had for our work." Mysty's hoof reached up, digging into her mess of a mane. Her eyes jolted, her hoof tugging at something that seemed to be snagged in her hair. A small, gold key popped out from her head, and without hesitation, she plunged it into the bolted lock. A loud, obnoxious click ringed through the hallway, and the door popped open several inches.

Mysty stood to the side, looking back at Scarlet and waving her daughter into the room. The younger mare slowly walked up to the threshold. "Mom," she turned, "Are you coming?"

"Oh heavens no," Mysty almost gasped, "I have no business in that room. Besides, I have to get ready for work. You can stay as long as you need. If anything is left to dig up, it's in there."

Scarlet looked into the room, "O-okay. Here I go," she gulped, hesitating to pass beyond the wooden door. A new kind of pressure tightened her stomach, knowing nothing of what would be beyond the door. Scarlet took in a deep breath, and quickly stepped into the office, realizing that the sounds of the wind against the house had suddenly disappeared.

Her eyes darted around the darkness, feeling the wall for a light switch. A click snapped, illuminating the entirety of the darkness. 'Mom wasn't kidding. This room looks spotless.' The work room was of a simplistic, easy to manage design: The side walls, and back wall were completely covered by rows of bookcases. One wall was packed in with a mountain of hardcover books that suffocated each other in what little available space they had between each other. Scarlet's eyes grazed over the titles of the books, ignoring them for the most part before turning over to the other wall on the other side of the room. It was nearly indistinguishable, holding another chunk of Conroy's book collection together.

The floor below her clacked with each step she took. A small closet rested on the wall near the door she came from, and a hefty sized desk with a single, wooden chair rested in front of the back wall. With very little to explore beyond the desk, Scarlet made her way to the rear bookcase. Pictures littered the shelves of this one, of Steele and Conroy, Mysty, and even one of Jessica, Amethyst, and Locks together. Scarlet had her own little section near a few pictures of her mother on one shelf of the case, most of them from her fillyhood.

Other frames opted for newspaper clippings, marking the conclusion to dozens of cases Conroy had solved in his time at the agency, some that Scarlet herself could recall hearing and seeing herself back at the office. At the top of the case, there was a plaque to Justis, signed by Princess Celestia herself. It gave a glamorous sheen in the wake of the bright light.

Scarlet looked down at the work desk. Its top was bare, save for two items: a shiny, silver badge, and a messily wrapped up scroll.

'Dad's badge,' she picked it up, 'it looks just like Steele's...the color must be a rank. Locks and I both have bronze colored ones...'

Her hooves turned to the scroll, unraveling it in the silence, each fold of the parchment making a crinkling sound that made the detective anxious. Her eyes darted up at the corner of the letter.

'What's this? The date,' Scarlet almost lost her breath, 'there's no mistake. It's the day before he died.' Her eyes wandered down the page, '...And it's incomplete?'

Scarlet looked away from the letter. The desk had several small cabinets located on the bottom and at either side of the chair. She pulled open the first drawer. Dozens of fattened, manila folders occupied this space, rich with tons of information on several of Conroy's longer-term assignments. In the front of this pack, was a unique, maroon folder. Catching her attention easily, she pulled the folder out, finding a label on the tab.

'Scarlet,' she read, pausing as she let the implications wander about in her head. She quickly pushed the unfinished scroll to the side of the desk to make room for the folder. It had nowhere near the amount of girth as the others, and upon opening the folder, Scarlet found dozens of newspaper clippings. Running her hooves through them, she sorted the newspapers, finding that many of the clippings were the exact same as each other.

'Rare filly born in Manehatten: How soon is too soon,' Scarlet's ears drooped after spotting the date. 'This is the paper he always talked about. This is when I was born,' she looked back on her flank. The large, imprint of a magnifying glass lifelessly stared back at her. 'Every single 'cutie mark' used in this paper has been circled in red ink.'

Scarlet looked over to the other clippings. Several photos were squeezed between them, aged but well cared for. 'Who's this,' Scarlet asked herself when she spotted a white coated mare in nearly all of the pictures taken.

Her coat was a blinding white color, her hair matching its brilliance with a flowing, banana colored flair. Her mane curled at the base of her body, right on top of the joint area between her sides and her forelegs. Her forelock split at the front thanks to her gleaming, lengthy horn, and her tail swirled up into itself, deceiving Scarlet's eyes with its sheer length. Her eyes were a dazzling aqua, her face finished off with a mole right underneath her right eye, positioned with incredible care from her genes. Her hooves were covered with raven black shoes, tightened by a golden strip that kept them snug on her feet.

One of the many pictures of this beautiful unicorn came from a magazine cover. 'Nixie Hope: Fashion Diva Extraordinmare,' Scarlet's mind finally snapped. 'Nixie Hope? THE Nixie Hope? Dad worked with her?

'And what does she have to do with this file,' she ran through other clippings related to this Nixie Hope. She found another newspaper folded up among the small pile: "Nixie Hope: Beauty is no placeholder for the Cutie."

'Each 'cutie mark' is circled again.' At the end of the pile, Scarlet's eyes locked on another interesting title: "Tragedy at Hope Manor!!' The address to a house was scribbled in at the top of the paper, near the date of the article.

'Nixie Hope was found dead in her manor,' Scarlet slowly breathed out. 'Why is the date circled too?'

Scarlet quickly turned back to the unfinished scroll on the side of the desk. Her hoof reached out and snagged it, unrolling it once more:

[There's a ton of information that begs to be discovered regarding my independent investigation concerning Scarlet's cutie mark. I feel as though I've been running around in circles like a maniac, but there's a looming feeling in my gut that tells me a conclusion is coming. Hope lead me to royalty; Celestia may know something, but I fear that in the process of digging up the truth, I've completely disregarded my physical health. Flashes, pouring sweat, and fatigue have been draining me, and growing in intensity as I dove deeper into the case.

Strangely enough, I'm back home in Canterlot. I don't remember how, or why, but my decision to return, and the very act itself, are all missing from my memory. I began writing this letter immediately upon realizing that I had come home. Mysty's not home at the moment, most likely out at the market, and my little girl is working hard back at the Agency I assume.

I...feel something happening inside me. It's the first time I've been afraid for myself in ages. If these symptoms keep up, I don't think I can fight it off for much longer. I can only hope that my family will persevere should something happen to me.]

Scarlet's eyes strained to read what had been written down in the center of the page. 'The writing here...it's illegible. I need to move on.'

[There it is again. It's impossible to write any more. To my protégé Locks, my closest friend Flex, and the loves of my life, Mysty and Scarlet: Take care of yourselves.

Oh, and Jessica?

You can burn in hell.

I've left all of my progress here in my workspace. Should anypony be brave enough to tackle the remainder of my investigation, I leave you with this: Good luck, an-]

'This,' Scarlet couldn't breathe, 'It's incomplete. This...this is huge.' Her eyes darted back and forth between the file and the scroll. 'I don't know how I'm involved in all of this, but I need to report this right away. It's going to take weeks to set this up right.

'Royalty was involved...and the Agency is only afloat because of the royal family,' Scarlet packed up the red file. 'This might create some conflict...I’ll have to take special care in the report.'

Scarlet tucked the file and scroll into one of her coat pockets. 'I have everything I need now,' she looked back at the closet that had gone unchecked in her venture. 'I should check that out before I leave.'

The closet itself was very unremarkable, a faded brown color that Mysty tried desperately to polish back to its well furnished state. Scarlet reached out to the handles, swinging it open to see what treasures were hidden inside.

==========

Mysty sealed her lunch into a airtight bag, placing it neatly into her saddlebag, along with a pair of generously sized bottles of alcohol. Quickly, Hart wrapped a light coat on her body to prepare for the colder weather outside. She ruffled her mane and flicked her tail out, popping her neck as she prepared to depart from the house.

'She's been in there for a long time. I can't wait forever,' she opened the front door. A heavy chill slammed against her body, heavier than the cold air inside of her house. 'She's fine. I'm already on my way anyways.' She took a step closer to the threshold when another freezing gust blew against her face. 'Damn it. Cold. This jacket isn't cutting it,' she backed up into her house.

Mystery heard the back room finally close, the lock popped back into place.

'I'm gonna have to buy a new winter coat or something. This is completely ridicu-'

She was cut off, feeling a heavier coat engulf her from behind.

"Wear this," her daughter tightened the coat against her body.

Mysty looked at the coat, recognizing it immediately from the scent and the appearance. "But sweetie, this is YOUR coat," she turned to see her daughter, "What about y-"

Scarlet nervously smiled at her mother's lack of a response. On Scarlet's body was a larger jacket, pitch black and ending only inches from the base of her hooves. Her belt from the jacket Mysty was wearing was still on her waist, keeping the coat loose on her body. Along the belt were a pair of thick hoofcuffs and a flashlight, strapped in a snug, easy to reach spot between her front and back legs. Several extra pockets riddled the outside of the jacket.

"...I found it in his closet," Scarlet said.

"It's too big on you," Mysty leaked the words.

"Yeah, that's why I did this," Scarlet turned to her side. Another belt, Conroy's old relic, was wrapped around the base of her neck, running down behind her forelegs. The second belt kept the rest of the coat from completely falling off of her body from the size difference.

"I see...you look great, Scarlet."

"Thanks mom," Scarlet tightened her fedora against her head. She puffed her forelock out of her right eye. "Sorry about all the mess."

"It's fine, Scarlet. It's completely fine."

The wind outside whistled a begging tune for the two mares as they stared back at one another. Mysty waved her daughter closer, bringing her in for another embrace.

"Be careful Scarlet," Mysty rubbed Scarlet's back.

"I will," Scarlet nuzzled against her mom's still questionable mane. "I'll uncover the truth for the both of us. I promise."

'Her will. It's just like her fathers,' Mysty released her. "Do it, Scarlet. If you ever need me, don't forget that you can always find me," she solemnly reminded the young detective. "I have to leave, I'm running late."

Scarlet watched Mysty gallop down the alley against the harsh weather outside. Scarlet reached for a pocket on her father's coat, patting it down after feeling the files she had taken from the room. "It isn't much, but it's a solid lead for our cases. I need to send this to Steele as soon as my reports are completed." She looked around the house, then back at the locked work room. She saluted the door quickly, fixing up her outfit.

'Odd. I'm still inside the house...but it's FREEZING in here, just as badly as outside.'

The door shut tightly behind her as Scarlet made a beeline for the Agency Headquarters. As the eager earth pony turned the corner and out of sight, another breeze brushed up against the house.

The door violently swung open. A powerful draft of cold air rushed throughout the house, making its way to the open world outside. An instance later, the door slammed shut. On Mysty's kitchen counter, a cup of ice left behind from her afternoon drink began to drop down to room temperature, finally allowed to perspire in peace.

Author's Notes:

I meant to update this sooner, I apologize for the drought.
In any case, here's the next chapter. Things should start chugging along pretty soon after this, so I'm pretty excited for that.

Leave comments, suggestions, whatever you wish. I'd definitely appreciate the time.
I'll be updating this again soon. Give or take a week and some.

Until then, cya.

- Garnet Rose

201: Second Specimen

One Month Later

Papers slid across the polished desk by a pair of weary, aged hooves. The elder colt's silver coat was rugged with the wear and tear of his daily tasks, the scent of dried sweat emanating from his forehead and the base of his neck. He readily wiped a hoof across his forehead, sliding another page of a rather short document over to his guest. Another pair of hooves, decorated with a pair of regal, golden horseshoes, pinned the papers to the brown desktop, her eyes quickly scanned for any new information.

"This is perfect," Steele mumbled loud enough for Princess Celestia to overhear, "Locks and Trace have done a great job getting the details from Mrs. Justis."

Equestria's solar princess lifted the page into the air with her magic, passing it on to one of the pair of guards rooted to the ground behind her. One guard broke his stance, grabbing the page and quickly securing it in a saddlebag with a lock. Once the safeguard clicked back into place, she turned back to her old friend.

"Mystery Hart's been harboring important knowledge for such a long time, it seems."

"Hart and I went through some difficult times after Conroy's passing," Steele regrettably lowered his head. "If today was the first time she's said anything up until now, then she's probably still pissed at me."

The Princess hummed out a curious little tune. "May I ask what it was that you did to upset her, Flex?"

Steele turned to the Princess with an emotionless glare, "I did what the royal family ordered, Princess. I shut down the investigation for Conroy."

Celestia, expecting Steele's forsaken expression, helplessly sighed. "I apologize on behalf of the council, but you know that we had to cut it short for," she paused, searching for the proper term, "external reasons."

"I know," Steele coldly replied.

"The royal family wishes to preserve as many Artifacts as possible. Losing Conroy Justis set us back on decades of progress, Steele." Celestia turned back to a handful of reports Steele passed to her. "I refuse to risk any more lives on his investigation."

"That's understandable," Steele's eyes glanced by Scarlet and Locks' signatures. "That's why I gave these rookies the option to deny the case. Better to have those willing to sacrifice over somepony who never had a choice. Sounds right to you, doesn't it?"

"I still have far too many reservations about making the investigation a number one priority for the Agency Flex, but as much as I wish I could at times," Celestia's head turned away from Steele, looking at the full moon through the shattered glass window in his office, "I can't stop free will."

"That same free will has brought us closer in two months to the truth than the entire Agency's workforce was able to do in two years," Steele waved the reports to grab her attention. "If we can get any closer to something, anything, then I say that we should let these two youngsters have at it to their heart's content."

"In any other situation, believe me when I say that I would absolutely agree with you," the Princess started, "I respect your decision, but I can't help but feel that these two detectives aren't prepared for the danger they're throwing themselves in."

"Scarlet and Locks," Steele wondered, "Heh, those two. The two of them are unique. You wanna know why I presented the mission to them, and nopony else?"

Celestia replied with a wordless nod of her head.

"First off," Steele started, tapping at their names on the reports, "They both had intimate bonds to Justis, so it would've surprised me if they denied the opportunity.

"Locks, he's a goddamn prodigy, a gift to the Agency and a blessing to the world." Steele filtered through a folder with the aforementioned colt's name. "Foal's smart, keeps his cool, knows how to clear his mind to see the path ahead, and take it on. Granted that, he still has some rookie habits." Steele folded up Locks' folder and tucked it away into his desk, "He seldom gets emotionally upset when on the job, but when he does, he crumbles into pieces. He fails to properly manage his emotions," Steele rubbed his chin, remembering some of Locks' less reputable cases. "He also takes a little too long to come up with a proper plan of action. A detriment when hostages are involved."

"None of that is too surprising to me Flex," Celestia commented, "He's still very young and inexperienced."

"But he has the heart of a champion. Princess, I implore you on your next opportunity, to take a deep, long look into his eyes."

"His eyes, Flex?" Celestia inched closer to the stallion, "What exactly are you getting at?"

"His aura...it's exactly like Conroy's."

"...Fascinating," she raised a hoof, prompting one of her guards to approach her. She whispered an inaudible command that sent the guard galloping out of sight. She read through to the other investigator, "And what of the young filly, Conroy's daughter? I'd imagine she would have a similar feel to that of her father."

She could only glare when Steele bellowed a hearty laugh.

"Are you kidding?" Steele raised an eyebrow at her. "Sorry Princess, but that assumption is completely false."

"Explain it to me, will you Steele?" the glowing alicorn asked.

Steele took in a long, deep drag of air, "It really is an unfortunate circumstance," he exhaled. "They gave her a nickname some time after Conroy's passing; the other employees always gave her a difficult time. Most were just afraid to do so with someone as prestigious as Conroy overhead.

"It was reasonable though, she had gigantic horseshoes to fill." Steele popped open Scarlet's respectable folder. "In any case, they started calling her Laya after her first few missions, especially so when the information eventually trailed down to the bottom rung of the Agency. When Scarlet joined our ranks," he passed of several pages of her profile to Celestia, "she proved to have a wealth of insight and basic knowledge to utilize in her investigations. Very book smart. It was proof that her father and mother pounded every single bit of what they knew into her little head."

Steele ran an exhausted hoof through his mangled, silver mane, "Her execution was another story. She...lacked social skills. She was very shy and incredibly awkward to work with."

"Strange," Celestia could only respond with.

"Not so much when you realize," he tapped another page, "she was home schooled by her parents for her entire life. It makes sense for her to be a little socially impaired when she's denied the freedom and experience most foals have, but I didn't think it would be so serious. Even Conroy acknowledged that Mysty and he took far too many liberties away from her. If you ask me, I think all it did was make her a bit too dependent on the parentals for communication. Even now, her work is crippled by the problem."

Steele walked about his desk, filtering through the contents of Scarlet's folder. A picture of the filly, several years younger, was tucked away in between the documents. "I give ranks to everypony in the Agency. The ranks help me filter out missions to the proper ponies." Steele pointed towards a letter posted on the top corner of the front page of Scarlet's folder, "All I have are letter grades, from C to A, with a special reserved S-Class for the more," he cleared his throat, "discreet assignments.

"Jessica, Conroy, and I were all S-Class, no doubt. With his abilities, Locks is an A, but I can easily assign him S-class assignments if he were to iron out the problems he has with his work."

Steele turned away in disappointment, "Scarlet..."

"What class is Scarlet Trace?"

Steele silently slid the folder over for Celestia to see. Her wandering, blank expression warped into a surprised frown. "Oh my."

"C-Class," Steele read her mind, "and it only gets worse, Princess. C-Class is the smallest class group at the Agency as is. Most employees are only a C for a month or two. Usually," he took back all of Scarlet's paperwork, "After that grace period, they're promoted to Bs, quit the Agency, or in some cases," he hesitated, "get killed in action. Scarlet's been at that grade for several years now." Steele tucked her document away shamefully, "Honestly, I'd have had her fired already if it weren't for the fact that she's my best friend's only daughter, and had such a burning desire to work here."

Celestia's eyes narrowed in on her friend, "That's...terribly irresponsible of you."

"I know it is, but I made a promise to Conroy when we started the Agency with you." Steele tapped his hoof to his jaw, "But you know something? There's one thing Scarlet's good at. One thing I have never seen imitated by anypony else."

"Entertain me," The Princess demanded.

"...Poor skills," Steele started, "and incredibly unfit altogether as a detective because of what I've explained before. But somehow, time and time again, she has also proven to have an unbelievably large, untapped reservoir of luck."

Celestia scrambled back a step. "Luck?"

"That's the only way I can describe it. Every mission I've given her has stumped her; put her under a great deal of pressure." Steele chuckled at the shock on Celestia's face, "However, every single time, she's managed to have the answers fall right out of the damn sky and into her hooves. Sometimes it just comes to her in her head, others are by some accident. Some generous, twisted fate..."

"You're rambling, Steele," Celestia commented with an anxious frown.

Steele's head swung quickly from side to side, "She gets lucky, Princess. There's no way to explain it otherwise. To be honest," Steele's mind pulled forth a memory from years past, "I think Conroy and Scarlet realized this right away after she was inducted. Her entire...'style' of investigation caters completely to this strange, ever looming element of luck."

"What?" Celestia skeptically replied. "How can you...how do you invoke luck?"

"Simple," Steele answered. "She drags her cases out as long as possible. Eventually, the answer appears for her."

The Princess' awe was replaced with disgust. "That's...that's horrifying, Steele."

"You know why they call her 'Laya' at the Agency? It's nothing short of a scathing pun some of the employees thought up; a sick joke. Sometime ago," his face wrinkled, "an unfamiliar case started to turn sour for her, as it usually did. When the pressure started to become difficult to manage, and she was no longer able to prolong the case through her conventional methods...she started to lie."

Celestia's stare flared to life.

"She lies to everypony she can. Criminals, coworkers, anypony involved just to keep the case alive. Liar. Laya. Get it?"

"Repulsive," the Princess remarked with her head turned away. "Flex, you need to get rid of her."

"Trust me," he nearly barked back, "I would. Hell, I'd even gamble that Scarlet knows that she doesn't belong. I think she keeps going simply because of the circumstances revolving around Justis' death."

"She works just for that end, you think?" Celestia questioned Steele.

"Without a doubt. Should she find the answers to Conroy's death...I'd be surprised if she didn't quit the Agency immediately afterward. It's just not her calling," Steele thought about Scarlet's element, "her strokes of luck are amazing. For the first time, I wish to intentionally capitalize on her mechanics. It's the chance both Scarlet and I have looked forward to ever since the initial investigation was canceled."

"So," the volume in Celestia's voice boldly rose above his own, "You're going to rely on luck to reveal the truth? Do you understand the dangers that you're putting her in? Somepony," her wings flared out, "that lacks the proper skills!?"

Steele never lost focus, speaking up to match her voice, "Yes, Princess Celestia. I do."

"You're gambling her life on this-"

A crusty hoof slammed down on the desk, "I gave her the option!"

The guard remaining jumped to action, stopped only by a single extended wing by his fair Princess. She shook her head at the guard, who returned to his post. "She's taking the case because it's for her father," she glared back at him.

"She knows the risks," Steele took another step towards her, looking her square in the eyes without a hint of hesitation. "She understands what can happen. She agreed, knowing that she was throwing herself into a dragon's den."

A brief moment of silence helped ease the tension in the room, Celestia's wing slowly receded and Steele took a step back. "She gave consent, Princess. That's all that needs to be said. It's over."

Celestia let Steele's words sink in. "...Do you really believe it'll work, Flex?"

Steele rubbed his forehead, "I said it before, but we're already one step further thanks to her. Between her luck, Locks' skill, and Jessica's utility, I think we finally have the pieces we need to crack this case wide open. Maybe then we can finally expose the truth."

"You always mean well," Celestia hesitated. "I'm just concerned for my subjects. Understand that you're working against my personal intentions, especially for somepony as special as her."

"Absolutely," Steele assured her. "I...do need to apologize for my actions."

"Apologize?"

"To be frank," Steele smirked, "I only felt that I could get away with this because I consider you to be one of my closest friends. I figured you'd forgive me for being a senile fool."

Celestia's blank stare took the boss by surprise. The tension shattered at the sound of her laughter. "Flex, be silent. We'll always be friends. Even when you make your more questionable decisions."

"I wouldn't be the Agency's leader if I didn't take a risk every now and then, now would I?"

Celestia nodded, returning to the final pages of the reports sent in by the two detectives. "So what's going to happen now Steele? You're the leader here."

"Trace'll head back to Ponyville to scrounge up whatever she can about Conroy's missing pony case," Steele robotically called out. "I think Locks and Amethyst could do us some good looking into Nixie Hope's manor."

"Nixie Hope," Celestia's eyes wandered, "I remember her distinctly."

"Mmhmm. Does she have any descendants, your majesty?"

"A sibling," she dwelled in thought, "but that's all there is, I'm afraid. She was single when she passed."

"Didn't pay any mind to the world of glamour myself," Steele waved his hoof in the air. "No time for anything like that. I have no clue about Hope other than name and fame."

"She was a sweet, kind mare. A bit wound up from time to time, but nevertheless."

"In any case," Steele straightened up, "I'll have Locks dig up whatever he can find."

Celestia signaled her guard to the door. "You have the next stage completely planned out. You have my approval to proceed, Flex."

Steele nodded, rolling up the premade orders and sticking the royal seal on them. Celestia's horn pulsed with a golden aura, seemingly vaporizing the pair of parchments on the spot.

"There is another request I have for you tonight," Celestia noted, flexing her wings and whipping her wavy tail. "Before I return to my palace, I wish to know of the whereabouts of Jessica Scrawl. I demand an audience with her."

"You know," Steele wondered with a groan, "Come to think of it, I haven't heard a word from her since Trace was first discharged to Ponyville."

"Is that significant?"

"Well, she never came back with a status report..."

=====

"Two days," a calm, steady voice called out to his accomplice. "It took two days, but we finally have a direction."

Locks stared down at the table in front of him, casually rolling a single bit along the surface with his hoof. His mute assistant nodded her head, her graceful mane bouncing with her movements. The feathers on her back twitched, her wings stretching out to prep for the surveillance she was going to be taking care of today.

"I was hoping that Steele would respond sooner, but better late than never," he quickly shifted his hoof, sending the coin hurling towards the cushion on the opposite side. The gold colored currency jumped from the cushion, spinning back at Locks and straight into his hoof. "Isn't that right Amy?"

Amethyst chirped through her whistle with an impressed smirk.

The cafe, Locks' usual spot, had a steady stream of ponies coming and going, but the sound of the bell at the door nonetheless forced Locks' head to turn. His eyes came to rest on an all too familiar set of baggy eyes and a mess of red hair tucked underneath a black fedora. Amethyst reacted at the same time, whistling over the rest of the crowd to grab Scarlet's attention.

"There's the mare of the hour," Locks called to her as she grew closer to the booth, "Come, we saved you a seat next to Amy."

"Huh," Scarlet took her seat quietly, "You're in an awfully happy mood today, Detective."

Locks quickly straightened himself up, reaching over for the empty mug that he had drained, and lifted it a foot from the table's polished, marble surface. "I've had my coffee, a nice breakfast, and," Locks reached under the table, almost instantly pulling out two rolled up scrolls. He slammed them down on the table in unison with his mug, "we've got a new lead, thanks to you."

The dark blue colt's attention went back to Scarlet, eyeing her over. "You look different somehow. Did you...get a trim?"

"Oh," Scarlet almost jumped. She patted her hooves on the collar of her coat. "It's the trench," she took in her own appearance, "it was my dad's coat when he worked at the Agency."

"A bit big on you, isn't it?" Locks asked after spotting the additional belt.

"I like to think that it helps with my size and appearance. Makes me look a little more intimidating and not so...frail."

Amethyst tooted her whistle.

"See? Amy agrees," she smiled at her coworker before reaching over for one of the scrolls Locks had placed on the table. "Steele finally sent out the reports?"

Locks nudged one of the scrolls towards her, "Sure did. It's a voluntary assignment, but I'm sure that the priority is still number one." He inched closer to the two mares, "Steele's watching the three of us like a Griffin, waiting for anything we send about the cases."

A waiter trotted over to the group. Reacting to the empty coffee container, she quickly poured him a fresh cup. Locks gave her a big smile, dragging the mug to his face before inhaling the wonderful scent.

"Lovely," he dragged his voice, "today's going to be great. I just know it."

"He's a little...excited today. Maybe too much," Scarlet whispered to Amy.

She agreed with a drag on her whistle.

"You're still working with him? I'd imagine so," Scarlet asked the pegasus.

Amethyst nodded, turning back to her half eaten breakfast to finish the job.

"So Locks, what does the boss have planned for us now?"

Locks reached over and tapped the scroll near her. "Why don't you take a look?"

Scarlet's eyes rolled over the text from Steele's documents. "B-back to Ponyville?" She let out a disappointed sigh, "I...I guess that's okay."

"You sound enthusiastic about it," Locks tilted his head in confusion.

"Your sarcasm is too thick."

"Hello Ms. Trace, wonderful to see you here again," a petite voice came from the same waiter that filled up Locks' mug. "Good morning to you."

"Oh," Scarlet stammered, "G-good morning."

"Can I get you anything? Perhaps something to drink?"

"A...a cup of the usual would be fantastic please," Scarlet leaned back. "Thank you."

"Absolutely," the waiter replied, making her way back to the kitchen.

"I'm just surprised, Scarlet," Locks continued from before. "I didn’t think living and interacting with national heroes would be so...uninteresting to somepony like you. I'd think you'd be excited for such an opportunity."

"Well, I'd be wrong to call them boring," she waved her hoof in the air. "Twilight Sparkle's magical potency is absolutely amazing. I was skeptical at first about how genuine she was, but she's given me plenty of proof that she's the undisputable protégé of the Princess."

"I'd imagine she'd be strong if she could take down somepony like Discord or Nightmare Moon," Locks rubbed a hoof along the edge of his mug, "Magic IS her element after all."

"It's not fair to give her all of the credit," Scarlet added, "There's six Elements of Harmony, not one."

"True, but it was her magic that triggered everything," Locks reminded her. "She comes from a talented family after all. We all know how important her brother is."

"Definitely," Scarlet tapped the table, "I'd wager that Twilight could honestly rival Jessica after seeing what she can do firsthand."

"That strong?" Locks questioned. "Really?"

"Yup. She DID manage to crack Jessica's aphrodisiac spell on our first day there."

Locks let out a solitary laugh. "She spiked the drinks," he shook his head, "I expected nothing less from her, but seeing as how Twilight Sparkle was able to reverse the effects...it's nothing short of fascinating. What about the other elements?"

"Well...Ms. Rainbow Dash reminds me of Amy," she looked over at the pony, who raised her head at the mention of her name, "If Amy was more...lithe. She's also the fastest pony I've ever seen."

Amethyst questionably motioned towards Scarlet, pointing a single hoof at herself.

"Yeah, THAT fast. Maybe a little TOO fast. She's a bit clumsy from what I've seen. She falls out of the sky nearly twice a day ever since I've been there." Scarlet looked out of the window, "She's always trying out new stuns, a real daredevil."

Amy responded to Scarlet with another blow on her whistle.

"O-oh. I'd LOVE to see that," Scarlet smiled.

"Nothing better than a pegasi race."

"Mm-hmm. All of the elements are wonderful ponies, no doubt about that."

"...But?" Locks filled in the blank.

"But take away the fact that they're heroes, and you wouldn't be able to distinguish them from anypony else," Scarlet traced on the table. "They're just...regular ponies. Regular ponies like the ones around here...in the cafe."

"You make it sound like it's a bad thing to be ordinary."

"It just feels weird," Scarlet rubbed the back of her neck. "Outside of saving the world-"

"Twice."

"T-twice...that they're just so...normal."

Locks rested back against the cushion of the booth, chuckling as he sucked down a large chunk of coffee.

"What's so funny?" Scarlet glared at him.

"You realize," he put his mug down, "that you just identified everypony working at the Agency, right?"

At her skeptical expression, Locks cleared his throat. "Scarlet, the Agency saves lives. I save lives. JESSICA's saved lives..."

Amy's ears flinched.

"...Even you have saved lives. What we're doing at the Agency is no different from what Twilight and her group have done for all of Equestria." Locks tapped the table, "Look at us. Strip away our relationships to the Agency. What do you end up with?"

"...A mute, an oddly dressed mare, and a colt with an addiction to caffeine."

Locks' grin forced Scarlet to reconsider.

"O-okay," she stuttered, "You get ordinary ponies, right?'

"Exactly. Being extraordinary isn't about being a representative of an element, or being a member of a secret government organization. It's comprised of many NORMAL things about a pony. Character, resolve, and the ambition to do what is righteous and true. Any normal pony can be a hero, Scarlet," Locks edged closer to her, "They just need the pieces to fall into the right places."

"That's awfully corny, Locks."

"And yet it's true," Locks swirled his coffee around. "Opportunity, drive, and circumstance are all you need to make a perfect hero...or heroine, as the case may be. You'd understand it better if you took the time to socialize a little more, Scarlet."

A mug was placed right next to Scarlet. She looked up, thanking the waiter for such a hasty delivery. "Thanks," she looked back to Locks, "Maybe so, but that's just what I originally thought about those six. Ordinary with a fancy title."

Locks rubbed his face with a spare hoof, "Doesn't Ms. Sparkle have a dragon? Is that not interesting to you?"

"It's a baby," Scarlet replied with absolutely no enthusiasm, "He resembles a pony far more than a dragon. Nothing like the dragons the Agency has dealt with in the past."

"So much for that," he shrugged. "Well, just try to enjoy your stay, at the very least."

"As if," she sighed, taking a drink. "I'm not even sure that there's anything left to dig up in Ponyville. I even pulled up some older files from the population census for the last century, but it's very...disorganized. Twilight said she could help revise the census, but in addition to her personal studies and running the local library, it would take some time before it would be fully restored for me to look at."

"Well, at least you have something. How long was it going to take?"

What little energy Scarlet was exhibiting seemed to drain from her hopeless expression, "About a year."

"You think this case will last that long," Locks chuckled.

"It's been unresolved for longer, Locks."

"Yes, but after the breakthrough you just gave us? I know you've personally experienced firsthand how fast a case can snowball."

"Maybe, but I can't predict the future."

Locks closed his eyes, taking in another drink from his mug simultaneously with Scarlet. Amy whistled, breaking the silence and pointing out to the sky outside of the cafe. Locks gave her an affirmative, her wings spreading at the table. She lifted herself over Scarlet and straight out of the cafe door.

"Stretching her wings. We're going be to extra busy today."

"I see. What does Steele have you doing?"

"He wants us to visit Hope Manor and try to siphon out some details out of her relatives about Conroy."

"The papers I found never showed any indication that he ever visited them," Scarlet objected.

"It's always best to go snooping around to be absolutely sure, right?"

"R-right," Scarlet immediately caved in.

"Hmm," Locks stared at the dull coated mare, "Scarlet, are you doing alright?"

Scarlet took another drink of coffee, finishing it off to avoid answering Locks' question. "Y-yeah, I'm doing fine."

"First the new look, then the little outburst about Ponyville and the Elements. Scarlet," Locks' crimson eyes twinkled, "you're a terrible liar."

Scarlet finished her drink.

"Something happened when you visited Mysty, didn't it?"

Scarlet nodded, "When I finally got through to her, she showed me the room."

"The locked room," Locks remarked, "Justis' private study?"

"It's...where I found all of those documents regarding Nixie Hope...and my cutie mark."

"Is that what's made you so antsy today?"

"When I walked into that room, and saw those documents...you can't imagine it," Scarlet looked down at her flank. "My cutie mark...I know I'm different because of it."

"One of a kind as far as that's concerned," Locks said. "Not every day that a pony is born into their natural talent."

"My dad had a folder for me...for an individual case study. He had those articles about Nixie Hope in the same file as me."

"I...I see. You think there's some type of relationship between you and Nixie, don't you?"

"He has to have us grouped together for a reason. It makes me so uncomfortable though. Don't you know what happened to Ms. Hope?"

"Not off hoof."

"She died, Locks. She died in an accident."

Locks scratched his head. "So there might be a connection between the two. Is that what you think?"

"That's what I feel right now. That's all I feel right now. It's frightening," she gripped her mug tightly between her hooves.

"Relax, Scarlet," Locks reassured her. "You're safe with the Agency, and Jessica's around to make sure of that."

"She sent me this the other day before I came back," Scarlet reached into her coat, pulling out Jessica's letter.

"Hmm," Locks read over Jessica's note, "This might be a problem. I'm pretty sure this wasn't approved by Steele or Celestia. There's no signature here from either of them. I'll have to report this."

Scarlet's frown propped Locks to continue. "Don't worry about it too much, Scarlet. You're jumping to conclusions. Let Amethyst and I clear all of this up for you. You just focus on finding that missing pony, okay? Just do that and nothing more."

Scarlet slowly agreed to his request. "You know, when I walked into that room, it felt like for the first time since he died, I...I could feel the weight of my dad's work bear down on my mind. The room didn't quite feel right. Or natural."

"Natural? How so?"

"The air felt thick," she grasped at her throat.

"You think it might've been some kind of magic? A spell that works like an extra security measure?"

"Maybe. My body felt like it was being pulled down by some strange...thing."

"Why didn't you mention this in your report? Steele could've probably looked into something like this."

"I thought that...that maybe it was just something about my nerves that just got to me. I found my dad's outfit in the room," Scarlet patted her coat. "Once I put it on, the strange feeling completely disappeared."

"Interesting," Locks pondered.

"It almost felt like the coat gave me closure."

"Well, it COULD be your nerves, to be fair. Your father was an amazing stallion."

"I just don't know what to think of it, is all. It was all so strange."

"I see. Well, if you're confident enough to keep it off the records, then I'm okay with that too, I suppose. Besides," he added with a sneer, "an analysis would require us to get inside Mysty's house, and I doubt she'd appreciate any of that."

"He was definitely inspiring," Scarlet dragged. "Locks...do you think I'll ever..."

"Huh?"

The crowd at the cafe seemed to be dwindling as the conversation continued. "I mean...like my dad. My cutie mark says something...but I don't feel like it's quite right."

"Will you ever...ahh."

"You know," Scarlet hesitated, "be as good as he was?"

"Scarlet, is that what this is all about?"

She refused to answer him.

Locks took another drink. "Scarlet, it might just be my opinion, but I don't think that's something you should be thinking about at all."

"What? How...how come?" she asked the detective.

"You're thinking that because you want to be like him. You want to be able to live up to Justis' name. That's the problem, Scarlet."

She looked down into the remainder of her coffee.

"You can't be Conroy. That's something you just need to understand. You can only be Scarlet Trace, and you should be trying to become the best Scarlet Trace you can be."

"I get that, but-"

"Listen," Locks pulled himself closer to her from across the table, "because I'll probably only say this once: Conroy has a HUGE reputation. Making yourself responsible for perpetuating that reputation is going to tear you apart with stress and expectations, especially if a case just happens to go awry." He pounded on the table with his hooves, "Trust me, cases do go wrong. If you let your father's history dictate your personal goals, then you'll leave no room for mistakes; you'll never be satisfied with the accomplishments you'll have.

"You won't be happy, no matter how well you do at the Agency," Conroy pulled back and gulped down more coffee. "Don't try and please everypony just because you happen to be the daughter of Conroy Justis. Become Scarlet Trace, not The Daughter of Justis."

Scarlet shook her head. "Do you always have to be so dramatic about these things?"

"Heh," Locks sat back in his seat, "If it means being dramatic to get through to you, then I'll do whatever it takes."

"Ha, aren't I the luckiest mare in Equestria then?"

Scarlet lifted her cup. "Then how about a toast? I'll do what I can about my job on my own terms. You just continue being the same Detective Locks I know and love, okay?"

Locks raised his own mug, "I don't have much left in mine, but I'd definitely drink to a promise like that."

The couple tapped their drinks together, downing the remainder of their breakfast in one swoop. Scarlet's hoof slowly lowered her mug, allowing her eyes a perfect view of Locks'. The colt copied her, staring back as his cup ran dry.

=====

The fresh air waved through Locks' mane as he stepped outside the Cafe. He bid farewell to Scarlet, now just a blip in the distance. The train that would take her back to Ponyville could be heard approaching from the distance, puffs of black smoke leading along the railroad tracks miles away.

A silhouette of a pegasus danced around overhead. Amethyst was enjoying her romp through the clouds up above. Locks tilted his head up, giving Amy a quick salute before he turned, walking through the lively district.

"Hope Manor is to the north, near the lots of the royal family. Nothing much to it," he advanced, the breeze picking up.

Up above, Amethyst continued to rise and dive, circling around Locks, her hawk eyes darting from target to target, always expecting somepony to jump out at the detective. Her whistle dangled around her neck, threatening to fall off with each loop Amy made in the clear blue skies.

Locks continued on his trail, meeting up with a chunk of ponies that were waiting on one side of the busy streets to cross. Several chariots stole the attention of the crowd, their radiance shining brightly in the sunlight. Locks forced his way through the pack as the crowd pushed and shoved its way across the street, making sure to apologize to everypony along the way for his hustle.

After finally clearing the crowd, Locks felt a tap at the back of his head. He turned around immediately, spotting nothing within a reasonable distance. He paused, his sudden change in behavior catching Amy's attention from the clouds. Amethyst, working as Locks' guard, squinted her eyes to focus in on the colt, trying to spot what was wrong from up above.

Locks flinched at a tug from his black and white mane.

"I didn't expect to find you here," Locks' eyes flashed, his body relaxing.

The space on his back distorted and twisted. A deal of weight suddenly forced Locks' legs to buckle before getting them under his control again. A pony was sprawled out on top of him, her four hooves hanging off of his sides. Her orange mane overlapped his and her tail gently brushed against his flank. Some of his mane was caught in her playful jaws.

"Ooooh," Jessica taunted him, "So that's what everyone's always spazzing out over. Pity nopony else has a clue."

A sharp whistle came from above, the volume rising as Amethyst shot down from the heavens like a bullet. Jessica's head turned up to the sky at the sound, mimicking every pony on the block. Amethyst nearly paused in midair when her deep purple irises clashed with Jessica's. She came to a halt right above them, her whistle dropping down to a respectful whimper. She landed on her feet, saluting and folding her ears to the Agency's scribe.

"Is that a blush I see?" Jessica teased the embarrassed pegasus, propping herself up and springing off of Locks body with plenty of energy. She slithered up to Amy's side, a hoof rising up below Amy's chin. "My, aren't you just the cutest thing this side of Canterlot?"

Amy flushed at the contact. She tried shaking her head to free her from Jessica's grasp. She blew her whistle, repeating the same frail cry as before.

"Aww, she's a modest little filly too," the wicked pony giggled. She pulled Amy's face closer to her muzzle, "Somewhat ironic given your huge stature. I think I know just what will cheer you up."

Jessica pulled Amy's face in slowly, their lips only inches away from one another.

"A little something," she whispered, "to ease those tense muscles of yours."

Just as the two mares were about to lock together, Jessica's eye caught something between the locks of Amethyst's mane. She stopped her game, moving Amy's head away from her. She lowered her sight, trying to take a peek at what was blanketed by the raven black hair.

Amethyst, shell shocked from how close she was to Jessica, snapped back into reality when she felt Jessica looking below her chin. She quickly blew a sharp note, jumping back several feet and waving her hair around. She glared angrily at Jessica, seemingly yelling at her through her silver trinket.

"Can you forgive this little kitty for being a little...curious," Jessica purred with a grin.

Everypony around them had since resumed their daily routines. Locks cleared his throat to grab the witch's attention. Amethyst was panting, stealing glances from Jessica every few seconds and staying far, far away.

"What in the world are you doing here Jessica? You're supposed to be in Ponyville."

"What's this," Jessica slithered up to Locks' side, "You care about my wellbeing? What's the occasion sweetheart?"

"Don't play games with me, Scrawl," Locks clenched his teeth, "I'm asking for Scarlet's sake. You were assigned to keep watch over her."

"And I am."

Amethyst made several feet of room between her and the pair, shaking her mane out. Taking in a sigh, she took back to the air, still breathing heavily at her close encounter with the black mare.

"How exactly are you watching her from Ponyville when you're here in Canterlot?" Locks straightened out his stance, "Steele ordered you to protect her no matter what."

Jessica's horn pulsed with magic, her lips curving into a grin. "I have her under surveillance, don't you worry much about that."

"...A spell to monitor her with?"

"Snuck it in her punch on the first night," Jessica pranced around Locks, "I have full access to everything she sees and hears so long as I will it."

Locks squinted his eyes at the mare, "I can't say that I approve of something so invasive."

"Well then," Jessica teased, floating up into the air and spinning around the detective, "Fortunate for me that I don't need your approval for anything I do."

He groaned in frustration. "They really should be keeping better tabs on you." He continued walking towards their new destination, "So what exactly are you doing here?"

"Independent research," she barked back with enthusiasm. "I've decided to take on an interesting case on the side, while I help you rookies deal with your mission of course."

"Independent? Did Steele authorize this?"

"Not at all," she gave a toothy grin.

'She gets away with everything,' Locks shook his head, 'Why does the Agency give her so much liberty?'

"So where are you two going? Some place," she licked her lips, "private?"

"Absolutely not," Locks snapped back.

"That's no fun. I thought you'd be the kind of stallion that would take a liking to the strong, silent type," Jessica twirled about in the air around him.

"My taste in mares is none of your concern," he calmly walked beyond the central district barrier. "And if you need to know, we're visiting the manor of the Hope family."

"Hope Family?" Jessica playfully tilted her head. "Hope...Hope." She gasped, her eyes widening as the name turned a switch in her brain. "Hope!? As in, Nixie Hope?"

"Yes," he answered flatly.

"How long has it been since I've heard that name?" Jessica sung, carried by the wind, "I've read so much about the girl from old articles and magazines."

"Articles...and magazines? I thought a pony like you kept strictly to books and scrolls from the Canterlot archives."

"Oh, what fun would that be?" Jessica scolded with her hooves folded, "Every form of media can give you a juicy little detail. You just need to find the sweetest source."

Locks picked up his pace when the traffic running towards the north faded out of sight. Grand, marble walls outlined the perimeter leading to the upper class housing in Canterlot, the pavement polished with a wax that made it shine in the sunlight. Jessica's mane swung around as she followed the colt, upside down and humming a noisy tune.

"What information do you have on Nixie Hope, then?" Locks ended the short silence.

"Nothing more than what I absorbed from the articles and magazines, and nothing you shouldn't already know," she pranced around him before landing back on her hooves.

"Speak what you know of anyways. Any crisscrossing of information can just be disregarded anyways," Locks eyes followed Amethyst as she came in from the clouds, her giant wings kicking up rich, green grass as she took her place on the side opposite of Jessica.

"Nixie Hope," Jessica started without hesitation, the emotion in her face absent. "A famous fashionista that resided in Northern Canterlot nearly two decades ago. Her designs were a sensation that rivaled that of Hoity Toity's personal work, and within that two decade span, she created a new empire of pony merchandise that took Canterlot by storm."

"So she was an incredibly talented mare," Locks spoke aloud.

"Soon after she hit the big times, she started to focus more on management of the fashion shows that displayed her company's work. She hired an assistant manager to help her with the business, and the two became close friends."

"Any idea of the name of this assistant manager?"

"Of course," Jessica rolled her eyes, "she was included in every article Nixie was in after she was hired. Her name was T. Helm, also born and raised here in Canterlot. She shared many of the aspirations of Ms. Hope herself, and her talents came very close to rivaling that of her boss, so it was an easy decision to allow her control of much of Nixie's business. She accepted the offer almost immediately. Their reputation grew so large that they were even allowed to share a lunch with the Princess herself in her private quarters.

"I think most anypony that knows a thing or two about fashion is aware of what happens next," Jessica chuckled to herself. "In the final month of Nixie's career, things started to fall apart for reasons unexplained to most of the public. Articles worldwide only revealed that there was tension between Hope and Helm, and that the friction started to affect their lovely business."

"A grab for more power, perhaps?" Locks questioned. Amethyst closed her eyes and shrugged at the idea.

"No one knows for sure. Nixie Hope became so stressed with the pressure that she announced her retirement from her career. She was going to completely shut down her business after one final show."

"I'd imagine that wouldn't go too well with someone in T. Helm's position," Locks commented.

"Then," Jessica paused to give her story suspense, "Before her final show could begin, there was an accident."

"An...accident? Scarlet's report DID say that she died."

She nodded her head, "As the show was preparing to begin, there was a loud racket that could be heard backstage. See, Nixie Hope had been in her room on the second floor of the building. According to the police reports, while she was on her way to her position at the show, she had herself a little tumble down the flight of stairs."

"How awful," Locks grimaced.

"Mmhmm," Jessica ignored his grave tone and smirked, "Broke her neck clean on the way down. Died immediately. When the crime scene was all cleared up, T. Helm had vanished into thin air."

"That's oddly suspicious."

"That's all I know, except that I've also read some of the reports from the records at the C.P.D. There was little to no evidence that T. Helm was involved in her death at all. Nixie's magic distribution wasn't tampered with, and there was nothing on her body that suggested that there was any kind of struggle or contact with anypony else. Above that, Helm's an Earth. She'd have to get near Nixie to do anything to her. The only thing the police have whatsoever is a motive."

"...What a strange situation. I can see why Justis would be so fascinated by the case."

Jessica giggled to herself. "Wait just a second big boy, there was one other thing I forgot to mention."

"Hmm? Something else about Nixie Hope?"

"Right. See, at the time it wasn't a big deal when juxtaposed with the fact that she died, but in the aftermath, the police noticed something very peculiar about her."

"Don't keep me waiting," Locks started looking at the large estates that stretched for acres beyond the brilliant walls of northern Canterlot.

"Her cutie mark," Jessica spanked her flank to emphasize the situation. "It wasn't there. Or quite possibly, it may have never been there to begin with," she licked her lips.

"W-what? Nixie Hope had no cutie mark?"

"Indeedy," Jessica hopped into the air once again. "Her outfits always covered it up, so no one ever knew what it was, or how it looked, until one day, someone from within the company leaked the information to the media. When she died, there wasn't a single trace of a mark on her sweet little ass. You decide what to think of it from there."

The orange mane filly flew higher into the air with her magic, nearly out of earshot of the pair down below.

"Now if you’ll excuse me," she shouted to the ponies, "I have a very special Scarlet waiting for me back in Ponyville. The remains of Nixie's estate are only a few blocks down. Good luck, baby!"

In a flash, Jessica disappeared from sight.

=====

Locks took in a breath of fresh air, clearing his throat as he calmly knocked on the large, wooden door. The perimeter of the manor was rounded off in shape, similar to the head of a mushroom, with a large, circular window suspended at the very tip of the mansion. Dozens of windows scattered around the yellow structure, the view of the innards of the house completely blocked off by red drapes. A fountain that stood in front of the house as absent of water, dried up and falling apart around the edges. The grass was lazily cut around them, reaching over the concrete by a slight margin.

Hoofsteps could be heard approaching from the other side of the door.

"H-hello? Who's there?" a timid, soft voice called out.

The hesitation in Locks melted away. "Hello ma'am, are you the caretaker of this estate?"

There was a pause on the other end of the door. "Yes I am. May I ask who you are?"

"Ma'am, I'm a member of Princess Celestia's royal guard. May I have a word with you?"

The handle on the door clicked, the barrier slowly pulled backward by the pony on the other end. She poked her head out of the door. She had a pale, blonde head of hair, lazily hanging down whichever way gravity chose. Her hazelnut eyes drooped with exhaustion, and her thin, white coat didn't fail to display her equally tiny body size.

She backed away, closing the door enough so that Locks and Amy could only see her face. "Is this about last month's payment on the manor? I told them I would pay at the end of the month when I could get the money, why the hell did they involve the royal family?"

"No ma'am, this has absolutely nothing to do with your...erm," Locks looked away, "financial situation."

"Then I'm not interested," the frail mare swung the door closed.

"It's about the previous owner of this place," Locks called through the door. "Did you happen to know Nixie Hope when she lived here?"

"Nixie...Hope?" he heard the voice repeat.

"Yes. We need to find some, if any information on Hope."

"Can I ask why?" she continued.

"That much I'd rather keep on a need to know basis."

The door's lock clicked into place.

"But if you must know," Locks' eye twinkled, "Princess Celestia herself requested this investigation."

"...The Princess is finally taking action?"

"...Rest assured that I'm speaking only the truth, miss...?"

The lock on the handle clicked back open, cracking enough just to see her eye. "The Princess has never shown personal interest in Nixie's case," she lifelessly exhaled, "What changed so suddenly?"

"Just a set of circumstances," Locks answered cryptically. "Is it safe to assume you might know something?"

The door opened to reveal her face. "If I share the information with you, can I expect some damn answers out of the police force?"

"Absolutely, but," Locks added with a hoof tapping his chin, "Why is it so important to you, ma'am?"

"Because Nixie was very close to me."

Locks' eyes glistened as he stared into her hazel irises. The door swung completely open, exposing her shaky frame.

"I never did get your name," Locks pointed out to the ivory pony.

She motioned them inside her house. "Call me Lada. Lada Hope."

Author's Notes:

Just updating again. Progress is going good.
Next chapter probably won't be out until the 4th of May.

Enjoy the chapter.

- GarnetRose

202: Ivory Mask

"Lada Hope," Locks zoned in on Lada's frame. "Ms. Nixie's younger sister. It's a pleasure."

"Yes," she opened the door wide, "Please come in."

The inside of the house shined gloriously with the reflection of the sun on the window above. The den was rounded just as the outside of the house, yet significantly smaller than the shape outside. The room had small tunnel-like hallways surrounding it, leading to rooms that Locks and Amethyst had no interest in. The floors clacked loudly with their steps, their marble white appearance mimicking the concrete outside.

"Please excuse my appearance. I wasn't prepared for any kind of company today," Lada welcomed them to the center of the room, where the rays of sunlight struck the brightest. Her coat sparkled with every small movement she made as she nudged them to the couches that surrounded a small, rounded coffee table.

"That's fine," Locks and Amy took their seats, watching as Nixie's younger sister put herself opposite to them. Pony shaped shadows stretched across the ground, silhouettes of pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies decorated the room.

Amy's whistle blew simultaneously with a tug at his mane. Locks turned to his guardian, who pointed up at the roof. Multicolored mannequins had been suspended from the ceiling, each one wearing a different dress.

"Oh those," Lada reacted to the detective's gaze. "Those were some of Nixie's best works. Absolutely gorgeous," she dragged her words as she took a gander.

"I'm not a good judge of what makes a fabulous dress, but I imagine that you'd know better than me," Locks looked around at each outfit. "Nixie must've been a master at the craft."

"Most of those are of her design, but she didn't always make them herself," Lada adjusted herself, clearing her throat. "So I understand that you're here on business from the royal guard, right?"

"That's right," Locks waved his forelock out of his face. "Pardon the lack of formalities, but we need some of our questions answered."

"By all means, I'd be glad to if it can give me some answers in return," she gave a hopeful glance at the pair, "but I think you're jumping the gun."

"Excuse me?"

"Well," she hesitated, "Introduce yourselves first."

"Oh," Locks chuckled to loosen up the atmosphere, "My name is Detective Locks. I represent Princess Celestia's royal guard. I work with her forces to help solve bizarre or mysterious cases handed to me by my department.

"And this," he pointed to Amethyst, who gave a gentle wave to the pony half her size, "is Amethyst. She keeps a sharp eye out for any potential dangers that we may run into on our cases."

"I see," the younger filly smiled, "Now I have a name to attach to the face. Again, I'm Lada Hope. I'm Nixie's younger sister, and the last living pony with the 'Hope' name."

"What of your parents?" Locks asked, "and how did you come across this residency? I don't mean to sound skeptical, but I find it odd that somepony like you could afford such a...luxurious estate."

"My parents passed years ago of old age," Lada's eyes softened, "They went peacefully."

"I'm sorry for your loss," Locks broke eye contact for a moment.

"Thank you. They're at peace now." Lada looked up at the outfits, "This was Nixie's old house. She lived here before she died, and was gracious enough to take me in with her once our parents had gone."

"How exactly do you pay for the house? You hinted at the door at some financial problems."

"...Yes, I'm not exactly getting by too well," she admitted. "Nixie left plenty of money to help me out, but of course it wasn't enough. I followed in my sister's hoofsteps and took up a life of dressmaking, so I sell my work to keep up with the rent."

"Ah, so you're in the same field."

Amethyst grabbed Locks' attention with a blow of her whistle.

"Hmm? Ms. Hope, Amy says that she never hears of your brand in the market. I'd think that as a Hope, you'd have a little more publicity."

"As if," Lada snapped. "The Hope name was tarnished by all of the papers upon Nixie's death. Haven't you ever read the article?"

Locks remembered Jessica's words. "Does it have anything to do with her cutie mark situation?"

"Being the sibling of a mare who fell to that kind of scandal doesn't bode well with the public, even though my work does sell well. I sell my dresses under an alias, and I ship them directly from this house, so I rarely go out."

"You keep yourself anonymous to avoid being discovered," Locks figured her out.

"Several big name designers do appreciate my work, so I'm fortunate enough that they take it at all. If it doesn't work out too well, I'm forced to sell some of my sister's older designs as a means of keeping up with the finances."

"I see."

"That's enough about me though, you two came here for my sister."

"That we did," he agreed.

"You said that Celestia had new interest in this case, but you also told me that it was on a 'need to know basis'. I think my interest in the situation qualifies, don't you?"

"Absolutely, and I'll be glad to answer any questions you have before we begin," Locks relaxed, leaning his back against the couch to prepare.

"The truth is," he began, "There's another case that's gone unsolved for quite some time. It involves one of our superior officers, and we recently came across some new information that lead us back to Nixie's situation. The royal family believes that we can find new leads to that case if we're able to soak up more information on this one. The records don't give us much information to work on from Nixie, and as far as we're concerned, she died from an accident just as it was reported."

Locks hunched back over to get a better look at Lada's face, "What we need is more information, if any, on Nixie. Was there anything special or different about her that lead up to her passing? Anything involving T. Helm that could've provoked it at all? We need as much information regarding Nixie from you as we can."

Lada Hope rested her neck against the back of the couch, flicking her ears and shutting her eyes. "Nixie and I...we were very close," she looked back at the light in the ceiling. "You ever hear of 'Blood-Bond Spells'?'"

"I have," Locks thought to his studies, "Spells that ponies can utilize with the power of another pony who has a similar magical disposition. In most cases, family is the strongest form of these type of spells because there's only a minor deviance from the composition of their magic."

"That's it," Lada pointed at him, "Nixie and I would use a certain spell in particular on each other every day before we would go to bed. We trusted each other completely," she continued, "With the blood-bond spells, we were able to communicate on a higher, more intimate level than anything we thought possible. We shared many...many things with each other through the spells. We kept it all locked up in our minds, like a sort of-"

"Magical diary," Locks interrupted.

"Yes. We shared our lives with each other because we were so close."

Locks stared at her with more intensity. "Every day, huh? Your bond with Nixie must've been incredibly powerful at that point. I could only imagine how you're still alive."

"Yes," she replied, aware of what he had implied, "When she died, the backlash on the void it created completely severed a part of my heart. I'm not sure how I managed to pull through, but here I am, alive and well."

"Too many ponies end up dead because the bonds become too strong amongst themselves. It becomes something of a lifeline between the two ponies that they both share with one another. You severe the line, and both ponies suffer indescribable mental pain."

Lada took a deep gulp. "In...in any case, we went through with that process. We agreed to weaken it should something endanger us, but we never thought that something like...like what happened to Nixie...would happen."

"If she shared her 'diary' with you, then that means you have insight into her last days that no one's siphoned up until now, don't you?"

"Yes. The police asked me several questions in regards to Nixie's death, but she didn't give me her memories on that day. I didn't have anything to tell them that would help solve their case, so it was written off as an accident."

"And Helm?"

Lada's expression grew fierce, "She vanished. Completely and utterly vanished. I haven't heard a single word from her ever since that day."

"I see," Locks rubbed his chin. "Thank you for the insight, Lada. So will you help us?"

"Whatever it takes to reveal the truth. I'll pass on any information that she fed to me up until the final day, if that's alright."

Locks and Amy stood at attention. "Please, begin whenever you're ready."

==========

10 Years Ago

"T, over to this side! Wardrobe malfunction at two o' clock!"

A short, plump mare walked over to the other end backstage, heading in the direction of the voice with haste. Her hair was curled up in a bun, capturing the light all around her and sucking it into her deep black mane. Her golden coat flickered against the stage lights, and a pair of dark red sunglasses blocked out her eyes from the rest of the world. A quartet of elegant red shoes finished off her entourage, along with her pearl earrings that sparkled with each step she made towards her partner. On her flank was the image of a sparkling, regal crown, embedded with a sapphire bead on the tip.

The other pony in question had a beautifully crafted frame, her cream colored body was slender and her coat as smooth as silk. Her bouncy, blonde hair jumped around with every delicate move of her nimble head, and her blue eyes welcomed ponies all around her to get a second glance. Her tail poked out of the end of a glamorous dress that mirrored the color of her fur, but sparkled and gently reflected the light off of her at every angle. Her hoofsteps clunked around the floor above the rest thanks to four dark black horseshoes, each one decorated with a golden bead on their centers.

"What's going on Nix?" Helm looked at the model that was wearing the newest design. A quick point to a torn sleeve was all the designer replied with before rushing off to the end of the line.

Mares, all wearing different, spectacular dresses were prepped for yet another show. "The show hasn't even begun and I'm wiped out," Nixie panted. She ran across the line, her horn constantly alit with her magic, making quick fixes and straightening out any dress she spotted on the elegant mares.

"Always remember," she smiled as she galloped down the line, "Always look ahead with a smile. We're looking for 'joy and ambition' this time around!"

The music boomed from the other end of the stage, her fur bristled with excitement. Nixie rushed back to Helm.

"Come on, we have to get to our seats," she hurried Helm along enthusiastically. "We've done everything we could, so come on!"

"W-wait, give me a moment," Helm stuttered as she was shoved through the hallway and to the side of the stage. She fixed her hair before hurrying back to Nixie, who was already several yards in front of her, rushing to their seats at the show. Cameras had already gone berserk from the celebrities that were already in attendance, and Helm couldn't help but flinch when some of the flashes made their way to her and Hope.

"Oh, look!" Nixie pointed out as Helm took a seat, "There's Hoity!"

Following her hoof, Helm spotted the bulbous mass of silver atop the familiar stallion's head. She quickly grabbed a handkerchief and wiped her brow as fatigue caught up to her.

"I don't understand how you can be so energetic. We just ran a million laps around this wretched stage," Helm caught her breath.

Nixie didn't seem to respond, still waving madly to try and get Hoity Toity's attention, standing from her chair and leaning on the crowd in front of her. Using her hoof, she called out to him through a whistle that carried itself above the crowd. His ears perked up immediately. He turned around, his dark glasses blocking his eyes from the crowd. He lowered his purple shades to reveal his soft blue eyes to Hope. She gave him a sweet smile and waved at him before returning to her seat.

Hoity's eyes rolled over to Helm. He seemed to huff before putting his shades back on, Helm's teeth grinded against each other.

"Come on T, don't worry about him so much," Nixie pat her partner on the back. "You really need to just relax and enjoy the show, it's about to start."

As if on cue, the lights faded, and the faint beat of a drum started up in the front of the stage. Cameras sparked to life at the sight of the first model on stage, the rest of the night illuminated by the dazzling light show from the crowd.

==========

"Hoity," Nixie dashed through the crowd as the show ended. "Hoity, wait!"

The clap of her shoes grabbed the colt's attention, his ears perked up as his head turned to her. He welcomed her with a grin when he recognized her bulbous mane. "Ms. Hope, it's a pleasure once again."

Gasping for air, she reached out a hoof, feeling his pat against her own. They formally greeted each other before she continued, still panting. "S-sorry, I didn't mean to wait until you were already leaving to talk to you, but I had to deal with some more chaos backstage right before the show. I didn't get the chance until just now."

"Make no fuss over something so petty," he shook his head, "I understand well enough what happens behind the curtain of these shows. Now," he waved her further away from the ponies and the stage. When they were out of view, he lowered his glasses to expose his eyes to her, "How may I be of service, my dear?"

Nixie gave herself time to think with a chuckle. "W-well, I just wanted to say hello...and to hear your thoughts on the show tonight, of course."

"I appreciate it, but you already know how I feel about your work, Nixie: Marvelous as always. I look forward to making some arrangements with your distributors right away."

Nixie couldn't help but giggle at the optimism behind his tone. "Why thank you very much Hoity."

"Business aside, how goes your days? I assume Lada is fine and well?"

Nixie started walking alongside Hoity, inching in a bit closer than both expected. "Lada's doing great. She's just about ready to graduate from primary school." Nixie rubbed her chin with a hoof, a spaced out expression leaving Toity clueless to her thoughts. "She still doesn't have a cutie mark. It drives her mad sometimes.

"She wants to grow up so fast," Hope weakly laughed at the thought.

"I see," Hoity enthusiastically motioned closer, Nixie obeying his whim, "So what do you think her mark will be?"

"I could just be dreaming here," she answered, "but she's amazing at dressmaking. Some of her outfit designs...considering her age, I mean..."

"Hopeless," Hoity playfully jabbed at her optimism, "If she shares your passion, then there won't be any doubts."

"Mhmm. She says she wants to grow up to be like me. Can you imagine that?"

"That's excellent news to me. I'll be keeping an eye on her as she develops her skills."

"Thanks a lot, Hoity," Nixie created some space between them, her trot developing a bounce as she continued, "Anyways, I'm doing fine myself. I'm just getting things out of my mane. You know how it goes."

Hoity's nod encouraged the conversation, "The headaches have been getting worse though. I've gone to the doctor, but they just keep jamming different colored pills down my throat."

"Strange," Hoity fixed his shades, "It's the first time I've ever known a migraine to last over a few months. I recommend a visit to a professional, dear. A doctor is fine, but a specialist would probably be more beneficial...if you have the funds to support it, of course."

"I'm seriously considering it," she shook her head, "I'm fine right now, but the breaks between the aches are becoming fewer and farther apart. "

"Well, I hope you get well soon," Hoity glanced at a nearby window, towards the moon in the sky, "I'm afraid I have to make my exit, unfortunately. I need to take care of some shipping arrangements for a new boutique in Trottingham that I'm opening in the next month.:

As Hoity Toity bowed his head to her, he felt a hoof tug him by the shoulder.

"W-wait, Hoity." A long pause kept his attention on Nixie Hope. "Sorry, I didn't mean to..."

He removed her hoof from his body, patting himself off before looking straight back at her face. He reached up and completely removed his glasses. "Nixie Hope, how can I be of service?"

"What?"

"Nopony ever touches me," he almost huffed, "Nopony. If it wasn't something important, you wouldn't have done it."

Nixie looked around, making sure the two of them were alone. "Thank you Hoity. I...I want to make a permanent arrangement with your company."

"Yes? Speak dear, speak."

"I'm shutting down, Hoity. It's over."

Hoity stared at her for a few seconds in shock. His bangs fell over his face, brushed away only when he regained his composure. "That's huge news, Hope. I don't think I'm completely understanding you."

"I'm quitting my job, and I have nopony else besides Tanita to take over when I'm gone."

"Helm," he snorted after saying her name, "Surely you're joking."

"I know, Hoity. She's an amazing manager, but she's never been the best...pony. I don't want to see my business fall apart, but I also don't want her to turn it into a cold-hearted machine either."

Hoity leaned in closer, "And you've surely thought all of this through? Ms. Hope, this is enormous. What about the ponies that work for the company? Those hard working seamstresses and designers. They'll all be out of a job."

"That's," she hesitated, "That's what you'll be there for."

"Excuse me," he flinched.

"Hoity, I want to merge my company into yours. Those designers are amazing ponies. They still haven't been given their chance to shine. If they work under you, they'll still have that opportunity."

"Nixie Hope...this is ridiculously generous of you to offer."

"I know. It's the best option I have to making everypony happy," she lowered her head to him.

"I've never turned down a talented worker, and I trust that you've hired only the best..."

"You also need to understand that if this goes through, you'll have a monopoly on this business in Canterlot. You'll have no other competition anymore..."

"Don't try to tempt me with that," Hoity retorted in an insulted manner, "I already have all of the wealth that I desire."

"So then...do you have anything holding you back from saying no?"

Hoity backed away from Hope, slowly starting a pace around the hall they were in. "Nixie, before I decide, let me ask you: Why are you shutting down?"

"My sister," Nixie immediately sighed, "I did all of this," she waved to the show in the other room, and all of the dresses that had been put on display in the hallway, "Not only to realize my dream, but to get the money I needed to support my younger sister. I've done it all. I've lived my dream, and it was a wonderful ride...but the more success I gained, the more Helm and my business required my attention."

Nixie Hope pranced to the same window, looking at the moon slowly arc across the glittering sky. "As I progressed, I drifted further and further from my sister. I don't want that to happen anymore. It's over."

"Over," Hoity repeated.

"I've saved a large sum of money to support both Lada and I for decades. When I quit, I'll have all of my life to be with her. It's what she deserves, and it's what I had promised her so long ago."

Hoity continued his pace, his eyes locked onto her frame. "Nixie Hope, you really are too kind..."

"So," Nixie approached her friend, extending a single hoof out to him, "do we have a deal?"

"How can I say no," Hoity looked down to her hoof, "to a heart like yours? But..."

"But what?"

"I would like to request a single condition, Hope. Your associate, Tanita Helm. I do not want her working at my company. She's toxic, and I won't have that kind of behavior running amok in my studios."

Hope sighed in frustration. "I was afraid of that. Is...is there nothing you can do to have her on board?"

"I'm sorry Hope," Hoity's tone was concrete, "but that is my one and only condition."

'If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't even be here,' Nixie's head rang. 'But I can't let thousands of hard working ponies get kicked out of a good job just because of the way she is...'

"Just do what you feel is best for everypony," Hoity added. "I'm truly sorry for putting somepony as wonderful as you into this kind of pressure, but I have to keep my company's reputation in mind with such a huge transition."

"I completely understand," Nixie shook her head. "I'll have to deal with her later..."

'I'm sorry T.'

Hoity's hoof shook her own. "It's a deal, Hoity."

"Excellent," he reassured her with a gentle smile. "It's been a pleasure working with you, Hope."

"I'm not vanishing into thin air," she joked for the first time since she caught him after the show. "I'll still swing by from time to time to check up on everything. It'll just be on special occasions."

Nixie Hope looked Hoity Toity in the center of his eyes. "Thank you so, so much. I look forward to great things from my crew under your name."

The savvy business colt grabbed his glasses and fixed them back over his face.

"Before we head our own ways," Nixie stared at him, struggling to continue her sentence, "can I ask one more small thing from you?"

"Why, absolutely."

Nixie leaned in and whispered in his ear.

Hoity's ear flickered when she moved away, his response in the form of a quick, subtle nod of approval.

Nixie Hope quickly moved into Hoity Toity, pecking him on the lips for no more than a moment before breaking away. She quickly turned around and ran off towards the direction of the stage, her voice carrying over the hallway as she disappeared.

"You're amazing, Hoity Toity! I'll cya later!"

"Give my regards to Miss Lada!" Hoity waved her off. Once she was out of sight, his expression seemed to reset back to its seemingly snooty demeanor. He quickly fixed his glasses and collar, brushed his mane to the side, and made for the nearest exit.

==========

[Helm was short on breath, resting her legs on a nearby seat while the crowd around her thinned out. Her hoof ached from the hoofshakes she had given, many of her subordinates congratulating her and Nixie on another successful showing. She tossed away the spare quill she was given at the end of the show, authorizing the approval and sale of some of the more dazzling designs showcased on stage earlier that night.

"Nixie?" Helm called out, trying to peel the crowd away from the walkway with her eyes with little success. Her ears picked up the all too familiar clack of Nixie’s coal colored shoes, turning back to the exit of the small stadium. Nixie's smile gave her away, shaking hooves with the aforementioned Hoity Toity from the showcase. He escorted her from the premises as the two discussed something that was drowned out by the noise in the room. Helm sighed, letting her body crumble on the chair for a minute, fanning her face with her hoof.

"What's that girl up to now? Business before pleasure," she huffed, brushing back a strand of hair with an exhausted hoof. "She can't expect me to run everything all by myself. Come to think of it," Helm massaged her neck, "Hope's been awfully lax for the last two weeks. Maybe I should talk to her."

She hopped off of her now bent chair with a whine, "Tonight at the recap will be perfect. I need to tell her the good news after all."

After the ponies in the hall thinned out enough, Helm made her way to the exit, eager to discuss the future of Hope Inc, a business the two mares of Canterlot had established together nearly a decade ago, built from the ground up from a strike of good fortune. Helm's trot down the bustling streets of Northern Canterlot regained strength as her mind carried her through the success Nixie and she had gained from the business. Together, with Hope's magnificent designs and Helm's awe inspiring leadership and control, she couldn't help but feel that the road to her future was paved in solid gold.

"This is what I've dreamt about since I was just a small filly," Helm whispered to herself, smiling at all of the faces around her who gave her recognition as she strolled down the street. "If Nixie hadn't come to work at Hoity's..."

Her eyes snapped out of her trance, locked on to a nearby cafe, where her partner was already seated, patiently waiting for Helm to come and take her seat across from her.]

=====

"T! Over here, c'mon!" Nixie shouted across the room, gaining the attention of everypony dining, their curious eyes lit up when they saw the two fashionistas coming together for a late night meal. Helm beamed at the flash of a camera nearby, intentionally slowing her walk to give the mares and stallions all of the eye candy they desired.

"Stop showing off, you're embarrassing me," Nixie teased her closest friend, hurrying her to the table with a steadfast hoof. Their salads had already been served, fresh and crisp, just as Helm always demanded.

A clock on a nearby wall slowly ticked away as the two ponies engaged in the friendly banter that bonded them together over the years. Helm fanned herself after her face swelled from a joke Nixie pulled, and Nixie nearly fell asleep when T eased their conversation towards business, her face plunging into the empty salad bowl in front of her. The pair continued their fun until the late hours of the night, and everypony else had since disembarked from the restaurant.

"And everypony loved the show tonight," Helm grabbed the last strip of lettuce from her bowl. A candle stood firm between the pair, and had been burning since the beginning of their meeting. Its flame continued to burn, well beyond the first half of the pillar of wax. Sweat ran down the shaft of the figure, creating a shimmer of light that forced the shadows around the table to quiver. "Nixie, what new ideas do you have for next month? Time's ticking, after all."

Nixie hummed in her bowl, popping her head from the opening. Her face was suddenly frozen with a critical expression, her usually soft features hardening as the words came from Helm's mouth. Nixie gulped down her final morsel, the bright and cheery color in her face draining as she swallowed.

"Next month, huh?" She dusted off her dress. "T, what about next month?"

"What's this, Nix?" Helm brushed her serving aside, "Next month, like always. We gotta keep the business going, after all. I've already set up another show for next month, and I already have several companies willing to pay extra to reserve several seats, and-"

Nixie hushed her with a bounce of her hoof.

Helm's eyes softened at her friend's sudden melancholy. "Nixie, are you okay? Was the salad bad?"

"No," Hope shook her head, "I'm just not interested in next month."

"W-what?" Helm almost jumped back in her seat. "But we need to plan! There's so much that needs to be done, and...well," she scrambled for a good reason, "We always gotta look to the future of the company, right?"

"Actually Helm," Nixie waved her arm at a nearby waiter, "I've been meaning to talk to you about that." The waiter came and went as quickly as he could, clearing the table of everything but their drinks and the burning candle, burning away the final fraction of wax that was left. Nixie swirled a spare hoof around the rim of her wine, watching the ripples in the cup bounce around the walls and back to the center, "I told you that I have a sister, right?"

Helm caught sight of the pale color in Nixie's usually shining blue eyes, "Nixie. Are you...are you feeling alright? You seem sick."

"I'm fine, T," Nixie nodded, "Better than I've been for months. I've introduced you to Lada before, haven't I?"

"Your little sister," Helm recalled the frail little pony. "Yeah, I remember her, but what does that have to do with anything? Why bring it up?"

"You don't understand?" Nixie stopped playing with her drink, lifting it to her lips. "When I was still a filly, and Lada was still a baby, our parents passed away. The two of us found ourselves trapped."

Helm remembered their days at their old job, "Nixie Hope, the new seamstress down the aisle. Two bits an hour...that was so long ago..."

"My mother and father worked themselves to the bone to put food on the table for our family. They barely managed to get by, living paycheck to paycheck, doing whatever it took to keep both Lada and I happy. Because of how difficult it was for us to survive, we never had the opportunity to invest any spare bits into our future together."

'Please, I'll work for anything! Just give me something to do! I have a baby sister at home. She needs food and water...and clothes.' the two mares shuddered when Nixie's words replayed in their memories.

"Thank Celestia, they took me in when I begged them," Nixie sighed, the light from the candle revealing some moisture gathering in her eyes. "I kept us alive from that point on, and as she grew up, I never let her out of sight because I was terrified. I was scared of losing her to the world outside that was just waiting to swallow us whole."

"I pulled the two of us out of that hell of bare bones and ragged cloth by working myself to exhaustion each and every day at Hoity's old workshop. All day, all night, always putting in one hundred ten percent to feed Lada.

"One night, after I came home after working overtime at the factory, Lada came screaming to the door. She had a nightmare, where I left to work and never came back."

"Nixie, I...I don't know what to say," Helm anxiously bit her lip.

"T, my heart hurt when I saw the look in her eyes. She had the same look on her face that I had when I begged for the job. She was afraid that I would leave her all by herself. I didn't want her to live with that fear for the rest of her life. I needed her to trust me, to be reassured that I would never miss a beat when it came to her. That night..."

"That's the night that you started it?" Helm asked, her eyes slowly transitioning to Nixie's polished horn sitting atop her blonde hair.

"The blood bonding spells are the one type of magic that we unicorns can instinctively call upon. We started creating that link together through the magic we'd channel between one another. I wanted her to know how much she meant to me, and those spells were the only way I knew how to do that."

"Blood bond spells are dangerous though, Nixie. You can seriously hurt her if you do that."

"I know," Hope grimaced, "Months passed, and the love and commitment we had for one another grew stronger every day. Around the same time, back at the factory, my crafts evolved, but nopony seemed to care, much less the management."

"But I did," Helm replied. "You had that natural talent. You could create a wonderful dress simply by visualizing it in front of your eyes."

Nixie nervously twitched at the remark. "You gave me that chance to prove it, Helm. You helped me prove to the management that I had what it takes. You know the story behind it all after this point."

"That chance started us on this career. You became huge."

"And it's all thanks to you, Helm. I'll never be able to thank you enough for that," Nixie looked back at her glass. "But as my fame and fortune grew...so did my responsibilities. A business can't run itself, right?"

Helm agreed with a single shake of her head.

"I had to spend more time with you and the company, and when we branched off and created Hope Inc, the demand tripled. The time I was able to spend with my sister vanished. The bigger my name became, the less I saw Lada."

"True," Helm agreed whole heartedly, "But you also need to realize that you've given her everything she'd ever need. Your legacy is going to keep Lada secure for decades to come."

"Lada's well off, and my fortune's given us everything we've ever needed...but T, the one thing that kept us together up until that point for so long started to fade. I only see her for an hour or two a day now."

"...Does this have to do with the blood bonds?"

Nixie's eyes started to water, "Lada's already a young mare, Helm. I can barely remember any of the time I spent with her when she was just a sweet little pony, playing with her toys or trying on some of my young designs. I can't even remember the last time I got to go home early and just spend time with her.

"T, the world that I thought would steal away my sister, had stolen me away from her."

Helm's voice started to tremble. "Nixie...what are you saying...?"

"She's even following in my hoofsteps," tears streamed down Nixie's face, "I've come home to find her asleep, with some of her own outfits spread out in the den. I've been so busy running the company that I haven't had much time to even acknowledge them.

"Nixie, wait...please."

[The words Helm feared the most came]:

"T. I'm...I'm shutting down Hope Inc."

Helm's face froze on the spot, her mouth ajar and her cup almost falling over on the table. The stray strand of her mane fell over her eyes unnoticed.

"I've lived a life of luxury, and I've seen my dreams become reality, but I've sacrificed the bond I cared so much for with the only family I have left in all of Equestria. The bonds have been burning stronger over the last few years, and it's become too painful to bare in the condition they're in now. T, it hurts me so deep. I can only imagine what poor Lada's going through...all alone back at home. She needs me."

"Nixie...Nixie, what about-"

"I talked to Hoity about my situation after the show tonight," Hope interrupted her, wiping her eyes clean. "I'm handing over all facilities and employees over to him to use as he pleases."

Helm's glasses almost fell from her face. "Nixie," her voice cracked, paralyzed with fear, "all employees?"

"T," Nixie started, "Hoity...he..."

T. Helm's hooves started to tremble. The brightest moment of her day was burning away like the wax on the table.

"You're amazingly talented, Helm. I'm...I'm sure anypony else in Canterlot would gladly have you on board. Hoity doesn't define fashion in all of Equestria." Nixie pushed her chair back, leaning closer to her friend, "You...you understand why I'm doing all of this, don't you?"

"Y-yes," she shook, looking away from Nixie's face, "Yes."

"This way, all of our workers get to keep their jobs...and you have plenty of money set aside until you can set yourself up elsewhere. I'd...I'd be happy to help you if you need anything after this blows over..."

Helm tightly closed her eyes:

['This isn't real. This can't be real. It's a dream...it's all a dream. When I open my eyes, it'll all be over, and me and Nix will be enjoying a wonderful dinner together...']

"Thank you so much Helm. For everything," Nixie picked herself up from the table, dropping a handful of bits onto the table. "I'll take care of the check." She couldn't help but stare at Helm, who was busy muttering something to herself, "I'm...I'm sorry, T. I really am. Please forgive me..."

Helm had since stopped listening to her. Her quaking body calmed down for a moment, but her eyes remained closed.

"Lada needs me far more than this business," Nixie grunted, recoiling when a sudden burning sensation pulsed from her horn. She looked at her oldest friend, and with a frail hoof, waved to her as she left the building. She turned down to her flank, which was covered by her splendid outfit, 'Besides, this is a world I've never belonged in.'

"I want Lada to be happy," Nixie opened the door to the cafe. "T...Good bye, and good luck."

The door shut behind the ivory mare, leaving Helm inside with nothing but silence to accompany her.

"..."

['Everything I've worked for.'

".........."

'I tried so hard...I can't lose it all.'

The candle finally surrendered to the flame, falling into the darkness with the rest of the room.

Helm's hoof quickly reached for her glass. Like a cannon, she hurled the drink across the pathway. It slammed against the exit, shattering into tiny pieces.]

==========

Locks held his hoof up to stop Lada's consistent flow of detailed information. She paused at the sudden motion, pinching her lips together when she saw his glistening crimson eyes scanning over.

"You said that Nixie and yourself actually committed the blood bond?" Locks lowered his stance.

"Yes sir," she looked at her horn. "It burned whenever we stayed away from each other too long, and it swelled with warmth whenever we were near."

"Sounds just like one," Locks leaned back against his seat. "I'm surprised a fashion pony like Nixie even remembered such a thing. She was only half right about the spell being 'instinctual'."

"Half right," the young filly scooted in, "What is the other half?"

"Blood bond spells used to be practiced all the time in days long gone, back when unicorns were still independent from both pegasi and earth ponies. It was a way for them to keep each other close when separated from their loved ones for long periods of time.

"But," Locks fixed his drooping mane, "It fell out of practice decades ago, around the same time Canterlot was founded. You'd be troubled to find any unicorn in this generation who is even aware of the spell's existence."

"W-well," Lada responded with a murmur, "From what I know, Nix was originally going to practice magic like most Canterlot ponies. She wanted to attend Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns before our parents died."

The detective nodded at the information, "That would explain how she knew it. She must have been very committed to you, Lada."

The pale pony smiled, "I owe her for everything I am. She was the best big sister I could've ever asked for."

"She destroyed an entire company to be with you. If you don't mind me asking," Locks cleared his throat, "How long were you two together...before she passed?"

Lada looked down and away from the pair. Amethyst's expression softened at the pain the question brought the teenage pony. She couldn't stop the light choke that came from the back of her throat. Locks lipped a silent, heart-filled apology to his guard.

"Not long," she answered with a flat tone, "One month, at best."

"A month. What happened in that final month?"

Lada almost rolled her eyes back, trying to recall the bond's memories while her horn flared to life. "The bond helped the two of us keep tabs of our lives. It's the only reason I know so much information about her. I'm trying to remember..."

"Take your time," Locks assured her. He turned to Amethyst, who seemed confused by what Lada has meant.

"Amy, the blood bonds...you can think of them like...like a piece of parchment."

Amethyst whistled with a quick tilt of her head, causing her hair to flow over one of her eyes.

"Imagine that each and every experience, memory, and thought of yours can be transformed into a parchment. That parchment has every single bit of information from that feeling or memory, and it's all stored inside of a," Locks hesitated to find a metaphor, "A diary which would, in normal cases, represent those feelings and emotions in their totality."

The pegasus blew her whistle in four quick spurts.

"Good. Now, imagine that you are able to share that diary, and all of its content, with anypony you chose. That is how the blood bonds work."

"The only problem," Lada added, "is that you're adding in memories that aren't yours. When you try to remember them...it starts off hazy and unfamiliar, like right now.

"Mr. Locks," Lada continued, "We didn't do much that month. She took care of me and stayed home nearly every day."

"Hmm," Locks mind rushed with questions, "Did you two meet anypony during those months? Did Ms. T. Helm ever show up at the door?"

"Neither. Nix and I always used the bond at night before bed, so anything that happened that day to her, I'd know. Almost everything feels ordinary about that month."

"Did she ever say anything about somepony named Conroy Justis?" Locks wildly asked.

"Justis?" Lada shut her eyes gently. "No. I don't think so. Nixie DID have a talk with Helm a few days before she died."

"Helm sounded extremely upset with Nixie's decision to pass her company to Hoity Toity," Locks mentioned.

"She was right to," Lada replied, "Nixie didn't...really handle that issue too well. Hoity and Helm never really saw eye to eye, but Nix really liked him, so giving him all that power pretty much meant that she was leaving T out to dry."

"What exactly did Helm talk to Nixie about on that day that they met?"

"She," Lada's horn popped, "She wanted Nixie to come to one final fashion show. Nixie didn't want to go at first because...that was the month..."

"Huh?"

"It...it was in all of the papers," Lada hung her head with a regretful sigh.

'Papers? Scarlet...the report said something about a scandal in the papers,' the detective recalled the thick report his partner provided.

"Hmm...I read some of the report, but can you recall what happened?"

"Absolutely. Nix didn't want to go to the show because right after that meet at the cafe, somepony at the company leaked a picture of her without any of Nix's signature outfits on."

"...And that's a scandal?"

Lada looked at her flank: A decorative dress design that sparkled on the edges. "It's a scandal when you don't have a cutie mark."

"I've heard the basic outline before," Locks hoof planted itself firm against the couch.

"Everypony always assumed Nixie had a cutie mark that responded with her fashion business. It only makes sense to, doesn't it?"

"Nixie Hope didn't have a cutie mark. How-"

"Look at every publicly released image. Nix always hid her flank from view with an outfit of some sort."

"But what I've always wondered is...how? From your story, even history itself...it all points to fashion being Nixie's greatest talent."

"That's what I asked her one day," Lada frowned. "She didn't want to go to the show because she was still humiliated from everypony figuring out the truth."

"So what ended up happening?"

"I," Lada started, "I don't know. That was the night she died. We never bonded that day, so anything that happened on that day after she left the house, I'm completely unaware of."

"I understand," Locks readjusted himself in his seat. He moved closer to Lada, his eyes shining with curiosity, "And you're absolutely sure you've never heard the name 'Conroy Justis'?"

"No. Sorry," Lada immediately answered. "Who is that, if you don't mind?"

"...Listen closely, Lada," Locks started to explain, "Conroy Justis was my superior at the station we work at. He took on a free study that, at some point, brought him to Nixie Hope's situation."

'Extra information concerning cutie marks is highlighted amongst the documents,' Locks recalled Scarlet's report. "Justis was interested in Ms. Hope, but met with an unfortunate end right at the beginning of his investigation, so nothing beyond her name and a few scraps of newspaper articles were discovered from his work."

'And nothing to correlate why Nixie and Scarlet are related besides a very broad cutie mark interest,' he organized his own thoughts.

"I could think back," Lada pondered, "It's not a pleasant memory, but I can definitely figure out what the cutie mark meant to Nixie."

"It's up to you, Lada. You don't have to revisit anything painful if you don't want to. I'm not going to provoke it," Locks gave her a gentle grin.

"It's the only way I'll get closer to the truth, isn't it?" Lada mimicked his expression. "If it's her cutie mark that you're after, I'll be glad to hand over any information I know. It's been a long time coming," Lada muttered.

"Please, proceed," Locks waved.

=====

A young, pale coated pony lifted her head from her drawing, her ears picking up the sound of what seemed to be a stampede incoming from down the street. Her eyes turned to the window, lifting the drape to get an eye on the commotion outside. The staggered wave of photo flashes knocked her on her back, multicolored spots danced in her vision as the sound of voices came crashing over one another, growing in volume and edging closer to the house.

Wiping her face with a hoof, the foal stole another glance through the window and cameras. A familiar face was seen in front of the crowd, her older sister was rushing through the mob to get to the door. Her horn pulsed with a furious energy; a large blanket wrapped itself around her body, covering most of her save for a few inches off of her hooves and tail, with strands of her usually bouncy mane dangling around her head.

Lada gasped at Nixie's appearance, galloping over to the door as fast as her small legs could carry her. She grabbed the knob and swung the door open for her sister. The hectic mare burst through the opening, her sobs heard amidst the hustle of the paparazzi still heckling her at the entrance. A magical energy swallowed the door and slammed it viciously in their faces, every drape in the house following suit and engulfing the house in darkness.

"Nix!" Lada kept her distance from her sister. The elder Hope had fallen to the floor, her body still hidden underneath the large towel wrapped around her body. Her frail cries reached out to Lada, her horn whined in unison with a small, pathetic cry that came from Nixie's. She cautiously made her way to her sister.

"Nixie," Lada trembled as she inched closer, "Nixie, are you okay?"

Nix's crying paused at the sound of her sister's voice. Her panting filled the room with suspense, gathering her bearings now that she was safe in her own house.

"I just don't understand," Lada heard Nixie whisper quietly through her huffs. Unable to respond, Lada huddled up next to her sister, nuzzling the towel, into the spot that housed her older sister's heart. Their horns calmed down, and a warm, numbing pleasure slowly coursed its way through their unified bodies.

"I'm sorry," Nixie sniffled, a hoof wiped away what Lada assumed to be tears, "Are you okay Lada? I didn't mean to scare you."

Lada responded by pressing herself harder against Nixie.

"They found out about my cutie mark. I...don't know what to do." Nixie pulled the towel off of her body, letting the warmth of her body press up against her shivering sister. Lada's eyes cautiously wandered over to Nixie's flank, pristine and vacant of a significant marking.

"Lada, I'm so sorry. I don't know what's going to happen...I just don't understand," she gently hit her head against the ground on its side. Lada crawled up to meet Nixie eye to eye; the siblings stared at each other in a clueless daze.

"It's a rite of passage, and it's something that happens to everypony. Why hasn't it happened to me yet?" Nixie closed her eyes and rested her head against her sister's, "Don't I...deserve one?"

"N-Nix," Lada stuttered, wincing at the sound of another camera shutter, "You'll get it eventually. Everypony does."

"It's a message to the bearer of the mark," Nixie started, reminiscing upon her days as a carefree foal, "a message that reflects the inner talents of the pony the mark belongs to. It's a way for nature to guide the pony to their respective future. It's like," Nixie opened her eyes, meeting her sister's hazel, "Like having a guardian...a brother or a sister...somepony to help you find your way."

"But why is it such a big deal now?" Lada's confused frown begged.

Nixie looked down at her blank flank, letting out a defeated moan. "It's all my fault that it's a problem, Lada." She picked herself up, tumbling a bit from the dizziness she felt after her first step. "I never got a cutie mark as a filly. The very idea that I was the last pony I knew that was a blank flank...it crawled under my skin. I always felt that I would eventually get my own, and that at the time, it was just me being, well, dramatic about getting my mark.

"But," Nixie gently let herself lean against the couches that covered the center of the den, "The months started to pass me by faster and faster. My cutie mark was still missing years later, when everyone I knew was already embarking on their own futures, guided by their marks." The bewildered mare took off her horseshoes, letting them tumble onto the floor as they chose, "I expected my own cutie mark after T helped me get by at my job in the factory, but even then, it never showed up. Around that time...I decided to ignore it completely. My career seemed bright, and my talent was laid out clear for everypony to witness. I didn't care what my flank said, I knew that becoming a fashion pony was my destiny."

"So it never came," Lada sat on the other couch parallel with the one Nixie was on.

"Yes, Lada. The problem stemmed from the fact that I...I was ashamed all the same," Nixie rubbed the empty spot on her body. "As a filly, you were always the laughing stock of the class if you were last. I guess my fear of being ridiculed carried over...I hid it from view. I hid my flank at every moment of the day whenever I went out. I couldn't let anypony know that I was...talentless."

"But you have talent," Lada squeaked, "You wouldn't have gotten us this far without it."

Nixie smiled, "My mark became a problem for my company because of the fact that I hid it. It's like...hiding the real you from everypony around you. The press is making such a big deal about it because...because it's equal to...to lying to anypony I've ever known. They thought my talent was in being a designer. I became friends with them through the assumption, and now they all know that I'm not what I seem to be."

Lada looked down at the floor, kicking her legs. "But...but you're still the same Nixie as you were yesterday...or the day before..."

"Only for you, maybe," Nixie sniffed. Her hooves trembled against the cushion. "I don't get it. I just don't understand it all."

Lada looked up at her sister. A sharp pain stung her at the tip of her horn, her eyes fired open as wide as dinner plates. Nixie's horn pulsed on the other seat, her eyes pouring with tears.

"My talent is to be a great designer...a great fashionista," Nixie covered her face from her sister. "Everything that's happened up until now proves it. I am Nixie Hope! I'm a hotshot from Canterlot!"

The pain drained Lada's eyes of her own tears, her whimpers fell silent to Nixie's voice.

"If this is all true," Nixie clenched her teeth in frustration, "Then why does my body deny it?

"Why does my body refuse to accept my love for my life? Why does it disagree!? I want this! I WANT THIS!"

==========

The door to the aged Hope manor slammed shut. A pair of wings could be heard cutting through the air as a familiar pegasus took flight. Locks looked from the door to Lada, whose face was moist from recalling her memories of that day.

"Excuse Amethyst," Locks apologized, reaching out for Lada's hoof to comfort her. "She...doesn't take too well to stories like this. Underneath that stoic exterior of muscle and feather beats a very soft heart."

"It's fine," Lada's voice shivered. "The pain is just incredible. It happened so long ago, but simply retelling it is...agonizing."

"Thank you," Locks patted her foreleg, "I'm sorry that you had to remember something so awful."

Lada cleaned her face, "I'm okay now. That's all that seems relevant about the cutie mark in that month."

"So Nixie Hope's big secret was that she never earned a cutie mark. Interesting."

"Has such a thing ever happened before?"

Locks nodded, "It's rare, but it happens to a few poor ponies every few generations. Ponies who just fail to find what they feel their true calling is. It's that realization that there is something in that pony's life that they have infinite passion for, regardless of the reason. If a pony is never given the opportunity to realize how they truly feel about that passion...then the cutie mark never comes."

"I don't get how fashion couldn't have been Nixie's calling," Lada tapped her hooves together, "She loved nearly nothing else more than that."

"I wouldn't be able to tell you much about that either," Locks admitted, readjusting himself as a silhouette of Amy flew overhead from the window in the ceiling. "Tanita Helm was her closest friend wasn't she? Didn't she do anything about the scandal?"

"She tried getting my sister out of the house. She tried to get her mind off of it, but that's all I can remember."

"Even from Nixie's bonded memories?"

Lada paused, "Well...if I recall, Helm actually managed to set Nix up with the Princess a week after the scandal. They both really wanted answers about her cutie mark."

"Nixie Hope met with the Princess?" Locks straightened his back.

Lada gave him a quick affirmative.

'Why hasn't the Princess herself replied about such an occasion,' Locks pondered. 'Steele would've given her the report immediately. I'd think she'd be able to recall something as oddly specific as a meeting about a rogue cutie mark.'

"Oh," Lada added, "This isn't purely from my perspective, but T...she was different in that last month, ever since Nix gave her the news of the trade."

"Different?"

"Well...Nix's memories make Helm seem more...aggressive than usual. She kept insisting on Nixie going to some of the last shows that led up to her death."

"...It's interesting enough that Helm even cared for Nixie after the news. You'd expect somepony like her to stop talking and break all relations to Nixie."

"That's what I have always thought too," Lada agreed with the detective. "She was too nice to Nixie."

Locks picked himself up and out of the couch. He paced around Lada's couch, his crimson eyes staring her down from the top of her mane. "You said that Nixie met with Celestia because of Helm?"

"Yes sir," Lada gulped at Locks' sudden change of pace.

"Tell me everything you can think of from that day. Start at the meeting, and cover everything from the rest of that day that was specific to that day; nothing typical."

"W-why of course."

"Thank you again," Locks stepped closer to Lada, not moving away from the direct eye contact he made with her from that position.

==========

"B-but I was scheduled for today," an aggravated white pony stamped her hoof at the guard. The metal gate behind him remained shut, and the even mightier wall of magical golden aura surrounding it fortified itself at her irritation. "Just check with her royal highness, please?"

"Sorry ma'am. If you're not on this list, then you cannot pass." The guard's armor glistened in Celestia's sunlight. He turned back to his post, looking away from the elder Hope, "Go take your business elsewhere now, if you don't mind."

"Oh come on!" Nixie growled, her shoes digging into the dirt. "I had to learn a coat changing spell just to get past the ponies in town for this!"

The guard carelessly looked away from Nixie, straightening the spear he kept tucked underneath one of his hooves.

Defeated, Nixie Hope turned her back to the guard, lowering her head in disappointment. As she took her first step, she heard the gate behind her unlock. Her body swung around completely, both ponies with nothing but surprise on their faces as the barrier surrounding the gate completely vaporized into the air. The iron gate dragged along the pathway that lead to the towering castle ahead of her, slowly revealing from the ground up a large creature on the other side.

Her mane was a dazzling display of blues that transitioned from light to dark, ending with a large, thick section of pink hair. Her mane and tail floated about in the air, inherently ignoring the laws of gravity. Her golden horseshoes outshined Nixie's, and her crown fell a few inches short of her pointed horn that rose a foot above the tip of her head. Her light purple eyes welcomed Nixie beyond the barrier.

"Nixie Hope, so good to see you," Celestia took a step towards the opened gate, "I've been expecting your visit."

The guard immediately bowed at the sight of his powerful leader, Nixie welcomed the Princess with a quick kneel before the taller alicorn, looking up into her light purple eyes, hoping that she could finally have some answers.

"This way, Ms. Hope. We have a nice lunch set up just for you in the dining hall. Come."

The guard refused to look up as Nixie cautiously walked past him, crossing the gate's threshold and trailing five ponies behind Celestia. The magical barrier instantly bounced back to life the moment Nixie entered the castle, the gate following suit with an ear deafening slam. She felt her body jerk from the force behind the shut gateway.

"They can be a bit surprising to anypony that hasn't been here before," her highness assured the fashionista. "I assume you're okay with something simple? A slice of cake with a cup of tea."

"A-anything's fine, your majesty," Nixie wiped her brow.

The entrance to the castle led them down a long, spiraling hallway with multiple rooms and passages to take for the two ponies. Nixie's mind failed to keep track of the direction they were heading, watching as they continuously ascended and descended based on the halls they took at each turn.

"How do you not get lost in here," Nixie shook her head, "I'm getting dizzy just trying to keep up with you."

Celestia paused in her stride, looking back at her company with a sweet smile. "I still get lost from time to time. The castle's amazing, and I have never put time aside to explore every nook. There are probably still some rooms in here that I haven't even visited myself."

She felt her face turn pale, "That's...comforting."

"Don't worry my little pony. I know exactly where the dining room is. You can relax."

The red carpet on the ground ran through each path, a combination of stone walls and ivory pillars towered above them, with a roof that would lock the sunlight out if the pristine windows hovering on the walls didn't illuminate the room. Unlit torches hung from every pillar, and every few feet, an empty shell of a guard's armor stood on a pedestal, decorating the hall with an intimidating atmosphere.

Celestia led her beyond another turn, gently opening another door that opened inward. A large, quiet room stretched out for several yards, decorated only with a long, rectangular table and a handful of chairs. Every wall in the room was painted white, a small lantern of magical energy hung suspended in the air above the table, giving the room light. Another door on the other end of the room lead to the kitchen in the back, a small commotion signaling that there was more life in the room than just the two ponies.

"Please, have a seat wherever you please," Celestia walked over to the seating at the end of the table across the room. She took her seat, taking the time to stretch out her magnificent wings, flapping them gracefully before folding them back into her sides. Nixie couldn't help but gasp at the sheer beauty of her country's leader, stumbling nervously over to the chair on the opposite end of the table, near the entrance.

Another voice came from the kitchen, that of a younger filly. Nixie's attention turned to the door near Celestia, the voice reminding her of her own little sister. She shut her eyes and rubbed her forehead, looking over her body to make sure that she looked her best for her majesty.

"Ms. Helm came to me earlier in the week," Celestia started the conversation, "She begged me to talk to you about your predicament."

"I'd be surprised if you hadn't heard about it," Nixie's ears folded down, "It's been the talk of Canterlot for the entire month so far."

"A mare talented in the fashion world, who never received a cutie mark for her efforts," Celestia started, "I cannot deny that I'm somewhat fascinated by the entire ordeal."

"I'll just get right to it then," Nixie sat back at attention, cupping her forehooves together. "Is there any way for you to help me out? Do you know what's wrong with me?"

The door to the kitchen swung open viciously, crashing against the wall to the side of the swinging door. A strong, purple aura disappeared from the wall, followed by a frustrated grunt from the foal on the other end.

"Forgive the commotion," Celestia chuckled, "She's new."

Nixie watched as a young, purple pony came stumbling from the kitchen, struggling to hold up the two trays of food that carried both pony's lunches. Nixie couldn't help but smile at the young filly. Her mane was colored with a deep blue and purple blend, with two individual strands of purple and pink that followed her mane from front to back. Her tail's pattern and style mimicked her mane, the entire mass bounced with every step she took. Her stubby horn frizzled with power as she carried the trays across the room.

"Twilight, take it easy and relax," Celestia coached the young foal, "Focus only on the trays and the destination. Don't be distracted by the smaller details."

Twilight Sparkle clumsily made her way to the table with the rest of the materials, each tray shook as she placed it down on each end of the table. The magic enveloping Nixie's tray vanished, but Celestia's lunch didn't fare as well, still encased in Twilight's power.

The tiny pony gasped as her magic discharged, the aura funneled into the cup of tea that was sitting on Celestia's tray. It sprayed up and into the air, splashing on the startled child's face. She crashed onto the floor, her horn dripping with the tea she had served Celestia.

"Don't be discouraged Twilight," Celestia lowered her eyes to meet with her apprentice, "Now pick yourself up and keep practicing. I'll be fine without tea today."

The unicorn's face gave a cheerful smile, nodding at Celestia's orders and running back out of the room through the kitchen.

"She's definitely advancing her magic by leaps and bounds. She could barely turn the pages of a book a few days ago. Can you believe that?"

"She looks like a lovely little filly. I'm sure she'll get the hang of it," Nixie agreed with the Princess. "I used to practice magic myself."

A wave of her horn, and Celestia brought her fork down to the cake, taking a small piece and easing it into her mouth. Nixie waited for her to finish her mouthful before she could continue.

"Answer me this, Hope: What do you mean by wanting my help?"

Nixie hesitated, "W-well...can you help me figure out why my cutie mark isn't there?"

"Interesting," Celestia took another bite of cake, "You feel like you should already have a cutie mark?"

"Yes," Nixie looked down at her snack, "Besides my little sister, there's nothing I love more than the job I do, and the ponies I work with."

Celestia looked at Nixie's aching face, "I can't tell you what exactly it is that's wrong with your mark. I've never seen this type of mishap before. You do remember what it takes to get a cutie mark, do you not?"

"Who wouldn't?"

"The simple answer would be," the Princess cleared her throat, "That you simply haven't found the calling in your life that is right for you. So long as the cutie mark doesn't appear, your destiny will continue to escape you."

"But what else do I have?" Nixie looked at her majesty, "I've met so many great friends through my career. I've kept my family alive, and, well, I've never been happier. Why isn't it there?"

"I...don't know," Celestia bluntly responded. "But before you respond, answer me this: Why is it so important for you to have a cutie mark? You just said that you've never been happier with your life. It seems to me that the cutie mark itself is causing you more grief than the life you have."

Nixie looked down at her reflection in the small cup of tea. She placed a hoof next to it, watching the ripples distort her figure. "Because if I don't have it...then doesn't that mean that...that everything I feel about my life right now is a great big lie?"

"A lie, Ms. Hope?"

"If my cutie mark has nothing to do with fashion...or my sister, then what does that make of all of my efforts I've put into both of those things for all of these years?"

Nixie flinched, her vision blurred for a split second before she continued, "Everything I've worked for is just a waste of my time if my destiny doesn't point me in that direction. Isn't that a pony's job? To find what makes them special?"

"That's true," Celestia gave Nixie a critical look, taking a mental note of her weakened posture, "Everypony needs to find that one talent that they feel the strongest about in their lives. Nixie Hope, I've encountered many ponies who lived their entire lives happily without a cutie mark before meeting with you here today," she took another quick bite of cake, "Every single one of them decided in the very end to forgo finding their 'destiny' for the sake of the happy lives they had in front of them.

"What makes you special isn't something that's simply decided by the symbol on your flank. It's what you find the most precious in your life."

"You're saying," Nixie shuddered, "To...to give up on finding my cutie mark?"

"Absolutely not," Celestia responded. "I'm asking you to live a happy life. If the cutie mark comes from your work or your sister, then it will come. If it doesn't...then it's something you shouldn't worry yourself about. Let your heart decide what your destiny is, not your cutie mark."

Nixie's eyes twitched, "I...I see."

"Have some cake, Ms. Hope. It's delicious."

The confused white unicorn obeyed the request, taking a small bite of the cake in front of her. The sweet, strawberry filling that was hiding underneath the yellow frosting helped cheer her up. Nixie swallowed her bite before speaking, "You're telling me to move on then, is that right?"

"To avoid repeating myself, yes," Celestia looked straight at the smaller pony, "That's what I want of all of my subjects."

Nixie let another small grin creep up on her face.

"That's what I love to see," Celestia laughed, finishing her cake with another bite. Nixie couldn't help but copy her Princess, laughing before taking another bite of her treat, chasing it down with some of the sweetened tea Twilight had served.

"Can you do that for me, Nixie Hope? Can you live a happy life?"

Nixie Hope twitched again, blinking rapidly before looking at the Princess. "I'll do what I love to do. That will keep me happy," she beamed at the Princess. "Princess Celestia," Nixie Hope bowed her head, "Thank you for giving me the chance to talk to you."

"Anything for my subjects," she said, "You should thank Ms. Helm for helping to set up this little arrangement."

"I would...but the press is constantly covering her. If I get anywhere near her, they'll trample me."

"I've already made arrangements for that little problem," the Princess flapped her wings, "The media shouldn't be messing with you any more from this point onward about your cutie mark."

"...Thank you so much, Princess Celestia," Nixie finished her tea.

==========

"Are you sure this is okay," Nixie nervously asked the plump mare on the other end of the table. The sun had since gone from the sky, and most of Canterlot was already silent and ready for sleep, save for the diner she had been summoned to.

"Don't worry about it, Nixie. I just want to help you out," Ms. Helm replied between bites of her salad. "You've had a rough month, and I want to help you out a bit."

Nixie gave her friend a friendly smirk, "Is this about the last show at the end of the month? You've been trying to pull me away from my house for the last few weeks to go."

"I'm sure all of your fans and friends would appreciate it. Everyone wants to give you a proper send off, and I can think of no better way."

Nixie played with the green on her plate, "You're all too kind."

"The media has been blowing your cutie mark out of proportion," Helm continued, "They're making a big fuss about something that's none of their business."

"It's their business to make a fuss," Nixie replied with a punctual certainty. "They did a fantastic job, if anything else."

Helm pushed her sagging red glasses back up to block out her eyes. "Yes, well, any news is juicy news to them. Actually," she brushed a strand of forelock out of her face, "I wanted to see you after you met with Celestia. Did anything happen?"

"I'm fine, if that's what you mean," Nixie gave her empty flank a quick once over, "Celestia helped me clear my mind about the whole problem. I'm just glad to be over it."

"That's excellent news," Helm took another large bite of her salad, chasing it down quickly with her glistening glass of mineral water. "But did Celestia find a cure?"

Nixie swung her head left and right, "No. To be honest, T, she said it was a special circumstance, but that it shouldn't be something to worry about."

"So whatever it is you have," Helm's voice was filled with concern, "You still have it? Is it contagious?"

"She didn't say," Nixie waved her hoof at the question, "But I suppose I do still have the problem. Won't be a problem at all if I just move on regardless, right?"

"Right," her ex-co manager acknowledged.

"I'll just live how I want, and to hell with the mark!" Nixie finished the entirety of her martini, rapping on the table for another round."

"Easy Nixie, you're still not in the best condition."

"What are you talking about," Nixie took a deep breath and sighed, "I have a wonderful sister, I've lived out my dream, and I have one of the best friends I could've ever asked for. I'm feeling great right now. I deserve this."

Helm forced her glasses up to the base of her snout. "I'm just surprised, I guess. You really are a strong pony, damning the idea that your dream might not have even been your true calling."

"Like Celestia said," Nixie smiled when her refill showed up, "I define my true calling, not my cutie mark." The ecstatic unicorn grabbed her cup and brought it to her mouth, licking her lips. Her hoof jerked to the side suddenly, splashing her anticipated beverage across the floor. Nixie giggled it off, tapping for another serving while apologizing for the accident.

"Are you absolutely sure you're fine," Helm repeated, "That didn't convince me."

"You worry too much," Nixie rubbed her face, "I don't get why you're being so protecti-"

A bright flash blinded Nixie and Helm for a brief moment, coming from the entrance to the diner. Nixie stumbled nearly off of her seat, grabbing the back of the chair with an arm to keep herself up.

"What are you doing!" Helm lowered her glasses. A young colt was huddled at the door with a camera wrapped around his neck, the bulb still warm from the flash it gave off. "The Princess gave a royal order that prevents any further harassment of Ms. Hope! I can have you arrested for this!"

"Thanks for the snapshot, but I gotta dash," the quirky colt responded with a sly look, "There's far too much money on the line for this picture. A snapshot of Nixie Hope and the one who exposed her will fetch a precious penny out of any news stand here in Canterlot."

"Police, guards!" Helm shouted, pointing at the pony that darted off into the streets. A single pegasus in armor seemingly came from the roof of the building, heading over in the direction of the camera colt.

The round pony looked back at her friend. There was an odd silence on the other end of the table, the only sound that of Nixie crawling back into her chair. Helm tucked her glasses back up to hide the fear in her eyes, clearing her throat.

"...Exposed?" The words came expectantly from the confused ivory pony. "Did I hear him right? Did he say exposed?"

Her assistant remained silent, blocking out her eyes with the shades on her head.

"T...what did you do?"

Her golden coat seemed to lose its shine. Helm looked away from her friend's glare, holding her glasses up to her face. "Nixie, let me explain."

"Explain? Please. Explain," Hope sloppily responded through her teeth. Her ears twitched anxiously for her explanation.

"I," Helm nearly froze, "I was the one...who told the press about your blank flank. It was me."

Nixie got out of her chair, lowering her head.

"You need to understand though. You left me with no option. You threw me and my career into the trash with the merger. My job, my success, everything. Your friendship with Hoity Toity completely screwed me."

"Hoity is a longtime friend, Helm," Nixie grunted, "Much like you."

"It could've been ANY other designer in this city. Hoity doesn't control the entirety of Equestira's fashion," she justified herself, "You had so many other choices you could've made just as easily, but you chose him."

"Those ponies? They aren't friends of mine. They're business partners. That's all they've ever been."

"I was upset, Nix. I didn't know how to react," Helm backed up out of her chair, unwillingly meeting Nixie's glare.

"Do not call me Nix," Hope grinded her teeth. "Do you even KNOW what you put me through? What Lada went through because of how difficult it was to cope with?" Nixie stamped her hind leg, "So what was the meet with Celestia then, or this dinner? An apology? Is that what it was? A fucking apology?"

Nixie twitched again, jerking towards Helm. "I didn't know how else to say I was sor-"

"You never even admitted to it!"

"Nixie, please calm down," Helm hastily asked.

"You know," Nixie's tone shifted, her anger oozing out of her mouth, "Now...Now I'm glad you're going to be on the god damn streets. I'm glad I chose Hoity."

Helm's body, almost mechanically, took a few steps around the table. Her eyes helplessly followed her hoof as it slammed against Nixie's face. A gasp escaped her mouth as Ms. Hope tumbled out of her chair in a heap.

A camera flash erupted from the other end of the cafe, opposite that of where the other camerapony was moments ago. Hurried hoofsteps could be heard tearing away from the scene as Nixie pulled herself to her feet.

The table fell to the side as Helm gathered herself, backing up so suddenly that she stumbled over her seat. She was gulping down mouthfuls of air, her usually well-kept hair falling to the sides.

"N-now Nix...please, please, let's calm down...this is getting out of hoof," Helm stammered when she saw the vengeful look in her coworker's eyes. "W-we can get through this," she tried to assure Nixie, who only stared at her with a malevolent glare.

Nixie took a single step towards Helm. She quickly pivoted her entire body, facing in the opposite direction. Her hind legs shot out like a pair of bullets, slamming straight into Helm's face, easily shattering the glasses against the hard bearings of the horseshoes she wore. T's hefty body shot back several feet, crashing into a puddle against another table behind her, kicking up the chairs and burying her in the furniture.

Helm's body remained motionless. Nixie gasped for air as tears came flowing from her eyes. Her footing against the ground became shaky from the impact, and her vision started to blur from all of the excitement.

"I thought," Nixie cried, "we were best friends. I thought you'd understand."

A sharp pain rang out in Nixie's head, a high pitched whistle that felt as though it was scrambling her mind. Exhaustion collapsed on Nixie Hope's body, the young pony struggled to keep herself on her feet. She turned to head to the exit, but just as she saw the nighttime sky, she fell to the floor in a miserable heap.

Author's Notes:

Sorry about the delayed update. Got caught up in other business. :(

Enjoy the chapter. Next one should be released next weekend. :applejack:

203: Loose Ends

Mysty smacked her lips together after parting from her flask, waving some of her forelock out from her eyes. The sheen from the flask shimmered as it swung down to her chest, suspended by a thread that slung lazily from her neck.

The air was thick with a mixture of dew and trace elements of magic that flowed gently from the grass and the dirt under each tombstone. Statues adorned some of the plots of land, mostly from the upper echelon of ponies in Canterlot; each of them huddled near one another for a closure that most were sure their decaying bodies would appreciate.

Mystery Hart took in another deep breath, a mist visible in the atmosphere upon exhale. Her daughter's coat hung off of her back, swinging from side to side with her shaky strides. She could still taste the bitterness of the alcohol she carried around her neck, rubbing her eyes to get a better view of the blurry dirt path that networked around each major plot of land in the cemetery.

"It's about time I had a lead," Mysty talked amongst her dead audience. "Not that it was getting boring talking to the lot of you. I know you fellas understand."

A gentle silence responded to her words. She acknowledged the solitude of the graveyard and continued to walk. The dew thickened as she followed the road in front of her. Frustrated at the combination of darkness, and having difficulty as a result of her beer goggles, she tapped a sling that also hung from her neck.

The small machine had a stem that ran up parallel to her neck, arching over her head. At the tip of the stem was a small bubble shaped glass. Upon flicking at the stem once more, a small insect stirred within the glass. It fluttered around, creating light as it did, the shine burning brighter with its movements. Her lantern propped up, giving her just enough vision to continue to work through the mist.

She arrived at a special plot of land. Just as it was in the city, this site was blocked off by a regal wall that distinguished the dead's wealth. Golden figureheads and pearls adorned the graves excessively. Hart gagged at some of the designs, grabbing her flask and taking another quick shot before she continued.

"This must be it," she slurred out, stopping at a distinguished grave site. She sat down, taking in a deep breath, running her hooves gently across the ground. She removed the coat from her body, draping it over the tombstone that hung at the peak of the disturbed land.

A rock along the road tumbled over, creating a racket that alerted Mysty. She held her breath, tapping her lantern harder to emit more light. She grabbed the bulb by a hoof, pointing it straight at the path she had just come from. Hoofsteps could be heard approaching her through the fog. She ripped her flask off of her neck and tucked it inside one of the pockets in Scarlet's old coat.

Two figures exposed themselves in her light. She winced when she saw their forms reveal themselves. One, an older colt, with his silver mane pulled up and back as always. He wore a striped blue vest, and had a distinguishable watch strapped around his left foreleg.

The other pony was an alicorn, towering over the colt's height. Her mane and tail defied gravity, flowing whichever way the magic bestowed upon her chose. Her pointed horn pulsed, emitting their own brand of light that the pair used to follow the path. Royal boots and a crown flickered in Mysty's light, and her purple eyes hardened upon meeting with Mysty's pink.

"Flex. Celestia. I never thought I'd see you two wandering about here," she greeted the pair.

"Wandering, huh," Steele smothered a hoof into the dirt, "We've been looking for you."

"For me? What would you want from me?"

"Nothing much," he replied, "We were given reports by both Scarlet and Locks that included interactions with you in them. I'd rather not overlook any detail in the case this time through."

"And Celestia?"

Celestia looked upon Mysty with curiosity. "I apologize for the abrupt visit, Hart. Were you busy?"

"A tad," Mysty hiccuped, "but nothing that can't wait a few minutes. What do you two want?"

"Scarlet and Locks have told you about the case, right?"

"Both of the cases, yes," Mysty frowned at the mention. "Steele, why didn't you tell me first?"

"You resigned from the Agency, remember? You know the policy. We don't try to involve third party sources unless it's completely necessary."

"I know the damn policy," Mysty barked. "I just didn't expect you to toss Scarlet into the mix. I thought you had more sense than that."

Steele looked down. "I'm sorry Mysty, but there wasn't much choice. I feel like Locks and Scarlet are the only shot we have right now at cracking these cases."

Mysty turned away from him. "Can you imagine what Conroy would say right now if he knew?"

"Easily," Steele replied. "I knew him pretty well too, Mysty. He'd have me turned inside out."

Mysty sat down, her back still turned at the pair. "It'd make me feel better. I miss him, Steele. I miss those times."

"I think we all share that sentiment," Celestia added. "Things haven't quite been as efficient without him."

The mother turned back to Steele, meeting his glance halfway, "Where is Scarlet?"

"On the train back to Ponyville, I assume," Steele answered her sternly.

"I see. And where is she staying at?"

"Twilight Sparkle's house," Celestia added, "She'll be in good hooves as long as she stays with her."

Hart snorted, "Normally I'd trust in your judgment Princess, but being near an Element doesn't guarantee her safety."

"I understand that, but it's our best option right now," the Princess sighed.

Mysty turned completely towards the pair, aggression still drawn on her expression. "Exactly how much danger is Scarlet in, if she's working on this case?"

Steele rubbed against the dirt on the ground with another hoof. "To tell you the truth, Mysty, I wouldn't know for sure. Everypony working on the case is dancing with fire though. I can guarantee that. Even the Princess and I."

"Danger against what, exactly?"

"Well, against whatever ended Conroy's life," he said. "I like to think that the mystery behind the murderer is what makes everything so much more lethal."

Mysty walked back to her coat, minding the tombstone. She grabbed the flask from within, and took another drink while still in plain view of the two.

"That's...highly inappropriate," Steele defended the dead.

"Oh shut up," she snapped at him, "The dead appreciate me far more than they appreciate you. Tell me Steele, how many of these tombs were filled by ponies who worked for you?"

Steele took a step towards her in frustration. An ivory foreleg from his highness cut him off. "We're getting off topic, Steele. Remember why we came here."

"Oh, so it wasn't just a visit," Mysty mocked the pair. "It's always a part of the agenda."

"Are you finished with the insults?" Steele asked her. "I'd like to move on to what business we have here."

Mysty tapped her chin. "I suppose we're done for now," she took another drink before returning the flask to her coat.

"Since we've received the new information from the reports and from Conroy's personal study, we thought it time to come to you and ask a few questions again. I'd be helpful if you'd comply with us fully and completely."

"Whatever."

"Thank you," Steele replied hastily. "Can you recall anything particular about Conroy following up to the day that he passed? He wasn't at the Agency all that much leading up to that night."

"He was on that independent research project, so I'd imagine you wouldn't have seen him much," Mysty recalled. "I already told you two before though; he was feeling sick and tired most of the time. I shared the letters with you before.

"Dizziness, melancholy about his work, and when he would come home, he'd collapse on the couch without a second thought," she read off the symptoms. "He always complained that he couldn't see right."

Celestia wrote down everything Mysty was saying as Steele pressed on. "You mentioned back then that he spoke about the Cutie Pox?"

"Yes," she grimaced at the Princess' scribbling, "Before heading off to Ponyville, he asked if I had ever read anything on the Cutie Pox."

"Anything specific?"

"No," she almost growled, "just the sickness in general. I don't know much more about that than anypony else would. It vanished before it could be studied, remember?"

Steele tapped the Princess on the leg. "That should be about enough. We've probed her before. None of the information has changed."

"So I see the two of you are approaching it from another angle as well," Mysty noticed.

"Yeah. This time I'm putting every little bit of energy I can into the project. I don't want to leave anything untouched, even if it's been questioned to death."

"Don't worry yourself Flex. Oddly enough, beating a dead horse is appropriate here in hell," Mysty presented the graveyard to them.

Steele and Celestia refused to respond to her remark.

"Mrs. Hart," Celestia called out to her, "I'll ask this only once, since Steele hasn't brought it up yet."

"I'm listening."

"We're trying to gather all of the ponies that were working on the case back when Conroy was first murdered. You're one of the most insightful sources we had back then."

Mysty turned her full attention to the Princess. "You...you're really asking me...?"

Celestia nodded. "If you accept, we can safeguard you. You'd have the royal army’s protection and admission to documents that only Steele and I can access."

Mystery Hart took a moment to consider it. She looked at her majesty, then back at Steele. "Sorry Princess," she shook her head in defiance, "But I'm already working on the case independently, and I would like for it to stay that way."

"You are?" Celestia looked puzzled.

"Of course," Mysty gave them a sarcastic smile, "Now that Scarlet's off on her own, I have all the time in the world to investigate. I have plenty of resources."

"Do you? Who? What?" Steele tried to pry away at her secrets.

Mysty put a hoof to her lips. "It's a secret. It's an angle that I doubt either of you would understand right now. I suggest you two just keep working at it from your end. This is gonna be big. Bigger than either of you can imagine or dream."

"I was afraid this was how it'd turn out," Steele vented, "Well, I wish you luck. We'll keep an open connection with you. "Mysty," he called her name one more time, this time without the usual rasp in his voice. The widowed mare turned around, curiosity grabbing her attention.

"Even though we have our differences, I just want you to understand that I still respect the hell out of you and your family. You just need to know that everypony hurt that day. You didn't just lose your husband. I lost my best friend, too. "I guess what I'm trying to get at," Steele took a heavy breath, "Is if we find anything from Scarlet, Locks, or amongst ourselves, we'll be more than willing to share. I'd hope that whatever it is you're doing, that you'd follow through on the same deal. We want the truth just as much as you do, despite how you feel about us."

Celestia motioned Steele to the path. They turned around and started moving through the thick air once again.

"I'll do it, Flex," Mysty called out to the two ponies through the mist. "I'll play along, but know that it changes nothing."

Steele turned his head to the side and nodded without stopping his pace.

"I'm serious! And keep Scarlet safe, you hear me! If anything happens to her, I'll crush you both!"

The two ponies paused at her threat. Without turning back, they took their leave, letting Mysty get back to the grave site.

=====

"She'll crush us both," Celestia repeated Hart's words after they left the fog. "You hear her?"

"Of course," Steele replied to his friend. "Think she'll keep her word on that?"

"I wouldn't doubt it," Celestia replied, giving Steele a weak smile.

"From an angle we can't comprehend," Steele's ears stood on end, "Princess, do you think that maybe...?"

"It's possible," Celestia interrupted. "I'll be having guards keep a close eye on her from a distance. If she's finally realized her potential, then I have to do what I can to keep her safe, even if it's against her will."

"How fortunate for her," Steele groaned. "I'm surrounded by ponies that were gifted by the gods."

"And you weren't blessed?"

"I fought tooth and hoof to get where I am now. You wouldn't be surprised if I told you that I had to step on some ponies before I became commissioner back at Canterlot P.D. Then you have people like Conroy, Mysty, and Locks running around, who succeed on pure, genuine talent."

"You have tenacity. You're tougher than metal, Steele," Celestia tried to cheer him up. "But I see what you mean," Celestia started, "Which is why I was so hesitant to restart the investigation. We've lost one out of those three, and the other one is in grave danger. I don't want to lose any more Artifacts."

"But why are they so important, Princess? You put more effort into them than you do for the Elements."

Celestia looked straight ahead, "That's true, but unlike the Elements, Artifacts don't have the magical backing of the Elements of Harmony. They're too vulnerable, and far too valuable to allow themselves to be destroyed.

"And as far as Artifacts go, you need to remember that magical disposition is unique for everypony. Nopony can do what those three can do. Not even the Elements. And to become an Artifact..."

"It takes so much more than focus study, right?"

"Exactly," Celestia continued. "The Artifacts are the last remaining ponies we have that share a connection to our immediate ancestors from long before my time. They're priceless. Absolutely priceless."

"Aaaand one of them is threatening us," Steele thought about Mysty's words again. "She'll carry through if she was serious. If she's really tapped into her abilities, we can't hurt her because of your protocol for these 'Artifacts'."

Celestia let out a small laugh. "Even if she didn't have any special abilities, you'd never want to be at odds with an angry mother."

"But is she really an issue if she opposes us?"

Celestia looked back at the Cemetery. "I have a good idea of what she's capable of, Flex. If I'm correct in my assumption, then..."

"Then...what?"

"Then aside from Luna, Jessica, and myself, and as long as she's in that cemetery, then Mystery Hart's probably one of the most dangerous ponies in Canterlot."

=====

"Thank god they're gone," Mysty heaved a sigh of relief. "Any longer and I might've missed out on my opportunity."

She returned her attention to the tombstone. She grabbed her flask and downed half of the remainder. She growled as the burning sensation that followed the drink ran down her throat, shivering and whipping her tail as she did.

"There are three pieces to a pony's existence," she sat up sloppily at the foot of the grave. "The physical body, which is buried here," she ran her hoof against the grass nearby, "their magical disposition," she blew air into the mist, smiling as the bits of magic that clung to the dew twinkled in the sky, "and their spirit, which is sealed away in hell...or Tartarus, whatever."

The mist around her blew air through Mysty's mane. It gathered into a cluster at the foot of the grave.

"You gather the pieces, and they'll naturally start to flow back to one another. Gather a majority, and then the third is sure to find its place. Like a magnet."

Sparks of magic pushed the mist towards the grave.

"The body gives them form, the magic gives them potential, and the spirit is the spark that gives them life."

The dew started to funnel into a thick pillar above the tombstone.

"They're essentially pieces to a puzzle," Mysty laughed, "and if there's one thing I love, it's a difficult puzzle."

A great wind startled Mystery Hart, pulling the insect from her lantern and blowing it away into the sky. Scarlet's coat hung for dear life on the tombstone, and a chunk of mist from the sky was sucked straight into a vortex that the pillar of magic had created in front of her.

A form molded from the magic in the air. Another gust of wind blew from the source of the magic, forcing Mysty to lower her head against the ground to keep herself steady. She hiccuped from the drink, trying her best to focus on what was happening in front of her.

She picked her head up after the gust vanished. The form in front of her was different yet again. It looked glued against the ground, connected to the dirt by four legs that were connected to a lithe body. Her neck and head formed, a pointed horn created on her head to identify her specie. Her mane grew from her head and flank, naturally curling into her body.

The form took in a deep breath. Magic from the dew around them was sucked in graciously at the form in front of her, making her body glow and her existence less transparent. Only a chilled air came from her exhaled breath. The figure stretched and rotated her neck, whipping her tail against her leg.

Mysty smiled at the form, who finally gave her some attention. Mysty peered at the tombstone behind the form, still visible through the mass it had accrued.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Nixie Hope."

The pony attached to the ground turned at the sound of the name. "Hm? Me?"

"Yes, you."

"W-wait, what?"

"Relax honey," Mysty stammered. "It's natural to be a little dizzy or confused. Trust me, I've done this plenty of times already."

The figure of Nixie Hope tried to move. Her legs lifted against the ground, but never left the dirt, instead just stretching and readjusting whenever she shifted.

"W-what!? What in the world is this?!" Nixie looked back at Mysty. "Who are you!?"

"Sshhh," Mysty whispered. "Just take another breath. Relax, you're just dead."

Nixie looked back at her form. She could see the ground through her body. "R-right. Dead. Right! That's right. I'm dead."

Mysty put another hoof to her mouth. "You're taking this quite well. Right. Now just calm down."

"Umm...why am I dead?" Nixie asked. The realization finally hit her, as if her brain had just clicked, "WAIT, I'M DEAD!? HOW?!"

Mysty winced. "I...was kinda hoping you could tell me that. S'not an awfully good sign."

Nixie sat on the ground on top of the grave, looking straight back at Mysty. "So...so I'm dead," she curled her body inward.

"You...you weren't aware? Strange...most spirits I talk to know they're dead."

"Of course I didn't know!" Nixie shouted.

"Sshh! Just relax. You're dead, and I can't do anything about that, so just...just relax."

"This is awful," Nixie moaned, "I'm...I'm really dead." She gasped, "Lada, I need to see Lada!"

"Absolutely not," Mysty shut her up. "Look, it's taken far too much effort to talk to you, and I don't know if I can ever do this again, your spirit is way too disoriented. Besides, you can't leave this plot above your grave anyways, otherwise you'd just return to he-

"I mean Tartarus."

Nixie turned around, spotting the jacket atop the grave. She looked at the tombstone.

"Nixie Hope," she read, "It...It really is me...I'm really dead." Nixie spotted the half-empty flask hanging lazily from the coat's inner pocket. "That's...highly inapp-"

"YES, I KNOW," Mysty rubbed her face with an angry hoof. "Look, channeling this magic through me and into you is VERY hard, okay? It's easier to do when I'm drunk, so just...let that go, okay?"

"Y-yes ma'am," Nixie abided, scared of the flare in Mysty's eyes.

"So you're Nixie Hope. Famous fashionista in many respects," Mysty started.

"That's right," Nixie hesitated.

"Great designs. Approved of the biggest merger in fashion history. Found to have no cutie mark..."

Nixie's ears drooped at the last story.

"Died mysteriously at her last fashion show."

Nixie almost jumped from her plot. "What?" She looked at the date of her death, engraved neatly along her tombstone. "That...That's when I died? I died during the show?!"

"That's what I brought you back for," Mysty replied. "I wanted to see if you could remember everything possible that lead up to your death. Also," she continued, "Your sister is fine. I did my homework. She works from home and distributes her work to different retailers throughout Canterlot."

"How...how long has it been? Is she okay?"

"I imagine she's nice and healthy," Mysty said. "She still has a ton of your assets to keep her alive tenfold, and she gets paid well for her work. It's been quite some time since you passed on, though."

Nixie looked back at the year of her death. "So it's been...?"

"Ten years, Nixie Hope. You've been dead for ten years."

"Ten," she let the words slip through her lips, "Ten years. Lada's sixteen, then." She looked at the ground, holding in nonexistent tears that her body was unable to create.

"Nixie Hope, although I wish I could give you comfort, I don't really have the capability to do that," Mysty told the saddened ghost-mare. "However, I need you for something else that relates to your death, but I need to explain a bit before I can talk to you about your circumstances."

Nixie gulped.

"If you don't want to take part, then that's fine. I'll release your magical disposition and you can return to Tartarus."

"What," Nixie stuttered, "W-what is this for?"

Mystery Hart relayed all of her information to the specter, starting with her and Conroy's relationship, and working down to Scarlet and Locks' investigation. The dew in the air thinned out partially as the sun started to breach the northern Canterlot hills.

Nixie marinated in the morning rays, her form glowing brighter. "Sorry. This is just so much to take in. It's not every day that you wake up and find yourself like this," she lifted a hoof, wincing when her limb stretched.

"I understand that, but I need you to steel through it. This is important to those still living, including your sister."

Nixie Hope could only nod, her face overwhelmed by disappointment. "S-so you think they'll approach Lada about all of this?"

"I imagine they've already done so," Mysty replied. "Scarlet's in Ponyville investigating a related case, but Detective Locks is working here in Canterlot. We just got a lead from some paper clippings about you from my late husband, so it wouldn't surprise me if Steele sent Locks and his partner to Lada's house."

"Lada," Nixie called out to her sister. "Mrs. Hart, do you have those clippings on you?"

"Not at the moment, but I've read through them several times since I let Scarlet look at Conroy's study. Trust me," Mysty scooted up to her form, "There's not much information. You were found dead at the bottom of a staircase backstage during your last show. There was no proof of a struggle, any magical residue, or anything of that sort. It's unsolved as far as the Agency is considered."

"Funny," Nixie shuddered, "I'd have thought Tanita would be behind it, if anything. We weren't on especially good terms leading up to the day of the show."

"That's what everypony thought too, but she had no contact with you prior if the sources are reliable, and even if she was, she vanished into thin air on that same day. She's been missing ever since."

"So you need me to remember everything I can," Nixie recalled. "How long do I have?"

Mystery Hart reached to the coat, pulling the flask out. "You have until about two hours after this flask is drained," she smiled. "You can start from anywhere you want. Just try to make it quick."

"Well," Nixie watched as Mysty downed another large gulp, "That's not much time. I'll just start on the day of."

"Do what you wish."

=====

TEN YEARS AGO

"Everything's nearly set to go, Ms. Hope," a voice called out from the stage below. Nixie picked herself up from out of her seat in her dressing room, coughing as she did so. She prodded the door open and stole a glance of the hallway outside. A colt wheeling a stage light tore down the open hallway, and a ton of commotion gave life to the lone staircase leading to the first level of the stadium.

"I'll be out soon, don't worry about me," Nixie Hope tried her best to shout back at the voice. She closed the door and slipped back into her chair, staring straight at the mirror in front of her.

She was disgusted with her face. Bags hung underneath her eyes as a result of many nights interrupted by a terrible cough. Her head felt light whenever she picked herself off of her seat or out of her bed, and even thinking of so much as a sprint would give her joints aches and pains.

"I know she did this all to see me off, but it just feels so pointless," Nixie croaked. She winced at the sound of a knock at the door. It opened wide, giving the yellow mare on the other end space to enter. Her red tinted glasses blocked her black-eye from the public.

"Nixie, are you feeling alright?"

"I'm fine," she answered Tanita, "But I still don't see why any of this is necessary."

"We're saying farewell to one of the greatest ponies to ever grace the business. Doesn't it strike you as appropriate?" Helm took another step towards her.

Nixie rubbed her temples, shaking off a spell of dizziness. "Look, I really do appreciate all of the hard work, and honestly, I'm surprised you managed to get Hoity Toity in on the entire charade, but this seems like it's a bit overdone."

"Whining about it now won't do you any good," Tanita fixed her glasses, "Besides, it's a gift. You'd be awful disrespectful to every single pony who helped contribute to such a memorable night if you declined it. It might not be my place to say," the fat pony cleared her throat, "But I'm sure that you'd prefer to go out on a good note, right?"

"T, don't pretend like we're not friends anymore," Nixie turned around to face her, recognizing the tension in Helm's voice, "We had a little accident, can't we just power through it?"

"I'd love for us to still be friends," Helm looked back at the open door, "But I'm still trying to get over the entire 'abandon-your-friend' bullcrap-stunt you threw at me from out of left field. That's not something that will heal overnight, you know."

"It's been several months," Hope sighed, drinking from a spare cup of water on the dresser before another wave of coughs could catch her.

"And I'm still unemployed. Without your name, I'm just another mediocre, unemployed mare as far as this city goes."

"Don't make me get into this with you right here and now, T," Nixie asked. "I'm not feeling too well right now. I'd rather just be at home."

Tanita Helm stood several feet from Nixie, avoiding eye contact. "Do you think that it could've been any different?"

Hope gave a delayed response, "I can't say. I did what I needed to do. I never really considered the alternatives."

"Typical," Helm spat, "That's just like you. Oh right," she turned around, "taking every detail into account was my job."

"That's enough," Nixie picked herself up out of her chair, ignoring the queasy feeling in her gut. "Look T, I KNOW you're still pissed off at me. I KNOW that I screwed you over, but YOU need to understand that it wasn't something I just absentmindedly looked at like an afterthought!

"Frankly, it blows my mind why you even started doing this little fashion show finale bullshit for me, considering how furious you still are. Look," Nixie pointed to the wall to her left. Helm's eyes followed the trail behind those tinted glasses of hers. On the wall hung a picture of several ponies posing for the camera, poised and dressed up to perfection.

"You see those dresses? Do you see the hard work and dedication that went into those dresses? Hundreds of ponies that worked for us strive towards that goal, towards the recognition that they deserve for their skill and tenacity.

"I. Saved. Those ponies. If I had done anything else, hundreds of ponies like the ones who worked on those dresses would lose sight of that dream!"

"So you just decided to break one heart then, huh," Helm growled at her.

"No," Nixie stamped her hoof on the floor in frustration, "Celestia no! Listen to yourself! Tanita, I didn't break your damn heart. I broke your fucking wallet!"

Helm's body became tense. "What?!"

"It's the money, isn't it?" Nixie accused her partner. "That's why you're so pissed. You lost the source to the mountains of money you've gotten since you started working with me. You lost the power and authority that came with co-owning this business. That's what you're really upset about, isn't it?

"I'm looking out for the ponies. What good could've possibly come from breaking so many hearts Helm?"

Tanita Helm eased up. She turned around and started to calmly walk out of the door, Nixie still seething behind her.

"So that's why you never found your true destiny," Helm spat her venom. "Too busy looking out for everypony else. Always trying to please everypony. Fine. Enjoy a talentless life."

Helm passed the threshold, grabbing the door in a single hoof. She turned her face back to Nixie's, glaring at her through her specs. "The show starts in ten minutes."

The door slammed, leaving Nixie all to herself. She turned back to the mirror with watery eyes and a heavy cough. She gasped at the image in front of her. She raised a hoof to her mouth, rubbing it along her lip. Her eyes looked down at her solitary hoof, moist with her own blood.

=====

Nixie lapped up a dribble of blood that had trailed from her lip. She observed the small marks on her hoof wiping herself with a small cloth to clean the it up. She exhaled, looking at herself in the mirror. A vague taste of copper touched her tongue, causing her to shudder. She swallowed her blood to avoid staining her coat.

Hope couldn't help but think about Helm's parting words while she struggled to clean herself up. "A talentless life. A life without a cutie mark."

Nixie gave another deep cough at the thought, forcing a small scatter across the counter. "Damn. Sorry janitor. I'm doing my best." She looked at the door on the other end of the room, a spare hoof mechanically wiping up the mess she kept making. "Maybe...maybe I should call for help. I don't think this is normal," another cough followed, with another spurt of blood staining the mirror.

"I have talent," she said through her teeth, tinted with red. "How else could I come this far? How else could I have been so successful?"

Nixie walked halfway to the door. She turned back to the mess she had created on the glass. Her eyes fixated on her flank in the mirror. The blood splatter she coughed up aligned perfectly with her blank flank, tiny rivers of blood running down her hind leg. She frowned, rushing back to the mirror with the same cloth.

"Right? I have to have talent to have gotten where I am now...right?"

Another wave of dizziness caused Nixie to lose balance. She stumbled recklessly toward the door. Through the decor, she could hear the sounds of the show preparing to begin. They felt muffled and distant, fading as she slid down the door and to the ground.

She swallowed another small sip of her essence. "Celestia said to just live happily. I can do that...but that just ignores the problem altogether, doesn't it? Everypony deserves a talent, and deserves to create a life off of that talent."

She pulled herself up. "Maybe I can find mine if I retire and get outta here. If it's not on my flank, then that means that fashion...that it was..."

Nixie choked on the sentence, "Fashion was not my destiny."

She battled against the vertigo that fought for control over her senses. "Celestia. Celestia. Where are you now? Where is the justice in this body of mine?" She looked back at the mirror, her backside as empty as it was that morning. "My passion...I guess it was all a lie then."

"NIXIE HOPE," a loud voice banged in her eardrums, "GET DOWN HERE. THE SHOW STARTS IN A MINUTE!"

"T-Tanita, is that you?" Nixie propped herself against the door, unable to recognize the voice. She pinched her eyes closed and focused on the sound. "Tanita! Tanita, where are you?"

"I'M COMING UP THERE!"

Nixie froze. The voice sounded different. Helm's voice wasn't as deep as the one she heard this time. She struggled to stay on her feet, feeling the floor below her rocking about like a ship in the ocean. Hoofsteps could be heard coming to her room, one at a time, with a distinguished clack that Nixie immediately ruled out as belonging to Helm.

"Her shoes don't make that sound," Nixie muttered. She could feel a weak stream of blood moving through the inside of her nose, doing her best to keep it from dripping out..

The steps crept closer to her room, until a final click ended on the other end of the door.

A moment of silence passed as the pony on the other end of the door waited for Nixie to exit the room. She silenced her breathing, feeling the atmosphere around her thicken. Her muscles clenched together, and her form couldn't help but tremble under the presence of the pony on the other end of the door. She could feel the blood in her mouth begin to pool, struggling to swallow it through the anxiety that froze her body..

A large bang shattered the quiet atmosphere in the room. Immediately following a brief pause was another slam, louder than the former. She couldn't contain her excitement any longer.

The mare's energy exploded, Nixie Hope's eyes flared to life. Warmth entered her body, a sharp stinging sensation ran down her spine. She jumped to her feet, and flung the door wide open, darting out of the room in a mindless panic.

She paid no mind to the empty hallway. Nixie didn't give it a second thought when she rushed straight to the staircase that led to the lobby downstairs. The music from the show drowned out any thoughts she had about the night, the only other sound registering in her mind was the knock of her own horseshoes against the floor.

Her body lurched forward. Blood rushed out of her mouth with another cough. Her momentum carried her over the first step, sending her spinning over the staircase.

A loud crack stole the attention of several ponies nearby.

=====

PRESENT

"I doubt you could remember anything after that," Mystery Hart scribbled on a notepad.

"Not a thing," the spectral form of the late Hope replied, rubbing a hoof along her neck. "After that trip...next thing I know, I'm here."

"The bleeding," Mysty seemed lost in thought, "The report did mention that there was a small cloth left in the room that had a small amount of blood on it, and your story checks out with the mirror too." Mystery seemed to be retracing the document in her mind, "The mirror had a stain on it that was wiped in a hurry, so a few traces of blood were taken."

"It didn't feel right when it was happening," Nixie's spirit rubbed at the ground.

"The investigator on the job did a run of the stains to see if you might've had some kind of sickness prior to the fall, but all of the tests came back negative. It doesn't add up though," the older pony looked back at her companion, "Because the way you described it, you were extremely ill, especially if you were coughing up blood. The autopsy doesn't mention a thing about any disease or illness that you might've had before death. There's nothing conclusive save for Lada Hope's personal testimony about your physical condition. It's just not enough."

"I wish I could remember more," Nixie sighed. "I want to help."

"You're doing that plenty," Mysty reassured her, "Besides, most of the dead lack the ability to forge memories after they're dead. No brain to register their experiences for them, see," Mysty poked her head with the eraser end of her pencil. "Your kind can only live in the past. Despite that, you've probably had a pretty good afterlife."

"You can tell something like that? How?"

"Well," Mysty repositioned herself on the floor, "Unless it's just me bullshitting because of the liquor, in my experiences, the more tormented a pony is after they die, the harder it is to revive them."

"Strange. Why?"

"Dead weight, if I had to take a wild guess," Mysty half-joked, holding a hoof to her mouth while she belched. "Almost burped some of it up right there."

"Easy for you to laugh. You still have a life to live," Nixie snorted out another chill of air.

"True, but don't worry. When I die, I'll probably have the same sense of humor that you do."

"Mrs. Hart," Nixie interrupted Hart's drunken banter, "Will I be able to, you know, remember any of this, at least?"

"Well," Hart started, "Since your body, spirit, and distribution are all gathered, I'm pretty sure the memory will be embedded into your mind. The only problem is that it becomes part of the body, and once I let you go from here, you leave your body behind."

"I...I see," Hope whispered back.

"Look, I'm sorry that it's so hard for you, but try not to worry too much about it," Mysty reminded her, "You're dead. This will all be meaningless to you after I release you."

"Lada."

"Even Lada Hope."

Nixie fidgeted, her sadness enveloping her form. "If there is a silver-lining, I suppose it also gets rid of that feeling, too."

"The feeling of being talent-less?"

Nixie nodded.

"That's nonsense," Mysty replied, "You had talent. You just didn't fully embrace it before you died."

Nixie's spirit didn't wish to respond.

"Well," Mysty clapped her notepad shut, "If that's all of the information you have to give me, then I can set you free again. You'll be able to rest in peace from here on out."

"W-wait!" Nixie jumped to the edge of her grave. "Please."

"What else do you need to tell me?"

"Well...it's not something I want to tell you. There's really nothing else I can recall about that night...or anything significant leading up to that point."

"Then I'll see you lat-"

"PLEASE wait," Nixie begged.

"Fine, what exactly are you trying to do?"

"Just let me try something," Nixie gave her first genuine smile to the older mare. She focused herself on the ground, grunting in frustration. Her horn sparked to life for an instant, a bit of magic discharged from the tip.

"I...I can still use magic!"

"Well yeah," Mysty replied matter-of-factually, "You have all three components present. No reason why you wouldn't be able to."

"Mystery Hart, just allow me a single spell. Can you do me that one favor?"

Mysty looked to the ground. "Well, so long as it's not a big one. The Agency and Royal Guard both keep records on some of the more risqué spells. They leave behind a unique residue, and some spells are forbidden. If they find that there was a spell used in a graveyard, then I'm in deep shit. Magic's technically forbidden here."

"I just need to do one last thing," Nixie looked into the distance. She turned to the side, her eyes focused on a specific direction. Her horn flickered with her magical prowess. "I need to save her."

"To save somepony?"

"Lada," Nixie shut her eyes.

Mysty looked at the spell surging at the unicorn's horn. She recognized it immediately. "I see. You two used the Blood Bond spells."

"Yes. Back when I would work at the factory, Lada and I would be separated for long periods of time. We decided to use the spell so that we would never be left alone no matter where we were."

Mysty backed up, grabbing her flask. She frowned when reminded by the container that she had drained it halfway into Nixie's story. "I get it. You never considered the possibility-"

Nixie nodded. "I never thought about whether or not we'd so suddenly die for any reason or another. Such an idea was too depressing at the time. Because we never took precautions about it, when I died, the Blood Bond was never removed."

"That poor child," Mysty softly muttered.

"Lada's been living with an active bond that's linked to an empty shell. She's been fed nothing but emptiness and solitude for the last ten years. I can only imagine the pain she’s felt for all of this time. It's all my fault and I need to fix it before it's too late."

"I've heard about ponies generations past who have died from the negative feedback given by untamed Blood Bond spells. Their health degenerates slowly over time until they die from the loneliness," Mysty added. She looked at the same direction as Nixie. "Your sister has been there, living her life and fighting against that feeling for so long. She must be amazingly strong."

Nixie's grin agreed with Hart. "She's all I had left in the world. I feel awful that I've made her suffer like this." Her spell softly faded. "There. That should do it. Lada will feel the difference any minute now."

Mysty walked up to the ghost, "You did a nice thing, Nixie."

"I can atone for her pain once I get sent back. It's what I deserve."

"Hey, relax," Mysty slung one arm over the spirit. "It wasn't your intention to hurt your sister. You're a good pony, you got that?"

Nixie Hope nodded, hugging Mysty back. She watched in awe as her body passed through. "Right...I'm a ghost. I keep forgetting that." She looked at the older earth pony, whose arm was still clearly leaning around the back of her neck. "How can you do it?"

"I've had practice. Lots of it. It takes a bit of effort, but touching a ghost is possible if you just try hard enough." Hart took several steps back to her starting point. "I think that just about covers everything, Nixie. You ready to return?"

She nodded, "I think so."

"Great. I'm not sure if I can ever bring you back after this though. I've never been able to resurrect a spirit more than once before. You have any last words before you move on to the next life?"

"If you can tell Lada that I'll always love her, that'd be great," Nixie smiled.

"Then that's that. Thank you for everything, Ms. Hope," Mysty put both fore hooves on the grass, concentrating.

"And do me a favor and find that killer," she spoke up again, breaking Mysty's concentration. "If your husband found a link between your daughter and me, then trouble is following right behind us."

"Right," Mysty agreed, "That's what I'm working to prevent." The magical glow that surrounded Nixie's body started to break down, and her form started to dissolve back into the mist that surrounded the graveyard.

"Trust me," Mystery spoke to the vanishing spirit. "We'll get our justice. I promise."

Nixie Hope shut her eyes, waiting for her consciousness to fade away for the rest of eternity. She exploded into a flash of magic and dew, leaving Mystery Hart to herself once again in the wide, quiet cemetery.

=====

A young filly gasped in her seat, alerting the light blue colt sitting across from her. Amethyst swooped to a window situated to the side of the room the two ponies were in, her eyes focused on the magic gathering up in the younger pony's horn.

"Lada, what's wrong!?" Locks picked himself out of his seat, running towards the frozen Lada.

She quickly raised a hoof to stop him, taking in quick gulps of air as the magic disappeared. Her body shuddered, her heart trying to slow its pace.

"I'm fine I think," Lada Hope brushed a bit of her mane out of her face. "I'm...I'm feeling great, actually."

"Great," Locks repeated, "You didn't sound so sure of yourself."

"It's not that," she answered back, "I...I feel amazing right now. Like my body just lost a ton of weight. It's strange."

Locks returned to his seat. He signaled Amy, who was still hovering outside. She tipped her head before rocketing back into the skies. "Strange? How so?"

"Well," Lada started to smile uncontrollably, "I haven't felt this clear and free since..."

"Since," Locks tried to help her finish.

"Since the Blood Bond was severed when Nix died." Lada almost jumped from her seat. "It's gone, Detective."

"Gone?"

"Gone," Lada's voice started to get louder, "Gone! The weight is gone!"

"Lada, what's gone? The Blood Bond?"

Lada started hopping around the den in excitement. "Yes! Gone! Completely gone! The Blood Bond has been removed!"

Locks brought himself to his feet. "But that's impossible. The only one who can remove the bond is the caster, and Nixie's been dead for years."

"This is amazing! I've never felt so good!" Lada celebrated as she leaped over the couch Locks was on. She grabbed a nearby dress she designed herself, and started to dance with it without care.

Locks allowed the young filly to have her fill, waiting a few minutes before he continued back on track. "Lada, I don't mean to kill the stride, but I just need to ask a few more questions, then I'll be out of your mane."

The excited teen started to blush when she realized that he had been watching the entire time. "Oh...r-right. Sorry. I'm sorry Detective. I'm not normally-"

"It's fine," he gave her a warm look, "There's nothing wrong with being happy. You can continue to celebrate your freedom once we're done here."

"Perfect," she jumped back into her seat, leaning towards him.

"You said you didn't link up on the day of her death. The papers said that Helm was last seen heading up the staircase to call her to her seat, but she never came back down. Have you heard anything else?"

Lada's face focused on her own memories. "I don't think so, Detective. I wasn't actually there at the show. I only know as much about Helm or the situation as the papers said."

"And then she just completely disappears from Equestria after the murder," Locks mutters. "Gotta admit, that makes a case against her stronger than against any other pony that was there that night."

The pair of ponies sat looking at the notes Locks had written throughout their entire examination.

Lada was the first one to look up from the papers. "What happens now, sir?"

"Well...I have to document all of this and figure out where to go from here," he said.

"And where will that be?"

"Well," he started, "I want to believe that Helm is the murderer. It makes the most sense, but there's so little evidence to pin on her for that to really work. On top of that, if she really was responsible, and has evaded capture for so long, my chances of finding her are pretty slim."

"Ms. Helm and my sister had their differences," Lada thought aloud, "but do you think that Helm would've really gone so far as to kill her just because she got fired?"

"I honestly don't know what to think about it right now, but I'm sure it'll be more clear when I look at all of the information you've given me after I put it in order," Locks gathered all of his papers. "I just want to find the answers. I want the truth."

"Me too," Lada extended her hoof to him. "I hope I helped you guys out."

"You most certainly did, Lada. Thank you," Locks shook her hoof before heading to the door. "We'll be sure to feed you any information we get regarding Nixie's case, okay?"

"I look forward to it. Good luck, Mr. Locks!"

Amethyst lowered herself to the ground right outside of the door, meeting Locks with a quick whistle. Without responding, he turned around and waved to the little mare, not turning back to the path towards Canterlot until the door was completely shut in front of her.

=====

"This is going to take some time to send off to Steele," Locks broke the silence between him and Amethyst. She responded with another series of chirps, floating just above the ground.

"Apparently her Blood Bond with Nixie was severed during the questioning," Locks recalled to his guardian, "It's strange. Such a thing couldn't have happened unless Nixie was alive. It doesn't make any sense. I'm going to have to report that first and foremost. The residue should give us a trace of where it was cast."

Amy's whistle blew again.

"No, I doubt that it was some kind of delayed reaction. Magic doesn't really work like that unless it's intended, and I doubt Nixie would do that to her sister. Don't you know what happens to a single-ended Blood Bond?"

Locks brushed his mane with a hoof, responding to the shake of Amy's head, "It's basically a form of torture. The bond works so well because the love for the other on the opposite end of the link is sent back to you. It's a feedback loop: You love the other pony, send it their way, and that love is sent right back from their end, intensified by their feelings for you. It just keeps getting siphoned between the users until the bond is shattered.

"But pretend now," Locks looked at Amy, "that one end is completely removed. You can't send any love, or any emotion for that matter, off of something that isn't there. The only thing you can send back is emptiness, because that's all there is waiting on the other end of that bond.

"For all we know, the only reason Lada looked like she was in such a poor condition was purely from the damage the bond did to her, physical and mental. It's a huge strain."

Amy let a long, low whistle out. Her ears flopped in unison with the sound.

"She's strong if she's survived this long. I'm sure she'll make a full recovery," Locks assured his partner. "A follow up never hurts. We'll check in on her sometime soon, okay?"

The brown-coated mare gave a shake of her head with the whistle still in her mouth.

"Now, the question remains," Locks narrowed his eyes at the road in front of him, "How reliable the memories were between their damaged bond."

Amy played a sharp, shocked pitch.

"I'm unsure, Amy," Locks shook his head, his white and black mane drooping over his sides. "Nixie may have been able to transfer a ton of her thoughts to her sister, but it's been nearly a decade. For all we know, the memories could've been tampered with by the two sisters."

Amy made another solitary note.

"Their emotions, Amy. Emotions can skew any memory or experience," he sighed, ruffling up his mane in frustration. "In the end, it's all we've got right now. Doubting the integrity of it will probably only make things worse, but I can't completely discard the fact that they might be lying."

Locks turned to the sky and lost himself in the clouds. "A pony that devoted her entire life to a skill that her body denied. How terrible," he shivered.

Amethyst flinched at the tone of his voice. His words repeated themselves in her thoughts, her eyes unable to help themselves as they looked towards her own cutie mark. The giant, silver shield enveloped most of her flank, symbolizing, with pride, her ability to protect whatever it was she found dear.

"Then," Locks continued, "What was it about the cutie mark that Conroy found so interesting? Scarlet and Nixie...they don't have a link at all," his stride slowed down, "To think they have anything in common is absurd. It's as outrageous as connecting those two to the Cutie Pox epidemic. There's no real connection there! Something's still missing."

The colt's eyes twinkled, his pace came to an abrupt halt, forcing Amy's ears to stand on end, listening for trouble. Locks' eyes focused intently at the emptiness in front of him, an irritating sigh relaxing his body.

"Relax, Amy," Locks ordered to his guardian. "Jessica, you never left, did you?"

With a pop, a pair of orange eyes appeared in front of him, suspended in the air. A smile spread above the eyes, inevitably leading to that familiar, toothy grin.

"Aww, what gave me away this time?"

"An imp like you could really use a practical hobby," Locks groaned. "If I just take a shot in the dark and call out your name, I'm more likely to be right about you stalking us than not."

"Oh zip it, officer," Jessica's upside-down eyes and mouth imitated a frown. "I'm far too exhausted to have to bear your whining."

A pulse of magic engulfed Locks' body, revealing the stalker's form .Her body was drooped on his back, making him carry all of her body weight.

"You cloaked yourself for hours," Locks almost commended her. "You even hid your weight. I didn't feel a thing the entire time."

She shot him another pesky grin. "True. Doing it for so long isn't something I do too often. I'll need to up my endurance," she licked her lips at the end of her sentence. She coiled around his back, moving closer to his ear, "Would you like to help me out sometime, Locky? I get off at eight. Then I get off of work at nine."

Locks gave her a disgusted look. "Don't even try that crap on me, nymph. You're supposed to be in Ponyville."

"Relax," Jessica shrugged off his huffy attitude, "Scarlet's enjoying her time with the Elements right now anyways. There's not too much to do in that quiet little town, the poor filly. Those six know how to make something out of nothing, I'll give them that."

Amy moved back when she saw Locks press his hooves into the concrete. "Get back to Ponyville. Now. You're ignoring orders that Steele gave you."

Jessica looked back at him with a confused glance. "Are you serious, Locks?"

"Now."

The orange mane mare turned to Amethyst, who was watching from the sidelines. "Is this kid actually trying to order me around? Seriously, what the hell's wrong with him?"

Amethyst sat on her haunches, responding with a shrug.

"Steele ordered you to go to Ponyville and protect Scarlet. Now go."

"Ah, so it's about Scarlet, how sweet," Jessica cooed. Her ear twitched at the sound of his voice, slouching while she slid down the side of his body. She kept silent as she walked away from him, sensually swinging her flank about. She looked back at Locks' demanding expression, then towards Amethyst. A spark of magic blinked at her horn's very tip.

Locks jumped back when Jessica's face warped across the small gap she had just made. Her head collided with his, forcing his legs to drag against the ground. He kept his stance, managing to endure the force behind her eager headbutt. Her horn pulsed with a wicked energy that broke the silence with its malevolent cackle.

"Word of advice, hotshot," she hissed, "Don't you dare, under any circumstance, think that an insect like you," Jessica forced herself against him with even more power, "can even begin to order me around!"

Locks' expression flared to life, his crimson eyes shining against her orange, "I dare you to lay a single hoof on me."

"Hah!" Jessica shot a threatening smirk at him, "Are you expecting the little Princess to come help you? Or perhaps Flex, that raggedy old relic?" She pushed against him harder, forcing Locks to back up from her strength. Her horn surged with more magic. "Who do you think gave me diplomatic immunity? Not even they can-"

Jessica nearly tripped against the colt. Locks grunted as he pushed back against her, asserting his natural strength against her magic induced energy. "I don't care how immune you are to the government. You're not invincible."

For the first time in Locks' life, he caught the smallest glimpse of genuine confusion on Jessica Scrawl's face.

'So, she is mortal.'

"Challenge me," Locks asserted, "and I'll send you far beyond any moon Celestia ever could."

The scribe's blood boiled under her skin. She stopped his advance on her, the magic in her horn ripping into the ground. "Do you honestly think the Princess, or anypony, would scare me away?"

Her glare turned violent, the glow of her horn becoming an ominous orange. "I could crush you..."

Amethyst's wings flared to life, kicking her up into the sky.

"I can completely wipe you from the face of this planet..."

In a burse of raw power, Amy shot towards the pair like a missile.

"And by the time Celestia or The Agency would find out that I had done it, I'd be long gone, far beyond these tiny bord-"

Jessica's threat was cut off by a blur of brown and black. It collided with her, slamming both Locks and Jessica into the ground from the impact. Amethyst and Jessica continued with the momentum of the collision, the marepile spinning out of control as Amethyst wrestled for control against Jessica. Before the orange mane pony could gather her bearings, Amethyst reached up at her horn, a small click locking a black beacon around her thickness as the two came to a halt. Locks' guardian pinned the wicked enchantress to the pavement, her hooves pressed against Jessica's body, locking her completely into place.

The two mares caught their breath as Locks approached the pair. Scrawl peeked up at her horn. A small band was wrapped tightly around the base. She focused, summoning a spell to aid her escape. The magic she gathered harmlessly fired into the air from the item.

"Top of the line inhibitors," Jessica's rage started to settle down. "You can't get modifiers this sweet on regular missions. He gave them to you, didn't he? Good call, Steele."

"Even like this," Locks dusted himself off, "And you still play along like it's a game. Amy, are you okay?"

Amethyst whistled back at him, not looking away from Jessica's now sheepish expression. She felt Scrawl's orange tail flick against her backside.

"Just give me a minute, sweetie," Jessica said, "I'll be fine in a moment."

Her eye wandered the strong frame of the guardian on top of her. She caught sight of something on Amy's body as she scanned it.

"The same spot from before, when you left the cafe," she muttered, her eyes darting around to get a better view. Her tail flicked playfully against Amy's flank as her curiosity came to a climax. Amethyst face spelled out her humiliation at being whipped by the mare underneath her.

The guardian turned around towards the enthusiastic, orange tail.

"Surprise!" Jessica shouted in a teasing voice. She blew a gust of air up and into Amethyst's mane, exposing a large portion of her neck to the pony underneath.

Amy immediately recoiled, shuffling off of Jessica after a brief freeze. Locks quickly moved in front of his guardian, not yet realizing what had happened.

"What was that?" he asked Jessica, "What did you do?"

"Just thought I'd vent all of that hot air of mine," she giggled like a child. She looked over to Amethyst, who was now staring at her with a face of sheer horror.

Amy stammered her whistles after struggling to wrap her lips around the object.

Jessica's smile widened, sitting herself up and tossing her short mane behind her head, exposing her own neck. With a single hoof, she pinned down a starting point on one side of her throat. Ecstasy radiated from her face as she slowly traced over her flesh, in a grizzly, violent zigzag, across from left to right, ending at a point on the opposite end of her neck.

"Your Agency file never mentioned that," she chuckled, retracing the symbol faster. "Now it all makes perfect sense." She looked at the whistle on Amy's neck. "And here I thought you were just trying to be cute."

Amy, in a move that startled Locks, brushed up against his side, almost huddling between his front and back legs like a child. As Amy's pleading eyes linked with Jessica's curiosity, a realization sparked a memory in the trickster's brain.

"You know, I think I've seen that mark somewhere before."

Locks, his voice cooled down but still very aggressive, spat at her, "I don't know what's worse, Scrawl. That you didn't immediately realize the marking, or that you still don't recognize who it's attached to."

"Amethyst and the mark," Jessica nodded to herself. She gasped. "...Amethyst," she looked closer at the cowering Amy, "T-Topaz's daughter!?"

Amy shut her eyes.

"She's...No way, she became," Jessica's expression was filled with shock and awe, "You're telling me that little Topaz's daughter is now the Agency's Amethyst!?"

"Don't say it like that," Locks stamped a foot. "The Agency gave her the name, but don't act like it owns her."

"You...but you were just a friggin' squirt," Jessica's tail wagged. "So it really is true, even somepony like me can learn something new every day!"

"So you remember now," Locks muttered.

"Oh definitely! Like it was yest-"

Jessica paused, slowly realizing what the breach in identity implied. She turned to Amethyst, the large mare's face full of fear and betrayal.

"...I recognize that look," Jessica whispered low enough to be unheard. She turned her back to the two ponies, clearing her throat and shaking her mane. "I'm going."

"Going?" Locks took another step towards her.

"Don't ask. We've already fucked up too many Agency policies with this meeting alone. I need to check up on Scarlet anyways." She started walking away, "You two are busy. You need to make that report and send it to Steele, pronto."

"Hold on," Locks almost shouted at her. She turned back around, removing the magic band on her horn with her hooves. "About what happened-"

"Forget it," she said, "We jumped the gun, and things escalated way out of hoof." She frowned as the magical inhibitor on her head fell to the ground, "Neat things, these inhibitors. I didn't think you'd be smart enough to try and use one of these on me, Amy. Good call, good call. I think my only regret is that this didn't end in us sharing a bed," she frowned playfully at Locks.

"Jessica," he ignored her advances, "Did you really mean what you said?"

"About what? About having sex? I'm game if either or both of you are."

"No, no you idiot," Locks sighed, the tone in his voice getting deeper with each syllable. "Are you so far gone that...that even Princess Celestia and the Agency fail to intimidate you?"

Jessica's magic spiraled around her as the teleportation spell ignited. "Well Locks," she toyed with the question, "Maybe if you threw in the Royal Guard...and probably the Elements of Harmony..."

Locks remained silent.

"Well, I can't quite answer that, sweetheart." She turned to the pair and winked at them. "Just try not to push those buttons again, okay? I hate being ordered around, and I'd rather not waste a body as delicious as yours."

Locks and Amy watched as Jessica exploded out of sight. Her body was flung miles away, towards the small town of Ponyville.

"Only if you keep Scarlet safe, Scrawl."

=====

THREE WEEKS LATER

Scarlet's ravenous eyes ran through Locks' lengthy report, hungry for information after three long weeks of absolutely no new discoveries on her end.

"She had problems with her cutie mark," the red and gray pony said to herself. "Fought with her co-manager, Blood Bonds...dies with no concrete explanation. This is crazy."

She folded up the report and stuffed it back into the files in her drawer in the upstairs loft of the library. She tossed herself on her mattress, letting her limbs dangle in the air above her.

"Dad implied that we have a connection, Nixie," Scarlet spoke aloud, "But what is that connection?"

Scarlet rolled over to her side, "Nixie talked to Celestia about it," Scarlet pondered, "and mom said that dad did the same thing before leaving to Ponyville a long time ago..."

Her body spun to the other end of the mattress, eyeing her flashlight and handcuffs hanging over a leg of the bed, "Everything goes back to the Princess."

"Well, that does it for me," Scarlet rubbed her face. "I'm sure they've figured it out too. It all points back to her. She knows something, and if I know Steele, he's too anxious to approach it. We'd know something more if he had done anything by now."

She gave her new idea a second thought, "And I have the most leverage here." Scarlet stretched her body, lifting herself back into a sitting position on the bed. "That settles it. I'm going to have myself a little talk with the Princess as soon as possible." She looked at her coat, hanging on the wall to the side of her bed, "If she can't tell me anything more than she did to Dad or Nixie, then this case'll fall flat on its face, and I can't let that happen.

"Besides, it's not like I'm having much luck on my end here in town," she sighed, "Nopony knows a damn thing about a missing pony here, and the census is still being reformatted by Twilight."

The young detective rested her head on the pillow, looking up at the ceiling. "Poor Nixie Hope. She was tormented by her lack of a cutie mark. Celestia told her to live how she was, but her blank flank just ate away at her up until the end. Poor girl couldn't let go."

She glanced down at her body. "And we're connected, somehow." She thought about the magnifying glass on her rump, "How can you hurt me? I know what my destiny is."

Her memories of her last visit with Locks at the cafe played back in her mind. "I mean...I think I know what my destiny is." She turned on the pillow, looking out at the diamond sky outside, "Nixie Hope was never given a direction," Scarlet said, "I...I've always had mine. The connection isn't even similar. So what the hell was dad trying to find in the two of us?"

"And then that day after talking with Applejack for the first time," Scarlet remembered, "Blank Flanks...I never thought I'd ever get the opportunity to see them." She grimaced, "If Applejack says they're all over the place, then I really have lived a sheltered life, haven't I?"

Scarlet let out a weak cough, curiosity on her face. "That came out of nowhere," she laughed. "Itchy throat."

"Scarlet! Come on down! You're missing out! You have all day tomorrow to read that silly report!"

Trace's ears jumped at the sound of Pinkie Pie's voice. She happily jumped off the bed and started for the stairs, the voices of the rest of the Elements downstairs carried up the grand tree house, waiting for her.

'Plus, I've grown pretty fond of the girls,' she thought, trying to remember all of the wackiness that had occurred since her return, 'They can turn anything into an adventure.'

"You didn't have to throw me a "Re-Welcome-To-Ponyville-Party", Pinkie!"

Author's Notes:

Another weekend, another chapter.
Leave comments, likes, favorites, etc if ya want. I appreciate the views.

Until next time,
- G. R.

204: The Doubtful

"And then her and all of her little minions got blasted straight out of Canterlot in one swoop," Applejack finished her story.

The windows started to glow as the sun rose from its slumber. Scarlet took another sip of her coffee from that morning while they sat at the table together. Two other ponies, Twilight and the shy, yellow coated pony from her first night in Ponyville, kept them company that morning.

"Where did they end up being sent off to?" Scarlet's curiosity perked. "A spell that powerful must've shot them to the other side of the world."

"No idea," Applejack answered the gray colored filly, "But I reckon she won't be comin' back for another round anytime soon."

"That's amazing. I was in my office the day the changelings attacked," the detective remembered. "They just put us all on lockdown for the entirety of the time while my boss went to go investigate. I've never seen a Changeling up close though. I've only read about them in my files."

"They're everything you expect them to be," Twilight spoke up. "They can look just like your friends, and they feed off of love, just like the books say."

"Horns, holes in their body," Scarlet checked off, "and they travel in swarms."

"And they're...scary," Fluttershy squeaked.

"I imagine. I wish I could've seen the queen," Scarlet looked up. "She must be very strong."

Applejack scooted out of her spot at the table. "Well, ah'd sure love to sit here and chatter all day with y'all, but I have to get back to the farm. Big Mac can't handle the harvest all by himself."

"Sure thing. Thanks for coming to the party last night," Scarlet waved the orange pony, "I appreciate all of the effort everypony went through to do it."

"T'ain't nothin'," she opened the front door. "If you ever need anythin', feel free to swing on by."

"I will."

The other two ponies said their goodbyes before Applejack parted from the library. Scarlet looked down at her mug and inhaled the wonderful scent from her roast.

"You know something?" Scarlet turned her attention to the other two. "I actually had a chat with Applejack awhile back, when I first came into town."

"I remember. It was the day after your coworker spiked the punch," Twilight recalled. Fluttershy gave a tiny jolt when she remembered the experience.

"Well, while I questioned her about my assignment, we ended up at the little filly's schoolhouse in town, and I saw a bunch of the little ponies there."

Twilight and Fluttershy looked at each other, then back at Scarlet. "What's so special about that?"

"Well, to be honest, I've never seen a pony without a cutie mark before," she announced. "It was another first for me."

"You've...never seen one?" Fluttershy tilted her head.

"That's not possible," Twilight pointed at her. "You had to have been one of those ponies at one time yourself."

"Actually," Scarlet started, "that's not exactly the case." The detective cleared her throat and told the story of her birth, recalling the paper clipping she was always reminded of back at home. The image of her magnifying glass was plastered clean on her hind side, several photos taken right after her birth.

"I've always had mine," she said. "For a long time, I thought everypony was born with theirs, like me, but my mom and dad eventually talked to me about the whole ordeal. Apparently I'm a first-time kinda thing."

"Definitely," Twilight immediately replied. "I don't think I've ever read or heard about something so bizarre before."

"Yeah," Scarlet pondered, "What I was wondering about was how it felt like to have no mark at all." She remembered Nixie Hope's problem. "I've always been curious about it, but it never really seemed appropriate to ask other ponies about something like that. It's kinda personal, I'd imagine."

"I'm not sure how others felt about it, but it wasn't something I tried to force. It just happened one day," the purple pony explained. "There are a few fillies that do come to mind," she chuckled, "who obsess over finding their own cutie marks, but for the most part, it seems to be harmless fun."

'I guess Nixie Hope was in a minority?' Scarlet wondered. "How about you Fluttershy? More or less the same feelings about it?"

"Y-yes," Fluttershy inched away, still timid around her new friend.

"I can't see how somepony would let a blank flank really bother them. It's just something that comes with time. You can't force it," Twilight seemed to be reminiscing, "and trying to make it appear takes away the excitement."

"Excitement?" Scarlet asked. "I'm not entirely sure what you mean."

"Not having a cutie mark," Twilight's form seemed to beam, "means that you still get to experience the thrill of discovering who you really are. You still have that chance to find out who you're meant to be."

"Ahh," Scarlet looked down at her cutie mark, "I think I understand."

"It's a wonderful feeling to truly uncover the real you," Twilight almost seemed to rise from her seat. "I still remember when I got my cutie mark. I couldn't stop jumping around I was so happy."

"A satisfaction of knowing what your destiny is," Scarlet quietly spoke. "I guess it's different for somepony," she paused, disappointment drowning out her voice, "somepony like me."

Twilight recoiled at Scarlet's self-destructive attitude. "Don't think of it like that. Everypony is special in their own way, and you're no different than anypony else as far as I'm concerned. It doesn't make you any less of a pony to me."

"O-or to me," Fluttershy said.

"...Thanks, girls," Scarlet sighed. "It means a lot to me." She picked herself up and drank the rest of her coffee. "I think I have an idea for a place to check out today while I'm out investigating. Twilight, can you or Fluttershy point me to the place where the Ponyville Express is made? I think I might be able to find a trail in the newspapers if I look back far enough."

"Sure thing," Twilight replied, giving Scarlet a quick set of directions to take from the library.

Scarlet said her farewells, grabbing her hat before trotting out of the door. As she took a step over the threshold, she noticed a thin, rolled up scroll leaning against the wall of the house. Hesitating, she took a closer inspection of the letter, instantly recognizing the Princess' seal.

"T-Twilight," Scarlet called behind her, "Were you expecting any mail from the Princess?"

"Not today, Scarlet, why?"

The detective took another gander at the wrapped up parchment. "Nevermind then. I think I just got a letter from Canterlot."

She picked up the message and shut the door behind her, rolling it out flat to read. Her eyes darted with haste across the few pages that were delivered to her door.

"Mystery Hart!?" Scarlet yelped. "M-mom's working on the case!?"

=====

The day came and went without incident in Ponyville, the typical humdrum events of the day playing out in a very predictable, almost schedule-like pace. Scarlet's visit to the printing presses hadn't last long, and her optimism about finding a potential lead by tracing the papers several years back yielded results that were far less than desired.

Scarlet sprawled herself on her bed after tossing her jacket on the hook in the loft. She took her hat off and rested it on her hoof, spinning it around and watching the white stripe on the rim of the fedora. She turned to the staircase as an exhausted Twilight Sparkle made her way to her own bed on the opposite side of the room. She fell back onto her bed and stretched after the long, tedious day she had been through.

Scarlet continued to lazily spin her hat around her hoof. "Rough day today, Twilight?"

The mare didn't even put in any effort to turn her head towards the detective. "No rougher than yours I'd imagine."

"Yeah," she stopped playing with her headwear, placing it on her dresser. She grabbed a stack of newspapers and flapped them in the air to grab her friend's attention. "Fifty years of Ponyville ponies gone missing and being kidnapped. Fifty years, and only twenty instances, all of which were resolved at least a week after being printed. This town is ridiculously safe."

"I can agree to that," Twilight laughed at the way Scarlet was hopelessly tossing the paper around. "Ponyville isn't exactly a rough city. Our crime rate is amongst the lowest in all of Equestria."

"It's a small town too," Scarlet added. "If anypony committed a crime, the news would spread pretty fast around here. Everypony knows everypony else."

"That's true. It's an advantage of living in such a small place. It's comfortable, though."

"It's nothing like Manehatten."

"You've been to Manehatten?" Twilight finally turned towards Trace. "What's it like?"

"Well, it's a metropolis," she answered. "Very loud, very crowded. It's a sleepless city. The lights drown out the stars out there."

"That wouldn't do for me," Twilight motioned towards a telescope sitting at the corner of the room.

"Mmhmm. Ponyville is a stargazer's paradise," Scarlet nodded. "Nice and quiet, everypony's friendly, and everypony has a job to do. It's wonderful here." She scrunched up her face in thought, "Sometimes I feel odd walking down the street. My job is so different and inconsequential to everypony that lives here. It's kinda like I'm in the way, or interfering with the way the town works."

"That's an interesting way to look at it," Twilight motioned. "We get travelers that come through the town, but very rarely do ponies ever stay for keeps. Our last new resident was a donkey, but that was so long ago now, and he generally keeps to himself."

"Well, it IS a small town. You'd have a hard time finding a pony from another city who prefers this way of living," Scarlet reminded herself of Canterlot. "Even in Canterlot, you still find ponies who just aren't satisfied. It's crazy."

"Canterlot has its own pros and cons," the unicorn said, "I lived there for most of my life. I didn't really go out all that often, but I enjoyed it whenever I did." She seemed lost in her mind, "Though most of the time it was because I was with my family."

"Your family? Didn't you have any friends?" Scarlet asked.

Twilight shook her head. "I knew ponies...but the only real friends I had were my family and the Princess," she paused, tilting her head to the spot by her bed, "Oh, and Spike too," she looked at the baby dragon snoring at the foot of her bed. "How about you Scarlet?"

"Friends?" Scarlet grabbed her magnifying glass necklace, looking through the glass. "I have a few. I'm not the kinda mare who tries to get as many friends as possible. I like to keep it small, you know?"

"I get it," Twilight smiled at her. "Who are they, what are their names?"

"Well," Scarlet thought about it, "I can't say much, but I have three friends. We hang out a lot together whenever we get the chance. One's a pegasus, another is an earth, and," she hesitated, "the last is a unicorn."

Scarlet closed her eyes, thinking about where all of her friends were, and what they might be doing. "The Earth pony is a colt named Domino, but everyone just calls him by his last name: Locks. I do too, since most of the time I see him we're on the job. It's proper to call him Locks whenever that's the case. The pegasus is an athlete named Amethyst, or Amy for short."

"Amethyst," Twilight wondered. "There are old pony tales that talk about the significance of amethyst."

"That's how she got her name," Scarlet added. "Pre-Equestrian lore says that back in those days, ponies who traveled about at night would carry around a small piece of amethyst to keep them safe from predators and wicked ponies."

"She's a protector?"

Scarlet realized her error, "Kinda. I can't say more though; I let a bit slip out as is. Sorry."

"Oh, I'm sorry about that. I'm not trying to pry," Twilight apologized.

"It's fine. It's just a bit hard to talk about them without saying something like that. Anyways, my last friend is the unicorn who you all met at my first welcoming party. Jessica Scrawl. She's," Scarlet winced, "a 'special pony.'"

"I'm interested in her," Twilight mentioned off-hand. "A pony with her kind of magical ability is somepony that I'd like to talk to."

"I'm sure you'd get along fine. She likes hanging around unicorns that are savvy in their magics," Scarlet rolled over on her mattress. "Anyways, all I can think of is what I should do now," she spoke aloud. "I feel like I've dug up every little scrap of possible details I could in this town, but I've come up empty hoofed every single time."

"We'll know that for sure once I'm done with the census," Twilight reminded her.

"Yeah I know. I was just hoping that there would be something. Anything else that would help me out. I don't like having to ride on a single piece of potential evidence."

Twilight didn't respond, but Scarlet could still feel that her attention was on her. They marinated in the mixture of the cricket chirps outside of her window and Spike's snoring. Scarlet finished placing her goods on her desk and draped the covers of her bed over her. She heard Twilight doing the same on the other end of the room shortly after her.

"Hey Twilight," Scarlet finally spoke, this time her voice much more mild than before.

"What is it Scarlet?" Twilight's voice seemed muffled by her pillow.

"Earlier today, when you were talking about the cutie marks you and your friends got, you said something about the thrill of discovering yourself."

"What about it?"

Scarlet bit her lip, "The reason I was curious about it was because I...I don't think I ever really 'felt' that kind of a feeling before. Ever."

Twilight turned so that her voice was clear. "How? You have a cutie mark, right? Doesn't the knowledge of knowing what you're meant to be feel...fulfilling to you?"

"I don't know," Scarlet's ears drooped. "I was just wondering about it because I've always had my doubts."

"Doubts?" Twilight's bed creaked.

"About my job. About who I am right now. Where I work and what I do. Truth be told, I don't find myself any...good at what I'm apparently meant to do. I don't think I've ever had that 'thrill' you mentioned."

"Scarlet," Twilight started to say, but the hesitation in her voice made it difficult for her to continue without sounding insincere. "Perhaps...perhaps you need to try and pursue your job from a different angle."

Scarlet closed her eyes. "M-maybe. It just bothers me a little bit."

"Don't worry," Twilight tried to comfort the poor mare, "You just need to trust in your cutie mark. I know that you'll come to fully embrace it someday."

"Maybe. I'll do what I can until then to manage," Scarlet pulled the covers closer to her body. "Thanks, Twilight."

"No problem. It's what a friend's meant for, right?"

"R-right," Scarlet nodded. She heard her purple companion turn about in her bunk while her bed yawned.

'Who knows,' Scarlet thought about her cutie mark, 'maybe I'm more like Nixie Hope than I think.'

"What a horrible thing to say," Scarlet spoke aloud.

"What's horrible?" she heard a voice from the other end of the room.

"N-nothing Twilight, just thinking out loud," Scarlet stuttered.

"Okay then. I'm going to bed. Good night, Scarlet."

"G'night, Twilight," Scarlet replied. "Don't worry about me for breakfast tomorrow, I'm gonna be heading out of town for the day."

After hearing Twilight grunt a reply, the detective twisted to her side in her blanket, feeling an odd twitch at the base of her ear as she did so. Her busy mind finally started to come to a stop, her thoughts fading away for the remainder of the night.

=====

Early morning welcomed the groggy fillies and gentlecolts that walked in through the familiar doors. The smell of fresh roast floated about in the air around the building, coaxing customers inside with its alluring scent.

The owner's most faithful customer was already inside, sitting at a table for two, with his assistant sitting on the other end, eagerly awaiting her breakfast.

"Don't worry about the expenses," Locks assured his partner, "I got you covered for today."

A whistle came from the larger pegasus sitting on the other end of the table.

"Well, after all of the progress we did with Lada and Nixie Hope, and after sending off the report recently, I felt like we deserved a little pat on the back. Plus, you did an excellent job of roughing up Jessica, and pinning her down is something not very many ponies can say they've done."

Amethyst blushed at all of the praise she was getting. Her face shined with happiness at the sight of her breakfast being placed on the table: A large omelet, filled with cheeses, mushrooms, spinach, and several rose petals, served with a tall glass of orange juice. On Locks' end was a pair of stacked pumpkin spice pancakes with three cups of fresh coffee.

"For starters," Locks shrugged at Amethyst's questionable expression upon seeing his drinks.

The duo slowly ate away at their food, chattering on about their job, issues with coworkers, and other various facets of life.

Locks chased down a bite of his pancake with a gulp of steaming coffee. "By the way, Amy," he cleaned himself with a napkin, "I never really had the chance to apologize to you for what Jessica did when we left Lada's house."

Amy whistle came in a low tone.

"I didn't mean to bring down the mood," Locks said, "But I wanted to let you know that I'm sorry about it. I never thought she was the type to forget something so important."

Amethyst agreed, rubbing her neck with a hoof, losing herself in a memory that the two agents shared. A memory that was hidden far, far away.
=====

SIX YEARS AGO

The entire block was sealed off from the public, barricaded by a thick blanket of clouds brought in by weather ponies. On the ground were a handful of Royal Guards, one placed several yards apart in front of the cloud dome. At the very center of the dome was a humble home, neatly arranged amongst the rest of the evacuated houses nearby. A large group of officers lined up outside the front of the house, with several pegasi and unicorns prowling about the perimeter, trying to get a good look of the inner home through the windows and with their magic. Several ponies on the outskirts, beyond the cloud cover and behind several additional barricades, couldn't help but try to peer through the thick coverage, curious as to why there was such a commotion.

The house in question seemed normal enough, with a solid roof and built out of the same marble that you'd find in most of the towers in central Canterlot. The yard's grass was cared for, evident by its deep green color and fresh fragrance. A basketball hoop was sprawled out on the yard, now used as a cover for several ponies who were creeping up to the front door.

The windows to the house pulsed a toxic, purple color, keeping everypony that observed the foundation on edge. A familiar looking colt stood at the front of the line of the ponies on the other end of the street. Several carts and barrels of hay were put in front of them for additional safety. The older stallion nodded as he received an update on the condition in the backyard.

"Is the air team prepared yet?" a younger colt walked up to the graying pony in charge. His significant other, an ivory pony with a flowing pink mane, trailed behind him. The two of them saluted their superior before continuing. "And where's Jessica?"

"Leading a team on the roof of the house," Flex Steele groaned. "It's running a bit slow; she keeps flirting with the stallion in charge of the Royal Guard unit."

"Figures," the cobalt pony grimaced. He turned to his wife, "Mysty, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Conroy," she assured him. "Right now I'd rather focus on the ones inside with that maniac."

"Speaking of which, what do we have here, Flex? Just another nut job?"

"We wouldn't have put up so much security if that was the case," Steele sighed. "It's a bit more complicated than I'd hoped, but that can't be helped. We got ourselves a big fish here." He plastered a small map of the building against one of the carts blocking the road in front of them. Arrows and points were scribbled all over the paper.

"We have units surrounding the house all over, but the scumbag inside has the residents hostage right now. We can't move an inch until we're sure they're safe."

"He's threatening to kill them otherwise, I assume," Justis shook his mane.

"Yup. Fortunately he must've been in a hurry to do whatever he's doing," Steele motioned at the window to the house, another flash of purple catching Mysty's eye. "He didn't properly fortify the area around the yard with magic, so he has absolutely no idea how many of us are out here. Jessica was also nice enough to put up a magical barrier around the house. If he wants to get a view of anything or anypony here, he has to take several steps out into the yard to do so."

"Nice work," Mysty nodded at the job. "That purple aura is making me a little uneasy. I'll be checking in with the unicorns nearby. They might be able to use my help in identifying the spell that causes that kind of reaction."

"That's probably best," Conroy let her go, watching her hurried trot over to another unit. He turned back to Steele, "So what are our options right now?"

"Well, that's just the thing," Steele started, taking a deep breath that created tension. "Jessica may have blinded him from the outside, but he's plastered enough magic around the inner portion of the house to sense anypony who tries to break in. We're trying to gauge how much power he put into the warding spells so that we can break them undetected."

"And Jessica's gonna be leading the unit into the house to eventually do this."

"She's the best pony at these kinds of jobs. A unicorn who can sneak by undetected by even the strongest spells in Canterlot," he bragged about one of his top agents.

Conroy looked behind Steele. A much younger colt was completing another map, in full detail, of the house's interior. His coat was of a brighter blue in comparison to Conroy's, and his hair a spectacular white color, with the exception of a black stripe that tore down the center of both his mane and tail.

"Ah, Domino Locks, it's been awhile," Conroy greeted the intern from the office.

Young Domino looked up to his mentor, "Detective Justis, sorry, but I'm busy right now. The official blueprint to the house is a bit outdated right now. I'm busy bringing it up to date through several testimonies we got out of the neighbors to this place. If you don't mind," Locks went back to his work with his full concentration.

"Of course," Conroy smiled at the hard working foal. He returned to Steele's side, inspecting the house, flinching at another shot of color from under the doors.

"So who exactly's stuck inside?" Conroy asked him directly. "This many guards for a black magic user is uncanny, and I doubt he'd have chosen a random set of victims for his twisted little experiments."

Steele put the map to the home down, opening up a folder sitting right next to the rest of his documents on the cart. Several pictures and written work of the homeowners flashed before Conroy's eyes.

"You ever hear of the Sheen Family?"

"Vaguely," Conroy admitted, "I was on friendly terms with Mr. Ruby Sheen back when I first moved to Canterlot. He was a Professor at Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, if I recall."

"Well, that's a third of the problem. Take a look," Steele handed Conroy a family photo. Ruby Sheen was standing next to two other ponies. His large build took up a majority of the photo, with a pristine smile that made him friends wherever he went. His deep red coat clashed with his bright blue eyes, which were tucked gently behind a set of black framed glasses. His short white mane and tail gave him an heir of authority, and his stance was demanding and powerful, much like the pointed horn on his head.

On the left of the photo, with a hoof wrapped around Ruby's rigid neck was another pony. Her wings were spread wide apart from her body, her feet lifted off of the ground with a face full of determination. Freckles adorned her muzzle, with a set of glowing yellow eyes standing out amongst a coat of deep blue. Her hair was frizzled and all about her, colored a peculiar green. Her form was slender, hiding the muscle she had beneath her thin coat.

"That's his wife, Topaz Sheen," Flex introduced her. "Wasn't a typical stay-at-home-wife. She was one hell of an athlete, and an even better solider."

"She was a soldier?"

"Top of the line," the older colt replied. "She was a high ranking officer in Celestia's Royal Guard before she had a child. After that, she took to pegasi sky races to give her something to do on her free time."

"I see," Conroy scrolled down the center of the two ponies. "And this is their foal?"

Steele looked at the young filly Conroy's hoof pointed to. "Yessir. That there is little Lily Sheen. Still in school. Pretty timid pony if what I've heard is true."

Conroy stared at the youngster in the photo. Her coat was a dark brown, her raven black hair coiling down her neck and back. Her eyes strongly resembled the jade green of his own daughter, Scarlet, but without the solemn look he knew all too well. She sat between her parents with a fragile grin, her own pair of wings clutched against her body.

Steele had just finished chatting to another officer when Conroy and Locks turned to him.

"Jessica's in, but she's holding off the squad until we have confirmation that the family inside is safe," he explained. "She's still not entirely done getting rid of the wards, but they'll be gone give it another few seconds."

Locks and Conroy looked on at the house. "I hope so, Flex," Justis turned away, wincing at the grim face his wife had on, "I'm looking at Mysty right now, and I can tell you that we're running out of time."

=====

"Be quiet! All of you!" the colt shouted at his insurance. His eyes hadn't stopped glowing for the past thirty minutes, and he felt the impatience of his master ticking away at his mind. "Just follow my orders, and everyone will walk away from this with what they want!"

Three ponies stood against the wall of the den to their home. All of the furniture in the room: a couch, a coffee table, a birdcage, and a long rug that typically stretched across the floor, were ripped and shredded up, lying in a pile against a corner of the house, blocking out a single window from use. The hostages were huddled, the smallest one shaking with tears in her eyes.

Topaz Sheen had her hooves wrapped around the sobbing child, her anger burning up her eyes as she stared at the maniacal creature in front of her. Her husband, Ruby, was sprawled out next to them, each breath taking a momentous amount of effort to exert. His horn had been singed at the tip, burnt out from a fierce struggle he had with the intruder before the police arrived. He groaned, his body struggling to move, unable to budge from the hex placed on him.

The criminal was shrouded in a brown cloak, making it impossible to discern anything but his towering height. He was busy tending to a pillar at the center of the room, the surge of magic throbbing with a purple aura every few seconds, bright enough to cover the entirety of the house. The width of the spell grew with each passing minute, making the shrouded stallion anxiously shudder.

"They're here, I know they're here," he jumped towards the window, seeing nothing but an empty road out in the front yard, "I can feel it in my bones." He turned towards his hostages, "Once I satisfy its hunger, then you can go. It'll all be better afterward, I promise." He leaned closer to Topaz, "Had you just complied from the get go, then he wouldn't be laying there like a maggot right now."

Topaz grunted with fury, nearly rising from her spot. He quickly slammed a fist down against her face, sending her bouncing against the wall. Lily yelped, calling for her mother. Topaz recovered, tightening her grip of her only daughter.

"We'll have none of that," the sorcerer mused.

Topaz growled, leaning forward and spitting at him. It slapped him in the face, his expression widened. "Go back to the pits of Tartarus like the parasite you are," she clenched her teeth.

He slowly wiped away her saliva with his coat, turning around and ignoring her insult. "I didn't think you'd so readily volunteer, dear Topaz. You should be honored."

"V-volunteer?" she felt her confidence drain. "What the hell are you planning?"

"Language, Madame," the colt teased her. "We're in front of youth."

The spell in the center of the room howled as another surge came through the ground. The pony quickly turned around, observing the base of the magic he had cast. "Excellent, the second phase is completed."

He turned slowly back towards the family of three. "Now, I just need a few samples."

=====

The guards outside braced themselves as a large rumble shook the foundation beneath them, rippling out towards the cloud barrier on the outskirts of the block. Conroy and Steele looked to each other with concern. Locks picked himself up after tumbling over, grabbing all of his papers before turning to the leaders of the Agency.

"Detectives, what's going on?" Locks asked.

Conroy quickly turned around, dashing towards the unit Mysty was questioning. Steele followed quickly behind, the young apprentice following their lead in return.

"Mysty!" Locks shouted to his wife.

"Conroy!" Mystery Hart was already darting back towards the group. The unit of unicorns she was with scattered like wildfire, heading in the direction of Jessica's group. "It's a summon, Conroy! It's a goddamn summon!"

Right as they met in the center of the yard, a pillar of magic erupted violently through the roof of the building, a terrifying echo reaching through each and every barrier the Royal Guard had created. Several barrels of hay and a handful of the weaker carts rolled away from the source of the raw energy, along with several pegasi.

Mysty and Conroy grabbed each other, both falling on the grass and covering their heads from the debris that came falling down around them. Locks paused as a large piece of the ceiling barreling towards him. A pair of hind legs came from the side of his vision, shattering the debris into several harmless pieces. He turned and saw Steele, who grabbed him, shouting to duck and cover.

"STEELE!" Mysty shouted above the looming song of the pillar. Once the boss' attention was on her, she motioned towards the house. Jessica was shouting at both her unit, and the spare unicorns that managed to withstand the explosion. They were all moving into the house, with the witch herself leading the charge. The pegasi surrounding the borders tensed up, eager to get into the action with their comrades.

"NO!" Steele tried to stop her group, "IT'S TOO SOON! THE SPELLS AREN'T DEACTIVATED YET!"

=====

The criminal inside gave a devilish look to the family, admiring his work after the ear deafening boom erupted in their den. His hood poked upwards, his hidden horn gathering magic to complete his spell.

"The summon is almost complete," he pointed his magic towards the downed colt. "The severed link between Tartarus and Equestria...it's within my grasp."

Topaz put her daughter down, her eyes focused on the pony. She turned to her offspring, bringing a hoof to her lips before giving her a hard kiss on the cheek.

"Close your eyes," she told Lily. The young filly sniffled, turning her head away before blocking out her eyes with her hooves.

Topaz braced herself, her wings flaring to life before bursting towards the maniac.

"No!" He shouted, his head quickly turning to her. Topaz's forelegs rammed into the colt's body, sending him dangerously close to the pillar that was still widening in the room. He quickly bounced back, recoiling from the pain surging up his ribs. The speedy mare rolled up, springing back into the air and charging at him again.

He was ready for her, twisting his head as his magic regained control. Her yellow eyes failed to notice the blur of red and white hurdling towards her. She hesitated, recognizing her husband's body before it slammed against her smaller body like a heavy boulder. The two ponies were sent spiraling towards the portal near the mastermind, Topaz pinned down by Ruby's mass.

"You little bitch!"

Topaz felt his aura grip at a hind leg. His horn fired its magic again. Topaz's leg bent at an unnaturally sharp angle towards her back, a crack in her limb forced a high pitched scream out of her mouth that was drowned in the pulse of the magic.

Lily turned back around, hearing her mother's cry. The pony was standing over them as they lay there, just inches away from the pillar in front of them.

Suddenly, the colt jolted his neck straight up. A series of loud thuds echoed throughout the house.

"I KNEW IT!" He cried out, his teeth grinding against each other. His movement resembled panic as the pillar grew. "The offerings! There's no time! I've come too far to let the Princess destroy my dreams!"

Lily Sheen watched in horror as her parents were bucked into the center of the beam of magic. Topaz's eyes met her daughter’s for a split second.

She screamed as both her and Ruby's bodies evaporated into the stream. Not even a speck of dust or a strand of hair remained.

Lily's body turned to stone, her hoof slightly extended out towards the hungry beam, The colt's body darted in several directions, his fear starting to override his plans.

"The daughter! I need the daughter!"

Before the colt could act on his final ambition, a small squad of unicorns crashed in through the fragments of the roof of the building. He turned to the unicorns, quickly casting a wall of magic between him and the subsequent bolts that shot from their horns. He grabbed the daughter, darting to the parents' bedroom at the far end of the property.

"Just keep that way and we'll be fine!" He ordered Lily, whose body was limp and lifeless. He quickly shut the door behind them, pointing his horn at the lock after throwing her across the room. Her body rammed into the edge of the closet door on the other end of the room, her eyes wide and staring straight ahead of her.

"The wall's already broken, shit!" He shouted. "The pillar isn't complete! I can't...I can't let this happen!"

Hoofsteps stampeded down the hallway, stopping at the fork in the hallway, each one leading to another room that was shut.

"The wall hid their vision. That might buy me some time," he schemed his escape.

Tears started to roll down Lily Sheen's eyes.

He continued to work, paying no mind to the filly he just orphaned without remorse.

Lily muttered a cry for her parents. The colt turned around frantically, looking down at her.

"Shut the hell up. I'm warning you."

His anger quickly turned to fear. Lily Sheen's eyes squeezed tightly together as she let out a cataclysmic scream that grabbed the attention of everypony on the block.

"HERE, IN HERE!"

"No!" He shouted above her. He turned on the young pony, a murderous vibe emanating from his body. His magic channeled into a ball that hovered just outside of his hood as the door's magical lock was broken. He pointed it at her, the young daughter doing nothing to stop the spell.

The closet behind Lily suddenly shifted. A hole ripped itself open at the top of the door. The colt looked upward, his magic still channeling, and watched in awe as the lithe form of an orange haired pony came leaping out from the portal. She tackled him to the ground as the door ripped open. His spell discharged when he slammed into the ground.

The bolt bounced about the room, tearing through the air like a bullet before rebounding off of the unicorns protected at the door.

Jessica's eyes followed the beam. The bolt aimed straight at Lily Sheen. It landed perfectly along her neck, tearing into her meager flesh like a buzz saw before fizzling out. Blood splashed from her wound as the filly fell to the floor twitching.

"You idiot...!" The dark colored mare bellowed, her rage overriding the remainder of her sentence. Before he could react, she pointed her horn at him, firing a spell straight into his head. The spell drilled through him, Jessica's aura pulsing behind his eye sockets. Her magic lividly invaded him, his resistance quickly slowing to a crawl. His body instantly stopped struggling, collapsing into a heap on the floor moments later.

"Take care of him and the portal!" She ordered as she rebounded without hesitation, running over to Lily Sheen. Her spell quickly fired at the foal, coating her body and pulsing around her neck. Lily's body twisted, her form reacting to the lack of blood in her system. Her eyes remained open, but her mind had all but shut down when the spell made contact.

Jessica focused on the poor child. She looked at the blood that flooded through her wonderful black hair and onto the wooden floor. Her eyes narrowed when she saw Lily's essence: her magical disposition, the center of all of her potential, leaking from her body and into the atmosphere.

"No! I'm not going to lose." She clenched her teeth with grim determination at the dying pony beneath her. "Someone will live today, goddamnit. At least one."

Jessica's horn screamed with strength. The life force that Lily was leaking was brought to a slow, continuing to ebb out of her. Her bleeding was also contained to a crawl as Jessica mended the broken flesh. Lily's hooves continued to twitch during the impromptu operation.

"Your body needs to re-stabilize itself," Jessica grunted as her efforts weakened. "But you need more distribution. You've let too much leak out already." She looked up at the ceiling, as if chanting a prayer in her mind, "I think I know what I can do for you."

Jessica's power enhanced once again. This time, a thin stream of her essence flowed from her horn. She weaved it around in the air before drizzling it over the wound that ran down her neck. The flesh trembled as the final bits of Jessica's disposition filled the limp body. Sweat dripped down her sides, her magic weak from the tremendous procedure she had done. She finished cleaning up the flesh and repairing the skin, gasping for air as her horn went dead.

She panted, looking at her work. Lily's chest started to rise and fall with newfound breath, but the area around her neck continued to glow with a black stream of magic that matched in color to her parents' murderer. She looked back at the braindead colt. A pair of unicorns had removed his cloak to expose his body to the world.

He looked no different than an ordinary unicorn. However, along his legs and up his neck were a series of markings akin to those she had read about in several books regarding the dark arts. She grimaced at the sight of the pathetic soul in front of her.

"He's still useful," she assured her assistants, "I only gave him a lobotomy. You can still probe his mind for answers."

Her words woke the young filly underneath her. Lily coughed, spitting up some spare blood that had stained the inside of her mouth. Her voice cracked with an unholy sound that came from the black essence. She quickly stopped making a noise, looking up at her savior.

Her eyes slowly flashed as she drank in the situation. Jessica moved closer to her, the two still on the floor. Jessica's hair and hooves had been stained with Lily's own blood, and both of their eyes and ears sagged from fatigue. Lily looked down at herself. Her wonderful hair had hardened with her blood, and her coat was layered in it. She struggled to rise to her feet, tumbling over right after gathering her bearings.

Jessica wrapped her hooves around the daughter, bringing her to her chest and letting her feel the warmth of her body.

"It's okay. You're safe now."

Lily's mind started to register the horrific event. Topaz's eyes flashed before her. Lily's eyes watered up. Jessica held her closer to her body, muffling the terrible, painful sounds that came from the orphan.

Hoofsteps raced down the hallway. Conroy, Steele, Mysty, and Locks burst into the room, each one out of breath and gasping at the surroundings. The four of them could only stand there as Jessica comforted the victim in her arms, gently rocking her body back and forth, desperately trying to soothe the broken hearted filly.

=====

PRESENT

The doors to the cafe jingled as the pair walked out into the open. Amethyst clenched her eyes shut at the bright sun that had risen while they ate.

"It's not something out of the ordinary, but you get twisted ponies like that one in this job," Locks shook his head. "Ponies who crave the pits of Tartarus. Who want nothing but to bridge together the connection that separates those two worlds from one another.

"That was so long ago," Locks thought to his partner. "Do you forgive Jessica?"

Amy turned to him, almost in disbelief.

He reacted to her expression. "I know...but she was also the one who preemptively called for the attack. It was too soon. If she hadn't done that, then maybe-"

Locks' guardian sent out a solid whistle.

"You're right. We could play theoretical scenarios all day if we wanted to. What happened, happened. I'm just curious because it took her so long to remember." Locks looked ahead at the road, "It's not extraordinary for her though. She was chewed out to hell and back after that day by Steele. I think it might've been the first time she took anything he said seriously. She was upset for the rest of the month."

"Ever since then," he continued, "She loosened up in general, letting other ponies take charge and make the calls. She just does her own thing now a days. It's honestly what she's best at." He looked to his partner, "In any case, I'm glad she was the way she was back then. You wouldn't be here if she wasn't."

Amy looked down and away from him, her ears fallen and her form feeble.

"Yeah. I'm sorry too. I'm sure that she...that she knows everything now, at least." He looked at the large pegasus, "If it makes you feel any better, I wouldn't want it any other way."

Another questionable whistle prompted him further. "Of course. If you hadn't decided to join the Agency afterward...you wouldn't be the Amethyst I know. Besides, if it weren't for what happened, you wouldn't have your little gift either."

Amy shrugged, her wings stretched out to prepare for flight.

"I wouldn't sell myself short if I were you. If you hadn't been exposed to such a deadly concentration of dark magic, you would've never built up a natural immunity. That's a priceless strength, Amy."

"Amethyst," another voice called out. Locks and Amy looked ahead at the figure who uttered the name. Jessica Scrawl waved to the two with a spare hoof, floating above them with a magical aura surrounding her form, "An honorable title given to the strongest guardian at the Agency."

Locks' eyes pierced her hide like daggers.

"Relax honey. I have a good reason for being here this time," she said with a strange sincerity in her voice. She handed him several folded scrolls. "Extra reports a la Steele." The colt swiped them from her hooves. She turned back to Amethyst, who had since moved away from her.

"I never looked into it," Jessica continued. "I never thought that Lily Sheen would grow up and become THE Amethyst."

"It's the eyes," Locks told her in a quiet tone.

"Makes sense. It hides her identity pretty well," Jessica noted. "I didn't even know that unicorns underneath Steele's orders even knew any genetic-altering spells, so I never considered the possibility. All of these hidden secrets being kept from me," she turned away with a frown, "I must admit, I'm pretty upset."

Amy looked back at Jessica, her wings tucked into her sides. The witch in the sky gave the winged pony her attention.

"It's that look again," she repeated from their last encounter. "You're killing me, Lily."

Amethyst blew several notes into her whistle.

"Hmm...I suppose," Jessica took to the sky. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. And I mean it, that's a first for me." she blurted. "Appreciating gratitude isn't something I excel at. I just wish you didn't wait so long to tell me," her face soured, "but I suppose that's mostly my fault too."

"Interesting," Locks started, "When was the last time I've seen you take anything seriously?"

"Bite me," Jessica turned towards the detective, her tone almost completely changed back to her typical mannerisms. "Or better yet," she gave him a playful look, "Fuck me. I'm going through withdrawal. I haven't been able to find a suitable stallion ever since I started helping Scarlet on her case.."

"Pass."

"One day."

"Never."

"Anyways," Jessica's mood seemed to lift. "I need to prowl around some more. You two play safe, okay?"

"Can do," Locks sarcastically saluted his superior. Amethyst bowed to Jessica's form, the mare in the air repeating the motion in a silly manner. "But before you go-"

"Stop being so predictable, Locks," Jessica rocked herself in the air, her tail swishing in his direction. "You shouldn't have lived this long if you act like this on all of your missions. I know what you're going to say, and the answer may surprise you."

"Oh?" Locks cocked a brow. "And what exactly is the answer?"

Jessica twisted in the air, her lips curving upwards.

"Scarlet's in Canterlot, sexy."

"W-what?" He took a step back.

"Actually, let me rephrase that," Jessica paused. "Scarlet's at Canterlot Castle. With the Princess."
=====

Two ponies stood several feet from each other, one towering far above the other. She stood atop several steps that rose up to a pair of seats at the end of the throne room. Murals decorated the walls, each depicting a different tale of bravery from years past. Banners designed with utmost care hung from those walls near the windows. Sunlight invaded the room from each pane, creating bright shapes on the floor beneath the much younger mare.

Scarlet removed her fedora, putting it on her back as a sign of respect to her queen.

"You can leave the room now," Princess Celestia spoke to the guards in the room. She noticed their hesitation, "I'll be fine. We just need some privacy."

The knights of the Royal Guard obeyed, marching out as a singularity until the door on the other end of the throne room shut behind them. Celestia loosened her authoritative posture and looked down to her subject with curiosity.

"Scarlet Trace. Take advantage of this situation. I only approved of such an immediate request because of your father, and I can't be here talking with you all day."

"Understood," Scarlet bowed again in appreciation of Celestia's decision to approve her request. "I need to talk to you about the case Steele gave our group."

"I imagine so," the princess flapped her wings. "I assume Mystery Hart's report prompted you to take it upon yourself to return to Canterlot?"

"Yes, your majesty," Scarlet patted her coat, which held the document in question. "I brought it aboard my train ride. I even read through it several times to confirm my suspicions."

"What is it that has you on edge, Scarlet?"

Scarlet gulped, feeling that she was about to anger a god, "Actually, Princess, it's you."

Celestia's wings folded gently with her expression. Curiously, she took another step towards the young mare, "Me? Scarlet, what do you mean by that?"

"Locks' report said that Nixie Hope had contacted you about her problem after Ms. Helm helped her gain access to you," Scarlet started. "Then I recalled that my father had actually talked to you as well about the problem with my cutie mark," she looked down at her flank.

"My father found some kind of correlation between Nixie Hope and myself, and the only thing I can think of is that we both had unusual cutie mark situations. My mother's report only further confirmed that."

Celestia agreed, walking down another step. She walked past Scarlet, stopping only when she had a good distance separating the two. "So what are you trying to imply here, Scarlet?"

"You said Nixie Hope was special, but that other ponies had lived under the same circumstance with their cutie mark." Scarlet said. "Tell me this: Was Nixie's mark really extraordinary? Was there something there that you felt that you couldn't explain to her?"

"Scarlet," the celestial princess assured her with a gentle voice, "Ponies like Nixie Hope, those who go their entire lives without a mark aren't uncommon, but there was something inside Nixie Hope that I couldn't even begin to describe at the time."

"Can you at least try, Princess? What was it that made Nixie Hope stand out above the rest?"

"It wasn't her fame," Celestia looked out a window, "There have been similar stories through time. It was something deep inside her."

"Like what?" Scarlet tilted her head closer.

"I'm not sure. It felt weak. She felt weak. When I talked to her, and she mentioned her cutie mark, I had a sensation of some kind of," Celestia paused, hunting for the word, "deception."

"D-deception," Scarlet repeated. "You felt like she was lying to you?"

Celestia paced the walkway, "Something like that. Which is strange in and of itself."

"How is that?" the smaller detective's eye didn't leave Celestia's figure.

"Because," Celestia's horn emitted a flow of magic from the tip, "I feel a similar kind of feeling from you."

"S-similar?"

Celestia's face was lost in the constructions of her own mind. She flashed her eyes, standing further upright and spreading out her wings again as she made her quiet decision. "Yes, similar. I think I'm starting to understand why Conroy bridged the two of you together. He may have been on to something."

"You do?" Scarlet asked, "Then why haven't you acted upon it?"

Celestia walked towards one of the windows, looking over at the horizon. She could see a small blur of colors that made up the small town of Ponyville. "Because I was afraid of being correct in my presumptions. I wished above all else for this to simply be an isolated incident. Scarlet, I never had the chance to tell your father before he disappeared," she sighed, "Nor did I have the insight to inform Nixie Hope at the time, but after seeing you here in private, I think it's about time we finally bring this theory to light."

"Before he disappeared?" Scarlet strained on her words, "And what theory?"

"You're aware of your father's visit to me because of the reports from the first investigation," she looked at the gray pony. She continued when Scarlet affirmed her question, "Well, Conroy did come to meet me some time shortly before he passed on."

"And what did he say?"

"He asked the same questions, about how you and Nixie Hope could possibly be linked together, and what that could mean for you," she turned away from the window.

Scarlet felt her fedora's presence on her back. "And what did you tell him?"

"I sent him to the Everfree Forest to look for somepony that I knew who could help," Celestia explained to the anxious mare, "but when I turned to tell him more information regarding her location, he was already heading out of the door. He said something about being late to work that morning. It was...strange for him to say."

"Th-that might've been when I saw him at work that day," Scarlet pondered out loud.

"It very well might have, but I'm not too sure. He looked terribly ill the entire time. Was he like that when you saw him last?"

Scarlet thought back to that day. "That was the day Jessica glued the quill to my face," she muttered. "He looked a bit pale, but nothing else really seemed out of the ordinary. He was talking to Detective Locks before he left."

"Pale would be an understatement when I saw him," Celestia wondered. "He had a vicious cough. Perhaps it was a different day you're thinking about. Or perhaps it's my error."

"Princess Celestia," Scarlet turned to face the Princess. "If I may ask another question, what exactly was it that you were going to tell my father about Everfree Forest?"

She grimaced at the end of the sentence. She walked away from Scarlet, again lost in her own head. "Scarlet Trace, if you want me to answer that, then you must follow through with my next request. Will you accept that?"

Scarlet didn't hesitate, "Absolutely, your highness."

Celestia thanked her with another glorious smile. "The idea I had earlier that I mentioned links to this pony from Everfree. However," she prompted Scarlet to follow her to another window, "The location of this pony extends far beyond the Everfree Forest."

"W-what?!" Scarlet gasped. "There's...there's more beyond the forests?"

"Much more," Celestia bluntly blew Scarlet's mind. "But much of it isn't habitable by ponies just yet. Conditions are too severe, and the disposition out there is lacking. However, this pony has managed to survive out there with the support of the Royal Family."

"Royal Family? Is this pony related to them in any way?"

"Absolutely. Above that, as far, far back as I can remember, she was the first pony I had ever met to give me such a negative vibe upon meeting them. It's...much like your situation." she looked at Scarlet's marking, "or even Nixie's."

Scarlet couldn't help but fidget at the sour tone behind the Princess' words.

"This pony lives within a mountain that rests amongst a large, vast plain. These plains can be found at the outer edge to Everfree Forest. You must trek through the forest and get to the plains to find this pony. She's the only one who has the answers that might be able to explain all of these eerie connections to cutie marks that you can Nixie have to one another."

"How will I get there?" Scarlet looked beyond the mass of forest in the distance. "It's beyond Equestrian Borders. There are vicious creatures out there. I'll do it, but-"

"Speak no more," Celestia trotted back towards her seat. Her magic activated, creating a scroll and quill that appeared out of thin air, scribbling furiously on the official document. "I'm writing a letter and sending it out to Steele and Twilight Sparkle."

"Twilight? Why her?" Scarlet asked. "She has nothing to do with this case."

"That may be true," she finished her message, rolling it up, "But her friends will be of great use on your journey. Surely she knows somepony who can escort you through to The Plains of Woe."

"Plains of Woe," Scarlet's face drained.

"Do not be alarmed. Nothing lives out in the plains," Celestia added.

"That...doesn't make me feel any more confident, your majesty."

The letter wrapped itself and formed into a mist of green that wafted gently out of the windows. "I'll also have Jessica Scrawl join your little party.

"Please no."

Celestia didn't seem to hear Scarlet's weak cry. "Scarlet, you must return to Ponyville and prepare yourself. It's not going to be an easy trip, and Everfree is going to take days to get through."

"I understand," Scarlet backed up towards the door. She gave a slight cough before bowing to her Princess one final time. "I'll do what I can and find this pony for you. One more thing though," Scarlet added, "What's this pony's name?"

Celestia pinched her eyes shut, trying to block out an unwelcome memory.

"Her name is Gemini."

=====

TWO WEEKS LATER

Locks took a plentiful gulp of coffee from his favorite mug, placing it back down next to him as he read through the reports at his desk. He stayed home today, opting to marinate in the aura of his private study over dealing with the usual bustle of the office. Amethyst had still come to his side, perching herself on a cloud just above his apartment.

His home was subtle, hardly furnished, reflecting his on-the-go lifestyle. His den had a single couch resting against the wall nearest the front door, while the other was replaced with a stacked bookcase that covered the entire opposite wall. His kitchen had several coffee stains tarnishing its polish, and two to three coffee machines ready for some instant brews. His study doubled as his bedroom, having only a bed, a desk, and a lamp, with a large drawer that held documents from past cases.

His eyes scanned the report once more, reading through Mysty's additional document he had pinned to the front of Scarlet's and his own work. He scratched his chin, reaching over and taking in more of his fresh roast.

"Cutie Marks. Cutie Pox. Scarlet Trace, and Nixie Hope. Conroy Justis. And now two deaths. That about sums up the entire case so far," he groaned, switching between folders.

Upon saying this, he heard a knock at the window in front of him. He peered up to meet Amethyst's purple gaze. In her hooves was a rolled up scroll with the official seal on it. He opened up the pane immediately, hearing her charming whistle for the first time that day.

"Thanks, Amy," he grabbed the parchment and shut the glass. He unrolled it immediately, reading through an order Steele was informed of one day ago.

"To the Everfree Forest," Locks questioned the decision, "Scarlet? What's going on with that end of the project? Did she really find a link already?"

Lada's testimony rung in his ears, reminding him of Nixie's personal meeting with the Princess.

"Helm sent Nixie to the Princess," he thought as he leaned up against his desk. "Then she asks later if Nixie is cured."

A grim thought overwhelmed him. "Cured. Cured." Detective Locks looked up at the window, his eyes glistening and his expression hard. "They were looking for a 'cure,' like if Nixie had some kind of disease. Even Hope got that implication from Helm."

His mind retraced his steps back to Scarlet. "And they're related, like Conroy thought."

The color faded from his body. "Did Conroy think that Scarlet has a disease?"

Author's Notes:

Another week, another chapter :D
Please comment, rate, critique, whatever floats your boat.
Next update in another week!

- G.R.

301: Monochrome

TWO WEEKS EARLIER

"Is that so," Steele's eyes rolled across the room. His expression failed to change, his hoof continuously rapping against his desk. He grimly leaned forward in his chair, his attention darting across both detectives and their chaperones. "And this was from the Princess herself?"

Scarlet Trace, poking towards his desk nearest the left wall of her boss' office, stepped forward and placed a document in front of him, tapping it urgently. "The Princess feels that with our wrap up of information regarding Nixie Hope, that the next target in concerns to Conroy Justis' murder lies beyond the Equestrian borders. She's ordered Jessica and I," her resolve weakened at the thought, "to rally a small group together in Ponyville in order to investigate this 'Gemini' pony."

Steele pinched his eyes, his frustration clear. "She sent you and Scrawl, of all ponies," he muttered. "I don't like this one bit."

"Sir, if I may," Locks spoke up from the opposite end of the line of ponies, "Wouldn't it be more beneficial to send Amethyst and myself into Everfree?"

Amy nodded with the alternative option.

"Yes," his reply came with absolution in his tone. "Trace, you barely do any field work to begin with, and everypony in this room is aware of your rank and scores. This is reckless of the Princess."

The gray pony's ears sank. A blackened hoof patted her hat down over her head, akin to that of a mother consoling her child.

"You may always appeal the decision, Flexy," Jessica coiled in front of Scarlet. She responded to the twitch in his eye, "I'm sure that not even the mighty Celestia would ignore a request from her favorite concupiscent concubine."

Steele gave Jessica a punishing glare before returning to the matter. "I'll definitely be discussing this in full with her immediately." He leaned back in his chair, making a creak that he found comforting in such a difficult situation. He looked back at the two teams, rubbing a hoof along the side of his head. He pulled his mane back, clearing his throat once more.

"Locks, Amethyst, Scrawl, Trace."

Three of the ponies stood at the ready, Amethyst giving him the proper salute. Jessica lazily roamed the room, as if she was ignoring his demand of attention.

"If Trace and Scrawl commit to this mission, assuming I'm unable to change Princess Celestia's mind, then her side of the project is put on hold." He turned his attention towards who he found to be the team's weakest member. "Trace?"

"Y-yes sir!" Her body tightened.

"Progress on your end has been going slow, correct?"

"Yes sir," Scarlet gulped, "Every direction I've taken towards finding the missing pony has ended up dry. Until Twilight Sparkle is able to revamp the population census of Ponyville, I'm afraid the investigation itself is going to be fruitless."

"If I may add," Locks spoke, "The project in regards to Justis' case hasn't shown progression ever since we completed the reports on Ms. Hope. To be honest, sir, I'm left with very little options."

"We need to find something to do with you two while Scrawl and Trace look for this Gemini."

Jessica raised her hoof like a child from the other side of the room. "I know something they can do!"

Locks turned to her. "No."

The room fell to silence, a frown spreading from the eager mare. Amy covered her face with her wing.

"Scrawl's idiocy aside," Steele continued, "There is one thing that I think I can have you ponies look into in the meantime." He turned his chair around, staring outside of the grand window behind his chair. "You are all aware that Mystery Hart has agreed to help us with this investigation. The Princess and I met with her the other day in an attempt to add her into the groups we have here, but she declined."

The chair turned back towards the group. "The Princess brought up an excellent point that needs confirmation. We need a team of analysts to look into this particular matter if the Princess wishes to proceed with her intentions. Locks, Amethyst, I need you two to head over to Canterlot Cemetery and investigate Nixie Hope's gravesite for any irregularities in the disposition both in the atmosphere and in the soil."

Locks and Amethyst nodded to the request. Locks replied, "To be completed as soon as possible, I'd wager?"

"Always," Steele brought his forehooves together. "You're all dismissed. I'll be sending letters to each of your groups as soon as possible as to whether or not I managed to get the Princess to appeal her process."

=====

The sun was shining vibrantly outside of the Agency building, casting a generous glow that illuminated every corner of the street. A crisp chill swept through the air, an indicator of the changing season that was coming their way. Ponies trudged along the main path, heading to work, home, wherever they were needed most.

The quartet stopped just short of the walkway towards the main plaza of Canterlot. There, the street forked several ways. One direction headed straight for the train station, while towards the north was a street that lead straight towards northern Canterlot, where the cemetery was located. A bench was perched on the side of the road, perfect for the group to relax before heading their separate ways.

Jessica floated about in the air, leaving the earth ponies to their own designs. Her horn flashed with magic as she flew up higher into the atmosphere. She brought a hoof to her mouth, and blew as hard as she could. The high pitched sound of a whistle came from the skies, drawing the attention of the detectives, Amy, and several other ponies nearby. As the raven mane pegasus looked up to the clouds, she caught Jessica's form waving, coaxing her.

Amethyst looked to Locks, who could only sigh at the excited expression on the sly little unicorn. "Go ahead Amy. I'll be here and ready to go as soon as I talk to Scarlet, okay?"

She agreed before opening up her grand wings, lifting into the day, making a beeline straight for the imp in the clouds. Jessica rose higher, her aura coating her body and keeping it afloat. She breached another cloud layer several yards above Amethyst, leading her higher, far enough to keep out of earshot of any other pony.

The guardian broke through the cloud, hovering when she saw Jessica resting on the surface. The scribe swept her mane to the side to give Amy a clear view of her face, of the deep orange irises that stole the attention away from the smooth features of her muzzle.

"No need to keep those sexy wings flappin' for me, sweetie," Jessica called her down to the cloud, "Come down here."

Amethyst perched herself on a fluff of cloud that stood two feet from Jessica's spot. She looked on at her superior, curious as to her intentions. She followed Scrawl's lead, brushing back a piece of her forelock, but taking great care to keep the scar under her neck shrouded.

Jessica took special attention to the hidden mark. Her eyes shot down several times. Amethyst couldn't help but fidget when she felt Jess' attention turn towards the mark. Jessica's expression softened at the scar, catching a tiny glimpse of it.

"Just look at you," the black mare finally spoke. She reached out and grazed the side of Amy's face, being careful to avoid full physical contact with the guardian. "All grown up and strong." Jessica moved her head from side to side, taking in all of Amethyst's features. "And the spell they used on your eyes is wonderful. Not a single trace of error. Definitely an eleven out of ten in my book," Jessica smirked.

Amethyst's ears quivered at each of Jessica's slight touches.

"Relax Lily, I'm not going to do anything crude." She looked away, "Unless you want that kind of thing?"

The guardian could feel the heat rise in her face, sweat forming on her forehead. She quickly blew her whistle and shook her head.

"Aww, that's a shame," Jessica whined. "You'd be one of my finest catches."

Amethyst used her tool once more, her notes filled with both concern and confusion.

"Sorry honey. I'm not good at this kind of thing," Jessica pardoned herself. Her upbeat attitude faded when her gaze went back to the marking. "I'm just going to say it then. A straight up approach wouldn't hurt, right?"

Amethyst didn't answer. The question seemed like it was directed more at Jessica herself over Amy.

"...Can I see it?"

Amethyst hesitated. She let a tiny half-note out of her whistle.

Jessica didn't change her posture. She moved in a bit closer and repeated herself. "Please. Can I see?"

Amy was shocked by Jessica's request. Please was a word she never expected Jessica to use with sincerity. She whistled back, questioning Jessica's motives.

"I'm not going to do anything to it," Jessica promised," I just want to see it. Can I do that?"

The pegasus shut her eyes, remembering the face she awoke to on the night of her parents' murder. Those soft, generous eyes matched the ones in front of her, and her hesitation crumbled at the thought of denying Jessica with such a simple request. She couldn't refuse the only thing her savior had asked of her since that day. She deserved, at the least, this small favor.

Amy sat upright. She carefully reached to her neck and pulled her mane back, letting it hang behind her head with the rest. She paused, hesitating before exposing her neck, lifting her head skyward to give Jessica a perfect view of the scar.

Jessica's face winced with shame. Her eyes agonizingly dragged alone each zig and zag that tore into the young mare's flesh. The thick brown coat that covered the rest of her body struggled to cover even the borders of the mark, refusing to grow at the spots where the spell had sawed into her. She traced the outlines with a hoof, muttering under her breath as she did so.

"Damnit," Jessica whispered loud enough for Amy to catch. "That's enough, Amy."

She didn't pause, covering the damage up with her mane. She blew her whistle again.

"I was checking to see if the damage was reparable," Jessica admitted to. "My magic's gotten exponentially stronger since the time that it happened. I was just hoping."

Amethyst responded with several reassuring notes.

"No, it's not okay," Jessica stamped the cloud. "You're like this because of me. It's my fault."

Amethyst responded aggressively, trying to direct the blame away from the scribe.

"Well I don't like it," she sighed. "It's just what I imagined at the time. The magic tore into your disposition and ripped some of it straight out of your body. It's not something I can just fix, like a broken bone or a dislocation."

Another quick reply from the pegasus, a sad tune this time.

"It just pisses me off. I'm glad you're okay now, but it could've been so much better. Look, I fucked up, and there's nothing you can say to avoid that fact. I was hoping that maybe," she looked straight into Amethyst's eyes, "I can make it up to you in some way. I was thinking that maybe I could've fixed your voice at least."

Amethyst eyes widened. Her pitch lowered.

"It's no good. You ponies can't see it, but as a practitioner of the highest arts, I can tell you right away that the scar is still active. It's still trying to eat away at your disposition, even now."

The pegasus went completely silent, her eyes widening.

"If I tried to mess with it. If anypony did," she stared at the mark, enchanted by its behavior, "It could easily cause a flux between our dispositions."

Jessica continued at the sight of the confused mare. "When I got to you after you were cut, the only way I was able to keep you alive was to sacrifice some of my own disposition to fight back against the spell. My disposition is...special, if you can say that. It's strong. Really strong.

"I gave you some of mine to keep the spell from destroying yours, but I had to find a way to keep it stable, especially on somepony as young as you were at the time, during a process where your disposition is barely starting to transform. It's kind of like a...magical puberty, I guess.

"I didn't want to risk infecting your disposition with my own. That kind of process is forbidden in this kingdom for very specific reasons." Jessica's eyes narrowed back on Amy's neck. "Tampering with a pony who hasn't fully developed can severely mess with their bodies. I managed to put enough in to keep it at bay for eons, much longer than your natural life span, so you should be safe, but only so long as the mark is never opened up.

Should anypony try and mess with it, my disposition could easily take over yours, or vice versa. The disposition that gets overpowered will have to be disposed of, and will find a way to escape the body. The process is...often fatal. It's like a bomb." Jessica sighed and looked down through the cloud, "I guess I was just kinda hoping, after I remembered who you were, that maybe I'd be able to fix it now that I'm stronger."

Amethyst let a spare hoof rest on the mark. She whistled once more.

"I'm sorry Lily. It just bothers me a lot."

Jessica felt a hoof rest on her shoulder. Amethyst gave her a warm smile before dragging her in for a hug. The nymph gasped, squirming out of the hug as quickly as she could, backing up several feet to the other end of the cloud.

"Sorry Lily, believe it or not, hugs aren't something that I endorse," Jessica cleared her throat and wiped her mane from her face. "I understand though. Really, I do." She looked back at Amy with guilty eyes, "Thanks. Again."

Amethyst waved to her with another gentle smile on her face.

"...Unless the hug is delicious."

Amethyst cocked her head.

"You're a catch, Lily," Jessica took flight. "If you wanna hug, I can easily oblige."

Amethyst clearly shook her hooves at the unicorn with vigor.

"That's a shame," Jessica frowned, quickly returning to her former self, her energy returning in her step as she picked herself up on the cloud. "I got a reputation to keep anyways. It wouldn't be right if I was heartwarming all the time, would it?"

Amethyst chuckled through the whistle.

"In any case, after all of this nonsense is done, remind me to set up a little play date for the two of us, okay sweetie?"

Amethyst was unsure how to respond. Jessica twirled about and landed gracefully on her back, spreading her limbs across Amy's frame.

"Oh, and a quick reminder from here on out, since I like you: Don't drink the punch at any parties. You're number one on my list now, and I work quickly," she winked with a lick of her lips. "Just wouldn't be fair to not give my new favorite pony fair warning."

The larger pony froze at the implication.

"Back on duty now, I have some ponies to fondle down below."

=====

Scarlet and Locks watched as their partners disappeared beyond the cloudy day. The two of them took to the bench nearby and watched as several ponies crossed on the path that lead back and forth from the plaza and the Agency office.

"Hope Jessica isn't screwing around with Amy up there," Locks shook his head. "Normally she's not the type to let anypony walk all over her, but she has a soft spot for that wicked witch."

"That so?" Scarlet took her fedora off and shook her mane loose. "For saving for life?"

"Definitely," Locks tried peering into the blue, "Don't let her stoic figure fool you, Amy's one hell of a softy at heart."

Scarlet tightened the belt against her waist. "You know, this'll be my first time going into the Everfree Forest. I'm not sure what to expect."

"It's dangerous in there," Locks hastily replied. "The Bestiary at the Agency has plenty of information on the creatures you can find in there. If you have a good guide though, I doubt you'd run into too much trouble."

"Jessica's the one who wrote the book," Scarlet looked at the sky, "She'll know how to handle things if they get a bit wild out there."

"She's probably the one thing in that forest you'll have to keep a close eye on," Locks snorted. "You're gonna have to pay extra special attention to that one."

Scarlet winced, "Y-yeah. I know it won't be perfectly fine out there, but I...guess I actually have some trust in her."

"Trust? I can understand that much," Locks agreed with the mare. "The only case she's ever screwed up was the same one that gave Amy her scar." Locks turned towards his friend, who was fixing her hat and idly playing with the forelock that covered her left eye. "I trust her to keep you alive, but I don't trust her to keep her hooves off of you."

"You...really think she'd go that far?"

"I'm not really sure what to think with her around," Locks' ears perked. "Did you hear about the scuffle we had?"

"What?" Scarlet's full attention snapped back to him. "You and Jessica?"

He nodded. "Jess and I got into it a bit after our interview with Lada Hope. I'm not sure what would've happened if Amy hadn't stepped in and cooled us off."

"Picking fights with Jess, and you're telling me to be careful," Scarlet half-scolded him.

"Jessica walks all over the Agency. Did you see what she did to Steele in the office? She called him by his first name, and failed to stand at attention for him at all. She's disrespectful," he listed off.

"M-maybe a little...but I'd like to think that she's just a free spirit."

"A little too free if you ask me," he focused his gaze in the direction of his assistant. "I'm not going to let her do the same thing to me. I'm not like Steele, or Celestia."

"Just be careful, Locks. Jessica's wiped out some detectives that got on her bad side before, remember?" Scarlet fidgeted in place, "She has diplomatic immunity. I don't want you to just be another tally on her wall."

"Nah," Locks snickered. "If she wants to wrestle, I'll be happy to oblige." He felt a gentle nudge on his shoulder from the gray pony, turning to see the concern in her face.

"All I'm asking is to avoid anything serious with her." Scarlet looked around for a moment. "Remember that letter I found in my dad's workroom?"

"Of course. The one you reported?"

"Y-yeah. It seemed a bit unnecessary to report some portions of the document that didn't relate to the case, but dad left behind some very...unenthusiastic words to Jessica."

Locks rubbed his chin with a hoof. "He never really had a good record with her, at least from what I saw at work when he was around. They usually avoided each other. She'd never even try to screw with him like the rest of the colts at work."

"My dad was a good judge of a pony's character," Scarlet said with certainty. "That's something I had always trusted in him wherever he took me. If he didn't like a pony, then there was usually some good justification for that."

"I see what you mean," Locks shook his head. "If Justis didn't like Jessica, then it must mean that she's not-"

"She's not someone to trust completely, right."

"But you just said earlier that you did trust her," Locks reminded Scarlet.

"I did, but that's because I trust her to do the job assigned to her. That's something she's almost never gone against, regardless of how she does so.

"You've thought about this a bit, haven't you?"

"The mare that constantly ogles and fondles me wherever I go? I've had plenty of time to think about these kind of things when I feel violated every time I go to work. I can't even get her for sexual harassment because of it."

"But Scarley, those are my favorite things to do with you," a voice came from behind the mare. Her spine crawled as a black mare appeared from the emptiness she caught at the corner of her eye. She felt something slimy graze against the delicate fur on her cheek, flicking against her face.

Scarlet nearly jumped off of the bench, turning around to see the unicorn in question leaning against the back of the bench.

"Howdy sweetie. We ready to go?"

Locks snorted before getting back on his feet. Amethyst came swooping down, landing by his side. "I assume the two of you are done?"

"Yep," Jessica quickly answered. "C'mon Scarley, we need to get back to Ponyville pronto. We gotta assemble the squad, y'know."

Scarlet sighed, wiping the spit from Jessica's tongue off of her face. She turned to Locks and Amy, "I guess we'll be seeing you later."

A chilly breeze swept through the air. "Yeah," Locks nodded to her. "Hopefully we can have this wrapped up before the Heartwarming season really starts to kick in. We'll have to get together again."

"That sounds wonderful," Scarlet waved them their farewell. "I'll come back with something, I promise."

Locks and Amy gave Scarlet and Jessica a salute before heading for the fork in the road nearby, heading back towards Northern Canterlot. Scarlet turned away and sighed as she made her way towards the train station, Jessica floating gleefully around her as they prepared for their trip back to Ponyville.

=====

ONE WEEK LATER

Steele's plea did nothing to alter Celestia's plans for Scarlet and her group. Finalizing the assignment took some time on the Agency's part, mostly from the boss' hesitation to confirm and send the scrolls toward the assigned ponies.

A noise from Twilight Sparkle's house in Ponyville could be heard for blocks:

"N-No! I don't want to do it!" Scarlet's voice shouted from the other side of the bathroom in Twilight's upstairs loft. "Th-this is stupid!"

"The Princess' orders were to protect you, weren't they?" Jessica cooed from the other end of the door, her face plastered against the barrier between her and an undressed Scarlet. "I've wandered about Everfree once before, and the only reason I didn't get lost is because I flew up and out of it. It's a dangerous place, and even the vegetation can get you down if you're not careful."

"But that doesn't convince me that what you're making me do here makes any...any sense!"

Jessica raised a hoof, spinning a familiar article of Scarlet's attire in her hand. The fedora spun lazily around her foreleg, the sly little pony placing it on her head before continuing, "Your coat is too big, lovely. Even with the belts you got, it's still too risky to go out in a jungle dressed like that."

Jessica interrupted the noise in the bathroom. "Look, if a timberwolf or a manticore nabs even just a little bit of the coat, then you're no less than a meal or two for them. I'm flattered that you have such confidence in me being a protector, but even I'm not a supermare. One second is all a predator needs to slit your throat with their claws."

She heard Scarlet's whimper come through the door. "Okay sweetie look. I'll haggle with you, amongst other things," Jessica could nearly taste the fear in Scarlet's expression, "But the coat needs to go."

"But...I just got it," Scarlet whispered, aware that Jessica was completely in the right. She unbuckled the belts around her chest and waist, carefully easing the large accessory off of her form.

"You can keep the hat if you absolutely must have a memento out there," Jessica started, "but I'll need to take it for a bit. I don't want to have you dropping it and running straight into danger for some silly fedora."

The door cracked open, and a hoof extended from inside towards Jessica, handing her the coat and belts that went with it. Jessica caught sight of the handcuffs and flashlight buckled to the length of the waist belt. Before tossing it onto her temporary bedding, she spotted the standardized magic inhibitors buried within one of Scarlet's many pockets.

"Good. Now the hat."

Scarlet's meek little cry played out again, making Jessica smile at the timid nature of her companion. The hat in question came hanging from the same hoof in the door crack. She grabbed it out of Scarlet's hoof and walked towards the stairs.

"Scarley, you're cute enough to eat," Jessica licked her lips. "I'll be downstairs when you're ready. We can head out then, okay?"

The disgruntled pony muttered something underneath her breath, coated with disappointment at having to abandon her traditional outfit. Jessica waited at the base of the stairs as Scarlet unwrapped the parcel that came in that morning from Canterlot, hearing the wrapping paper cringle and crunch.

"J-Jessica!? What the hell!?"

She snickered under her breath before galloping downstairs.

The enchantress trotted gleefully towards a small desk downstairs. She caught eye of the purple unicorn in question, scribbling her work on a scroll. She turned her head to face Twilight, giving her a teasing little smile as the younger mare turned to look at her. A long piece of string came floating towards Jessica as she fiddled with Scarlet's hat, preparing it for their journey into the jungle.

"Something the matter?" Twilight said aloud, not turning from her work. "Are you looking for something, Miss Scrawl?"

"Oh no," Jessica replied in a friendly voice as she worked the string into the hat. "You just remind me of myself when I was a little filly."

"Really? How?" Twilight's curiosity begged.

"Just...studying all of the time. Working on new magic spells and trying to iron out my problems in the current ones I was working on. I've been there and done all of that, and trust me, it doesn't get much easier." She looked over to Twilight, who had since turned back to face her, "You were the one to break my spell on the night we met, right?"

"I am."

"Did anyone have any..."happy accidents?"

"Thankfully, nopony did. What you did was reckless."

"I know, isn't it fun?"

"Fun? Messing with ponies like that is fun to you?"

"Absolutely, Miss Sparkle," Jessica focused on Twilight's body. "I look at you, and I feel like all the elements are around you, just like they were around me. You have all the capacity in the world to learn of all types of arcane magic. Once you get them down like me, then...well..."

"...What," Twilight waited for her to continue.

"What point is there to knowing so much when you never get the chance to try it out on somepony every once in a while? Magic is meant to be used, lovely."

"I'm sure you're not surprised to find that I don't agree with you, Miss Scrawl," Twilight turned back to her work.

"You broke my spell that night. Miss Sparkle, you are definitely something special. Nopony has ever tried to break my spells before."

"Thanks, but I only did what I had to do to keep my friends safe."

"Of course, wouldn't we all?" Jessica focused back on attaching the string to the hat. "You'll go far, trust me."

Twilight's ears perked at the sound of hoofsteps coming down the stairs. "S-Scarlet?"

Jessica's devious grin widened when she turned to face the detective. The mare in question slowly made her way down the stairs, her expression masked by the forelock that covered the left side of her face. She made her way to Jessica, then looked up at her with a look of despair in her face.

"H-how could you buy something like...like this?!"

Jessica chuckled behind a hoof, her horn sparking to life. A mirror appeared out of thin air, hanging behind the three ponies. Scarlet gave herself a better look, her sense of dread reaching new heights as she gave her body a clear look.

Her face wrinkled, a sigh leaving her throat in disappointment. Jessica walked over and finished up the small touches on her outfit.

"It's for the walk into the woods. You need something that clings to your coat if you want to avoid getting caught on brambles or branches or weeds. They see something like that coat hanging off of you and you're a free meal ticket out there," Jessica explained.

She worked on buttoning the final pair of buttons at the apex of the dark green blouse on her partner. The outfit clung tightly to her coat, much more so than the vast space that her coat provided her in comparison. The sleeves to the blouse ended just a few inches from the top of her forelegs, and ended right as it reached the center of her torso.

"I would've given you a white one love, but you'd stand out in the forest like a sore thumb," Jessica explained while she patted down the blouse on her neck, fixing the collar. Her giggles continued as she marveled at the black vest that was draped over the blouse. The leather material made extremely quiet scrunching noises as she twisted and turned, Scarlet's face that of concern and embarrassment.

"I don't like this," Scarlet immediately responded. "Can't animals hear this out in the forest?"

"Well, yes," Jessica admitted, "But look here." Jessica demonstrated by lifting a hoof against the wooden floor and tapping against it. "Hear that? Now, imagine three to four ponies walking amidst a bunch of dirt, rocks, and shrubs. If a predator is close enough to hear your sexy outfit squeaking," she licked her lips, "then we're already dead meat."

Scarlet flinched at Jessica's hungry look in her eyes. Jessica laughed it off, as if she was a filly playing dress-up with her favorite doll. "You take what you can get, Scarley. These aren't Agency-purchased pieces of merchandise, y'know."

"What," Scarlet said in disbelief, "Then how did you-"

"Out of my own pocket, love."

'How can she even afford this,' Scarlet thought to herself, 'It looks top of the line, and the Agency sure as hell isn't generous in its paychecks.'

Scarlet flexed her legs and neck, making sure that the outfit wouldn't have any kind of resistance. She trotted in place, nodding at how the blouse and vest molded with every move she made. As satisfied as she could be in this situation, she looked over to the black unicorn. "Is that all?"

"Hmm...I feel like there's something missing..."

"M-missing?" Scarlet's face brightened up, "Oh! My hat. Give me my hat back. You promised."

"I had to make some adjustments to it, so that it wouldn't cause any problems," Jessica levitated the hat over to Scarlet.

The younger mare nearly screamed when she saw the fedora she had been given. On either end of the hat was a string that had been looped through the interior of the material, with small holes that would've gone unnoticed by any other pony who could've observed it. Scarlet quickly grabbed the hat away from the spell that kept it afloat and cuddled it before shooting daggers at her partner with her eyes.

"W-what did you do to it!?"

"I...just put a piece of string through it," Jessica replied matter-of-factly, not minding the extreme reaction out of the excited detective. "The change is hardly noticeable anyways."

"But it's MY hat! You could've TOLD me you were going to do this to it!"

"I didn't think you'd mind, Scarley," Jessica smirked, "Besides, when do you get so bold? You've never yelled at me like this before."

"That's because you never-"

"I kinda like it, baby," Jessica winked.

Twilight and Scarlet couldn't help but wince at her. Scarlet returned to her hat's attention, rubbing a hoof along the top and cradling it like a foal.

"You wear it like a necklace," Jessica explained, "Except in reverse."

"I-I'm not stupid," Scarlet huffed. "I know that."

"Well then," Jessica waved her hoof at her, "Try it on. I need to see if it's the right length."

Scarlet sighed, realizing that her anger would get her nowhere with her guardian. She complied, letting the string wrap around her neck, tucking it underneath the shirt to hide the string from view. The hat fell to the back of her neck's base. She turned and moved around, making sure that Jessica's handiwork was stable.

"Like a glove, see?"

Scarlet looked over to the black unicorn. "Don't think I'm not still mad with you."

"Aww, don't be like that Scarley," Jessica frowned. "I like you better when you're timid and clusmy."

The detective gave herself another look in the mirror. "Is there anything else that you had left to surprise me with, Jessica?" Upon hearing no reply, she continued, "How about pants? Isn't it going to get chilly out there? Winter is coming, you know."

"That's not a problem Scarley," she waved off the concern, "You can just use my body."

"Y-your..."

"Unless you have the cash to dish out for a pair of sturdy pants," a wicked smile appeared.

'She did this on purpose,' Scarlet frowned, knowing that her budget wouldn't allow for a big hit like that.

"You're right though love. Something IS missing," Jessica's horn lit up the room. The package Scarlet had left in the bathroom upstairs could be heard from downstairs. The sound of ripped cardboard was heard by the trio, Jessica's face curled, as if she had found something.

"P-please no."

"YES!" Jessica's concentration broke. "I KNEW I had bought something else for you to wear. You sneaky little filly."

Scarlet shrank on the spot, closing her eyes as her final accessory came rushing down from the staircase. A black tie spun around her, coiling around her neck and tucking itself underneath her collar before tightening up.

"Why the tie," Scarlet moaned. "Jessica, you've been going on and on about loose clothing!"

"And this too-"

"Wait," Scarlet stammered as her hair fell into the clutches of Jessica's magic. "What are you-"

"Just need to make one more adjustment here. Now relax." Jessica licked her lips as she worked her magic on Scarlet's mane, pulling her hair backward. A band zoomed out from the upstairs loft, wrapping around her hair and forming a knot on the back, leaving Scarlet with a standard ponytail.

"Your mane is lovely, but you need to be as tight as possible out there. Same problem with your mane that you have with your coat. I had to do somethin' to it," Jessica teased.

"A-at least THAT makes sense!" Scarlet called to her, "You still haven't explained my tie!"

Scarlet waited for an answer, but nothing came. She turned to the wicked pony, who was staring intently at the detective. A sliver of drool starting falling from a crack between the unicorn's lips. She quickly snapped to, wiping it off.

"Sorry sweetie. I just realized how delicious you are," she turned away, bringing the rest of the package remains downstairs. "I'm gonna get rid of this. You on the other hand," Jessica's magic whirled about again. This time, from the loft, came the inhibitors Jessica had taken from Scarlet's coat, along with Scarlet's necklace containing the magnifying glass.

"I'll be carrying our supplies. I need to finalize something with the Agency through a letter. Could you be a dear and finish packing everything up? All of our gear is next to the library's exit."

Jessica made her way out of the room before Scarlet could respond to any of her banter. "Okay then," she replied anyway, Jessica way out of earshot. The mirror remained in the air for moment longer before disappearing. Scarlet got one final glance over herself before it vanished into the nothingness. She turned back hesitantly towards Twilight.

"So..."

"So?" Twilight responded.

"She said I looked 'delicious'," Scarlet flinched. "What do you think?"

Twilight shrugged at the question, "You look fine to me. Don't worry about it."

"Good," she absently spoke. "I...guess I should be getting to work."

Twilight turned back to her report, "Go for it. Oh, and please be careful of the forest out there."

"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind." Before she left the room, she turned back to her new friend, "Oh, one more thing. The Princess said that you might be able to help find somepony in town that'd help us out with the forest?"

Twilight turned back to her, "I already sent a letter to them."

"Them?"

"Yes. They said they'll meet you at the entrance to the forest that's right outside of town. You can't miss 'em."

"Oh. Well...thanks Twilight. I appreciate all of the help. I'll be seeing you later!"

"It's the least I can do for a new friend. Safe trip."

=====

Out a ways from the borders of Ponyville was a small trail, a bit wider than a few ponies, that ran throughout the vast openness of the wilderness. Very few trees covered the area here, but the environment was healthy and green all the same, giving the area a fresh smell and a rejuvenating atmosphere. At the end of the road was a line of darker, less welcoming trees, acting as a border to the forest that lay beyond the thicket of tangled branches and murky ground. The border extended for what seemed to be miles from either end, acting like a natural barrier to what was hidden within Everfree.

Scarlet and Jessica were already within vision of the barrier, marching towards the entrance with their assignment in mind. On Jessica's back was a fairly large bag that covered her back, along with a rolled up tent and a pair of canteens that dangled from her sides. Scarlet wore nothing but her new, regretful outfit, holding the inhibitors in her pocket and her hat slung to the back of her neck.

"What are the inhibitors for anyways?" Scarlet asked as they approached. "There's no unicorns in the forest."

"You're right, but remember that a lot of creatures have some kind of magic within them," Jessica said. "Slap an inhibitor on a timberwolf and you can actually domesticate it. Put one on some poison joke and the effect completely disappears."

"So it blocks off the flow of magic regardless of the user?"

"Exactly," Jessica nodded. "It's not just a weapon to use against unicorns. I wouldn't redesign something with such a single-minded use to it."

"Y-you made it?" Scarlet couldn't believe her word.

"No. Somepony else made them. I just made them better, is all," Jessica whipped her hip in midstride, matching the emphasis on her reply.

Scarlet looked to their cargo, "And you're sure about carrying everything? What if something attacks us?"

"Stop worrying so much, Scarley." Jessica turned around. She gave the detective a warm, yet teasing grin. "You're not the strongest or sturdiest pony I've worked with, so you need to be as light as possible to avoid trouble if we run into anything out there. As for this crap," Jessica pointed a hoof to her horn, "You can't see it, but any skilled magician can tell you that I'm using magic right now to keep it up. I'm not very physically strong myself, but I can lift heavy materials for days on end if I wanted to. This is nothing.

"Besides," she continued, "If we run into anything, I can teleport and fly. I'm pretty damn safe as far as that's concerned." Scarlet showed signs of hesitation as the barrier inched closer, "Relax. It's MY job to protect you. Just do your little detective work, and you'll be fine. I promise."

"O-okay. Thanks Jess."

Up ahead, Scarlet could spot two figures waiting for them at the very entrance itself. One figure was unique in color: A gray pony, with stripes and markings of gray covering the entirety of her body from head to tail, and a mane with a black and white pattern similar to that of her body. She wore jewelry that ran down her right foreleg, and a neck ring that coiled around the entire of her neck. Two large golden rings dangled from the base of her ears, and her flank embraced the appearance of a sun with a spiral pattern on it.

The other figure was a bit smaller in stature, coated with a bright yellow sheen and a light pink mane and tail. Her winged were tucked tightly against her body, and her round, blue eyes spoke of her timid nature with their innocent appearance. Three butterflies fluttered about her side as her cutie mark.

Scarlet couldn't help but glance back at her marking after seeing the two ahead, a giant magnifying glass that reflected a bright light. She couldn't help but remind herself of the Hope case, and of the fillies she spotted back at the schoolhouse with Applejack.

Feeling an itch at the back of her throat, Scarlet coughed again, tapping her chest after managing to satisfy the burning sensation.

"You okay, Scarley? You've been coughing more and more in the last few days," Jessica turned.

"I'm fine. Let's just go. The sooner we get in and out, the sooner I can finish this case."

Scarlet and Jessica approached the pair of ponies. Jessica started off the introduction.

"Oh, I met you at Scarley's little introduction party," Jessica slithered around the yellow mare, taking extra long to make her way around her flanks. "You're Fluttershy, aren't you?"

"Y-yes. You must be Jessica Scrawl," Fluttershy acknowledged the black unicorn. "Hi Scarlet," she hesitated, still not completely comfortable around the detective, "How are things at the library?"

Scarlet made sure to give her plenty of space. "Things are going fine. Twilight's been a great host. I can't thank her enough for her kindness."

Jessica pounced back to the front of the group, looking straight at Fluttershy's companion. "You're a nice little meal, Butterfly, but you're friend here is...oh my."

"M-my name is Fluttershy," she responded, sinking behind her mane.

"Of course," Jessica said. "And you...you're a zebra?" Jessica tilted her head, admiring her jewelry. "You're far away from your own kind, honey."

"A smart deduction you've made Miss Scrawl," the zebra gave Jessica a smile, "Nice to meet you; Zecora, I am called."

Jessica bowed her head briefly at the two ponies, who returned the honor. Zecora turned towards Scarlet, "And you're the detective, if I understand? What do I call you on this journey so grand?"

Scarlet was taken aback by the pattern in which the zebra spoke. She took a breath and replied, "M-my name's Scarlet ma'am. Scarlet Trace." She mimicked Jessica with her bow, "N-nice to meet you."

Zecora greeted her back with Fluttershy following in return. "We've brought our bags, and all our supplies, so Scarlet and Jessica, to your orders we'll comply."

"Sounds good to me," Jessica stood forward. "Twilight mentioned you because you live in Everfree Forest, so you should be able to help us around if we get lost or run into something that we're not completely ready for."

"To you, my guest, I'll do my best."

"And you," Jessica turned to Fluttershy, who inched closer to Zecora at the attention she suddenly had. "What can you do?"

"I-I'm good with animals if that helps, but I don't mind if you guys decided to go without me-"

"That's perfect. You'll definitely come in handy in case we need to deal with some of the fauna in there," Scarlet said. "Better to befriend them over getting down and dirty, right?

"They both sound like good ideas to me love." Jessica jumped to the front of the pack. "Then we're all set to go?"

"Yes," Scarlet gulped.

"I-I don't know. Maybe I need to check up on Angel Bunny again before we g-" Fluttershy stammered as Zecora prodded her onward.

"Set to go, I've been. Now, let us begin."

"Alright pack," Jessica's excitement grew as she took the first step into the forest, "Let's go then!"

=====

The doors to the Agency swung open. A handful of employees were all that remained in the main room, trotting from spot to spot, cleaning up their work stations before heading home. They all turned towards the colt who had just walked into the room. His black stripes mane glowed in the setting sun, and his bright cyan coat hurried across the room.

Locks stopped and looked up to the second floor. Perched on a rail, almost like a gargoyle, Amethyst was waiting for him. She quickly glided down to the first floor from her spot, whistling a friendly hello to her partner.

"Hey Amy. Ready to go?" Locks lifted his hoof. He presented a thin folder to her, nodding with his deep red eyes that the results of the tests had come in. "Steele should still be in his office, so let's not waste any more time."

Amy whistled in agreement, and the two ran off towards the long, narrow hallway that lead to the trio of rooms. Locks quickly rattled on the door, hearing a gruff voice from beyond it urging him inside.

"What do you have for me today?" Steele asked as the door shut behind him. The graying colt's coat seemed extra pale today, draining as he continued his work without looking up. "I've got several more cases I need to hand out by the start of tomorrow, and I don't have time to-"

"The results are in," Locks said. Steele immediately looked up. "The disposition analysis? Perfect." Steele straightened out his back from his hunched position and leaned against his chair. "What does it say?"

"100% positive, sir. Nixie Hope's disposition registered on an unnaturally high level from the gravesite."

"I see," Steele swallowed dryly. "So the Princess was right after all. Very well."

"Sir," Locks continued. "What exactly does this mean? I know that it's not normal for a dead pony's disposition to linger, let alone in such large clusters like that of which we found at the gravesite..."

"I'll explain in a bit, but did Mysty say anything about it?"

"Not at all sir," Locks replied. "She actually welcomed the investigation."

"Tch," Steele leaned forward. "That's just like her. I doubt she cares too much. No is no for her, but the Princess won't accept that for an answer."

"Sir?"

Steele hesitated to speak to the young stallion. "Well, it doesn't change anything for you two, I suppose. It's harmless enough." After another moment's thought, Steele spoke in a softer voice, "Princess Celestia thinks that Mystery Hart has become an Artifact."

Amy cocked an eyebrow, surprised at Locks' sudden reaction as he jumped to the front of the desk. "M-Mysty?! Are you sure, sir?" He whispered at the same level as Steele.

"Positive. With the tests you just turned in, it gives the Princess and I a good idea of what Mysty can do."

"...And that would be?"

"Ain't it obvious, kid?" Steele leaned back again, a crack popping loudly from his back. "She can fiddle with the disposition of the dead. It's a priceless skill."

"That would explain the tests. Mysty's been dead for some time. Normally, a disposition fades into the ground by then.

"This isn't good," Steele sighed. "Celestia won't let her go about freely anymore. She's very thorough when it comes to protecting assets like these."

"I see. Is that everything you needed sir?"

Steele looked at the pair. "For the time, yes. Head back and see if you can find any other links between Hope and Justis' murder, if anything. Hopefully Trace and Scrawl come back with something."

"Actually sir, there's something I need from you," Locks said.

Steele was already starting to continue writing a letter to the Princess about the new development. "What is it? And make it quick."

"Something bothered me about the testimony we were given by Lada Hope about Nixie Hope. Unless her wording was shady, Lada mentioned that during a confrontation between Nixie and her co-manager Tanita Helm, that Helm specifically used the word "cured" when it came to her cutie mark."

"Mmhmm?" Steele continued to scribble on the parchment.

"Well, Scarlet's report from her father's work back at home was focused primarily on Nixie's cutie mark, and it's correlation to Scarlet's."

Steele stopped writing. "Locks, we've done tests on Scarlet, and looked at all of her records of her medical visits. She's always come out in tip top shape. If she has a disease, then it's the weakest son of a bitch I've ever known about."

"But what if it's something different? Detective Justis also mentioned looking into the Cutie Pox epidemic that was recorded."

"That'd be significant if Trace didn't have her cutie mark yet."

"That's true sir, but-"

"Quit wasting my time Locks. I have a letter to send out-"

"What if there's something wrong with Scarlet, sir?" Locks finally spat out, aggravated by Steele's dismissive comments. "The Cutie Pox was a disease that came and went without any explanation to its origin, a cure, or anything concerning the ponies that were afflicted. The one documented case from Ponyville was also triggered by an herb that had a natural remedy. It wasn't like the disease that spread in the first records.

"What if Nixie Hope had this condition? Nothing explains why she started bleeding or coughing prior to her death, and her autopsy doesn't go into significant detail about anything she was afflicted with that we are aware of.

"What if it's an unknown disease, sir?"

Steele stopped writing again. He froze for a long period of time without responding, as if he was registering everything that Locks had just told him. Finally, he spoke up, "A new disease, huh?"

"Yes sir."

"...If this is a dead end, I'm going to grind you into glue," Steele threatened. Finished with his letter, he rang a bell that hung off of the corner of his desk. Within seconds, a unicorn came running into the room, spotting the parchment that had been rolled up and in Steele's hoof. With a pulse of magic, the letter was instantly vaporized, rising out of a crack in the window and towards Canterlot Castle.

"A new disease, Locks. That's insane. You realize what this means?" Steele asked him.

"That Scarlet is in danger, for one."

"Yes, there's that possibility, but I'm sure that Scrawl would act upon noticing something that could be life threatening. But if you even manage to get this theory on the radar at all with the Princess, then that gives the Hope story an entire new meaning. We'd have to reinvestigate the matter all over again if this were to happen.

Locks nodded his head. Amethyst's wings flapped in an attempt to take in some fresh air. She wiped a bead of sweat that formed on her forehead from the room.

Moments later, another strand of dust crept into Steele's office from the window. It rolled up and busted, forming a rolled up parchment with Celestia's seal on it. Steele took no time in tearing through the lock and reading the contents.

Locks and Amy could only look on as what little color Steele had left in his face vanished. He looked up at the pair with a focus in his eyes so intense that the duo flinched in his presence.

"Princess Celestia is demanding an audience with us. Now."

Author's Notes:

Another chapter. Sorry about the delay.
Please enjoy. Criticisms of any kind would be appreciated.
Until next time!

- G. R.

302: Through the Thicket

"Disease," regal hoof steps retreated to their throne. The tall alicorn repeated the word with a motion of her lips. "The thought has crossed my mine before, yes."

"What do you think of the likelihood of it being the case then?" Locks questioned the Princess. "There's an entire civilization of ponies to consider if it turns out to be true."

"And trust me in that such a possibility has been put into question before." Celestia turned back towards her subjects. Locks, Amethyst, and Steele stood in a line before her.

The youthful detective broke the formation with a step forward, "And what actions where taken to test the accuracy of that suspicion? Did any profitable results come from the study?"

"None, I'm afraid. We couldn't find a source." Celestia took a seat, signaling with her hoof for the trio to do the same.

"Locks, Celestia and I went over this before, but aside from a quick sweep through the main city hospital records, there's not much of a trail to follow," Steele added. "We had the Agency fish through any files that might've been connected to the symptoms that Conroy had up until his death, but there's no hard evidence to confirm or deny that there was a virus or disease behind the whole thing."

"I see," Locks shook his head. "But just for the moment, let's just assume that it were true. What could we do about it, and what would it mean for the case? Wouldn't Conroy's studies be enough to contain Scarlet? It's implied that she might be infected with the same exact virus that took down Detective Justis."

"That's true," Celestia nodded. "If it's contagious, then we'd have an epidemic on our hands." She looked straight at Locks, "However, none of this is the case."

"Or can be proven to be the case," Steele continued. "We work with what we got. Chasing wild theories like this one only leads to wasted time. Were this string of events controlled by a criminal, the body count would only rise while we just stood around hunting down fantasies."

"If it turns out to be what you feel it to be," Celestia said, "Then we'll take the appropriate action. For now though, we're unable to do that."

"Damn," Locks muttered under his breath. "Very well then. I'll continue my investigation." He paused, clearing his throat. "If I might also be bold, your highness?"

"Hmm?" Celestia's smile grew. "Ah, by all means, detective."

"I'll do my job. But I also like to express my disappointment in this meeting. I'm opposed to just letting this theory go just because we lack proof."

Celestia gave him a quizzical look. "You're an eccentric stallion, Locks. I won't stop you from believing what you wish."

The cyan colt exhaled with a slouch before straightening up. "There's another subject I wanted to discuss with you, Princess."

"You may."

"Prior to, and up until the day Detective Justis died, he was pursuing an independent study of his own, which took him to the Everfree Forest that very morning that he was killed."

"That is correct," Celestia's horn glowed with a soft golden aura. A nearby teacup hovered towards her muzzle.

"I was curious as to whether or not he might have told you anything in concerns to his investigation. You, Steele, and Justis were all close, were you not?"

The large alicorn finished sipping at her drink. "It's true that Conroy and Flex are friends of mine. Steele and I worked on the initial write ups to the cases assigned to both you and Miss Trace. Any information I might've known about his whereabouts or details would be in those files."

"So whatever you know up to now is in those documents?" Locks tilted his head a bit.

"Are you suggesting that I'm hiding something?" Celestia mused. "I don't think I have to tell you what trouble you can get into for trying to antagonize me."

"I wouldn't dream of it," Locks grinned. His crimson eyes twinkled amidst the tension in the throne room. "However, even a Princess can make a mistake. I'm just ensuring that this particular theory isn't the case."

Celestia's concentration tightened on his gaze. "Locks, are you mocking my perception?" She stood upward, towering above him, looking down upon her subjects. "What I know is in those files. There is very little that I know otherwise."

"I'm just doing my job, Princess," Locks said. He turned to meet with Amy's concern and Steele's irritation at his arrogance with royalty. "Don't get me wrong, Princess. I trust you, and I fail to see why you'd ever hide something. You understand that I'm just doing what I can, don't you?"

The alicorn Princess' wings flapped in the air, leaving small fragments of her feathers dangling in the air. "I do. I also expect that you understand that I'd never intentionally be unfaithful to any of my subjects. Equestria has been nothing but kind to me, and it is my obligation to treat this land as it has treated me." She eased up her poise, forcing a breath of relief from the daring young colt.

Celestia couldn't help but chuckle as she relaxed her body. "It's so amusing. You Artifacts treat everything so different from everypony else. I like that in you. Going so far as to use your abilities on your very own Princess. You're nothing short of daring and bold, detective."

"Sometimes crazy is the only way I can get the job done, your majesty," Locks bowed to her.

"And tell me. What did you find within me?"

"I beg your pardon, Princess?" Locks lifted his head to meet her.

"Playing these mental games with someone one millennium your senior isn't wise," she laughed. "I'm well aware of what you can do. What did you find?"

Locks' eyes twinkled once again. "Concern. A little bit of irritation," he joked. "But above all else, love. A kind of love that's difficult to come by these days."

Steele snorted at the comment. "Your majesty, we're wasting time here."

"Don't speak such nonsense," Celestia scolded him. "Watching an Artifact evolve is a wonderful thing. I'm a pony whose power is that of breaking the dawn, and showering the world with a radiant glow that warms the body and soothes the heart. I'm a Princess, whose had the opportunity to watch our race grow with a sense of pride and dignity, and who has always encouraged ponies to open their hearts to others.

"I'd trade all of that, just to watch an Artifact grow. From start, to finish.

"It's not a waste of time, Flex." Celestia closed her eyes, "It's a beautiful reminder of just how far we've come."

"Your majesty," Steele apologized. He turned away, prepping the group to leave. "Does that cover everything that you wished to discuss, boy?"

"Almost," Locks called back, not breaking eye contact with his ruler. "Your majesty?"

"Yes, Locks?"

"You've honored me with this opportunity to speak with you tonight. I'm grateful."

"The pleasure was all mine," Celestia bowed to him. "Please, do send me a message if you need anything else in the future. Steele will keep an open line with me at the Agency."

"Absolutely, your majesty." Locks gave her a sly look, "Perhaps we could even have a change of scenery next time. You ever try a cup of joe down at Canterlot Square?"

Celestia's face was expressionless at the invitation. "I...can't say I have."

"We'll do lunch sometime then," the detective grinned. "My treat."

The smile returned to her face. "I'll keep that in mind for the future, detective."

As Locks bowed to take his leave, he turned his head around, the jubilee in his face all but vanished, "You have shown nothing but faith in your subjects, Princess. I'll live up to your expectation, and crack this case before anypony else gets hurt. I promise."

=====

"I think this might be the only time I've ever envied Scrawl," Steele huffed the moment the doors to Celestia's throne room shut behind them. "Because if I had diplomatic immunity, I'd use it to kick the shit out of you, Locks."

"I wouldn't expect any less of you, sir," Locks stuck his tongue out at him.

"She's rubbing off on you too. Fantastic," he rolled his eyes. "The last thing I need are two insubordinate, top ranking officers on my hooves."

"Relax sir," Locks assured him. "I'm fine. I'm just a bit...well..."

Steele, in a move that Amy nor Locks anticipated, loosened up his shoulders. "It's okay son. That's just the adrenaline that comes from standing up to your ruler." His eyes seemed to wander, "Conroy used to do the same thing all the time. The little shit always got a kick out of it. Just like you."

"Sir?" Locks looked at his boss with curiosity.

"Just remembering better days," Steele looked away from him with a sigh. "I can't deny that you know how to work your client, Locks. Anypony else in there and they'd be pacing a dungeon cell right now."

"Yeah, the thought did come to mind," Locks sheepishly agreed. He felt a nudge to his side coming from the silent pegasus that had experienced the entire event unfold. Amy looked at him with concern in her eyes.

Amy whistled faintly through her tool.

"Thanks Amy," Locks smiled at her. "I appreciate the concern. I had to make sure that she was honest."

"You would've gotten a kick out of her face when you invited her to a drink, boy." The detective and his guardian almost gasped when Steele's permanent frown nudged slightly upward. "It's been a long, long time since I've seen the Princess in a state of shock or surprise. Made my night."

Locks pulled ahead of the group. "I didn't have to see it," his eyes flared.

As he pulled away, heading towards the Agency's office, Amy couldn't help but lag behind with her boss. Her whistle tweeted into the night in short bursts.

"You mean to tell me that he never told you before?" Steele remarked at her tone. "I'd think he'd have shared it with the two of you at some point."

Amethyst whistled a response.

"I doubt Trace knows if you didn't. I didn't make a mistake back there with what I said."

She blew another note into the sky.

"Well, now you know. He has amaurosis.

Amy's wings flared to life, preparing to catch up to her precious friend. She blew one final note at her boss.

"Blind, Amethyst. Domino Locks is blind."

=====

SEVERAL DAYS LATER

The putrid hiss hovered about along the thin, unkempt tracks that spiraled throughout the Everfree Forest. Numerous trees that lined along the weak path reached upward into the sky, sloping back down into the forest. Sunlight barely made it through the thick swarms of greedy trees and their branches, covering the pathway ahead in a spectacle of bright spotted blots on the pathway.

Zecora, a unique creature amidst the triad of ponies trailing behind her, watched the roads for any danger that could be looming. She dusted her worn, brown coat of the dried up leaves that had rained down on them over the past night.

Fluttershy and Scarlet were wedged behind their zebra friend, with Jessica bringing up the rear. The yellow mare carried with her a very modest travel pack, including a small tent and several bags of snacks, including a variety of nuts, fruits, and vegetables. She showed no signs of struggling with her equipment, though, Scarlet noticed, she still trembled between every other step.

'She's not the bravest of the Elements,' Scarlet couldn't help but think as she stepped over some loose tree roots that lay stretched across the ground. The roots almost seemed to pulse with a malicious energy as they traveled along the paths. 'Though in all fairness, I can't say that I'm doing any better,' she shuddered at the stillness of the air around them. The wind refused to blow on this quiet day, the third in their mostly uneventful journey. Scarlet couldn't help but pick at her outfit again, still not entirely comfortable with her new attire for Everfree.

Three long days had passed since the beginning of their trek. The first day was entirely dead of activity from the forest. Zecora, with her fascinating vernacular, explained that they were on the very edge of the forest, so it was to be expected. On the second day, Scarlet had been inches away from being turned into soulless granite by a nearby cockatrice before Fluttershy managed to tame the foul creature.

Jessica had spent the entire morning reminded the group, Scarlet in particular, of the experience.

"I hadn't seen you so stiff since your first days at the Agency, lovely." Jessica hummed, turning her head every few minutes to ensure that they were safe. "It's been so long," she peered at the rest of the group, having the perfect vantage point to see the group's collective backsides, "And you've become such a lovely young lady since then."

Scarlet tightened her tie around her collar, as if doing so kept a Jessica-free barrier around her body. "W-well, I didn't expect it to just kinda charge out of the bush like it did." She looked at her hooves, "I still feel a little numb from the legs because of it."

"Umm, excuse me," Fluttershy added, "It's a side effect that comes from being turned into stone. I've experienced it once too. It'll be gone soon."

"I don't doubt it," Scarlet felt relieved at her reassurance. "Really puts into perspective how wild it is out here. Everything is just so..."

"Untamed?" Jessica helped her out. "Wonderful, isn't it? Everything goes wild and does as they please. It's the ultimate form of freedom."

"I'd expect someone like you to love this kind of atmosphere Jess," Scarlet huffed. "I just want to move along. The sooner we get to this Gemini and out, the better."

Zecora called out from the front of the group, having pulled a bit ahead. "We'll need to find shelter very soon, unless you wish to travel with the moon."

"Too dangerous at night," Jessica immediately responded on behalf of the three ponies lagging behind. "Scarlet was almost made into a mare-sized statue because we decided to move at night. It's probably best if we just relax once the sun has gone."

"Sounds good," Scarlet picked up the pace to close the gap with the zebra, "the sun's not gonna be up for much longer. Let's clear as much as we can before then."

Scarlet took a moment to tug at the string wrapped around her neck, feeling beads of sweat run down the back of her neck amidst the thick, humid atmosphere of the forest. The fedora hanging from the thread bobbed about as she did her best to loosen the grip Jessica’s invention had on the base of her throat.

“We are going to have to find a place to rest soon,” Scarlet reminded the group while straightening her tie. “I’m starting to feel some very unwelcoming vibes coming from beyond the walkways here.”

Jessica floated above the group, but still below the tree tops, scoping out the rest of the path ahead. “The road’s condition is getting worse. I doubt very many ponies make it out this far. Zecora, does the road eventually disappear further down?”

“The words you’ve spoken are no doubt wise,” Zecora turned around, “the road ahead does indeed shrink in size.”

"And you know where the Plains are, despite that?"

"Here in Everfree, I've lived most of my years. Is that enough to silence your fears?"

"It's less of a fear and more of my curiosity," Jessica whipped her hair around. "Besides, I don't mind getting lost with my sweet little Scarley here."

Scarlet winced at the coy tone of her guardian. "Jessica, p-please. Just focus on the road and the forest ahead. I...I don't want to be stuck in here any longer than I have to."

"Oh come on, Scarley," Jessica whined, warping over to the detective's side. She hovered next to her ear, "I just love spending time with you. Besides," she did a quick spin, continuing her sentence upside down, "rape isn't illegal out here in Everfree."

"J-Jessica!" Scarley nearly shouted at the unicorn. At the sound of her voice, Jess warped to the back of the line. The outcry startled Fluttershy, who scurried over towards Zecora, who simply looked back at the group with a shake of her head. Scarlet looked over to the nervous pegasus.

"Sorry Fluttershy. I didn't mean to do that," she apologized.

"Fluttershy slowly inched back to her spot in their little troupe. "I-it's okay Scarlet. Just...not so loud next time?"

"You got it." Her jade green eyes met with the trio of butterflies covering Fluttershy's bright yellow flanks. "I read that you were really talented with animals," she did her best to change the subject. "What is it that you actually do with them?"

Fluttershy looked at her marking. Her wings loosened up their grip on the sides of her body. "O-oh. Well...I take care of them. Feed them, help them with their houses, and I help them if they're hurt or scared."

"That's pretty cool," Scarlet commented. "What kind of animals? They put you here with us, so I imagine you've tamed some of the bigger creatures out here."

Fluttershy looked away, blushing at Scarlet's praise. "I-I've helped a bear or two..."

"She's also calmed down a manticore and Cerberus," Jessica bobbed her head back and forth, skipping at the back of the path.

"A...a manticore? Cerberus?" Scarlet looked at the petite pony in front of her.

"And the spirit of chaos himself, don't forget that," a voice slithered by Fluttershy's mane. Jessica had made her way through the pair and up in Fluttershy's personal bubble, startling her back towards Scarlet. With a giggle, she returned once more to the back of the line.

"That was you?" Scarlet's eyes widened. "I heard that somepony managed to rehabilitate Discord, but...but that was you?"

Fluttershy remained silent.

'What incredible influence,' Scarlet stared at the flowing pink maned pony in front of her. 'The Elements...at first I was suspicious, but after seeing what Twilight can do...and Pinkie Pie...and now Fluttershy?'

Scarlet looked back at Fluttershy's cutie mark. 'She's good with animals.' To juxtapose, she looked back at her now exposed cutie mark. The magnifying glass remained on her flank, melting into the dull, gray coat that covered her body. She sighed, giving a quick cough before continuing. "How did you come about to discover your abilities? I'm sure it didn't just happen overnight, right?"

"Umm, actually..."

Fluttershy told her story to the group, including Rainbow Dash's Sonic Rainboom, and how it influenced her entire group of friends and their cutie mark discoveries. Scarlet was hooked on every word of her story, mostly in disbelief for how dynamic her group of friends were quickly turning out to be.

As Fluttershy concluded her quick little story, Scarlet couldn't help but push onward, "So that's it? You just fell from Cloudsdale, made your home here in Ponyville, and started your little cottage?"

"W-well...yes. That's how I remember it."

"And your parents were totally okay about you moving away so soon?"

Fluttershy gave Scarlet a bashful smile. "W-well, I sent them a letter as soon as I could. They were very understanding about the whole situation."

Scarlet looked to her cutie mark. "When I was a filly, I actually considered moving out at some point or another. I ended up staying with my parents well into my young mare-hood."

"That's interesting. A-any reason for that?" Fluttershy asked.

"Well, I...was kinda born with my mark. I knew what I needed to do, so there really wasn't a reason for me to move out." Scarlet's speech trembled with uncertainty, "I didn't think I needed to go anywhere since I knew where I belonged."

Scarlet looked over to Zecora's spiral marking. "What about hers?" Scarlet pointed Fluttershy to Zecora.

"O-oh," Fluttershy started, "Zebras don't function the same. That's not really a cutie mark. It's just a pattern. Cutie marks are completely different. Twilight always says that getting your cutie mark is through exploring and discovering who you are." Fluttershy looked back at the butterflies, "After I fell from the sky and helped those animals calm down after the Sonic Rainboom, I was absolutely certain that it was what I was meant to do."

"Yeah," Scarlet agreed with a shudder. "I-is it getting colder for you guys?"

Fluttershy shook her head.

"Then it's just me again," Scarlet lowered her head. 'Experiencing new things. Exploring who you are.' She looked through the tree tops at the small beams of faded sunlight. 'All of those books and reports at home. All of the studying and examinations I did for the Agency. Can I really call those experiences and exploration of myself? Does it apply to somepony,' her magnifying glass seemed to fade, 'like me?'

Scarlet suddenly felt another chill. The wind within Everfree Forest had picked up since the discussion began. Zecora came to a complete halt, almost in unison with Jessica in the rear. Fluttershy and Scarlet paused a second later, confused at the concentration in both the zebra and the unicorn. The two were oddly quiet, their eyes flittering around, hunting for a peculiar sound that was just out of earshot.

"Jess, what's-"

"Shhh!" Jessica quickly interrupted. Her horn sparked, causing their packed items to fall to the ground with a thud. Her orange magic quickly spread throughout the area in circular waves, starting at the unicorn herself. Her eyes pulsed brighter with each wave of spells that came from her body.

"Zecora, you got it too?" Jessica's eyes suddenly sharpened. Scarlet's body froze at the sight, knowing that there were only a few rare occasions were those soulless daggers would expose themselves to the world.

"Zecora, is it..." Fluttershy whimpered, her body caving in on itself.

"At first I thought it was but a hunch," Zecora's voice deepened. "I sense it too Scrawl: They've come in a bunch."

"I don't understand," Scarlet moved closer to Fluttershy. She looked over at the woods. Several bushes were rustling about with quick movements, fleeing from Scarlet's eye. Shadows could be seen scurrying about behind the trees. A peculiar, rancid smell started emanating from beyond the road.

"It's far too late to run back," Zecora's focus sharpened. "We must find a way to outrun the pack."

"Pack?" Scarlet shook. "T-Timberwolves?"

"A dozen, give or take," Jessica muttered in response. "They normally don't travel in groups larger than three or four, but that's also from reports near the edge of the forest." She drew herself closer to Scarlet, turning around to get a better view of the back of the group. "Besides, it'd take a bit more than three of them to turn the four of us into shreds of equine bacon."

A small growl could be heard from beyond the forest. "S-so what do we do?" Scarlet told Jessica.

"There's about twelve of them. If we keep trying to run as a group, they'll just surround us. We'll be dinner before the moon comes up." Jessica's eyes continued to scan beyond, her horn pulsing waves around them.

"What else can you see, my little pony?"

"There's twelve, but they're not exactly surrounding us just yet," Jessica examined the forest. Her horn sparked with a magic discharge that forced the bushes around them to rustle up. "They're afraid of my magic, but there's too many of them not to attack. Four of them are still a ways behind us, so the ring that's around us is too spread out. There are little holes where we can make a break for it."

"M-make a break? We're going to run? Through them?" Fluttershy cried.

"You'd rather be a nice steak, Fluttershutter?"

"N-no. And m-my name is Fluttershy."

"Shh," Jessica quieted the frail pegasus. "I have a lot of magic left, but it's risky to burn it all on camo for the four of us."

"How come?" Scarlet asked.

"The ease of the spell is based on the disposition of the pony. I don't know Zecora or Fluttershy's well enough to keep them shrouded more longer than two seconds, and that's just a rough estimate."

"W-wait. You left me out. How do you know m-"

"Will that buy us enough time?" Fluttershy asked.

"If we split into two groups and run in separate directions after we vanish, we have a pretty good chance of making it. Zecora, do you have a map?"

Zecora pulled out a map of the Everfree Forest from her packed goods and tossed it to Jessica, who quickly made it disappear. "Good. Scarlet and I," she took the time to lick her lips, "will head over to the North. Zecora, I trust that you know the forest like the back of your hand. You take Fluttershy and hide as well. We'll meet up in the morning a few miles from the edge of the Plains. Got it?"

"B-but how will we make it past the circle around us now?"

Scarlet heard the steps of several creatures coming from behind the group.

"No time. The other four are almost caught up. I'll scare them with a pop from my horn and shroud the four of us. I can't concentrate on it like that with all of the extra weight, so as soon as that pop comes out, you two run like hell."

Zecora and Fluttershy nodded, the latter pony shaking in her hooves.

Jessica's horn started whirling together magic from the surrounding area. The four of them were coated with her orange shaded aura, their coats glistening with power.

"You scared, Scarlet?" Jessica asked.

"It's my first time out in the field like this," Scarlet trembled. "I've already been stoned, and I'm just one clumsy move away from being eaten alive."

"I know. Isn't it great?" Jessica smiled. "Besides, after this, if the wolves don't get you, I will."

"Seriously?! Right now?!" Scarlet hissed at her.

Jessica moaned. "By the way, between you and me, I put a little extra something on these coatings."

Scarlet froze.

"I can taste you."

A loud boom exploded into the area, reaching all around Everfree Forest. Vultures, crows, and other quiet birds scattered like insane mosquitoes into the air, colliding with each other and covering the sky in darkness. Scarlet's ears made out howls of timberwolves in the distance, followed by hurried hoof steps in front of them.

Jessica's horn fired magic once more. Fluttershy and Zecora's figures immediately vanished from view. Scarlet looked down at her own body, which immediately vaporized around her.

"GO SCARLET!"

She turned to her right and found Jessica darting into the shrubs. The howls of the timberwolves continued, followed by the pack's rushing steps towards them. She immediately followed the direction Jessica ran off to.

"Keep going!" Jessica's voice suddenly boomed from behind her. "Just run and follow my directions!"

Scarlet's mind went numb as she exerted her legs, pushing herself through the brambles and sharp branches of the trees that she brushed up against. She felt stings of pain whip against her back and sides as the thorns from bushes dug into her, with only the sound of her own hoof steps beating against the moist ground below.

She jumped over the roots of a tree the fell over from the side, hearing the sound of several timberwolves surrounding her. She gritted her teeth and picked up her speed, turning sharply in a vain attempt to steer the wolves away. Unable to stop, she rammed up against the side of a tree, falling to the ground with a painful thud. She groaned loudly before picking herself up with the momentum of her fall, spitting on the cursed ground before continuing her run.

Another thick branch approached, too low to duck underneath. Scarlet held her breath as she leaped over the branch. She made it clear over, stumbling about for a quick moment as she regained her balance on her terrible landing, realizing that had she brought her coat, that jump would've been impossible.

Suddenly she felt a presence to her left. She quickly turned, letting her forelock fall to the back of her head as she caught sight of one of her predators. Its eyes were glowing with a terrifying, sickly yellow-green, and sharp wooden teeth oozing with a thick, dark stew of saliva. Its wooden body was unnaturally fast, its jerky movements chilling to Scarlet's eyes. It started to outdo her, catching up and coming within biting distance of the detective's mid-section.

Scarlet closed her eyes and waited for the bite, hearing the blood-hungry growls of the timberwolf. Just as it was about to sink its teeth into her, she felt an extreme source of heat hurdle over her back. The sound of a blazing inferno swept around her body before fizzling out, forcing a cough from her mouth as the smoke choked her. She turned while running and saw the timberwolf knocked down on the marshy dirt, burning alive as it howled in agony.

"Don't look back, keep going!" She heard the familiar voice of Jessica. "A-ah shit!"

Scarlet couldn't help but turn towards the source of the voice. Jessica's body was completely visible now, as well as her own. Three wolves were chasing the black unicorn down, finding her more appealing after dealing a fatal blow to one of their own.

"Scarlet, keep running straight! Don't stop!"

Right as she said this, Scarlet heard her scream in frustration. She made one final glance back at the unicorn covering her.

A timberwolf lunged in from the trees surrounding them, tackling Jessica to the ground. A three that had been chasing her suddenly pounced all at once on the pony, covering her body all around.

Scarlet wanted to scream, but nothing left her open mouth. She quickly turned forward and continued to run, tears building in her eyes at the sight of her bodyguard being overwhelmed by the pack.

The exhausted detective continued to flee with her joints burning, screaming at her mind to give them the rest they needed. She ran for minutes on end, hearing nothing but the sound of her hoofsteps for the entire duration. She found a small spot nearby, and without hearing much else around her, finally decided to slow down and rest.

Ever since Jessica's loud bang, the forest had been dead silent, the ambiance keeping Scarlet wary of her surroundings. Catching her breath was a chore to do in silence, for fear of the timberwolves being nearby to rip her apart like they did to her friend.

"Jess..." Scarlet sniffed. She fell to the floor in a heap, recalling the horde that was probably tearing her gizzards apart by now. She angrily stamped on the ground. "I could've done something...why did you just tell me to run...?" She looked up at the sky. The trees were more forgiving about blocking out the moon from where she sat. She struggled to steady her breathing and cries. "Sh-she's the Agency's scribe. S-Steele's right hand pony. She can't be dead...r-right?" She wiped her tears. "B-but then...wouldn't she have found me right now?"

At those words, Scarlet's ears flopped and her heart sank. "Look at me, waiting for someone to scoop me up and carry me the rest of the way. Some detective I am." A shrill, heartless breeze blew by, blowing her tie around her neck. A quick bout of coughs surfaced from the bottom of her throat, forcing her to cover her mouth to prevent herself from being found out. "I don't know where I am. If she's gone...how do I get out of here?"

From the edge of the thicker end of the forest, a shrub rattled. Scarlet immediately jumped to her feet and looked back at the source of the sound. The bush trembled for a moment longer, then stopped. Scarlet could feel the presence of another body nearby, her hair standing on end. Scarlet fixed her hat on the back of her head, and tightened her tie. Clearing her throat, she inched a step closer to the forest.

"J-Jessica? Is that you?" She asked. "P-please, I don't want to mess around right now."

Nothing but the silence of the forest responded. Scarlet stopped in place, her eyes fixated on the bush that shook. Her ears twitched, looking for any other sound. Uneasy, she took a step backward, snapping a loose twig underneath her hoof.

A growl replied, followed by a rancid smell that immediately froze her out of fear.

"...No."

A timberwolf jumped from the bush, its eyes linked directly towards her own. He tackled her to the ground, the two rolling in the dirt as the creature fought for control. It came relatively easy as he pinned her against the ground with his surprising strength. Scarlet threw her hooves at his face, one landing clean against the side of its muzzle, sending his lower jaw flying clean off of his head.

Scarlet screamed at the sight. She watched helplessly as the jaw shot back to the timberwolf, reattaching itself. He growled at her, anger burning behind the empty sockets of its eyes. Its head shot towards Scarlet's shoulder. She quickly pushed upwards to try to pry him off, but it only prolonged his bite. He snapped down on the air right above her shoulder, opening and closing its mouth several times to try and snag a piece of her delicious flesh.

The desperate pony grunted with all of her might to pull him away, but with another push upon her exhausted body and he broke through her hooves. His teeth chomped straight down onto Scarlet's shoulder, sinking into her with grisly ease.

Her shrill scream pierced into the night like a sharp knife. She could only watch as the timberwolf bit deeper into her, trying to rip her shoulder from her body. Her blood squirted from her arm and onto her neck and face. A burning from the monster's disgusting saliva only enhanced the pitch of her howls.

The pain rattled her mind. Almost overloaded to the extent of passing out, she felt her vision fading.

For that brief moment, she thought of her mother back in Canterlot, and of Locks and Amethyst, unable to bear the thought of their reactions to what'd happened to her. Her tears, still moist in her eyes, started to flow down the side of her face as she accepted her fate.

The timberwolf suddenly released her shoulder, lifting his head at a sudden light source several feet away. Scarlet's blurry vision did what it could to focus through the pain of her shoulder. Suddenly, another blast of heat came from the light source, hurdling towards the foul creature. The timberwolf jumped away from Scarlet's body, barely avoiding the flames that singed his wooden coat. He growled at the menace who denied him his first real meal in days.

"If anypony is going to be inside Scarlet, it's going to be me!" That smooth voice called out to the beast. Scarlet, the adrenaline kicking in, lifted herself onto her good shoulder to turn towards the source.

Jessica stood tall and mighty, with not even a single scratch on her body. Her eyes were terrifyingly cold at the sight, her intimidating, icy stare pushing the timberwolf back against the forest it had come from.

"Bite her again, and I promise that my next spell won't miss," she growled back.

"J-Jessica," Scarlet ignored the tears blinding her eyes. "You're alive."

"Pssh," she felt insulted as she turned to the injured pony with a soft grin. "I've had more timberwolves inside me than that. You think I don't know how to handle them?"

Scarlet ignored the comment, picking herself up. The sharp pain in her shoulder stabbed at her mind.

"Don't push yourself. The timberwolf's bite is poisonous. The more you struggle, the faster it'll move through you."

Jessica whipped her horn around, letting her spell surround Scarlet's wound. "I can take the poison out no problem, but we'll need to handle this little bastard before I can help with the rest, okay?"

The burning sensation from her shoulder suddenly vanished. Scarlet felt a soothing numbness to her bite. "Thank you, Jessica."

"No problem, lovely," she winked at her. "I expect delicious payment for it."

The timberwolf failed to retreat, eager to feast on the weaker pony. It growled with vigor at Jessica.

"One more chance, wolfy. Leave before you get hurt," she warned. "Unless you want to end up like your pack."

With reckless abandon, the wolf charged blindly at Jessica. It jumped towards her with its mouth open, snapping down on the empty air her body once occupied. Scarlet and the wolf looked around, confused by her sudden disappearance.

"Over here," she slithered. Jessica was standing on one of the thicker branches from the top of a nearby tree. The wolf growled at her again. "Oh, growl this and bark that. If you spent as much time actually fighting and hunting, your pack would probably have been competent hunters." She warped back to the ground with a flash of magic. "Then again, comparing your abilities to mine; it's just not fair."

It lunged at her once again. She yawned as it drew near, spinning elegantly out of the way as it crashed into another nearby tree trunk. It picked itself up, shaking it's head free of the excess leaves it picked up from the ground. It made for another leap, its teeth coated with its toxic drool.

Jessica crouched low to the ground, her horn flaring to life. On command, a fiery stream burned at the air around them, tearing straight up at the airborne predator. It struck cleanly with the tail end of the creature, causing him to flounder in the air and land sharply on the ground, knocking a limb straight off of its body.

The timberwolf cried as its tail completely burned up. It looked helplessly at Jessica as her horn crackled with her magical energy.

"It ain't comin' back either, sweet heart," Jessica teased. "Be grateful I didn't burn your other tail off. Now scram!"

"W-what?!" Scarlet couldn't believe her guardian. "B-but Jessica, it almost-"

"Shut up, Trace," Jessica commanded without turning back. "Shoo now," she waved with a hoof.

The timberwolf, defeated, gathered it's missing leg and reattached it. It gave a whine before scurrying off to the rest of its pack beyond the thicket. Jessica's magic vanished, and she turned back to Scarlet to tend to her wounds.

Jessica sat down next to the bite, her horn gathering magic gently together. "Yeah, I can fix this no problem. It's not as deep as it looks."

Scarlet didn't respond to her comment.

"Just stay still, I can get it done faster that way. We need you to be ready to go in the morning, after all."

Scarlet looked away during the entire process, which surprisingly didn't take much longer than an hour to complete. Jessica stood above her, sighing in relief as she forced her horn to life once more. In a flash, the map, and all of their belongings, appeared. The tent rolled itself out and immediately set itself up.

"Try standing, Scarlet," Jessica said. "Don't push yourself. I'll get our trail mix and water too. You'll need it to get your strength back.

Scarlet took in a breath and put some of her weight on her wounded shoulder. She winced when she felt a slight sting, but was surprised when that was the only sensation she felt, considering what she had just gone through.

"Better?" Jessica presented Scarlet with her canteen and snacks.

Scarlet washed her face and gulped down some water from her container. "It still hurts a bit, but I'm fine."

"Well of course. I can't magically erase pain. I'm not a god, silly," Jessica took a swig of her own. "But I wouldn't be bothered if you started treating me like one. For example, giving me your virgins."

"Jessica," Scarlet muttered.

The imp turned back around to her precious cargo. "What is it Scarlet?" Her tone suddenly shifted. "You've been giving me this ugly look all night. It doesn't suit you."

"You let it go," Scarlet said. "That thing almost killed me."

"Yeah, but it didn't."

"But it might be back," she stood up.

"It won't. Just like the rest of the pack," Jess whipped her mane confidently.

"Y-you didn't-"

"Didn't what?"

"I...I SAW you torch one of those things while I ran."

"Well yeah, I did, but I killed the flames before they could finish it off," Jessica explained.

"You...you saved the pack of wolves that almost killed me? And who knows if they got Zecora and Fluttershy...!"

"They're fine," Jessica piped Scarlet down. Timberwolves are attracted to the weak and magical. Fluttershy has little magic, and as it turns out, they're intimidated by Zecora. So guess who they hunted down harder?"

"...Are you serious?"

"Absolutely. That coating also had a tracker on it," Jessica prided herself. "I can sense the two of them. They're fine. Just hiding out in the trees on the other side of the forest."

"...I don't," Scarlet was speechless and frustrated at her companion.

"What," Jessica turned. "Oh no. No. Scarlet," she wrinkled her face, "Don't be another one of those shitheads back in Canterlot."

"...W-what?"

"I got it now," Jessica's eyes narrowed on her companion. Not once in her time at the Agency had she ever glared at Scarlet. "You wanted me to kill them, didn't you?"

Jessica continued without giving Scarlet a chance to speak. "I know exactly what you're fucking thinking right now. Kill it before it kills you, right? Kill it before it has the chance to hurt somepony else? That's what's running through that shitty head of yours right now, isn't it?"

"I-it's not like that-"

"Bullshit it's not," Jessica turned towards the forest. "Are you sure that you're Scarlet? Did I rescue the wrong pony here? Not once for a single damn second did I think that you'd be the kind of pony to think like that."

"J-Jessica...what's wrong with you," Scarlet fought her way in. "Why are you so pissed off?"

Jessica tried to calm down. "Look Scarlet. What those wolves did...we can't just kill them for doing it! They're just trying to survive in the forest! They're acting completely natural out here!"

"But we have to protect ourselves. Isn't killing them to reach that means natural too?"

"No Scarlet. It's not the same," Jessica hissed. "We can protect ourselves from them without having to go to such lengths. To kill because you're hungry, or to kill because of a dispute between pack leaders. Even killing as a means of controlling land. That's natural to this forest! That's what makes it 'free!' If you kill anything in this forest for any means outside of something like food or shelter, then no, it's not natural!"

Scarlet could only look on at Jessica. "I-I'm sorry Jessica. I didn't mean to-"

"Shut up. It's fine," Jessica huffed. She lowered her voice, "Even if it was natural, I don't think I could do it."

"...To kill them?"

Jessica nodded her head. "I always brag about what I can and can't do. It's my thing. I'm a mare of many talents after all," she said. "Killing is something I'll never be able to do so willingly." She turned back to Scarlet, her eyes gentle and soothing. "I live for magic, Scarlet. The magic that lies dormant in all creatures big and small. For the magic that gives us such strength. I love magic."

Scarlet almost made out the face of compassion on the unicorn.

"All flora and fauna follow the same rules as ponies do, Scarlet. When they die, their magic is relinquished into the atmosphere. However," she looked at the singed remains of the timberwolf's tail on the ground nearby, "Unlike ponies, other creatures can't recycle their magic. When they die, their magic is lost forever, broken down with their bodies and turned into mulch. Nothing special. Just...fertilizer fodder.

"Do you understand, Scarlet? I can't kill them because if I do, I'm destroying the one thing I love most about this world."

"Jessica," Scarlet started. "I'm sorry. I mean it."

"It's fine," Jessica wiped her face. "I can't kill, and I won't. I've already made that stupid mistake once before."

"Mistake?"

"Remember Amy's case?"

Scarlet's spirits sank. "I-I do."

"It was my fault that the troop stormed the house so early. I thought I could stop the incantation before it was completed. My call ended up in Lily losing both of her parents, and her ability to speak. It's my fault they died." She looked away, "the fact that Amy is so forgiving despite it all is what drove me nuts for so long. I wouldn't blame her if she did something to me, even if I don't agree with that kind of style. And then I didn't even recognize her when she was working right under my face for so long. It pisses me off."

"Jess. Stop," Scarlet looked at her. "I've heard enough. I don't need to hear any more."

Jessica took in a deep breath. "I agree. I'm just bantering on at this point. Besides, I don't like this gloomy feeling." She looked back at Scarlet's injury. "Let's just move on. Think you can walk into the tent?"

Scarlet rotated her shoulder, wincing at the discomfort the pain caused. "It's still a bit rough, but yeah."

"Then let's go. It's getting colder out."

Scarlet made her way to the tent. "Thank you Jess. Really."

"It's my job, dummy." Jessica teased her. She stopped laughing when she felt Scarlet's good arm wrap around her neck and bring her in for a hug.

"I really thought I was going to die for a minute. I wasn't thinking straight. I guess I was just...scared," Scarlet apologized again.

"Scarley," Jessica paused. She wrapped a hoof around her friend and hugged her back. "It's okay. Sometimes, ponies will do the stupidest things when they're afraid."

"H-hey!"

"Also, this hug better be step one of your appreciation. I expect something delicious to come from this."

Scarlet immediately retracted her arm. "You bounce back fast."

"Just the way I am, love."

"I guess I'll also ignore the fact that you totally broke Equestrian Law too. Pyrokinetic spells are outlawed, you know," Scarlet teased her back.

"True," Jessica hummed. "But above the fact that I'm above the law, you gotta remember that we're in Everfree. There are no rules here." They both entered the tent together.

"That means that no means yes, and yes means yes," Jessica gave Scarlet a quick lick on the cheek. "Silence means yes too."

"S-sleep on the other side of the tent, or I'll kill you."

=====

The night had come quickly, and Scarlet did her best to sleep through the aching in her joints and the reoccurring sting of her shoulder. She grunted as she leaned inward in her sleeping bag, staring blankly at the tent wall in front of her.

She shuffled inside of her bag, feeling an odd sensation crawling up her back. She curled into herself, trying her best to ignore it. The feeling intensified, feeling a hoof crawl over her leg and gently wrap around her midsection. A pony's muzzle snuggled itself between her injured shoulder and neck.

"Wh-aaah! J-Jessica!" Scarlet tightened her body, "What are you doing!?"

"Shhh," Jessica whispered. "Not so loud. You'll attract unwanted attention. How's your wound treating you?"

Scarlet shuddered upon feeling Jess' breath crawling up her neck. She felt the wetness of Jessica's tongue lap up the injured spot on her shoulder. "E-Everything's just fine. Still hurts, of course," she muttered helplessly. "Can...can you please get out of my bag? I'm trying to sleep."

She felt Jessica's limbs tangle up against her own. The black coated mare spooned against Scarlet's back. "But it's so cold in my corner of the tent," she frowned. "The entire time I lay down in my nest, I couldn't help but think of your poor little body, shaking with cold underneath the sheets."

"I-I'm taller than you are," Scarlet whined before letting out a slight cough.

"And with that terrible cough of yours," she cuddled closer. "It's my duty to make sure you're safe and cozy out here, remember?" Jess' muzzle nuzzled the base of Scarlet's neck, wrapping her fore hooves around her belly like a belt. "I'm doing a favor here."

"But Jess," Scarlet's face was turning bright red, "This is too much."

An orange tail flapped against Scarlet's hindquarters. "Relax. I'm not gonna do anything sneaky. Unless of course you want me to."

"O-of course not-" A rogue cough cut her off.

"Listen," Jessica stroked her bright red mane, "There's another reason I'm here right now. I wanna talk about something important. The Princess sent us out here to the 'Plains of Woe.' Did she say anything else about this place to you?"

Scarlet shook her head. "Nothing that you don't already know I'd imagine. How come?"

"I'm just curious about it, love. I've been all over the world, you know."

"Yeah, you brag about it all the time at the office," Scarlet murmured.

"Oh, so you DO pay attention to me," Jessica squealed, nuzzling into her neck, being mindful of her cut. "I've been everywhere, and it strikes my fancy, these plains."

"I get it," Scarlet tried to shuffle away from her. "You've never been there before?"

"Not until now. I'm not sure what to expect, myself. I've only heard stories."

Scarlet let out a rough cough. "A-and is that a problem?"

Jessica continued to pet Scarlet, her horn glowing amidst the darkness. She touched her horn to Scarlet's neck, the itch buried at the base disappeared. "It is to me. I don't like knowing that there's some place that I don't know about."

Scarlet rubbed a hoof along her neck. "Thanks Jess."

"You see," she rubbed herself against Scarlet, "I may be a bit naughty, but I know how to moderate myself, Scarley."

"I...I have a hard time believing that, Jess."

The orange mane mare blew into Scarlet's ear.

"E-eep!" Scarlet shivered. "L-like that!"

The smaller pony couldn't help but laugh. "You're my favorite. Did you know that?"

"What an honor," Scarlet puffed.

Some time passed. Jessica stopped petting her toy and lay there, content to just snuggle her all night.

"...Jess," Scarlet called out.

"Yes sweety? Finally decided to have some fun?"

"N-no!" Scarlet covered her mouth. "No Jess. Never."

"Then what else could you want? You've already got me all over you. Colts and mares all around Equestria would be drowning in envy about now."

"C-cut it out," Scarlet frowned.

Jessica chuckled. "Whaddya want Scarley?"

"Y-you said that you've seen the world?"

"That's right," she sung.

"H-how is it? Out there?"

"Well now," Jessica loosened her grip. "That's a broad question, love. There are so many," she rubbed against Scarlet's body, "experiences I can talk about."

"Not those experiences..."

"I'm having too much fun," Jessica chuckled. "It's nice out there. Very nice."

"Are there...are there ponies beyond Equestria?"

"Why, of course there are," she answered. "Ponies came from far away to found this land anyways."

"How far?" Scarlet's ears perked.

"Where the Windigos roam free. Up North."

Just the mention caused Scarlet to shiver all over again. "Windigos..."

"Mm-hmm. Several tribes still live out there too. The discrimination they have...that senseless hatred they have for their fellow ponies is just disgusting."

"I-I've read the works. The windigos feed off of hate, right?"

"Yup." Jessica took a deep breath. "There are plenty of kingdoms out there besides ours. Griffons and Dragons, for example. They all have their own way of life. It's pretty fascinating if you ever go and visit, though to be honest, they aren't entirely welcoming to ponies."

"Is it that much different to us?"

"...I'll put it this way, love: They can't use magic like we can. They...well," Jessica cuddled her harder in the middle of her speech, "Ah, I've got it. They adapt to nature, rather than forcing nature to adapt to them."

"You mean...like Everfree?"

"Sort of. More like Zecora." The not-so-wicked mare gave a calming sigh. "I like it. It feels natural. Safe."

"And you said they can't use magic like we can."

"It's a shame. Being able to use magic...it's like the ultimate freedom," Jessica swooned.

"...What about creatures that feed off of magic?"

"What kind of creatures are you talking about, love?"

"You know the kind," Scarlet started, "Changelings feed off of love. That's kinda the same thing, right? And then there are the creatures of the underworld, like Windigos who eat hatred and...and succubi too, right?"

Jessica fidgeted. "Okay Scarley, several things here. One: You're right. Those creatures do feed off of the magic that's attached to those emotions. Windigos feed off of hate and Changelings off of love, but one thing you need to understand is Two: Windigos and Changelings use that magic they feed off of to help their colonies. Changelings do it to feed their young. Windigos do it to create a climate they can survive in."

"A-and succubi?" Scarlet wondered.

"Succubi," Jessica nearly spat venom at saying the name. "They don't use it. They eat it. They just....eat it."

"Isn't that what the Changelings do?"

"Not at all. Changelings use it to feed the young and to keep the pack alive, remember? They don't overdo it because that could actually hurt the colony's chances of survival. They're just as caring as ponies are, you know.

"Succubi though. They're monsters. They eat, and eat, and eat the magic they harness from the lust and passion of the ponies they target. They don't stop. They just devour it all until nothing is left but a hollow husk of a colt or mare. They're greedy parasites that just absorb all of the magic they can handle, regardless and careless of the world they live in. And all for what? To satisfy their own personal desires."

"J-Jessica," Scarlet whispered. "C-can you calm down a bit?"

"The magic they consume disappears, just as it does when a creature dies. The magic used by Changelings and Windigos is used for a common good. Succubi...nothing good comes from them. Nothing. They're trash."

"B-but I've read the studies. They do it in hopes of finding a mate, since succubi look so much like ponies. It's impossible to distinguish the two without the disguises they wear. If history serves me well, then it doesn't help that ponies detest succubi for their own reasons."

"You haven't seen them like I have, Scarlet. If they truly were seeking out their mate in such a way, then they wouldn't leave their victims in such an irreparable state."

Scarlet swallowed roughly. "Irreparable?"

"Imagine a pony being unable to feel passion ever again."

Scarlet couldn't speak.

"Succubi are the one species of creature I despise. Selfish, magic wasting, emotion sucking, love leeching vermin."

"...Jessica?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you okay," Scarlet almost turned around.

"Of course I am."

Scarlet turned back to the tent wall. "You've...well, it's just that you've been holding me a bit tighter for the last few minutes."

A moment of silence passed. "So I have," she said.

Scarlet budged. "C-can you ease up a bit. I know that you," she cleared her throat, "like doing this kind of thing, but even you've gotta have a limit.

Jessica, for once, actually followed the request all the way through, loosening her grip. "Sorry."

'Is that a first?' "N-no Jessica, it's...well...I'll be honest. It's not fine. It's very uncomfortable to...to be like this with you."

"Scarlet. I want to ask you something."

"O...kay," Scarlet raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Shut up for two minutes. Please?"

Scarlet tilted her head back towards Jessica.

"Just like that," Jessica said. She moved up Scarlet's body, resting her ear against Scarlet's. She stayed silent for a minute or two. Scarlet couldn't help but shudder at the touch.

Jessica's ear twitched in unison with the detective's. "Not a word. Just stay still." Her eyes drooped with exhaustion. "Okay, I'm done."

"What...were you doing, if I can ask?" Scarlet tilted her head.

"Nothing important," Jessica sunk her head back in its spot next to Scarlet's shoulder. "I was just checking to see how you're body was holding up.

"I'm fine. You could've just asked."

"Yeah, but you're too nice," Jessica scoffed. "Your body says more than your mouth does." She held Scarlet's hoof in her own, "Speaking of which-"

"No."

"Aww," Jessica teased. "It's silly. The whole time I've been in this bag, and I forgot why I had initially come inside."

"Huh?"

"Hey Scarley, I'll be honest with you," Jessica stated. "You mind if I stay like this for tonight? It's cold over there, and I'm sure you don't mind the warmth."

Scarlet couldn't deny that having her would make it easier to fall asleep amidst the coldness of Everfree. "I'd prefer it if you went back to your side of the tent...but-"

"I know you would, but I like it." Jessica sighed. "It's been so long."

Scarlet froze. "Oh no, no. What do you mean?"

"Oh shush Scarley, I don't mean it like that."

"Th-then what do you mean? I think I'm lost here," Scarlet said, confused.

"Non-sexual contact, love. That's what I'm talking about. This feeling is nice. It's just been a bit too long, is all."

Scarley lay silent. She sighed in frustration as Jessica cuddled up against her for the rest of the night. The black unicorn's grip on her loosened up a bit to allow her to shift with ease.

"I...I can't wait."

"What? Wait? What for?"

Scarlet waited for a response that never came.

'This is getting odd, even for Jessica. I should change the subject,' Scarlet thought. 'Non-sexual contact? Like a hug, or something?' Scarlet remembered the hug she gave her mother before leaving to Ponyville for the first time. 'Like...like that? Does Jessica still talk to her mother? I've never heard a mention of her at all...'

"Hey Jess," Scarlet broke the silence. "When's the last time you've seen your parents?"

Jessica's light snores were all that responded.

=====

ONE WEEK LATER

Jessica and Scarlet, whose wound was all but healed, reunited with Fluttershy and Zecora the morning following the timberwolf attack. Meeting up at the checkpoint, Zecora admitted to them that the journey towards the Plains was still a bit of a trek from where they were, especially since the attack sent them far off course.

Despite the setback, the group followed through, the confident zebra leading the charge straight up and through to the outer edge of the other end of Everfree.

Scarlet winced at the sunlight that could be seen from the other end of the path. There was no longer a road, rather, just a path that was flattened out by weary travelers coming from the direction of the plains.

Zecora stepped to the side of the opening, ushering the rest through the break of light before her. Scarlet turned around to Jessica, who motioned for her to go next.

The light faded as she crossed the threshold, and the sight in front of her left her breathless.

Land was stretched out on all sides, with a very solid, defined line separating the plains from Everfree. The forest they had come from was very dark, but held plenty of green hues, proof of life within. The plains, in contrast, were completely brown, empty, and vast, stretching on for what seemed like miles in every direction that wasn't Everfree. Several thin, dead trees were scattered dozens of yards from each other, with small clunks of dirt rolling along the plains. No life existed on the plains for as far as they could see, and a shrill breeze came from the direction of their destination ahead.

In the far distance, was a tall, looming mountain, piercing up into the clouds and beyond, solitary amongst the emptiness of the land before it. A rather large mouth could be spotted at the base of the mountain, even from the distance the group was at.

"How far is that?" Scarlet's first comment was.

Jessica leaned closer to the plains. "Two days, at the very least. Maybe more."

"This place is gigantic," Fluttershy squeaked.

"Beyond Everfree Forest, this land I know," Zecora rhymed. "This place, cold and spiteful: The Plains of Woe."

"The Plains of Woe," Scarlet took another look at the monstrous landscape. "A-and that mountain is where we'll find Gemini, I imagine."

"I don't know where else she'd go," Jessica replied.

"The tower of earth that lies far beyond is a place where danger and mystery spawn. In its mouth you'll find two special halls: One will rise, while the other will fall."

"Two paths," Scarlet wondered, "inside the mountain."

The zebra nodded. "Go now ponies, to the mountain you run. We will return to this spot the moment you're done."

"W-wait," Scarlet stammered. "You're not coming with us?"

Zecora's voice deepened. She turned away from the plains. "The Plains of Woe cast a terrible spell, upon anypony daring enough to dwell. If there's one lesson I've learned from this place above all, it's that the events I've experienced, I shall never recall."

Zecora motioned to Fluttershy as she hastily retreated back into the forest.

"To see somepony actually go INTO Everfree for safety," Jessica said. "This isn't just some blanket of dirt we're dealing with, Scarlet. Keep your eyes peeled."

"G-good luck to you both. Stay safe," the timid pegasus waved them off. "We'll be back soon. I promise."

The two disappeared into the forest as Scarlet and Jessica stood, letting a deathly breeze whip against their faces. Scarlet slapped her hat on her head, and tightened her tie. "Ready to go?"

Just as Jessica was about to answer, a trail of mist came floating from above Everfree's treetops. It immediately popped right above the unicorn, materializing into a small scroll.

"A letter from the Agency? Now?" Scarlet couldn't believe it. "What does it say?"

"Hold on," Jessica grabbed it, letting her eyes scan the document. "Huh, Locks and his group actually went to talk to Celestia. Steele's just reporting the results."

"And they are?"

'A disease? Scarlet?' Jessica thought, looking at the pony. She gave herself some time to think.

"Nothing special, Scarley," she lifted the scroll into the air. It ignited into flames, falling to the forest floor as a pile of ash. "Locks has a lead that he's going to pursue, but it's nothing we need to worry about right now. We have a pony to find."

The two nodded to one another, taking their first step of many into the Plains of Woe.

303: The Plains of Woe

Scarlet removed the band from her hair. She shook her head a few times, letting her mane bounce back into its natural shape, wrapping around her forehead and covering her eye. She turned towards Jessica, signaling that she was ready to enter the plains with her guardian.

"Since there's no wildlife here, I suppose it doesn't really matter whether or not you keep your hair managed," Jessica shrugged as they took their first step. The two ponies held their breath, expecting some kind of attack to clash against their bodies.

Instead, they felt their legs lose some of their weight. As they walked deeper into the dry, near-empty abyss of the desert, they could feel the same featherweight sensation coat the entirety of their body mass.

"I-Is this some kind of magic?" Scarlet shook a hoof. She stamped it back into the ground, surprised when she saw the earth underneath her hoof crack on impact. "The ground here is starving."

"I've only read about it," Jessica shook her body. "It has a terrible vibe to it. We expected this much coming here."

Scarlet nodded. "What've you read about the Plains?"

"There's not really a book about it," Jessica admitted as she picked up the pace. "We should hurry. The sooner we're at the mountain, the better." She turned around to Scarlet, their walk turned into a trot. "The content about this place is mostly written in small scrolls and warning letters towards other ponies about entering the place.

"A lot of ponies end up going insane if they stay here too long. The letters say that the longer you stay here, the stronger the Plains become."

"And these letters come from?" Scarlet plopped her hat on her head.

"Asylums," Jessica responded with a curious hum. "Going deeper also intensifies the plains' affect on ponies. We're sorta kinda doing both of those things, and most of the ponies that I've been to see or read about barely make it more than a few days."

"You said it'd take us two or more days to get there," Scarlet pointed her muzzle at the mountain still looming far beyond.

"I did, which is why we should keep moving. I can feel a strange kind of magical presence here."

"What kind of presence?" Scarlet asked.

"It's not welcoming," Jessica shook her head as her pacing sped up. "They say that painful memories spawn and linger about here. I'm not sure what to expect, and I'd rather not stay around too long to find out."

'She's spooked too,' Scarlet gulped down. 'This isn't good.'

The detective could feel the same entity that Jessica had mentioned. The weight of their bodies kept jumping around, bouncing between feeling as light as a feather, and as heavy as a boulder. The pace they kept themselves at would constantly jump from the deceptive strength of gravity on their bodies.

Scarlet let out a quick series of coughs, doing her best to stick behind her unicorn guard. She shook her head and continued on, her bout grabbing the attention of her living shield.

Jessica's discerning eye took a quick gander at her cargo. "You okay?"

"I'm fine, just an itch," Scarlet did her best to clear her throat.

"You sure?" Jessica turned completely around, floating in the air in front of Scarlet. "You've been coughing ever since you got to Ponyville. It sounds like it's getting worse. You were coughing up a storm the night we were attacked, too."

"I-I was?" Scarlet raised an eyebrow.

"While you slept, love." Jessica took a quick spin in the air. "If you're getting sick, then it's only going to be a burden on us. If you want, I could probably sent you straight back to Ponyville with a spell."

"No," she sternly snapped at the dark coated pony. "I need to finish this. You said it yourself: The sooner, the better."

Jessica silently agreed, turning back around. She took several seconds, but quickly fell back to the ground at a complete stop.

"What is it?" Scarlet asked.

Jessica took a moment to take in the sight in front of her. "You didn't see any other ponies walking around in here from the edge of Everfree, right?"

"Not that I know of," Scarlet responded. "Why?"

Jessica moved to the side. "I think the Plains of Woe are starting to act up."

Scarlet gasped at the sight in front of her. Two ponies stood in the path in front of them. One pony was only marginally smaller than she was in height, and was wearing an extremely similar black coat around her body. A fedora covered the mess of bright red hair underneath, and faded green eyes were filled with disappointment.

Another pony was trying to comfort her, a colt of bright blue hues on his coat, with an ivory mane decorated with a black stripe that tore through the center. His eyes throbbed with a passionate crimson color that grabbed Scarlet's attention almost immediately.

"L-Locks?!" Scarlet took another step towards the two ponies. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be back in Canterlot?"

"Stop!" She felt a tug at her tie, pulling her back. Jessica lined up besides her. "This must be what the letters talk about. Take a look at that delicious looking filly. Recognize her?"

Scarlet walked around the pair, coming in contact with the eyes of the gray coated mare. "That's... that's me."

"Yeah."

"How is that possible?" Scarlet took a few steps around the two ponies, making sure that she wasn't just imagining the moving portrait.

Jessica snuck up to the two ponies, whom had since been paying no mind to the detective and her partner. She walked up to the duplicate Scarlet, who was holding an unrolled scroll in her hoof. The wicked mare got a quick read of the parchment, and then turned to Scarlet.

"Interesting," she mulled. "Scarlet, you got a C-Rank at the Agency when you first came on board full-time, right?"

Scarlet's ears almost immediately sagged, a spare hoof kicking at the cracks in the dirt. "Yeah." She took another look at the images in front of them. "Oh..."

"Memories," Jessica looked about the scene. "Perfect memories of," she looked back at Scarlet, "very upsetting times. I think I understand now." She crept around the pair, raising a hoof.

"Jess, what are you up to?"

"This is some convincing mirage," Jessica complimented the lands. "And some intense magic." Her hoof came down hard, slapping against the clone-Scarlet's behind with a firm clap. The real Scarlet's eyes swelled with disbelief, another rogue cough rose up her throat.

"Jessica! What the hell are you doing!?"

Jessica rubbed her hoof, looking at the image. The younger Scarlet had a flush of red running down her face, while the Locks that was with her looked straight at Jessica in disgust.

"Too soon? That's fine with me," Jessica teased the duplicates. She quickly floated over towards her Scarlet before coaxing her to move away from them.

"They... they're solid," Scarlet stated the obvious.

"Worse than that," Jessica quickly scooted Scarlet along, creating distance between them and her clone, "They're completely aware of their surroundings. You saw how they reacted to my wonderful flank-spank."

"I can't believe you. Anything to get closer, huh," Scarlet glared at her.

"I regret nothing," Jessica quickly chirped in satisfaction. "But that helped me understand this place a lot better. I can understand why somepony could lose their shit here."

Scarlet looked back. "Jessica, they're gone."

Jessica turned at the observation. The spot that the two ponies had stood was vacant of all kinds of life. "I see, I see."

"See what? Jessica, can you explain?"

"Easily," Jessica cleared her throat, "but let's pick up the pace. If they're self-aware and solid, then that means that they can get to us just like we got to them."

Scarlet's trot sped up alongside Jessica's. The dead trees that they perpetually passed started to dwindle even further than what they saw from the peak of Everfree, passing only fragments of dead roots every few minutes.

"I get it now," the witch commented. "The Plains of Woe. They force you to re-experience upsetting memories again and again."

"Like my C-Ranking."

Jessica nodded her head in acknowledgment. "And it's only going to get worse the deeper we go, and the longer we stay. With the magic that's coating us jumping around here and there, I can understand why some ponies might just croak after exposure to it all. They get exhausted from running away from their memories here. It's not a stretch to imagine that some ponies just up and gave in to the strength of the desert."

"And if they die here..."

"Right," she continued. "Their disposition must get absorbed by the plains. Their deaths only make this place stronger. And with magic strong enough for an Earth pony like you to feel, that means that the number of ponies that have died must be in the thousands."

"Thousands?" Scarlet gulped.

"Easily. No wonder nopony has the balls to stay here. This place is more toxic than Las Pegasus."

The two let the song of their galloping hooves take over, doing their best to ignore the emptiness of the land surrounding them. Scarlet turned around, unable to see much of the greenery of Everfree from the distance they were at.

"Don't turn around," Jessica scolded her. "This place spouted those two right in front of us last time. Never know when to expect a curve ball."

Scarlet could make out forms spawning from around them that would take shape, and then easily dissipate as they passed through the dry landscape. The mountain grew taller the closer the pair came to the base, forcing Scarlet's head further and further back whenever she tried looking at the peak.

She heard a quick chuckle from her teammate. "Something wrong, Jess?"

"I'm just remembering our friends back there," Jessica mused. "This place brings back the worst memories you could ever have experienced, and it brought back a C-Rank in the Agency for you."

"S-so what," Scarlet stammered for a second. "It was very upsetting at the time!"

"How sheltered were you as a filly? Were you locked in your room all the time? If that's one of the most painful things you have, then there's not much else for you to worry about here."

"Go ahead and laugh," Scarlet snorted. "It sucked."

The magic around the pair twisted the air around them, bending and forming itself into two large balls that quickly started to take shape. Scarlet and Jessica turned to their sides, both watching as the spells started to create more living ponies.

"Run faster!" Jessica ordered as they picked up steam.

Scarlet felt her joints start to burn as they peaked out at their top speed. She turned back to her right, gasping at the magical ball taken shape. It was the form of a stallion, with a frame that completely towered over Scarlet's. He was running alongside the group, his head turned and facing Jessica.

Scarlet started to slow down, her energy starting to dwindle. She turned to her partner, who was completely smitten by the look the stallion gave her. She was licking her lips, giving him a wink that was overly eager and starving.

"J-Jessica! Focus!" Scarlet shouted at her guard.

"Hey, handsome," another sly voice came from behind Jessica. Her eyes shot open, slowing her pace to allow the other creature to pass her up. Scarlet and Jessica turned to see a complete, one for one copy of the wicked mare, racing to keep up with the tall form of the colt near Scarlet's side.

Scarlet and Jessica only stared at the scene unfold in front of them, as the clone-Jessica made her advances on him. The detective turned to her friend, upset to find the same hungry face on Jessica as was on her duplicate.

"I thought you said this place was full of painful memories," Scarlet scolded the dark mare.

Suddenly, the colt in front of them turned his head in disapproval, making a sharp turn that caused him to bolt off in another direction. Jessica made a complete stop at the sight, forcing Scarlet to back up.

The colt vanished in the distance of the plains, leaving the copy of Jessica behind. The alternate scribe fell on her haunches with a tear in her eye, and a genuine frown that Scarlet had never seen on Jessica's face in her entire life. Scarlet's guard walked up towards the sobbing copy.

"Jess!"

"That's low," Jessica scolded at the open plains. "That's low, god dammit! This isn't funny!"

"What's going on?" Scarlet couldn't help but ask as Jessica ran a hoof across the back of the crying pony's neck. "I don't understand."

"Tch," Jessica raised a hoof in the direction of the colt. "Turn me down!? The hell would turn down a pony so voluptuous and willing!? Who?!"

The truth of the matter came to Scarlet almost immediately, and as guilty as she felt about it, she couldn't help but allow a smirk to spread across her face. A snicker escaped her lips.

Both Jessicas turned to her, "It's not funny!"

Scarlet busted out laughing. "Th-The mighty Plains of Woe, a place that destroys you from the inside-out with painful memories," her booming laughter quickly turned into another wave of coughs, "and one of yours is being denied?!"

The real Jessica patted her crying clone before approaching Scarlet. "You don't understand, girly. Nopony has ever denied such a sexy body before," Jessica made sure to show off some of her poses in the process, "That colt has no idea what he missed out on!"

"I-I'm sorry Jessica," Scarlet continued to cough, "b-but it's just funny! You can't deny that!"

Jessica grinded her teeth a bit. "Keep laughing Scarley. My hooves might get a little touchy-feely tonight if you keep it up."

Scarlet did her best to calm down at the threat, wiping a tear from her eyes and readjusting her tie and hat.

"Good. Had you kept it up, I'd have given you a painful memory that would take three of these stupid Plains of Woe to fill," Jessica turned back to her clone. "Listen sexy. You're hot and you know it, and no stupid stallion is going to ruin that streak you've got going."

Jessica looked left and right, her ears perked straight up at the thought of an idea she had always wanted to try. She looked back to Scarlet, spinning a hoof, "Love, can you be a dear and look the other way?"

"Wh-what ever happened to not messing with our copies? What are you up to?"

Jessica rotated her hoof in place, easing the detective into her order. Scarlet couldn't understand the request. She nodded and did so anyways, giving Jess and her duplicate what little privacy the plains allowed.

“I can put a smile on that face.”

Scarlet cringed at the sound of lips smacking together.

=====

SEVERAL HOURS LATER

The sun was already starting to set in the direction of Everfree and pony civilization. The plains brought forth a severe chill that slowed down the pace that Scarlet and Jessica maintained for the rest of the day, bringing them from a trot to a brisk walk.

Images and forms continued to follow them as they neared the mountaintops. Scarlet took a moment to drink another generous gulp of water from her canteen before continuing their journey. Jessica hadn't taken in a single bit of nourishment all day, but remained as energetic as she was when they had found the plains that morning.

"We've made a ton of progress, Scarley," Jessica noted with a bounce in her step. "We might be able to reach the mountain by tomorrow if we can get back to a trot for another hour. Think you can handle that?"

Scarlet gave another heavy cough. "Damn it," she looked at Jessica, "I... Yeah, I can do it."

"Excellent. And don't worry," she gave Scarlet a wink, "I can give you a bit of help if you get a little tired."

=====

A tent was pitched against the thirsty, cracked ground. A small campfire had been set up, and Jessica and Scarlet were busy enjoying their small dinner before bed. Scarlet was exhausted beyond belief, and the weight jumps of the plains burned away at what little energy she had to stand. Rings formed around her eyes, and from a distance, she could spot the forms of ponies that huddled together in the darkness. She could barely make out the eyes of the forms that stared at her. The figures were content standing from that distance, patiently watching their prey from across the field with anticipation.

"Think that they'll attack?" Scarlet asked Jessica, who didn't seem to mind the attention of the plains.

"I doubt it," she took a bite of an apple. "If the plains wanted to physically tear us limb from limb with the forms, then it would've done so a long time ago."

"That... makes sense," Scarlet shuddered. "They just keep appearing... and gathering around the tent."

"Yeah," she licked her lips of the juice. "It's creepy, and they'll probably keep building up, too. We're just gonna have to will ourselves through them during the night. I have sleeping spells that'll do the trick."

"That'd probably be for the best," Scarlet coughed again.

"Have you been taking any kind of medicine for that?"

"Of course," Scarlet nodded. "I packed some tablets that would help keep the cough down, but it just won't go away."

"Strange."

"Either way, I'll focus on that as soon as we get the heck out of here," Scarlet said, a hint of aggression in her tone.

Jessica caught her glare. "...Still on about that one?"

Scarlet gave her a quiet, solitary shake of her head. "I really don't understand how this place learns about us like this, but I really wish there was a way to block it out."

"I can't fully explain it either," Jessica tilted her head, looking at the core of the apple that had been exposed from her last bite. "It's like this apple, really. The magic of the plains just bites at you over and over again, until it finds a goldmine underneath your skin. Memories that are hard to deal with that it just exposes to the world," she dug into the fruit with her hoof, popping out a few seeds, "and then it just flashes them in your face."

Scarlet huffed. "I hate this place." She recalled the forms that appeared as they galloped along the plains. A copy of her boss and her father both appeared before her. Steele's face was full of anger, while Conroy gave Scarlet a stern look of disappointment that carved her up into a husk.

"Steele called me a joke," Scarlet pouted.

"I was there," Jessica took another bite. "You know how he is. He's a tough bastard."

"It was more of the look my dad gave me anyways," Scarlet replied. "I know I floundered through the case, but I had forgotten how much... it hurt."

"To be honest, I doubt many of the Cs and even some of the Bs would've been able to complete it," Jessica tried her best to comfort the gray pony. "It just wasn't that easy, and it was as much Steele's fault for assigning a rookie that kind of case."

"It doesn't really matter whether or not he screwed up," Scarlet looked at the ground. "My dad trained me. My parents raised me to be a great detective, and I won't lie," she looked up at Jessica, "even I expected myself to do great things. But being out there, actually on the job..."

Jessica sighed.

"It was too much. I couldn't handle it. I was scared. I screwed up so much. The look of frustration on his face when I had to return to the Agency... it was too much."

"Scarlet, don't let it get to you too much," Jessica reminded her. "The Plains of Woe want you to feel like this."

"I know," Scarlet returned, "but it's just a huge part of my career, I guess."

"Your first failed case?"

"Well yeah," she replied immediately. "Nopony has ever had a 100% success rate, right?"

Jessica tapped her hoof. "Nope. Not even me. Everypony makes mistakes, Scarley."

Scarlet sighed. "Everypony talks about how their failures help them get stronger, or how it helped them learn something important about themselves."

"Mm-hmm," Jessica agreed. "What did you learn, Scarlet?"

Jade green eyes rose, linking directly with those bright orange. "I learned that I suck at the one job I was raised from birth to do."

Jessica huffed. "The hell, Scarlet? That's a shitty attitude to have, you know."

"But it's the truth."

The looming forms inched closer to the group.

"Well, yeah." the unicorn took to her surroundings, noticing the pairs of eyes moving closer. "Look Scarlet, I understand that it's not what you wanted, but right now, you need to just... well..."

Jessica grabbed Scarlet's head and picked it up, showing the dozens of eyes staring at them. "These things aren't friendly. They want to kill us, and they easily have that kind of power right now. All of this negativity you’re radiating is attracting them. It's okay to be upset, but there's a time and place for that. The Plains of Woe are not a good place to start moping and sulking about the past."

Scarlet sniffed, wiping her face and letting out a weaker cough. "S-sure, Jess. Sorry."

"You can thank me better when we're out of here and in your bed," she tried to lighten the mood. "Besides, I'm your guardian, aren't I?" Jessica smirked. "This place is a monster. We can't let it destroy us. As long as we help each other out here, then we'll be fine."

Scarlet sat in silence, eying her last piece of fruit. 'I know we need to hurry and get to the mountain as fast as possible, but... Jessica's been burning me out the entire time we've been out here,' she thought. 'She's even used some spells to carry me along, or numb out the exhaustion. There's gotta be a reason for it.' Scarlet narrowed her eyes at a concerning thought, 'Is there something else out here that even she's afraid of?

'If Jessica’s afraid of something, then I suppose it's best to listen to her, and get out of here as fast as we can. Getting emotional isn't going to help.'

Scarlet sunk her teeth into her apple, letting the crunch fill her ears. She looked back at Jessica, who was busy admiring the flames.

"Spookies and lack of water aside, this place would make an awesome camping area," Scarlet said.

"A good hike up a mountain in the afternoon, a fresh drink of water against the hot sun," Jessica listed off, "and even a daring trek into Everfree. This place has a lot. It could even make for a spicy little love nest."

"I wonder if we'd be able to find a way to tame this place. You know," Scarlet ignored her comment, "make it habitable."

"If you could purge the toxic magic in the area, you could totally do it," Jessica stated. "It's not too difficult for small places. I, for example, can detox an area the size of a small house if I wanted to."

"Doesn't that burn a pony out though? Detox involves shifting massive dispositions from one place to another, and the absence of it in the atmosphere can really screw with the local flora and fauna," Scarlet asked.

"Of course I'd be exhausted," Jessica laughed. "Getting the disposition safely away from the region burns you out and kills your body. I did it once for a pony back when I was a filly, and I was on bed rest for the next two days."

“When you were a filly? How did you do something so complex?”

Jessica’s smug face scooted closer to her partner. “I’m just that good, Scarley.”

Scarlet shared a giggle with Jess. "You know something, this is nice."

"What's nice?"

"This," Scarlet waved her hoof towards her friend. "When we're at the office, you're always gluing my hooves to things, pissing people off by changing the coffee into cider, and flirting with everypony in sight. Here though," Scarlet paused, "You haven't really... screwed with me too much, so to speak. I'll be honest, I'm kinda surprised to see you acting so normal for a change."

"Well, I'm glad you're happy," Jessica made a fake frown. "I hate being in a place I don't know completely about. I have to keep on my hooves. Gotta expect anything to happen at any time. We ARE in a dangerous place."

"I know," Scarlet looked at the eyes around them, which had fallen several yards back from where they had spawned. The silence amidst all of the spectators sent chills through her body. "It was just an observation."

"Nice detectiving," Jessica joked. "If I didn't know any better, this all sounds like an invitation more than anything else."

Scarlet let out another cough. "As long as you don't act on it, then I'm okay."

Jessica vanished, reappearing right in front of Scarlet. "Whatever you say, loves," she pulled on Scarlet's tie with her hoof. "We could always spice it up if you want. I didn't expect you to be the kind of mare who was into voyeurism." She looked up at her face, expecting a flush of red, or the expression of discomfort that she loved from the younger pony. Instead, an interesting, quizzical stare was drawn about her, staring off behind Jessica.

"Jess, one of them moved," Scarlet finally spoke. Jessica pulled herself up, looking through the reflection in Scarlet's irises.

She quickly turned around, her mane swishing about before falling in place. Scarlet was spot on: A pony had approached the two, with an innocent face and a tender, friendly smile.

The pony had a pale, yellow-brown coat that seemed smooth to the touch, with curves and hips that gave away her gender effortlessly. Her hair was done up in a fancy western style, with the peak curling about the top of her head. Her forelock draped over the top of her eyes in a neat strip, and had an interesting palette of orange and yellow stripes strewn about it. The pony continued to close in on the group, the campfire they had started illuminating her form.

She was an older mare, easily within the same range as Mystery Hart. Her eyes were a powerful emerald color, with a dozen brown freckles adorning both sides of her face. Her breezy tail, long and well kept, swished around, coiled around on the ground next to her hind legs.

She halted as the fire exposed her, eyes wandering towards Scarlet. The earth pony kept her breath while the older mare took her appearance in. She gave her a friendly, slow little wave, which the confused Scarlet returned in full.

The pony's eyes wandered over to Jessica, and almost immediately, her body turned, facing directly at the unicorn. Jessica took a step back, her wide expression taking in the form of the pony.

The air in Scarlet's lungs escaped her, watching in disbelief as Jessica took several quick, hasted steps away from the mare, almost as if she was afraid of the creature. Jessica pushed against Scarlet, trying to get to the opening of the tent.

"Scarlet, let's get inside," she ordered, "This place is starting to get worse."

"Wait, how?" Scarlet couldn't help but continue, "Who is she? What's she doing?"

The older pony took several steps back, past the fire, but still within its warm glow. She continued to stare straight at Jessica, lifting one of her fore hooves from the ground. Her smile weakened, her hoof raised into the air next to her head. She began waving at the unicorn, slowly shifting her hoof left and right against the darkness of the night, never stopping to say a word, or to move any closer or further from Jessica.

"She's waving," Scarlet said. "She's… saying goodbye?"

She turned to Jessica, who was unzipping the front flap to their tent.

"Don't worry about her," Jessica snorted. "It's just the Plains playing another game with us."

Scarlet was entranced by her waving. "Jessica, she just keeps going."

Jessica froze as the tent opened up. She could feel the presence of the pony still standing there, indefinitely waving at her. She sighed, lifting herself to her feet and turning to face the pony again.

"Who is she?" Scarlet repeated.

"Scarlet," Jessica started, inching closer to the mare. She walked right up to the figure, who had stopped its waving momentarily once Jessica was within inches of its body. The yellow pony just looked at her as Jessica explored every angle of the mare's body. She reached up, touching the pony's back and sides, feeling the rich coat as she ran her hoof down her back.

Scarlet, half expecting Jessica to take a turn back into her lewd-nature, watched in awe as Jessica's hoof rose up to the pony's face, pressing against her cheeks and underneath her chin. Jessica's expression softened, turning to the flank to spot the cutie mark she had recognized from days long past.

The cutie mark was that of a rich, thick pumpkin, which covered nearly the entirety of her hind leg, its vines stretching out, illustrating the riches of a harvest.

"This mare was a pumpkin farmer years ago," Jessica claimed. "She lived in Dodge Junction, with a bunch of other ponies." She took several steps away from the pony, back to Scarlet's side.

"Her name was Jacqueline O'Curbi," Jessica strained to say the entirety of the name. "Everypony called her Jackie for short."

"Jacqueline," Scarlet looked at her, then back at Jessica. Scarlet felt a shiver crawl through her at the pained expression hiding behind those typically energetic orange lids. "Jess...is she?"

"Of course," Jessica withdrew herself into the tent. "Jacqueline O'Curbi was the name of my mother."

The dark mare disappeared into the tent. "We should get some sleep. These things are going to keep screwing with us until morning. Come on."

Scarlet turned to the tent, then back at the pony, who begun to wave again despite Jessica's absence. The mother's eyes locked onto the spot within the tent that Jessica was laying herself down at. 'A farmer in Dodge? That's impossible,' Scarlet shook her head, 'That place is barely fertile enough to hold more than a cherry orchard nowadays. It hasn’t really been a crop-yielding locale for ages. If she farmed pumpkins in Dodge, then she'd be well over...'

"Scarlet, come on," Jessica's sternly ordered. Scarlet nodded, crawling into the tent herself.

"I have a sleeping spell active in this tent. It'll help us crash in no time," Jessica quickly said. "I'll wake you up when it's time to go."

Scarlet rested in her bag, quickly feeling the magic of Jessica's spell lulling her closer to sleep.

'Jessica's face,' Scarlet shut her eyes harder, 'If this place can upset somepony like her that much...'

Scarlet's eyes opened one final time. The sound of an infantry shuffling briskly across the plains filled the air. She could see the silhouette of several ponies walking around the outside of the tent, finding spots to watch anxiously for their prey to reappear. At the front of the zipper, she could still spot Jacqueline's figure, her hoof still swaying gently in the air.

'...Then what can it do to somepony like me?'

=====

“Scarlet, get up,” a stern voice commanded. The synapses started to fire in her head, the cringing sensation of sunlight flooded her sockets. The shadows keeping the couple company throughout the night had stepped a significant distance away from the tent. Same as before, the plains remained deathly silent, with the exception of an occasional, unnaturally cold breeze. The dry atmosphere inside their nest contributed to the sensation of dread that filled Scarlet’s senses, shuddering at the soulless vibe that emanated from her surroundings.

Finally on her hooves, Scarlet’s attention was stolen by the unicorn pacing about the tent, her horn pulsing with her familiar aura. Their belongings gathered into an unkempt cluster one bit at a time, and with a flash, vaporized them safely, back to where she had originally summoned them from.

“I’m not sure if it’s toying with us or not,” Jessica started, taking another quick glance outside of the small opening in the tent’s zipper, “but the numbers of the copies outside are dropping. Now’s the best time to move on. We can get to the mountain by early afternoon if we hurry.” The black enchantress opened the tent completely, bouncing out and scanning the area. Scarlet quickly followed. The copies all lined up around the tent, save for several pockets of space that were scattered among the swarm. At the front of the pack, the detective could spot the colors of the particularly brazen spirit of Jackie O’Curbi.

“Keep a steady trot with me Scarley,” Jessica called while she hastily packed the tent, “I’m burning through a lot of my magic this morning.”

The gray pony following behind nodded, puzzled at the stark contrast in Jessica’s shift after the night’s events. Nevertheless, she trailed several feet behind, heading for one of the pockets of open space that lead straight to the mountain ahead.

The duo passed up the shadows of their past with great ease, not a single body willing to chase down the prey they surveyed for the entirety of the night. Scarlet looked up at the mountain nearby, taking in its size with an intimidated stare. The base of the mountain, visible from their distance, had changed from when they spotted the mountain at the edge of Everfree. Vegetation grew on the edges of the base, grass covering the sides and running up the mountain a generous distance before changing back to bare rock. The lumpy, bumpy texture around the base was covered with grass, and vines traveled about boulders and several nearby trees like veins, each of which, from the distance they had been at, lead back to the base of the mountain.

“You think it’s some kind of magical barrier?” Scarlet asked the unicorn, who undoubtedly already noticed the scenery.

“Most likely,” she agreed over her steps. “Might be a defense mechanism. I wouldn’t be surprised if the mountain was the center of the Plains’ magic.”

“The source,” the gray mare muttered.

“It would give Gemini a place to live if the outside of the mountain has vegetation like this. Now come on, we have to pick up the pace.”

Scarlet looked behind her. “Speed up?”

“Haven’t you noticed yet? The Plains haven’t attacked us yet today,” Jessica noted. “They’re definitely more dangerous than they were when we came here.”

“Aside from just getting closer to the possible source of the magic?”

“That, and the Plains had an entire night to look into our memories,” Jessica added. “I can’t focus on barriers and whatnot while I’m asleep too, and it’s not a stretch to assume our resistance is much weaker when we’re unconscious.”

Scarlet took another look around the two ponies. The dead trees and cracked, dry ground continued for miles all around, with not a single form of life in sight.

“It’s not too hard to understand this place once you experience it,” Jessica said. “It gathers your thoughts and tries to break you. It had all the time in the world to dig out our memories while we slept.” Jess turned around to her partner, motioning her to speed up once more. “And yet there’s nothing around.”

“It’s… planning?” Scarlet tried to finish Jessica’s thought.

“Exactly. The closer we get to the mountain, the better.”

A dooming idea swept through Scarlet’s mind. “What if the mountain isn’t safe from the copies then?”

Jessica’s near-run slowed a bit as her mind clashed with the idea. “It’s possible, but I doubt that it’s as bad as the outer edges of this place. There’s life at the base of that mountain, you’ve seen the green,” Jessica explained. “This place absorbs all elements of life. If there IS a threat in that mountain, then odds are it’s not related to the plains.”

Scarlet gulped. “Then wh-”

“Let’s stick to taking care of each problem as it comes,” Jessica’s suggestion cut her off. “Let’s just focus on getting there. I’d rather not be lunch for the Plains.”

Another chill swept through the air. The hollow sound of the wind put Scarlet on edge, and after silently agreeing with Jessica, she focused her attention on the ever-growing mountain straight ahead.

==========

The mouth of the cave was visible, a sight that filled the sweating Scarlet with comfort. The pair had stopped to catch their breath, and the Plains’ presence filled the air with a tense, icy atmosphere. The ground beneath their hooves was lush and green, a perfect indicator for the relief Scarlet felt at getting so much closer to the mountain. Jessica teleported their goods back, grabbing a snack or two for the ponies to eat while they rested.

Jessica stretched her legs out and bounded from boulder to boulder, taking in the sudden change of scenery. Looking back on the path they came from, Scarlet shuddered at how empty and devoid of life the plains felt. She turned around, finishing her food off before following Jessica’s example, and stretching out before their next run. Jessica walked out of view, marveling at the lush trees and the mossy rocks that crawled up the mountain’s side.

Scarlet’s ears perked at the subtle whisper she heard coming from the direction of the mountain. She froze in place, her ears twitching every few seconds to try and recapture that distinct voice that stood out against the rest of the silence. Cautiously, she stepped closer to the mountain’s base. The path curved, blocked by the flora in a way that mirrored Everfree. The voice came again, a tad more distinct, but there was still not enough to distinguish it.

“J-Jessica?” Scarlet called out to her guardian. The unicorn failed to respond. Scarlet’s ears fluttered at a third noise, the same voice, growing in volume and coming from the base of the mountain. Scarlet inched closer to the mouth of the land mass, taking snail-like steps towards the direction of the voice.

Hoofsteps could be heard coming from behind her. She panicked, moving to the side of the path behind another moss-covered rock. The steps came in a hurry, almost frantic. The earth pony focused her ears on the distinct sound.

“There’s too many hitting the ground at once,” she said. “More than one.”

Two shadows zipped right by her hiding spot, tearing down the path and towards the mountain. Scarlet wasted no time, poking out of the side of the boulder to get a better look at the ponies. One was of a smaller build in comparison to their companion, and was wearing a black coat Scarlet instantly recognized as her own. The other was a pony, masculine in body shape, with a cyan colored coat.

“That’s…me and Locks,” Scarlet looked back. No sign of Jessica. She called for her one more time, but upon hearing silence in response, she started to follow the trail of the copies.

She didn’t have to travel far. The mouth of the cave was only one hundred yards away upon a quick examination. Scarlet peeked at the forms beyond a bush, swatting away at several smaller insects that took quickly to her outfit.

‘That’s the first sign of animal life out here,’ Scarlet realized while brushing off the small creatures. ‘That, or an illusion. Where did Jessica go?’

The black mare, almost upon mention of her name, dashed above Scarlet, landing gracefully in the clearing that lead to the mouth of the cave. Afraid to break cover, the gray mare only watched as Jessica darted around, scribbling notes on a parchment with vigor as she moved about the field. A crowd of ponies, whose features appeared indistinguishable from one another, was huddled around a small area several feet away from the other her and Locks. Scarlet narrowed her eyes and tried her best to focus on the actions taking place in front of her, but the crowd of ponies continued to block the path to a specific spot on the ground.

“LET ME GO!” A voice suddenly screamed out. Scarlet jumped at the sound, her attention pulled back to the pony that represented herself.

The copy of Scarlet was struggling against Locks, as well as a few other ponies, doing her best to try and break past the barrier.

“HOLD HER DOWN!”

Scarlet’s heart skipped a beat. Her eyes shot open at the realization of what was happening before her.

“This was when,” she muttered, horrible memories and emotions bursting forward. She took a step forward, breaking cover from the bushes. The copies didn’t seem to mind her presence as the memory continued to play. Another gray hoof moved towards the scene, Scarlet’s eyes focused on the point beyond the crowd that her copy was trying to overcome. Her body moved slowly, inching closer in a trance-like march towards the center of attention.

She felt a burning sensation in her stomach. “He was right there,” she stumbled, straightening herself out before moving forward. She walked around the group, who had since started to overcome the clone of the young detective. The screams coming from the pile of ponies sounded foreign to her ears. “I just need to,” she saw a pony from the group in front of her, blocking the view. She caught a glimpse of something on the floor, large and dark blue in color.

Another vicious chill swept through the air. “Just need to move around this one…”

Scarlet felt a terrible sensation rush up her throat from her gut. A loud ring filled her ears, scratching against her eardrums with a painful pitch. She doubled over from the surge of raw agony, bursting into a fit of terrible coughs. She fell onto her forelegs, bending them against the dirt to keep her lower body standing. Each cough ripped at her throat, sending a jolt with each sharp burn that came with it. The scene continued to play in front of her until a flash blinded her sight. She clenched her eyes, still coughing as the majority of the crowd nearby had vanished, leaving only a handful of ponies left in the area.

Scarlet heard sobbing coming from behind her. She turned her head, seeing her copy pitifully collapse on the floor, pulling off her favorite hat. The image moved the fedora closer to her lips.

‘What do I have now?’ Scarlet’s mind let the words repeat themselves, matching perfectly with the lips of the actor behind her. With a surge of energy, the hat was tossed aggressively into the sky, falling into a heap on the floor below.

Scarlet shivered, remembering how carved and empty she felt on that night. The ponies standing nearby turned their attention to her, attracted to the negativity seeping out of her body. Magnetized, by the mark of a shattered pony, they inched closer to the helpless mare.

“Scarlet!!”

The detective’s attention shot straight up at the sky. Another mare landed in front of her, holding off the copies of the ponies from getting to their prey. Her orange mane and tail swung around as she landed, and with an enchantment, her horn started to charge with arcane enchantments. The copies stood opposing the unicorn for a few moments before turning away, realizing that their opportunity for a feast was gone. Defeated, the majority of them broke up into fragments in the air, swept away by another breeze of freezing air.

Jessica’s magic faded with the threat, and she quickly turned to her friend.

“What the hell, Scarlet!?” She yelled, “What happened? I came back to our break spot and you weren’t there.”

Scarlet opened her mouth, but only a heavy cough came out. She choked up, holding her breath and turning away from Jessica. She spit into the ground next to her, wiping her face and sighing with fatigue. Her eyes were welcomed by a blot of red covering the grass below.

‘…That’s not normal.’

“Hello? Scarlet?” Jessica grabbed her attention. “What did you do? I got here and I saw a bunch of ponies moving towards you.”

Scarlet wiped her mouth and cleared her throat. The burning along the walls of her throat was slowly disappearing .”The… the Plains,” she started. “They got me.”

“Not with me around,” Jessica moved up to her precious cargo. She pulled her close, her eyes darting about Scarlet’s body, searching for an injury of any kind. “Good. It doesn’t look like they managed to get their hooves on you.”

Scarlet exhaled, her body still shaken by the experience.

Jessica paused, feeling the mare before her trembling in her hoof. “Scarlet,” she lowered her head, “What did you see?”

“It was the night that my dad….” Scarlet couldn’t finish the sentence.

“Shh,” Jessica moved a spare hoof down her mane. “Don’t worry. I get it.” Jessica stayed with Scarlet in the clearing, looking around in case any spare illusions stuck around. “I’m sorry.”

Scarlet looked up into those orange eyes. “You’re sorry?”

“I got carried away and wandered off,” Jessica closed her eyes, shaking her head in disgrace. “I was looking around the mountain to see if there were any other distinguishing features strewn about it. There’s a lot of magical energy surrounding this place. You’d think something would show up.” She looked back to Scarlet, “I should’ve told you to keep following me. You wouldn’t have been attacked if I were around.”

“Don’t worry so much about it,” Scarlet took a breath of relief. “You saved me either way. I’m… I’m fine.”

Jessica gave Scarlet some time to catch her breath. “So you’re still good to go then? We can rest if you need more time.”

“No, Jessica,” Scarlet tried to get back on all fours and stumbled back down. “Just give me a few moments.”

Jessica took a step back. “Good. If there’s a silver lining that came from this,” she pointed towards the cave, “then it’s that.”

Scarlet followed the direction. The mouth of the cave was only a few yards away. “Wh-what? How?”

“The Plains must’ve dug deeper into your memories than we thought,” Jessica explained. “I guess having the entrance to the mountain here would’ve distracted you from the memory, so the plains probably hid it from sight.”

“So we’re finally here?”

“Finally here. We made excellent timing,” she looked up at the mountain. “This sucker’s huge, too. If the Princess says this ‘Gemini’ is in here, she could be anywhere. Now get up,” Jessica gave her a generous pat on the flank. “As much as I enjoy seeing you on your knees, we still have a job to do.”

Scarlet’s mind was brought back to earth with Jessica’s gentle spank. A quick wipe down her face removed the light flush before she lifted herself back up. The two ponies quickly made their way to the mouth of the cave.

“Look Scarlet,” Jessica signaled to the entrance. “Can you see it?”

Scarlet squinted her eyes at the cave entrance. Two distinguishable paths immediately created a fork against the cave walls. The floor of one path rose up higher into the mountain top, while the other dipped into the darkness in the caverns below.

“Zecora said that a path would rise and another would fall, but I half-expected that to be her Zebra-talk,” Jessica admitted. In addition, at the front of the cave was a sign with jagged writing, crudely written against a wooden plank.

Scarlet and Jessica’s eyes read down the panel:

Mount Ignis
Property of Princess Celestia of Equestria

Scarlet and Jessica let the message sink in.

“Property? What the-”

“-hell is she doing with something like this in the middle of fucking nowhere?” Jessica finished Scarlet’s thought. The two ponies vented their frustrations before looking back at the vertical fork at the mouth of the cave.

“So we’re going in?”

“Well, we have to,” Jessica replied, “But we can’t be out here forever.” She paused, her mind clearly struggling to make a decision. “I want to split up.”

“Split up?” Scarlet turned to her guardian. “But I barely survived out there on the Plains.”

“I know, but the danger of the Plains is behind us,” she said. “This place is supposedly owned by Celestia. Perhaps there are actual borders or barriers set up here that keep ponies protected.”

“That’s too generous of an assumption,” Scarlet huffed at her partner.

“True, but there’s no way in hell we’d be able to scour this place fast enough otherwise. Remember Scarlet, we don’t have all day to spend screwing around out here. The Plains of Woe can wait forever for us to come back out of the cave, and the longer we’re out here, the more exhausted we’ll be for the run back to Everfree.”

Scarlet stamped at the ground. She knew that Jessica was right, and their supplies couldn’t handle more than another day or two at best, not to mention the return trip would require a second travel through Everfree to get back to Ponyville after a final trek through the plains. “I get it. So we split up and cover as much as we can, as fast as we can?”

Jessica took another step toward the mouth. “That’s about it.” She turned to the red mane pony, “You have a flashlight on you, yes?”

Scarlet nodded, patting the small flashlight nestled in one of her pockets on her outfit. “I also have handcuffs, a few inhibitors, and my notepad.”

“Good. Then it’s settled,” Jessica motioned. The two started towards the entrance. “We’ll meet back right here,” she scratched into the ground with her hoof, then pointed in the direction of the mark with her horn. A faint glow of magic surrounded the marking. “Wait here and go nowhere else. If you get back before me, just stay put.”

Scarlet raised an eyebrow, watching Jessica stare back at her. “What?”

“If I don’t come back within a day, then leave without me, okay? Once you step on this mark, some supplies should appear for you. Just enough for the exit, got it?”

Scarlet gulped at the implication.

“You ready for this? Find Gemini, jot down what she has to say, and get the hell out of there. We don’t know what, if anything, is waiting for us in here,” Jessica let Scarlet walk out in front of her. “And after reading that sign, I’m not sure what exactly to think of it out here.”

“I know,” Scarlet nodded without turning back towards the path. “The only ponies allowed to officially claim landmarks in the name of Celestia or Luna are the Royal Guard. They would’ve had to have come out here at one point or another.”

“Exactly. And if this place has value, then it’ll be kept safe from outsiders. Stay alert in there Scarlet, and focus. If you act in any way like you did on the Plains, you’ll die.”

Scarlet shuddered. “I know. I’ll just keep going.”

“Take the upper path,” Jessica motioned. “I’ll take care of the lower caverns.”

Scarlet stood at the base of her path. Jessica lined up next to her, facing the decline. Scarlet turned to Jessica with a hoof extended. “Good luck, Jess.”

Jessica stared at Scarlet’s gesture. She smiled, bumping Scarlet’s hoof with her own. “You too. Come back in one piece. You still need to repay me for saving your life.”

Scarlet laughed off the comment before trotting up her path. Jessica kept her eye on the gray mare until she vanished from sight. She sighed, relieved that Scarlet was safe after nearly failing to protect her. A final piercing wind came from outside of the cave, forcing the lewd mare to shudder in place.

Right as Jessica was about to take her first step down her path, she heard a cry. It was faint and meek, choking on itself. Her ears jumped and her head lowered, instantly recognizing the sad melody of the suffering source. Her head turned, eyes resting on a small lump of black mass huddled on the ground. It quivered, a pathetic mess that couldn’t even form words, continuously crying out to the unicorn.

It looked at her with large, round blue eyes, its fanged mouth twitching in pain as it choked on a mysterious source. Its webbed wings skittered against the grass, kicking up small blades while lashing its tail towards her. The creature tried its best to lift its head, the tiny jagged horn dragging across the ground.

A single hoof struggled to rise from the floor. It fell back to the ground, kicking up dust that puffed through the dark holes scattered in its leg’s length. It cried out one last time, staring Jessica straight in the eye with a pained, betrayed glare.

It fell motionless, its eyes and mouth hanging open against the dirt, forever looking over at the wicked mare.

The pony struggled, but pulled herself back to the caverns of the mountain. She slowly covered her eyes, taking in a shaky breath. She lowered her head, taking one step closer to the caverns. The baby Changeling’s body slowly dispersed into the wind as the black unicorn disappeared into the basement of the mountain.

304: Relic's Maze

“So this is everything you have so far?” The white mare spoke with disappointment in her voice. “It’s a lot less data than I had come to expect. Your officers are getting sloppy, Flex.”

“The case has been slow,” Steele grunted, staring back at the pony who couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eye.

“I’m going to rip that unicorn’s tail off if anything happens to my Scarlet out there. And what about Locks?”

“I had him check up on Lada and see if we could get any more leads out of Nixie’s case, but nothing’s come up since then.”

Mystery Hart strode about Steele’s office, tired of sitting and reading through the stack of reports written by both detectives. “You won’t get much from Lada at this point,” she chuckled to herself. “My information should be more than enough we need from that angle.” She turned back to Steele’s desk, “Speaking of poor mares, did you look any further into Helm’s disappearance following Locks’ investigation?”

“Of course,” Steele growled with aggression in his voice. “Tanita Helm is as mysterious as the pony we’re looking for in Ponyville. No one knows where she ran off to after Nixie passed away.”

“So your detectives ended up coming back dry?”

Steele leaned back in his chair. “Unfortunately. How about you, Hart?”

She turned to a nearby bookcase, tracing her hoof along the shelf while reading the names. “What about me?”

“Celestia’s taken extra interest in you, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t either.” He pushed off of his chair, landing on all fours and walking around his work space. “The Princess and I know that you’ve discovered something interesting lately. I’m pretty sure that I don’t have to spell it out for you. You’re better than that.”

“Oh? Well,” Mysty reached into her saddlebag, pulling out a large, empty bottle of rum, as long as one of her forelegs. “You’re gonna have to run that by me a bit, Flex. I’m just a tad tipsy tonight.”

He cringed at the sight, taking in the inebriated scent of her breath as he stepped up to her. “The Royal Guard, the ‘Magic Police,’ and the Agency do our best to preserve ancient texts and priceless history. We take pride in what gems we’ve been able to protect since the Princesses rise in Equestria.”

Mysty waved off his speech with a hoof. “Get to the point. I have other things I could be doing. There’s still another bottle waiting for me at home.”

“You were close to Conroy. I shouldn’t have to introduce you to the concept of a pony who has become an Artifact.”

Mysty’s stance tightened. She swung her head up and looked back at Steele for the first time of her visit. “Artifacts? Yeah, I know about them. My husband happened to be one.”

“Exactly, and we do our best to preserve Artifacts just as much as any other scrap of history we can.”

Mysty hiccuped. “So it didn’t take you long, did it?”

Steele fanned the air in front of him. “No time at all. I’ll just say it straight: Celestia wants to keep vigil over you at all times from here on out.”

“Is this why you initially called me in, Flex? Because I don’t like it.” Mysty looked back at the bookshelf. “And the thought of being watched by the Royal Guard all day kinda… pisses me off a little. A mare needs her privacy.”

“I’m not entirely fond of the idea itself, but I’m not going to go against the mission the Agency itself aims to succeed in,” Steele sighed. “Celestia’s guards will be keeping an eye on you. Not all day and night, but they’ll be dropping in here and there. I’m just passing the information on to you.”

“This is ridiculous,” Mysty pouted, uncorking her bottle and draining it of the few spare drops remaining. “And if I refuse?”

“I doubt Celestia would take no for an answer.”

“Then fuck the Princess,” Mysty smiled. “I’m just gonna have to improvise, aren’t I?”

Steele raised an eyebrow. “Mysty, what are you talking about?”

His hushed voice delighted the old widow. “I’m an Artifact, Steele. You’re just gonna have to expect anything to happen.” She turned back towards the exit to his office. “In any case, there’s something I’m curious about.”

Steele seemed apprehensive about changing the subject. “Care to share your concern? Damn the Princess all day if you want, but I’d rather the two of us stay on friendly terms.”

She scoffed at the notion. “Friends? Maybe. If we can get through this without any major problems, then perhaps I can put some of it behind me.” Mystery paused, her legs losing their balance. “You were his closest friend…”

“What’s that?”

“You were the one who argued with Celestia to reopen the case, right?”

Steele nodded with certainty.

She chuckled. “I guess I can appreciate the sentiment, even if you dragged my daughter into this mess. Friends is a maybe, Flex.”

Steele’s hardened eyes glistened. “I’ll take whatever I can, Mysty.”

“Anyways,” she moved on, “This missing pony that Scarlet’s pursuing in Ponyville has been missing for decades. I told her that I’d help whenever I saw the chance, and right now, since she’s over in Everfree, I think this might be the window of opportunity I was looking for.”

Steele didn’t waste any breath, “I see. The Ponyville cemetery is small, you know. I doubt you’d find much information there.”

Mysty moved towards the door, swinging it open before turning back to look at her husband’s closest friend. “It’s worth a try, isn’t it?”

“Damn thing!”

She gave it another tap, and the tool flickered to life, illuminating the path.

Scarlet Trace felt relieved, her eyes finally able to make out shapes and sizes through the cave’s darkness. Her flashlight fired a beam of radiant magic outward, spreading against the walls, floor, and ceiling. The floor slowly climbed upward, twisting around itself like a spiral up ahead. Nervous, Scarlet continued her march deeper into the cave.

She felt alone, terribly so. The sound of her hooves kept her company, her body straining to keep her pace after her endeavors on the Plains of Woe. She was already sweating, letting a stray cough burst out into the area and echo against the walls. She would freeze whenever she heard something in the distance, usually a rock or two that simply fell from a cracking formation, or perhaps a small critter skittering away from the light.

“It just keeps going,” Scarlet turned her head around a corner. The path was slowly closing in; turning into a tight tunnel up ahead that still rose higher. She cleared her throat with another cough, doing another check that her mane was still secured in its ponytail. Tucking her tie into her outfit, she moved through the tunnel.

Scarlet lowered her head as she walked, feeling the fatigue catch up to her.

“Never did anything like this back at the Agency,” she took another step. She recalled the countless days of just sitting at her desk, filing reports from other detectives and policemen, not caring to read through them with any sort of curiosity: she had lost that kind of urge in her first month. Jessica would float about, toying with her while she completed her work, before heading off on her duties, if any.

“Locks and Amy were always the ones out in the field,” she kicked a spare rock towards one of the walls of the tunnel, “Steele said it himself: I wasn’t made for traveling like they were.”

She felt another cough coming. Leaning against one of the tunnel walls, she heaved, feeling her chest burn with a sharp pain. She gulped down air after her cough, her eyes shut, not wanting to see the fluid she spat against the wall of the cave. She cleared her throat, wincing as another sensation seared through her head.

“This is bad. I’m getting tired,” Scarlet felt her muscles protest with each step. Her light flashed back against the tunnel ahead, seeing it open again into another room. The heat in the cave was starting to drain away the small reserves of strength she had left. She took a quick drink from her canteen and pushed on, breaking the threshold and stretching her body before looking ahead.

Her exhausted eyes strained as the light shined over the first obstruction in her way. A steep incline blocked off the remainder of the path above. She shined her light upwards but couldn’t make out anything else above the ledge. She backed up against the tunnel and lifted to her hind legs, clenching the flashlight with her teeth while she scoped the area around her.

“No place left to go,” Scarlet muttered through the light, “except up.”

She leaned against the wall, letting her hoof grip against it as hard as she could. Several pointed or jagged rocks stuck out of the wall, and the grip at the bottom was stable enough for her to lift herself a few inches off the ground.

“The ledge has to be a least twenty feet…”

Scarlet looked up at the roof of the cave. It extended far above the incline, only making her dizzier. She closed her eyes and sunk the rest of her hooves into the wall. Wrapping a hoof around one of the jutting rocks, she lifted her body further upward. She did this again with another rock, slowly followed by another while she took the time to cough into her surroundings.

She looked up, her flashlight still in her mouth. There were only two places left to grip against higher on the wall: a small formation right next to the ledge at the top.

Scarlet lifted herself up past the last two footholds, reaching as best as she could for the closer stone between the two.

“It’s… just out of reach,” she vented in frustration, retreating her hoof. “I’m gonna have to jump, or something.”

Her breathing was short and stunted. She didn’t have much stamina left. Her desire to reach the top of the cliff urged her on, and with a single bound, she jumped from the foothold. The height from the jump was just enough to wrap a solitary foreleg around the rock.

She watched on as the frail rock crumbled under her weight, stealing her balance and forcing her into a short tumble. The flashlight immediately fell from her mouth in a gasp, and she slammed into a few of the stones before landing in a mess against the tunnel entrance she had come from. Her hat, still hanging by the thread along her neck, fell off her head and covered her face as she fell. The light spun about the cave before flicking off, leaving the mare in complete darkness.

“God dammit!”

She picked herself up, shaking before falling to her knees coughing. She spit once more, groaning as the aches from the fall throbbed within her body.

“Nothing seems broken. Where’s the flashlight?”

She slowly shifted against the ground, picking her hat up and letting it sling against her back. The room was amazingly tall, but definitely not massive. Knowing that the light couldn’t have wandered far, she fumbled around with her hooves. She bumped into something against the floor, hearing it roll back to the wall she failed to overcome. She felt the familiar shape of the object, as well as some of her own spit. Scarlet shrugged and picked up the tool, smacking it again until the room flashed bright with magic.

The gray pony turned her attention back to the wall with a frown. The step she jumped to was now lying with her in pieces on the ground.

“Locks is stronger than me,” she thought aloud. “Amy could just fly over it. Jessica would just teleport.”

She felt her shoulders sag. “What do I have?” She felt around in her pockets, mentally listing off everything she had by feeling them in her hooves.

“Inhibitors, flashlight’s in my hoof,” she felt a flimsy material, “notepad and pens… hoofcuffs.”

She paused, pulling out the last item on her list. She flashed a light back at the wall, staring at the highest ledge above her, then back at her cuffs.

Feeling her brain jump start, she made her way back to the wall, getting past the first few feet with more ease, now that she remembered the pattern of steps. Sweat drained her of her strength, staining her face with her grime. Balancing herself on top of the previous hold before slipping off, she pulled out her cuffs again.

“This is stupid,” she growled to herself, knowing that she was out of options. She took a deep breath and jumped, tossing one end of the cuffs around the rock. The girth of the protrusion made the hoofcuff wrap easily around it. Scarlet landed back on the step below, taking a breath before jumping again. She pushed the cuff together, locking it in place around the structure.

The detective cuffed a forehoof on the other end, taking in a long breath. She pulled roughly against the cord, wincing at the pain the metal made when it dug into her coat.

“This is going to hurt.” She turned, looking for any possible signs. There was no other way around the formation.

She clenched around the light in her mouth. “One. Two.”

Scarlet pulled herself up with her hoof, using her other to grip the wall as best as she could while her hind legs did what they could to scale the wall. The pain shot to her head like a bullet, causing her to nearly shout while the metal sunk into her leg. The sting of the cuffs was nearly overwhelming for the detective. Scarlet gritted her teeth against the smooth tool in her mouth. She took a breath, yelling through her teeth as her body slowly lifted up towards the final step. Punching into the air, her free hoof wrapped up against the ledge of the wall.

“Just a bit more to g-”

The step cracked, giving her just enough time to realize that the rock had broken at the ledge, breaking the grasp of the cuffs.

She felt all of the energy leave her, along with the stinging of the tight material of the cuff. Her body fell against the wall, her only grip that of her hoof on the ledge. Sweat painted her face as her strength disappeared, she felt her hoof slipping away.

Suddenly, a light came from the ledge of the cave, fierce and quick. A great force sucked her in, pulling her over the ledge with ease.

Scarlet panted as her body was nearly tossed over the steep wall, falling to her back while struggling to catch her breath. Her eyes saw nothing but blurs as her flashlight fell from her mouth. She strained to focus on the image hovering above her against the brilliant fire that burned against the walls.

“Hi!”

At the sound of the friendly voice, Scarlet felt her world vanish.

The cold embrace of Ignis’ caverns stood outside of the spell radiating from her horn. Jessica silently gave thanks to her tool's thick lighting, gently stroking her already, somewhat justified ego. She kept to herself for the entirety of her excursion, not particularly a pony who enjoyed alone time. She crawled around mounds of solid rock and avoided bumping into formations and tumbling into craters as she continued to descend.

The murky atmosphere thickened the closer she drew to the juicy core of the cave. She shuddered, constantly reminded with each echoing hoofstep that she was alone on this assignment. Every step served as an illustration for how much further she was drawn from the entrance to Ignis, and towards the rays of light graciously offered through Celestia's work.

Jessica shook her head, doing her best to keep on track. She swung her light around to spot any openings in the walls, anything that could shed some more light on the environment. Such a straightforward tunnel filled her with curiosity, a twisting concern that bubbled at the bottom of her gut.

'The path hasn't deviated even once,' her voice cooed in her mind. 'No twisting mazes, nothing. Just a long, jagged tunnel.'

Her hoof bumped into a pebble on the black road, kicking it down the way. Jessica heard the snapping of the rock for a few seconds as it tumbled before coming to a stop somewhere further into the darkness.

The little filly wandered the sand, eyes half shut as the sandstorm thrashed around her. She huddled into a spot in the ground, whimpering as the winds slashed at her coat with an uncaring roar.

Orange eyes fluttered, and the unicorn couldn't help but wipe at her face, as if something had caught itself in her eyelash. She looked around, curious at the looming presence she could feel within the cave.

'I told her that it had been too long,' Jessica reminded herself, thinking back to the night with Scarlet in Everfree. 'Stupid.' She ran a hoof across her other foreleg before continuing her crooked march. She straightened her posture, regaining confidence with each step.

'Keep it together.'

The flutter of several pairs of wings overloaded her dull senses. The filly cracked a single eye, catching a glimpse of a spotted sky raining down upon her.

Jessica paused, cringing at the sound of another small rock tumbling in the distance. She lowered her head, quickly aiming her horn at the sound. She pulsed more magic into her horn, strengthening her light. Up ahead, another rock was rolling on the ground. It jumped, rolling one way, then the next. It budged towards Jessica's direction, this tiny sentient piece of earth, before skipping into a cavern entrance up ahead.

'There was a magical aura around it,' Jessica flooded more light beyond the previously invisible threshold. The cavern was tall, and the trail she followed smoothed into what she could compare to a marble road, much like the ones built in Canterlot north. The path continued to drop, but as her light shined, she saw it flatten out ahead.

She brushed some of her orange mane out of her face, moving close to the entrance, and feeling around it with a spare hoof. She stood her ground, allowing more magic to creep into her tool. Waves spread around her, gentle, softly curving to the edgy environment surrounding her, reaching out for the walls with each pulse.

'Nopony. Nothing,' she narrowed her eyes at the entrance. 'It takes a powerful kind of magic to move something like that rock from outside of my radar’s range.'

She cautiously took a few steps towards the entrance, shining light at each angle before finally breaking past the threshold. She had stepped into a large room, rotund and full of paths that webbed the domains deep within the mountain. She shined her light at a few pathways, finding no signs of movement or life. The walls around her had holes drilled through them, made into a firm, solid swiss-cheese looking borders. The marble flooring covered the entire room, but failed to extend to any other entrance around her.

Jessica's light faded a tick, a sign of her fatigue after her and Scarlet's journey.

'Scarlet,' Jessica remembered. 'I wonder how she's getting along.' Without giving second thought to the idea, she channeled more of her magic. 'The spell is still active, I should be able to feel out for her even from here. Jessica, you sexy little mare.'

A cold chill washed over her. Her horn suddenly shut off, and her body fell to the floor in a heap. Jessica gasped, feeling a drunken type of dizziness flood her senses with the haste of a spell. She picked herself back up, feeling her horn with a quick hoof. Stable. She took in a breath and ignited her horn to life once more. The scenery went unchanged around her.

'What the hell was that?' Jessica wondered. 'Scarlet. I couldn't get to her. Something.... Did something block me?'

Another sound cracked in the distance. Jessica jumped away from it, lowering her head and facing the direction with a shine of her light. A shadow from the rocks shifted violently amid the darkness, kicking before zipping away in a flash. Jessica followed its movements, catching a glimpse of the shadow between the holes in the walls. It disappeared with its amazing speed, forcing Jessica back to the center of the room.

“And who are you, little one?” Jessica exhaled harshly, her steady breathing the only sound in the entire cave. 'My spell didn’t pick it up again.'

She heard a faint whisper from the entrance of the room, swinging around to meet the sound.

A pony's face was right in front of her. It charged her, passing through her physical form in a cloud of dust. Jessica audibly gasped as the cloud of shadows blasted around her. It splashed against the hard wall, dripping through several pores before jumping into the darkness again.

The mare's heart was pounding against her chest, her eyes as wide as possible to take in her surroundings. She focused as much as she could, charging more magic into her horn to light up more of the area around her.

The face forced a chill through her veins. It had two piercing lights coming from where the eyes would naturally be. Beyond the room, through the holes, she saw another flash of those eyes peering back at her, this time with caution.

A pang at the back of her head registered. She winced as the pain surged through her. The shadow jumped again, spinning around the outside of the room as Jessica tried her best to keep up. A special noise started to scream, her ears twitching with the pitch of the sound. She grabbed her head with a hoof, now audibly hissing at the ringing inside.

A filly's eyes snapped open. She looked up, finding herself in the shelter of a nearby tree. A small patch of ground around her was green, and soft to the touch. The blades of grass had a unique warmth to them that the sand alone was never able to bring, and the texture massaged her underbelly and hooves as she fidgeted against it.

It was nice to have shade. To have comfort.

Her movements were clumsy and without regard to her surroundings. Her neck swung around, struggling to lift her head into the air. Her eyes wandered the scenery. In the sky, she spotted several unique colors glittering. They flew across the open air, appearing as a transparent paste of endless color. The strokes they painted across the sky attracted her eyes. She reached towards them with her head, falling innocently onto the grass once again. She rolled to her back, her eyes looking for something more appealing.

She had hooves. They were as black as night, contrasting heavily with the blinding light coming from beyond the open sky. A light, fluffy weight bobbled on her head and backside. She moved around, using her hooves to grab at the smooth strings. They were colored a wonderful orange that lit up a type of genuine happiness that she couldn't possibly explain.

She had a tail. It was the same color, and had the same feel.

She brought herself back to her belly, and looked around again. Beyond her small spot of green, and her humble little tree, which bore several swollen fruits at the top, was an ocean of dry, scorching sand.

Jessica exhaled as the sharp sting in her head disappeared. Her eyes struggled to keep up with the zipping entity that surrounded her.

"Why are you back?"

Jessica's body immediately jumped at the sudden voice. It felt distant, each note bouncing off of the walls in the room. She brushed her mane aside and flicked her tail against the ground, standing tall.

"You didn't have to go about trying to scare me," Jessica huffed, slowly regaining her ground. "You did a damn good job though."

The shadow moved again, this time, slowly. It rested beyond the entrance behind her, the bright lights of its eyes softening to give Jessica a better view. She still couldn't grasp the form of her visitor against the shadows of the cave, but having a focus on her target kept Jessica far more comfortable than before.

"I'm not here to hurt anypony either, so you can stop with the threatening demeanor," Jessica's horn flickered. "I'm not afraid to defend myself, but I'd rather not fight. There's far too many things I could be doing instead."

The shadow didn't find her quips as amusing as her coworkers.

"Why are you back?"

"And by the way, going through me doesn't count," Jessica giggled. She let her playful attitude take hold of the situation. "But I'm curious. What do you mean by that? I've never been here in my entire life."

The silence crept by, the shadow remaining idle as the words sunk in.

"Lies."

The shadow shifted, dripping closer to the mare with each passing second. Jessica stood her ground, unafraid of the movement. The form moved like a breeze, gently brushing up against Jessica's coat and mane, to which the unicorn didn't back down from. Her horn sparked, facing towards a blot of the shadow that moved.

"This spell is heavily advanced," Jessica spoke to the shadow, analyzing it with her magic. Attracted by the light of her aura, the creature swept around her horn, grazing it with flicks of its black tendrils. "Who are you? Are you from the outside world?"

"Your horn," the voice hummed. "What frightening power."

Jessica, proud to hear the praise from the source of the eerie spell, cleared her throat. She could feel the shadow's presence strengthen, as though it were becoming solid. A firm grip wrapped around her horn.

"Your lips might hide the truth, but a horn never lies."

A wave of nostalgia swept through the mare like a violent gust. "Do I know you, sweetheart?"

The shadow retreated beyond the room again. "You've learned so much. I feel it all."

Jessica's horn shorted again, leaving the entire area blind to the pony. The only visible sign were the two orbs that belonged to the essence nearby. They vanished as they passed behind walls, blinking back when it crawled near the pores of the cavern.

"You keep disrupting my light spells," Jessica squinted with a grin. "You know me quite well, don't you? But I know nothing about you."

The essence dropped back, still ingesting the information it collected. "So much knowledge. Incredible."

"When you've lived as long as I have...it kinda comes naturally," Jessica bragged.

"And so many you've hurt."

"...That's true too," Jessica regrettably sighed. "It's a price that comes with my job."

Another long silence filled the cavern.

Jessica's eyes jerked wide. Without giving it a thought, she instinctively rolled to the side. A loud crash boomed out in the cavern, a great heat brushing up against her coat. She landed roughly against a wall, turning back to the spot she had been on. A small, concentrated fire burned against the marble on the floor. It didn't vanish.

"That fire's not natural," Jessica spoke into the darkness. "And what the hell was that?"

The spirit retreated beyond the room. The unicorn braced herself as she stared at the entity. The black color of its body that naturally blended with the darkness grew to a tint of red. The borders of the shadow came to life, burning like the flame in the center of the room.

"Silence. You've ruined too many lives."

The voice's omnipotence was quickly draining away, its tone far more natural than Jessica was prepared for. Feeling more confident, she charged up her horn with a spell as she waited for the shadow to make a move. It started to resemble a ball of fire, giving a faded, red light to the room, stretching towards the cavern paths all around.

The ball of flames ignited, the bright light completely exposing the damp cave. The idle flame on the ground reacted, retracting to become one with the source.

"Allow me to test your new strength."

“Hello? Miss? Are you there?”

Scarlet’s muscles ached all over. She groaned, pulling herself up to look at her surroundings. She was in a wide tunnel inside of Mount Ignis, which stretched for an eternity in one direction. She turned to the figure nearby while her vision focused, spotting the familiar ledge she took a plunge off of right behind it.

“Miss?”

Scarlet’s ears perked up at the sound of another voice. She turned around and saw a pair of brown eyes staring back at her, with a sharp light behind him that hurt to stare at. She scooted back as her mind raced, rummaging through her pockets for her hoofcuffs. She hit the wall opposite of the cave, and after failing to find her cuffs, pulled an inhibitor from her outfit and held it as comfort.

The pony in front of her was engulfed in light. His mane was a bright clash of orange, red, and yellow, and moved of its own accord, filling the room with heat akin to that of a campfire. His tail burned in the same fashion, and his coat was of a dark maroon. Scarlet, her curiosity brought on by this strange creature, tilted her head towards his flank.

“No cutie mark.”

The taller pony sat on his haunches. “Miss, are you okay? You almost took one hell of a fall.”

His voice was thin and light, giving Scarlet a reason to shudder. She hesitated to reply at the strange pony before putting her inhibitor away.

‘Wouldn’t work on an Earth pony anyways,’ she slowly tucked it back into her pocket.

“You can talk, right? It’d be awkward if you couldn’t.” The pony smiled at her, the fire of his mane and tail illuminating the hue of his eyes.

“I can,” Scarlet replied. She jumped immediately to the next question on her mind. “A-are you… Gemini?”

The pony’s form immediately shifted, straightening up the slouch in his form. “Princess Gemini? Of course not! Not to say I’m not flattered. The resemblance is uncanny.”

Scarlet finally picked herself up, feeling no immediate threat from this stranger. “Resemblance? Are you related? Much less, how are you even here?”

The colt lifted a hoof to put Scarlet at ease. “Calm down sweetheart,” the voice sent another chill up Scarlet’s back, “I can answer everything for you, but you need to give me the chance. But first, who are you, and how did you get here?”

Scarlet looked at the burning figure. Her trust in him was still limited to petty information. “My… My name is ‘Laya,’” she complied. “I’m an officer from Canterlot. I’m here to see Gemini.”

The stallion’s flames lit up with his face. “Well, that shouldn’t be too big of a problem. She’s just another hour or so up this path. You should rest for a bit though. You look like you took a nasty spill.”

The pony’s voice was creepy to hear, as though it were an impersonation. “I’ll keep that in mind. I should get going soon.”

“I insist,” he gave a coy smile.

Scarlet felt the exhaustion oozing through her joints, and decided to take his advice. She made herself comfortable, lying on her belly. “Fine. Answer my questions while I rest then.”

“That’s a fair trade,” he started with a chuckle. “To start off, I’m a servant of Princess Gemini.”

“That’s nice, but what about your name?”

He looked back at Scarlet, puzzled. “Name?”

The mare cocked her head. “Y-Yeah? As in, what do ponies call you?”

“A name,” he wondered. “I guess I don’t have one!” He replied with another faux smile. “I mean, I had one, but it’s been a long time since I’ve heard it…”

‘Bad start.’ “W-well…how did you get here…and better yet, why do you look like you’re on fire?”

“Oh, that’s easy,” he said. “I came from Equestria. It’s a land quite some time away from here, past the Everfree Forest, I believe.”

Scarlet narrowed her eyes in frustration, feeling lectured like a child.

“As for my outlandish appearance,” he beamed, “It’s a gift from Princess Gemini. She makes us all in her image.”

Scarlet froze. “What?”

“She recreates us in her likeness. It’s a way of showing everypony else that someone is willing to give us a second chance.”

“Second chances. I’m sorry sir, but I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I see.” He looked around before turning to her with a shine in his teeth. “Is this your first time on Mount Ignis?”

“Yes,” she quickly responded.

“Oh. Then it makes sense. You’re clueless.”

Scarlet growled at him.

“A-about the mountain I mean! Sorry,” his apology felt distant. “Ignis isn’t the same like Canterlot or Manehatten. It has its own rules, made by Princess Gemini herself.”

“Okay,” Scarlet stretched a leg out before retreating it, getting comfortable, “then tell me, what exactly is this place, since you know so much?”

“Can’t say much myself, darling,” he started, “but I’ll give it a shot.

“Mount Ignis was put under Princess Gemini’s control when she founded this place. It was a safe haven away from the Plains of Woe, and with her powerful magic, she was able to create a steady supply of food and water on the outskirts of the mountain. Over time, ponies would come from Canterlot to check up on the Princess, but here and there, we’d find a colt or mare who chose to stay under Gemini’s rule.”

“Stay, in a place like this? It’s completely dark and damp, and you have to trek outside just to find any semblance of food,” Scarlet wondered.

“The Princess gifts each pony who wishes to stay with her likeness. My body wasn’t always on fire like this. I looked normal, just like everypony else when they first showed up.”

“The Princess changed you?”

“Yup! She gave everypony control over their own flame,” his mane grew for a moment to display his strength, “and let them live in this mountain for the rest of their lives. The flames help light the dark paths this cave has. We still haven’t mapped out the entirety of the mountain. It’s deceptively large.”

‘This is too strange.’ Scarlet looked at the pony, drinking in his information. “What kind of ponies would come out here outside of Canterlot officials? I’m sorry, but I don’t see how people would choose this life over what Equestria has to offer.”

The colt frowned.

“N-no offense,” she hastily added.

He let the apology go and smiled again. “Nothing to it! It rarely happens, but we get ponies coming in every so often. They just show up at the base of the mountain, and if our Princess likes them, she invites them in and changes them just like the rest of us.”

“A-And… how many are you now?”

“I’d say about a dozen or so.”

Scarlet gulped.

The colt nodded in reply. “I’m afraid our numbers are a tad small. It usually takes quite some time before we see anyone new. Most ponies rarely make it past the Plains of Woe. Poor souls usually die out there and are swallowed up by the magic. It’s brutal. You’re dead meat if you go it alone.”

‘Please come back Jess,’ Scarlet tugged her tie. She stared at the other pony as he continued to speak. “Can you continue?”

“Well sure, what else do you want to know?”

“Umm,” Scarlet hesitated, “How did you get here? Why did you pick this place?”

“Oh, that,” he brushed off the question. “That’s an easy one. I was exiled by Celestia.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Celestia of Equestria banished me to the Everfree Forest, so I just kept walking until I found Ignis and Princess Gemini.”

Scarlet started to take the chills her body gave off from this pony more seriously. “Why were you, if you don’t mind…?”

The pony smiled, “I killed a few ponies.”

The detective’s eyes grew big.

“It was only a dozen,” he shrugged.

Scarlet got up to her feet, taking a step away from him.

“Oh relax. I’m not gonna hurt ya!” His fire burned bright. “Unless the princess says it’s okay.”

“What… What the hell?” Scarlet’s sweat turned ice cold, her body instinctively screaming at her legs to move.

“Did you want to talk about that?” He gave her the sweetest smile a slasher stallion could give, “I could go into detail if you’d like.”

The ground beneath them started to quiver with energy. The colt frowned. “Oh. How lame. The ground’s shifting again. I think it’s time for us to go!”

Scarlet didn’t give him a chance to continue. She grabbed her light, popped it on, and darted as far down the tunnel as she could go, the ground beneath her trembling the entire way. She welcomed the cold atmosphere of the cave with open hooves, praying that the stallion, and the ledge behind him, weren’t the only way back to the entrance.

The caverns rumbled with power as another spell ripped clean through the stone. Flames were scattered about the multiple paths, splashing against another spell. Embers rained down onto the ground, some fizzling out against the body of the black mare.

Jessica backed up against the wall of the circular room, sweat running down her face. She sucked in more air as her magic exploded again, her form disappearing moments before another pillar of flame could incinerate her. She appeared on the other end of the room in a gasp.

Another stream of flames burst from a cavity in the wall behind her. Quickly, a bubble appeared around the unicorn, colliding in a flash against the fire. The walls trembled under the pressure of the spells as Jessica was lifted from her hooves. Jessica's bubble popped, absorbing the fire but sending the pony across the room, slamming against the floor in a heap. Her body crumbled, a chuckle and a groan confirming that she was still very well alive.

"Stay down, for everypony's sake."

A stifled laugh came from the mangled pony on the ground, slowly turning into a labored giggle. She lifted herself back to her feet with more ease than the figure had expected. A trickle of blue ran down her forehead, shrouded by her black coat.

"Sweetie, if I stayed down after a lick or two, I'd have never come so far," Jessica chirped. Her blood was rushing through her body, and she could feel a surge of adrenaline that she hadn't experienced in years. Putting her life on the line here, with little regard for the environment around her; the fight was cathartic, and she moaned in pleasure as the flames from the entity flooded the room again.

"I came here as a favor for a friend," Jessica dodged another, admittedly weak flame. She looked towards the source of light in the cave. "I don't give a damn about any of this 'returning' and 'hurting' bullshit you keep talking about."

The fire weakened, reflecting on her words. The voice had since their introduction become far less controlled as the fight waged on.

"You'll never change," the words stung Jessica's ears. "You'll just keep smiling. No matter how many ponies you destroy."

Another burst of magic erupted from the fireball. The attack crashed against another hastily made shield on Jessica's part, sending her flying back into a wall. She winced as she fell again, but just as before, picked herself up without much trouble.

"If I knew you would be so rough, I'd have brought my fuzzy cuffs," Jessica rocked her hips before planting her hooves on the ground. Her horn exploded with life, her hooves digging into the ground. Her eyes were illuminated by her powerful aura. The blue fluid running down her face made its way to her muzzle. Her tongue lapped it up greedily as her spell started to form.

"Ready to dance, sweetie?"

Scarlet's world continued to tremble. The tremor from earlier erupted into a full scale cave in. She tumbled about against the walls of the cave, having no opportunity to reflect on the strange encounter she had with the stallion from before. The wall opposite of her vibrated violently before a part of the roof crashed down onto the floor, forcing a yelp from the frightened young mare. She popped the light back in her mouth and plunged herself deeper into the mountain, staring at the roof and moving away from portions that started to crack above her.

The steady incline of the path quickly started to take its toll on her still exhausted body. Scarlet barely managed to dodge a falling stalactite as it crashed against the floor. She turned back from her path, making sure that no other source of light was following her at the reminder of that chilling character.

The path ahead of her shook so viciously that Scarlet lost her balance. She tumbled against the ground and watched in horror as the roof of the path ahead completely caved in. The symphony of crashing rock deafened her ears as she backtracked, moving away from the massive heap of mountain that had just collapsed in on itself.

She was trapped, and the only way back was towards the direction of the crazy colt.

Scarlet crouched at the sensation of another light earthquake. A strange, drilling sound came from one of the walls nearby. The detective winced at the sound of gnashing and crushing rock being thrown aside.

A large hole appeared next to her, rocks falling in from the other side. It was plenty large and wide to fit through. She flashed her light at the entrance, taking into account any possible surprises hiding on the other end. The floor beneath her trembled again.

“I need to keep moving,” she panted, deciding quickly to make her way through the wall.

Light. Scarlet winced at a new source above her. As her eyes focused, she gasped at the room she was in. It was gigantic, rivaling the party rooms seen at Canterlot Castle. To her left was a staircase, crudely chiseled out of the formations surrounding her that spiraled up towards. She felt a great, massive heat burning through from a cavern sitting at the top of the path.

A light poking out of the room lured her closer. She flashed her tool against the room. There was no other way to the room besides the staircase. Scarlet cautiously jumped towards the stairs and made her ascent to the top.

The floor had stopped shaking for the time being, leaving her alone to her steps once more. She continued to shiver at the thought of the murderer that stalked the mountain.

“Why is somepony like that roaming around here? I don’t understand. Jessica, where are you?”

Lost in her mind, Scarlet barely realized that she had already reached the top step, staring down into an open room. The light faded, along with the heat the room gave off. Scarlet tucked her tie in and put her hat back on, wiping a hoof’s worth of sweat from her head. Her hair and tail felt matted to her body, and her coat hadn’t been brushed in days.

“Almost there,” she muttered. She walked into the room, which had been completely engulfed by the darkness yet again. She reached for her light, hitting it. The magic churned in the bulb, but was immediately fizzled out before it could start.

“What the-?” Scarlet paused, “What happened? That wasn’t normal either.”

“I got it,” a voice said in the room.

Scarlet jumped, her fur nearly flew off of her body. Light starting to slowly pour in from a small block against the wall on the other end of the room. Scarlet squinted, realizing that the rays were coming from the sun. The sky was visible from the hole in the wall, making it look more like a window.

Scarlet heard the rattle of chains. She kept alert, her eyes adjusting to the sunlight. Against the wall near the window on the other side of the square room in front of her was a large shadow, sitting in a prone position. It stared at the window through a white slit in what appeared to be a face.

“What are you?”

Light from the sun outside flared into the room, the barrier that shrouded the mighty frame lifted by the sun’s spell. The shadows shriveled up as the darkness in the corner of the room vanished inch by inch, revealing her body.

A scream nearly breached the lips of Scarlet’s mouth. It was a mare, nearly double her size, with wings spread up against the wall. Her wonderful horn would’ve been pristine and unchanging had a large fissure at the base not stolen the detective’s attention. The horn ached, ready to completely split in two with any small movement. One of the mare’s ears was missing, something resembling teeth markings scarring the base of her skull that attached the missing organ. Her mane reflected the exact same pattern as the pony she had met by the steep wall, but there was no fire to give, nor heat to exert. The flame Scarlet expected was nonexistent, and the fiery colors illustrated by the stallion were faded, resembling a pile of smoldering coal over an honorable inferno.

Her face was mangled, a scar stretched from her cheek to the bottom of her chest, and the sheen of her soft, yellow eye weakened as the light reflected it's laughable color.

Her hooves were covered with shoes that were worn and torn well beyond their years, shoes that hadn't been cleaned for ages. She focused on Scarlet, turning her head completely to face the young detective. .

Scarlet's jaw dropped in shock.

The alicorn’s left eye was gone, healed over messily by a hasty spell that left behind layers of folded and damaged flesh. Her eyes continued to blink in unison, the folds shifting into the empty socket with each shutter. Wounds, some fresh and bleeding, covered her body, bruises decorating the pony from the chest down. The large mare’s tail mimicked her mane in disgrace, and her legs twitched helplessly against the cold, hard rock.

Most disturbing, however, was the spot of her flank. A large crater, one that tore into the meat and sinew of her backside, replaced her mark. No folded skin was here as was on her eye, and blood dripped carelessly down her flank and onto the cave floor from the wound. A wisp of magic continuously swirled about the gash in her flank, consecutively healing the rotting flesh, but never stopping the slow blood flow. A piece of meat fell from her body, her eyes and face wrinkled with pain as it hit the ground. The magic gathered around the muscle, and quickly repaired it, placing it back into her scar with haste.

"It's... healing,” Scarlet nearly lurched.

"Yeah. Not a pretty sight, huh?"

Scarlet almost doubled over, instead opting to back up against the wall near the exit. "Who... What happened to you?" The corpse looked back at her. She felt the gaze coming from the older pony, even from the emptied socket.

“I’m what you get when you combine a naive foal and ignorant faith,” she spoke again. Her voice was calm, collected, completely disregarding the terrible condition its body was in, with the exception of a friendly rasp. She motioned towards Scarlet, sending off a rattle of chains that had been buckled to her ankles. Her wings fidgeted against their own chains, spread out and bolted to the cave wall.

"Hey Scarlet," she blinked, "I'm Gemini."

Author's Notes:

Apologies for the wait. Been on a hiatus as of late. Enjoy the chapter!
- G. R.

305: Dopplegänger

S-So you’re the pony that Princess Celestia mentioned?” Scarlet asked, wincing when the skin on the pony’s vacant eye flapped shut.

“The one and only,” she replied. Her voice had a unique, hardy grit to it. Unlike the other alicorns back in Equestria, her voice didn’t carry the steady demeanor of a Princess along with it. The tone felt prepped, ready to burst with energy despite her terrible condition. The chains rattled as the mare shifted against the hard ground.

Scarlet’s hooves warmed up. The ground was getting hotter, but not uncomfortably so. She turned her eye back to cyclops. “I… I never expected you to be an alicorn. It’s a shock.”

She responded with a short chuckle, spitting out of the open window leading to the outer layer of the mountain. Her horn continuously swirled about with frightening arcane strength. “Glad to surprise you, but did you honestly expect anypony else to survive out here? It’s a mess.”

The grey mare felt her body ease up from the tension of their encounter. She rested her haunches on the ground, making herself as comfortable as she could be. “After what I’ve been through in the last week and then some, I honestly didn’t know what to expect.”

“Heh. What did you have to deal with?” Gemini’s voice eagerly questioned the filly’s adventure.

Scarlet tapped her hoof like a counter. “A cockatrice, a large pack of timberwolves, and then the Plains of Woe,” she paused, remembering the fresh, cold smile of the stallion she met just an hour ago, “and that strange pony.”

“Heh, yeah. I managed to get to Ignis just fine, no scratches whatsoever,” Gemini continued, ignoring Scarlet’s skeptical look. “Strange pony? Whaddya mean?”

“Well, he was creepy to be around. He… He smiled too hard. Told me he murdered a bunch of ponies back in Equestria, so I ran as far away as I could. I didn’t want to be anywhere near him.”

Gemini took a moment to let her claims sink in. She smirked, exploding into a fit of laughter that caused her body to twitch. The meat on her open wound fidgeted before another piece fell out.

“Son of a bitch!” She flinched between gasps of air. “Yeah, I know who you’re talking about. Relax, he’s harmless,” her magic flared to life again, circling around the wound, mending it.

“How,” the detective nervously started, “How are you doing that so consistently? Doesn’t it hurt?”

“It’s head-splitting,” she replied. “Alicorns have bountiful magic. The sisters can move stars and planets, right?” Her mane lit up for a moment, burning in a similar fashion to the colt in the tunnels. “In any case, I’m pretty bad at medicinal spells. Time and aging spells are totally up my alley though.”

“Time spells? You’re-”

Gemini gave Scarlet a toothy grin, “Just reversing the damage. It doesn’t hold long, but it helps ease the pain, and I can’t get the damn thing to revert to the moment before I got the scar. It’s bullshit.”

Scarlet shuddered. Gemini’s voice just oozed with confidence, reminding her of a specific unicorn several thousand feet below. “I-If you don’t mind, how did it… you know…?”

Gemini followed the red maned mare’s hoof to her exposed meat. “Oh, that’s easy. First things first though, you’re from Canterlot, right?”

“…I am? Why?” she raised an eyebrow.

“Got any food?”

Scarlet pulled her hat back, letting it fall to her neck. “Sorry Gemini,” she reached for the water she had been carrying, hearing the fluid swish around in the half empty container. “I have a bit of water,” she reached in her coat, “and some nuts here, but that’s everything.”

A deep red aura gripped at the water and nuts, hurling them straight at Gemini. Scarlet’s eyes widened as the nuts and water disappeared down her throat.

“That… was all I had left,” Scarlet mumbled, catching the empty water bottle tossed back to her. Gemini gave a greedy swallow and sigh of relief as the food quickly moved through her system. Her mane and body quivered, gaining a stronger aura for a brief moment before fading back to the pale reds and orange.

“You’re fine. There’s water near the entrance of Ignis,” Gemini noted. “Strange though. Normally they come with a lot more than just a hoof’s worth of food. It’s complete shit to just live off the magically grown fruits that grow at the base of the mountain.”

Scarlet removed the band holding her mane together, letting her hair fall back into its natural pattern after a quick shake. She took a breath before storing her bottle, and gave the alicorn a curious look. “What do you mean by that?”

“Hmm?” Gemini’s head turned from staring out the window expectantly.

“I mean, I came from Canterlot, but,” she looked out the window, “were you expecting somepony?”

“Soon yeah, if you’re not that pony,” Gemini commented. “Celestia always sends somepony every now and then with a ‘care package.’”

Scarlet cringed at her spiteful tone.

“I just expected you to be that pony. Guess not, huh?”

“Sorry Gemini,” Scarlet looked down.

“Don’t sweat it. Besides,” her horn pulsed as another tremor shook their foundation. “That would explain the little bitch down below.”

“Huh?”

“Oh it’s nothing big,” Gemini waved a hoof at her. “An old friend decided to visit, and I’m not exactly the happiest mare now that she’s here. It’s fine though,” her horn gleamed, “As far as I’m concerned, her tight little ass is considered kicked.”

The young pony waved over at the burning alicorn. “Sh-She’s… Her name is Jessica. She’s a friend of mine. She helped me across the plains.”

“Yeah I gotcha,” Gemini snorted, her mind in another realm, “Just thought I’d lay out the welcome mat.”

Scarlet hesitated, tracing into the ground with a hoof. “How do you know Jessica?”

Gemini’s eyes shut in concentration. Her mane burned brighter. “We go back.”

“Go back? But I’ve never even heard of you. You’re an alicorn,” she said. “Celestia just barely mentioned you less than a month ago.”

“I like to keep a low profile. Anyways,” her cracked horn calmed down after another moment of channeling, “I’ve gotta repay ya for the snacks. Let’s switch gears for a sec.”

‘Put that on the checklist,’ Scarlet agreed to Gemini’s request. “I suppose. Anyways, you never answered me about your… um, wound. Or better yet, how an alicorn has slipped under the radar for, at the very least, my entire life.”

“I’ve been incognito for quite some time.” She looked down at her rotten flank. “Anyways, I got this baby a long time ago, right after my time in Equestria.”

“That’s an awfully gentle way of describing it,” Scarlet scratched her head. Clearing her throat, she continued, “What part of Equestria?”

“Where else but Canterlot? I doubt the Princesses would allow an alicorn to freely run amok in Equestria. Unless things have changed?”

“I’m… not quite sure how to answer that,” Scarlet slowly shrugged.

“You’re one of them police types,” the large mare’s mane lit up. “Alright, lesee. My name’s Gemini, and I lived in Northern Canterlot a long, long time ago. I was actually affiliated with the royal families back then, too.”

Scarlet pulled out her notepad and started scribbling the information down. Gemini watched the busy mare with studious eyes.

“My turn?”

The detective quizzically perked her head, looking the alicorn in the eye.

“To ask a question. Eyes for an eye, right?”

Scarlet shuddered at the phrase. “S-Sure.”

“You’re not related to the packages Celestia sends. The only other ponies that show up here are exiled ponies and Equestrian convict punks who got away from the cops. Anyways, you’re neither of those things. That means you’re here for another reason. So what’s your story?”

A pencil flew across the paper, Scarlet kept eye contact and cleared her throat. “I-I’m Scarlet. Scarlet Trace. Celestia suggested that Jessica and I come here to find some answers to our case.”

“Case? You’re a detective?”

Scarlet took offense to her surprised tone of voice, but she quickly put it behind her. “Yes. We’re trying to solve a mystery about a missing pony from Ponyville, as well as what link it might have to a murder of a stallion in Canterlot that happened recently.”

“And she sent you to me,” her voice replied, unamused. “Well I don’t know much about anything from Ponyville that isn’t in the papers.” Gemini’s horn flickered, and from her back came a rolled up newspaper that had far outworn its use. “I get a few of these bad boys once every three to four months. The packages usually come with major papers and their news. If there’s a case about a pony from Ponyville, then you’ve come to the wrong mare.”

“Damn,” Scarlet whispered.

“However,” Gemini unrolled the paper, “This one mentioned a strange death in Canterlot recently. Some poor sap called Conroy Justis. That your stallion?”

Scarlet flinched at how casually the alicorn mentioned the case. The aged pony immediately took notice of the mare’s reaction to her words.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. Was he special to you?”

“He was my father.”

“…Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine,” Scarlet looked at her hooves, “You just didn’t know.”

“Anyways, if you’re helping out on this little number, I might be able to help. Hell, I can kill two birds with one stone like this.”

“Y-You can?” Scarlet tilted her head.

“You asked earlier how I got this shitty thing on my ass,” Gemini motioned to the bleeding flesh. “I had my own suspicions after reading about this in the papers.”

“How are they at all related?”

“Well, if I’m on the mark,” she gave another cheeky smile, “and I usually am, then I might be able to explain a little bit of what happened to this poor little colt.”

Scarlet’s eyes turned into saucers. “I-If you can, if it’s not any trouble,” she stammered, “please, do.”

“No problem,” Gemini started to chuckle. It quickly turned into a wince as another part of her plopped to the floor. She quickly repaired it and looked back at her eager company. “It’s just an educated guess, so don’t expect it to be completely accurate.” Her weak chuckle turned into an excited laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“Sorry, it’s just that I get pretty hyped when somepony comes by to do this. Not very many of the cons really care for talking after I get done with them, and most of the colts and mares that come with the packages don’t bother to stick around. One or two at best.” Gemini tapped her hoof against her chin. “Been awhile now that I think about it. Anyways, before I begin, can I ask you one last question?”

“Whatever it takes,” Scarlet gulped.

“Do you know what Scars are?”

She looked back at Gemini, utterly confused. “Like the thing on your flank?”

“No. Well, yes. I mean… maybe? It’s weird,” Gemini paused, gathering the words to help her explain. “It’s a title, a term. Kinda like… uhh,” if she had fingers, Gemini would be snapping them vigorously, “Oh, a name!”

Scarlet pondered the question for a moment, searching through her mental archives for any mention of ‘Scars’ back at the Agency. “Not that I know of.”

Gemini’s ears folded back in disappointment. “God dammit. Celestia still doesn’t buy it.”

“…What?”

“Well, if she sent you here now, then maybe she’s finally gonna give me the chance I deserve,” she grinned.

“What?”

Waves of flames devoured the room in a mighty inferno that swirled. A small orange bubble was visible within the ignited maelstrom, being tossed about like a foal’s plaything. The black mare within the shield remained still within the vortex, her world dangling and twirling in every direction.

Her magic exploded from the tip of her horn, sending out waves of frenzied orange bolts that discharged the fiery attack. The storm fizzled into the air, leaving the room covered in thick smog. Another flicker of her strength, and the smoke from the fire immediately vanished, leaving Jessica Scrawl posed in the center of the room.

The mysterious creature retreated to the safety of the shadows, its vision locked on the mare in the spotlight.

“Over here, hot stuff.”

The entity jerked, swinging its flowing form around to meet face to face with a pulsating, black horn. A spell fired directly from her tool, ripping into the entity with enough force to send it twirling about in the air in recoil. It let a shrill sound out of its body, as though in pain.

Jessica cleared her throat and sneaked her way back to the center of the room. The other form of her raised her hoof, giving the original a high hoof before vanishing in a puff of smoke. On the floor, replacing the cloned mare, was a little doll made exactly in her likeness.

The black unicorn lifted the doll with her magic and held it atop her head. “One of my cutest spells. It never gets old.”

“Cute is all I can say about it,” a voice loomed as the shadow crept back into view. Its form bunched together in the air as it gathered power for another spell. Jessica immediately formed another safety bubble, waiting for the next attack.

She gasped as interference in her horn caused the shield to pop. A ringing sound flooded her ears as a blinding magic swallowed the witch whole.

A high pitched scream ripped through the hardened, rock walls of the cavern surrounding her. Her voice scraped against her throat like sandpaper, feeling a surge of pain rocket through her body in vicious waves. A burning hot aura engulfed her body, surrounding a gentle barrier of rogue magic that she had been resisting for what felt like eons. The strange magic pricked at her body with painful, malevolent stabs, manifesting into open wounds on her body.

The pony gasped for breath, letting out another destructive yell. Her barrier gripped around her body as tightly as it could, doing its best to combat whatever curse she was under. Beneath the soul shredding agony, her mind struggled to come to terms with exactly what was happening to her. With no experience in the matter, and no idea of how to respond to the incredible pain building up in her haunches, she clenched her eyes and teeth together.

She expected death, and stubbornly deciding to resist it until she could scream no longer.

The enigmatic spell shifted focus, all of its attention drawn to her familiar cutie mark. A large focus of energy gathered against the symbol of a brilliant sun against a cloudless sky. The pony felt her lungs drain as another shriek escaped through her teeth.

It was as quick as a bolt of lightning. Her body ripped itself to pieces, blood gushing onto the hard floor. She refused to open her eyes, to acknowledge the feeling of her body being torn apart. Tears escaped through her pinched eyelids as a soothing numbness took over.

Death had come, and she embraced it with a sigh of relief.

Jessica’s eyes flashed open, her form sweating and trembling from the vision. Her body ached and groaned under her own weight, her strength completely drained from her ethereal experience. She glanced around her surroundings, she had been returned to the battlegrounds underneath Ignis.

“I,” she felt the sweat drenching her forelock, “don’t understand. I just… don’t.”

She fell to her knees, fatigue sucking her will to continue from her body. Jessica’s head shot up, spotting movement in the distance. The essence was still lingering, waiting for her to respond to her experience, she assumed.

“You’re a stubborn one. It’d be impressive if you weren’t so disgusting to look at.”

The scribe growled at the insult, pulling herself shakily back on her hooves. Her horn pulsed, whisking magic around her body. The wound atop her head sealed itself gently, and the numerous bruises, burns, and cuts she had accrued thus far from the battle disappeared without a trace.

She gasped, feeling her horn crackle at the excess magic she just released from the spell.

‘I need to either end this, or get the hell out of here,’ she cracked her neck.

“Really disgusting. Did you steal that spell too?”

“I don’t get you, cloud,” Jessica spat at the entity. “I don’t know how the hell you expect me to react to… whatever it is that image was. You’re as insane as I am if you think it’s going to stop me!”

The shadow remained motionless.

“I suppose I just need to beat it into your skull a bit longer.”

“Gemini? An alicorn Princess!?” The cobalt colt took a step back, almost bumping into his winged companion with the shock. He regained his stance and continued, “How come the Agency doesn’t know about this information? I’d think we’d have access to something this huge!”

“Calm down, maggot,” Steele filled his lungs. “Celestia only brought it up with me just this morning. She was very hesitant to send Scarlet and Jessica to her.”

The hoofsteps of the three ponies clacked against the ground as they beelined for Steele’s office. The main room at the Agency was buzzing with life from other detectives running about, reporting their findings on a variety of different material. Locks quickly took a gander at Scarlet’s desk. Another pony had temporarily taken her position, signing paperwork for other agents working out in the field.

“So that’s what they left Equestria for,” Locks muttered.

A flap of wings and a blow of a whistle caught the attention of the stallions.

“As long as Jessica’s keeping a good eye on her, I doubt Scarlet would be in much trouble, even if she’s sick. She’ll be more careful about exerting herself after we sent her the letter,” Steele assured the younger detective.

“I still don’t like it. She’s not well, and this case is getting thicker.” Locks fidgeted, “And if this thing happens to be a disease of some kind… What do we have that’s anything similar to a cutie mark epidemic?”

Another note flew by the colts on a stray wind.

“A strain of the Cutie Pox? I can see that being possible, but the symptoms are nothing alike,” Steele replied to the worried look on Amy’s face. “Cutie Pox are generally harmless, and if Ms. Sparkle’s report carries its weight, then we know that it has an herbal cure.” The leader of the Agency slowed his pace as they entered the narrow pathway towards the three rooms in the back of the building. “Perhaps it’s a cousin of the strain? It’s far more violent.”

“Nixie Hope and Detective Justis had the exact same symptoms before they died, sir.” Locks narrowed his eyes, “Heavy coughing and fatigue. I talked to Scarlet before she left. She looked tired. She had a cough.”

“That’s not enough to assume that she caught whatever it is this might be. Even so, Scrawl’ll let us know if Trace gets any worse. If that happens, we can bring her back to Canterlot and have her rest up.”

“Sir,” the detective’s red eyes sparked, “are you finally conceding?”

“That Trace is in trouble? Possibly. I was skeptical at first, but after your little hypothesis, and the whole mission involving this Gemini pony, I’m prepared to accept what may very well be the truth.” His steps gained vigor at the sight of his office. “I’ll be having a little chat with the Princess about this Gemini character in more detail. If Trace is infected, it’ll only get worse. We don’t even know if it’s contagious.”

“We need to be more cautious with Scarlet, sir. As a matter of fact,” Locks’ gaze hardened, “I think it might be for the better if we completely removed her from the mission.”

All three ponies stopped several feet from the gray colt’s office. He partially turned his head towards the eager detective behind him. “Absolutely not.”

Locks felt the heat rise in his gut. “What? Sir, what’s the reason?”

“Several,” Steele turned back to his door. “One: she’s getting us closer to the source if this entire mess. Once we get Gemini’s testimony in our hooves, we may very well be able to solve both of the cases in their entirety.” He gripped the knob in a hoof, “Two: Scrawl’s watching her, and they’re both aware of her condition by now. I doubt that Scrawl would jeopardize Trace’s health to such extremes, even if it meant the conclusion of the case; she’s competent enough to finish off the rest after Gemini. Besides, she’s fond of Trace.”

The door to his office flew open, “And three: Spooking her with her disease will only work to endanger the integrity of the mission. We can’t have Trace moving about the outskirts of Equestria in a half panic, looking for an alicorn that we just barely found to exist. She’s sloppy enough as a detective as is.” Steele walked through the threshold, turning around to face his protégé. “I trust the Princess’ judgment, and I trust Scrawl to do her job perfectly. I can’t allow somepony like you to interfere with that process through some sentimental bullshit.

“I care for her too, maggot. She’s the only daughter of my best friend. But I also know that this case is just about ready to crack itself wide open, and the only way that’s going to happen is if I can rely on everypony to do their job.

“Now get out of my sight,” Steele winced at the younger colt, “You have work to do too.”

Locks’ mane flew back as the door in front of him slammed. He stared back at the name engraved on the door, his ruby eyes burning.

“To protect the integrity of the mission,” Locks whispered. “He’s willing to throw Scarlet into a bear cage to do it.” A blue hoof crashed against the ground in frustration. He turned to Amethyst, who could only offer another gentle note from her tool.

“Sorry Amy. I… I lost control for a second.”

She wrapped a hoof around his neck, a spare wing layered around his head.

“Thanks. You understand where I’m coming from, right? Don’t you feel the same way?”

The mute guardian replied with a nod of her head.

“Of course. We’re all friends here. It only makes sense to care like we do.

The defeated Locks and his companion quickly made their way to the front of the office. As they passed through the doors, flooded by the light from outside, they were greeted by a bright, ivory coat.

A strange lantern hung from the mare’s body, covered by her bright pink hair.

Mystery Hart gave her daughter’s friends a heartfelt smile, lifting her half empty bottle of vodka. “Domino, Amy, would you like to come to Ponyville with me?”

“I was the first victim of Scars, you know.”

Scarlet sat silent and still, trying to take in what Gemini had just dropped on her.

“Since I was the only one to buy into it, I thought that it’d make sense to give it a name. Just something to identify it as. I talked to Celestia about it but she never really put much thought into it. “

“Does…” Scarlet’s voice slowly trailed behind Gemini’s enthusiasm, “Does this have anything to do with your story?”

“Story? Oh right! Totally.” Gemini gave the younger mare a wink through her absent eyelid. “You’ll be the first to ever know about it. What a privilege, right?”

“R-Right…”

“Let’s get started.”

Author's Notes:

Another quick chapter. Shorter ones like these will be making faster appearances. The next chapter should be up sometime early next week.

The rest of this "Gemini Arc," as well as the rest of the next Arc (which itself is pretty short) I'm looking to have updated by the end of January. Chapters should be getting updated once every two days or so until the end of the month.

With that said, please enjoy the chapter.

- G. R.

306: Rebel

Author's Notes:

Putting this at the top as a disclaimer that this chapter is gigantic in comparison to the rest. It is easily one of the largest in the story. These will be rare, if they ever happen again. Just giving you readers a heads up. I'll be uploading another as soon as this one is done to make up for the lack of weekend updates.

Cheers!

- G. R.

Mount Ignis stood tall against the wastelands that stretched in every conceivable direction around it. Life stirred within those rocky walls, each one scattered and insignificant, thought of only as food for the Plains of Woe that surrounded the mountain. Small sources of flora at the base gave the barren environment a splash of color, sticking out above the dull browns and grays of the dried up desert.

Spare rocks, no larger than a hoof, tumbled down the side of the mountain, and gusts of heated air exhaled from the mouth of the cave carved into Ignis. A smoky fragrance wafted through the exit to the labyrinth inside, followed quickly by a quick rumble that carried itself several feet under the ground at the base.

A vicious struggle raged beneath the surface. Arcane waste from the numerous and powerful spells evaporated through the rock that buried the underground caverns, lazily rising through the cracks and into the open sky above the plains. The hungry environment quickly accepted the magical run-off of the battle, consuming it to be put to further use for the next soul trapped on the Plains of Woe.

Another boom rattled the trees closest to Ignis, and then all fell silent. The seepage coming through the ground eventually faded as the sources of magic stopped their consistent spell fluxes.

A black mare was seated in the center of the familiar cavern, her eyes glazed and her head down. The sound of her petrified breathing cooed throughout the multitude of burnt and wounded rock that had been carved by her struggle against the shadow. Her expression was pained, ignoring the entity that still remained nearby.

“You remember now?”

The voice from the looming cloud grabbed her attention. Jessica Scrawl looked back up to the specter. Tears stained her coat. She silently nodded, the horrid ringing still banging against her mind.

“The memory will only grow stronger, until it’s fully realized. You should consider yourself lucky that I held onto it for so long. Equestria isn’t prepared for somepony like you; god help us if you grew up with something so terrifying at the back of your mind.”

“I don’t know whether I should thank you or spite you,” Jessica whispered under her breath. The shadow hung to her words. If it had a mouth, the unicorn wasn’t sure whether it’d be smiling at her pain, or wrinkling its brow in pity.

The shadow floated back a distance, sizing up the weak unicorn. Its form swung upward, ready to finish her with one final spell. The mist froze, looking back at the singed form of the black mare. Jessica lowered her head, her form slouched and waiting for the blow to come.

The mysterious form of the specter relaxed. Small traces of magic that it had gathered for its attack evaporated into nothingness. “I’m done here.”

Jessica’s ears perked up. Her eyes rose up to look the creature head on.

“Whatever you do from here on out is none of my business. I don’t particularly care. You’re Equestria’s problem.”

The last words hung in the air as the smoky substance finally started to dissipate. Jessica mouthed the shadow’s last word as the silence returned to her. Her tears grew cold, drying up against her coat as the memory faded back into the depths of her mind.

She flinched, hearing the vague sounds of a familiar scream, one she’d heard many years before her time at the Agency. Her body fidgeted as she lifted herself to her hooves, lifting one to wipe her face clean. Her bruises and cuts from the battle stained her voluptuous physique; a fact the mare grimaced at.

“A problem,” she cleared her throat. “That’s what Dodge Junction called me back then.” She chuckled, “I bet if they remembered me, I’d still be on the run.”

Jessica took in a deep breath, enjoying the control that was returning to her from her strenuous encounter. “All of these urges and these gut instincts over the last few years. It all makes so much sense now,” she grinned. Her eyes narrowed, a spare hoof grinding against the hard ground. “Waking up in the desert, traveling all alone as a filly,” her memories flooded her vision. An older, yellow mare looked down at her with a huge grin on her face, as if the heavens had finally gifted her.

“I still remember the day mom found me in her pumpkin patch,” she recalled. “Jackie was always good to me.”

The scream pierced through her mind again.

“It all explains so, so much,” Jessica winced. “Dodge turned to shit after I left.

“I can’t say sorry, because there’s no way I can atone for what I did to you,” she spoke louder, hoping that the entity could still hear her. “You told me I was Equestria’s problem, and I guess that that’s also true,” Jessica looked down, sighing in defeat. “And maybe I was okay with that before, but now…”

Jessica made her way back to the entrance of the cavern. “I know what I have to do, but doesn’t that make me the villain?”

A sudden warmth flowed through her body, a feeling she recognized far too well. She confidently took another strong step, her smile returning. Her horn spun a trickle of magic around her body, her eyes locked onto the zipping light. The particles of the spell touched her wounds, instantly making them vanish. The stains of blue on her body evaporated, and in a flash, the damage she accrued from the battle was completely gone.

“None of this changes what I gotta do,” she spoke with a strong sense of conviction. Her smile only grew at the events she predicted to come from her decision. “I think these next few weeks are going to get quite interesting.”

THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO

A flame erupted from the tip of a unicorn’s horn, causing a spectacle to the other ponies surrounding her. The older filly cracked a grin, keeping her focus on the pillar of flame that was now spiraling in the air. The fire twisted and turned, morphing into a cohesive shape in the sky. It created a body, shaping it into a funnel with a frightful face and sharp fangs protruding from the maw. The serpent burned as it coiled throughout the air, rocketing higher and higher into the sky.

The crowd watched in awe as the red coated mare aimed her horn at her creation. Another spark of magic shot out like a bullet, striking the spell in mid-air. It combusted into a brilliant explosion that lit up the sky in a hue of deep reds and yellows.

“Amazing,” she heard one of the voices in the crowd. She bowed as modestly as she could, her grin stretching across her face.

“I prefer awesome, but that’s fine too,” Gemini finally cracked. “Took me a long time to get that one down when I was a foal.”

The crowd surrounding her suddenly snapped at attention, hearing the trumpets nearby signaling the coming of the two royal sisters. Gemini’s ears perked up at the tune, and eagerly took her seat next to everypony else in anticipation.

Gemini brushed her short, yellow mane aside. It barely reached the base of her neck, and with her advanced magic, she had given it a border of orange. Her tail was of equal length and appearance in relation to her mane, and her figure spoke of an ambitious and well kept physical regimen. Though it didn’t seem to bother her, she was one of the minorities in the crowd that day; her flank was nothing more than a bare red coat.

Ponies started moving towards the towering castle that stood before them in the field they waited in. A solitary dirt road trailed from the entrance to the structure back towards the small town of Canterlot just about a half hour trot south. The grassy plains and fresh air that surrounded the castle gave it a fantastic ambiance Gemini recognized from fairy tales she was told as a foal. She chuckled, comparing the castle in front of her to the pictures in her books was nothing short of an insult to the craft that housed the two new princesses of Equestria.

Coming from a distinguished background herself, Gemini was well aware of what the regal sisters had to go through to reach their new-found princess-hood. It was a test most families of high stature put their fillies and colts through when they came of age, eagerly hoping that their kin were the next in what would be a line of noble and powerful alicorn rulers.

“Ponies are taken to a special room,” Gemini said to herself, her heart already pumping as she passed through the threshold of the castle’s entrance. Ponies around her continued to chatter away amongst one another, each one excited to finally meet their new and improved Equestrian leaders. “And with their magic, they empower a special gate that leads to a place called the ‘Celestial Plain.’ They’re tested for their strength of heart and will, and if they are accepted…”

Gemini came to an abrupt halt as the crowd around her was funneled into a small door ahead. She shuddered under the weight of the magic permeating from the room. Her horn ached to channel a spell right there with all of the power flowing from the room.

“If they’re accepted, they become alicorns,” she straightened her stature as she entered the room.

The castle itself was still under heavy construction, but the room she was being escorted to was near fully complete. The walls were colored with a powerful, thick blue material, very different from the open ended, grand scale of the rest of the rooms and hallways. Vertically, the room wasn’t as tall as Gemini had expected either, realizing that with a well-placed jump, she could probably touch the ceiling with a spare hoof.

The room was still open ended and vacant of most pleasantries that Gemini expected from the rest of the castle, though with Canterlot itself barely beginning major construction, she wasn’t too disappointed. The visuals were the least of her worries as is. At the end of the room, there was a large, circular platform shaped like a opened seashell. The lid held a mirror that hung against the wall at the end of the room, with small barriers of magic preventing anypony from getting too close to it.

“That must be the gate to the Celestial Plain,” Gemini felt her body ignite with excitement. She struggled to stay put until the Princesses arrived. Her first real meeting with the first successfully ascended ponies was putting her on edge.

She was seated quickly within the crowd that slowly filled up the room. Gemini took a deep breath at the sound of the trumpets once again. A crowd of precise hoofsteps forced her to turn her head back to the entrance, along with every mare and colt occupying the small room.

The red mare’s eyes twinkled when she finally caught sight of them. Behind all of the royal guards, each one donning spectacular golden armor, she spotted the two sisters. One was of a pure, white coat that sparkled brightly in the light coming from the entrance of the room, while the other’s coat was painted with dark hues of blues, similar to that of a somber night sky. On their flanks were the symbols of both the sun and the moon, fresh and ready to be put to use for the entirety of the country.

Princess Celestia and Luna made their way to the front of the room, greeting everypony along their path.

The crowds were already thinning out. The induction ceremony went nearly perfect, and the ponies held in their seats were finally allowed to fan out and inspect both the developing castle and talk to the Princesses themselves if they chose. Many of the older ponies shied away from the direct encounter with the two new rulers of Equestria, but Gemini kept her eyes locked on them from across the room with determination to introduce herself.

Her horn sparked as Gemini focused a spell. She watched the guards around the room, placing her horn near a wall when she felt that she was unnoticed by any of the unicorns wandering about the chamber. The point of contact with the wall glinted for a moment before fading out. Confident in her work, the eager young mare gave herself a nod before heading back to the front of the room, where the Princesses were wrapping up the final stragglers that desired a word with them.

Princess Celestia’s form perked up at the sight of the fiery unicorn. Luna headed for another pony to continue her business while Gemini approached, no sign of hesitation, restraint, or weakness in her trot.

“You seem excited to introduce yourself,” the princess of the sun smiled, “May we have your name?”

“You sure as hell can!” Gemini stamped her feet in front of the Princess. She paid no mind to the guards that braced themselves around the room, nor the other occupants who stopped to gasp at her rude interruption. “The name’s Gemini. Just Gemini.”

Celestia entertained her new guests’ deviant introduction. “We’re happy that you came to witness our induction ceremony today. We take it you really enjoyed the festivities?”

“Definitely,” Gemini shook her head, brushing the mane out of her face that came crashing down over the top of her eyes. “So how was it?”

Celestia tilted her head, “How was what exactly?”

“The ascension, obviously,” Gemini lowered her voice. “What was it like?”

The taller pony replied, “It was enlightening. It’s an experience we won’t be forgetting for some time. That aside, we’re surprised that one such as yourself is so blunt about something so… divine.”

“I value honesty and straightforwardness, Princess,” Gemini puffed out her chest, “Any other nonsense just gets in the way of that. I’d rather just cut to the chase.”

Celestia amused Gemini with another laugh. “Come to think of it, we’re also aware that not very many ponies even know what happens during the ceremony that led to our ascension. How do you know of such things, Miss Gemini?”

“My parents aren’t just some wealthy unicorns,” Gemini started. “We don’t have direct ties to the royal family, but word gets around Princess, and we’re definitely one of the first stops that those rumors take before we hoof it off to anypony else that’s interested.”

“So your parents informed you of the workings behind this induction?”

“Yep,” Gemini gave Celestia a grin. “I also know that there hasn’t been an ascension for some time. Does that explain your change, or is that normal?”

“Change? You mean this new body?”

Celestia’s voice lost a tinge of it’s regal tone. Gemini smirked as she warmed up to the princess. “I’m aware that if an induction isn’t successful for longer than intended, that the excess builds up until a suitable character is eventually chosen. Granted,” Gemini let herself walk about Celestia, admiring her new physique, “that there were two successful ascensions today, that’s a ton of potent magic the two of you absorbed. How was that?”

Celestia no longer questioned the whereabouts of Gemini’s knowledge. “It was enlightening, much like a sunrise against a dark sky. We were almost overwhelmed by the power that we could now invoke on a whim.”

Gemini felt the excitement flow through her veins.

Noticing the sparkle in the eccentric mare’s eye, Celestia continued, “You seem awfully happy, Gemini. May we inquire as to why?”

She looked up at the princess and gulped. “Can I ask one more question?”

Celestia nodded.

“I heard from some of the royals that the induction process takes place once per generation. I’m ready and awaiting for my chance.”

The controller of the sun raised an eyebrow at the unicorn, not expecting something so bold. “You wish to become a princess?”

“Nah, I don’t think I can handle that kind of role,” Gemini waved her hoof.

Celestia was perplexed. “Then why exactly do you wish to take the test so much?”

“I want more power.”

The princess narrowed her eyes.

“You don’t understand,” Gemini added. “Power so that I can help other ponies. I’m an everymare. I love to help out whenever I can; I don’t care how difficult or easy the job is. You can see that for yourself with your new powers, can’t you?”

Celestia’s stature straightened up. She kept eye contact with Gemini as her horn flared to life. The fiery mare marveled at the tremendous magic that flooded through the air around the solar princess, not even budging when several strands of her magic grazed up against her body, spiraling around her with grace. Princess Luna and the straggling ponies stopped what they were doing to witness the powerful spell Celestia channeled.

The light show abruptly ended, an expression of surprise on the princess’ face gave Gemini all the ammunition she needed to flaunt her expertise. “I know, I know, I’m amazing.”

“Fascinating. You have a bounty of raw power just waiting to be unleashed,” Celestia commented. “But we need to remind you that it takes much more than just talent and skill to be able to ascend. It takes conviction and a strong will to endure the tests.”

“Oh, trust me: I’m so ready for that when the day comes.”

Celestia turned back to the shell-shaped gateway. “Well, we’ll be sure to keep in touch with you for when the moment comes to test the next generation of ponies.”

Gemini, satisfied with her encounter, bowed to the princess. “It’s been fun your highness, but I gotta go. Spells to learn and things to do.”

“This was a unique experience, Gemini,” Celestia lowered her head back, “You are a very special pony. We’d love to have an audience with you again sometime soon.”

Nightfall in the new land of Canterlot came peacefully, stretching across the land with a glittering carpet of dark blues and violets. The castle where the two new sisters were crowned stood proudly against the empty, dark road that stretched across the front. Small blips of light slowly dragged in a rhythm around the castle grounds, each coming from the tip of a horn off of a strong, armored pony. Vigilant, they prowled the grounds for intruders and other various threats that came from the wilderness beyond the baby city.

The now silent and empty room that housed the mirror remained still. The mirror continued to rest atop the shell-shaped stand, prepared to wait another century, or longer, for another heir to be realized after the regal sisters.

A light came through from the hallway. A guard, indistinguishable from the rest of his troop, poked his head into the room, scoping it out with the light attached to his horn. Lifeless, just like it was an hour ago. Content with his scheduled inspection, the stallion continued down the hall, checking in on all of the rooms decorating the hallway.

Minutes passed after the guard left the room. A spark dimly flashed against the wall of the room furthest from the entrance. It glimmered through the darkness, casting a strengthening light several feet around the wall. Quietly, the magic gathering around the source of the light popped, momentarily blinding the room with a brilliant light. As the darkness returned, a young, enthusiastic pony stood against it, her fiery mane swept against her head and her horn trembling with the waning power of her spell.

“I’d be safer to assume that the flash probably got a guard’s attention,” Gemini whispered to herself. “Once I’m through, I should be fine.”

She strolled hastily towards the mirror, staring back at her own reflection in the night. She gave herself an idle moment to assure herself that what she was doing was for the good of the ponies she aimed to please. An entire generation was far too long to wait; she needed the resources she desired now. The sapling country of Equestria needed her immediately.

Gemini’s horn activated again, a light buzzing sounded off and into the distance. She pointed her horn towards her own reflection, watching as a trace of her magic trickled from the tip and into the flat surface of the mirror. As it touched the glass, the young mare couldn’t help but marvel at the spell as it penetrated the gateway. She nearly lost focus, watching her spell pool behind the mirror, much like watching syrup slowly sink into a cup of water. The spell appeared bubbly and aloof on the other end of the glass, floating carelessly in the air.

The mirror finally responded with a twinkle of its own magic. The glass barrier melted against another brilliant flash of light. Gemini’s horn slowed to a halt, the fiery pony pausing to gaze in awe at the spectacle in front of her. She reached a hoof forward, letting her leg be swallowed momentarily by the essence beyond the glass. The light crept up her foreleg like a breeze before she pulled it back to her world.

Footsteps. They were coming fast. Gemini gasped, turning around to see several cones of light rushing towards the room she had so hastily broken into. She didn’t want to take any more chances. The gateway was open, and once on the other side, she’d be safe until her job was done.

She heard a gruff voice, its demands completely washed out by the barrier she hurled herself through. Her vision grew hazy, her body twisting and turning as if she was being reconstructed from head to toe. Her sense of direction and balance was completely overruled by this dimension between worlds. She gasped when she felt her body bounce along a soft, gentle surface, quickly regaining her composure upon landing.

Her eyes eased themselves into the new landscape that surrounded the unicorn. The ground beneath her had no feeling against her hooves. They sunk into a white mist that whisked about in the dimension without direction, some moving one direction, clusters shifting to the other. Each step, each motion against the mist resulted in small bunches of mist to kick up into the atmosphere as dazzling, white balls of ethereal fluff. They refused to fall back into the river of mist that stretched on for miles in all directions, opting to float about where they pleased.

The mist lost its liquid like texture as Gemini looked up. Above and around her in what she assumed was the sky to this world, more white mist could be seen, forming into long strands of cloud-like structures that rained down more of the tiny balls of mist.

The red pony felt empowered here. Her horn heated up with a strange essence. She reached into the ground, lowering her head and allowing her horn to graze against the mist. She gasped when she felt a sudden surge of disposition spill from her horn and into the atmosphere. It shot like a rocket into the heavens before bursting, disrupting the casual flow of the misty clouds up high.

“I-Incredible,” she gasped, “So much power. Is this mist raw disposition?”

Unnoticed by the pony in the center, a large gathering of mist in the sky, and on the ground, started to slowly rotate about, with her in the dead center of the mist. Every step she took resulted in a slow shift of the flow of the essence starting to swirl around her. The mist piled together, and it wasn’t until she could no longer see her hooves against the surface of the dimension that she realized that it had been rotating about her form.

Remembering her reason for coming so far, Gemini rooted herself against the mist and cleared her throat. “Hello there?” She paused, unsure of how to go about communicating with the essence of magic itself.

The dimension responded with a light twinkle in the sky. Balls of the magical mist touched her coat all over her body, leaving small bright lights glittering about her.

“Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have just come from here,” Gemini started, still not entirely sure if the plain understood her or not. “They both succeeded in their ascension to alicorn leaders. Stories tell of this place, this ‘Celestial Plain,’ where you are tried for your resolve and rewarded with strength beyond your capabilities if you pass the tests.”

The mist crawled up her legs from the floor. It didn’t feel threatening. In fact, Gemini couldn’t feel anything from these streams. They spiraled up her hooves, wrapping around each other like a net.

“I’ve come to test myself. I’ve come to ascend to the same level that the sisters have done earlier today,” Gemini puffed her chest out. “Equestria is going to need leaders. Not just princesses who move the sun and the moon, and certainly not just princesses who roost here in Canterlot without expanding their influence throughout the growing nation.

“This new world will need ponies who are willing to move around, and contribute all of their strength and will to every corner of Equestria. To create new places to live, and to keep its civilians safe from the harsh, outside world. I come here today,” Gemini narrowed her gaze to the sky above, “because I feel that I am a pony who can fulfill Equestria’s needs in that way.”

The mist reached up to her back, and then tied itself about her neck and the base of her head.

“I’m willing to conquer any challenge that lies ahead of me to prove my worth!” Gemini’s horn came to life.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain, one that came from every possible surface of her body. She immediately crumbled to her knees, her eyes wide in disbelief and her mouth hanging open in pure shock. She choked on her own screams as the twisted feeling of her flesh being torn from her body ripped through her mind like a vicious cyclone. The mist that had coiled around her body constricted it tightly, enveloping every inch of her red coat and orange-yellow hair with a pulsating white.

The pain dulled, but with every heartbeat, Gemini felt the jolt return, preventing her from lifting herself any more than an inch before falling back to the surface of the dimension. She kicked up several magical spores as she collapsed to her side, gasping for breath in the silent world around her. She focused on her thoughts, struggling long and hard to block out the wrenching, tearing feeling of her body being ripped apart.

‘It feels like it’s ripping my very essence out of my body,’ she thought as the oppressive force continued its work. Her legs twitched as she slowly regained control of her body. ‘I… I need to survive this.’

She slammed a hoof down in frustration, sending another clutter of flowing mist sky high. She felt her very spirit crying out as the coils tightened around her body. Her horn fizzled out; every ounce of magic channeled within it vanished.

“I-It’s… not draining it,” she lifted herself to her knees, “but what’s it doing?”

She felt a presence for the first time in this new place. It didn’t come from an external force around her. She couldn’t hear it, and it approached without a single sound. She felt another being, swirling around inside of her, mingling with the magical energies that coursed through her body. Letting her weight fall on her knees, her eyes widened and her form froze in fear when she finally understood what was happening.

“These coils are touching my disposition…”

The invader wrapped itself tightly around her magical aura, gripping it in its invisible clutches. Gemini felt no more pain, but failed to budge from the dread in her heart. She knew that a single slip up, an erroneous decision of any kind, could easily disrupt the flow of her disposition in her body.

One mistake now, and she would die on the spot.

Time stretched endlessly as the source explored her, testing every major point of her body through her magic. It reached up to her horn, down through her hooves, and even throughout her mane.

Gemini couldn’t help but feel a crashing wave of relief when she finally felt the hollow weight gripping her heart release her from death’s grasp. The coils of mist surrounding her weakened their grip, and her energy slowly came back as she picked herself up to her hooves.

Sweat was dropping off her chin, and her legs trembled from the rattling pain from her experience.

For the first time, she heard a noise coming from something other than herself. It came as a gust of wind coming from the swirling mist around her. It lifted dozens of spores into the air around Gemini, and as it brushed against her coat, she could hear what sounded like words spilling over her thoughts, one by one.

Confidence
Kindness
Passion
Power
Knowledge
Fire

The spores surrounding Gemini froze in place. They glittered in the sky, and as the words tumbled through her one by one, she felt waves of relief that soothed her rattled nerves. Another breeze came wafting through:

It's Time

The spores on this breeze clung onto the coils surrounding Gemini’s body. The tendrils surrounding her suddenly started to glow, given new life by the clots attaching themselves through the mist. The young pony felt another feeling starting to pour rapidly into her body.

There was no pain in this new phase of her test. Relief was all that came crashing through her veins. Her sore, aching body immediately recovered from her endeavor, the energy rushing into her form, forcing her up on her hind legs. She crashed her hooves into the ground with a huge grin on her face, a sense of endless bliss overwhelming her fragile emotional state. The excitement spelled on her muzzle set off a chain reaction of motions from the mist that was starting to pump itself inside of her.

Her coat started to light up against the dark skies of the Celestial Plain. Heat started to build up from her chest, throbbing hotter with each heartbeat. Her breathing hardened with each drum, while her mane and tail started to rapidly flicker about in the wind. The temperature surrounding her forced more mist into the air around her, while the vortex of swirling mist below closed in, focusing only on her form.

Raw magic started to fuse into her own disposition, her reward for the effort she went through to test herself in such a precarious world. Gemini’s stance weakened as the vortex erupted with strength below her, lifting her into the air and wrapping her in the mist that covered the ground. The air surrounding her body started to bend around her, creating a rippling effect that came from the great waves of heat erupting from her body. Steam rose from her pores, leaking through and into the atmosphere from her coat and horn.

Her body grew hotter with each passing second. Gemini could’ve sworn that any hotter, and she’d catch fire.

A roar of flames exploded above, and with a quick glance skyward, Gemini found herself staring at her new mane. It stretched up into space, easily several times longer than her old, short hair style. It reminded her of Celestia’s mane. It violently tore through the air like a flame, hot to the touch and burning away at some of the spores until they were nothing but tiny embers in the wind.

Her tail caught ablaze next, the flames crawled further than its original length, stretching her tail out to the same magnitude of her mane. They continued to burn, the heat of her chest almost ready to destroy her body until it melted into a molten puddle on the surface.

She screamed once more, shutting her eyes as the feeling of the flames rushed throughout her entire body, igniting all at once. Fire completely covered her body, engulfing her in a fiery twister of wind that ripped her old features apart. Her coat darkened against the flame, swallowing in the darkness of the sky to transform her fur into a darker red. Her legs expanded beyond her hooves through the flames. They quickly subsided to reveal set of four new legs, each one lithe and nearly double their original size. The rest of her body followed immediately behind, letting the flames of her transformation change her form into something that can appropriate the magical transplant she so generously accepted.

Two burning extensions tore outward against her coat, each one made completely of flames. The fire molded itself as it burned, flapping against the sky, creating a pair of hellish wings that rained tiny embers all around her.

Toxins. Remove.

The words barely registered to Gemini’s elated mind. She opened her eyes to see a trail of darkness being ripped from her body, kicked out of its host by the mist that continued to pour into her body. She let the world do its work on her, the transformation nearly complete.

A pull. A very hasted pull came from behind her. Her body was sucked away. Away from the wonderful feeling. Away from the generous world that blessed her with power beyond her imagination.

Incomplete…

The chirping of the crickets vanished. Gemini felt gravity return to her. She slowly started to catch her breath after all that she had experienced. She still felt a massive heat burning off of her body. Hesitating, Gemini opened her eyes.

She was outside of the castle, out in an open field. Several members of the Royal Guard where in front of her, with the mirror to the Celestial Plain planted in the center of their party. Each of the guards had a face of disbelief, staring at the new form of the young unicorn that had broken into the compound.

Princess Celestia stood behind the swarm, with Luna posted by her side.

The guards gasped and backed off as Gemini picked herself back up to her full height. She was able to stare directly ahead at Celestia without having to arch her neck up. She found that Luna was actually shorter than she was.

Looking down, she smelled a crisp, burning patch of vegetation. The grass beneath her feet was slowly burning black. The fur on her body was still glowing bright red, similar to that of a red hot piece of charcoal. She took in her first Equestrian breath in her new form, and exhaled. A small flame trickled out of her mouth in response, bending the air around her once again.

Her wings flapped open, feathered and lacking the flames they had in the Celestial Plain. Her mane was also made entirely of hair, but continued to flow regardless of the quiet night, rippling in a manner that mimicked a rushing inferno.

“Gemini,” Celestia spoke through the ranks of her guard in a quiet voice, “What have you done?”

Just then, a small glimmer of light flashed from behind Gemini’s body. The new alicorn turned around to face the source of the light.

Even Celestia, the ruler of all of Equestria, lost her composure.

“Your cutie mark,” the ivory pony nearly gasped. Against the flank of the new and improved Gemini, was a sun. A mighty, bright sun that shown brightly against a clear sky. The red alicorn’s gaze met her cutie mark for the first time.

“Why does this look so familiar,” Gemini’s elated expression suddenly deflated with horrific confusion. She knew too well the answer to her question. Her eyes had met that mark before, earlier in the day. When she had met the Princess of the Day.

“Because,” Princess Celestia motioned towards her mark, “That cutie mark belongs to me.”

Present

“Wh-What?” Scarlet’s notepad quivered in her hoof. “Two of the same cutie marks? How is that even possible?”

“Strange, right?” Gemini shifted in place. “It was the first time in history that any two ponies have shared the exact same cutie mark on their bodies.” She looked back out the window, grimacing at the hungry plains outside. “I’m not sure exactly how that happened, but I have a good idea.”

“You did mention hearing something during your time in the Celestial Plain,” Scarlet gripped her pen and notepad, taking a quick glance at her notes, “You said something along the lines of ‘incomplete.’”

“That’s right,” Gemini traced a patch of the ground, “It’s entirely possible that my ascension wasn’t entirely completed before Celestia’s Royal Guard pulled me back through the mirror.”

“What would happen if the process wasn’t completed? The way you describe it, you seemed all right otherwise.”

“Whatever it was that hadn’t been finished off in my transformation just might be what influenced my cutie mark,” Gemini explained. “It’s not too bizarre, but there’s no way I can prove that pulling me through the dimension prematurely was the exact cause. That’s why I’m still out here.”

Scarlet let her eyes wander as she pondered her next question. “So what happened next? They had you surrounded in a grassy field just outside of the castle.”

Gemini’s following chuckle was filled with bittersweet memories. “I did what any young mare would do when she’s spooked. I ran. I ran far, far away.” She looked to the ceiling, “and I never stopped running.”

THE PAST

“Shit,” Gemini tore past the border of the newly established Canterlot. Her hooves pounded heavily against the grass, combining with her frantic panting to create a broken melody in her head . “Fuck, fuck, fuck!”

The guards had since stopped chasing her, but she refused to stop. Her tracks were outlined, each hoofprint on the ground outlined by a small, red hot fire that lit up her escape path. Combined with her bright, molten coat, she could be hunted down at any time. Assuming that the Royal Guard was preparing for a long-term hunt, she continued to spread the distance between herself and the castle.

“I fucked up,” she dove headfirst into the Everfree Forest, “I fucked up so bad. Where do I go? I’ve never been so far outside. I have no idea where anything is!”

A flap of her wings illuminated the darkness with the scattering of embers. “I broke into the castle. I abused the power of the mirror. I can’t go back; they’ll just toss my ass into the dungeon.” She strengthened her wings, and without a moment’s hesitation, she took flight, burning straight through the thick blanket of branches and leaves that the trees coated the sky with.

“I can probably gain more distance this way,” she looked at the bits of flame her wings gave off, “but my trail still won’t be completely safe. I need to keep going.”

“Princess, the squad is nearly prepared to track her down,” a stern voice spoke from behind.

The tall, white alicorn turned her head to meet the armored colt. “Very well, captain. You may begin whenever everypony’s ready. We need to bring her back.”

“What shall we do sister?” the smaller, deep blue pony that stood at her side. They both stared off into the night, following the flames towards the north. “We don’t know what this Gemini is like. She broke the law. She has your cutie mark.”

Celestia lowered her head and closed her eyes, wrapping her mind around the situation. When she rose again, her face hid all emotion, hardened into that of a leader taking charge. “She has violated the rules of this new kingdom,” she announced. “We cannot allow Equestria to show such weakness during its most vulnerable period. She must be captured, and brought to justice. We need to show the ponies of this land that we will be there to keep them safe.”

Princess Luna nodded in agreement. “The Celestial Plain has left me confused, sister. What does her cutie mark mean?.”

Celestia looked away from Gemini’s escape route. “I’m afraid I don’t know. But I know that the Celestial Plain wouldn’t have done this without a good reason.” She turned to Luna, “But I have my concerns for what she may do with her newfound power. If her talent is indeed something that involves the sun, and Gemini’s allowed to run across the whole of this nation unaccounted for...”

Luna nodded in unison with her sister, “We will find her. Balance between the day and the night must be restored.”

Present

“You’re locked up here in Mount Ignis,” Scarlet said, “How long did you manage to keep out of the Royal Guard’s radar before they got you?”

“I’m not sure. I’d been running for a long, long time before they managed to trick me into a shitty spot,” Gemini grunted.

“Trick you?”

“They set up a sting operation,” Gemini chuckled. “Word got around about me pretty fast in Equestria. Some described me as a hero, but all the Royals ever did was hunt me down like I was a criminal.”

Scarlet tilted her head, “But… but you are a criminal.”

“… Right,” Gemini chuckled, “Totally worth it though. Those were easily the best years of my life.”

“Best?” the investigator questioned. “Why the best?”

“You’ve never been outside of Equestria Scarlet,” Gemini closed her eyes. “There are things out there that would blow your damn mind. Creatures and life that are just not found within’ Equestria’s boundaries. It’s like a wonderland out there.”

“You said that ponies called you a hero,” Scarlet added. “What’s that all about?”

“Well, while I was running about, I quickly figured out what the mark on my ass meant.” Gemini turned, only to grimace at the wound she had become familiar with. “In retrospect, should’ve been obvious from the get-go, but I guess that’s how everypony goes about discovering their talent. Mine was fire.”

“Fire?”

“Yep. Anything with fire.” Gemini reacted to Scarlet’s confusion. “I’m also an alicorn, so keep in mind that my abilities went through the goddamn roof. Pop quiz, baby: What celestial body in the sky is always on fire?”

“The sun?”

Gemini reached out and bopped Scarlet on the nose. “That’s the one! Well, it’s not actually fire, because that needs oxygen, and we all know that crap doesn’t exist in space. It’s a… special kind of burning that the sun has. I have no clue, ask a nerd about that. Either way, I found out that with my new power from my ascension, it didn’t take much effort to move that sucker across the sky.

“I assume that’s why I had the sun as my mark. I was able to control it, just like Princess Celestia. Could be a reason they tracked me down so often.”

“Could you explain that?” Scarlet asked. “You seem to have a strong understanding of how ethics worked back then.”

“Definitely,” Gemini nodded with a smirk. “Things weren’t so easy back then, you know. Equestria was a tough place to live. Things weren’t so lax. You can’t blame the Princesses though. They had just been sworn in, and everypony just needed to be assured that they’d be safe from potential threats from the outside world. Law’s needed to be made, and crimes needed to be punished regardless of who did them. I broke into the castle. That was grounds enough for dungeon-time.”

“So the mark on your body wasn’t a reason?”

“Hell,” the large prisoner scoffed. “Even though it was a big reason, I bet Celestia would’ve appreciated the extra hoof I’d bring with my strength. If I hadn’t broken into the castle, I bet Celestia and Luna would’ve called off the hunt years before I got caught.

“Between you and me,” Gemini moved a bit closer, as if their conversation was being monitored, “I feel like Celestia and Luna were pretty lax about what I was doing with my power. I’m sure that they appreciated it. The Guard was always slow at figuring out where I was and when.”

The smaller pony scribbled more notes down before looking back up at Gemini. She had warmed up to the brash alicorn, but the festering wound several feet away continued to make her skin crawl. Another mouthful of meat fell limp to the flow, ushering another flow of swears from the renegade before her magic sealed it back on.

“I think my only question right now is if you have more detail about the sting operation,” Scarlet continued. “Do you have a good recollection about how that boiled down?”

“A perfect one,” Gemini nodded. “The Guard nearly bragged about it when they finally surrounded me. I gotta hoof it to them; it was one hell of a set up.” Her eyes broke with Scarlet’s, turning back to the window, trying to find north. “Dodge Junction still exists, right?”

“… Of course?”

“This was a couple of decades after I managed to ascend. I think Princess Luna was already locked up on the moon because of a dispute she had with Celestia as well. The locals just called it ‘Dodge,’ way back before Equestria recognized it as a functional town. That’s where it started, those clever bastards.”

“What did they do?”

“They got smart. Instead of waiting for me to strut my stuff and create miracles, they decided to plant disguised guards wherever there was plight around Equestria.”

“That seems a little complicated,” Scarlet shriveled her muzzle, “maybe even a little brutal.”

“But it worked,” Gemini replied, “and it worked like a goddamn charm. I never once considered that I was being set up for their trap.”

CENTURIES AGO

The dry road beneath her coughed up pasty dirt with every step of her hoof. The sun hung lazily in the sky, beaming down harshly against the desert surrounding her. Several cacti riddled the landscape, their faded green exterior an illustration to the harsh conditions out here.

Not that the heat bothered Gemini, who had become somewhat of a representative of fire herself. She failed to register the unfair temperatures around her, finding herself well within her element in the brutal weather. A healthy drop of sweat trailed down the side of her face, and the tall, strong alicorn couldn’t hold back a smile at the sight in the distance: Dodge.

“Finally,” she put a bit of bounce in her step. “I thought I might’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere.”

Years had passed since the day of her ascension. The Royal Guard was constantly on her tail, but Gemini always managed to stay just one step ahead of them. There were several times where they had her cornered, whether it was in the bustling streets of Manehatten, or among the humble folks in Baltimare, Gemini managed to blend into her environment and narrowly escape their grasp.

Miracles. That’s what Gemini’s stunts were being called by the locals she’d help out. Word spread fast in the youthful Equestria, and the red mare was sure that the regal sisters had caught wind of her work by now.

“Sister,” Gemini corrected herself. She shook her head, pitying Celestia. All of Equestria bore witness to the great tragedy in Canterlot. Upon hearing that there was a dispute between the two sisters that resulted in Princess Luna’s imprisonment on the moon, the red mare couldn’t help but feel awful for the princess of the sun.

“Seems like Equestria’s always getting screwed,” she reminisced about the attack on Canterlot by the Spirit of Chaos. “Then that oppressive unicorn far, far north, and then Luna’s change. Moving both the sun and the moon must be hard on her,” Gemini’s stride kept strong. “That just means that I gotta work extra hard. I need to help wherever I can.”

Dodge was her next stop, and the ponies in that nearby town desperately needed a miracle. The heat out here with blistering, and though it didn’t bother Gemini much, she knew that the families in Dodge must be suffering from it. Too hot to grow food, too hot to keep a consistent water supply. She knew that Dodge heavily relied on trade with cities to the south to keep itself afloat, and as the buildings in the distance grew closer, her mind wandered to exactly what she’d have to do to relieve the citizens from the oppressive heat.

She smiled. Gemini was a miracle worker, as seen by the ponies she helped, and she knew it. She loved every minute of their praise, and seeing the smiles on their faces made it worth the effort she went through to become an alicorn. Her cutie mark shown in the light, the same mark as the Princess herself, unchanged ever since the day she ascended.

It tingled from time to time. Nothing major, but definitely noticeable after she was done sharing her gifts with the ponies she helped. Sometimes it bothered her, to the extent that the tingling was actually accompanied with pain here and there, but it usually disappeared as quickly as it came.

There was no time to think about her cutie mark anymore. She had absentmindedly taken a few steps past the town’s front gates, and several ponies had already caught sight of her.

“Shit,” Gemini muttered. She had forgotten to disguise herself before walking into town, a near reflexing habit she had consistently kept up until now. She froze in place, looking around at the civilians. The ponies who hadn’t immediately identified her slowed their pace, looking from friend to friend in their town until their eyes eventually traced everypony’s attention back onto her.

“Uh,” Gemini said, raising a foreleg into the air. She cautiously waved it to the townsponies, waiting nervously for their response. “What’s up?”

They whispered her name amongst one another, but none of them ran. Gemini immediately felt more at ease. The Royal Guard wasn’t quiet about her crimes, and her name and appearance were made known to every single town in and around Equestria, including Dodge. Rather than run off in a panic, much of the ponies around actually approached the fiery mare, almost as if they couldn’t believe that she had come.

“I can’t believe it,” one of the nearby colts gasped. “Y-You’re that alicorn that the Princess is trying to catch, aren’t you?!”

“Gemini?”

“Gemini? Isn’t she a criminal?”

“She’s wanted by the Royal Guard…”

Another pony, a taller stallion that stood a foot above the rest of the ponies in town, approached her, unflinching as he tilted his head to look her in the eye.

“No mistake about it, she’s the real deal,” he nodded, “Fits the description perfectly.”

“On the dot sheriff,” she finally replied. “So what’re you gonna do about it? Send a letter to Canterlot? I’d be a hundred miles away by the time they got the tip.”

“Well,” he spit on the ground, his expression impossible to read. “I reckon there’s only one thing to do with a crook like you…”

“CHEERS!”

The clacking of dozens of mugs of frothy beer accompanied the music playing on stage. A band of ragtag ponies played their fiddles and piano. The wooden staircase dropping off from the stage lead to the rest of the bar, which was easily the largest building in Dodge outside of the sheriff’s office. Rounded tables were scattered all about the bar, with a pristine counter that housed dozens of currently occupied stools. Beer dripped from the pumps behind the counter, with mugs being slung back and forth by a pair of pretty little ponies who enjoyed the surge of money.

Several chairs fell to their sides as ponies all around the bar danced to the music from the band, while others chatted to one another in their stupors about how great the next year was going to be.

Upon the toast, everypony in the bar chugged their drinks, appeasing their savior who happened to walk mindlessly into town. The pony in question, the tall red alicorn sitting in the center of a stretched out table on one end of the bar, had already gone through several mugs with several of the heavy hitters known in town.

“You guys are fucking awesome,” Gemini hiccuped after slamming down another mug. “Too many of the major cities in Equestria are full of stiffs. I can’t even step hoof into Canterlot without somepony crying like a bitch to the police.”

“Don’t think nothing of it,” the mare next to her gave her a strong slap on the shoulder, “You’re… You’re here to help everything get better, right?”

Gemini chuckled at the slur in this pony’s speech. “Damn straight. You,” she started leaning on the pony, not caring to take notice of her appearance. She shut her eyes as a means of keeping her balance, “You ever hear about that fissure that helped create Galloping Gorge habitable?”

“Yeah, I think,” the mare hiccuped back, “I think so… No,” the pony gasped. “No, that was…?”

“Yo,” Gemini raised a hoof high in the air and pointed it back down at herself. “That was all me. I’m fucking awesome too.”

The sound of mugs hitting the table snapped the drunken mares out of their conversation. Their eyes focused on the bubbling liquid in the cups. Around them, ponies were waiting and watching with anticipation. All of the challengers to their left and right had fallen, some twitching on the floor, having drunk themselves into a coma.

Gemini swayed in her seat before turning back to the pony, taking in her attributes for the first time all night. The mare that had managed to keep up with her heavy drinking was actually quite small in comparison to her large stature. A dark yellow coat made her blend amongst the crowd, dirtied with little patches here and there by the dust in town and the sweat coming from her forehead. Her hair was messy from the celebration, but had still mostly been kept up in a bun atop her head with a generic pin. Multicolored with a pattern of orange and yellow, that of which was brighter than her coat, swirled together in a way that reminded the drunken alicorn of pasta and cheese. The young mare hiccuped, her half lidded green eyes doing their best to stay open.

The pony lifted the mug with a hoof, waiting for Gemini to mimic her actions. The freckles on her face seemed to blur in and out of focus from the red pony’s spot at the table. Not one to resist a friendly challenge, she took to the other’s call and lifted her mug.

“Before,” Gemini shook her head, “Before we do this, may I ask your name, brave warrior?”

A mustard hoof wrapped around her neck. “Absolutely. Name’s Jacqueline O’Curbi. You can call me Jackie.”

Their mugs clashed together, and with a holler from the crowd, Gemini and her new friend chugged their drinks with reckless abandon.

Time passed, and many of the ponies who had passed out early were beginning to stir on the floor. With the help of their peers and neighbors, they were escorted to the exit of the bar to continue their head pounding trek home. At the stretched out table on one end of the bar walls, two ponies continued to chat. The liquor in their mugs swirled about with each touch. Their heavy eyes illustrated the pints that the two managed to keep down throughout the night, and though their chatter started to sober them up, they kept themselves at a consistent level of drunk through their casual chugs.

“Just imagine the bill for all this,” Gemini joked, her voice still a bit shaky. “Who’s even willing to dish out the bits?”

“Don’t sweat it,” Jackie took another drink, shivering as the warm liquid ran its course. “Everypony’ll pitch in for the celebration. You ever been to Dodge before?”

“If I had,” Gemini matched Jackie’s mug, “then this place wouldn’t be like this. It’s hot and dry here, and I’m practically on fire. That says somethin’.”

“Dodge is a particularly friendly place. Everypony works together on pretty much everything here in town. We need to if we wanna survive out here. You know how hard it can be.”

“Amen, sister. It’s hard to trust people out there,” Gemini sighed, her wings beating against the still air. “Having to trust ponies I’ve never met. It’s messy business. You never know if they’re workin’ for the Royal Guard, or if they’re just honest ponies trying to make a living.”

Jackie took another drink. “Even if somepony here in Dodge did work for Canterlot, I doubt they’d stop you from doing your work here. We’re nice ponies here. I like to think so, at least.”

“It’s comforting to know. I don’t expect much intrusion from the RG here. This place isn’t even a fully established front for Equestria yet, right?”

“Right,” Jackie’s ears folded. “We’re hoping one day to become a city.”

“Well, all things considered,” Gemini waved her hoof around the party room, “I doubt I’d still be here if anypony in Dodge wanted to turn me in.”

“That’s comforting. We could really use a miracle right now.”

“Miracles are what I do best,” the alicorn bragged, finishing off her mug and slamming it on the table. She picked herself up to her fours, surprise on her face when she realized that she could stay up without tipping one way or the other.

Jacqueline finished her mug, pushing herself off of her seat. Even with her hair in the bun, she barely managed to reach a height right below the middle of Gemini’s neck. The yellow mare swayed for a moment before turning upward to look at her new friend.

“You’re lucky you’ve got a bigger frame. I’m still buzzing.”

“One thing I found out damn quick out beyond Equestria is that this body is tougher than nails,” she hit her chest. “This baby can take booze pretty well. I never get hangovers either, so it’s pretty damn sweet.”

“Lucky,” Jackie pinched her eyes. “I think the sun’s already coming up outside. It’s gonna hurt gettin’ out of those doors.”

Gemini helped her new friend to the door. “I gotcha, hold on a sec.” Her horn started to glow, and with a quick motion, she pointed it at the smaller pony’s head, leaving it for a moment while a quick flash erupted from the tip.

Jackie’s eyes opened up slowly, blinking rapidly when nothing seemed to change. “Gemini? What was that for?”

“You tell me,” she raised a hind leg and bucked the swinging doors open. The sunlight poured straight into the bar from that morning. Jackie immediately raised her hoof to shield her eyes from the incoming agony.

She paused, letting her leg back down and staring out at the lit up road outside. “It doesn’t hurt,” she turned to the red mare. “Did you?”

“It’s an easier spell,” Gemini trotted with pride. “Oh, I need a place to crash.”

“Don’t be stupid,” Jackie chuckled. “You’re staying with me.”

“As long as you’re cool with it.” Gemini saw Jackie’s quick nod. “Well, I’m gonna need some rest before I do my stuff. Before we get to your place, walk and talk with me: What’s wrong with Dodge?”

“Well, you’re gonna be getting this from my perspective, but I’ll give it a shot. Here in Dodge, I’m a farmer. I work with a bunch of the other farmers here in town with our joint crops. We all share the land here, and many of us tend to a large portion of Dodge.”

“Joint crops? So you guys just have one large unit here?”

“Exactly,” Jackie motioned her head behind them, down the road to an empty section of town. “Down that way to the south, you’ll see it. Covers several dozen acres as of now, but a lot of it is still under heavy construction. The heat’s too intense most of the time, so a lot of our crops die out too fast.”

Gemini took a look at Jackie’s cutie mark. On her flank was a large, plump pumpkin. Several thin vines lay beneath the vegetable. “You grow pumpkins?”

“On my spare time,” Jackie replied. “I do have a pumpkin patch behind my house if you wanna check it out. They struggle just as much as the rest of our crop here in Dodge, though. Don’t be expecting anything fruitful.”

“I see,” Gemini looked around the town. Ponies were already rising from their sleep, going about their daily business. The sun was still on the horizon, piercing the city. A gust of air brushed by. Gemini took it like any ordinary breeze, but flinched when she realized that most of the ponies in town lowered their heads or blocked the air with a hoof. “I can’t feel it,” shook her head. “It’s that hot, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Jackie groaned. “It’s usually this hot around town. Most ponies carry some water on them at all times. Heatstroke isn’t rare around these parts. It happens here and there.”

“That’s awful,” Gemini kept her stride up. “How come you ponies even decided to live here? What’s this place have to offer?”

“To be honest with you,” Jackie looked at the burning orb in the distance, “Most of us come from the land outside of Equestria. You’ve been out there. You know how rough it can be.”

“Predators everywhere,” Gemini grunted. “I’ve seen plenty myself.”

“We came from a land between two territories of dragon swarms. It was tough to live out there. You couldn’t stay outside too long, unless you wanted a stray dragon to pick you up for dinner.” Jackie shuddered as she remembered her old village. “It wasn’t always like that, but we’re just lowly ponies. We can’t fight a dragon. We decided to head as far west as we could.”

“So why not continue? Canterlot is not too far south from here,” Gemini said.

“Most of our leaders, our elders,” Jackie picked up her pace. They turned a corner on the street. Sand kicked up off their hooves as they entered a civilian district: a small cul-de-sac with several houses situated all around the ponies. “We prided ourselves on our journey, and on how well we’ve managed to survive out in these harsh conditions. I guess you can say that the generations past were just a bit… stubborn.”

“And how about now?”

“We’re asking for a miracle. I guess you can say that we got soft.” Jackie’s expression dulled.

“That’s nothing to be ashamed of,” a red hoof patted Jackie’s messy mane. “We Equestrians were raised to help our friends. It’s not a bad thing to ask.”

“I guess most of us still cling to some of the ideals from those days,” Jackie mulled. “Either way, we need this badly. We just want our crops to grow. The weather needs to be stable for that to happen. Once we become self-sustainable, then we can grow as a city.”

“Then what?”

“A lot of the younger mares and colts in town either come from Equestria to start a new life, or just grew up on our softer ideals. A lot of our city wants to become recognized as a part of Equestria. We need to prove that we can survive, and this is our best opportunity for that.”

They approached a small little house, just enough to house a pony or two. Jackie stepped up the small staircase on the porch. The door creaked loudly as she opened it, welcoming the large alicorn into her home with a wave of her hoof.

Gemini lowered her head to avoid bumping it against the top of the house. The inside was incredibly limited. The den was nothing more than a welcome mat, a coffee table, and several pillows to sit on. The back door could be seen through the kitchen ahead, which only housed a small table, a few chairs, a stove, and a sink. A single opening to the right led to a barren room, fitted with a mattress atop a simple, wooden bed frame. A solitary dresser hung next to a window by the wall, along with a closet on the other end of the room.

Jackie quickly trotted to the closet, sliding it open. She pulled out several blankets.

“It’s not much, but it’ll do,” the yellow mare muttered.

“Anything’s fine with me,” Gemini assured the pony.

“Hmm?” Jackie tilted her head. “O-Oh! No, no,” she patted the bed, “This is for you. I’ll sleep on the floor.”

The alicorn paused as the words slipped into her head. “That’s too much, Jackie.”

“Stop it, it’s my pleasure, especially with your help,” she started to flatten the blankets against the wooden floor.

The larger pony wanted to argue against the decision, but the conviction in Jackie’s eyes prevented her from continuing. “Fine, if that’s what you want.”

=====

The sun lazily burned across the sky in the desert town of Dodge, sending its scorching heat down on the persistent ponies that lived there. The two ponies who had become friends at the bar the night before had slept in for most of the morning, but when the taller, winged unicorn finally begun to stir, she quickly found that she was alone in the tiny house.

The bed squeaked with each movement, surprisingly large enough to hold her larger body. Gemini rubbed her eyes with her hooves, taking in a deep yawn before lifting herself to her feet. A small nook near the closet had gone unnoticed last night, leading to a tiny bathroom. On the sink was a small note scribbled and taped to the mirror.

“Please use water sparingly. I’ll be back after work.

- Jackie”

“Can do,” Gemini nodded. She quickly wet her hooves and shut the slow stream of water off, using the moisture to rinse her face. Another yawn took over her body as she made her way to the kitchen, feeling her stomach rumbling after her little snooze. On the table was a small platter of carrots, tomato, and lettuce.

Gemini grabbed one of the larger carrots, easily downing it before moving on to some of the lettuce. The heat was enough to make the vegetables taste dry, but they still had plenty of flavor. She wiped her mouth after inhaling a full tomato. Her ears twitched, her mind finally setting off a red flag.

“It’s too quiet outside. Even with a hangover, most ponies should be out and about, shouldn’t they?”

As if the world heard her voice, a set of hooves was heard racing up the steps to the house. Jackie rushed through the door in a panic, sealing it before darting to the back door to click its locks into place.

“What’s going on?” Gemini stretched her wings.

“Bad news,” Jackie quickly moved to the room. Gemini followed behind her, watching her quickly pile up the blankets she had slept on back into her closet. “The Royal Guard just showed up at the edge of town. At least a dozen of them.”

Gemini froze. “… What?!”

“The town elders are keeping them at the edge of town right now, but the word’s quickly spreading. They’re following a trail; they caught some magical residue in the skies leading to Dodge.”

“Damn it,” Gemini stamped. “I thought I’d be able to cover it up better after I landed and started to get around.”

“Either way, it’s too dangerous for you to go outside. They’ll catch you right away. Nothing but unicorns in their squad.”

A smirk on the alicorn’s face confused the panicking mare. “Don’t worry about them. I can handle it.”

Jackie turned back to Gemini after cleaning the room. “What do you have in mind? You’re not gonna fight them, are you?”

“I usually hold off on a physical brawl unless there’s virtually no way out,” she smiled while heading back to the den. “Fortunately, that hasn’t happened yet. Anyways, I’m much, much stronger than them. It’ll take a while, but I think I can get under the radar. If they’re already at the gates though, then bailing from Dodge is out of the question.”

“How come? Didn’t you just say you’re stronger?”

“Well yeah, but even I can’t cloak my residue enough to avoid complete detection. They’re way too close for that. If I try to fly off or teleport now, they’ll trace it immediately. I have to hide out here.”

“Won’t they trace that too?”

Gemini walked towards the kitchen. “Not if I focus enough. Trust me, it’s way easier to mask my body while grounded than while tearing through the air or ‘porting across a large space.”

A knock came at the front door. Jackie hurried over, recognizing the armored pony on the porch. Gemini’s ear twitched at their hushed whispers. She swung the back door open while Jackie rushed to her side.

“They couldn’t hold them off. They’re already coming through the civilian district to question everypony.”

“Relax,” Gemini nodded. “I’m gonna head to the backyard. Try to keep them at the door as long as you can.” She walked outside. A large chunk of the yard behind Jackie’s house was covered in pumpkins, each one generously blanketed in vines and other vegetation. It was a very tame garden, one of the pumpkins as large as a pony’s head. “I thought you said you had a crummy pumpkin patch.”

“Well… I don’t think it’s that good. Not yet at least.”

“It’s wonderful,” she turned back to the mustard colored mare. “Just try to keep them away from the back. I’ll be fine. I promise.”

The door slammed shut. Gemini walked a bit into the patch, admiring the work that her friend had done to keep the pumpkins healthy and strong. She focused her strength, allowing her horn to cackle with the magical energies endowed to her by the celestial plains. Her gift burned hot with strength. A pulse of magical aura blanketed the outline of her body. She planted her hooves, doing her best to mask her spells while they changed and morphed her form.

Jackie only had a few moments to breathe when she heard another rattle at the front door. She took her time in approaching, gulping in as much air as she could. Another, more hurried rapping shook the door by the hinge. She straightened up, sighing before grabbing the lock. She jiggled it around, squeezing every second she can before she had to confront the pony on the other end.

She cracked the door just enough to see the colt on the other end. He was tall, a bright ivory coat hidden away by what appeared to be heavy, golden plated armor. His helmet masked all but his face and muzzle, and a spear rested in a spare hoof, posted against the ground. His cold, blue eyes illustrated his deathly serious demeanor, his glare enough to intimidate the laid back pumpkin farmer. She winced as he cleared his throat.

“Hello ma’am,” his voice was wrought with a gravel-like tone. “Are you Ms. Jacqueline O’Curbi?”

Jackie let the words sink in. “Why yes… Yes I am. May I ask what you are doing on my porch?”

“I assume that you ponyfolk here in Dodge have heard of ‘Gemini’?”

“Gemini?” Jackie looked up at the ceiling to avoid his gaze. “I’ve heard of her a bit. Must’ve heard it from one of the Canterlot ponies or something.”

“’Gemini’ is an outlaw wanted by the central city of Canterlot for breaking and entering into the royal castle, use of illegal magic spells, and using the powers of relics only meant for Princess Celestia.”

“Oh yes,” Jackie’s voice seemed to steady out. “I’ve heard of that pony before. Still on the loose?”

“Afraid so, Ms. O’Curbi. We’ve actually traced her magical residue to this area. We figure she’d be hiding here in Dodge. It’s the only place that anypony lives around here. You haven’t happened to see any new ponies coming into town recently, have you?”

“Can’t say I have, sir.” Jackie kept the door cracked, not wanting to risk any further confrontation. “I’m just a farmer that works down by the fields. Most ponies that come into town usually show up on the opposite side of Dodge. I don’t really see many new faces unless they stick around.”

The soldier didn’t seem satisfied by her explanation. He continued, “Very well ma’am. However, we are going to have to take a look around the premise for the culprit.” He took a step towards the door.

Jackie kept the door cracked, moving closer to it to brace against it. His hoof pushed against her weight for a moment before realizing that she wasn’t allowing him inside.

“Excuse me sir!” Jackie did her best to hold him off, “This is a private residence! Don’t you need a permit… or something from the mayor’s office here in town? You can’t come barging into anypony’s house!”

“Ms. O’Curbi, I’m only going to say this once,” the soldier’s tone dropped another note, making it that much more threatening to the mare, “Gemini has been a top priority target for the Royal Guard ever since she broke into the castle. She’s incredibly dangerous. We’ve been hunting her in and around Equestria ever since that night. Dodge may not be a part of the Equestrian nation, but we do understand that this city wishes to be on good terms with Canterlot. Preventing us from doing our job is an obstruction against Equestrian justice, and is punishable by incarceration. The Royal Guard won’t tolerate insubordination from the neighboring towns.

“This is just a small, shanty town. Equestria can and will plow through it with force if we need to. Now,” he put his hoof against the door one more time, “Will you let us in, or are we going to have to arrest you?”

Jackie paused, her eyes shaking with fear. She slowly loosened her grip.

‘I did all I could,’ she thought as her hold on the door dropped completely. She moved to the side, letting the soldiers quickly file into the house. It didn’t take long for them to search what little of the house she owned, their horns pulsing and scouting every last inch of her domain, blankets and chairs and pillows being shoved around.

The lead soldier she had talked to was already motioning most of his unit to the back of the house. Out of the corner of her eye, Jackie caught a flash that penetrated between the cracks in the back door. The guard immediately caught the flash. He shouted a command that was drowned out from Jackie’s ears by the stomping of hooves through her home. The door swung open to the back, and the troops marched towards her pumpkin patch.

Jackie trembled as she rushed right behind them.

“Mom, this pumpkin big enough!?”

Jackie’s heart stopped. In the patch was a younger filly, about the age of a teenager, holding a pumpkin in the air with magic. Her coat was pitch black, contrasted by the rich, orange mane and tail that sprouted from her. Dazzling eyes mirrored the color of her short hair, and her form bounced around with enthusiastic energy as she carried the swollen pumpkin.

“Ummm,” the teenager took a step back upon seeing the guard. “Friends of yours?”

The yellow colored mare’s hooves continued to shake. The guard looked from the black unicorn in front of them, then back to Jackie.

“Y-Yes dear. That’s enough for the pie I was going to make.”

The leader of the Royal Guard walked up to the black pony, his horn pointed directly at her own. His magic flared as he scanned her.

“Woah, take it easy mister!” She moved the pumpkin to the door carefully. “I don’t wanna drop this sexy little baby, y’know?”

The colt ended his scan, the frown on his face showing his disappointment. “She’s clean.”

The small unit quickly retreated back through the house and returned to the cul-de-sac. The leader slowly walked back up towards Jackie before stopping.

“Unicorns are a rarity in this town. Your family have unicorn blood in them?”

“Of course,” Jackie replied immediately. “How else would my daughter have a horn?”

“It’s just strange to me,” he added. “The different pony races usually don’t get along too well outside of Equestria.” He walked up to the door, “Canterlot does have plans for Dodge, but you civilians need to understand that you’ll have to cooperate with us from now on in order for us to consider your proposal seriously. If you do spot a red alicorn anywhere nearby, or any type of powerful magic surges in the area, do contact any of us back in Canterlot.”

“Yes sir,” Jackie nodded.

“Have a good day ma’am,” the door shut behind him.

As the hoofsteps faded away from her house, Jackie fell off of her hooves and onto the dirt in the yard. She looked up at the black unicorn that had made her way to the elder mare.

“That you?”

The teenage pony gave a cocky grin. “Of course. Told you it’d be fine.”

“How… How did you do it? The Royal Guard is supposed to have some of the strongest magic in the land. They’re trained by the top spell casters!”

“Like I said,” Gemini swung her hips around while she walked, “I’m really good. Gonna take me some time to get used to this body though. It’s a little bit tight in here.”

“H-Huh? Isn’t that an illusion?”

“Nope! The real deal here,” Gemini tried her best to stretch. “Illusions are way too easy to catch if you’re a member of the Royal Guard. I’m an alicorn though, and my magic is much more powerful. What better way to trick an RG than to change my identity altogether?”

Gemini took another step before suddenly losing her balance. Her horn discharged, causing her to fall over. Jackie quickly got up and walked over to her.

“I-Is something wrong?”

“Damn it,” she groaned, holding her horn. “For some time, whenever I use some of my stronger stuff, I get this sick feeling that just jolts all over. Usually hurts the most around my flank.” Gemini picked herself off the ground, dusting the dirt that clung to her new coat. “This body won’t last long though. A little over a day sounds about right.”

“Isn’t that bad? What about helping us here?”

“I can handle that when the time comes,” Gemini waved off Jackie’s concern. “It’s worth it to help the town out of the rut.”

“Are you sure about that? I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

“Relax,” she wrapped a hoof around her. “You’re already playing a good mother, worrying about me so much.”

Jackie’s expression faded. “Sorry about that. I guess I just get scared for my friends.”

Gemini let her last word hang in the air. She gave Jackie a big smile and brought her in for a hug. “You’re a cool little mare, Jackie. Not many ponies would be willing to stand up to the RG for even a few seconds.”

“Th-There was nothing to it, I suppose.” She finally motioned them back into the house. “I really want this town to flourish. I’m willing to fight Canterlot’s authority to do that, as silly as it sounds.”

“Not silly at all to me,” Gemini replied. “I’ve been doing that since day one. It feels good to help out.”

“By the way… when would that be?”

“Well, the RG is still lingering about, but they move quickly. They’ll probably be gone by sundown, but I’ll give them a bit longer before I try anything. Tomorrow afternoon then. Definitely. That’ll give me enough time to get outta here before they can pinpoint the spell back to Dodge directly.”

“Excellent. I’ll let the town know when I head back to work later. They’ll be so excited.”

“In the meantime, I think I’ll just relax,” Gemini stepped back into the house behind Jackie. She moved over to the table, grabbing another carrot off of the tray. “Changing your body this much really puts a burn on your strength, even for an alicorn.”

“That’s no problem at all,” Jackie gave her a smile. “How did you come up with that pattern so fast anyways?”

Gemini stopped chewing, swallowing whatever bits of carrot she had left in her mouth. “You know… I have no clue. It just came to me. You know, kinda like when you remember something from a dream.” She walked towards the back door, opening it with her magic. A pumpkin came floating in, the same one she had used with the guards. “I think I’ll be busy baking myself some pie while you’re out. That okay, mom?”

There was a rush of conflicting emotions on the pony’s face. For a second, Gemini caught the sight of a frown before she started to laugh. “Sure honey, that sounds wonderful.”

A cavalry of guards were stationed at the very edge of Dodge, far enough away from the city that nopony could really make out their numbers. The troops that had inspected the cul-de-sac were the last of the infantry left to meet up with the larger group. The leader that had talked to Jackie went up to his commander, giving him a proper salute.

“Negative sir. There are no signs of Gemini anywhere within the city. We scanned every bit of the town that we could, and took extra care to examine all of the unicorns in town. No results.”

The commander sighed in frustration. With a wave of his hoof, the entire squad created a formation and faced back towards the direction of Canterlot. All with the exception of one soldier that was taken to the side next to the commander and the reporting colt.

The younger soldier had removed his outfit, wearing nothing but a coat. The commander handed the solider a generous bag of bits.

“Our magic definitely traced the residue to the outskirts of this town. Gemini isn’t stupid, but she’s also not a loner. She loves attention, and there’s no way she didn’t stop by this town and do something, anything, to it.” He stood above the soldier, looking down with a sharp eye at him. “Stay in town. Blend in with the civilians here. You don’t know anything about Canterlot or the Royal Guard, understand?”

“Yes sir,” the soldier immediately replied.

“If you spot Gemini at all, or any magics that seem out of place, send a letter. We’ll be stationed nearby. Good luck.”

“Thank you, sir,” the younger stallion saluted, watching as the rest of his unit disappeared against the sweltering heat.

He turned back towards Dodge. Dusting off his coat and pocketing his wealth, the soldier quietly made his way back towards the town.

Present

“Wait, there’s no way!” Scarlet’s outburst surprised the aged alicorn. Gemini looked to her audience with a questioning stare. “What you described is exactly how Jessica looks. That… there’s just no way that can be a coincidence!”

“Trust me, it’s not,” she admitted. “Jess and I go way, way back. But right now, I’m in the middle of a story, and I don’t appreciate being interrupted. Next time there’ll be a penalty for any outburst, capiche?”

“… Y-Yes ma’am,” Scarlet gulped. She underlined her previous notes about Jessica’s affiliation with Gemini several more times.

Past

Jacqueline O’Curbi finally had a day off. The last two days had been full of so many surprises, and the week leading up to it could be summarized by the aches in her joints upon waking up in the morning. She took in the surroundings of her cleaned house. Thankfully, nothing had been broken during the inspection by the Royal Guard.

She walked slowly through the door and into the den, doing her best to stay quiet. Gemini’s black coat hid underneath the covers, shifting ever so slightly with a timid mumble. Jackie took the time to admire the strength of her new friend’s magic. It changed her entire body, her appearance, even down to the color of her eyes and the sound of her voice. As a giant alicorn, she was a bit raspy and had plenty of energy, but here, as a young teenager, her voice was soft. There was even a squeak that came with it, a noise typical of a budding young filly.

On the counter, an aged pie was staged, several slices gone missing from the night before. The sink held a few dirty dishes they had used from the night before.

The light outside broke through the window from the kitchen. Jackie winced as she took a gander outside. Several ponies could be seen heading in and out of town, and from the look of their faces, they were in for another scorching day out in the sun. She sighed in relief, knowing that she would be spared another day from working in the major fields near the outskirts of town.

“I have to go tend to my own fields soon,” she said quietly. She held a glance towards the back door that led to her beloved patch. The house was completely still, the only sound registering that of Jackie’s calm breathing.

The mare frowned, closing her eyes. “It’s so quiet.” She took to the den, sitting on one of the cushions near the coffee table. A mug from the night before welcomed her. Peering into it, she could still spot several generous gulps of cold tea waiting for her.

“I think Gemini just reminded me of how still the house can be,” she took a sip. She fidgeted at the chill it sent down her throat. “A bit cold.”

Jackie took another moment to absorb the silence. She grew more upset. It wasn’t what she saw as peaceful anymore.

Her chest tightened. It was lonely here.

A flash of light suddenly burst forth from the bedroom. Snapping her out of her trance, Jackie’s head rose, staring in the direction. Hoofsteps crept over until she saw Gemini’s figure. She had returned to her original state. Residue from the transformation was smoking off of her body, complimenting the fiery appearance and movement of her mane and tail.

“Good morning,” Jackie smiled, “Did you want any breakfast?”

Gemini’s head jerked towards her so suddenly that the young pony nearly doubled back. The alicorn’s face was tight and hardened, her focus so incredibly powerful that she appeared to be an entirely different character from the one Jackie had met.

“G-Gemini, is everything okay?”

The alicorn’s hoofsteps echoed through the house. “Everything’s just right today. I think it’s time I helped you kind ponies now.” She headed to the door, kneeling to squeeze through it. “I need some more space though. You guys have any open fields I can start my job in?”

“The biggest fields are,” Jackie’s voice seemed to teeter between awe and nervousness, “Towards the plantations. Is the spell going to…”

“It won’t hurt anypony, if that’s what you’re thinking,” Gemini turned her neck. “It’s just that using them usually leaves a bit of space around me torn up. The raw magic gets intense.” Coaxing the yellow mare through the door, she continued, “You are all free to spectate… just keep it at a distance.”

The mighty pony walked calmly through the town. Her expression garnered attention everywhere she passed through. Mares and colts alike stared at her, expecting anything to happen at any time. They followed behind Jackie, who was slowly letting Gemini get some distance.

They passed through the small town, quickly leading themselves towards the fields. Even the workers out in the sun stopped to watch as the fiery alicorn prepped herself. She turned to the ponies following behind her, looking from face to face.

Their expressions were varied. Some were worried, others nearly in tears. She raised her eyebrow at a few, while others, like the excited children, forced a smile on her face. Moving a hoof, she motioned for the crowds to move back. Slowly, they complied, shuffling until she could barely make out their faces anymore. Jackie stood out amongst the crowd, her hair in the macaroni bun that it had been in the night they had met.

She turned back towards the fields. The sun was burning bright and hot, bringing sweat to drizzle down Gemini’s forehead. She wiped her brow, surprise on her face. Very few places in Equestria had ever made her sweat before. There was no more time to waste admiring the scenery of the rising sun.

Gemini spread her legs apart, rooting each one into the ground as hard as she could. Her horn immediately perked, humming deeply as the mage began her spell.

The ground rumbled, a precursor to the buildup of power surrounding the tip of Gemini’s horn. With a grunt, the spell fired into the open sky, exploding like a firecracker. The spell blanketed an enormous section of the sky, large enough that it coated the civilians’ entire vision with a spectacle of dazzling reds and yellows. The magic trickled through the sky, warping the magic disposition around it.

“It’s definitely there,” Gemini huffed, “but most of it is just being pushed along by the wind. None of it is hitting the ground.”

She quickly whipped her head around, snapping it upward as another spell charged. Her horn’s energy started to spread down her head, creeping around her neck like chains. The magic erupted into a small flame as it coated her body, ripping apart as another beam of magic fired into the sky.

The townsponies jumped from the loud boom that came from the eruption of the secondary spell. They watched, many of them getting antsy, as the sky slowly turned dark, blocking out everything except for the large spot in the sky where the sun was. Clouds quickly sprung to life from the darkness, the sun leaving a small spotlight that surrounded Gemini’s figure on the dry ground.

Her knees quickly buckled. A pain shot up Gemini’s body, spawning directly from her flank. She hissed at the sting, straightening her stance out. The ground beneath her cracked, her body beginning to shake from the fatigue.

Another spell erupted from her horn, this time, surging into all of the newly formulated clouds. They suddenly turned as dark as the sky. The bottom of the clouds started to glow a luminescent blue color.

Jackie watched from the distance, the clap of thunder snapping her out of her trance-like stare.

A drop of rain hit the ground. Then a few more.

Seconds later, a shower quickly covered the ponies and all of the land. The civilians’ collective mouths fell open at the sight. The raindrops pulsed with the same color that coated the bottom of the rainclouds. Jackie reached a hoof out, letting several of the drops fall into her extended limb. The energy that colored the rain slowly drained out of the water, fading into the dark yellow color of her body.

Suddenly, her body felt charged. She gasped as the energy tore through her body. Her back, which had been getting sore from sleeping on the floor back at home, was immediately healed. She turned to her fellow Dodge ponies. Each of them jumped with vigor or bounced on their limbs.

The farmer pony watched as most of the raindrops seeped into the dry, cracked soil. Her eyes widened.

Gemini jerked her head lower. Her flank was burning again. She felt her hind legs give way for another moment before steeling herself. She turned back to the sun, staring directly at the gigantic star in the sky.

“Cleanse the ground, cleanse the ponies. Give them water. You’re the only problem left, old friend.”

Her final spell sprung to life on her horn’s tip. The chains of flame that sprouted down her neck grew further, wrapping themselves along her midsection and down her legs. A spare chain whipped around her tail too, her entire body slowly bonded by the magic she had been gathering.

Gemini started to yell from the power flowing from her body and into the horn. The incantation was almost complete. With a final howl of strength, Gemini hurled a giant mass of magic from her horn. The chains wrapped around her body dragged with the spell, tearing away from her figure to follow the spherical spell up into the sky. It caught fire, blazing as it punched a hole through one of the clouds. It turned, sharply curving until it disappeared within the sun’s mighty light.

The alicorn’s body was shivering. She took one final look at the sun, waiting for the moment before she could let it all go. The rain helped soothe her pain, but the amount of power she had just flung from her being nearly made her vision go out.

The sunlight suddenly faded a tone. Gemini, her mind completely spent, fell onto the ground.

Everything was a blur. Gemini’s eyes opened, introducing a world of unfocused creatures and objects moving across her field of vision. Hoofsteps could be heard, along with a door swinging shut. One of the figures moved closer, standing right next to her.

“Who is it?” Gemini’s tongue felt like jelly.

“Thank god,” a familiar voice responded. Gemini started to make out the colors of the pony. The yellow and orange swirls in her mane tipped off the alicorn immediately.

“Oh, hey Jackie,” Gemini groaned. She picked herself up, falling back down on the bed. “Where are we?”

“My room,” she responded, the concern in her voice disappearing. “You scared me half to death when you just collapsed out there. We had the doctor check you out right there. He just said that you collapsed from exhaustion.”

“Oh yeah?”

Jackie nodded her head. “We gave you some water, and you nibbled on some vegetables when you would wake up for a few minutes, but that’s it.”

Gemini tried to lift herself up again. Jackie noticed right away and helped her up, leaning her back against the bed frame. The red mare sighed, letting her sore body relax. Jackie reached to the dresser nearby and brought a plate of fruits and veggies over. The eager alicorn immediately grabbed an apple and tossed it into her mouth greedily.

Jackie laughed at the savagery of Gemini’s hunger. “So are you feeling better?”

Gemini swallowed the mashed apple. “Burnt out, but good now. Food always helps. How’s it been outside?”

“It’s still drizzling, but it feels great. The temperature has gone down a bit ever since you did your magic.”

She smirked, “Guess it worked out after all.”

“That reminds me,” Jackie set the plate on Gemini’s lap, “What was it that you did anyways? The rain was glowing, and you put something in the sky, and then the sun got dark.”

“Quick question to the question,” Gemini grabbed an orange, nearly swallowing it whole. “A bit after my spells, did anypony notice a veil? It should’ve stood out for at least a second.”

“Yeah,” Jackie answered. “When the doctor and I ran up to check on you, this strange, shell like light pulsed against the sky.”

“Badass, it worked.” Gemini stretched her neck. “I did four spells out there, and I’m sure you’re eager to figure out what I did.”

Jackie nodded.

“In the end, everything will be better in Dodge, you’ll see, but a few of the bigger issues won’t be noticeable for some time. You’ll have to give it several months.” Gemini cleared her throat, “The first thing I did was assess Dodge for all the problems you guys have. When I first got into town, I could catch a few, but it was dark out. This morning was the first time I really had a chance to look around and check out everything around us.

“The first thing I needed to do was prep the disposition in the sky. Dodge has a ton of it.”

“W-We do?”

Gemini nodded. “By all means, Dodge should be a bountiful city, but the lack of weather control really screws you guys up big time. I can’t constantly be coming here to make it rain like I did, so I did the next best thing: I fortified your city.”

“Fortified?”

“Yup,” Gemini grabbed another apple. “I gathered the disposition lingering above Dodge and forced it into the rainclouds I created. Magical disposition naturally gets absorbed by the rain, but the concentration is pretty low. I just squeezed more of it into each drop. I guess you can call it a healing rain. I’m sure everypony felt what it could do.”

“Absolutely,” Jackie said, “I’ve had this pain in my back, and the rain just sucked it out of my system.”

“My pleasure,” Gemini bowed her head, “Besides, it’s probably my fault your back hurts anyways. I’ve slept on plenty of floors myself. Shit sucks.” Gemini chuckled, taking a large bite of her apple before continuing. “The disposition is in the ground now. Your next major crop should be pretty damn plentiful, but since it was in such high concentration, the disposition should filter out throughout Dodge. Even with the little amounts of rain you guys get, it should be enough to last you guys a gigantic stretch of time. You’ll probably have the tools to maintain it way before the effects fade away.”

Jackie’s eyes widened. “Really? W-Wow…”

“The veil you saw was a two-parter. The second problem is the sun. The weather here doesn’t seem too beneficial, but the heat from the sun just fries everything. My heat tolerance levels are higher than most, and even I was sweating this morning. The veil helps absorb some of the heat from the sun, and as long as a unicorn helps to fortify it every few months, it should stay put.

“Then there’s the sun,” Gemini beamed. “That’s the easiest. I just moved it.”

“You… You moved the sun!?”

“Sure did.”

“B-But isn’t that Princess Celestia’s magic? You can be imprisoned forever for something like that!”

“Ha!” Gemini grabbed more fruit. “I’d already be going away for a long time whether or not I tinkered with the sun. Besides, it wasn’t much. I just scooted it back an inch or two. The sucker’s massive. Either way, Dodge won’t be burning like the inside of an oven anymore. Princess Celestia might fix it again pretty soon, but by then the veil should be completely up and running. It’s still pretty frail since I had already burned so much before that point. Between that and the veil, it should be pretty tolerable out there. Hot still, but tolerable.”

“And you did all of that… amazing.”

“I know, I know,” Gemini puffed. “So how have the ponies in town been?”

“Most of them ran to the bar to celebrate the moment they were told that you’d be better. It’s a riot down there right now.”

“That’s great,” Gemini yawned. “Let ‘em celebrate. Dodge will prosper, I promise you guys that.”

“Actually, there’s something else I wanted to ask: A few of the ponies in town are actually still outside. They want to congratulate you, I imagine,” Jackie started. “We told most of them to let you rest, but one of them really wanted to speak to you. He made it sound urgent.”

“Really?” Gemini raised a brow. “He still there?”

“Yes. He’s been waiting patiently this entire time.”

“Well, I’m feelin’ better,” Gemini wiped her mouth, “bring him in!”

Jackie left the room for a minute. Gemini barely had any time to think when she saw the door open again, this time with a colt following right behind the homeowner. The colt was still young, definitely less aged than Jackie was. He wasn’t intimidated by the appearance of the alicorn in front of him, staring her right back in the eye. A black coat was the only possession he had, quickly removed and hung on the edge of the bed before he approached. His fur was a bright white color, a spectacular, eye catching hue that even made Gemini wince.

“A privilege to be in your presence, Miss Gemini,” he formally greeted her. “My name is Swiftfoot. I’m an earth pony from Equestria.”

“Gemini gave him a friendly pat. “C’mon man, don’t give me this royal crap. We’re on the same level out here in Dodge, alright?”

The colt nodded his head, his expression not changing much. “Sure ma’am.” He took a deep breath, “I saw what you did for the city earlier today. It was incredibly impressive. I never thought magic could be used in such a titanic way outside of Princess Celestia.”

“Thanks,” Gemini repositioned herself against the frame. “It’s not the easiest set of spells to use. How are things back in Equestria?”

“They’re tame. We’re expanding further out west. Ponies are coming in droves to the new nation.”

“Good news,” Gemini said flatly. “The Princess?”

“Busy, but in good care.”

Gemini hurried the conversation, “I’m still a bit tired, so I’ll just make this a quick one: What brought you here to speak to me, Swiftfoot? It must be important.”

“I’m a traveler of sorts, Gemini,” he replied. “I survey surrounding areas that seem fit for creating new locations for ponies to live. My business brought me to Dodge just this morning, as a matter of fact, to investigate the area.” He chuckled, “I guess I came at the right time. I managed to catch your spectacle in action this morning.”

“Mm-hmm?”

“Needless to say, I’m good at judging whether or not an area is a good living space, and after surveying the land this afternoon, I think Dodge’ll be just fine.”

“S’why I came here, smart guy.”

“Indeed,” he fixed his posture. “Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about another growing town not too far away from Dodge. Well, for an alicorn such as yourself, that is.”

Gemini’s ears perked up. “Oh?”

“I just came from the town myself. The conditions there are pretty bad. It’s dark, damp, and there are plenty of predators roaming about that endanger the lives of the settlers. It’s a tough time out there, but if they’re able to set up a strong town, the location is ideal for creating a network between East and West Equestria.”

“I see,” Gemini started. “And you want me to fix that town as well?”

“It’d help the ponies of Equestria, Miss Gemini. I’m not one who is ignorant of growing news. I know that you seek out ponies in and out of Equestrian borders and create these sorts of ‘miracles’ like here in Dodge. I thought that maybe I’d give you a good tip on your next stop.”

Gemini didn’t think much of it. “Well, if the town’s in trouble, I’ll definitely give it a hoof. Where did you say this town was?”

“It’s a very small place, no more than a dozen families are living there now. It’s just a bit further West from Dodge. Surrounded by forests and swamp. You can’t miss it.”

“Swamp,” she groaned. “Fantastic. I’ll swing by whenever I’m strong enough to get out of bed. Might take a while though. I just reconstructed a climate, you know.”

The color in Jackie’s face faded, but went unnoticed.

“Oh, I understand,” Swiftfoot nodded his head. “They’d surely appreciate it, and I’m sure that Equestria could definitely use that land. It’s in everypony’s best interest, you know.”

“Gotcha,” Gemini decided. “That’ll be my next stop then.”

“Excellent,” the white colt responded with a smile. He turned to grab his coat by the mouth, tossing it lazily on his back before turning back towards Dodge’s savior. “I’ll be heading back to Equestria now. There’s plenty of places I still need to visit.”

“No problem,” Gemini waved. “Oh, and between the three of us in here, keep my schedule a bit hushed, alright? Word gets out, and then the RG jump on my ass. Those punks make it kinda hard to help ponies these days.”

Swiftfoot forced a laugh. “Of course. My lips are sealed. It’s been a pleasure, Gemini. I look forward to your next work very soon.”

“Whatever, pal.”

The door closed behind them, leaving the mares to their business.

“Guess I know where I’m headed next,” Gemini broke the silence.

“Yeah.”

Gemini looked over to her companion. “You seem a little out of it. You okay, Jackie?”

“Oh, I’m fine,” Jackie lied. “Just a little tired.”

“Don’t throw that bullshit at me,” Gemini groaned. “I’ve been all over the place. I’ve seen that face before. What’s bothering you?”

Jackie looked at the ground, “I’m just… I mean, I’ve only known you for a few days, but…”

“… Oh,” was all that Gemini could reply with.

“Yeah,” Jackie sighed. “I woke up this morning before we left, and I just,” Jackie looked at the closed door, “This place is just so empty. At work I feel fine, but when I come home, I have nothing to do. No one to talk to. You showed up and, well, this place got a little cozier.”

“Oh, don’t be cute like that,” Gemini blushed. “I have that effect on ponies too.”

“The way your story goes around is that you’re constantly on the move,” the mare continued. “You never stay in one spot too long. I just kinda hoped that perhaps you would stay a little longer.”

“Well,” Gemini tapped her chin, “Why not go out and find a stallion to help ease your troubles? You’re about that age already, y’know.”

“What do you mean?” the yellow pony feigned ignorance.

“Don’t play that game,” Gemini answered. “I mean go out and start a family. That’d keep you busy.”

The guilt upon seeing Jackie’s pale face shattered Gemini’s playful attitude. They looked each other in the eyes.

“Jackie,” Gemini said with much more sincerity. “You haven’t… I mean… Have you?”

“A few,” she sniffed. “They don’t stay long though. They want a family.”

“What?” The red alicorn shuffled. “But… but that’s what you want, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I can’t.”

“Huh?’

“Gemini,” Jackie looked back up. Tears were budding at the corners of her eye. “I can’t make a family.”

The meaning slowly started to sink in. Gemini sunk into her sheets, the guilt growing from her attitude earlier. “Jackie, I didn’t mean-”

“It’s okay,” she assured the larger mare. “But… out here in Dodge, survival is key. You come, you start a family, and you persevere. I’m incapable. The colts out here know it, so none of them show any interest. That’s why it’s so lonely out here.”

“God damn it. And I turned into a ‘daughter,’” Gemini’s eyes widened.

“Oh no,” Jackie raised a hoof, “Don’t feel bad about that. Even if it was just for a day… it was a wonderful gift.”

“Damn, Jackie.” Gemini sighed, “Is this why you stayed at the bar? Took me in?”

She nodded, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine anyways,” Gemini waved it off. “Even if it was just to keep you company, if only for a day or two, I’m glad that it made you happy.”

“Thanks.”

There was a long, quiet pause between the two of them. Gemini and Jackie both looked away, trying to see anything in the room but each other. Eventually, the farmer’s attention went back to the outlaw, and vice versa.

“So… nothing can be done about it?”

“About… what exactly?”

“You work miracles,” Jackie said, “I guess in the end, I was hoping that maybe you could fix me.”

“Jackie,” Gemini let the disappointment ooze out of her mouth. “I can’t.”

The young mare closed her eyes. Her sadness bleeding through her yellow lids.

“It’s just that it… it goes against certain principles.”

“I think I understand,” Jackie sniffed again.

“I mean, I could try it, definitely, but nopony’s ever done anything like that before. There’s a good reason why unicorns avoid any spells that involve the dead or the morbidly sick.” Gemini continued, “If even one thing goes wrong, just one, then the consequences could be lethal. Not just to the pony affected, but the lives of everypony involved.” She moved her hand to Jackie’s shoulder. “I don’t want to put you at such a risk.”

“I know,” Jackie whispered.

“I’m sorry. It’s a bit selfish of me, perhaps. Or maybe it’s just fear. I don’t know. I just… I want to help everypony, but I can’t go around tampering with things like that. It’s one of the few things that are just beyond me…”

“It’s okay then,” Jackie responded. “Hopefully something will come along.”

“Definitely,” Gemini perked up. “You’re a good pony, Jackie. Just keep a smile on. Sad doesn’t suit you.”

“Besides, I still have my pumpkin patch. And my career.”

“There you go,” Gemini gave her a stronger pat to cheer her up. “I’ll tell you what, whenever I’m in the area after this, I’ll be sure to pay my new favorite pony a visit, alright?”

Jackie wiped her eyes. “Sure. Speaking of that,” she finally looked back to the alicorn, “When will you be… you know, leaving?”

“Well, a pony needs her rest after creating a miracle,” she smirked. “Would a week be too much to ask?”

“It’d be my pleasure,” Jackie smiled.

“One other thing,” Gemini added, “That was a lot of magic I just pulled off. The RG will definitely be coming back to town. If they came to your place and found your ‘daughter’ missing, it’d create problems for the both of us.” She scratched her fiery mane, “I guess what I’m trying to say is if it would be alright for me to-”

“Of course,” Jackie replied without hesitation.

Gemini gave her another grin. “Sweet. Thanks. I should have enough magic for it, it’s nothing compared to what I did earlier today.”

“Do you want me to leave the room?”

“You can stay if you wanna.”

Jackie took a few steps back regardless, giving Gemini more room to set up her spell. It happened much faster this time. A cracking sound came with a pop that engulfed Gemini, and when the light from the spell faded, the black teenager with the unique, orange mane reappeared in her place, flashing her a toothy smile as she snuggled herself up in bed.

She hid the climaxing pain in her body from her friend by reaching out and biting into a pear.

“Should last until it’s time for me to go,” she grunted out.

“One week.”

“Yep,” Gemini finished her food, yawning. “One whole week. It’s the least I can do.”

Present

Scarlet waited after the long pause given by the chained mare. Gemini seemed lost in memories.

“Miss Gemini?”

“Yeah?”

“What else happened after that? I mean, the story was great, but what does it mean?”

“It set up everything else,” Gemini flatly replied. “As for what happened,” she looked as though she was struggling to gather the memories.

“I spent that week helping Jackie out around the farm and her house. The mare has one hell of a green hoof when it comes to pumpkins. We just lived together like a mother and a daughter would expect out there in Dodge. Some of the Royal Guard did show up a few days after my spells, but I managed to pass under their radar in my disguise. On the seventh day, my disguise wore off, and I headed west in search of the town that Swiftfoot spoke of.”

“And then?”

“And then this,” her voice suddenly changed. Her aggression continued, “When I got around the swamplands he mentioned, I landed and tried to look for a small town nearby, and didn’t find shit. Next thing I know, I’m completely surrounded by an entire faction from the Royal Guard.”

“What? How?”

“Swiftfoot was a sentry from the unit that was in Dodge on their inspection when I had arrived. They planted him, and when he saw me in town perform my spells, he came to me with a story. I gave him my word, and the little shit sent the message through to the captain of the Royal Guard. So essentially,” Gemini spat towards the window, “My trust was betrayed by those bastards.”

“So they arrested you and took you to court?”

“Nice one,” Gemini chuckled, her wings twitching against their chains. “Those bastards tried me then and there, and sentenced me to exile here. But by now you should know me.”

“I… I have a good idea,” Scarlet winced.

“Hell yeah. I beat down so many asses that day that I lost count. Eventually though, they outnumbered me. Apparently inhibitors were created recently, just a bit before I found Dodge. They mass produced them for the Royal Guard purely to hunt my ass down. Crazy what can be done just for one little pony.”

Scarlet reached into her coat, pulling out her bands. “Wow. This was all because of you.”

“Well, I’m probably not the only reason,” Gemini added with a roll in her eyes, “But I’m definitely the main reason. The inhibitors used back in those days definitely look like an archaic model compared to the gadget you got there. Anyways, after they slapped a few of those bad boys on me, they knocked me out, and when I woke up, I was here.”

“W-What?” Scarlet couldn’t believe it. “Just here? Didn’t Celestia know about this? Surely she would’ve at some point!”

Gemini’s horn lit up the room. From behind her spot in the rocky room, a scroll came out. It quickly unraveled in front of Scarlet, hovering in the air.

“That’s Princess Celestia’s writing!”

“Bingo. Got this note several weeks after being tossed in Mount Ignis.” She quickly tossed it back where she had pulled it from.

“What did it say?”

“Nothing that concerns your mission,” Gemini replied, “Which is why you’re here for the most part. If I had to put it in a nutshell, Celestia had no idea that I was caught and imprisoned, but that she couldn’t reverse the sentence because it was tied up behind a bunch of procedures with dealing with high profile criminals. It’d screw up her image more than it already was.

“If she helped me out, she’d be helping out an outlaw. It’s not a good look for her people, especially the royals in Canterlot, who help the Royal Family out with funding and the like. It’s a messy subject.”

“That’s… terrible.”

“It fucking sucks, but it was worse back then,” she continued. “I was cut off from all communication as a part of my sentence. That was eventually lifted after several years on account of ‘good behavior’ or some shit like that.”

“What did you do… during all of those years, I mean?” Scarlet seemed almost afraid to ask. Gemini’s emotions were quickly rising.

“What would you do, Scarlet? Locked away from everything else on the outside?”

“I don’t… I don’t know, Gemini.”

“You’d cry. You’d cry because that’s all you’d be able to do.” Gemini looked at the window. “I made a promise to go and see Jackie some day after I got away from the Royal Guard, and she wasn’t the only pony. Oh yes, there were definitely a dozen ponies or so that I had grown fond of in my time out there, exploring the world.” She hissed as another clump of flesh fell from her body, only to regenerate once more. “It hurt to know that I’d probably never see them again.”

“I’m sorry.”

“And here we are now. It’s been nearly a thousand years. Jackie, and all of those ponies in Dodge. All of the friends I had made in that time are gone. Say what you want, my little pony, but not even someone like me could resist a good cry in those days.”

Scarlet let Gemini lay there, marinating in her silent anger. She finished scribbling several more notes down on her pad. Continuing the conversation from earlier, she asked another question:

“So… how exactly does this relate to the case with Conroy Justis… or with the missing pony from Ponyville?”

“Ah, that,” Gemini gave a heavy sigh. “You recall in my story, how I got pains from my flank every time I cast a heavy spell?”

“Yes?” Scarlet suddenly felt the air around her thicken. As if a specter were watching overhead, surrounding her, she suddenly felt deathly scared.

“Now the story gets really interesting…”

307: The Lamenting

The town was still sleeping when the trio of investigators headed out. Silently, they traveled across Ponyville, mindful of their step in the extremely early morning hours. A colt of blue followed the elder pink maned mare, their comments hushed to a whisper to avoid waking anypony up. Behind him, a rather large, brown coated pegasus hovered, keeping an eye on their surroundings.

“Why did it have to wait until nearly sunrise?” Detective Domino Locks asked.

Mystery Hart pointed a hoof towards the edge of town, in the direction of the natural border that separated Ponyville from the Everfree Forest. “Our guest is still a trek away. It’s going to take us most of the morning to get there.”

“Everfree Forest? Are you crazy?” Locks gave Mysty a hard look.

“I know a relatively safe route to get there from the entrance. I’ve been to the royal sisters’ ancient castle before.”

“Relatively,” Locks skepticism remained unsure.

“We have Amy,” Mysty rolled her eyes. “We’ll be fine, trust me.”

Wings gently flapped above them, the silhouette of the strong framed mare shot by, illuminated by the cracks of dawn just beyond the horizon. A single brown feather danced towards the ground.

Locks waved Amy, the youngest of the three, towards him. “See anypony around?”

Amy shook her head, avoiding the use of her rather loud means of discussion as per Mysty’s orders.

Mysty was right about the walk into Everfree. No more than twenty minutes of walking beyond the borders to the ravenous environment, and directly ahead of the trio was none other than the ruins of the ancient castle, built eons ago for the Princesses of the sun and the moon. Locks counted the group lucky that most of the wildlife seemed awfully tame so early in the morning. Amethyst was prohibited from using her whistle throughout the entire trip, the oldest mare not willing to pit the group against a pack of hungry timberwolves, or a cranky ursa major.

“Perfect,” Mysty stopped the three at the base of a bridge leading towards the castle. “There’s a pocket on one end of the castle that leans just right on the edge of the forest after we cross the bridge.” She took a few casual steps across, the bridge much stronger than its aged planks and ropes illustrated.

Hesitating, Locks and Amy cautiously followed behind her.

“Our guest should be meeting us there,” Mysty turned to the pair after sinking her hooves back into solid ground. “Then maybe we can find some answers.”

Locks grimaced. “Ms. Hart, How come your guest decided upon such a distinct meeting place? Wouldn’t it have been safer to be back in Ponyville, or even Canterlot?”

“If I could’ve, I would’ve just done that,” she answered without questioning herself. “My guest is very special. This is the only place we could possibly meet at on such short notice.”

The ivory pony led the group around the front of the ruins, ignoring the aged majesty of the castle in favor of the damp, faded grass route nearby. They rounded the castle relatively quickly, Mysty’s pace picking up as they neared their destination. Locks stopped several feet from their leader, looking ahead at a barrier that ended their route. It was a large, metal gate, sealed with a small lock from the other side, forbidding any kind of entry from a wandering pony on the outside of the gate.

Mysty knocked gently on the blockade that guarded the dead. Ignoring Locks’ fresh questions about what to do next, she continued to rattle until the group spotted the flicker of a lantern in the distance. It was a hooded figure, shrouded by a combination of the fog that had become iconic to the ruins, and of the arcane dust that wafted through the creeping breath of the wind. The pony stumbled through the rustic path towards them, revealing a gray, somber colt underneath. His eyes looked heavy, and his expression was one that could rival those sleeping beneath the dirt.

“So early in the morning,” the grave keeper’s voice spoke up. Locks could only describe the sound he made as horrid, nearly poisonous and slimy by nature. Mysty reached up, flicking the all-too-familiar lantern planted on her back. It sprung to life, eliciting a small hum of a light spell that was contained inside.

“I apologize for scheduling such a poor time, but I hope that you understand that this is for the best,” Mysty lowered her head to the grim stallion.

“If it were any other mare,” the colt’s wheezed out, “then I would have declined the demand.”

“You… know this pony?” Locks moved up to the gate.

“Gravediggers tend to keep in touch with one another,” Mysty signaled to the fence lock. The dark figure shambled over to unlock the gate, pulling it open to the sound of metal scraping against metal. “Builds a sense of camaraderie. You get lonely working with the dead. He’s a friend of a friend. Guards the sanctity of the cemetery here at the ancient ruins. He told me of a route that’d get us here fast.”

Locks turned to the cadaver of an equine. “You work here?”

“The pay is good,” he pathetically moaned, his voice rich with lament. “Should you require any of my services, Mrs. Hart,” the crooked frame lifted a shovel in his mouth, “You need only to shine your lantern bright. I shall arrive as quick as these legs can carry.”

Amy shivered at the drawl in his voice. It was bitter, perhaps even carrying a sense of anger underneath that was drowned out by the regularity of burying the deceased. She quickly followed her precious cargo through the fence and into the cemetery.

“So what exactly are we here for?” Locks followed along, glancing at several tombstones here and there. Even for a castle as old as the sisters, whose halls and history were stunted by the wrath of Nightmare Moon herself, endless rows of pony graves littered the sacred land. “There’s no one here but the grave keeper.”

“I need to talk to a spirit,” she turned her head, knocking on her lantern. “I’ve already got one piece right here. I just need to find the grave.”

“You… You what?”

“It’s a long story, Dommy,” she shook her pink mane loose. “I’m an artifact too. We’re quite talented.”

The young, blue colt absorbed the information, wiping the surprise off of his face. “You can communicate with the dead. That’s definitely far more unique than anything else I’ve ever heard of.”

“Honest to goodness truth,” she reached into a saddlebag she was carrying. She quickly pulled out a flask, draining half of it in a single shot. “Whew! Kinda hard to,” she gagged, “k-keep down!”

“That seems highly-”

“Don’t.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Traveling amongst the rows of settled sites, Mysty forced the troupe to a halt at one of the tombstones. It held nothing of significant value, and the stone had been riddled with generations of decay. None of this seemed to bother Mysty. She gave the group a grin.

“We’re here. Not sure how this’ll go, and the signal is faint, so it’ll be quick.”

“Fine by us.”

Mysty smiled at him, taking another shot. “I need honest ponies to back me up in case Steele starts questioning my sources. Although it worked out very well for Nixie Hope, I doubt it eased him up on where I’m getting my information. I can trust you two, right?”

“Absolutely.”

She gave another knock on the lantern light before opening it by a hinge. The group locked onto a strange, magical mist that flowed from the light, independent from the spell used to keep the lantern lit. It twirled in the air, slowly drifting towards the grave they had made their stop at. The aura landed on the wet grass, sinking deep into the earth.

Mysty drained her flask, taking in a deep breath. “N-Now you two,” the alcohol’s potency started to show, “I want you… I want you to step back a little. Just one fuck up,” she slurred, “And disposition flies all over the place. I-It’s not pretty.”

Locks and Amy complied with her request, unsure of the situation as the mare in charge swayed. She planted herself on the grass, closing her eyes and singing a little tune while she concentrated. Her body sagged and swayed, but the flow of motion in her form gave the impression that her body was incredibly relaxed.

Locks’ eyes widened, feeling the ground beneath him shudder. Amy nearly blew on her whistle at the sight: A strange, glowing aura rose from the dirt, never removing itself from the ground. The body slowly started to shape itself into a more identifiable pattern, growing features such as a muzzle, eyes, and a mane.

“Incredible,” Locks whispered. “Artifacts are interesting ponies, aren’t they?”

Amy could only gulp in response. Her wings opened and she took one step ahead of Locks, shielding him should anything go awry.

The form completed its transformation. It sat in a similar way to Mysty, staring at her, then at the two ponies behind, and ending with a quick glance at the lot.

“Oh my,” the spirit murmured. “Early morning. I’m late for work.”

“Wh-What?” Locks was perplexed by the natural reaction.

“Poor guy,” Mysty spoke up, grabbing everypony’s attention. She turned to the couple, “He must’ve had a sudden death. When I revive them, it’s not unusual for a spirit to pick up right where it left off just moments before they passed on. “Relax fella,” Mysty chuckled, turning to their new company. “You don’t,” a hiccup slipped, “You don’t gotta go anywhere. Just sit down here with us.”

“Are you sure? I have a job to get to.”

“National holiday sir. You must’ve missed it in the papers.”

The spirit scooted closer to Mysty. “I… I see. Well then, allow me to introduce myself. I am…” The spirit paused, his body frozen with confusion. “I… That is, my name, is…”

“Don’t worry,” Mysty slurred, “sometimes I can barely remember what color my coat is, it happens.” She gave him a formal hello before continuing, “I’m Mystery Hart. Mysty for short, please. I don’t have long, but I wanted to know a little somethin’. Think you can help me out?”

“Always willing to help a mare in need,” he grinned. “it’s the Canterlot way, you know.”

“I completely understand.”

“What’s wrong with the guy?” Locks whispered.

“It’s my fault,” Mysty nearly tumbled over when she turned to the detective, “I couldn’t collect all of his disposition. It’s quite dated, recycled way too many times. He’ll be forgetting little things here and there the longer this takes.” She spun back to the spirit, a drunken smile spreading across her face.

“I think she’s enjoying this,” Locks turned to Amy, unsure of whether to feel disgusted or amused.

“Anyway, my question,” Mysty stoned herself against her consumption. “Some time ago, there was an outlaw that ran around all of Equestria. She made quite the name for herself. She was wanted for crimes against the Royal Family. You recognize any of that?”

“This pony lived-” Locks’ surprise was silenced by a quick rise from one of Mysty’s hooves.

“Sounds familiar,” the spirit rubbed his ethereal hoof on his head. “You have any more suggestions?”

“Apparently she went by the name ‘Gemini’ on the wanted posters and throughout the papers.”

“Gemini!” The pony almost jumped to his feet. “I knew I recognized something like that! Ah, what a pony she was. Daring samaritan that one.”

“Yes. Well, my friends and I here,” she hiccupped, pointing at Locks and Amethyst, who gave him a quick wave, “we’re doing a little investigation, and we were just wondering if perhaps you had anything about Gemini that you can recall that was… big.”

“Big?” He murmured to himself, “Well, it was some time after the incident in the Crystal Empire. Maybe even after all of the chaos with that dreadful Nightmare Moon. Ponies here heard news of her capture from some place just outside of Canterlot. Silly for a criminal to go anywhere near the scene of her biggest crime, isn’t it?”

“Of course,” Mysty’s form started to slouch. “Anything else?”

“Hmm… I don’t think so, how come?”

Mysty seemed to deflate in the chest. She grunted, stamping at the ground with a hoof before wobbling herself back onto her legs. “No reason, really. Sorry for disturbing you.”

“… Wait, that’s it?” Locks asked. “That can’t be all you-”

“It’s a one thousand year old disposition that I barely managed to gather up,” Mysty aggressively lurched towards Locks. “That kind of crap doesn’t happen every day, Domino,” she groaned at him. “I’m lucky if I manage to reform a disposition that’s over a hundred years old! I just thought that maybe we’d get some civilian insight. Maybe something that Gemini might’ve missed in the report. It was a dumb, long shot, but it’s a done deal now.” She started moving away from the specter.

“Ma’am?” The spirit jerked, unable to remove itself from the ground. The older colt paid no mind looking down, where his hooves had been fused with the dirt beneath his tombstone. “Leaving so soon?”

“’Fraid so,” she blurted. “I have business to attend to back in Canterlot.”

The colt tried to pry his feet from the grass, still unaware of his situation. “I can’t quite seem to move.”

“Don’t worry none, it’ll wear off in a minute or two.”

“So it was a shot in the dark,” Locks kept his eye on Mysty while she passed him by. “I guess I can reason with that.”

“There are times in your job that there really are no other options to turn to,” Mysty growled. “I’ve dug up so many spirits, and none of them have had any answers to anything about Gemini or Nixie’s problem. I didn’t know what else to do, so I got desperate. That’s when I found this guy. I thought he could help us out.”

“I can’t blame you,” Locks let out a defeated sigh. “What happens now?”

“We go back to Canterlot and keep sniffing around like clueless mutts,” Mysty burped. “Excuse me.”

“Guess we’ll just have to wait for Jessica and Scarlet to come back with their findings.”

Mysty felt a jolt rush up her spine. “I swear to god if Scrawl lays a single hoof on my Scarley-Warley, I’m gonna rip that black coat off her skin, cut off that orange hair, ball it up, and ram it square up her-”

“Excuse me,” a weakening voice called out. The trio turned around. The form of the colt they had revived was fading, but present. His eyes had lit up with the sensation of an explosive memory. “Did you say ‘Scrawl’? ‘Jessica Scrawl’?”

“Y-Yes?” Mysty replied with a curious tone.

“I knew a pony that went by the name of ‘Jessica Scrawl’. Fancy that. Black coat, orange mane and tail?”

Mysty stopped. She backed up, completely turning to face the specter. “You… You’re joking.”

“Don’t be absurd,” Locks narrowed his eyes. “It’s been far too long for this spirit to remember something that specific, isn’t it? I’m pretty sure that plenty of black and orange mares named Jessica Scrawl would have existed back then.”

“Hm,” Mysty huffed. “What else do you know about your Jessica?”

“Well,” he paused, struggling to recall. “I only knew her for one night. We met outside of Manehatten all those years ago. We… We…”

“Yes, what is it?”

The specter hesitated, “It’s not my place to say, especially in front of such company.”

“Sir, you’re a dead spirit,” Mysty’s said in a flat, matter-of-fact tone. “You’ll be back in Tartarus in a few seconds, and nopony up here will know, or for us three, particularly care about this. We just want you to sate our curiosity.”

“Oh,” was all he could reply with. “A spirit, you say?” He gave a quick look at his body, particularly at the hooves that had been attached to the dirt the entire time. “That does explain my body being so… clear.”

“Huh… you’re taking that well,” Mysty chuckled.

“I was a pony of Canterlot, madame,” he seemed to brag. “Change was rapid. Came and went like the day and night. If what you say is true, and I’m amongst the deceased, then I have no reason to hide something like this: Miss Jessica and I copulated one night after meeting at a festival after I was ensnared by those beautiful orange eyes of hers. She was quite the skilled artisan. Would you like to learn more?”

Mysty winced.

“Now now, I’d be more than happy to-”

The colts form immediately popped, letting loose a small drizzle of magic that seeped back into the ground without response. The specter had vanished.

The trio stood there, digesting the bite sized detail. Mysty was the first to move, picking herself up and, as if sober, swiftly making her way for the gate. Locks and Amethyst lagged behind, picking up the pace to catch up to the determined mare.

“No mistake, that would have to be our Jessica,” Mysty spoke aloud.

“But that’s impossible,” Locks said. “That pony has been dead for one thousand years, hasn’t he?”

“Exactly.”

“Amy, do you get any of this?”

The pegasus quickly shook her head and took for the skies. Her form was much easier to catch now that the sun started to peak from behind the morning coverage of fog.

“Locks, that pony described a black coated, orange eyed, orange haired mare that bears the same name to our scribe, and of all the things he could’ve mentioned about her, he brought up her sexual prowess, something our Jessica never shuts up about. His Jessica and ours have to be one and the same. There’s no way it’s some ridiculous coincidence.”

“Then Jessica… Jessica is a millennium old…?” Locks let the idea sink into his mind.

“This is huge, but it gets worse,” Mysty’s hurried walking was slowly turning into a jog. She quickly passed back through the gate, whizzing by the pony who had granted them entry. They shot across the bridge and started to pick up more speed as they made their way back through Everfree.

Locks followed the train of thought, “She’s been around for that long. Gemini, Nixie, this missing pony, and Conroy’s murder…”

“They’ve all happened within that time, and for half of those cases, Jessica was already working with the Royal-Fucking-Guard,” Mysty whipped a strand of hair from her eyes.

“Jessica,” Locks eyes flared with vigor. “She’s been hiding something!”

“Right. She would have known about Gemini. She would have known about Nixie. Of all ponies, she’d be the one who would be able to bridge those relationships together long before we did, and even though she’s been on our side, she’s deliberately avoided giving us that precious information!”

“I don’t like this,” Locks started to run, Mysty following suit. “There’s something hiding underneath this whole mess.”

“And Jessica’s the only pony alive who might know what it is!”

“And she’s with Scarlet.”

The implication immediately sunk in.

“Steele needs to hear this.”

They heard a harsh whistle from above. Amethyst gave Locks a signal pointing towards Canterlot.

“Go ahead! We’ll be fine!”

Locks’ guard picked up a huge burst of speed, soaring off towards the North.

“She’ll grab us a ride as soon as we make it back on the other edge of the forest.”

“Good,” was Mysty’s only response. “We need to talk to that little orange slut as soon as possible.”

Past

How long had it been? The world outside that small, useless window, day or night, had become so detached from her mind that she no longer kept track of the days. It could’ve been months, even years, since she last kept track of the cycles. Regardless, her tears continued to pat against the stone.

It had been this way ever since she woke up on the first day. The chains rattled with the movement of her legs and the beat of her wings, clanging against the tightened bolts on the rocky wall. She had done everything in her power to escape: Bucking the formation, using incantations to break the metal bonds, even something as petty as yelling for help for as many hours as her voice would allow.

Nothing seemed to work. Everything was enchanted or coated with spells and material that bounced her spells harmlessly into the air. Even as an alicorn, she was powerless against the earth-made prison she was locked in. She scoped her surroundings with what magic she could. Her room was at one of the highest points on a gigantic mountain. As her influence spread, she could make out a grand, vast space surrounding her in all directions. Accepting that she was the only pony for what seemed to be several miles crippled her will.

The tears hadn’t come right away. At first, there was rage, a burning anger that had yet to completely fade. There had been times since then where her fury would explode spontaneously, enveloping her in a cascading wave of flame that would dance recklessly around her room. She slammed at the ground some, even smashed her head against a rock. Nothing would quell the raw disappointment and frustration that was slowly building up in the alicorn.

It had to have been years, she was sure of it.

Eventually, Gemini did run into one pony. A strange colt, not too healthy in the mind, but for the restless mare, company was company, and with her imprisonment in question, she couldn’t commit to being picky about her guests. Slowly, she would allow them to live within the mountain. She tested her magic, experimenting with what she was allowed to use, and what was inhibited against her will.

She grew plants, encouraged the new residents to mingle with one another, and usually allowed them to follow their own whims, so long as blood wasn’t spilled on her land.

“My land,” she hummed to herself. With bitterness in her tone, she accepted the gift from Canterlot. “My mountain. My rules.”

“Ignis,” Gemini decided many cycles later. Some of her earliest convicts had already gone. Murdered, wandering too far back into the deadly plains outside, or the much more graceful death by aging. The curse of numerous lifetimes allowed her to see off many a pony that she had adopted under her new property, and despite that she was never truly alone in the mountain since then, she felt a sense of emptiness toward everypony she sheltered.

The camaraderie wasn’t there. Lost ponies would come, usually keep their distance from one another, except to mingle with Gemini upon request, and then fade away into the most obscure sections of Gemini’s decaying memory.

Cycles later, she received her first real visitor, bonafide and genuine. The visitor was a member of the Royal Guard, adorned in all of the armor that one would come to expect. His wings flapped uneasily as he entered her small domicile, wincing when he saw the prisoner in front of him.

Hungry for answers, Gemini greeted him with a welcome smile. He didn’t stay long. The guard gave her a message from the Royal Guard: They would come by to check up on her “now and then,” feeding her news, unique foods, and allowing her a small portion of her time to communicate with the guard.

The aging Gemini accepted the gift of his presence, even if it only lasted for a short time. She tells him of her founding of Mount Ignis:

“I’ve claimed this land,” Gemini sat herself up, locking her gaze on the royal guard. She didn’t seem to intimidate the colt, who simply matched her expression. “In the name of Celestia, I’ve named this region ‘Ignis.’”

“For what purpose?” his venomous words hissed. “This mountain, Ignis, is surrounded by The Plains of Woe, which stretch all the way to the outskirts of the Everfree Forest. What makes you think that our Princess Celestia, or anypony in Equestria, would have any interest in such a life threatening region?”

Gemini stamped a hoof on the ground, “The land is toxic, I agree with that, but with a sweep of purification spells, this land could be a possible host for an entire city. With the help of the Royal Guard, we could easily start up a settlement. And as for the Everfree Forest,” she turned to the window, “before Equestria was founded, ponies would travel through whatever stood between them and sanctuary.”

“And you, prisoner, believe that this place is a sanctuary?”

“Right now,” she replied, “it’s an asylum for those who have lost themselves. There’s plenty of land for more to come and purify their spirits.”

The guard turned away. “You are definitely ambitious, prisoner. It’s a noble effort, but I cannot relay the message.”

Gemini felt her eye twitch. “Why is that?”

“Recall your punishment. You are not to communicate with the Princess, or anypony of influence from Equestria. We’ve only recently decided to visit only out of interest in your special circumstance.”

“Special circumstance?”

“You’re an unpredictable alicorn, prisoner. Canterlot wants to make sure you’re still on the leash.”

The guard turned back towards the window. “We’ll send another pony soon. They may or may not be guards, but you are to treat them with the same level of respect as anypony else. Good day.”

He vanished down the rocky decline. Gemini stood frozen in place. She felt another twitch. Her horn pulsed, surveying him all the way to the exit of the mountain. His wings stretched, and he was off like a rocket, back towards Equestria.

She hissed in pain. Her flank was starting to burn again. It had become a daily occurrence, sometimes even twice in one day. Gemini’s body would throb with a special ache that drained her strength, and whenever she called upon her magic, in any circumstance, it would revive the pulsing waves of agony.

“I have to be crazy,” her posture weakened as she plopped helplessly back to the ground. “The guard’s right: Why would she want this land?” She looked out the window, sighing at the changing sky, slowly turning black and blue. “Why am I trying so hard? This is insane.”

She lay down against the bolted wall. Tears started to form in her eyes. “I guess it’s just out of habit or something,” she recalled the years before her capture. “I just…”

The burning returned to her hindquarters. The pain throttled her, but she didn’t respond to it anymore. She was slowly becoming accustomed to it.

“I just wanted to help ponies. What’s so wrong about that?”

She felt the light in her room fade, drowning herself in the silence that filled her prison. “That’s all I wanted. That’s all I ever wanted. Ever since I was just a filly,” the tears grew heavy, “helping ponies was in my nature. It was what I always did. I enjoyed bringing smiles to everypony I came across. It made me feel good.”

She absorbed the atmosphere of the room, clenching her eyes to avoid the cold, lifeless view of the cell around her. Her legs twitched, setting off another jingle. The tears slid gently down her muzzle, staining her red coat.

Her gut tightened. “Is it all bullshit?” She felt her flank burning hot, wincing at the sensation that was slowly crawling up her stomach. “I’m just trying to justify it, aren’t I? I was just a selfish pony who wanted more power, wasn’t I?”

Gemini couldn’t help but nod her head. She had to admit it to herself: ascending into an alicorn was a breath of fresh air for her. It gave her a reason to run away from her mundane life in Canterlot of old. It gave her the strength to rely purely on her raw ability, to survive out in the deadly wilderness that no ordinary unicorn would even dare to travel. It gave her the attention she reveled in whenever she helped somepony as a filly.

“I was just a selfish bitch,” she cursed herself, a feeling of concrete certainty washing over her. It starting to make more sense to her the further she took the thought.

“I told her I wanted power to help ponies,” she recalled her only conversation with the Princess of the Sun. “I was lying. I was lying.” She opened her eyes, feeling the burning pain crawling up to her neck. “I was lying.”

The pressure on her body intensified. Her mane and tail lit up, illuminating the room. She exhaled slowly, watching as a strand of intense fire trickled out of her mouth, drizzling against her lips as the embers dropped. Her coat pulsed in the darkness. Her eyes turned towards her flank. Her cutie mark, Celestia’s cutie mark, was burning hotter than ever before. The tears continued down her face, now a mixture of the dread of the truth she admitted, and of the near branding feeling pushing deep into her leg.

“This,” her face slowly wrinkled into a scorn, “This is all your fault.” A single hoof moved closer to the mark, grazing over it. “Cutie marks are a symbol of one’s true talents. Of one’s special gift that only they can share with the world.”

Her teeth clenched together as another wave escaped her eyes. As the twin rivers ran down, they lit on fire, drying up as soon as they left her eyes. “What are you?” She took to grinding her teeth. “Useless. Fucking useless. Useless!”

Her body was smoldering, the scent of ash filling the air. “And you’re only there… because of me.” Her entire body started to tremble under the weight of her words. Her mind locked on to the next immediate thought. She couldn’t let it go.

“It’s my fault.”

She screamed. Her mark was stabbing her. There was no blood, no proof, but she felt it. Whatever was happening, her cutie mark was impaling her, and she felt every single moment.

“It’s my fault!” She yelled at the top of her lungs. “It’s my fault that I’m here!”

The image of a familiar, yellow pony came into her mind. An image of her face after giving her a special promise. Then another pony appeared, and another after that.

“”It’s my fault… that I’ll never see them again…”

Her cutie mark exploded with a new tier of excruciating pain. She thrashed against the ground, her eyes wide open, her eyes so far dilated that the color of her iris was blocked by the darkness of her pupil. Her world went blind, her legs and head kicking and slamming into everything in the room. Her body erupted into a ball of blazing fire. Her screams echoed down the silent cave, her jaw nearly dislocating from how wide her mouth had opened.

All at once, she felt her flesh rip open. Her vision went white, and without hesitation, the grieving alicorn collapsed on the floor.

Present

Stunned, the grey and red mare could only sit in silence as the aging pony marinated in the memory, her body still from the recollection of the experience. Scarlet hadn’t scribbled anything down since the continuation of her story.

Gemini’s eyes fluttered open again. “When I came to, I found myself like this,” Gemini presented her body in full to the earth pony. Another piece of meat dropped. “I managed to maintain it ever since that day.”

Scarlet remained quiet.

“It doesn’t burn anymore,” Gemini recalled. “In fact, casting a spell doesn’t give me that stinging sensation either. If it weren’t for this wound I’d probably be back in prime form. It’s a load of shit, really.” She sighed, “That’s the Scars for you.”

“Scars,” Scarlet shivered. She felt her vision blur for a second as she called out the name. “You called… this,” she pointed to the grisly wound, “This thing a Scar?”

“Pretty much. It’s been with me ever since. I don’t know if I’ll ever get to knowing if there’s a way to permanently solve my problem.”

“Ponies must’ve come after your injury,” Scarlet cleared her throat. “Didn’t they seek out any kind of medical aid?”

“Hah!” Gemini slapped the ground in amusement. “Weren’t you taking notes? I’m not allowed any communication with Canterlot. That includes help for my body.” She gave a chuckle, “Not that unicorns who have visited haven’t tried their best, bless those nice ponies.”

After hearing her story, Scarlet couldn’t help but realize how much the alicorn’s attitude betrayed her hard life. “I can’t believe it.”

“Well believe it, cupcake,” Gemini spat. “This is the real deal. Scars exist.”

“Can I ask you something, Gemini?”

Gemini turned back to the detective. “Sure, fire away.”

Scarlet gulped. “You’ve been implying that these Scars might be connected to what’s happened in Ponyville and Canterlot. How… how did you feel when your flank…?”

“Feel?” Gemini, for the first time since she had met Scarlet, shifted to sit straight up. She slouched a bit to accommodate for the hole in her leg, leaning against the wall. She let her mind drift back towards those dark days, her eyes tightened. “It felt like…”

There was a dooming silence in the atmosphere. Scarlet could feel a knot in her center of gravity.

“When your conviction gives way,” Gemini gently said. “When you lose all hope for yourself. When you throw yourself at the mercy of the changing world around you.” The red alicorn’s eyes opened, locking in on Scarlet. “When you feel as though you don’t belong where you are. All rolled up into one.

“That’s what I felt, at least, to the best of my memory,” she continued. “All in one quick moment. It couldn’t have lasted for more than the blink of an eye. It was quick. Then it happened.”

“I can relate to some of that,” Scarlet commented, taking her hat off. She started at the fedora. Words she shared with Locks came to the front of her mind. “Sometimes I feel like I’m a complete mismatch with my job at the Agency.”

“It’s similar, I assure you,” Gemini’s horn lit up. “Scarlet, do you mind coming closer?”

“What?”

“Scarlet, let me tell you something,” the red mare’s eyes lit up. “I’m not stupid. I’m not just going to blow off something like this,” she motioned to her hole. “I did what I could to keep tabs on anything that might’ve sounded similar over the centuries. I figured that I couldn’t be the only pony that had to suffer from such a terrible disease.”

‘Disease,’ Scarlet felt the worlds ooze into her thoughts. She felt her vision jolt.

“That,” Gemini pointed. “You just lost your focus, didn’t you?”

Scarlet took a step back. “How did you-?”

“I told you,” her demeanor changed completely, “I’m not stupid. Ponies have come to me over the years, handing me newspapers and rumors and just chatting to me. I’ve heard stories. I’ve read about many ponies who have disappeared or died over the years through unexplained causes, many with the same symptoms that I had before my event.

“See, from what I can guess, the explosion on my flank is massive. It was enough to knock an alicorn like myself unconscious for a long, long time. I don’t imagine that any ordinary pony would survive a similar experience.

“Nixie Hope is a name that stood out particularly well,” Gemini sighed. “A poor pony with a cutie mark problem.” She paused to take another look at Scarlet. “You’ve done work on Nixie, no?”

“Y-Yes,” Scarlet nodded. A red aura wrapped around her, pulling her closer.

“Then come here.” Gemini lowered her horn. “I’m just going to take a gander at what you know. Explaining it all would take too long, and the papers didn’t really say much about her.”

In a flash, Gemini’s aura created a bridge between her horn and Scarlet’s forehead. It hung between them for several moments before it vanished.

Gemini leaned back, absorbing all of the raw details she had consumed from Scarlet’s mind. “I see. Just like I thought.”

“What… did you just…?”

“Just borrowed some memories. You don’t mind,” she let Scarlet’s information stay at the front of her mind. “I knew it. Nixie’s just an earth pony. She can’t even micromanage fluxes of magic like unicorns can,” she spoke aloud. “An experience that severe would drive anypony mad, even a lesser unicorn.”

“Are you saying that Nixie was insane?”

“No. At least, not at first,” Gemini shook her head. “The part of the report that talks about the voice she heard, and the random bleeding.”

Scarlet flinched.

“And then her just running off a staircase,” she finished listing off. “That was a temporary bout of insanity brought about by the influx of magic. It caused her to hallucinate. That’s the power of Scars.”

“You’re saying that Nixie had Scars,” Scarlet ‘s sweat turned icy cold. “My dad…”

Gemini raised an eyebrow. “Huh?”

“He,” she felt tears build up. The knot in her body was branching out. She was losing her balance again. “He thought that there might be a bridge between Nixie and I. He… he died before he could figure out any more.”

“That would explain something else…”

“What?”

Gemini cleared her throat. “Nothing you need to worry about right now. I’ll explain in a bit. But first, can you come a bit closer?”

Scarlet had to ask. It was now or never, and the thought continued to ravage her mind. “Gemini… Do I…?”

“That’s what I’m about to find out,” she lowered her horn again. Her aura surrounded Scarlet’s entire body in a thick essence. Gemini focused her strength on the center of Scarlet’s body. “I’m going to dive deep into your disposition. Just try to relax, I’m not gonna touch anything in here.”

Scarlet’s body went rigid, her thoughts going wild. Though she wouldn’t mention it to Gemini, she wasn’t ignorant either. A few tears started to drift down as the aura swelled up around her, searching her body. She waited, dreading what she was convincing herself was inevitably bad news.

Gemini’s was motionless, letting her magic sweep Scarlet for anything abnormal within her disposition.

Another tear went down Scarlet’s face. Gemini suddenly jerked back, her magic breaking contact with Scarlet before hastily retreating. The alicorn took a deep breath, reeling from the sensation she felt through Scarlet. Sweat was moving down the side of her head.

“Scarlet, I’m sorry.”

The gray mare took several steps back. “No.”

“I listened in. I heard it clearly. It’s begging, Scarlet.”

The detective choked, letting out a huge cough. She quickly covered her mouth, shutting her eyes to the burn of a pain that ran up her spine. She felt something wet and warm on her hooves, accompanied by the taste of copper. She slowly opened her eyes, feeling her body go pale at the sight of the blood staining her hooves.

“B-Begging,” Scarlet muttered.

“It’s saying that it wants more.”

“… More what?”

“Of you, I imagine.”

Scarlet backed against the wall opposite of Gemini, near the opening of the cavern. She sat on the cold ground, her eyes slowly looking back at Gemini. The hole in the alicorn’s body continued to fester. Scarlet’s eyes then slowly, quietly, dragged over to her own body. The magnifying glass on her rump shined with a deceptive sheen.

“I was born,” she whispered, “I was born this cutie mark.”

“Scars hide themselves behind a number of forms. This is the first time I’ve heard of them appearing like that. I wish I could’ve warned you sooner,” Gemini softened her expression, “But my restrictions.”

Scarlet felt a twinge on her mark. It was getting worse.

“Look,” the red mare started, “I know that now might not be the best time. I understand that, but hear me out. I’ve monitored this thing for a long, long time, but I have never been able to get my word out to anypony else, partly because of my restrictions, and partly because most ponies I talk to call me out on my bullshit.” The frustration in her voice was thick, “You’re in a bad spot. We might still have a chance to save somepony else, though.”

Scarlet’s face rose from the dirt. Her eyes were glistening with moisture.

“You’re here now, and that’s the best news I’ve heard from in nearly one thousand years,” Gemini said. “That means that the Princess will finally listen to me. To us.”

“So,” Scarlet sniffed, her voice trembling, “Wh-What do we do?”

“I’m about to tell you everything I’ve found of the Scars through the papers,” Gemini said. “It’s mostly speculation, but coming from the origin of Scars, I think my guesses have been pretty accurate over the years, and they’ve only become better over time. However,” she paused, “Telling you this isn’t going to sit well with you. You need to understand something very important here, Scarlet.”

Scarlet waited for the worst of the news.

“Scarlet, you probably won’t survive this ordeal. Nopony besides me, an alicorn, has ever managed to survive. You will die, Scarlet. Just like the rest.”

Fresh tears ran down Scarlet’s face. ‘I knew something was wrong.’

“I wish I could do something, but I wouldn’t know where to start. I don’t know how to go about fixing it. I would if I could, believe me Scarlet,” she motioned over to the gray pony. Scarlet, like a child to its parent, slowly walked over to the alicorn. Gemini brought Scarlet into her foreleg, embracing her.

Gemini’s body was incredibly warm to the touch. From here, the wound on her leg was invisible, but when Scarlet looked up, she was greeted with the emptiness of one of Gemini’s sockets. The grim image burned itself into Scarlet’s mind.

“Sorry,” Gemini frowned. She winked the eye shut. “I really am. But keep listening: If you are able to send my message to Canterlot, if you are able to make Princess Celestia aware of what’s been happening to poor ponies for centuries, you just might be able to save the next generation from having to suffer like we have.”

She felt the frightened mare’s heartbeat against her own. Scarlet was petrified with genuine terror. Gemini felt her heart soften for the poor pony. “Would you be able to do that for me, Scarlet? For Equestria?”

Scarlet dug herself deeper into Gemini’s fur, her voice cracking with each syllable. “I will, Gemini. I will.”

Gemini refused to continue. Scarlet broke down there in her hooves. The alicorn exhaled deeply, letting her other forehoof reach up and take the fedora off of her head. She ran her hoof down Scarlet’s mane, doing her best to soothe the pony.

Scarlet’s sobs had mostly disappeared. Her body was still shaking from the news, but the sound of her voice finally snapped Gemini to attention.

“I… I think I’m ready now, Gemini.”

She picked up Scarlet’s hat, placing it back over her head. “Are you sure, Scarlet?”

“Yeah,” she sniffed, pulling herself away from Gemini’s soothing warmth. Her eyes were bloodshot, her vision still dizzy and unfocused. She fixed her hat, and quickly grabbed her notes, clearing her throat again.

“You’re a strong pony Scarlet. Don’t let anypony convince you otherwise,” Gemini nodded to her. “You have my sympathies.”

“Thank you.”

“We have to move on,” Gemini stood her ground, her energetic personality slowly starting to return. “There’s very little to share from the centuries, but it’s plentiful none-the-less.

“From what I’ve gathered, Scars for everypony after myself seems to be something of a ‘mutation,’” Gemini rubbed her chin with a hoof. “Some sort of glitch in any type of pony that can’t be readily identified once it has you.” Gemini looked out the window, “The only explanation I can think of as to how it even showed up is through the Celestial Plain. When I was pulled out, the ascension process wasn’t completed on me. The detox of my disposition and body was half-finished.

“It’s entirely possible that the mutation in my altered, incomplete disposition is what caused the first Scars,” she explained. “I’ll explain the others in a bit, but let me go over other things real quick.” She tapped her head. “My sign was the preemptive cutie mark I received the moment I exited the plain. From what I’ve gathered, defective cutie marks seem to be the tell-all symptom to the Scars.

“They vary too, it’s not always the same,” Gemini warned. “I got a duplicate cutie mark. Your reports have Nixie as a pony who never received hers. You,” she paused, “were born with one. They’re all very abnormal cutie marks, or lack thereof. I’ve even heard of ponies who get cutie marks in fields directly opposite of their personality, or even multiple cutie marks. It’s happened before.”

“A-And what are the symptoms?” Scarlet’s hoof jotted down every word.

“Aside from the cutie mark? Well, there’s a consistency in the rest: Dizziness, hallucinations,” she turned to Scarlet, “spitting blood, and for Nixie and myself: delusion. Right before our Scars erupted, both Nixie and I felt a surge of doubt about our abilities, our passions, and our strengths. We doubted ourselves, and that weakness in our conviction is what causes that eruption of magic,” she explained.

“C-Continue.”

“Right. The Scars also grow stronger with negativity and time. I assume that they erupt so violently at the end because when you snap, that’s when all of the negativity in your body just fires off. Most of the ponies I’ve read about prior to you ponies had long bouts of depression before they bit the big one. These suckers are elaborate. They feed off of your misery until you’ve used it all up. The heavier the symptoms become, and the more frequently they appear, the stronger they get.”

“L-Like me spitting up blood,” Scarlet showed her dried blood. “I was only shooting out drips before, but now…”

“Exactly,” Gemini replied. “The Scars in you is becoming stronger.”

“But can’t ponies just block out the negativity?”

“That’s what makes the Scars so dangerous,” the alicorn shook her head. “You… just can’t. The Scars has a way of provoking negativity when it gets stronger. And when it’s weak? Well, everypony has downs in their life. Those hard points only make it stronger.”

“Like my father’s death.”

“That’s another interesting thing, but I’ll get to that,” Gemini’s voice went a note lower. “Another thing about Scars is that it’s not contagious, thankfully. Otherwise, I imagine the entire pony race would be wiped out. When they do end up showing up, it’s always inconsistent with the previous cases, which is why it’s so lethal. The Scars appear at intervals, usually between eight to ten years apart, and they always come in a unique form.”

“So one pony a generation…”

“Yup. Nixie Hope was nearly one generation before you,” Gemini noted. “Come to think of it, I vaguely remember a pony that came before Nixie…”

“Please… continue.”

“Right,” Gemini snapped back. “Actually, now that I think about it, I feel like I should be remembering him better.” She was slowly changing the subject. “He even flew by to feed me every now and then after his first visit, even though he was no longer commissioned. What a nice colt.”

“Gemini?”

“It’s strange,” she continued. “I should remember him. I remember everything he’s done, but every time I try to remember his shape, his color, his body… it just vanishes.”

“Gemini…?”

“Dammit. I know I know him. I know he was from Ponyville…”

“Ponyville?” Scarlet’s mind paused. “A pony from Ponyville?”

“Yeah,” Gemini was hitting her head with her hoof.

“And that pony was a generation before Nixie?”

“That’s right, in fact,” she turned, her horn sprouted. Newspapers from behind her cell started shifting around as she fished for information.

“No way, it can’t be,” Scarlet’s body paused.

Gemini smirked, “I think I just caught what you’re saying, Scarlet.” She pulled a paper in front of the young filly. She flattened the headline against the floor of the cave, letting the two of them read:

“MYSTERIOUS PEGASUS FOUND DEAD AFTER GIGANTIC SPELL FLUX”

“I think we just found your missing pony, Scarlet.”

Scarlet immediately grabbed the paper, searching the columns for any information.

“All I can remember now,” Gemini tilted her head, “Seeing that paper gave me a spark. I remember something…”

Scarlet looked over from the paper, “What is it?”

“He lived there. He lived there for a long time.” Gemini looked at Scarlet, “When you’re done with the Scars details, and sent them to Celestia, I have another lead for you.”

“What is it?”

“Go to Ponyville. Look for a pony named Slate. That’s all I remember,” she leaned back again, facing in the direction of the small city. “His name was Slate.”

“Slate. We’ve found him. Slate.”

“We went off on a tangent though. A wonderful tangent,” Gemini cleared her throat.

“I’m glad we did,” Scarlet mentioned. “You say that this Slate might’ve died from the Scars too?”

“Possibly.”

“But that still leaves one thing open though,” Scarlet said.

“And what’s that?”

“My father, that is, Conroy Justis,” she started, “He died looking for information on the missing pony in Ponyville, which might be Slate.”

“Yeah, I read the paper.”

“He also believed that there was a link between me and Nixie, and headed towards Ponyville to look for information on the missing pony before heading towards Everfree Forest.”

Gemini’s eye widened. “You… Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“Damn,” Gemini whispered. She brought a hoof to her mouth and bit down on it. “Damn, damn, damn.”

“What’s wrong, Gemini?”

“Scarlet,” her voice turned harsh, “We went off course. Look, there’s one other thing about the Scars that I need to mention.”

“What is it?”

“It’s outrageous, even by my standards,” Gemini said. “I have practically no proof of it outside of my own personal experience, and the papers and your reports didn’t go into enough detail to be used as any additional proof.

“Scarlet, when my Scars got worse during my sentence, I could swear that I could feel it.”

Scarlet failed to understand. “Feel?”

“As in, understand it.” Gemini said. “When I looked into your disposition earlier, I know that I heard a voice.”

Scarlet’s color faded another hue. “A… A voice?”

“Yes. I didn’t say much at the time because I wasn’t sure about it, but now that I think about it more, it makes sense.

“I heard a voice in mine too. Perhaps the hallucination that Nixie heard before she died… that voice she heard… perhaps that was the same thing that I’ve felt from the two of us.”

“A voice,” Scarlet slowly wrote the word down.

“Yours is not as bad as ours was. Perhaps you can’t hear it just yet, but it will get there eventually,” Gemini looked down.

“What does this all mean, Gemini? Please, just tell me.”

There was a crashing wave of silence. Gemini hesitated, shifting in place, struggling to find the words to explain.

“Scarlet,” her voice came out as a whisper. “The Scars… I think they’re sentient.”

“S… Sentient…?!”

“They react, Scarlet,” Gemini quickly said. “They react to the world outside. When they receive negativity, they grow stronger, and send impulses that coax you into continuing that negative train of thought until it destroys you. They make you feel pain because they know that it’ll ruin any positive thoughts you have.

“For unicorns, magic is a physical manifestation of their emotions.” Gemini’s voice strengthened, “When a unicorn performs a spell for the first time, that emotion that they felt when casting it gets ‘locked’ with that spell. If I ever want to teleport, all I have to do is remember the frustration I felt the first time I managed to pull it off. Unicorn magic works off of those raw emotions.

“Scars will corrupt you with negativity. They’ll force you to condition yourself towards negativity when you use a spell, and eventually, it stockpiles and feeds the Scars.

“It’s something that’s beyond a mere mutation or disease, I’d say. I think that Scars can actively think and choose things for its host by giving out these subtle impulses.”

Scarlet’s pencil continued to write, but her face betrayed her professionalism. Her haunches were trembling with fear.

“There’s more,” Gemini motioned towards her flank. “You see the damage that the Scars left me?”

Scarlet nodded.

“Something else happened after my cutie mark exploded. I can’t quite remember too well. It’s hazy, and I’m not sure if it’s correlated in any way with the actual mutation. But Scarlet… Something came out of that explosion.”

The young detective fidgeted.

“This is important, Scarlet. Something. Came. Out.”

“Why would this be…”

“Scarlet,” Gemini continued. “If the Scars are sentient… if that happens to be the real deal about them… and they become aware of our efforts to stop them…”

The caverns rumbled, breaking their discussion. Gemini quickly reacted, her horn flaring to life. Her magic washed over the room before firing off towards the hallway.

“No!” Gemini shouted. “Damn that fucking bitch!”

“What happened?!” Scarlet yelled back, quickly pocketing her notes. “What’s going on?!”

“Jessica Scrawl,” she growled. “She must’ve fucked something up hard below; the foundation of the entire mountain is shifting.”

Gemini’s horn lit up like fire. She grunted loud, falling against her bolted wall before repositioning herself.

“Scarlet, the mountain is collapsing.”

“WHAT?”

Gemini focused her magic. “I can keep it steady and repair it, but I can’t stop what’s already breaking,” she shouted. The mountain didn’t lie, it groaned under its own weight as the room the ponies were in quaked beneath their hooves. “What I’m saying, Scarlet, is that I can’t promise that you’d be able to make it out before it’s too late.”

“Can’t you just warp me out?”

“You think I wouldn’t zap you outside if I could?” Gemini barked at her. “Holding and repairing a breaking mountain takes effort you stupid bitch!”

Scarlet reeled at the insult. “So what do I do?”

“Run, Scarlet! Get that information out of here and back to Canterlot as quickly as your fucking legs can take you! Your Scars is already advancing. I can’t promise that you’ll be alive for much longer!

“Waiting is NOT an option, Scarlet Trace. Now go!”

Scarlet tucked her hat harder on her head, tightening her outfit before bouncing towards the exit. She turned back to Gemini with one final glance. “Gemini, I’ll give Celestia everything. I’ll even talk to her about your punishment when this has all blown over!”

“That’d be nice,” she groaned back. “Just remember Scarlet! If the Scars can think…”

Scarlet coughed near the exit. A large splat of blood painted the rocky floor.

“…Just be safe out there!”

Scarlet shook her head, wiping her mouth. Without turning her head, she dashed back out into the cavern. “Goodbye, Gemini!”

Minutes Ago

The basement creaked with a unique weight. A familiar, bouncy black mare was trotting up the incline towards the exit. It hadn’t been long since her fight with the specter down below, but she was already feeling the fatigue of the dried up land outside.

Her eyes were glazed over. Jessica Scrawl’s mind was anywhere but Mount Ignis. The memory pounded into her brain by the shadow continued to rear its face with every passing moment. Jessica struggled to think about anything else.

“A foal was crying,” Jessica said. “I think a foal was crying, and she looked at it.”

Jessica felt an eerie vertigo take over. She tripped over her own hooves, stumbling forward and slamming onto the ground with a painful thud.

“Why do I feel so… so strange?”

She picked herself up on her knees. She felt her stomach churn. It suddenly came without warning, a gush of bile that erupted from her mouth. Jessica let her guts stain the floor of Ignis, coughing heavily after reeling from her episode.

“She called it an abomination,” Jessica spit the last of the vomit out. “Abomination. Then it disappeared.”

She looked towards the exit, still shrouded in darkness. She still had a ways to go to get to the exit.

“I think I understand it all now. Every last bit.”

Jessica felt the walls around her rumble. Spare rocks tumbled down the walls. Jessica heard a boulder loosen from the ceiling, bounding forward as a large boom erupted from behind. The path heading towards the battleground was sealed off by a cave in.

“We overdid it,” Jessica spat again. “The whole place is coming down.”

The black witch picked up speed, her trot quickly transforming into a full blown run.

“Scarlet. I need to get her out. Now.”

Rocks large and small were tumbling about as Scarlet made her descent. Her hooves traveled the fastest that she’d ever gone, running down the spiral staircase, dodging the larger formations that were collapsing around her.

A booming voice was heard overhead:

This is Gemini, loyal subjects. We are experiencing a dangerous cave in. Please proceed to the dining cavern as soon as possible. This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill.

Scarlet’s blood was running too hot for her to comment. She jumped one story from the ground, falling over into a heap before jumping back to her feet. She felt blood running from the side of her head upon her landing, but ignored it.

She hurdled across the opening from earlier, bouncing back to the trail that led to the steep cliff. She heard hoofsteps approaching. Several colts and mares of similar hues dashed past her in a blur, some of them shouting what was gibberish to the detective’s ears.

She flicked on her flashlight as the cave grew darker, turning nearly pitch black. She could hear her frantic breath underneath her as she ran. She slipped on several of the smoother rocks that had collapse beneath her, forcing her to slide before regaining her balance.

The warning from Gemini blared out into the cave again, drowned out by a heavier rumble. Scarlet heard a monstrous crash of debris ahead, praying to the heavens above that a cave in hadn’t blocked her off.

It was the contrary. The steep hill she had to climb had completely collapsed under the weight of the surrounding debris. The slope was much easier to slide down than the cliff, making it quick for her to squeeze into the hallway up ahead.

She was getting close, the rumbling sound was growing more horrid by the second. A gut-wrenching scream came from the distance. More rocks collapsed, followed by a blood draining crunch of bone and flesh.

Scarlet started to tear up, her lungs shrieking for oxygen.

Her flashlight flickered, its magic draining. She clenched the instrument in her mouth, begging through her teeth that it would settle for several more minutes.

Scarlet’s flashlight immediately died.

The cave had nearly turned pitch black. Scarlet was running blind. She slowed down heavily, grabbing what air she could as she panicked, feeling her way down the hallway as it started to turn.

She heard another collapsing ceiling in the distance. A scream came roaring through the hall, followed by heavy hoofsteps. Light came from the direction Scarlet was running towards, attached to a pony. Their body illuminated the hall enough for Scarlet to momentarily speed up. They crossed paths, failing to acknowledge each other as the light faded.

Another crunching symphony of earth drummed down the hall. Scarlet’s heart stopped. She quickly ran in the direction, only to bump headfirst into an uneven foundation of mountain.

“I’m trapped!” Scarlet shouted as loud as she could, slamming her hooves against the cave in. No response through the calamity of the broken mountain. The darkness failed to give the desperate pony any comfort, screaming again to try and grab a pony’s attention.

The walls around her trembled. Scarlet looked up, hearing a cracking sound above her.

‘This is it,’ Scarlet’s mind blared. ‘Not Scars. Not a vicious predator in Everfree, or out on the Plains of Woe. A cave in.’

She heard the sound of the walls collapsing in around her. Even though she was blinded by the darkness, she shut her eyes in anticipation. In all of her fright, she failed to notice the sudden aroma of pumpkin in the air.

She felt her body get sucked away as the boulders punctured the ground she stood on.

Scarlet’s body hit hard ground. Night sky outside was still brighter than the cave, the sudden burst of vision causing Scarlet to pause. She was stunned, picking herself up. To her left was a familiar black mare, dusting herself off and looking back. Scarlet turned towards her, gasping at the sight of the mighty mountain.

“It looks like it’s sinking,” Scarlet panted.

“Yeah,” Jessica sucked in as much air as she could. “I didn’t expect it… to come down… so fast. You’re lucky I found you.”

Scarlet and Jessica were a distance away from the mountain, smack dab in the middle of the Plains of Woe. The mountain’s shift roared into the emptiness, harmless to the lifeless world outside.

“We’re…we’re back on the Plains,” Scarlet muttered to her friend. “This is bad.”

“Give me ten seconds.”

Scarlet could feel her body catching up with her. Her mind wandered.

“Everfree, Timberwolves, the Plains, Ignis, Gemini, Dodge, Scars…”

Jessica turned to her partner, equally as cut and beaten up from her escape. “You alright Scarlet?”

Scarlet finally had a chance to just let go of herself. She turned to look back at her guardian, when something caught her eye. Jessica noticed immediately, turning around at the source.

A blue colt, with raven black hair and a dashing smooth haircut was standing ahead several feet away. His cutie mark, a golden balance, was visible in the faded light. He grinned, lifting a hoof as a means of saying hello to the travelers. Next to him was a mare of yellow, her hair swirled in a bun of orange and yellow. Her freckled face beamed a smile as she raised her hoof in unison with the colt.

They started to wave back and forth, exactly as Jackie had done last night on the Plains of Woe.

Scarlet looked from the two ponies, then back at Jessica, when another, final thought filled her timid mind.

‘I never reminded Gemini about Jessica…’

Jessica had to catch the unconscious Scarlet before she slammed against the ground. She struggled to lift the young pony, using her magic to levitate her instead.

“Sorry guys, I don’t have time for this crap,” she muttered. She gave one final look at Mount Ignis. It was still in the midst of its grand collapse when she gave it a stare.

“Guess I’ll be seeing you ponies around,” Jessica nodded, her horn immediately burning with raw power. The pair of ponies vaporized, traveling at light speed across the dreadful plains. The two images followed the magical trail with their eyes until they disappeared into a menacing mist.

A bright yellow mare jumped in her seat. Days of restless sleep out in the forest were spelled out around her eyes, and every single noise was keeping her alert.

“D-Did you hear that!?”

Her zebra friend nodded, trotting back towards the edge of the forest from their camping spot. She signaled the pink maned pony over. The two could see from a distance: a mountain collapsed in on itself.

“Oh no,” Fluttershy muttered between her hooves. “D-Do you think that they’re okay, Zecora?”

“Jessica and Scarlet are strong ponies,” she replied, “I am sure we need not worry.”

As the lyrical words left the linguistic enchantress, a pop flashed in front of the pair. The two doubled back, surprised at the sight of the two agents. Jessica wobbled on her hooves, slowly placing Scarlet on the grass. Her magic waned, fading back into her horn.

“H-Hey sexy fillies,” Jessica moaned, her eyes drained of spirit, “W-We’re back from our adventure.”

The black mare fell face first against the grass, leaving the pair from Ponyville with two sleeping ponies.

Author's Notes:

And here's the second chapter promised.

Enjoy the read!

- G. R.

401: A Bull's-eye

ONE MONTH LATER

A large, ominous building stood tall against the street that ran along its side. The blades of dying grass covered by a thin veil of snow. A chilling gust swept along the empty path to the structure, twisting and turning a Canterlot flag nearby in the wind. Ponies did their best to keep out of the freezing temperatures, plumes of smoke rising from many of the residential areas to keep their inhabitants warm in the coming season.

Canterlot winters were notorious amongst Equestrians. Anypony caught in the middle of the city sported a thick scarf or a heavy jacket to keep the freezing temperatures at bay. Savvy unicorns opted for barriers that blocked the cold from touching their coats.

On the inside of the Agency, one would be greeted with silence. Documents were piling over on many of the working desks in the front lobby, with several dozen more scattered along the ground. Aside from the excess of paper, many of the typical tasks assigned to the janitors were no longer necessary. Gone were the marks of ink splattered along the hallways, and missing was the lemonade or the tea that would magically replace the brewing coffee in the break room. The archive was neat and incredibly tidy; a reality check to anypony who had worked longed enough under Steele to know that somepony in particular was missing.

Through the trailing hallway in the back of the lobby were the three rooms of the top detectives. Two were empty, one untouched for an extended period of time. The older, gray pony boss would occasionally wander in, waiting for something special to happen.

Steele’s office was occupied. Four ponies were kept strangled by the tension carried between their stares. The sounds of their voices could be heard far beyond the hallway that would take them back to the entrance. Every other detective that day was busy. Nearly every agent was off on duty.

One particular duty, ordered by the boss himself.

“Any news today?” The elder, ivory pony spoke, looking up from a copy of a fresh report. Her colleagues heads were all looking down at their own paperwork, their eyes draining with fright at the news that had been sent their way.

“I sent Twilight Sparkle a letter today, asking about her,” Steele gulped. “Scarlet’s still struggling to get out of bed.”

Mystery Hart clenched her teeth, slamming the report on the floor. “If she did anything to Scarlet…”

“I doubt that much,” Locks’ eyes didn’t move away from the report “Jessica doesn’t seem like the type of pony who’d hurt Scarlet. She’s fond of her, from what I can tell.”

“I wish I could believe you maggot, but you can understand why I’d hesitate to agree.” Steele leaned back in his chair, tapping his hoof against the desk nervously. “Jessica Scrawl… a thousand years old. You ever hear of such a thing before?”

“Nothing like it,” Mysty picked up her copy. “I want to get my hooves on her.”

“One month now,” Steele growled. “An entire damn month.”

“You think anypony has the necessary skills to catch her? She was the strongest mage here at the agency, sir,” Locks shook his head. “It could take them years to find Jessica, or more.”

“I’m aware of that,” his hoof hit the desk harder than intended. “I know that it’s near impossible to catch her, but for as long as I’ve known her, I’m aware that even she isn’t flawless.”

Locks caught his boss glancing over to Amethyst.

“If she makes any kind of mistake, we’ll grab her on the dime.”

“So what happens now sir?” Locks tapped the document in front of him. “Gemini’s news bodes well for the case, but..”

“What about Scarlet?” Mysty stood up from her seat. “My Scarlet is trapped in Ponyville. She’s been unable to move out of that spot for more than a few hours. We need to bring her back.”

“I agree with Mrs. Justis. She needs help,” Locks added, “and she’s not going to get any of it while she’s in Ponyville.”

“I’ve already discussed the matter with Princess Celestia,” Steele replied with a hard frown. “She’s doing everything she can, but we can’t bring her back yet.” He rubbed his exhausted eyes with his hooves. “That she was still able to send this report now is impressive.”

“She’s her father’s daughter, Flex. She’ll do what she needs to do to finish the job,” Mysty looked at the report. “I know that Celestia mentioned using the Elements of Harmony, but they haven’t done anything for her.”

“The Elements of Harmony are the strongest band of magic that Equestria has, and even then, it’s only keeping her strength up.” Steele lifted himself off of his chair. “In the report, Gemini said that this ‘Scars’ might have some intelligence to it.”

“Scarlet said that Gemini called them ‘sentient,’” Locks eyes glistened. “I can’t be the only one who gets chills when I think about it. What exactly does she mean by that? How can a disease be self-aware?”

“If the claim is legitimate, then it’s too dangerous to bring her back here right now. Hell, it’s dangerous for the Elements of Harmony to even be near her. Bringing her into a larger town with a population that nearly triples that of Ponyville, and you’re asking for more trouble.”

“Damn it,” Locks stomped the floor in frustration. “Where the hell did Jessica go? We need her more than ever.”

“I imagine that she thinks we’re dangerous right now. Scarlet mentioned that Gemini and Jessica are connected.” She turned to the boss, “I want to go to Mount Ignis. I need to see if I can talk to her.”

“Absolutely not,” Steele immediately barked.

“And who said I needed your permission? I’m not one of your little employees anymore, Flex.”

“You think you can make your way through Everfree?” Steele locked eyes with the older mare. “Pull through the Plains of Woe, as a magic-less, flight-less earth pony? And dig through the remains of that damn mountain?”

Mysty hesitated, but refused to give Steele any indication that she agreed with him. “There’s gotta be something. We can’t rely on catching Jessica for our answers.”

Locks turned to Amethyst. The large pegasi nodded her head, blowing a whistle that grabbed the room’s attention.

“The last part of Scarlet’s report identifies what might be the final lead to Conroy’s murder, sir. Scarlet’s resting, and Amy and I haven’t found a single clue here in Canterlot. Why don’t we go to Ponyville and-”

“Out of the question, rookie.” Steele snapped. “Do I need to repeat myself?”

Locks’ eye twitched.

“Trace’s something of a bomb right now,” Steele turned to Mysty, who unsurprisingly shot him a violent glare. “We don’t know exactly what this disease does. Even Gemini, who survived it, couldn’t actually tell Scarlet what happened. It could send out a fatal magic discharge that wipes ponies out for miles. It could spread the disease around. We don’t really know what her condition is capable of.”

The gray pony’s eyes felt heavier, “I don’t want to throw the Agency’s strongest asset into a minefield. It’s far too dangerous right now.”

Locks snorted, “So we just leave Scarlet to rot?”

“We find a cure first,” Steele growled. “That’s our safest option.”

The room fell into a long period of silence. Mysty fidgeted, making her way towards the door after the group clearly lost interest in pushing the discussion further.

“My daughter is stuck in a small town, sick with a disease that Equestria has never heard of. I’m going to see her. You aren’t going to be changing that decision.”

Locks stood up to Steele, supporting her. “Sir, I agree with Mrs. Justis’ sentiment. To put it into perspective: That ‘bomb’ of yours is living with the Element of Magic. If something were to happen, my death should be the least of your concerns. Scarlet Trace is my friend. I need to help her.”

Amethyst lifted into the air, following Locks towards the white mare at the door. They turned away, twisting the knob and hearing its eerie creak echo down the empty hallways.

“No.”

Locks, Amy, and Mysty froze where they stood. In that instant, Steele’s voice had changed. The impact it left on Locks; the harsh, caring, wise, raspy sound was pushed to the wayside. In its place, for the first time, was the sound of genuine aggression. A violent tone that was completely alien to the rookie detective. The cobalt colt turned back towards his boss.

Steele was back on his chair, his hoof scribbling away at a document. He quickly finished his writing, keeping the trio’s attention on him, before rolling it up. Attached to the center of the letter was the royal insignia. Holding it with one hoof, he opened a drawer in his desk, pulling out a small vile. The bottle held a wispy aura, tinted in emerald, sparkling against his lamplight. He opened the bottle, letting the aura trickle gently against the scroll.

The paper immediately combusted into a flame, evaporating into a mist that was quickly sucked out of the room and through the front door.

“You will do nothing. You will stay in Canterlot.”

Locks felt his heart beating against his chest, sweat forming on his forehead. Amy immediately fell limp to the ground, her wings stiff and her body slowly shrinking towards Locks. Mysty lowered her head, breathing deeply while taking another step back.

“What the hell was in that letter, Flex,” Mysty calmly asked him.

“Domino Locks, Lily Sheen,” Steele’s stare locked onto the pair, “As of now, you are off duty. Your mission is on hold until I say so. The three of you are now under full surveillance.”

Mysty nearly shoved the rookies aside. “What!?”

“I’ve alerted the Royal Guard. You are not allowed to go out of Canterlot’s boundaries. You are not allowed to send anything outside of Canterlot. Any guard catching you doing so has the authority to arrest you under treason. There will be no second chances.”

“What the hell are you doing!?” Locks snapped at the cold pony on the other side of the room.

“Scarlet Trace has enough to deal with as it is. Your meddling is only going to make everything worse. The conditions of you three will be lifted when she is finally able to return to Canterlot. Is that understood?”

Mysty’s body started to burn red hot. Without saying a word, she turned back around, quickly leaving the room. She grabbed the door, slamming it as hard as she could on the other end. Amy and Locks both flinched as the glass from the center of the door shattered on impact, leaving small shards littered along the exit.

“Watch your step on the way out,” Steele grabbed the report and turned his chair away from the detective.

Locks and Amy sat on the couch, cringing at the sound of glass breaking in the kitchen just feet away. Mysty came back out, holding an entire bottle of whiskey in her hoof. Her throat skipped with every gulp, her mane swinging with her head when she brought the head of the drink to her lips.

“Who the FUCK does he think he is!? I can’t even see my own fucking daughter!”

Locks winced, watching the ivory mare slam the half emptied bottle against the counter. The whiskey splashed against the entire kitchen-top, smothering it was a light brown color.

“There’s nothing we can do now,” Locks sighed, gripping against the couch tight.

Amy blew her whistle.

“Nice try, but Locks has us completely surrounded here in Canterlot. We can’t set hoof out of the city without raising a big red flag.” He shut his eyes, “There’s gotta be some way to get in touch with her. We can’t just sit around while she’s like this.”

The wind whistled a heavy tune while Mysty paced crooked steps up and down the single hallway of her home. She grumbled to herself, obscenities leaking out about the colt’s boss.

“There’s a way,” the homeowner bluntly answered Locks.

He turned to her, “Really? What would that be?”

“That little bottle the bastard had?” She rolled her eyes, aggravated. “That’s a special kind of magic he used. It’s for emergencies only.”

“It sends letters I assume. We could send something to Scarlet.” Locks shook his head, “That won’t do though. The Royal Guard will catch anything we send out of the borders, wouldn’t they?”

“You’re missing the idea here,” Mysty walked over to the den. “That spell is special. Letter sending spells like that exist in the general market, and anypony can buy them, but that green bottle was different. That bottle contains a type of spell that’s specified for use only by Steele and Princess Celestia herself. No other weaker letter-sending spell can get through the barriers set up at the royal castle. It’s high priority magic.”

“So the barrier at the castle doesn’t trap the spell from that bottle.”

“That’s what I said,” she hiccupped.

“So if we can get a hoof on a bottle of that stuff, then we can possibly send Scarlet a letter. Tell her everything that’s going on up here. Even if we can’t physically do something, we need to let her know that something’s been done.”

Amy whistled in agreement.

“Only one problem,” Mysty replied. “You can’t buy that kind of quality on the open market. That’s the first bottle I’ve seen outside of the Royal Castle, and it’s in that fucking room of his,” she stumbled back to the kitchen.

Locks stayed quiet, listening to the mother’s glasses clattering in the kitchen. He turned back to the pink haired pony, “Are you expecting us to…?”

She poured a tall glass of wine. She turned to Locks, giving him a quick smile before taking another chug of drink into her mouth. “You make it sound like it’s going to be hard, sweetie.”

A loud bang interrupted Locks’ response, blinding the group’s sight for a moment. The room was shrouded with a black mist that covered the center of the den. Mysty winced at the light, taking another drink before putting her glass down. Amy instinctively jumped in front of Locks while he took a step backward, rolling off of the couch.

The smoke cleared, leaving a shadow of a pony still hiding in the remainder. Atop her head was a mane of orange that stretched down below the base of her neck, straightened out and kept tidy. Her tail matched the length of her hair, barely managing to hover above the ground. Her black horn cackled with a brilliant orange aura that mirrored her beautiful irises. The darkness of her raven black coat swallowed up the attention of the three ponies in the room.

Jessica Scrawl, the Agency’s scribe, shook her head, dusting some of the smoke from her fur. She caught Locks’ curious expression and smiled. Two fangs, easily distinguishable against her body, poked out of her mouth. Far longer than that of a Changeling, nevertheless a feature that didn’t belong to a pony.

“Locks baby, you look as tasty as ever,” she smoothly greeted the detective. “It’s been too long.”

The blue pony moved to the side at the sound of a mother’s angry steps. Mysty’s pink mane whipped by him, her form closing in on the black mare.

Jessica skipped back, waving her horn towards the sky. A large aura of orange encapsulated the apartment, each of the walls surrounding them pulsing the same color as Jessica’s long mane.

“Not too close Mrs. Justis,” Jessica’s tongue slid across the surface of one of her fangs, “These babies aren’t just for show.” At the sight of the resigned older mare, Jessica continued, “I have the entire compound hexed right now. You try anything, and I can tear the whole place down.”

“Jessica,” Locks followed Mysty’s lead, backing away to give the black witch her space, “where have you been for the past month? Does Steele know you’re back?”

“Flexing my spells,” she answered without a care, a sly eyebrow rising. “Leveling them up, if you catch my drift.” Jessica moved towards a seat on the other side of the couches, her eyes never leaving the trio. “As for the Agency: No. You three were my first stop on my way back into Canterlot.”

“The Agency’s been trying to hunt you down all this time. They put disposition-identifying barriers all around Canterlot,” Locks explained.

“That’s true,” Jessica nodded, “But I’m not some tacky little magician. After the last month I put myself through, even I was surprised by how easy it was to sneak past the border.” Jessica relaxed her body, leaning against the couch for cushion. “So, one month, huh? What have I missed?”

“What did you do to Scarlet?”

Her orange eyes turned towards Mysty. “How’s she doing?”

“She’s bedridden. She can barely move throughout the day,” Locks replied. “Steele won’t let us go to investigate.”

“Still in Ponyville? That makes sense, considering.”

“You have answers, Scrawl,” Mysty growled. “What happened at Mount Ignis?”

“Nothing that was particularly my doing,” she flashed another fanged smile. “Whatever’s going on with Scarlet now is completely from her disease and nothing more.”

Mysty turned to the cobalt pony. “Locks?”

He nodded, his eyes glistening in the light. He kept his sights on Jessica. He turned back to the ivory pony with a shake of his head.

“To answer your question earlier, Jessica,” Locks started, “Scarlet just sent in the Ignis report a few hours ago. We just read through it ourselves.”

“Has she started on the lead with Slate then?”

“Steele’s having us wait until her condition improves,” Mysty finally started to loosen up, grabbing her half empty bottle and downing another generous gulp.

“I see,” Jessica licked her lips again. “Well, it was nice seeing you all again, but,” she kicked herself back onto her hooves, “I think I’m gonna jet now.”

“Jessica, wait,” Mysty called. “I have two questions for you.”

“Oh?” Jessica took a step closer to the group. “Please, by all means. I have all day.”

“The Agency’s been trying to hunt you down throughout all of Equestria, and even somewhat beyond the borders and into unclaimed territory. No one managed to catch a single trace of your magical disposition. Where did you go for one whole month?”

“Far.” Jessica chuckled at Mysty’s annoyance with the sarcastic reply. “Really, really far. I couldn’t let the Agency, or anypony for that matter, stumble upon me while I practiced my magics. I need to be at tip top condition. This winter’s going to be exciting.”

“But where?” Locks pressed. “Where could you go to wind up completely undetectable?”

The black mare smiled with glee. “I enjoy this too much sometimes,” she cooed. “The place I go to has no name. It has no recognizable landmarks. No life. I think I might be the only pony, or creature, that even knows of the place. On hoof, I doubt you could ever make it there alone.”

“Not even,” Locks muttered. “That’s impossible.”

“Next question, mama,” she controlled the flow of the conversation with ease.

Mysty cleared her throat. “What’s going to happen now, Jessica?”

The scribe tilted her head. “I’m not sure I understand, love.”

“You go missing for a month. We get put under arrest by the city of Canterlot. Then, out of the blue, you show up with… fangs.”

“And?”

“Conroy and I used to vacation outside of Equestria. We’ve read tons of books and articles about beasts and creatures that prowled beyond the borders of this country. We even confronted some of those bizarre animals.” Mysty looked up and down Jessica’s frame. “You’re not a pony. Nopony has fangs. But you’re not a Changeling either. The Agency makes damn sure to scan each of its employees after the wedding fiasco with Princess Cadence. Locks would also be able to tell right away, and I’m sure you’re well educated on his capabilities.”

“Why of course,” she gave Locks a friendly wink. “Locky, just let me know if you ever want more eye candy later.”

“My question stands, Jessica Scrawl. What’s going to happen now? What are you preparing for? And what are you?”

Another giggle left the mysterious mare’s throat. “To answer all of your questions: I have no clue! All I know is that something huge is going to happen, and it all centers around my lovely Scarley.”

“How do you know that?” Locks asked.

“It’s a hunch at best, sweetheart,” Jessica turned her back to them. “In any case, I suggest you all prepare yourselves as well. I’m all set to go. Now it’s just a matter of time.”

“Prepare for what?”

“Who knows?” Jessica smiled. “Scarlet’s special. It could be anything. Doesn’t that just sound exciting to you?”

The eager tone of her voice put the trio on edge.

“Before I leave, there’s something else I need to let you ponies know,” Jessica’s horn lit up. “Gemini and Scarlet had a nice, long chat on Mount Ignis. I suggest you reread your reports again if you have them on you. The wording she used was very… distinguished.”

Jessica’s magic wrapped around her like a fine ribbon, twisting and turning while her body lifted off of the surface of the apartment. “Now if you ponies can excuse me, I have an appointment with my boss.”

Another flash illuminated the room, and in the blink of an eye, Jessica Scrawl had vanished.

“What do you think, Mrs. Justis?” Locks’ eyes kept themselves glued to the empty space Jessica had just occupied. The aggressive glint in his eye never left.

“Dangerous,” Mysty said with a flat expression. “Absolutely dangerous.”

A heavy cough sounded out into the library, snapping the exhausted pony out of her sleep. Tired, jade eyes opened up to the loft upstairs. Her muscles felt worn, and ached with a fatigue that came with the sickness. The space around her small bed was wide and barren of any books or scrolls, unlike the majority of Scarlet’s stay beforehand.

She grunted, pulling herself up to take another look around, wearily wiping the sleep from her eyes with a spare hoof. A coat of lavender was perched on a desk nearby, her head turned to the mare in response to the creaks of her bed. Scarlet gave her a frail smile before leaning back against her wet pillow.

“Sweating in my sleep again?”

Twilight Sparkle turned her whole figure around. The familiar tiara was nestled atop her mane, sparkling with an extravagant power that lay dormant within. “How do you feel, Scarlet?”

Another cough tore through her raw throat. She groaned, her eye catching sight of the droplets of blood covering the sheets. “I’ve been better.”

Twilight marched over to the bedside. “Relax, we’ve got you.” She turned towards the staircase, knocking on the floor to grab an unseen pony’s attention downstairs. “Applejack, can you come back up here? Just for a minute?”

“Applejack’s here too?”

“Mmhmm,” Twilight nodded. “Everypony else is busy for a while. Us two should be enough for now.” Twilight gave her body a quick look over. “You look like your condition is improving.”

Scarlet picked herself up again. Twilight hurried over, helping her rest her back on the bed frame. “Wish I could say that I felt like I was improving.”

A brown stetson and an orange coat sprouted from the edge of the stairs a distance away. The cowpony from Sweet Apple Acres, the first pony she had met in this new town at the start of Scarlet’s investigation, trotted up to Twilight’s side. The sunlight dropping in from an open window towards the side of the room cast a reflection off of a shiny, orange gem dangling from Applejack’s neck, suspended within a large, golden necklace. It jingled as the apple farmer turned to look at Scarlet.

“You feelin’ any better, sugarcube?”

“I’ll be fine once Twilight’s spell gives me a kick-start. How are things on the farm?”

“A might busy,” Applejack admitted, “but nothin’ my family ain’t already used to. Preparing for the winter season is always a lotta work.”

Twilight’s horn came to life, a small bulb at the tip of her extension pulsed a soft purple color. Scarlet followed a quick beam that shot from the librarian’s horn, the tiara on her head flashing as it bridged a link between herself and the orange earth pony standing next to her. The gemstone synced up with Twilight’s royal accessory, a small whir brought the magnitude of the spell to a new level of power.

The spell fired at Scarlet, coating her body in a twist of orange and purple hues. It quickly settled, jolts of magical energy springing across Scarlet’s dull gray coat before trailing into minuscule bits of arcane essence.

The young, red maned pony took in a new breath, feeling a rush of energy lift her off of the bed and onto the wooden floor of the tree house. She shook her mane, taking in a quick yawn before looking back at the two ponies across the bed.

Her strength waned for a split second; Scarlet caught herself before her knees could buckle.

“Be careful Scarlet,” the unicorn warned: “The spell is strong, but you’re still sick. Just don’t push yourself too much.”

“Thank you both,” Scarlet cracked her neck before letting out another cough. She covered her mouth with a napkin, quickly brought to her through the air by Twilight. Tiny splatters of blood could be seen in the residue. “It’s still pretty bad. I need to wrap this up and go home.”

“Wrap this- You’re still going to work?” Twilight’s eyes widened. “Even with how sick you are?”

“That’s what I was ordered to do, Twilight. I have to finish my assignment. The sooner I get back home, the sooner I can focus on getting better,” Scarlet gulped. She turned away, feeling a sense of dread fill her. Her mouth quivered with uncertainty, her mind mentally slapping her for being so stubborn. She moved over towards the two ponies, doing her best to ignore her sickness.

Especially so, Scarlet tried her best to forget the words spoken by Gemini on Mount Ignis.

‘I’m still going to die…’

“Twilight, it’s been some time since I asked,” Scarlet turned to her, “I hope I’m not bothering too much, but the census…”

A grin came from the purple unicorn as she signaled the three mares down the stairs. “As a matter of fact, I have some pretty good news for you, detective.” She led Applejack and Scarlet back into the main room of the library, walking through to her private study. She turned and signaled them to wait as she passed the threshold.

“Ponies have been preparing for the winter for the last month or so, and the library has become less busy as a result.” The sound of her magic could be heard, followed sometime later by her hooves as she returned from her study. Hovering above her was a large, purple tome. It swayed before she placed it on a desk just to the side of Scarlet. “Since I had so much more free time, I decided to look into the Ponyville Census and get it completely sorted out.”

“R-Really?” Scarlet waited as Twilight opened the massive book. “You already managed to get it done?”

“Sure did,” Twilight chuckled at Scarlet’s disbelief. “It wasn’t as difficult as I thought it to be. It was mostly a matter of cleaning up several of the earlier years. It was almost like organization hadn’t been invented yet.”

The gray pony licked her lips as she moved through the years on the pages, her hoof underlining numerous names over the hundreds of pages of documents. “Anything stand out, Twilight? Usually when a pony moves or passes on, there’s some kind of note regarding that in their last year of residence. That’s how it’s usually done in Canterlot.”

Twilight motioned her back before the pages starting whirring forward from Twilight’s magic. The sound of dozens of pages flipping rapidly filled the air. “I’m way ahead of you Scarlet. I found it recently too, towards the end of the book. Somepony was listed that didn’t show up at any point with any kind of indication that they had moved. I think the name was ‘Slate.’”

“That’s the one,” Scarlet sat on the floor, feeling her energy drain again. “Without a doubt.” She took a long, deep breath, feeling a bead of sweat already forming on her brow.

“Think ya can hold up for a bit longer? I’m sure Twi wouldn’t mind fixin’ you up again,” said the third pony in the room.

Scarlet looked over to Applejack. Scarlet gave her Element another gaze before responding. “I’m fine for now. Finding the name soon would be perfect. I could go out, investigate, and if everything goes well, I could be back home by the end of the week.”

“That’s all fine and dandy,” Applejack waved her hoof, “but ain’t you supposed to be resting up a bit more? I doubt you’d be able to really move out of Twi’s house lookin’ like that.”

“I appreciate all the help you girls have offered me here, really,” Scarlet smiled, “but I really need to get this done. It’s important to me and my boss.” She turned back to look at Twilight, who was still scanning the pages at an impressive speed. “Canterlot has plenty of doctors who could look into my sickness after I get back.”

Scarlet coughed again, doing her best to forget that she was lying to the face of the Element of Honesty.

Applejack only responded with an uncertain tilt of her hat.

Before she could think about anything else, Scarlet’s eyes caught onto the three apples painted on the orange pony’s coat. The discussion the two had the first time they met replayed in her head. Echoes of the red alicorn’s words on Ignis burned themselves back into recent memory.

“Hey Applejack, can I ask you something?”

Her blonde mane swung behind her as she turned, her attention caught by the purple dragon in the kitchen, cleaning the counters. “My pleasure, Scarlet.”

Scarlet felt a twitch in her head, as if something blunt had struck her between the eyes. She looked down at her cutie mark, the magnifying glass still as visible as ever. “What do you think about cutie marks?”

“Beg pardon?”

Scarlet cleared her throat. “Sorry. I mean, the idea of cutie marks. I’ve always been raised on the fact that cutie marks were an indication of your special talent. The one talent that defines yourself.”

“Sounds about right to me sugarcube,” Applejack replied. “Why?”

Scarlet’s ears were hungry for another pony’s perspective. “What about ponies to don’t find their cutie mark? What becomes of their destiny?”

“Didn’t we talk about somethin’ like this sometime ago?” Applejack moved on without waiting for Scarlet’s answer. “Well shoot, a pony without a cutie mark just rubs me the wrong way. Everypony I’ve ever known has gotten one sooner or later. We Apples were always late bloomers ourselves.”

Scarlet felt her gut twist. “And what if a pony had a cutie mark that was wrong?”

The farmer gave her a double-take. “I… I don’t know, Scarlet. That doesn’t sound right.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Just as I’ve never seen a pony without a cutie mark, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a pony not like their own. It just doesn’t sound any natural to me.”

Scarlet gave her cutie mark another glance. “So what would you say to a pony like that? A pony who believes that their mark is wrong?”

Applejack fixed her hat, giving herself a moment to think. “Nopony can figure out what they love on their own. That’s what I think. As long as a pony has good friends and is livin’ a proper life, I would imagine that cutie mark or not, it’d be a life worth livin’.”

“I suppose. It’s just that so much importance is put on finding your cutie mark,” Scarlet answered back. “I can’t imagine what it must do to ponies who don’t have a clear mind at the time…”

“Don’t sweat it sugarcube. I reckon I might’a been in a spot like that before I met Twi or Rainbow, or any of my friends here in Ponyville.” Applejack spotted one of Scarlet’s hooves quivering against the floor. “Ya’ shouldn’t be puttin’ too much thought into that kind of thing anyways. That type of stinkin’ thinkin’ is only gonna hurt everypony around you, including yourself.”

Scarlet agreed with Applejack. It all sounded so simple, such an easy idea to grasp for somepony like her. A buzzing sound rang in her mind, leaving behind a painful sting that rivaled that of an agonizing migraine. Scarlet hissed, rubbing her temples with her eyes shut.

Ever since Mount Ignis and the Plains of Woe, her mind had been playing tricks on her. Cruel games whose only end was to make Scarlet more miserable by the day. The coughing and weak sensation was the first to intensify. Nightmares had quickly followed, and now, as per Gemini’s own words, she could feel a sinking feeling dragging her down into the deepest hells: A negativity that kept her from accepting any sentiment of hope or faith.

Applejack’s words were just another example of her Scars’ sick, twisted tricks. The detective understood her words, incredibly so. She was well aware of the message Applejack was trying to illustrate, but every single time she tried to acknowledge it, another sharp pain rattled in her mind.

A whisper echoed in her ears. Incomprehensible, but the sickly feeling her body felt at the sound kept her from thinking too hard about Applejack’s words.

With another jab in her head, Scarlet dropped the subject, no longer desiring to accept the farmer’s perspective.

“Sentience,” Scarlet whispered. The fur on her neck stood up at the word, her entire body quivering, grabbing the farmer’s attention again.

Before Applejack could respond, Twilight slapped the book with one of her hooves.

“Aha! Scarlet, I found it!”

The detective rose, shaking her head of all thoughts but her task. She approached the tome, following Twilight Sparkle’s hoof to a single name. The name stood out, the words ringing in her mind like a fresh memory.

“Blank Slate, Ponyville, Equestria,” Scarlet read off. “That’s all it says?”

“Blank Slate,” Applejack repeated. “Don’t think I’ve ever heard that name before.”

Twilight moved her hoof down more. “Not quite, Scarlet. Here’s his last recorded address. It’s here in town. It’s a bit of a walk though, not too far from here.”

“Awesome,” Scarlet turned. “That’s the name I was told of. How long has he been here, just to make sure it’s the same guy?”

Twilight’s tail whipped around in a frenzy while she read his information off. Several page flips filled the air. “About twenty years, give or take. Seems like he lived most of his life here.”

“Perfect,” Scarlet braced herself. She hastily started back up the stairs.

“Scarlet, where are you going?”

“Twilight, can you write down that address for me?” the eager mare returned to her bed. She slapped on her fedora and grabbed hold of her coat. “I need to check it out as soon as possible.”

Curiously, Twilight watched as Scarlet stumbled her way back down the stairs, careful not to trip over her weak legs. “Are you sure about that? You still need to rest.”

“I can rest when I’m in Canterlot,” Scarlet repeated herself. “I need to find this Blank Slate’s house as soon as I can.”

The concern on the librarian’s face caused Scarlet to falter for a moment. She turned back towards the kitchen. “Spike, can you watch over the library for a while?”

“What?” A whine came from the other room.

“I need to take Scarlet somewhere for a bit. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Twilight, what are you doing?” Scarlet turned her head.

“Princess Celestia told me to use the Elements of Harmony to help restore your strength. You’ve been nothing but exhausted for the entire month since you got back from the Everfree Forest. I’m not going to let you just walk out into Ponyville. What if you collapse?”

Scarlet had considered such a possibility. “I know, Twilight, but I really need to do this.”

“Applejack, do you think you can come along with us?” Twilight turned to her friend. “The spell is more potent when more of the Elements are nearby. I could use an extra hoof or two.”

The farmer winced at the idea of being away from her work for longer than she had to. She turned back to Scarlet, noticing the small, dark bags under the detective’s eyes. “Sure, Twi. I’ll go.”

Applejack started heading out the door.

“Wait, aren’t you gonna go with us?” Scarlet held out a hoof.

“Twilight just said that the Elements make you stronger. I’m gonna go look for the rest of the girls. The more of us that show, the healthier you become, right?”

“R-Right,” Scarlet understood.

“Okay then, I’ll see y’all in a bit.”

“Applejack, wait,” Twilight called out. A small note floated from her desk and into the earth pony’s hooves. “That’s the address. We’ll meet up there as soon as we can.”

With a wave, Applejack lowered her hat on her head and bolted for the center of town.

Scarlet pulled her coat over her body, hearing Twilight’s steps approaching her from the side. Another note containing the same information Applejack had been given was floating in the space above the pair. A pair of blue bags shot above Twilight and landed neatly on either side of her body. The note was quickly tucked into one of the saddle bags.

Twilight focused on the door. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

The roads were far emptier than they had been when Scarlet had first come to Ponyville. Any of the citizens still hanging around were taking care of simple chores, from brushing the falling leaves off of their trees, to stockpiling food for the harsh winter months.

A cold chill swept through the air, a constant reminder of the brittle season that was quickly approaching. The sun was shining through a blanket of thin clouds, poking out at angles that allowed several shadows to blot the ground around the town.

Twilight and Scarlet had made a quick stop down at town hall. Twilight’s saddle bags were left open, several pages of documents left flapping up and down with her pace. The detective looked at the handful of papers Twilight had levitating in front of them, keeping a small space open in her line of vision so as not to bump into any unsuspecting ponies.

Scarlet was shuffling her eyes through the documents nearly as fast as Twilight was. Frustrated, she sighed. “Nothing about him at all. Just a name and a location. Didn’t Blank Slate do anything here in Ponyville?”

“Maybe he just kept to himself?” Twilight shrugged, licking her lips as she turned towards another sheet. “We have some residents here in town who don’t come around often. They just stick to themselves most of the time.”

“I know, but it still surprises me how little else we’re finding here. No pictures, no job description,” Scarlet read off, “not even any local stories about him.” She turned towards the lavender pony, “We pinpointed the year he went missing back at the town hall. Anything special happen that year?”

“Hold on, Scarlet,” Twilight shoved everything that was floating in the air into an empty saddlebag on one side before grabbing everything out of the other. Each document flattened itself out in front of the ponies as they continued down the road.

“Oh, left here,” Twilight split the papers apart. The road split into three more roads, each leading a different direction. Scarlet fidgeted, starting a light pant as she turned the corner with Twilight.

“I,” Scarlet was losing her breath, “Might need a recharge when we get to the house. How far is it?”

“Not much further now,” Twilight brought the papers back. “The year he went missing… No major events here… or there…”

Scarlet was looking at a chart on her end of the documents. A line followed in a relatively straight path down the center of the document, vertical lines cutting into it. Each vertical line indicated a different year.

The detective nudged Twilight when the line suddenly spiked straight up, several blocks higher than anything else on the page.

“Twilight, look here,” Scarlet motioned. “This graph monitored the distribution levels of magic above Ponyville during the years leading to and from Blank’s disappearance. Check it out.”

“That’s strange,” Twilight followed the line to an alarmingly high peak. “The year he disappeared there was a huge disposition spike.”

“Gemini had a headline from Ponyville’s newspaper talking about a magic surge. She said it reminded her of him. Think it means anything?”

“I don’t know.”

Scarlet turned back to the change. “Look at the numbers. A surge of magic that strong could do anything.”

Twilight agreed with a shake of her head. “Says here that the source of the influx was never found.”

“Where do you think it went?”

Twilight shrugged, “I have no idea, but magic of that magnitude doesn’t just vanish without somepony keeping track. This doesn’t make any sense. Somepony should’ve written something more about this. There’s no way it could’ve happened without catching Equestria’s interest.”

“That’s what I’m thinking too,” Scarlet followed the line. It plummeted back to average levels before the next week hit. “It didn’t fade away naturally either. Look Twilight: It drops just as fast as it rises.”

“Which means whatever caused that spike, used all of the magic that was conjured up. But I have no idea what any ordinary pony could do with that much magic.”

“It’s far too much for a single pony to use,” Scarlet said. “Think this has something to do with Slate?”

“A missing pony and a missing spell? That’s not enough to form a correlation Scarlet,” she started, “but it’s definitely worth looking into. We might find something that connects the two together.”

The air around her was thick and soupy, taking effort to breathe in and out. The deathly chill running along with the wind was welcomed more than ever as it passed through her long, pink mane. Her hooves traveled around the dirt road, enjoying the ambiance set by the weather. Tombstones all around her had been her only company for some time since she broke free from her home.

Mystery Hart let her mouth lock onto her bottle again, chugging more than she ever had that morning. She broke free moments later, letting out an unladylike growl, feeling the burn of the alcohol tear through her throat. Her heavy, drunken eyes swayed from one end of the graveyard to the other, watching as the graves stretched on for miles in every direction.

She heard the flapping of wings against the air, turning around just in time to see the dirt kick up from the large, brown pegasus’ landing. Her precious blue partner stood right next to her, a foot shorter, but far more intimidating to look at.

“Isabout time you showed your faces,” Mysty hiccupped. “D-Don’t worry about me. I’ve only had this many to drink!”

Locks sighed. Mysty’s hooves stumbled on the ground, two gallons of emptied hard cider clattering together underneath her. “You should probably ease up, Mrs. Justis. All this poison can’t be good for your liver.”

“Why don’t you mind your own business?” she turned back, leaning on Amy’s back.

Locks groaned. “I think it’s time we discussed what we’re gonna do about Scarlet. You got the area around here sealed off right?”

“Y-Yep,” Mysty shook her head a bit too vigorously. “I got a few of these cool dudes to take care of it,” she motioned.

The lantern hanging above her head jingled as she turned to point. Locks and Amy followed her over to several graves nearby. Standing above each one was the familiar appearance of a pony specter, each one branding a horn on their ethereal, white bodies.

“They won’t hold it for long,” Mysty reminded them, “And I’m sure the guards watchin’ us figured that they couldn’t get through the moment they bounced off of the barrier. S-So we don’t,” she burped, far more like a lady than earlier, “have much time.”

“We need to get to the Agency, but if Amy and I get anywhere near it, the guards around us will just inform Steele and Celestia. We can’t get anywhere close unless we can find a way to sneak past them.”

Amy whistled in agreement.

“N-Not a problem,” Mysty responded. She pointed in another direction, Locks and Amy following her there as well. Locks eyes widened at the sight in front of him.

Dozens of spirits floated idly, chatting with each other to pass the little time they had left on the earth. Each one a unicorn, and each one willing to help out Mysty in her cause.

“How did you summon so many?”

“A bit of Daniels and plenty of push-ups, Locky,” her lantern bobbled with her crooked steps. “I have a whole bunch of talented fillies and gentlecolts here to help us out. I just gotta give ‘em the word and they’ll take care of the rest.

Locks mind played around with several ideas, looking at the new recruits. “Can they make us undetectable? Invisible perhaps?”

“S-Sure can.”

“Excellent. We don’t need much.” He motioned to Amy, who quickly pulled out a small letter hiding in the depths of her mane. “We already have the letter set up. All we need to do is grab the bottle and we’re fine. The spell would need to last long enough for us to get in and out of the Agency.”

Amy gave Locks a quick reminder through her whistle. Several spirits nearby took an interest in the mute mare.

“Steele isn’t a problem. He’s always out of his room and talking to Celestia about future assignments around this time. Shouldn’t be difficult.”

“I can provide a pretty long distraction here at the Cemetery,” Mysty called out. “The barrier got their attention, and the unicorns over there,” she pointed to the waiting spirits, “Are gonna keep the spell fortified for as long as possible.”

“What about you?”

“I,” she hiccupped, “I’ll be fine. I should be able to hold ‘em p-pretty long. They’ll think you’re still with me here too. By the time they comb the graveyard in full, you should be out of the Agency with the letter delivered.”

Locks let the information sink in, a twinkle in his eyes dancing in the faint sunlight. “So, this is really happening, Mysty.”

“Yeeeeeeeeep,” she slurred.

“This is your last chance to back out. If we get caught before we can get to the bottle, then it’s to the dungeons for who knows how long.”

“Don’t care,” Mysty’s eyes narrowed. “Scarlet’s safety is my number one priority. I’ll fight the Princess herself to protect her.”

Locks sighed, “I share the sentiment.” Locks turned to the large pegasus. “Ready to go? You having any second thoughts?”

Amy shook her head with certainty before blowing her whistle.

“Of course,” Locks smiled. “She’s my friend too.”

“You guys can start heading back out of the graveyard now,” Mysty turned to look back at the dead ponies floating nearby. “The veil should kick in the moment you leave the barrier. Good luck!”

“Never thought we’d be playing the bad guys,” Locks sarcastically coated his words. The two ponies sped off in a sprint towards the exit of the cemetery, heading straight for the direction of the Agency.

Author's Notes:

Another day, another chapter. Please enjoy!

- G. R.

402: Evidence of a Broken Soul

“Careful there,” Twilight Sparkle moved closer to her friend, letting the grey mare lean on her for support. Their pace slowed down, Scarlet’s weakness betraying her eagerness to complete what she felt was the final step in her mission.

The detective paused, resting her limp foreleg over the back of Twilight’s neck. She sighed, taking in a deep breath before putting her weight back on all fours. She didn’t want to waste any more time sitting at the library. She quickly picked up her pace, thankful that Twilight mimicked her.

Ponyville was lively and awake, ponies occasionally passing the duo by, smiling and waving a quick welcome to both their librarian and her Canterlot guest. Scarlet watched as Twilight quickly responded with a sharp wave and grin back at them, an act that the young mare couldn’t help but admire.

‘This town’s so warm,’ Scarlet looked back at the clip of parchment hanging in front of the pair. Twilight pointed down the corner of the block, the pair turning left to keep with the directions to the location of Slate’s mysterious house.

“How much further do we have to go?” Scarlet looked over to the unicorn, who seemed all too eager herself to discover the location of the missing pony.

“Not much,” the purple pony replied. “I’m sure that everypony else will be there by the time we arrive too.”

“You’re positive about that?”

“If she told Rainbow Dash first, then of course. She’s the fastest flier in Ponyville after all. Maybe even Equestria.”

Scarlet gave Twilight a quick chuckle. “I’m still taken by how much faster she is over everypony I know back at Canterlot. Even my friend Amethyst wouldn’t be able to keep up with her.”

“She IS the only one able to pull off a Sonic Rainboom,” Twilight continued. “She wouldn’t have the cutie mark she has if she didn’t enjoy whipping through the air.”

A sharp pain jolted down Scarlet’s back. She winced, turning instinctively towards the end of the trail the pain carved. Her cutie mark felt hot, the fiery sensation burning like a parasite through her body. She winced, tripping over her hooves and stumbling a ways in front of the pair before regaining her balance.

Twilight immediately jumped towards her, a soothing purple glow grabbing Scarlet’s side before she could tumble over. “Scarlet, are you okay? Do you need another spell?”

She ignored Twilight’s questions. Her panting subsided; she looked up to the unicorn’s face with a puzzled look on her face. “Cutie marks are there to symbolize what a pony is best at.”

“Well… yeah?” Twilight failed to understand the mumbling detective.

“How about you, Twilight?”

“What about me?”

Scarlet managed to straighten herself out. With a motion of her hoof, they continued to walk. “I talked to Applejack earlier today about cutie marks. I’m sure that you overheard some of the conversation.”

“Bits and pieces. I think I was too busy looking into the census,” Twilight shrugged.

“So how would you feel about a pony who gets the wrong cutie mark?”

“The… wrong cutie mark?”

“Yeah. A cutie mark that wasn’t meant for them. A fake cutie mark.”

“Scarlet, that doesn’t… I don’t even think that’s possible,” Twilight said.

“What makes you think that?”

“A cutie mark appears when a pony discovers who they are meant to be. When that pony realizes where their talent belongs, and how to utilize that talent to benefit themselves, and the ponies around them.”

“Discovers,” Scarlet pointed to her cutie mark. “What about me then? How about ponies like me, who were born into their cutie marks?”

“Scarlet, are you okay?” Twilight stepped closer to her while they walked. “Is the fever coming back?”

Scarlet felt a snap within her gut, her body shivering at the hollow sensation spreading through her chest. She shook her head violently, her red mane flapping against her black coat before coming to a rest. “I’m fine. Sorry about that.”

“It’s okay. Hold still,” Twilight closed her eyes. The crown on her head, the Element of Magic, sparkled as Twilight’s magic channeled into it. A small string of the element’s essence spread forth from the artifact, covering Scarlet’s figure before being absorbed into her body.

The detective took a large breath, the trembling coming to a stop in her legs.

“Thanks, Twilight.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” she looked back at the road. “I’d rather have all the girls here next time. When we meet at the house, the first thing I’m doing is healing you again.”

“Fine by me,” Scarlet’s jade green eyes focused. She turned her face over to the side of the road. “It’s one of these houses, isn’t it?”

Both ponies looked over. Each house had a hauntingly similar color scheme to one another, each adorned with a ceiling made of a mixture of hay and wood. Small lawns welcomed ponies to each house, the grass burning a bright emerald color, with every bush sprouting a different color of flower. Several houses even held gardens in the front of the yard-tiny little pockets of space well groomed to provide a fruitful harvest.

Down towards the center of the row of houses, Twilight and Scarlet’s eyes lit up. Five ponies of varying hues were stationed just outside of the house, waving down the duo, whose pace turned into a full trot towards them.

“Twilight,” Scarlet said as they reached their destination. “Can I ask you one more question?”

Twilight turned to her gray friend with a curious glance.

“I know it’s a long shot, but… you’ve done a ton of research on Equestria’s history. Would you happen to have ever come across the term ‘Scars?’”

“’Scars?’” Twilight’s eyes moved towards her forehead as she thought. “Nothing immediately springs to mind. How come, Scarlet? Does this ‘Scars’ have something to do with your job?”

“Sorry Twilight,” Scarlet immediately apologized. “I shouldn’t have asked. I think I just got a bit curious.”

“Nothing wrong with that, is there?”

She stopped in front of the house, letting Twilight continue on to greet her friends. “I’m not so sure anymore.”

Each of Twilight’s friends positioned themselves around the detective, each one bearing a golden necklace with a centered gem that matched their cutie marks. Twilight took her place facing directly towards Scarlet, giving the young mare a friendly smile while her horn charged up the same spell from earlier. Rather than simply branching from the crown and into Scarlet’s body, the string of magic webbed itself through each necklace on each pony surrounding her, creating a link that bound Scarlet to the center of the circle of mares.

From there, a stronger, larger beam of magical energy fired from each of the Elements of Harmony on each pony, the strength of the six elements enriching Scarlet’s body, condemning every ounce of fatigue from her form.

The purple aura slowly turned into a powder-like vapor as it rose into the atmosphere, ready to be recycled by the world. Scarlet opened her eyes, stretching her legs before letting out a much needed sigh of relief.

‘Such an amazing power,’ Scarlet fixed her mane. She took an interest in the slight change of her coat and mane’s natural hues, a fact that eluded the rest of the group. Her grey body was a tad brighter, inching closer to white than it had to black, and the redness of her hair and tail looked like it had been coated with a small tint of pink scattered about in an uneven pattern.

Though she wanted to explore this peculiar change, she took notice again of the house in front of the group.

“Thanks everypony. I don’t know how long this’ll last, but it should be enough to get in and out quickly.”

The outside of the house appeared just like every other lot owned by any other pony in Ponyville. It was clean and kept well, the grass trimmed and a small bush near the door healthy enough to produce several smaller flowers. The locale was tranquil, a lovely setting for a peaceful walk through town, every individual house innocent enough to go unnoticed by any passersby.

Scarlet raised a hoof, turning to Twilight, then back to the group. Each of them stood right behind the pair.

“Ready?”

“Ready,” Twilight braced herself.

Scarlet steadily knocked three times on the door. There was no response. No shifting of any tables or chairs. Not even the shuffling of hooves against the hard, wooden floors that most of Ponyville’s houses were made with.

“M-Maybe they’re not home,” a timid voice broke through the ranks. Fluttershy, the furthest from the door, hid herself behind Rarity, who was busy criticizing the appearance of the house with her sharp eyes.

Scarlet cleared her throat. “This IS about a pony who went missing some time ago. I’ll try knocking again.”

“That would explain those,” Rarity’s eyes never left the gutters of the house. Scarlet followed her lead, noticing the gunk composed of moist leaves, dirt, and other decomposed substances.

Focusing back on the door, Scarlet knocked again. “Hello? My name is Scarlet Trace. I was sent from Canterlot to have a word with the owner of this place.”

No answer.

She knocked one more time. “U-Um, if you fail to respond… I’ll be forced to enter the house myself for an inspection. This is a matter that extends all the way to the Royal Guard. Please respond if you understand the circumstances here.”

Everypony’s ears flicked at the sound of a door’s lock snapping out of place. They all braced for the entrance to swing open, and to find a pony on the other side.

Scarlet’s head was the first to turn, upon realizing that the sound came from a neighbor to the side. The pony paused, staring back at the seven ponies gathered up at the door.

“Excuse me ma’am,” Scarlet didn’t miss a beat, “You happen to know who lives here?”

The neighbor looked at Scarlet, digesting the question. She flicked her tail, “I don’t think so.” Her eyes showed a hint of surprise that was enunciated in her voice, “In fact, I don’t think I’ve EVER met my neighbor on this side of my house. I’ve knocked on the door a few times, but they never come out.”

“Has anypony ever thought of checking on them?”

The neighbor rubbed a hoof against the back of her head. “I don’t think so. It’s strange. I thought I talked to everypony I lived next to. I feel like I’ve at least said hi.”

“This sounds odd,” Scarlet muttered to Twilight. “Somepony had to have noticed something off about this place.”

“Thank you anyway ma’am,” Applejack interjected with a tip of her hat. “We ‘preciate the help.”

With another wave from the group, the pony headed off in the other direction with an empty bag saddled on her back.

Scarlet turned back to Twilight, “I guess we’re just going in.” She moved her hooves towards the door knob, flinching when it turned completely at her whim.

“It’s unlocked,” Twilight whispered.

Scarlet swallowed before opening the door. Not too slowly, but not overly fast.

A startling gasp behind them forced Scarlet on the defensive, quickly swinging around to see what the problem was.

“You want me to go in there?!” Rarity’s voice was dripping with fright.

Twilight’s ears drooped over in relief, Scarlet easing up in unison as they both took their first good look into the house.

Scarlet wasn’t sure what she expected from the place. It was relatively small on the outside, but even more so once she walked through the door. A layer of dirt blanketed the floor, each step of their hooves leaving an imprint on the ground. Cobwebs decorated each corner of the large den in front of them. Smaller insects scattered into the crevices and cracks in the home, as light flooded into the house.

Directly on the opposite side of the den from the doorway was a fireplace. The insides were stained with the pitch black color of ashes, a small pile still resting in the firebox. It was relatively uninspired by design, receiving a few words of criticism from Rarity, who still refused to completely enter the household.

A small couch rested in front of the fireplace, with a tiny stand perched right beside it. Horribly aged papers rested on the stand, while a mangled quill lay on the ground nearby. Above the fireplace was a small cove, housing picture frames that had so much dust on them that it was impossible to see the content. Many of the frames were shattered or broken, as if they had been smashed into the ground. Fragments of glass sparkled near the fireplace thanks to the invading light.

A rotten smell was seeping into the room from another. Scarlet and company cringed as the smell wafted in from the kitchen. The energetic pink pony that had followed into the house behind them immediately shot into the kitchen entrance on the left of the den, excited to investigate the source of the wretched stench.

“Missing pony. Abandoned house. Sounds like we found your colt, Scarlet,” Twilight continued to pinch her nose shut.

Scarlet reached into her coat, pulling out her flashlight. She spotted another hallway to the right of the den. “I’m going to check that out real quick. If you girls want to help, feel free to look around. Let me know if you find something interesting.”

Fluttershy and Rarity, both too scared for their own reasons, stuck by the door outside of the house, while Twilight and Applejack scoured the rest of the den for anything, blowing away pockets of dust and ripping off all of the webbing that overtook the house long ago.

Rainbow Dash grimaced, but followed Pinkie Pie into the kitchen to help investigate with her there.

The hallway was cramped, large enough for only one pony at a time to pass through them. Scarlet flashed her light down at the hallway, shuddering for a moment while several dozen more insects escaped into the walls of the abandoned house. A door blocked off the rest of the path ahead of her, but the hallway continued with a sharp turn right.

She moved a hoof to the closet door, grabbing and turning the knob with only a brief moment of hesitation. She jumped back, grabbing Twilight’s attention as the door swung open.

A small lizard darted out of the closet, scurrying between Scarlet’s hooves before rushing through the hallway and towards the exit. She squirmed, shivering as the mares in the den watched the critter dash right out of the front door.

Fluttershy’s eyes followed the poor creature as it shuffled hastily into a nearby shrub. Rarity, regaining her composure, took note of her yellow friend’s subtle change in expression.

“Fluttershy darling, is something wrong? You look like you’re thinking hard about something.”

“Oh,” she tucked her wings tight against her body. “I’m just concerned for that poor little lizard that just came out of the house.”

“Hmm?” Rarity glanced at the bush, then at the hurried tracks it left in the dust inside the house. “What ever for?”

“It was afraid,” Fluttershy looked back at the house. “It must’ve been through something horrible.” She cautiously took another step away from the front door.

Inside Slate’s house, Scarlet had finally managed to shuffle off the jitters from seeing the reptile sprint out of the closet. She tapped her head with a hoof, tightened her fedora, and lit up the other end of the room.

“E-Empty?” Scarlet scoped around with her eye. Aside from the dirt and a spare hangar resting on the floor, nothing else occupied the small space. “I guess when he left, he took everything with him.” She shut the door, “Twilight, anything from those papers on the stand?”

“Nothing important, I think,” she heard a response through the hallway. “Just a bunch of clippings from articles about Ponyville. Weather team. Sweet Apple Acres…”

“Keep looking. Check those frames above the fireplace, and the couch too,” the red maned pony continued. “How’s the kitchen?”

“You don’t wanna know,” she heard the raspy voice of Rainbow Dash on the other side of the house. “The pony that lived here must’ve forgotten that food has an expiration date…”

Scarlet continued, her eyes panning straight ahead. There was a single door on the other end of the hall, just several yards away. The path was as dirty as the rest of the house, and with how tight the hallway was that lead towards it, Scarlet felt as though her chest was being crushed against the two faded walls.

She slowly approached the door, only the sounds of her hooves against the wood keeping her company. She was finally out of sight from the other ponies, who continued their thorough search of the house.

Pinkie was raiding the fridge, desperately trying to find an edible source of nourishment in the kitchen. Dash’s cries of disgust could be heard from the den after splatters of unidentifiable goo splattered against the floor. Rarity, upon seeing the rotten goop, one upped Fluttershy by walking back to the walkway before the porch.

The sounds of the girls’ search slowly fell out of earshot. Scarlet picked up on the change right away.

‘What is this?’ Scarlet’s hooves paused on the floor. She focused her senses, wiggling her ears.

She couldn’t hear the girls anymore.

Scarlet tried turning around, only managing to shift her eyes within their sockets. Her head was fixated on the door, her hooves itching to take another step closer to the source. She tried to adjust her ears again. The den was silent. The kitchen was still.

“Twilight?” She called out in a whisper. She struggled to wrap her mind around what she was sensing. The door was emitting an irresistible urge that charged through her limbs, forcing her in like a magnet.

A pressure starting building within her. It weighed her down, pressing against her body with enough weight that it caused her to gasp. She felt nothing pressing down on her back, and the hallway was barren of any and all sound. Her ears struggled to latch on to any source of noise, instead focusing on the tense sound of her struggling breath.

She felt a chill fill her chest, her knees nearly buckling under the increase in pressure. She started to panic.

‘This feeling… I know this,’ Scarlet’s eyes widened. ‘This is almost like back at dad’s study… back at the apartment.’ Her hooves carried her directly in front of the door.

Her hooves crept up to the knob, trembling, unsure of what could be waiting on the other end of the wooden barrier. Scarlet’s heart was racing, the cold draining the color on her face. Her gut churned, a carving pain rushed through her body in an all-too-familiar way.

‘It’s acting up again!? It’s too soon!’

Her body was working against her will.

‘Let go of the door.’

Her hoof twisted the knob, feeling the resistance of the door give way.

A hollow echo burned into her ears, forcing her eyes as wide as saucers. The noise grew louder. It screamed at her. A throat curdling roar ripped through her mind, the intense shock causing her to shriek back at the noise. Her light tumbled out of her mouth and slammed against the floor, rolling right up next to the door.

Her hoof broke free, her body collapsing into a heap. Her eyes dilated as her hooves finally fell back under her own control. She desperately pulled herself back to the beginning of the hallway, crawling like a terrified child.

“SCARLET!”

Her head shot towards the sound. Twilight and her friends, even Rarity and Fluttershy, who opted to avoid going into the house at all, were all gathered by the entrance to the hallway.

“We heard you scream! What’s wrong!?” Twilight yelled.

Scarlet was still shivering. She quickly felt more at ease in the presence of her Ponyville friends, her shaking limbs coming to a stop. She looked down at the ground underneath her, following the trail against the dirt that she had made dragging herself away from the source.

She turned away before she could acknowledge the door.

“S-S-Something isn’t right about this place,” Scarlet tried lifting herself to her feet. She nearly jumped out of the hallway the moment her friends managed to help her up.

She checked every part of her body. Everything was still intact, but she felt as though something were missing.

“My flashlight.”

Twilight looked towards the door on the end of the hallway, then back to Scarlet, who had already retreated towards the center of the den.

“Relax Scarlet,” Twilight said with confidence. “I’ll grab it for you.”

“Wait, don’t!”

Twilight nonchalantly trotted forward. She grabbed the light with her magic, blowing some dust that clung to the sides of the handle. She glanced at the door, her friends expectantly waiting for her to come back.

Twilight remained at the door, puzzled by something that went unseen by the rest of the ponies. Scarlet’s color faded when she saw Twilight’s friends creep further down the hallway. Twilight Sparkle’s hoof rose up to the barrier, and with a firm, aggressive stance, she placed it against the door.

Her eyes immediately shot open. She jumped back in response, nearly dropping the flashlight in the same manner as Scarlet. She turned back to her friends. “Get back!”

The entire group fled back into the den, Twilight at the end of the rush. Aside from the detective and the Element of Magic, everypony else was frozen with a mixture of fear and confusion.

“What’s going on? What was that about?” Rainbow Dash asked. She took a few steps back towards the hallway before feeling a tug on her tail. Applejack pulled her towards the den.

“Twi said for us to stay away from that door. I figure we better listen to her before we do anything foolish.”

Twilight turned to Scarlet, her voice much lower. “You felt it too, didn’t you?”

“Twilight, I heard it,” the detective’s voice cracked.

“Felt what? Heard what? Twilight, can you fill us in?” Dash impatiently asked.

“I’m not sure,” the purple unicorn started, “but there’s something wrong with that room. When I touched it, I felt a terrible darkness lurking on the other side.”

“As if it was leaning against the door, begging for you to open it,” Scarlet added.

“There was a surge of negative energy when I came into contact with it,” Twilight explained. “My magic felt drained.” She floated the flashlight over to Scarlet, who quickly pocketed it back into her coat.

“What does that mean for us then?” Rarity couldn’t help but wonder.

“It means we stay as far away from that door as possible,” Scarlet’s strength returned. “At all costs. I’ll need to inform the Royal Guard about this. That’s the most powerful essence of toxic magics I’ve ever felt.”

“And it’s been here in Ponyville all this time.” Twilight looked back at the hallway. “What’s it even doing here?”

The group calmed down, now that everypony was safe. Scarlet looked back to Applejack and Twilight. “Did you find anything out here? Anything that might hint as to who this ‘Slate’ is?”

“Oh,” Twilight perked up. Her horn glowed again, lifting up a small booklet from the couch. “I found this underneath the couch cushions.”

“And Dashie and I found this in the kitchen sink!” Pinkie finally exclaimed.

Scarlet grabbed the notebook, but looked over to what Pinkie was holding in her hoof. It was a small medal, like a badge or a button, coated with a silver material. The badge looked similar to a pegasus’ wing. The border that surrounded the button was charred black.

“What do you think it is?” Scarlet asked the group while they gazed upon the aged badge.

“It looks familiar,” Rainbow Dash said. “Like something the weather team here in Ponyville would wear while on duty.”

“You think Slate was a pegasus?” Scarlet eyed the badge. There was a large, yellow ‘P’ etched into the center of the badge.

“If this is his,” Dash shrugged.

Scarlet looked at the book. It hadn’t aged well, opening it lead to a choir of cracks that spoke for the age of the material. She eyed the contents, noticing several illegible scribbles on one of the pages. Most of the book was used up, filled by writings of the pony who had lived here long ago.

“I think this is a journal of some kind,” Scarlet spoke aloud. She turned to the front of the book:

THIS BOOK IS PROPERTY OF
BLANK SLATE

“Got him,” Scarlet focused her eyes. “This is the missing pony’s diary.”

“Ooh, are we gonna read through it!?” Pinkie jumped in place.

Scarlet stopped, looking at the other six ponies in the house. They all looked back at her, expecting an answer.

She flipped through the first few pages. “We have to if we wanna find out where he is,” she glanced the first few entries. The first few logs in the diary were fairly short, many of them scratched through by several lines, as if the pony couldn’t decide how to start.

“This book has a ton of entries. Nowhere to really start from but the beginning.”

The ponies gathered around as Scarlet begun from the first, untouched entry…

The Royal Castle in Canterlot towered over every other structure in the entire city. Regardless of the hills that riddled the land, how tall the houses grew to the north, where the wealthiest of ponies lived, none held a candle to the might of Celestia’s domain. Tall spires sprouted about the castle, reaching further up the side of the mountain it was built next to.

The regal pony in question looked down at the city from a grand balcony. From such a monstrous height, she could even spot the large trail that led into Ponyville, its tallest buildings just barely visible against the horizon. Ponies appeared like ants as they crawled across Canterlot, and trains darting by like speedy worms along the ground. The Princess of the Sun looked against the sky, embracing the warmth of her sun.

Besides her stood an aged colt, with a silver mane and an old, gray coat. He overlooked the town alongside her, his attention focused squarely on the red building near the middle of Canterlot far down below. The Agency stood modestly against the bright whites and yellows of the city’s structures, tucked away to the furthest side of the central plaza.

The two ponies stood vigilant for several minutes, unsure of how to open the floor for discussion. A long period with zero progress usually led to a particularly awkward game of patience, and neither pony was in the mood to fool around.

Steele eventually opened the gates. “Princess, what’s on your mind?”

“Steele,” she started, “considering the report we read, I don’t think I can even find a proper place to start.”

“How about Gemini?”

Celestia’s eyes grew heavy, the history of her kingdom’s hunt for that fiery alicorn nothing but a minor part of her life, one that she had nearly forgotten until now. Her memories long rekindled, she replied, “If Ignis has collapsed like Scarlet reported, then we’ll need to send a larger unit out there to investigate. We need to see where Gemini is, and bring her back.”

“Bring her back? Princess, wouldn’t that cause a huge backlash? Is it really in your best interest to reintroduce a criminal of her caliber to Equestria? Especially one that was lost to history a long time ago?”

Celestia’s gaze turned towards the direction of the late Mount Ignis. “I’d like to discuss the Scars with her. She seems to know far more than anypony here. Equestria has aged plenty in my time here. If this nation can withstand an attack of love-sucking Changelings, it can survive the introduction of another alicorn princess.”

“We’ll need to quarantine her, Princess.” Steele followed Celestia’s eyes, “Scarlet might not have caught onto it, but perhaps there is more to the disposition she contains than we’re currently aware of. I’d think it’d be much safer to introduce Gemini after she’s been cured.” He looked to his cutie mark, “If such a thing is even possible.”

Princess Celestia decided to put that particular topic on hold. “I’ll be sending a pegasus unit from the Royal Guard soon. Now, Detective Steele,” she turned to him, “I believe you came for more than just this idle chat. Has something happened with your agents?”

He growled in annoyance, “Detective Locks, and Guardian Amethyst are being drawn more towards Mystery Hart. I fear that they’ve become more inclined to deny my orders in an attempt to see Scarlet.”

“I see,” Celestia’s eyes narrowed. “It’s too dangerous to let them go.”

“I’m aware. I’ve taken them off the case and put up full time surveillance. If they try anything dangerous, we’ll know.”

“Do keep a strong eye on them. They’re Scarlet Trace’s friends.”

Steele nodded in agreement. “I’m just afraid they’ll do something stupid.”

“Ponies will do the craziest things for a friend, Flex.”

Steele huffed at the mention of his name. He took a pause. “Jessica Scrawl came back, Princess.”

The larger pony’s wings extended for a stretch. “Interesting. Can I expect to see her if I chose to go to the dungeons? Withholding information regarding the Agency is an act of treason.”

“She presented an interesting notion, Princess.”

“I’m listening.”

Steele drew a calm breath, unsure of how his highness would take the information. “Jessica Scrawl said that she was still willing to help complete the case, and that she is ready to be penalized for her transgressions against the Agency, but-”

“But what, Flex?”

“I questioned her about the reason for leaving, and for coming back. She said she couldn’t give a particular reason, but that she was researching a little about the Scars on her leave.”

“And you talked to her about our new found knowledge of her age?”

“She took it quite well. Perhaps too well.” Steele sighed. “I get the feeling that she expected us to discover it sooner or later, like she needed it to happen.”

Celestia turned the other way, shaking her head before allowing Steele to continue.

“When I told her that she could be punished for withholding any knowledge of the case history, that’s when she offered me this interesting deal, which is why I’m speaking to you now.”

Celestia’s form brightened up. “A deal, Steele?”

“Jessica… she says that she has the entire case solved. Both of them.”

“Why hasn’t she revealed the information?” Celestia stamped a single hoof against the ground. “This is the one time where we can’t afford to let her fool around like some filly.”

“Said the details were delicate. She wants to confirm her knowledge, and she said the only way she could would be to wait for Scarlet to break down the case about this ‘Slate’ character.”

“And you believe her, Steele? I’m beginning to have some serious reservations about my trust in her.”

“Jessica Scrawl has been with us since the day we opened the Agency, Princess,” Steele looked back at the red building far into the distance. “Aside from the accident with Amethyst Sheen, she’s never intentionally and genuinely gone against the Agency. She’s been a pain in the ass with her little jokes, pranks, and even her lewd behavior, but that’s the furthest her problems with my Agency have ever extended. I’m willing to overlook her shenanigans as a trade-off for her excellence on the job.”

Steele turned back to look Celestia square in the eyes. “She’s a fiend, but she’s the most loyal pony I’ve ever known besides Conroy.”

Celestia lowered her head, shutting her eyes. She mulled over his words repeatedly before looking back at Steele. “You’ve always had a good eye for finding ponies of virtue, Steele. If you believe that Jessica is trustworthy, then so will I. For now.” She beat her wings against the breeze, letting some of her weaker feathers flutter off into the sky. “So she would tell us everything she’s discovered while she was away. What’s the catch?”

Steele grunted, sweat coming off of his forehead. “She requested an entire day of absolute immunity from all of Equestria.”

The Princess’ eyes opened wide. “Complete immunity… what is that mare planning?”

“There’s something else too,” Steele added. “When I met her, she wasn’t the same. She changed. Her disposition was much stronger than I had ever seen it before, and she had these long fangs that extended from her muzzle.”

“Fangs?” Celestia’s tone grew heavy. “A changeling? A succubus, perhaps?”

“I’d be more comfortable with either of those answers, but I’m not sure, Princess. The Agency’s procedures when hiring new employees scans ponies to ensure that we don’t have any intruding species. Jessica Scrawl came out perfectly clean.”

“”Ponies don’t have fangs,” Celestia replied.

“I’m more concerned about her new strength. She’s too excited. Something going to happen. I feel it.”

Celestia let herself calm down. “So you gave her the immunity?”

“I did my best. Unless she commits a crime against royalty- namely you, she will be free to do as she wishes.”

“Steele… I hope you’re willing to accept the consequences of such a brash decision.”

“I am,” Steele bowed. “She also requested to be left to her own design. Not that any of the guards in the Agency could even keep a consistent tab on her anyway.”

Celestia sighed deeply, venting her frustration with the recent development. “What a mess. I’m afraid for my subjects, Steele.”

“The feeling is mutual, Princess. I don’t want to lose anypony else… especially not Scarlet. If Conroy were alive, he’d rip me apart for letting her get this bad.”

“As long as she has the Elements of Harmony keeping her company, she’ll be fine. Have faith in my student, Flex.”

Steele’s frame was still, putting the Princess on edge.

“Flex, is there something the matter?”

“It’s not that I don’t have faith in Twilight Sparkle and the Elements of Harmony,” Flex said, “I’m just afraid of what’s going to happen. We know very little about the Scars, and Gemini’s makes it out to be this… infectious entity. We’re not even sure that the Elements of Harmony are entirely safe around her. I’m genuinely… frightened. Unsure.”

“She called it sentient,” Celestia shivered at the thought. “A virus that can think and act at will.”

“Like a savage monster from Everfree Forest,” Steele muttered. “It also makes me think…”

“Of what, Steele?”

Steele finally sat down on his haunches. His gaze went straight out past the balcony and into the clouds. “When I was a younger colt, running around in Manehatten and cracking down on crime in the streets, I ran into many different kinds of crazy messes. Punks and gangsters that threatened others for the sake of money, or territory. They acted just like wild animals in that city.”

“How barbaric.”

“It got better; I’ll give the city that much credit for cracking down so much over the years. But those few years before I transferred here to Canterlot were some of the hardest years of my entire life. One thing that stuck to me through it all, was the face of those criminals when they were surrounded. That sensation that I knew was running through their mind: When you’re on the verge of rotting in a dungeon for the rest of your life, you have nothing left to lose.”

Celestia turned towards the sky, watching as her sun slowly burned away up above. “When a creature runs out of options, it becomes unpredictable.”

“Those criminals would lash out, attacking anyone that got too close to them with whatever they could find.”

Celestia nodded her head.

“Animals attack,” Steele felt his tone grow cold. “Would a sentient virus do the same thing?”

Celestia froze. Another chilling wind breezed by the balcony, trying in vain to pull her cosmic mane along with it.

“Creatures attack when they feel threatened,” he repeated.

Celestia’s mouth finally moved. “If Scars are sentient, then they…”

She turned towards Steele, a look of concentrated horror on her face. Steele’s eyes were wide, his form, for the first time since she had met him, was trembling.

“Conroy got too close. Too close to the Scars,” she whispered.

“He was investigating Scarlet. He found Nixie Hope. He went off towards Everfree. He came back to Canterlot. Then he died.”

“The entire time, he started replicating the symptoms of Scars. Fatigue. A heavy cough…”

“He was looking for Gemini. He knew something. Conroy was a smart stallion,” Steele shook.

The two ponies let the implications of the entire situation marinate in their minds.

“This is all my fault,” Steele looked to the tile of the balcony’s floor. “I let Scarlet in when I shouldn’t have. I let Conroy go through with his investigation. I gave him those documents involving Nixie Hope…”

“Scars… they can attack anyone who endangers their well being,” Celestia concluded. “What kind of virus is this? What are we dealing with, Steele?”

“I’m not sure, Princess,” his voice shook. “Your highness. Conroy’s death… I think I know…”

“The killing…” Celestia’s face turned ghostly white. “Steele… no.”

“Princess Celestia, we’ve just identified Conroy’s murderer.”

Author's Notes:

Unless something happens that prevents it, the next 5 chapters should be out soon. Everything past this chapter has actually not been proof-read yet, so it'll take some time before anything productive comes out.

New chapter production has come to a slow grind again, but I'm near the end of the story, so it shouldn't take long to wrap it all up from here.

Enjoy the chapter!

- G. R.

403: Journal - First Entry

Spring of Year 1
Day 1

I’ve been thinking to myself, for quite some time, of how to start such a daunting task as maintaining a personal journal. Such an idea never crossed my mind before, and so much of my life’s little experiences have been lost to my memory; enough that I struggle to decide on what there is left to write about. Never the less, I’ll do my best to start from the beginning.

Before I start, I’d like to thank the lovely unicorn that offered me this journal. I wouldn’t be sure of what I’d use my time for otherwise. My life is a solemn one. I devote this first entry to that young mare’s kindness.

The beginning. Right. My name is Blank Slate, a pegasus born and raised in the bustling, chaotic city that was Manehatten, before moving to my new home here in the peaceful hillside of Ponyville. As of this writing, I’m twenty-five years old. I am a brown pegasus pony in healthy form, and looking currently for employment opportunities here in town. I enjoy having guests, but usually prefer the company of a newspaper and a cup of coffee to ease my nerves. I’m afraid that I don’t have many friends, or even acquaintances here in Ponyville, nor in Manehatten, but ponies here are kind. I’m sure I’ll be making friends in no time at all.

My foalhood was a difficult one. I wasn’t the brightest pony in my class, nor was I the most popular. My grades were about average and I would go mostly unnoticed by everypony unless specifically called upon from the roll call. I was particularly nervous about other ponies, being where I lived. My family struggled to stay afloat in the high speed mode of life that Manehatten absolutely demanded from its ponies, and being of the lower class, we weren’t always safe from the slums of the city.

Muggings and theft would occur in the neighborhood. I stayed inside most of my days in fear of what could happen to me if I happened to bump into the wrong pony at the wrong time. My parents shared this sentiment, keeping me occupied with my homework and keeping the house clean with my mother. It wasn’t the best environment, but I was always grateful for it regardless. There were many ponies that shambled around the city in desperate need for a home, and though I’d avoid eye contact for the same reasons as above, and as harsh as it sounds to just think it, let alone write it, those homeless ponies helped me to appreciate what I had.

My mother and father worked in the city. Mother worked as a seamstress in a shoddy little factory downtown, while father was a construction worker who helped build the skyscrapers that ponies see now as the pinnacle of Manehatten design. They weren’t the fanciest jobs, but I was proud of my family. They worked hard.

Without my family to help me out at school, especially in case something went terribly wrong, I was forced to rely solely on my instincts to judge whether or not the others would jump on me at any moment. The teachers didn’t particularly seem to care about my anxiety when dealing with the other foals.

I ate. I slept. I studied. Those were the three facets of my life. When I had the free time, my mother would take me to work, to watch after me, and so that I could lend her a hoof whenever it was requested. Her boss was grateful for the volunteer work. Though rarely, he’d even hand me a bit for my troubles. Looking back at it now, I can’t help but appreciate what he did. Having my own source of income so early on helped me understand the value of money. I treasured every coin.

Days passed without much deviance. As my class grew with the long months, the next step in our lives started to crop up. Cutie marks, one by one, started appearing on the flanks of all of the students in the room. As more ponies attained their destiny, I couldn’t help but feel like I was falling further and further behind, and the empty spot on my flank only hammered that idea deep into my mind.

Most students were punished for bullying those without their marks, but it still didn’t completely stop the harassment. As a part of a shrinking group of these ‘blank flanks,’ I was tormented about my lack of a cutie mark, and the bigger the group of ponies that had marks became, the more harsh the teasing was. Eventually, the group of blanks shrank to just me and one other pony.

Though we didn’t befriend one another for our inability to find our marks, we bound ourselves closer to each other in the classroom, in hopes that maybe as two, we could endure the punishment just a little bit longer.

Those days were rough. Mother and father would console me back at home, but the constant reminder of my empty flank carved a wound deep in my heart. I felt empty. Useless. A target for the sick pleasure of the other foals in my classroom.

I grew horribly ill one day. I don’t remember too much, but my mother told me that I would occasionally pass out from fatigue during my sickness. It lasted for an entire week, and it forced my mother to stay home to look after me. Times grew worse in that period.

I had become so frustrated with it all, but on the last day of my sickness, I was blinded by a sharp light in the middle of the night. My mother and father came running to my room, afraid that somepony had managed to break their way into the house, and upon finding me in bed, we all quickly realized that my flank was no longer empty.

I had a cutie mark. It was a large, imposing stone, one that took up most of my backside. It was shaped like a rock tablet, ready for words to be etched into it.

My cutie mark still bothers me to this day. I grew up understanding that when one attains their cutie mark, that a sense of overwhelming truth and understanding sweeps through them. The sudden clarity of one’s destiny being the end result of finding one’s mark. I hold that on that night, when I received my very own cutie mark, that I felt no such feelings swell up inside me. I failed to tell anypony this out of sheer humiliation. What kind of pony receives a cutie mark without knowing why? It made no sense to me then, and it makes no sense to me now.

The teasing at school, to my disappointment, ceased to end. I was no longer the colt that had a blank flank. I was, instead, the pony in class with the rock on his ass. I’m still unsure of which was more harsh to endure between the two. As a blank flank, I had the discovery of knowing who I was meant to be to look forward to. It would come, I just had to endure. With the slate of stone on my flank, and with no clue that could help me to decipher its hidden meaning, I could only venture a guess as to what exactly my cutie mark was, and why it was there.

Teased because I was still a foal, or teased because I couldn’t figure out the truth behind my mark. It was miserable.

I was far more than glad when I was finally able to escape from that dreadful city…

The large front doors to the Agency cracked open, long enough for two ponies to quickly make it through. They shut the entrance behind them and looked around. It was in the later hours of the evening, made clear by the night that was swallowing up the last rays of sun through the windows. A few remaining detectives at the Agency were trotting about to their offices and desks, eager to wrap up their investigations before heading back home.

One detective stopped, looking at the two ponies who had entered. She smiled, waving to the cobalt colt before leaving eyesight.

“Mysty’s shroud didn’t make us invisible I suppose,” Locks’ eyes darted across the room. He motioned towards Amy, who had taken to hovering just above the floor, with a flick of his hoof. “But it doesn’t look like Steele informed any of them about our break. That’s fortunate for us.”

Amy tweeted back a response, blowing a strand of hair out of her face.

“Good point. This assignment wasn’t even opened to the rest of the Agency. As far as they know, we’re still free agents.” Locks started a relaxing trot to the back end of the room, making a beeline for Steele’s office.

Entering the all-too-familiar hallway that lead to the three rooms at the end, Locks’ focused his thoughts on his boss’ office. His legs were anxiously shaking with each step, the detective sure that eventually, they would buckle under the weight of what he and Amy were doing.

He felt a reassuring nudge from the large pegasus next to him.

“Sorry Amy,” he whispered. “I’m still just trying to register that we’re breaking into his room. It’s not something I ever imagined I’d be doing.”

She shared her sentiment with a quiet whistle.

They stopped at the front of the door. The glass that Mysty had shattered was already repaired, the door itself in mint condition. He grabbed the knob and turned it hastily, not surprised that it refused to give him access to the office. “Amy, stand back,” he asked, focusing his eyes on the door. The ruby color of his irises glistened, shining a hue brighter as he brought his head back around, looking up at the ceiling and down the hallway like a camera.

“The door is magic-locked. The moment someone breaks it off the hinge, it trips the alarm,” he sighed. “I also checked the surrounding area in the event that we do screw up. There’s only a handful of guardians still hanging about. A lot of the detectives are leaving already.” He turned to his companion, “Amy, can you guard the door?”

She nodded her head, planting herself directly behind him, facing towards the hallway.

“I think I can get around the barrier, but in case I don’t, I’m going to need time to get in and grab the bottle. Just make sure to keep anypony from coming in, alright?”

Curiously, she turned her head, blowing a note towards her partner.

“Don’t worry about that,” Locks smirked, “unlocking doors is my special talent. I’ll need the letter too.”

Amy nodded, handing over a sealed envelope. Locks grabbed it in his mouth, muffling out a “Thanks” before turning back towards the door.

He brushed his black mane aside, letting his eyes rest on the door. They continued to glow, pulsing brighter with every passing second. He could see everything lingering in the air, everything that the untrained, ignorant eye couldn’t even dream of. Squinting, he saw a mist of soft blue, gently waving against the surface of the door. It floated carelessly, absent of a physical form.

“There’s the disposition,” Locks smiled. He raised his hoof, letting it rest against the door. The material spread around his hoof, surrounding it with a delicate touch. “Magic is always made from disposition,” his eyes continued to throb with unknown energy. “Spells from a unicorn stay linked with the unicorn until the spell stops, unless the chain is intentionally broken from an outside source.”

The mist around him suddenly reacted, jerking against an unseen invader. “Magical locks like these run off of a limited source of magic that is self-contained.” The door shuddered, another hoof resting against the frame. Locks’ gaze turned into a harsh glare against the wispy material. It thrashed helplessly, shrinking into itself over time. “But the spell’s properties stay the same, including the disposition that was used to set it off.”

The door lock clicked, causing Amy’s ears to flick. She winced, waiting for an alarm to blare out. Nothing but silence welcomed them as the door slowly creaked open.

Locks followed the last few strands of magic as they evaporated into the air. “If you can change the slightest value within the disposition, then you can destroy that spell with ease.”

“Stay here,” he told his assistant. He walked past the threshold, feeling the darkness in the room encompass his body. The lights were all off, save for a tiny, faint source coming from a small lamp on Steele’s desk. It failed to illuminate anything several inches away from itself, leaving most of the office shrouded in shadows. The window behind his boss’ chair was shut, with thick drapes blocking much of the fading sunlight from outside. The sound of his hooves against the floor kept him company while he made his way towards Steele’s desk. Several spare papers and documents were left hanging on the surface, one even resting on the chair.

Struggling to remember where Steele had placed the bottle, Locks walked around the desk, moving the chair out of the way. His hooves blindly reached out for the drawers, pulling each one open. The noise caused his ears to flicker, his movements slowing to a crawl to avoid any unwanted attention.

His eyes started to glow in the darkness. His head turned from one slot on the desk to another. His senses tracked down the familiar sense he had from unlocking the door, this time, catching the wisp of a flowing, magical essence that crawled around Steele’s desk. Locks’ hooves reached down into one of the drawers, pulling it open and hearing a delicate clack of glass. Reaching into it, he pulled out a small bottle, one that felt the same size as the one Steele had used when he put Amy and Locks on probation. The essence flowing about the bottle all but confirmed that the detective had found what he was looking for.

“Just a flick of the magic on the letter, and we’ll be done,” he turned back to the door. Amy didn’t react, her attention focused primarily on the hallway outside.

The door immediately slammed shut.

Locks jumped, the noise loud enough to echo down the hall. He gasped, his eyes pulsing as he took a look around. “Did I trip a barrier? No, I don’t see one inside…”

He saw the silhouette of a jumpy pegasus on the outside of the door’s window. Grabbing the bottle, he quickly ran towards the frame, leaning up against it.

“Relax, Amy! Just keep a lookout outside,” he ordered, turning back to face what he perceived to be the emptiness of the office. A sudden chill swept by him, his ears finally registering a second set of hooves sneaking around the room.

A small aura of orange magic fizzled from the tip of a barely visible horn. “This is quite the interesting development, isn’t it Locky?”

“Jessica,” Locks’ grip on the bottle and envelope tightened. “What are you doing here?”

The spell at the tip of her horn erupted. The form of the wicked black mare zipped across the room in the blink of an eye. Locks reared up on his hind legs, feeling the witch’s breath against his muzzle. Magic erupted around him, wrapping around his four legs. With a grunt, Jessica Scrawl ripped the bottle from his clutches. It fell to the ground, clacking as it rolled towards the foot of the desk.

Locks’ body was then lifted into the air before getting hurled across the room. He bounced against the bookcase on the other end, forcing several uneven tombs to tumble over on his body. The detective reached around, sighing in relief when he felt the letter still held in one of his hooves.

Another wave of magic came crashing up against him. He tensed up, feeling a powerful force drag him against the floor before stopping in the center of the room. He felt his hooves being stretched away from his body. He pulled up and placed the envelope in his mouth before the magic intensified, forcing his four legs to spread out against the ground.

Her lithe figure pounced upon his body, hair slowly dragging down and draping over Locks’ face, effectively functioning as a curtain that blocked out the rest of the room. He looked up, greeting a pair of sharp, orange eyes and carnivorous, white fangs.

A sly chuckle came from her mouth, her horn’s aura fading away. Her body plopped down against Locks, her light weight still enough to force some air from his lungs. Her tail curled up against his own, her legs tangling up against him. She lowered herself closer, stopping when their muzzles touched against each other.

“I could ask you the same question, Locky,” Jessica Scrawl cooed. “I heard that Flex slapped you two on the hoof earlier today. What gives?”

Locks tried to pull away from her face, but being pinned against the floor and her body proved the effort to be meaningless. “Is this one of Steele’s precautions? He set you up to this?”

The magical bonds wrapped around his legs increased their grip with the glow of her horn. Locks hissed as the spell dug underneath his coat, forcing a larger grin on the mare’s face. She slowly let up, breaking the contact that their muzzles made.

“Entirely voluntary, sexy,” she sung. “I figured you and Amy would do something crazy after seeing how pissy Mrs. Justis was back home. Even a half-rate detective could’ve figured that one out.”

Locks narrowed his eyes. “You’re telling me that Steele has no idea that you’re here?”

She shook her head, her mane delicately bouncing with each swoop. “And spoil my fun? Of course not.”

“Then you realize that we’re both in trouble if we get caught together.” Locks’ eyes glistened. “Your disposition is nearly contaminating the air in here. You’d be singled out in an instant.”

Another chill came through the room. Locks winced, feeling the bite of the winter air flowing through his coat, brushing up against his face with the ferocity that the chilling temperatures of the season brought forth. His crimson eyes twitched, a sweeping realization slamming into him as he was so violently smashed against the bookcase:

The window sitting behind Steele’s chair was completely shut. They were at the opposite end of the Agency as well, ruling out any possibility that somepony had left the doors open, even just a crack.

The freezing sensation swept through his body, his eyes searching desperately for the source of the mysterious feeling. They traveled back to the mare pinning him down. Her eyes caught his own, even through the darkness, and in that idle moment, the temperature in the room felt as though it had dropped another tier.

Jessica Scrawl was ice cold. Her expression devoid of the wise-cracking comments, childish pranks, and seductive innuendos. Her timid body was firm and solid, unmoving and focused. The icy stare she sent towards him struck a dent in his confidence, forcing Locks silent as she replied.

“If that’s what will happen after tonight, then I willingly accept my punishment,” her voice, the only part of her that Locks recognized, croaked.

Locks let her words linger before he spoke, “Scarlet. She’s important to you, isn’t she?”

Jessica’s head rose. “What makes you say that?” she looked down at her prey.

“You’ve always been fond of her, even before we took on this case,” he refused to look away from her eyes. “The closer we’ve gotten to this Slate character, the more involved you’ve become in Scarlet’s role. You even took her to the Plains of Woe and Mount Ignis. Neither of those places are safe for a pony like her, even with you protecting her.”

“Her importance should be obvious, Locks,” Jessica sighed. “Even if she’s an absolute wreck of a detective, she’s vital to the Agency. To Steele.”

“I’m not talking about her value to our boss, or to the Agency, or even towards Equestria,” Locks sharpened his glare. “I’m talking about towards you, and only you. What changed that made you so willing to help? In all the years I’ve known you, this is the first time I’ve ever seen you voluntarily go out of your way for somepony.”

Jessica’s magic clenched around his hooves, a painful wave crashing through his mind. He broke the bridge between their eyes. “Somepony like yourself… I don’t think you’d understand either way,” she turned to the door, spotting Amethyst. “Tonight’s a big night. Possibly the most important night in my long life.”

Locks shook his head free from the sting and pinch of the spell against his flesh. “Something’s happening tonight.” Locks let his mind run, “Scarlet… she’s not supposed to know, is she?”

“That’s the idea, Locks. I can’t have somepony like you ruining what I’ve waited decades for.”

“I can’t let you do that, Jessica. Regardless of how important she is to your plans, I can’t just let you keep her in harm’s way. She needs to know what’s going on here.”

“For the sake of everyone here in Canterlot, it’s better that she’s left in the darkness.”

“But she’ll die.” Locks fought against her spell. “We’re agents, Jessica. It’s our job to protect.”

“Spare me from the Agency’s creed, Locks.” She spit at the ground, “It’s all bullshit. You can’t fool me; you only care about Scarlet. All I ask is for you to drop this little stunt. It’s for the good of Equestria, I promise.”

Locks challenged her, “And if I don’t comply?”

“If you allow Scarlet into Canterlot, everypony near and dear to Scarlet will die.” The weight of Jessica’s words dropped on Locks’ conscience. “Every. Pony. That means Mysty. Steele. Amy. Princess Celestia. All of our coworkers.” She paused, gathering her breath. “Maybe even me, but especially you. I can’t let a pony like you threaten the safety of the Agency, and so many assets to the good of the country.”

Locks called her bluff. “There’s no way that can be true. How can you say something like that with a straight face?”

Jessica growled. “What are you saying, Domino?”

“I’m saying you’re a liar.”

Insult plagued her face. “What I say is the truth, Locks. Do you want everypony to die?”

“Prove it then,” Locks’ head bolted upright. “If Scarlet is so precious to you, then prove it to me! Enough of the secrets. Of running away for a month, leaving the Agency with no leg to stand on. No more! What are you hiding!?”

Jessica looked at the detective with a veil of surprise. “There’s no harm in it… maybe…”

Locks raised a brow, “You only sow doubt into my mind if you refuse to tell me. Now: the truth.”

“You’re annoying, Locks,” Jessica grunted. “I suppose I can show you, if anything, to entertain you. I still have a moment to spare, and by the time you manage to get to your precious boss, it’ll all be over.”

“Even if I could, I’d lose my license. My job,” Locks admitted. “I was removed from the case. I broke into the Agency. Into Steele’s room. It’ll all be worth it if I can get Scarlet out of there. As long as she lives, I’m okay with whatever happens.”

“That’s a good boy,” Jessica’s horn cackled with magic. “It’s funny. To be on opposite ends of the spectrum like this, to be so engrossed in our roles and passions, and I still can’t completely take you seriously. You’re a special pony, Locks.”

“Special? That’s the first time you’ve ever given me a genuine compliment, Jess.”

A playful giggle leaked from her mouth. “And in such a terrible setting. I wish it could be different.”

“I agree,” Locks replied. “Now, if you please.”

“I’m already working on it,” Jessica whipped her head. Taking a few steps back, she allowed the orange blanket of magic to envelop her body, the sound of the spell twisting the freezing the air around the room sporadically. A light pulsed from the center of Jessica’s body, blinding the colt from the rest of her spell.

A flash of magic popped from her body, scattering into a million tiny sparks of unused arcane energy. The light quickly faded, leaving only the meager lamp on the edge of Steele’s desk to illuminate the room.

Locks opened his eyes, adjusting to the sudden darkness that wrapped itself around the room. A new pony appeared in front of him instead. She shifted her hooves, unable to keep her balance after lifting one off of the ground.

As she spoke, her voice much thicker than the scribe’s, Locks’ jaw fell open. “The proportions don’t feel… quite right anymore.”

He struggled to form words. The golden coat of the mare in front of him was far too recognizable, a memory of the month-long obsession over the first hump in their case. Her mane was up in a bun, her hair and tail as black as the night, a hue darker than Jessica’s coat. A pair of red glasses rested in front of her deep blue eyes. Four matching shoes concealed the bottom of her hooves, clacking with each nervous step the pony took on the cold, hard floor of the office.

Locks’ mind flipped around, desperately trying to connect the facts of his case with what he saw in front of his eyes. “This means…”

The yellow pony nodded her head, lowering her glasses. “Did I make a believer out of you?”

“I’m not sure,” Locks steadied his breath, his heart pounding against his chest. “But an explanation would definitely help, Tanita Helm.”

The plump mare turned around, as if checking to ensure that Locks was the only other pony in the room. Her hoof picked her glasses off of her head, placing them on Steele’s desk without so much as uttering a single word. Turning back around, Locks could spot the orange in her eyes, a thorough reminder of her identity.

“If Steele is aware of my age, then I imagine the rest of you are as well.” She continued after seeing Locks’ nod, “I’ve lived a long life, Domino. I’ve had to put up with a lot in my days. I’ve run across lifeless deserts, traveled across the world beyond Equestria, and mingled with the locals wherever I went. Day after day, I’d wander anywhere I could, wondering who I was, and where I had come from.”

“You mean, you don’t know?”

Tanita Helm shook her head. “The oldest memory I have is seeing a pony’s face. It was just for a moment, but that horrified, confused face is burned into my mind.” She walked towards the desk, resting a hoof on it, staring at the bright red of her shoe. “I can’t even recall the details. No color, no structure, nothing. Just a moment with that terrible, frightened face. The next memory I have is of me, waking up in an isolated part of the world. No ponies. No creatures at all.”

She rotated, staring back at the restrained colt. “I’ll spare the whoring of my life, but when I inevitably decided to stay in Equestria, I started to hear voices. Strange, quiet voices of ponies that came from a distance.”

“Voices?”

Helm didn’t stop to answer, “Nopony else would even acknowledge their existence, but as time passed, they became more clear. Growing loud, demanding something, anything, to save them. It was a horrible sound that I did my best to ignore at first. Eventually, there was some breaking point, and just as mysteriously as they had come, the cries would vanish, never to be heard from again.

“But then, some years later, they’d return. Different tones, different voice. Every single time.”

A horn suddenly sprouted from the head of the Earth pony, resembling the color of Jessica’s. A quick spurt of magic shot from the tip, forming a rectangular prism that hung in the air. The spell cast a reflection that the mare looked into, contempt strewn about her face.

“I started to follow the voices. I couldn’t contain myself. They lured me closer. One of them lead me to Canterlot, to an orphaned mare and her young sister.”

“Nixie and Lada?”

“Yes. This voice was terrified, just as the rest had been. Just standing next to her was nearly enough to drive me mad. I wanted to save whatever this voice was, but I didn’t know what I was doing. How I’d go about with the rescue. I had attended Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns some time before this, but none of what I had learned would help me in discovering what exactly I was dealing with.”

“And you didn’t tell anypony about this?”

“You know how I am, Locks,” Helm shut the spell, causing the magical mirror to disperse throughout the room. “I don’t play well with others. Steele always assigned me independent work because of that.”

She continued, “The voice in Nixie Hope reminded me of my foalhood. I decided that I would get close to her, and perhaps in that time, discover what I needed to do to help her out. I created this disguise, and a new name for myself, in order to do just that.”

“But you just said that the voice made it hard to get anywhere near her.”

“It did,” she visibly winced. “It changed me whenever I got too close. I think that it might’ve actually helped with my disguise. I became more… moody when Nixie and I were ever in the same room. It was difficult to focus at the time.”

“So how exactly did you manage that?” Locks tried to readjust himself on the floor, “I wouldn’t think it’d be that easy.”

“I watched her and her family from a distance at first. I saw the latent talents she had back when she was still young. Even before Lada was born. When her parents died, I decided to follow her, to see where she’d wind up.”

“And eventually, you found her at the factory?” Locks concluded.

“Yes. To keep myself afloat in Canterlot under the disguise, I nabbed myself a good job in the industry. It helped me move around from place to place with ease. When I discovered where Nixie was working, I quickly transferred. The rest of Nixie’s future played out as it did in your reports.”

“It’s different now.” Locks’ voice was flat. “Now, you’re directly involved.”

“I did what I could to try and find out why the voice was calling out to me through Nixie Hope, all the while helping her make it in the fashion business. She went on to pursue her life goals and dreams, while I started to focus more on the voice. It made me more distant from her as time progressed. I did what I could to show that I still had an interest in her by maintaining her company, but it didn’t last long.

“We ended up getting into a fight after she said she was done with her career. I thought it’d be suspicious if I quit as well to maintain full contact with her and the voice, and I couldn’t just come clean to her about the whole thing.”

“She was already getting sick at the time,” he added.

Jessica affirmed his stance with a grunt. “I didn’t want to know what would happen next. I’d never seen the effects until that day.”

The disguise Jessica wore was beginning to fade. The color and shape of her body started to shift, traces of orange magic evaporating into the air around the pair. Her figure shrunk, her hair fell out of the bun, and her shape loss its plump form. The glasses on Steele’s desk quickly puffed into a cloud of smoke.

“The voice that day was violent, and its tone was harsh and cruel. It wanted to be released, and it was no longer going to wait for me to help. I saw Nixie throw herself off of the top floor from the crowd. She died instantly.

“The voice immediately stopped. It was gone, and my senses quickly became focused. At the same time, I was frightened. Everypony knew that we had some issues with each other, and I didn’t want all of the extra publicity on my record. I couldn’t hang around Canterlot, or Equestria, ever again as Tanita Helm, so I did what I could: I destroyed the disguise and ran for the world outside of this land. Helm was considered missing, and has been ever since.”

“But you came back. Was it for Scarlet? For these Scars?”

“Scars,” Jessica repeated silently. “I read the report. Gemini and the Agency are calling these voices ‘Scars.’

“I came back from the outside a stronger, more talented mare. My magic had increased exponentially from the conditions of the world beyond, and I learned far more about magic than I ever could’ve at Celestia’s school. I became more aware of disposition, how it functioned, and how I could use it to my advantage here in Equestria. I even learned about something strange in my time away, something that had been bothering me since I first came here.”

“What was that?” Locks questioned, unable to make any kind of educated guess.

“I’m definitely not a pony,” she showed her fangs. “There are things I hear that others cannot, things that only I can do.”

“… Jessica, what exactly are you?”

She laughed, “Now THAT is something I’d love to find out. I have a good idea, but it’s best to keep that a secret for now.” She took a step closer, “There was a voice soon after Nixie’s too, but it’s the strangest thing.”

“How so?”

“It came from Ponyville. I remember landing there, and getting ready to hunt it down. It was extremely quiet. Very new, but still enticing to me. I was drawn to it by instinct. But then…”

Locks dared to encourage her, “…Then?”

“Nothing. I can barely remember anything. It’s hazy: A brown coat… we talked a little bit, and I had a notebook of some kind…? Before I knew it, I was back in Canterlot, and the voice was gone. It could’ve been a dream for all I know, but what I do know is that I remember every voice that has come and gone in my long life. I know for sure that there was a voice in Ponyville at some point. I just have a feeling.

“I moved on though. The voice was gone, and so was my reason for the time being. I did what I could, helping out here and there with mindless jobs. Eventually, I stumbled across Conroy Justis and Flex Steele. Together, and with Celestia’s approval, we created the Agency. Months later, I heard another voice,” Jessica stopped. Slowly, the black mare rested on her haunches. “It was incredibly weak. The next week, I find out that Conroy is going to be a father.

“The voice was coming from Mysty this time. Or… that’s what I thought.”

“She gave birth to Scarlet,” Locks finished.

“I ran into Gemini in Mount Ignis during my little journey with Scarlet. We discussed unrelated topics to the cases at hand. I decided to find more answers to these voices, to leave Scarlet in Twilight Sparkle’s hooves. With Gemini’s help and confessions to Scarlet, I think I managed to discover the truth behind this entire mess in my month-long hiatus. My magic is stronger, my mind is far more clear, and for the first time, I can finally be assured that I will see these voices through, and save them.”

“Then why not share it with the Agency, Jessica? We can help-”

“No. You can’t. You cannot. Don’t even dare tell me such a ridiculous lie,” she shot back to her hooves.

“Jessica, what’s your goal?” Locks wondered.

“I’m saving a life. If I’m lucky, two. If the powers that be smile upon my mission, everypony. But I’m not hoping for the best. I’m preparing for the worst.”

Locks let her words sink in. “And whatever that may be, it’s happening tonight?”

“Almost undoubtedly,” she replied in an instant.

“So you’re going to let this voice… these Scars, corrupt Scarlet until she ends up dead, just like Nixie?”

Jessica shook her head. “I feel like I can save her. There’s a small chance-”

“A chance?” Locks tried to resist the spell gluing him to the ground. “You’re going to risk Scarlet on a chance?”

“You don’t understand, Locks. Scarlet will be doing me a favor. Trust me.”

“A fa-” Locks blood red eyes shot daggers at the unicorn, “Are you even listening to yourself?”

“I need Scarlet as much as you do, and believe me when I say that I don’t want her dead either. But my priority lies within the secret of the Scars… and the voices behind them. Meeting with Gemini after so, so long was both my greatest blessing and my worst curse. Thanks to that renegade alicorn, I was able to speed up preparations without hurting anypony around me, but because of her confession, I lost every bit of control I had over this entire thing.”

“Control?”

“Yes,” Jessica retaliated his glare back at him. “This case could’ve been dropped by now, but Scarlet managed to get Gemini to reveal the Scars. Although it helped me, it put Steele on high alert. It’s tough for me to move around anymore without being spotted. It’s the first time that being in the Agency has put me at risk. It’s frustrating.”

“What exactly did Gemini tell you that she didn’t tell Scarlet?”

“Nothing important to you, detective,” she shot another look at him. “And even if it was, I can’t tell you. That’s what tonight is for.”

“I think I understand, but Jessica,” he said, “how does this relate to Scarlet putting us all in danger? How can we die from something like that?”

Jessica sighed, wanting nothing more than for him to understand. “Locks, the Scars are sentient. They know what is going on around them. I doubt the Scars are too thrilled with knowing that ponies are actively trying to get rid of them. I’m not sure of their extent, but do you seriously think it’s a good idea to send her here, with ponies who know they exist after so many years?”

“It’s better than having her endangering the Elements of Harmony.”

“Bullshit.”

“Maybe it’s because you are an outsider, Scrawl,” Locks couldn’t help but to add venom to his words. “Perhaps out there in the world beyond, you can take care of yourself. You are a strong, extraordinarily gifted unicorn… or whatever you are. But we here in Equestria aren’t as prepared as you are. We need the Elements of Harmony, or else everything will be lost to forces out of our control.”

“And that’s your reason, detective?”

“Of course not. Not entirely, at least. I want to help Scarlet. I want to free her from these Scars. I want everypony involved to see these cases to the end.”

“I can do that!” Jessica stamped a hoof. “Why don’t you believe me when I say that!?”

“You couldn’t save those other dozen or more voices from being silenced. How can you convince me that Scarlet will be the one exception to that rule!?” Locks felt heat rising to his forehead.

“Because I’m stronger now! I know more about them than I used to! From what Gemini taught me, I can do it!”

“You were also taught more by Celestia’s school. You were stronger after all of those other victims. Stronger after Nixie Hope. There’s no way you can deny that you’re gambling Scarlet on your ill-advised confidence. I don’t want to put my best friend on that roulette wheel like you’re willing to do.”

“Then what the fuck do you want, Locks?” Jessica grinded her hoof into the ground. Her horn shot another surge of magic, tightening the grip her spell had on his hooves.

Locks grunted, gritting his teeth to hide the pain. His eyes, large and crazed, looked straight into Jessica’s, locked in a conflict that he wasn’t sure he’d win. “I want Scarlet to be safe. Happy. Healthy. I want to save her, and I want to ensure that our country’s best means of defense are kept safe because of this.”

The tightness of Jessica’s spell waned. The shackles dropped their death-grip, loosening up just enough for Locks to wiggle his legs around. “Everything should have a happy ending, shouldn’t it?” Jessica’s eyes weakened. “But do you genuinely believe that bringing Scarlet here, thereby threatening the lives of the Agency, her family, and her friends, is better than putting her at risk with the Elements? Or better than my plan?”

“I don’t know your plan, and your refusal to tell me anything about it is all I need to stay skeptical about that crap,” Locks panted, his legs burning from the spell. “I love my friends, Jessica. They are the greatest treasure that I have. Don’t mistake my decision for idiocy or arrogance.

“All of us: Scarlet, Amy, Steele, and myself, all work as agents for Princess Celestia, to ensure that our kingdom is safe from any threats that we discover. It’s our duty to our country to protect all of our strongest assets from harm, even if it means putting our own lives down. It’s for the good of Equestria. Every single one of them, even Scarlet and her mother, would understand the decision I’m making.

“I didn’t get involved in the Agency with some stupid belief that I’ll come out fine. That I’ll be able to grow old with all of my friends. I’m not naive. Ponies die at the Agency. They die protecting Equestria from danger, like these Scars. We are all willing to die for the sake of ridding this land of such a terrible disease. I’m prepared for something like that.

“On top of that, I trust that Scarlet would be far safer in Canterlot, with ponies who could study her day and night to find a cure, than in the hooves of a loner who wandered into our nation. I still can’t trust you, even now. You’ve been hiding vital information from us for generations, Jessica. Hiding and running from any pony you could’ve ever known to help.

“You hid this information from Conroy Justis. You played the fool while he died doing this very mission.”

Locks saw the blow on her face, the words that ripped her mental stability to shreds. Her face didn’t change, no sudden twitch or jump. Her eyes started to shine in the darkness.

“I don’t care anymore about who killed Conroy, or how he died. You withheld information that could’ve saved his life. That could’ve spared Scarlet and her family from so much pain and guilt. You broke a family just for the sake of keeping a low profile. For the sake of these fucking Scars.

“That explains so much…”

“Wh-What?” Jessica croaked.

“I worked under Conroy’s command for most of my early career here, Jessica. Conroy hated you. I could never piece together how, or why. You got along well with Scarlet, and though you gave us all some grief from time to time, it was mostly through harmless pranks that made me think lightly of your behavior. I asked him one day what bugged him so much about you. Years later, it’s all starting to make so much sense.

“Cold at heart. Manipulative. Selfish. Conroy Justis refused to talk to you because he was the only pony that saw through your facade. One look at you, and he saw the truth that you hide behind that face of yours. Now, after hearing you spout all of this crap about your life, and about these voices in your head, I can finally see why he never trusted you.

“And now, I’m tempted to exercise that sentiment.”

“What do you mean, Locks?”

“You’re an enemy, Jessica. A threat. I cannot, and will not trust you. Not with these cases, and definitely not with Scarlet.”

“But I…” Jessica sniffed, looking at the conviction on Locks’ face. She ceased her press, wiping her face with a spare hoof. “I wouldn’t have discovered so much, to have come so far if it weren’t for him…”

“Not for him,” Locks spat. “For his death. You had something to gain from Conroy’s passing. You profited while everypony was crying. Especially her.

“You’re sick.”

Jessica retreated to Steele’s desk, hitting the edge of it with her rump. Her anger rose, lowering her horn to point it at Locks. “That’s enough! I’m tired of you ponies constantly judging me! Always antagonizing me, making me the goddamn bad guy! I need this! You… I wish…!

“I wish you could understand.” Her rage instantly shattered.

“I pity you, Jessica,” Locks said, his eyes never breaking from hers. “What you’ve done is cruel: Allowing Scarlet’s family to suffer just so you can meet your goals.”

“I’m responsible again, huh?” She looked at him, her mouth limp and her eyes soft. “That would be the fourth pony I’ve killed…”

“Fourth…?”

“And I was always the one to say it too. Thou shalt not kill, right? Easily the worst kind of crime that can ever exist.” The small mare sighed, clenching her eyes shut for a second. “I guess that’s just how things have to be. After tonight… none of this will matter.”

The two shared another silence together, unsure of what the other would do. Jessica’s magic weakened another stage.

“So what happens next?” Locks bloody eyes intensified. “You could stop me here and now from telling Scarlet to return to Canterlot to find the cure. But in doing so, you’ll end up in trouble as well. You’ll be arrested by the Agency.”

Jessica winced at his words.

“If tonight is what decides the future for everypony involved, then you’d be ruining your own plans if you reveal mine.”

“… You’re right. The only feasible way at this point would be to keep you and Amy silent about this.”

“What?”

Jessica’s somber face frightened Locks far more than every other expression she had shown thus far. Her compassion-less aura and her wet, moist eyes set off flags in his mind.

Her horn flared to life, immediately sending out jolts of malevolent power. “I think… as long as everything works out in the end… I can live with six on my hooves.”

“No!” Locks glare widened.

Just as Jessica’s spell had been prepped to fire, she froze. Not out of regret for her actions, nor out of hesitation for breaking one of her own sacred credos. The spell in her horn popped, a sound that Jessica knew all too well:

Her spell had become corrupt. With a quick wave of her head, the magic backfired, a loud pop breaking the silence as the spell shot outward in a powerful wave. It launched itself straight through the window, shattering it with a chaotic crash. The magic splashed everywhere, setting fire to the edges of the now vacant hole in the wall. The backlash from the force the magic created sent Jessica and Locks, who had been freed from the loss of control on Jessica’s part, hurtling towards the entrance of the office. The two ponies tumbled, each one slamming roughly against the wall.

Locks, who suffered much less force from the feedback, managed to lift himself first. His ears twitched wildly, hearing a distinguished sound ringing out beyond the door.

The spell had set off the alarms. He could already hear hoofsteps rushing down the halls. Amethyst, hearing the commotion from Steele’s room, had the door open the moment the pair rammed against the edge of the office. She looked at Locks, waving him to her in a hurry.

He didn’t hesitate for another second. He looked around on the floor. Within hoof’s reach, he spotted the bottle of magic necessary to send the letter, still intact from the blast. He grabbed it with his mouth, then rushed out of the door with Amy in tow, the two of them leaving the damaged unicorn behind.

As soon as the door shut behind them, Jessica started to stir. She lifted herself to her hooves, shaking her head from the ringing.

“The alarm went off. Damn it.” She turned to look around the room. “He took the bottle.” Her head was spinning from the impact, the mare doing her best to regain her focus. “What the hell was that? I haven’t botched up a spell in ages. It was as if I…”

She stopped again, doing her best to relive the moment that her magic had jolted. Then, as the realization dawned on her, she began to smile, her fangs exposed with her glee. “Domino Locks. You amazing pony, you! That explains so very much. It’s no wonder how you’ve become Steele’s right hand colt.”

She whisked her head around, her horn pointing out of the window. “They’ll definitely spot them rushing out the Agency. This’ll help the guards slow them down.” A stream of orange magic fired just out of the window like a rocket, spiraling up into the freezing sky, moving beyond the clouds. It popped, sending the spell all across Canterlot.

“You can’t leave this city. You can only hide for so long. Better hurry, Locks,” she looked out the window. Snow was starting to pour down outside. “Because we’re expecting several inches tonight.”

She reached down under her hoof. A tattered scroll was pinned underneath it. She snickered, her horn preparing for a teleport.

“And you forgot your message.”

Author's Notes:

Sorry for the delay. 403-406 will be updated in the next few hours!
- G. R.

404: Misplaced Anxiety

“Scarlet, you probably won’t survive this ordeal. Nopony besides me, an alicorn, has ever managed to survive. You will die, Scarlet. Just like the rest.”

Scarlet Trace kept her eyes shut, the journal of the late Slate trembled in her hooves. The words from Gemini repeated in her mind like a recording, looping every few seconds.

Her eyes looked back down at the first entry. She immediately felt a kind of connection to this poor pony. Not to his difficult life, but more directly to the problem he had with his cutie mark’s meaning. Hesitating, she stole a glance back at her hindquarters, greeted by the large magnifying glass.

The cutie mark that had lingered there since birth. The very one that, according to Gemini and Nixie, was now trying to devour her from the inside out. She too, like this pony, was troubled by her mark.

‘Mom and dad never really let me do much of anything else either,’ Scarlet reached into her coat, pulling out the magnifying glass that hung around her neck. ‘Study for the Agency, work with dad at the Agency, talk to mom about the Agency. It was always about that building, and that organization. Those two lived and breathed it. I never questioned it once.’

Not noticing that she was drawing the concerned attention of six other ponies, she slowly turned the pages, skimming them for any interesting data. ‘Who questions their cutie mark? Only a pony who doesn’t know its meaning. And how is that possible? A cutie mark symbolizes your destiny. The meaning of my mark was as clear as day. At least,’ she exhaled, ‘that’s what the story’s always been.’

‘But everyone at the agency knows,’ Scarlet turned more pages over in a hurry. ‘A C-Ranked agent. Low-leveled. Clumsy. Incompetent.’ A heavy sensation bore down on her chest. Scarlet coughed, covering her mouth with her hoof. No blood, but she was feeling her energy draining faster, a side effect of Twilight’s spell succumbing to the hungry Scars.

‘I’m terrible at my job. Slate, I think you and I have something in common here. What happened to you?’

“Scarlet? Is something the matter?” A voice from the group spoke up.

The young detective snapped out of her trance, turning around to look at Twilight, the origin of the sudden question. “I’m fine, thanks. I’m just looking for another section to read through.”

“That’s fine. Take your time, hun,” Applejack reassured her, to the dismay of an increasingly fidgety Rarity. The dirty home was starting to wear on the fashionista’s nerves.

Scarlet stopped at another page. This one’s entry was written in a thick ink, catching her attention. “I think I might’ve found something else, girls.”

“Well, what are you waiting for?” Rainbow Dash asked, “Let’s hear it.”

The gray pony nodded in agreement, taking in a deep breath.

Fall of Year 1
Day 146

I’ve finally managed to settle all of my affairs back home. Father wasn’t too pleased with me moving out to live here in Ponyville, but mother didn’t seem to mind. With one less mouth to feed, the bits they earn at their jobs should be able to help them get by much more comfortably. Their financial stability wasn’t what motivated me to move away, but it definitely helps, and I’m grateful for that.

I haven’t been having the best of luck myself. I own a small lot here in this small town, and it’s perfectly quiet on most nights, but I’m slowly draining through the remaining funds I have left at the bank. Before long, I’ll be completely out of money to stay afloat here. It’s tough, but I’m positive that I’ll make it out as long as I seek out employment elsewhere.

The job situation hasn’t been any better either, which is probably the biggest issue I have at the moment. Ponyville only needs so many ponies to run everything here in town. My first instinct was to check out whether or not there was anything strictly available to only the pegasi here in town. The weather team was completely full, and they couldn’t afford to hire on new staff just yet, so that ruled out any possibility that I could do that.

Eventually, I decided to inspect the town for anything that kept me on the ground. I ran across Sweet Apple Acres after traversing every inch of central Ponyville. I met the most charming couple out there on the farm. They tended to a large apple field and other, smaller crops all by themselves. I offered a hoof to help them out, and though at first they weren’t interested, I managed to squeeze a proposal out of them.

It isn’t much, but it’s enough to get by for now. I’m still hunting for jobs that suit me better.

There’s another problem altogether. A role that I’m comfortable with. Anything that fits with my skill set. I’d be a liar if I said I had any special talents; the rock on my side more or less illustrates that quite well. I’ve always joked that perhaps my talent was weighing everyone else down. It depresses me at times because often, I start believing that those kinds of thoughts might actually be true. I’m a hard worker, and I’m willing to sacrifice a lot in order to live comfortably. That’s how my parents lived, and I have no qualms with that kind of lifestyle myself.

However, fortune just isn’t on my side. Aside from the Apple Family part time job, there’s been nopony in town willing to hire me. My only other option is to create my own business, but in what? I have no resources, no tools to create goods with. I’m not that good at gardening and raising crops, and construction is definitely out of the question.

Sometimes I wonder why I ever bothered to leave Manehatten in the first place.

What does this damn cutie mark mean? I just want to know. Am I good with stones? Is it a literal interpretation that I need to look for here? If not, then what else? What could this empty tablet on my flank represent?

It’s a thought that’s been torturing me for a long time now. It drives me insane on some days. I became so stressed over it once that I even had to make a quick trip to the clinic because I got sick. How strange too, I’m not the type of pony to just spontaneously come down with something like that. I’m usually very careful about who and what I come into contact with.

All of this concern must have me a little riled up though. It’s become harder to sleep, too. I spend far too much time at night wondering what it all means, and where I’m going to end up in the future. Will I become rich and famous? Successful perhaps? Successful at all? Or will I end up on the streets somewhere between Ponyville and the city?

Or maybe even become a denizen of Everfree Forest. I have heard that some creatures actually do make that terrible place their homes. I doubt I’d survive for long in there thought. It’s filled with dangerous animals.

I’ve rambled far too much by now. I think I just need a drink and some sleep. Tomorrow’s a new day. Perhaps my luck will finally turn around.

My search for meaning continues…

“Hey Applejack,” Scarlet immediately chirps after flipping another page. “You heard it too, this guy used to work for your family around the time he wrote this entry. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

“Can’t say that I do, sugarcube.” Applejack’s face wrinkled in thought. “The Apple Family’s been here in Ponyville even before it became a city. If anypony knew about this worker, it’d be Granny Smith.”

“Do you think we’d be able to ask her about him then?”

“Maybe, but it’s still strange.” Applejack shrugged. “None of that makes a lick of sense. We Apples always tend to our fields on our own, without any outside help whatsoever.”

Twilight and her friends gave the orange farm pony a confused, rejected look.

“Well, most of the time. But we’ve never employed anypony before recent. At least not to my knowledge. We’ve always relied on ourselves to raise the crops and take care of the critters on the farm. I can’t think of a single time where we’ve actually hired a single pony. Even moreso with Granny. She was more stubborn about it than the rest of us Apples.”

Scarlet turned back to the journal. “That’s odd. I don’t see why Slate would write about something like that then.” She looked back at Applejack, her eye catching the gem residing at the center of her necklace. “And I’d be stupid to question the Element of Honesty.”

She turned towards the cyan pegasus nearby. “What about you, Rainbow Dash?”

“What?” The pegasus body jumped at her name.

“Slate mentions the weather team in this journal as well. You know anything about it?”

“Sorry Scarlet,” she shook her head, “I got nothing. Besides, this guy sounds like an old timer.”

“Perhaps,” the detective blew a strand of red hair out of her face. She flipped through more pages his journal, moving through small drawings and tiny, solitary paragraphs.

“Blank Slate, who are you?”

“What do we do now, Flex?” The regal alicorns’ voice tightened. “You said yourself that it was too risky to bring Scarlet over here now. Everypony’s in danger if our suspicions are correct.”

The smaller earth pony quickly marched back into Princess Celestia’s castle, with the Princess following right at his side. “We’re running out of time. We need to quarantine Scarlet, drag her ass back over here, and question the entire group about what happened that night of Conroy’s death.”

“Steele… doesn’t this go against everything you were trying to avoid? Bringing Scarlet back into Canterlot right now is far too dangerous.”

He continued to walk, unimpaired by her claim. “I’m aware of the danger. We have to do something quick, but we also need to be careful about it. Anything brash could destroy her before we have a chance to look into the matter ourselves. Princess Celestia,” Steele turned a corner, heading down a large spiral of steps, “Is Luna aware of any of these matters as of this moment?”

“Only the minor details,” Celestia responded. “She watches over the night, and has her own fair share of problems to work out. I felt that this was a matter that the two of us could solve together.”

“We need to tell her everything that’s happened then. We might need her magic to help subdue Scarlet when we bring her back.”

The pair made their descent with hurried steps. It only took several minutes before they had reached the bottom floor of Celestia’s royal castle.

“What about your employees, Steele?”

He turned up to look at her, “You mean Locks and Amy?”

“And Mystery Hart. Surely they’ll have something to say about your sudden change of heart.”

He sharply snapped his neck back at attention. “That’s their damn business. I don’t care what they think.”

“I think that now’s not the time to be saying something so silly,” a smooth, soft voice cooed ahead.

Steele and Celestia peered forward, towards the grand entrance to the entire building. A black unicorn mare sat at the corner, waiting eagerly for the two to return from their long discussion at the top of the palace. Her face was smug, her fur starting to mesh with the darkening sky behind her. Her fangs sparkled, revealing her identity almost immediately.

“Scrawl? What are you up to now? I have no time for your damn games,” Steele growled at her as they approached.

“Hey, calm down big guy. I just came from the Agency and thought I’d give ya another checkup. See if anything big has developed since I’ve been gone.”

“Something big, yes,” Steele muttered.

“So what’s all the fuss about, lovebirds?” Jessica smirked. “Somethin’ big sounds like my kind of job.”

“We will be bringing Scarlet Trace back to Canterlot prematurely,” Celestia explained with a sense of urgency.

The smile on Jessica’s mouth immediately vanished. “Really? Something happen to her?”

“No time to explain that. We need to head for the Agency as soon as possible,” Steele’s pace quickened as they past by the imp.

“Wow. That’s excellent timing, boss,” she rolled her eyes.

Steele paused, turning back towards his scribe. “Timing- what? Something on your mind, maggot?”

“Well I dunno,” she bobbed her head back and forth. “I DID notice something interesting on my way over here.”

“I don’t want to hear it unless it has something to do with this case,” Steele huffed.

Her smile grew, “Locks and Amy have breached the Agency, sir.”

Celestia and Steele both turned completely around. The old colt’s face drained of its energy, “What did you just say?”

“Locks and Amy broke into the Agency, sir,” she gave him an insultingly bad salute. “There was disposition leaking that bridged the Agency’s offices straight to Canterlot Cemetery.”

“Mysty,” Steele groaned. “Have the guardians captured them?”

“I’m not sure,” she playfully shrugged. “There was some alarm back at the graveyard because of some extremely high readings of magic. A good chunk of the guardians went to investigate.”

“What’s that old mare planning?” Steele grunted. Looking up to Celestia.

“Anything else you wish to share with us, Jessica?” the Princess of the Sun asked.

“The guardians arrived at the cemetery and are trying to break down a fortified barrier, but too many of them were pulled away. Whatever Locks and Amy are doing that encouraged them to break in, I doubt that whatever is left of the guard would be able to slow them down for long.”

Steele looked back at the wicked mare, “And what exactly did you do to stop them?”

“I was a distance away when the chaos broke out at the office, sir,” she lied with pride. “When I managed to get back, one of the weakened guards told me some of the minor details. I couldn’t immediately find them, so I cast a spell to set off the alarms.

“Also,” she continued, “I created a spell to force the snow down faster. I hope you two don’t mind.”

“It’s not a problem,” Steele answered. “The snow will reveal their hoofprints faster. It’s already getting late. Most ponies in that district are already at home.”

“Good work, Jessica,” Celestia praised.

“The Princess and I will head to the royal chambers,” Steele continued. “This actually helps us greatly that you’re here, Scrawl.”

“Oh yeah?” She chuckled.

“The two of us,” he looked up to the taller alicorn, “will meet up with Princess Luna and inform her of everything. We’ll head straight for the Agency immediately after we’re done to assess the damages and figure out what happened. I’ll also be ordering the troops at the cemetery to capture and detain Mystery Hart and to bring her straight to me when they can. She has a lot to answer to.”

“To you, sir?”

“I doubt that she’s just putting on a show because she’s drunk, or some crap like that. She’s creating a diversion,” Steele sighed. “Amassing so much magic in a place as unstable as the cemetery could be lethal.”

“What do I do then, sir?” Jessica eagerly awaited her orders.

Celestia watched at Steele hesitated for the first time since they left the upper floors of the castle. His ice cold gaze glued itself to Jessica’s frame while he thought.

“Jessica Scrawl, I want you to retrieve Domino Locks and Lily Sheen for me.”

“I can do that,” her smile returned in full. “But if they resist, sir?”

“At any cost, Scrawl. Take them down.”

The unicorn’s grin twitched wildly with his last order. The deal she had made with him earlier in the day threw her into a determined frenzy.

“You’re the boss, Flex,” her magic quickly wrapped around her. In a sparkling flash, she vanished.

Their world fell deathly silent as the scribe disappeared from sight. Steele turned to Celestia, whose face was just as concerned as his.

“Do you think… that I made the right choice?” he asked his ruler.

“We won’t know until this has all come to an end,” she cryptically replied. “Put in your situation however, I doubt I would’ve thought of an alternative.”

“Scrawl has complete immunity for a day, Princess. And Locks…”

“Locks?”

“Locks and Amethyst are doing this for Trace. If Jessica tries to capture them, they won’t go without a fight.”

Celestia’s face grew more worried. “Have faith in them.”

“Who, Princess?”

“All of them. Scarlet, Locks, Amethyst, Jessica, and Mystery. Have faith in the decisions they have made for themselves. We can no longer convince them of what is right and what is wrong. All we can do is hope that they’ve made the choice that will see them through.”

“I’m concerned for Scrawl the most. We had a deal. We can’t punish her if she tries anything violent.”

“… You mean, you’re afraid that Jessica might seriously hurt someone, Flex?” Celestia looked back at her old friend.

“Kill, actually.”

“I see,” Princess Celestia turned, motioning him to follow her towards the sisters’ chambers.

“You know, I’ve been keeping an eye on Jessica for quite some time now. I’d find it strange to think that she has it in her to kill anypony,” she continued.

“Her record’s clean, but-”

“I knew, from the very beginning of the Agency, that Jessica was far older than she ever let on,” the princess revealed, not letting the truth stop her pace.

“From… the beginning?” Steele’s eyes widened.

“I met that mysterious mare a long time ago. I could never forget a face like hers. That playful smile that I’ve grown to recognize from miles away. She came from Dodge Junction as a young mare.”

“Dodge Junction?”

“I believe they only preferred to call it ‘Dodge’ back in those days. She was a unicorn that held so many possibilities in her future. I wanted her to realize her potential. It happened, by my luck, that she had come seeking out my school for gifted unicorns at the time. I gladly welcomed her to study under the finest unicorns.”

The clacking of Celestia’s hooves grew louder as the sounds of Canterlot were swallowed up by the silence as they approached the royal chambers. “Jessica Scrawl quickly jumped to the top of her classes, and graduated with ranks far above what even I had originally anticipated.”

“Scrawl… she’s always been in contact with you?”

“Not exactly, which is what I’ve found so strange,” Celestia replied. “Almost immediately after graduating, she ran off. Disappearing beyond the Everfree Forest and heading as far east as she could. It was odd. I thought of pursuing her, but with my duties here in Equestria, I never had the chance, nor did I want to risk my subjects out in the world beyond.

“When was the next time you saw her then? She had to have come back eventually,” Steele said. “She works for the Agency now.”

“Centuries went by in those times. I almost didn’t recognize her black and orange colors when she returned to Canterlot after so many years. I almost couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw her. I thought maybe she was a descendant, or even just a pony who happened to be born with a strikingly similar color scheme. All of those suspicions were put aside when she came up to us.”

“Us? You mean…?”

“She returned right as you and Conroy Justis were developing the Agency. She introduced herself as Jessica Scrawl. I immediately knew that she could be a great and powerful asset to the organization after remembering her skills back when she graduated, and allowed her to work with you two.”

“We test everypony who comes in and out of the Agency. You knew right away then, didn’t you?”

“Yes. And as I had expected, she was a natural. Her power was simply phenomenal.”

“And you never questioned her about it, Princess?”

“It’s definitely extraordinary, but I never desired to invade her private life. She never showed any signs of being a threat, so I never had a reason to really look into her background. I don’t like the idea of spying on my loyal subjects. Even creatures like her.”

“And this unicorn that you’ve seen come and go throughout time, defying age, disregarding death… you trust her?” Steele tilted his head.

“Don’t you, Flex?”

“Well,” he looked down, “Aside from Amethyst… she’s never intentionally steered anypony into harm’s way before.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“My problem?” Steele repeated. “I just sent one of the most powerful unicorns in Canterlot, who has an entire day of diplomatic immunity from all punishments, to subdue the Agency’s greatest assets. By any means necessary.”

“I do wish to ensure that everypony comes out of this situation alright,” Celestia agreed. “Let’s hurry then, and explain everything to my sister. I’m sure that with her help, we can find the truth that we’ve been hunting for after all of this time.”

405: Desperation

Scarlet’s hoof swept from page to page, trying to find any additional information that stood out to her. Anything that could direct her towards where Slate had traveled would be crucial. Dates within the journal continued to jump further between each other.

‘He’s writing less,’ she spotted a page dating the second year. ‘He must’ve had a reason. The days are starting to jump too fast for someone who seemed so devoted at first.’

Another page stood out. The year had jumped now. Scarlet scanned the date: “Year 3.” “Winter.”

“These days are too far apart,” Scarlet spoke aloud. “One entry, he’s writing from summer of year two, then the next, he’s working towards the end of the next year.”

Curious, she dove into the mysterious text.

Winter of Year 3
Day 910

I’m glad that today happened. So very glad.

I do apologize for my long absence, but I’m more than glad to fill you in on everything I’ve been through in the last year, my friend. I’ve been traveling, volunteering as a third party outsource to the royal guard in Canterlot. Essentially, I function as a member of the royal guard itself, but only when it’s demanded of me, meaning I get very little work. Still, it’s an improvement over my troubles in Ponyville. I still live in that nice little town, but my work has me traveling often.

Over the last few months, I’ve been sent to Las Pegasus to keep the streets clean, and even had a short, week long assignment in Manehatten as a security guard for a local bank near my old neighborhood. I managed to visit the parents while I was in town as well. They’re doing fine, but time is starting to catch up to them. It makes me worry about what I’m going to do when they… you know.

I’d rather not think about that right now. In any case, something amazing happened to me, and I can’t help but share this with somepony. Being a pegasus, I was actually assigned a job towards a land I didn’t even know existed!

Beyond the Everfree Forest is a large land of desert. I flew over it all; it was devoid of all life and vegetation. It was unsettling to be there, and I couldn’t help but feel a terrible, horrible vibe the closer I got to the ground. In my saddlebag was a parcel, full of old newspaper clippings, some food from Canterlot, and a rolled up scroll with the seal of the Princess on it.

Ahead of me was my destination. The orders from the Royal Guard called it “Mount Ignis,” a gigantic spire jutting out of the land and overseeing the entire desert. The instructions specifically gave me an entry point, a small, cut out window towards the peak of the mountain. The inside was told to be dangerous, riddled with caverns that ponies could easily get lost inside if they get careless. At the base of the mountain was a fruitful little oasis.

I decided to take a quick pit stop and enjoy the foliage before I flew up the mountain. Ignis was monstrous, seemingly stretching into the heavens. I was in awe. Coming from such a lively city, I expected very little to surprise me so. The technological marvels and structures were so far advanced that ponies from smaller towns like Ponyville would faint at the sheer size of Manehatten. But looking up at this gigantic rock, whose peak breached the clouds up above, made my feathers shiver with delight. I was excited for the first time in a long time to do my job.

I squeezed through the window. I had never been so simultaneously horrified, inspired, and amazed by what I saw that day. It was an alicorn! A genuine pony Princess! Her wings were massive, pinned to the wall by bolts, with long, slender legs and a lithe body. That beautiful mare looked right back at me with a smile.

Then I took a closer look at her. She was missing a distinct feature on her face. I almost jumped right back out of the window. Instead, I darted towards the corner of the room. I was horrified, repulsed at what was sitting there, greeting me. Looking back, I feel awful for my reaction, but at the same time, I can’t think of any other way TO react to something so brutal. She was missing an eye, her wings were slightly bleeding from the bolts, and her legs were in chains. She had so many scars covering her body. I imagine that once upon a time, she was one of the most beautiful mares you could ever see.

Fascinating though, was her cutie mark. It wasn’t there at all. Instead, there was a large scar, covering over whatever it could’ve been. The meat and flesh of her body fell out of the hole it made, and with a swish of her horn, it immediately jumped back into her body.

All she did upon my reaction was say “hello,” in a raspy voice that I actually found quite… approachable. I expected something far worse. I still struggled to keep eye contact: the hole in her socket was difficult to stare back at, like looking into the center of a black hole.

She introduced herself. Gemini was her name. She filled me in on the second half of my job. I gave her the entirety of the saddlebag, watching her scope through it like a piranha, absorbing every little detail she could from the newspapers.

She asked me why I was staying at first, since my job was over. I didn’t know what to say to her at first, so I just replied that I was curious about her. That she even existed should be a big deal, something enormous since Equestria still supports her, but that I had heard nothing about her up until my assignment.

We talked at length about little things here and there. Mostly idle banter, a way to pass the time as the sun beat overhead. I was exhausted from the long trip from Canterlot as well, and the break by the oasis at the foot of the mountain wasn’t nearly enough time to energize my body, so I used the time to rest and relax.

Gemini loved my company, the first pony besides my parents to genuinely show any kind of interest, though at times I wonder whether or not I was simply a catalyst to the outside world that she had been denied for so long. For her, I felt like anypony would’ve been acceptable. She told me many stories of her past. How many of them I believe in I can’t say for sure, but they were spectacular. Her journey beyond Equestrian borders is what captured my heart the most.

She spoke of a civilization that lived far, far beyond our nation. Far to the east, where the sea and the land collide. There lies a city full of a plethora of creatures big and tall, from ponies to dragons. There, life was vicious and tough, but everypony lived together in what she described as a ‘harmony born from strife, free from virtue.’

Such an idea is so… fascinating to somepony like myself. I can’t quite comprehend such a horrific city.

The sun was setting when I finally had to say my farewell. I was saddened when it dawned on me that this would most likely be the last time I laid eyes on such an interesting pony; Orders from Canterlot heavily stressed for me to never speak of this event, and to never step foot on that mountain unless issued for another delivery to Gemini. I may have broken the first rule by writing my experience down in this journal, but I feel it was necessary.

As I parted my wings to take to the sky from the window, Gemini stopped me. I turned around, looking at her curiously. She looked like she was scanning me with great concentration, her horn glowing all the while. When I had asked her what the matter was, she waved it off, saying that she thought she saw something coming from me.

I’m unsure of how to take that phrase, but I just shrugged it off at the time. I left Mount Ignis without a single word.

Scarlet’s head jumped at the next page in the journal. Several layers of paper were left shredded, the edges jagged like rows of uneven teeth hanging from the spine of the booklet. Curious, Scarlet jumped past the damaged portion until she reached the next entry:

What’s wrong with me? One month! One month since the last visit! No one wants me. No job. No money. I’ll be out on the streets!

I can’t go back. Worthless! I can’t do anything on my own. How come nopony can even remember me!? Can’t remember a thing I’ve said!? Even in Ponyville. This rickety, backwater town. Nothing. No one knows who I am.

Who am I? This cutie mark. What has this mark done for me!?

The words were scratched in, violently, as Scarlet passed them through. They continued onto the next page, progressively getting darker and larger with Slate’s temper:

Destiny!? What destiny? Fate is dead. Cutie Marks are meaningless!

Haha! I did it! I have a new cutie mark!
See there on my flank!? The symbol of a weather control worker, the badge! The badge! It’s on my flank!

It’s black! It’s black, but it’s there! I have purpose! I knew I wasn’t a fraud!

I’ve found my cutie mark!!

“I can’t read any of this,” Scarlet eyed the gibberish that the writing eventually broke down towards. She flipped a dozen more pages over. “He doesn’t even catalog the dates anymore from what I can tell, and there’s so many torn pages that I can’t tell what’s going on.”

She recalled the badge that Slate had mentioned in the insanity of his rambling. Her head snapped back towards the crowd beyond her, locked onto the pink pony who still had the badge resting near her hooves.

“Pinkie, can you hand me that badge?”

“Absotutely-lutely!” Pinkie sprung back to life, grabbing the badge and flinging it carelessly into the air.

Scarlet watched as the remnant landed perfectly atop the journal she was reading, ignoring the urge to question the dexterity and accuracy that the party pony displayed. She looked down at the badge, the large yellow ‘P’ sitting at the center. The outer edges were charred black, while the rest had been rusted and aged with the simple passage of time.

“What’s the badge gotta do with the journal then?” Twilight shuffled forward.

“Slate was writing about how he had a new cutie mark at the end of the last passage I just read,” she started, “The writing was talking about having a badge for a cutie mark.”

“But that’s impossible,” the purple unicorn replied. “You can’t have two cutie marks, can you?”

“I don’t think so,” Scarlet’s voice dropped off. “But this badge is burnt. It could just be me, but maybe…”

Twilight winced as the thought entered her mind. “You think he’d do something like that? From the writing, he definitely sounded like he was in trouble, but to brand yourself-”

“Poor guy. I can only imagine what those long months were doing to him,” Scarlet handed the badge over to Twilight so she can look at it herself. “Especially if those feelings he had at the beginning of the journal just festered.”

As Scarlet turned another page, a huge crash of pain rattled through her mind. She doubled over, immediately grabbing the attention of the six other ponies in the room. Twilight, having become accustomed to the detective’s fits, issued orders to the other five ponies. Her voice was completely unrecognizable to the gray coated mare on the floor.

She twisted, her vision blurry and her throat giving way to a horrid cough.

‘Fate is dead,’ she heard her voice, ringing through her thoughts. ‘It’s fitting for ponies like us, Slate.’ Scarlet’s eyes shut tight, doing her best to concentrate on her own thoughts through the agony her body was rattling with.

‘Ponies like us,’ she repeated. ‘Ponies without a destiny? Look at me, Blank Slate. A pony born into her role. A role that she struggles day in and day out to fulfill, for the sake of everypony around her.’

In the distance, she could hear the faded hum of a spell coming to life. Her thoughts continued to infect her consciousness.

‘We’re ponies of a kind. Me, you, Nixie, and Gemini. Our destinies… are they all just mistakes?’

Another painful twist of her stomach wrenched into her mind. Scarlet coiled up, coughing heavily, feeling a warm fluid oozing out of her mouth.

‘I was raised into my role, just like those two. Just like you, Slate. It’s what I was born to do, even if…’

Scarlet’s body was encompassed with a powerful spell. The thoughts quickly started to fade into the depths of her mind as Twilight’s spell undid the progress of her disease.

‘… even if it’s something I never wanted.’

A harsh gasp escaped her mouth, the young mare scrambled until she found herself back on all fours. The rest of the group, concern ranging from Fluttershy’s horror to the nervousness from Rainbow Dash, stood overhead.

She looked down at the floor. A small splatter of her blood stained the aged floor, driblets still moist on her lips. She ran her hoof across her muzzle, clearing it all up before thanking the six for their help.

“Are you okay Scarlet?” Twilight Sparkle asked.

“You know what?” She looked back towards the group with a nervous grin, “I don’t even know anymore…”

The seven invaders all jumped in unison, as a large, heavy sound slammed against the room at the end of the hall.

Locks dashed underneath a desk as another hastily charged spell smashed into the floor where he had been running. The wood splintered, sending a scattered mess of debris into the room around him. With a powerful grunt, Locks lifted himself back to his hooves, his crimson eyes shining as he darted closer towards the double doors at the front of the Agency.

Amethyst flew in from a sharp angle, quickly smashing into the unicorn that was taking shots at the grounded intruder. The colt was immediately out cold, the damage Amy felt from the attack shaken off by a simple shake of her head.

“Thanks for the cover,” Locks picked up speed as he approached the exit. He reached over to his side, into a saddlebag that he had managed to scoop up in the middle of the chaos, doing his best to tune out the noise that the alarm sent roaring through the building.

He nearly stopped in place, realizing that his hoof was only touching a single item resting inside the bag. His gaze turned back towards the direction of Steele’s room.

“Jessica… you little,” he clenched his teeth. “Amethyst! Grab a scroll, I’m heading for the exit!”

A pegasus shot overhead, forcing the cobalt colt to duck to avoid colliding with the guard. The pony tumbled over and slammed into another work desk, falling limp as he lost consciousness. Amy’s whistle roared through the alarm, quickly flying over to the downed guard to search for some spare parchment. She blew on her instrument one more time while tossing documents all around her with reckless abandon.

“Jessica managed to sneak the letter off of me while we were in Steele’s office! We’re gonna need to rewrite a letter to Scarlet before we can send anything!” Locks throat burned, his voice tearing up everything necessary to get through to Amy.

To his left, he spotted another guard rushing towards them from the second floor. With Amethyst busy searching for some spare paper, Locks looked around desperately for something to strike the enemy down with before he could get to them. Finding nothing worth its weight, Locks stared down the pony, coaxing him to the colt.

The pegasus, his vision now locked on to the blue pony below, sped up his descent, a growl growing in volume as he inched closer to the detective.

Locks’ blood red eyes intensified as he stared into the gentle blue of the guard’s.

“No running from me now,” Locks muttered under his breath, bracing himself for impact.

The pegasus felt a cold chill run through his veins. His wings froze up against the intimidating sensation violating his mind and body. Panicking, the guard stumbled from the air, crashing in a disturbed heap just feet away from the detective. Locks, pleased with his work, broke eye contact with the pegasus, looking back to see his partner with a scroll wrapped by her muzzle.

“Good work Amy,” he ran over to meet up with her.

Another wave of hoofsteps came from behind. Without looking back, Locks shouted to his guardian, who instantly dashed in front of him and blasted the doors open with a swift kick. The deathly chill of the cold wind on the outside came bursting through the hatches, forcing a quick pause from the pair before they continued.

“There’s too many of them! Just keep running!” Locks ordered. “Don’t stop!”

The rest of the Agency’s on-site members gave chase through the threshold, braving the freeze that was looming over Canterlot’s night.

Author's Notes:

404-406 are mighty short. Explains the rapid upload rate.
Hope you enjoy them!

- G. R.

406: The Nihility

Canterlot’s streets thinned rapidly, ponies retreating into their homes before the sudden downpour of snow could bury them inches underneath. Confused and startled mares and colts hurried out of the chilling weather, no time to stop and greet one another as many of the benevolent ponies down by the plaza would do. Many of the civilians had completely failed to notice the faint, sharp ringing permeating the silent city from just a few dozen blocks away.

Into the otherwise quiet night, the bell screamed out, causing several windows near the solemn, red building to flash with activity. Silhouettes of ponies, cozy and tucked into their warm homes, with smoke already bellowing out of each chimney in the neighborhood, watched as the strange sight played out in front of them.

Two ponies burst through the doors of the faded, large structure, darting through the thin layer of snow on the ground as if their lives depended on it. The spectators continued with a curious look, now catching sight of the large group of pegasi charging out of the opened doorway. They paused for a second, unsure of which direction to take. Confused, they scattered into the air, stretching over the entire district to search for what everypony considered the criminals.

Locks did his best to ignore the bitter cold that slammed into his face, shaking it off with a jitter. He looked up to Amethyst, who was speeding through the calm air right beside him, the pair still tense, regardless of the fading alarm ringing relentlessly behind them.

Beams of light struck the ground nearby, breaking through the darkness that the absent sun allowed. Locks flinched, turning slightly to avoid being cast into it. Another beam could be seen a distance away, followed by several more, each one combing the ground for any signs of the Agency’s invaders.

“The snow’s starting to cover the ground,” Locks turned back towards Amethyst with a grim urgency. “If we just keep running like this, I’ll start to leave tracks! We can’t afford to be caught right now!”

A hasty whistle was the larger mare’s response. She looked around, desperately trying to find someplace they could hide. The ponies were already leaving tiny noticeable tracks behind Locks’ trail. It wouldn’t be too long before the guards caught on to their escape path.

One of the lights, several hundred yards away by now, snapped to the ground. Instantly, a spell fired from the ground, a nearby unicorn guard signaling the rest of the group to gather.

“We don’t have time,” Locks grunted, keeping his pace steady. “This damn snow’s going to ruin everything!” He looked up at contempt for the elements, the hauntingly slow drift of white pellets starting to blanket his white and black mane. The moon overhead was blocked out by a thick, gray layer of the clouds ruining their hasty plan.

Locks’ eyes lit up. He turned to Amy, “How much can you lift?”

All seven ponies stood cautiously, slowly gravitating towards each other.

“E-Everypony heard that, right?” Fluttershy squirmed next to Rarity.

“You mean that loud, scary, spooky pounding by the door?” Pinkie’s face wrinkled with worry.

Scarlet’s head spun, shaking herself to regain her balance. As if having not noticed the slam against the door, she turned another page.

“Scarlet,” Twilight tapped her, “Are you seriously going to keep reading that? Aren’t you going to investigate what just happened?”

Scarlet turned towards the Element of Magic with another flip of a page. Her eyes were beginning to sag with fatigue, but in a strong, confident voice, she started, “We already deemed that place far too toxic to get near, and my job isn’t finished. There’s still more I need to uncover.”

“Scarlet, please. I think the best idea is to get out of here and report this place to Canterlot. Maybe we can come back after they clean it out.”

“I second Twilight’s idea,” Rarity rose a nervous hoof.

“No,” Scarlet’s mane softly bobbled with the shake of her head. “This ends here and now. I don’t think I can wait any longer.”

She found another entry towards the end of the journal. Between the scribbles before, and the torn, unused pages after, was a single, final entry. Written in clear and legible ink.

“See, there’s one more. That’s all I need,” a unique hiss crawled from her throat.

This is it. My good friend, it’s been an absolute pleasure to share my life with you, my closest companion. However, every pony has both a beginning and an end, and I feel that my job on this planet is about to be realized. Once it’s complete, I will disappear, returning back to the great conglomeration of magical disposition hovering over our dear skies. A source of magic known by none, but used by all.

It’s just what I’ve always wanted, even if I didn’t realize it until now.

There’s no use trying to run. I’ve been doing that all of my life, and I was far too stupid and naive to think that I could ever change my one, true destiny in this world. Now that my mind is clear and pure, it all seems so simple to me. So easy.

With you, my friend- My only friend- I shall share my epiphany. I’ve come to terms with this cold, lifeless tablet on my flank. The meaning behind this once thought to be horrific cutie mark.

I’ve been trying to fit a meaning into this cutie mark for so long. I still have the burn marks from my badge from my sudden outbursts of stupidity and ignorance. The tablet… it’s an open book, with blank pages inside of it. It’s empty, only given importance by those who write in it, and only given significance by those who later come to understand the meaning of the words within.

That’s what this tablet on me is. That’s what it represents. A blank slate. Just like my name. A tablet that isn’t ready to be used. A tablet that has yet to fulfill its purpose.

Until now. You, my friend, have shared this burden with me for so long. Of being a meaningless pile of nothingness. But, as I finish my final entry, you shall be realized as complete and full, as will I when my plan is fulfilled.

I am just like you: Empty. Devoid of inherent value. Something that any and everypony will deem without merit. Until the day I’m written in, of course. Forgotten, until that moment of truth, when I can finally realize my destiny.

I am a forgotten pony. That is my destiny. I will be sure to see it out to the very last breath. I will become an empty vessel that none shall remember. Someday in the future, somepony will notice me, the blank slate that I am, and will fill me in as I have done for you, my best friend.

These years have made it too obvious. My schooling. Working on Sweet Apple Acres, the weather team, royal duties. Even now, I doubt anypony knows my name. Even my parents. So obvious. I have a talent of disappearing in a crowd. A forgotten relic hiding in everypony’s blind spot, whose name will forever me out of reach to those around me.

This curse has been hard. Over the years, I’ve come down with more and more illnesses than I can now count. It’s especially significant now. Twitches than come and go, coughing, bleeding sporadically. It was a nightmare to be alive sometimes. I’m glad that those days will finally be over, and I can start fresh.

My mind would often wonder too… about whether or not my cutie mark is the first. If a pony like me could have a defective destiny, then surely there are others out there in the entire world, full of millions of ponies, that have suffered as I have? Is it a disease? A sickness? Surely, I’m not alone. As much as it hurts to think about, I cannot be fortunate enough to be deemed one of a kind. Not in this venture.

And I pray for those souls who failed to overcome the disease as I have. Embracing my mark is all it took. I hope other ponies out there can come to the same conclusion.

I’ll be happy once my destiny has come. I’m almost sure others will be too.

A terrible silence filled the late Slate’s house. Scarlet’s voice had just finished reading the final words written in the journal. With nothing else remaining to be seen, Scarlet idly closed the journal and let it rest on the couch.

The bearers of the elements were speechless. Pinkie’s hair had flattened out, a look completely unbecoming of such a springy, upbeat mare like herself. Everypony had their head facing the ground, Applejack holding her hat in her hoof. Nopony uttered a word as the final entry sunk into their minds.

Scarlet’s stomach twisted. She winced before stumbling over, a heavy cough escaping her mouth. She covered it with a single hoof, clearing her throat as the violent uprising dissolved.

“Scarlet?” Twilight finally spoke up.

The red maned pony didn’t turn. Her eyes rested on her hoof. Blood was trickling down the sides and onto the floor. She sighed, wiping it on her black coat.

Her eyes narrowed at the stain on the floor.

‘My blood.’ Her eyebrows twitched. ‘No, that’s not my blood. That’s their blood. That’s mom and dad and Steele’s blood. Not mine.’

She lifted herself, looking towards the ceiling of the house in anger. Her heart started to race. ‘That is the blood of the pony those three created. That isn’t mine. That’s Scarlet Trace’s blood. Laya’s blood. Mystery Hart’s. Conroy Justis’. Flex Steele’s.’

She turned around, her dull, green eyes fixated on the cutie mark covered by her coat. ‘My destiny? Stupid. This cutie mark isn’t mine. It’s theirs. It belongs to them.’ She looked at the six ponies, their attention now completely on the red maned pony, hundreds of thoughts clouding her mind.

“Where. Is. My cutie mark?”

“Excuse me?” Twilight replied.

“Where is it?” She stamped the floor. “It was stolen from me!”

“Scarlet!” Twilight and the group rushed around her. “Scarlet, what’s wrong?!”

“They stole my destiny! They took it away and gave me… gave me…this!” The detective grabbed her hat, her anger tearing a hole through the precious memories that were connected to it. “Garbage!”

The hat came down hard against the floor, quickly pinned under a furious, gray hoof. Scarlet lifted her leg, stamping down on it again and again, rubbing her hooves over it, smothering it in an attempt to choke out its life. Tears streamed down the edges of her eyes, blinding her vision of her surroundings.

“GARBAGE! EVERYTHING WAS A LIE! A SET UP! WHERE IS MY DESTINY!?” She emphasized each word with a crushing stomp. Another cough came through, ripping up through her neck and splashing the keepsake with a thick strip of blood.

The door at the end of the hallway shivered, the knob creating a noise that forced everypony, Scarlet included, to freeze. The entire group turned to the hallway, their bodies tense from the detective’s outburst.

The door swung open, flying off of its hinges and into the visible wall from the hallway. The particular sound of seven screams came through into Scarlet’s ears as a horrific hissing sound drowned them all out.

A large bang was heard, and a light erupted from the corner of the hallway, engulfing the entire house within seconds before exploding out into the sky above, stretching all the way through towards infinity.

The ringing in Scarlet’s ears subsided after several moments of panic. Snapped out of her sudden shift, she turned to the others, each of them without a scratch.

“Everypony okay?”

A slur of nods and grunts confirmed that the girls were all perfectly healthy, albeit spooked from the cacophony of sensory overload. She looked towards the source of the explosion. There was not but a single bit of collateral damage to any of the rest of the house.

The hallway, where the ponies’ attention turned towards, was different. It was drowned in papers. Newspapers from all around Equestria fell out and onto the living room floor. After picking up her hat, whose blood stain went unnoticed by its owner, Scarlet and Twilight made for the hallway, the latter’s horn shining.

“The toxins we felt from the room,” Twilight swept across the pile with her horn. “They’re gone.”

Scarlet eyed the newspapers. “Check it out. They all have the same dates as the paper we found in the archives.” She grabbed one, flipping through the article on the front of every page. “Pony found at the epicenter of a large, magical explosion…”

Twilight’s friends slowly started to gather around the two. Twilight’s magic lifted another off the ground, revealing several charts and readings. “This one has a proper inspection of the site in the paper we had. Let me run through this real quick.”

“No information found on the identity of the pony was found on scene, or any signs regarding where he was from,” Scarlet read through a clipping of another. The rest of the ponies joined in, feeding Scarlet and Twilight information from other articles from across Equestria that all illustrated the same breaking news.

“Pony found after large explosion,” one voice came from Scarlet’s side.

“Large magical influx sweeps over Manehatten, blankets entire city,” said another.

“These charts… I think I can identify what spell it was,” Twilight finally spoke up.

Scarlet turned towards the purple pony. “What was it?”

“It’s a bit shaky, and it’s nothing more than an educated guess, but the disposition left behind by the dead pony and the magical explosion are similar to that of a memory spell.”

“A memory spell?”

Twilight nods. “Spells that delve into memories all have the same foundation when it comes to identifying their magical disposition. I can’t tell exactly what type of memory spell this was, but it definitely has something to do with altering it.”

“It’s obvious now,” Scarlet looked through more papers. “Nopony even knew who Blank Slate was. He wrote about it in the journal. His entire life, ponies forgot who he was, and in the end, he sought to ensure that that’s how he left.”

“You mean to tell me that a pegasus was able to conjure up a memory spell that removed him from everypony’s memories in Equestria?!”

The rest of the ponies gasped. Scarlet replied, “It’s not a stretch. The spell readings you looked through, and the journal imply that such a thing might’ve happened. Plus, a magical explosion occurred that begun right where his body was found. Something happened to him right before he died.”

“But what?” Twilight responded with a more stern face. “He was a pegasus. Even if he was a unicorn, it’d take years for him to master a spell to that magnitude, let alone have all of the disposition and magical force required to spread it across Equestria.”

“Scars,” Scarlet spoke.

“What… That word again,” Twilight’s face softened.

“That’s why Gemini was able to vaguely remember,” Scarlet’s eyes started to widen. “She wasn’t in Equestria when it happened…

“And after Nixie and Gemini’s stories… Gemini’s hindquarters exploded…”

“Gemini? Nixie? Scarlet, what are you talking about?”

“Slate’s Scar must’ve…”

‘Something. Came. Out.’

“Blank Slate is the missing pony,” she announced with absolution. “With his Scars, he was able to conjure up a spell that made everypony forget about him.”

“What?! You’re not making any sense, Scarlet!”

“I’m making perfect sense!” Scarlet turned to the purple unicorn. “I need to report this right awa-”

The other ponies watched in horror as Scarlet immediately fell to the floor, coughing up more blood that splashed against the newspapers. The girls called out to her, her ears weakly lifting to hear their vague voices as her vision began to give out.

“She was rambling earlier, you think she’s losing it?” One voice called out.

“No. Her sickness is getting worse.” Another replied. “We need to get her out of here! Applejack, can you carry her back to the library?”

A dozen hooves rang in her ears. Scarlet’s eyes opened as the memories came flooding back to her. She was still in Ponyville, and wherever she was going, it was in a hurry. She lifted her head, catching sight of all six ponies around her. Applejack, the first one to notice a shift in her weight, slowed down.

“Hey y’all, I think she’s comin’ to!”

The rest of the elements stopped, turning back to see her. A surge of strength filled Scarlet’s body, from what she imagined was the workings of another spell Twilight must’ve infused her with. She landed on her hooves as she slid down Applejack’s side, looking back at the group in confusion.

“What happened?”

“You passed out back at Slate’s house,” Twilight replied.

“We decided to give you a quick charge before taking you back to the library,” Rarity panted, fixing her hair.

Scarlet stretched out her legs. “That’s probably still the best idea. How much further?”

“Not much,” Twilight replied. “Can you run?”

“Thanks for the help, girls. I should be fine for now.”

The seven continued back, a hurried jog closing the distance of their destination. Scarlet quickly turned back to Twilight with a concerned look. “Anything happen while I was out?”

“Not… exactly,” Twilight started.

“A bunch of the neighbors came rushing the house, some of them were even asking where Slate had gone off to,” Rainbow Dash interrupted. “It was creepy. They had no idea that Slate had killed himself until we showed them the papers.”

“So even with their initial memories back, they still don’t completely remember him. Incredible,” Scarlet mumbled. “Either way, my mission is complete. I’ve located and identified the missing pony, and the details surrounding his disappearance. HQ needs to hear this as soon as possible.”

“Not so fast Scarlet,” Twilight stopped her, “We charged you up, but not nearly enough as usual. You’re going to rest at the library first.”

“That’s fine. I’m going to need one final jump before I head back home,” Scarlet replied. She turned to Rainbow Dash, “But since I need this news delivered asap… would I be able to count on you girls to help?”

Rainbow Dash, who had caught her eyes, turned to her. “Me? What do you need me for?”

“You’re the fastest in all of Equestria, aren’t you?”

“Naturally,” she couldn’t help but smirk.

Scarlet pulled out a letter. She scribbled several choice words on the hastily wrinkled scroll before handing it over to the cyan pegasus. “This letter. After you’ve helped Twilight fix me up, I need you to fly to Canterlot, and deliver this straight to the Princess.”

“Deliver? Why can’t Twilight do it?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I doubt she’ll have much magic left after the charge,” Scarlet turned to the nodding purple mare. “She’s been doing it all day. You’re gonna have to give me the biggest charge of them all when we get back, too. I don’t know how long it’ll be before I can get help once I’m back in Canterlot.”

“That’s fine with me,” Twilight replied. “And Dash, let’s stick to her plan. I’d suggest Spike to send the letter to Princess Celestia, but if there’s anybody that can deliver a letter faster than Spike, it’s you.” She turned to Scarlet with a gentle expression, “I don’t like how hasty you’re being with this whole mission of yours, but if it’s a matter of grave importance like you’ve told me, then I have to help.”

“Thanks Twilight. All of you.” Scarlet nodded. “I’ll have to deliver the rest of the information directly when I get there. There’s no longer any time,” her volume jumped. “I hope the others are getting somewhere with the other investigation.”

“Let’s hope everything goes as planned. I don’t want you blowing up again like at the house,” Twilight said.

“What?”

“You mean… you don’t remember?”

“… N-No,” Scarlet’s frown grew.

“You started bleeding at the mouth. You got really mad at something and started stomping on your hat. You were talking about lies and destinies.”

The detective’s face drained. “I… don’t remember any of that.” She felt another twist in her stomach.

“Then let’s get back to the library, the sooner the better.”

A single set of hoofprints riddled the ground, creating a trail that lead straight for the central plaza within Canterlot. A swarm of pegasus guards swooped overhead, speeding up as they followed the tracks. They grew thicker with the blanket of snow still bearing down on the Agency’s finest, making the prints from the fugitive that much easier to spot. The group picked up the pace as their trail continued forward, surely leading to an endgame with their prey ensnared by no fewer than a dozen winged ponies.

They reached the end of the trail, raising more than several eyebrows as the pegasi screeched to a sudden stop.

The trail ended at the wall of a building, as if the creature had ran straight into it. The pegasi hovered in place, confused, before swarming the building on all sides. Several tried turning the locked knobs on the doors, others flew over to make sure that the ponies weren’t hiding out on the rooftop. Perplexed, they waited, several more unicorns and pegasi joining their search as they caught up to the group.

Several horns sprouted light, tracing the surrounding area for any extraneous spells. Coming up dry, one of the ponies raised a hoof, giving indiscreet orders to the rest of the troops. Saluting, the entirety of the hoard spread out once again, lights streaming throughout the entirety of Canterlot Plaza.

Locks’ ear quivered when he heard the stuttered, quiet whistle of his friend below.

“I-I’m sorry, b-but you have to admit, it’s pretty cl-clever,” his teeth chattered, gripping onto Amy’s back tighter in the hopes that she could warm him up.

Amethyst grunted, shifting her body to accommodate the entirety of the detective’s weight on her back. The cloud beneath her hoof gave way ever slightly, but not enough to force the duo to punch a hole and sink all the way through. Her wings buzzed idly, a small means of keeping the blood in Amy’s body flowing.

Inside the belly of the snowstorm, the two ponies were freezing, but safe. Locks body quaked as the cold gripped his coat, the duo struggling to adapt to the extreme change in climate. He pulled out the potion, giving it an invested eye before turning back to Amethyst, who smiled as she pulled out a scroll.

“Here,” Locks gave her a pencil. “You know what to write. I need to take another look at this spell.” The cobalt colt sat idle on Amy’s back. He turned back to the bottle, examining the wispy fluid inside with a sharp glare. The moon above them provided plenty of light to illuminate the pair from above. His crimson orbs sprang to life, the hue of his irises becoming much more prominent against his face.

“Hell of a night, isn’t it?” He tilted the bottle to the side.

An exhausted but uplifting whistle came from the pegasus underneath. Scribbles could be heard through the extreme calm within the clouds.

“The weather team didn’t say a damn thing about snow today,” Locks teeth continued to clack. “And,” his eyes quickly broke contact with the potion to get a glance around, “Yup. Got a good look at the cloud coverage we’re in. Definitely magic-born.”

The pencil scratches paused. A quick double chirp of the whistle came back to him.

“Jessica, I’m sure. Good thing we came up here. I doubt that the clouds are the first place the guards would check. They’ll be too busy thinking about where an Earth pony would hide. As long as you can hold it, we can stay up here.” He turned back to the potion, gleaming its demeanor again. “You are holding up well, right?”

Another chilly, reassured whistle played back.

“…Thank you Amy.”

She shook her head, as if waving off his gratitude.

“No, seriously. I mean it.” He tilted his head again, his eyes sparkling amidst the darkness the clouds created. “If it weren’t for you, I’d have been caught by now.”

Responding to the sudden silence his partner gave off, he continued, “Now that I think about it, you’ve always been there for me, haven’t you?”

Had Locks tilted over to see her face, and thus risk falling towards the Earth, the detective would’ve noticed the blush warming the face of his companion.

“Pulling me out of dangerous situations, fighting off mages and killers alike when you knew I wouldn’t be able to handle it all on my own. Heh,” Locks chuckled, “Not that I’m trying to drown you in praise.”

She quickly shook her head, doing her best to keep writing the note.

“Damn. Damn,” he smiled. Confused, Amy looked up at him.

“I’m really lucky to have you and Scarlet as friends, huh?”

A concerned whistle came from the pegasus.

“Not a crime to get a little sentimental, is it?” he joked. “I like to think that even in dire moments like these, it helps to lighten up a little bit, don’t you?”

She looked back down in confusion.

Locks sighed, “To tell you the truth, I’m absolutely terrified. What we’re doing tonight is the definition of insanity. So many things can go wrong if…”

Amethyst whistled sharply.

“I know. I shouldn’t think like that, but it bothers me a lot too. I just wanna help make Scarlet happy again. She deserves it.” He tilted the bottle in the other direction, his eyes hyper-focused on the material inside. “I’m scared, nervous, and anxious. Maybe it’s also the cold, but I’m shaking, wondering what’s going to happen after all of this has blown over.”

Amy rolled her head in thought. Calmly, she turned back to Locks, who broke away from looking at the potion. Amethyst, as calm as she could muster, blew out several short whistles in rhythm.

Locks gave her a huge grin. “Coffee? That sounds absolutely divine right now,” he cleared his throat. “Right. After this, we’ll all go out for coffee. We’ll talk and laugh and move on with our lives, smiling as we go. I wonder what I’ll be doing afterward…”

Another whistle.

“Well, I doubt we’ll be able to keep our jobs at the Agency after this. Gotta think about the future too, Amy,” he gave her a friendly tap on the head. “Steele will want us at the guillotine when we’re eventually captured by the guard. I don’t plan on becoming like Gemini for the rest of my life. It’ll all be worth it though, right?”

The brown mare gave him the most confident nod of the entire conversation. She turned to him, holding the scroll out in front of her with another quick whistle.

“Finished? Thanks Amy. You’re the best. Now,” he turned back to the potion. “This spell is interesting. I know you can’t see it, but check this out.”

Locks pointed her attention towards his hoof. He pointed down at the Agency. “I gave this spell a good look. Checked out its components and the like. This spell isn’t just a two-way street like I thought. It actually branches off.”

She gave him a curious toot.

Locks’ blue hoof jumped towards the direction of Canterlot Castle. “I can see a path extending from this potion. It’s sorta like a magical roadway of sorts. This baby sends messages through this pathway from the Agency and towards the castle, just like Mysty and I figured it did.” He then, suddenly, jerked his hoof far in the opposite direction, towards the bottom of the mountain the entire city rested upon. “However, there’s a third path that connects with both the Agency and Celestia’s castle. Check it out,” he gave a more refined direction with his hoof. “Ponyville Library. Twilight Sparkle’s temporary quarters.”

Amethyst ears perked up.

“Yup. That’s one of the biggest problems I had with grabbing this potion. Neither of us are unicorns, so I figured we’d have to do something absolutely drastic if we wanted to redirect this towards Scarlet, and none of us can do anything of the sort. We’d need unicorn power for that. However,” he looked back at the bottle, “If this baby directs straight towards Twilight’s locale, then we can just send it there. Scarlet’s living with her for the mission, so if Twilight gets it, so does Scarlet.”

Amy clacked her hooves together, giving another whistle before standing back on her legs.

“The only thing stopping us now is that we don’t want to accidentally send this to the Agency or the castle.” He grinned, “Or that’s what would be a problem, but that’s what I’ve been up to while you were writing the note. He pointed back at the mentioned locations. “I severed the link this bottle’s magic had between both the office and the castle, so now if we pour it on the letter, it’ll go straight to Twilight’s Library without any hesitation. Ready?”

The clouds around the pair shuddered as Amethyst lifted to her full height, Locks’ weight not bearing much stress on the mighty pegasus’ power. Locks held both the potion and the note in his hooves, carefully moving the cork off of the bottle.

Amy looked around, another quick whistle spurted out to Locks.

“Just a little longer, Amy.”

Another, sharper whistle.

Locks, his gut tightening at the distinguished sense of urgency in Amy’s call, looked up from his task. The clouds around them were spinning around, gaining speed with each rotation. Amethyst’s wings immediately flared to life, Locks doing his best to grab on to her sides with the note and bottle in tow.

“What is it?”

Their cover whipped around, dissipating in front of them, taking their only footing away from underneath. Amy and Locks gasped, the former widening her wings and bracing for a fall.

They paused, confused that gravity hadn’t decided to drag them back towards the ground. Amethyst lifted a single hoof, then brought it back down. A single clack echoed into the night, muffled by a strange, familiar sound.

“What? It sounds like stepping into a layer of snow…” Locks commented.

The view from the sky beneath them warped, turning pure white, contrasting the night sky. Amethyst cautiously closed her wings, dragging her forehooves against the floor to ensure that they were somehow on the ground.

Locks carefully slid off, landing with a thunk against the earth. He looked back up at the empty sky, with only the moon and the stars bearing witness to the pair. Out of the clouds, the earth pony was far warmer than he had been while hiding, but the chills rushing through his veins failed to cease.

“That’s not right,” the colt tensed up.

They were back in Canterlot. Central Plaza; A wide open space, shaped in a titanic circle that stretched for nearly a mile in all directions. Vendor stands riddled the edges of the plaza, wooden contraptions used in the market during the middle of the day, each one selling a variety of different goods ranging from food to clothing to tools. Buildings circled the outer edges, with small alleyways and larger paths leading off into neighborhoods and other major districts within the city’s borders. From the dead center of the plaza, one could expect to spot the castle far off in the distance. The layer of spell-infused snow covered much of the rooftops and stands at the plaza boundaries.

Locks and Amethyst were smack in the center. No coverage, no way to hide.

Hoofsteps approached from behind. Locks and Amethyst immediately jumped, turning around to meet the sound of crunching snow. Locks’ eyes focused intently on the growing, dark figure.

Her shadow exaggerated her short stature, but nopony alive could mistake that sharp, orange mane that draped over the entirety of her face, nor the bright, ivory fangs that hung from the sides of her muzzle. Her steps came to a stop several yards away from the pair.

“Hello sexies,” Jessica smiled at the pair. “I found you.”

Author's Notes:

Chapter 407 is gargantuan. I'll try having the rest of the chapters up as soon as I can. Ideally, they'll be available by the end of February. We shall see. Enjoy the read!

- G. R.

501: Vanishing Act

“Jessica,” Locks’ grip on the note and potion tightened, “You did a good job on the snowfall.”

The black mare gave a friendly chuckle. “You caught that, didn’t you?” She let a hoof swirl the snow against the ground. “I had to do something to keep a good eye on you. Couldn’t chase you immediately without orders, though.”

“Orders? You’re here on Steele’s behalf?”

She whipped her hair around. “You got it. Every bit of snow that’s fallen tonight was enchanted by my spell. I was able to trace where each flake was falling, and noticed that some of them never hit the ground right around here. Didn’t take much for me to hunt you down.”

“Tch,” the blue colt cracked a grin. “That’s damn near brilliant, Jess.”

“I gotta do what I can tonight. No room for mistakes.” She stretched out a black hoof. “I know you understand where I’m coming from. Now, if you give me the bottle and the note, then we can all just drop this and move on.”

Amethyst took a step forward, ahead of Locks. The blue stallion sighed, “You know I can’t do that, Jessica. I thought our little encounter at the office spelled out which sides we were on pretty clearly. If Steele ordered you to hunt us down, then I doubt that anything’s changed within the last half hour.”

“Oh sweeties, don’t make me beg.” Jessica’s eyes shifted towards the larger pony. “Amy. I mean, Lily. I know you don’t want to fight, right? I’d rather avoid anything like that myself.”

Amethyst’s expression softened, her eyes waning as the memories from her foalhood swept through her mind. A harsh, winter breeze came through the plaza, sweeping over and blocking half of her face behind her raven black hair. She carefully reached down, grabbing the shiny whistle hanging off of her neck. Clearing her throat, she blew a handful of strong, powerful notes into the air.

Jessica shut her eyes, her head lower to the ground. “Damn it. Please, don’t make this any harder than it has to be. I wish I could make the two of you really understand.”

“Scarlet is our friend, and she’s in trouble. For some reason, the boss, the Princess, and you all want to stop us. There’s nothing else left to understand,” Locks eyes twinkled. “We’re doing whatever we need to save her.”

“Spare this talk. I heard plenty back at the Agency,” Jessica flipped her head back up. “What a mess,” she looked up. “I can only imagine what might’ve happened if something had changed between then and now. If only anything in the last one thousand years could’ve been different.”

“Jessica.” Locks spoke. “We’ve dealt with so many criminals and mysteries in our careers at the Agency. I’ve spoken with and talked to so many different kinds of ponies that had done terrible, horrific crimes to others. Some of them were full of malice, others with the burden of their crimes bearing down forever on their conscience.”

“What’s your point, Locks?” Jessica’s horn cracked. “Ponies in your situation either fight or run. Entertaining me with anything else isn’t doing yourself any favors.”

“I’ve seen plenty of pony eyes struggle to hide the pain. I’ve stood here, deep in the snow for several minutes staring into yours.”

Jessica’s fangs poked out further. “I see. And tell me, Domino, what do my eyes say to you?”

“I see a sad little filly,” Locks eyes narrowed. “A pony… or whatever you are, alone and afraid. A creature so desperate that she’s willing to break all the rules to fill the void in her heart. Those lonely centuries, did they steal your sanity?”

“If my eyes were so easy to see past, then why did you do nothing all this time?” Jessica eagerly stepped closer.

“Because even now, I still feel as though I don’t know the full extent of your feelings,” Locks shook his head. “Conroy Justis never liked you, but only because he trusted his gift above all else. He allowed his judgment to justify his actions. Even though you’ve fulfilled every expectation he had from you,” he continued, “I never completely agreed with him. That’s why I seldom opposed to you getting so close to Scarlet, and why I never spoke up when you took her to Mount Ignis. I wanted to see if you could change my mind.”

“Is that really the truth?”

Locks nodded. “My ability doesn’t work like his. So, unlike him, who did his best to avoid you, Scarlet, Lily and I all got close to you. We wanted to understand you. To be friends. I wanted to know exactly why he despised you so much. All I ever wanted was to look into your eyes to gain that understanding.”

Jessica looked away in disgust.

“My only regret is that it took far too long to get that look that I needed. Conroy may have been in the right to be wary of you, but he also failed to give you the chance that you deserved.”

“The chance?” the lithe mare turned. “What chance?”

“The three of us, Scarlet, Lily, and I all consider you a friend. Mostly the two of them,” Locks shrugged. “I know the two of us have been at odds before, and if we all get through tonight together, we may be at each other’s throats too soon. But I still think that you deserve the opportunity to redeem that friendship that you seem so willing to bury in the snow.”

“I think I get what you’re saying,” Jessica looked back at Amy. “You want me to let you go through with your plan. For the sake of being my friends? For being Scarlet’s friend?”

“… Something like that,” Locks bit his lip.

Jessica let a small laugh crack through. “And here I hoped that you wouldn’t make this any more complicated.” She looked back and forth between the pair. “Look… I’m happy that the three of you are so willing to let all of this slide for the sake of our friendship, but… it’s just too difficult.”

“It’s not something we can’t work through together though, is it?”

“I’m afraid not, Locks. That’s why I’m here right now. If I were able to prevent any of this from happening to us, to Scarlet, then I would’ve already done it. But things didn’t work out like they should.” Jessica turned, her eyes trailing towards the east. “I grew up in a flourishing Dodge with a wonderful mother. I haven’t gone back since, but I’m no fool. I know what a wretched state that place is in.

“I remember it being so beautiful.” Jessica mind wandered. “Full of life from corner to corner. Gemini did an amazing job. To think that the two of us were so close. So very connected, and back then, when I would run around with Jackie in that town, I had no idea.”

“Wait, close to Gemini?”

“Gemini and I are linked by a delicate relationship. I didn’t discover it myself until I met her on Ignis. It’s a little sad, really. Just another one of those ‘what-ifs’ that linger about.”

“What exactly do you mean by a link?”

“It’s nothing you should concern yourselves with,” her horn started to pulse. “Just remnants of my foalhood.”

“One thousand years is a long time to keep yourself so secluded, Jess. I wish you’d have come out to us sooner,” Locks looked over to Amethyst. “And I speak for the three of us on that one.”

Amy tweeted a quick note agreeing with the colt.

“Thanks you two, but I’m afraid that it hasn’t been an option since Scarlet’s little trip.” The magic surrounding her horn started to stretch outward, encompassing most of her body with a faint tint of orange aura. “I’m done with your stalling too. Even if I didn’t want to do this, I’m now under official orders from the boss and the Princess to subdue you. I made a deal with them. I cannot go back on my word now.”

Locks took a quick look at the spell the unicorn was conjuring up. The winds started to pick up, swirling around the outskirts of the plaza. Pockets of snow slid around beneath them, specks of white lifting into the air and burying themselves deep into the ponies’ manes. Amethyst’s wings shuddered from the draft.

“Listen, Locks.” Jessica’s eyes came back down. The colt flinched at the sudden, eerie glow they gave off, much akin to the spark that would brighten his own irises. “Please, be a darling and throw away the note in your hoof. You two foals have no idea of the kind of power I’m truly capable of.” She looked back to Amethyst. “I’d hate to pound the two of you into dust.” Her voice softened as she took in Amy’s form, “Especially not you.”

Amy lost some of the confidence in her stance. She turned back to Locks, hesitant to stand her ground.

“It’s hard for me too, Lily,” Locks broke sight with the black mare. “Scarlet’s fond of her. I don’t want anypony to get hurt, but we have no choice if she won’t let us help Scarlet out.

“Besides,” he turned back to Jessica, “the Agency and the Royal Family have turned their backs on us. They clearly have the well-being of one of our only friends on the bottom of their list of priorities. We can’t leave Scarlet in Ponyville to suffer any longer. Not by herself.”

“By herself,” Jessica scoffed. “How ridiculous. The Elements of Harmony are there to support her.” She stamped against the whipping winds, the glow around her body spreading upwards like a spire. “I’ll only tell you one last time, detective: For Equestria, I order you to cease and desist!”

“The Elements are keeping her alive,” Locks tilted the potion, “but they can’t remove the darkness that’s been choking the life out of her. I don’t know what the hell you or Gemini did to her, but whatever it was, it’s finally catching up with her. I’m here to put a stop to it once and for all.”

Jessica’s eyes shot wide at the tilt of Locks’ hoof. The contents of the potion spilled over the parchment, sweeping around it like a hungry coil. The scroll was completely enveloped in a dazzling, gaseous magic that swept it clean out of the colt’s grasp. The parchment rolled itself up, neatly wrapped with a small thread keeping it together. It spun in place, rapidly increasing in speed before pausing, the head pointing in the direction of the small town to the south. The spell ignited, turning the entire scroll into a blur of light that fired off into the distance, free of all restraints.

Jessica held out a hoof, praying in vain that she could reach out and grab it from out of the sky, the tiny speck of light that it was. Her body was frozen with fright, trembling under the weight of what Locks had just done.

Locks turned away from the night, looking back to the orange maned pony. “Scarlet has been left in that oppressive darkness for far too long, constantly worrying about what her cutie mark was telling her, even though she knew that it wasn’t her true destiny. What she needs most of all right now is the shining light that comes from a true friend. A light that will guide her away from all of the pain and guilt she’s endured since she was just a child.”

The shock slowly subsided from Jessica’s face. She let her hoof back down, staring at the ground. Her legs spread apart, each one bracing against the ground in preparation for something fierce. The intensity of the magical aura encompassing her body multiplied, spreading outward. It painted the ground a bright orange, overlapping the layer of snow that covered the plaza. It shot through the entire center, stretching up against the sides of the buildings before rapidly shooting up into the sky.

Tendrils shot out from the edges of the spell, reaching out before curving into a gigantic dome that overlapped the sky several hundred feet above.

The aura quickly faded, becoming transparent, save for a shining residue that gave the dome a sparkling, mirror-like surface.

“Domino Locks. Lily Sheen. You are under arrest for treason against Equestria, and the assault of the Royal Guard. As an agent under the guide of Flex Steele, and as an upstanding example of the Agency’s creed, I offer you one final opportunity: Come quietly, or else I will be forced to subdue you by any means necessary. Make your choice.”

Locks and Amethyst took their stance against the winds and the spell encasing them within the plaza.

“We’re not afraid of you, Jessica.”

“You should be,” she broke out of her Agency-induced character. “I have eons of experience. I’ve already enclosed this area. No one can hear you. See you. Feel you. Nothing can get in or out without my say. You can’t escape from me now.”

“That’s fine. We’re through running.” Locks eyes twinkled. “Besides, even with the odds stacked against us, I’m confident in our abilities.”

“Funny,” Jessica’s hair started to flutter. “You’re giving me the impression that you can beat me.”

“Well,” Locks smiled, “That’s because I can.”

“ENOUGH!”

Jessica’s body popped, vanishing behind a veil of black smoke. The wind shifted, sweeping the plume away to reveal an empty spot in the road.

A sharp whistle rang next to Locks. His body was immediately flung to the side by his large guardian. Locks composed himself mid tumble, turning back to the spot where Amy had tossed him from. He caught the flashing image of the mighty pegasus, braced for impact. A magic spell bolted towards her, slamming into the side of her body full force.

“LILY!”

Amethyst’s body flew overhead, crashing straight into a nearby vendor. The wood splintered under her great weight, giving way to her body as it plowed through the structure.

Buried and sunken inside the remains, Amy lifted herself, dizzily shaking her head and kicking some off the debris from the top of her.

“Just as I thought,” Jessica’s voice came overhead. “I’ve always wanted to try it. Amy’s body really is immune to hexes and curses. Lucky for me that concussive spells are still as effective as ever.”

The pegasus huffed, tossing another plank of wood from the pile before jumping back to her feet.

“Well, as effective as hitting a brick wall,” Jessica mocked. “But even a brick wall breaks under enough pressure.”

Locks eyes sparkled as he looked up at the sky. “She’s hiding, but where? I can’t trace her voice.”

“Your Majesties!”

The two regal sisters snapped their necks in the direction of the new voice behind them. An elder colt, much smaller in comparison, followed suit, the three pairs of eyes anxiously waiting for the guard to continue.

“A large flux of magical disposition has just been discovered here in Canterlot!”

“Scrawl,” Steele immediately spat. “She must’ve found Locks and Amethyst.”

“Tell us more,” Celestia nodded. “Have you found the exact location?”

“That’s a problem at the moment,” the guard gulped. “The readings we’re receiving are erratic and scattered throughout the entire city. It’s clear to the unit that whoever is casting these spells is doing their best to remain hidden.”

“And how about a sky patrol? Have you sent out a pegasus squad?” Princess Luna beat her wings against her sides.

“The groups we’ve sent out to seek the location proper are coming back with negatives. We’re running out of options, but we’re prepared to send out a unit of the Royal Guard to inspect Canterlot at ground level.”

“Good work,” Celestia motioned over to Steele and Luna. “Ensure that you have our strongest unicorns out on the front lines. We must find the source of the interference as soon as possible. Valuable Equestrian assets are on the line.”

“Yes, my Princess,” the guard saluted before exiting the room in a haste.

The ivory ruler wasted no time. A scroll came flying up next to her, followed by a wet quill stained with ink at the tip. She scribbled up a letter before turning to Steele. “Come with me, Flex. Sister, you shall accompany us as well.”

“Where are we headed, Princess?” Steele cracked his neck.

“We’re leading the ground unit,” the letter immediately zipped off into the distance. “We’ll be meeting with the captain of the Royal Guard the moment we enter the city.”

“No way out, magic and pony be damned,” Locks eyes broke away from the barely visible barrier that shaped the gigantic dome surrounding the plaza. “Jessica wants us to stay in here until it’s all over. The spell’s potent. I don’t think anypony from the outside could even hear us, much less see through the dome.”

Amy tweeted again before looking back up at the sky.

“I’m doing what I can, but she’s moving fast,” the colt’s eyes, now glowing with a bright red that shimmered in the darkness, shot across the snow-blanketed ground. “She’s amazing, Lily: She’s constantly teleporting.”

Locks directed Amy to the furthest edge of the plaza with a hoof. “She just hopped away from there, but normally, I can spot a trail of disposition left behind by the cast. Jessica’s hiding so much of her trail that it’s near impossible to keep an eye on her.”

“And here I thought the great rookie detective was blind!”

Locks and Amy turned to the left. Another beam of orange magic came hurtling towards the pair, hissing as it burned through the air. The blue detective immediately stepped aside, dodging it before it could shred across his neck. The spell collided with a wall, rebounding like rubber before trailing back towards its target.

Amy, realizing that Locks would be unable to avoid the second wave in time, flew towards him, kicking up mounds of snow behind her. She stood in front of the colt, bracing herself as the spell came barreling down on her. It struck dead on against her chest, sizzling against her brown coat. The magic blanketed her body, letting out a malicious growl before evaporating.

“She’s still gonna be throwing those disabling spells out from time to time,” Locks eyes did their best to keep up with Jessica’s movements. “She’ll be focusing on me a lot more often, Lily. Just be ready to counter it next time.”

Another whistle.

“Don’t worry too much about me. I doubt Jessica’ll go that far. Just try to take her out. You still have your inhibitors on-hoof, right?”

The guardian gave her friend a nod.

“Me too. If we can just get one on her horn, our job’ll become much easi- JUMP!”

The pair hopped to the sides, rolling against the white streets of snow as another spell roared by, striking the ground where they had stood. Locks and Amy stared at the impact, the spell buzzing in place. It burst on colliding with the ground, sending out a large puff of black smoke that shrouded Amy’s vision.

Amy took a far more defensive stance, covering her body with her wings while flicking her ears in every which direction.

Locks’ ears immediately went to work, listening as hard as he could while his eyes still hunted for the perpetrator. A tiny reprieve allowed the smoke in the courtyard to clear away, drifting off into the sky as more of the snow-covered ground broke through. A round hooves could be heard from behind him, crunching in the snow. Locks turned around, his muscles clenched.

A tiny whistle chirped in response.

“Lily?” Locks tilted his head. “I can’t…”

The steps grew closer, to the point where the colt could feel the heat coming off of the massive mare he could sense nearby. His eyes, still staring in her direction, continued to wander.

“Lily, are you there? I think the smoke is messing with my eyes,” he shook his head. “I can’t make out a damn thing in this smog.”

Another reassuring whistle played, one that put Locks at a bit more ease than before. The body of the larger pegasus could be heard approaching ever closer, to the point where he could hear her breathing through the icy air.

Locks eyes pierced through the thin layer of smoke that drifted aimlessly at ground-level. His head jerked, hearing a vague, yet familiar sound nearby. As the blanket of shadows continued to clear, the sound traveling through the plaza began to carry with a far more recognizable sound.

“Lily’s… whistle?”

Locks panicked, turning back to the body next to him.

The impostor jumped at the detective without second thought, wrapping her legs around his side and refusing to let go. The two ponies tumbled into the snow together, Locks’ grunts carrying over to the other side of the area, loud enough to be picked up by his guardian.

“You should pay more attention, Locky,” Jessica’s voice called out from sky. The body wrapped around Locks started to pulse with a ferocious source of magic. “Remember who you’re dealing with. I’ll make you suffer for every mistake.”

Amy’s wings flapped about with mighty strokes, blowing away the blinding smokescreen around her. Her eyes darted from side to side, her body turning to try and find the source of Locks’ sudden cry.

Bright light pierced through the smoke. Amy caught a glimpse of it before being pushed back by a powerful shockwave. She tumbled over, quickly regaining her balance.

A loud, deafening pop erupted from the source, blowing away all of the smoke with another, far stronger force. Amy covered her face with her wings, planting her hooves against the snow to brave the sudden tempest.

In the gust, she caught sight of a familiar blue coat, being hurled against the blast. Locks shot right by her, falling hard against the ground with a loud whine of pain.

Jessica giggled, catching Amy’s attention from below. The brown guardian found her, the unmistakable unicorn perched on a nearby rooftop. The black mare was overlooking the scene with a smirk on her face, pleased at the damage she had caused.

With a stomp against the ground, the large brown pony launched herself into the sky, hurling her body straight at her target. Jessica’s smirk vanished instantly, her horn cackling with more magic. Amy clenched her teeth, her eyes homing in on the wicked mare holding the two hostage. She pulled one of her forehooves back, closing the last few yards with Jessica.

Jessica smiled at the sight of the pegasus, her hoof thrown carelessly in front of her with her eyes shut tight. The black mare strafed to the side, intrigued as the stronger, faster pony when whizzing through the sky above, balancing out before hovering several buildings away.

“Poor Lily,” Jessica spoke to herself, her magic popping from the tip of her horn. “She just can’t forget, can she?” The spell erupted in the sky, turning into a large ball of mass that spiraled towards the airborne Amy, who failed to react whatsoever to the attack. Jessica’s counter slammed directly into the large guardian’s chest, slamming her back down towards the ground. Her wings spread out, easing the momentum, but eventually failing to stop her fall. Amy fell down against the snow again, her eyes trembling.

“Don’t think I forgot about you, sweetheart,” Jessica turned her head across the plaza. Locks was busy dusting himself off. His mane was already in a mess, singed on the edges, but otherwise fully intact. A small trickle of blood ran down from his nose to the bottom of his muzzle.

Getting a lock on Jessica, Locks wiped the blood clean from his coat with a hoof. His eyes continued to glow in the night with the same, eerie red light.

“You’re quite sturdy,” Jessica closed her eyes with another chuckle. Magic poured from her horn, silently flowing into another mass above her. The two ponies focused directly on her spell, the earth pony below waiting to see what Jessica’s next plan of attack would be. “Suppose I’ll have to wear you down a bit more.”

Locks only offered his glare in response, taking a step back in response to the spell exploding in the sky. He waited for something to happen, his eyes scanning the entire area around him.

A glimmer of light poked through from the corner of his eye. He quickly turned to the source, immediately finding that same conglomeration of magic that Jessica had created hovering nearby.

‘Invisible!’ his body lurched. The air around him rippled, much like a stone against a still body of water. A thin beam of orange punched through the center of the oddity, barely glancing Locks’ tail before crashing against the ground. Locks turned back to the source of the attack, his mouth agape when he found nothing there. The spell sizzled against the ground, his ears flicking in response to the spell burning into the snow. ‘How is she? Not even I can see it!’

“No time to think,” Jessica pointed behind him. “Now dance!”

Locks caught another flash of light from behind. The same ripple tore through the air nearby, letting loose a stronger hex. Locks gasped, falling to his belly to avoid it. Before he could catch his breath, another came hurdling straight at him. He grunted, rolling as fast as he could to avoid the next one. The sounds of the spells melting the snow around him enveloped his ears, another light coming from directly above him.

‘I don’t understand. How is the spell moving without leaving behind ANY trace of magic?’ Locks ran backward. A row of rippling waves came rolling by, more spells breaking through space in a rhythm, all forcing him backward. The blue pony backpedaled as fast as he could to avoid getting singed.

He flinched as two conflicting sources of light caught his attention, one from each side of his body. He jumped to the side of the first, watching as the beam burrowed into the ground beneath him, but cringed as the other one darted straight towards him, with no way to avoid it.

The spell immediately reacted on contact with his fur, burning away at the top layer of his coat before burrowing through to his skin. The attack sent a painful, burning sensation running up through his body. He landed on his hooves before crumpling to the ground, wincing as the pain ate away at his concentration.

Another sparkle of light came through. Locks yelled, managing to barely pull himself away to avoid yet another attack.

He picked himself back up. Gasping for air, he glanced at his side. The spell had since vanished, but a small, bite-sized mark appeared as black as the night, staining his coat. He grimaced, quickly dodging another spell that pierced through from the invisible source.

The ripples in the air sped up, creating far more hexes than the injured pony was prepared for. He somersaulted behind a nearby bench, allowing the plaza arrangement to soak up several of the spells before running off again. Every time he tried to get closer to the building that black unicorn was perched atop, another ripple would force him away, towards a wall at the other end of the plaza, away from both his partner and his target.

Another beam clipped him on one of his hind legs, sending him into the snow. He fought against the burning sensation left behind by the attack, adrenaline carrying him off of the ground and back to jumping and rolling away from more of the spells.

He was heading straight for a wall, the beams ensuring that he couldn’t deviate his escape path. He made another attempt, quickly thwarted by another rogue hex that melted a mound of snow on the ground on contact. He turned around, his back against the wall, seeing only a path of water tracing the route he took to get there.

His eyes caught sight of a mighty ripple, one far larger than any of the others. It erupted, punching through the sky and soaring upward.

‘The spell she cast,’ Locks teeth clenched. ‘She’s going to throw it all at once.’

The magic spun around in midair, twisting and contorting before the glow of Jessica’s horn in the distance gave it a command. It nearly roared as it focused back at the cornered colt. With a leap through the sky, the orange mass of malevolent magic rushed down towards the detective, ready to scorch his body alive.

Locks reared himself up onto his hind legs, his eyes starting to shine far brighter than ever. “Enough of this!” he cried, angrily landing back on all fours.

From her spot on the rooftop, Jessica continued to watch, fully expecting this to be the end of her troubles. The spell was moments from crashing into the detective, and she was well prepared to hear Locks’ painful, defeated cry break through the silence of the night.

Her spell paused, hovering just above the colt. The arcane energy continued to burn and thrash about in the sky, succumbing to another entity’s control.

Jessica’s eyes shot open in disbelief. Locks was staring back at the spell with an intense, oppressive force. The attack’s wild form was tamed, the hiss it was making hushed.

A flash of bright light erupted from Locks’ eyes. The magical unicorn was taken back as her hex was ripped to shreds, torn piece by piece until it resembled an orange tinted vapor. Harmlessly, it floated away, leaving the colt completely unscathed by the attack.

“Was that…?” Jessica’s gaze couldn’t help but follow the powerful red glow right back to Locks’ eyes. She stared deeply into Locks’ irises with confusion, drawn to the glow by an alluring sensation. The stallion looked right back at her, the bridge connecting their eyes to one another fortified by the mare’s growing curiosity.

Her body couldn’t move, completely immobilized and entranced by his glare. Her breath trapped in her throat, she felt the rest of her vision, that of the plaza and of the piles of snow against the ground, fading into the background, leaving only the blue pony standing at the base of the wall.

Something was going on deep inside of the mare. She tried to pull away from the colt’s revealing eyes, but the pull of the crimson light kept her glued to him. Her body walked closer to the edge of the building she stood atop, the sound of her hooves against the rooftop completely muted from her senses. She panicked, feeling the bond between her and the detective grip at her tighter.

Her horn discharged a spurt of magic in resistance, the powerful mare quickly folding under Locks’ unknown power. A hoof jerked back, causing her to fall forward, her head dangling over the edge of the structure. Her eyes were still locked onto his, unable to break away.

‘Stop,’ she mouthed without sound. Her head was burning, a tempered fever rushing through her body and draining her strength away. She continued to resist, trying her best to destroy the connection she had to the detective. Her mouth pleaded again, without voice, in a weak attempt to stop whatever Locks was doing to her.

Her eyes twitched, and with a snap, Jessica shut them tight, breaking through the trance that her body fell under. The heated fever immediately went away, and her body quickly fell back into her total control. Gasping for air, she wobbled away from the building, mindful to avoid the bright, glowing light coming from the wall of the building so far away. Bringing herself back to her feet, she did her best to keep her balance.

“What the hell was that?” Jessica asked, making sure her eyes avoided his.

“The one thing I need to win this fight,” the detective’s icy breath flowed in the sky. “You felt it too, didn’t you?”

The unicorn stepped back towards his direction. She channeled magic into her horn, preparing to warp back to ground level to confront the detective.

Her horn remained idle.

Jessica looked up towards her extension. She focused her thoughts on the spell, focusing as the raw magic from the air swirled about the base, reaching up towards the tip. The magic ripped free from her grasp, providing a feedback that threw her back off of her balance. She tumbled backward, gently falling back on her backside, her mouth hanging open in disbelief.

“I can’t teleport,” she picked herself up. She looked back at the detective. “I CAN’T TELEPORT!”

The glow in his eyes finally faded, still providing a light that could be seen from Jessica’s spot on the building. “I’m sure you can figure it out.”

Jessica paused, doing her best to attempt the spell once again. She focused on the strands that kicked against her horn, refusing to cooperate with her whim. She paused, letting the magic fire back into the air. She took a deep breath before looking back at the detective, her face now full of intrigue over shock or anger.

Magic started to encompass her body once again, this time, lifting her off of the ground with ease. “Domino Locks. Incredible.” Jessica took flight momentarily, keeping herself afloat high in the sky. “It’s just like back in the office, but far more invasive than I ever imagined.” She landed with a delicate poise, fixing her hair before looking back in his general direction. “Is that what you see, Locks? All the time?”

Finally free from his corner, the cobalt colt started to walk towards the mare. “You picked it up pretty fast. Was it the heat rising from your horn?”

“I thought it was magic. Even after our little encounter at Steele’s office, I wouldn’t have been swayed from that view of your abilities,” Jessica matched Locks’ steps. “But it’s far more intricate than that, isn’t it?”

“Something like that.”

“Emotions, Locks. That’s what you see.”

Detective Locks only replied with a smirk.

“Emotions, combined with magical disposition, are used to generate spells for unicorns like me,” she marched on. “It’s what we use to remember our spells. We attach our emotions to them to empower them. To make them work.”

Locks’ eyes flashed red again.

Jessica cocked her head away, looking off to the side, resisting the temptation to stare back at the devilish red he emitted. “You can see emotions tied to the magic. Both in ponies, and in the disposition recycled in our atmosphere.” She stopped, looking up at her horn. “And above that, you can remove those emotions.”

“What makes you say that?”

“I still know how to teleport, Locks,” Jessica grinded a hoof into the snow. “I know what I need to do, but the emotion I attached to the spell… I can’t feel that connection anymore. It’s gone.”

Locks mimicked the wicked mare. “Are you concerned about it? Surely you can win without the need to warp around.”

“I’d like to have it back. What you did to me, is it permanent?”

Locks cleared his throat. “Perhaps. Try it again, maybe you’ll get it right this time.”

Jessica stamped her hoof. “I see you then.” She started to pull away, the magic surrounding her pulling her back into the sky. “It’s one hell of an inconvenience, but…”

Locks followed the mare into the sky. “But?” Through their talk, Locks could hear the sound of a pegasus’ wings flapping nearby. Amy came jumping towards him, stepping once more ahead of him and towards their target.

“Great timing, Lily,” Jessica welcomed her second opponent. “Locks, you’ve given me the perfect opportunity to try out something interesting. Something new.”

“New, huh?” Locks moved his legs around, preparing for anything Jessica would throw his way.

“When I lead Scarlet into Ponyville during the start of these investigations, I met a very interesting pony. None other than the Element of Laughter herself.”

“Pinkie Pie,” Locks replied.

“That’s the one,” Jessica nodded. “During Scarlet’s welcoming party, I caught sight of that mysterious creature. The way she was able to move around, the energy she exerted whenever she was around ponies. It was exhilarating.”

“Doesn’t sound too outrageous to me,” Locks brushed his mane out of his face. “She’s the Element of Laughter, anyways.”

“It was far more unique than that. Curious, I drugged up the entire party’s supply of drink. It made ponies go absolutely crazy with lust. My kind of party, if you ask me.” Laughing at the disgust on his face, she continued, her horn slowly building up energy, “I volunteered to take care of Miss Pie herself. She was becoming far too feisty with some nearby stallions.

“I took her away from everypony else, and while we were alone, I analyzed her. I wanted to see where that outrageous energy of hers came from.” Jessica looked down at the two ponies. “I only bring it up now because it’s so fitting, detective: Her emotions. Pinkie Pie’s emotions cause severe, magical fluxes deep within her personal disposition. What I saw at the party, that pure, joyous side of that pink pony gave her so much potent magic that she burned through her actions. It was absolutely fascinating to behold. An earth pony that couldn’t cast the simplest of spells, distorting magic on a whim.”

The magic in her horn stretched further out. “While away after the events at Ignis, I considered playing around with the idea of forcing severe emotional shifts during a spell, to see what would end up happening. It was far away from civilization of any kind, and the magic out there is raw and free. It was a perfect testing site.”

“Interesting, but what does that have to do with us?” Locks tilted his head.

“I failed out there in the wilderness.” She shook her head, “Not because I couldn’t gather the magic and use it. Not because I couldn’t shift my emotions like that pony could. It’s because, even in me, I couldn’t completely eradicate the emotion that I had used to learn the spells that I knew.” Jessica looked over, beyond the horizon and towards the north. “It’s a difficult task, something that I imagine even alicorns like the Princesses would struggle to master. Being able to completely remove an attached emotion from a spell just feels impossible. Not only that, but to attach a brand new, completely different emotion to those spells? It’s almost ridiculous. I couldn’t do it. However, that pink pony, with no concern for magic like a unicorn has, was perfect at it. She knew what to do.”

Suddenly, the black mare’s face stretched back into her signature smile. “However, you’ve just granted me the perfect opportunity.”

Locks suddenly realized what the crazy witch was up to.

“Now that I no longer have an emotional attachment to that spell, that knowledge is open. Ready to test. To experiment. Now, let’s see exactly what I can do!” Her horn erupted with the magic she had gathered.

Amy catapulted into the air as the magic dispersed, once again charging towards the persistent unicorn.

Locks’ glowing eyes caught sight of something below Jessica. The spell she had just unleashed was pouring downward, tucking itself within the shadow Jessica cast against the ground. Her shadow immediately revolted against the foreign substance, bending and breaking out of shape.

“Lily, move!”

Amy’s ear caught Locks cry. She looked over at Jessica, looping backward in the air as a black tendril ripped up from the ground in her path. The extension lashed about wildly, completely void of light and blocking out any sight Amy had of Jessica’s body. The tendril quickly wrapped around Jessica’s hind legs, gripping her tightly before violently reeling her in.

“Ooh,” she cooed, “That’s a new one.”

Amy and Locks followed as the extension dragged her into her own shadow, leaving nothing above the surface of the snow. The shadow jerked around before darting against the ground at an unprecedented speed.

Locks eyes flashed. “She’s still alive! She’s inside of her own shadow!”

Another tendril sprouted from the shadow, stretching up towards Amy. It rolled outward, tossing a small object into the sky. Amy flew away, avoiding direct contact with whatever had been vaulted into the air from the shadows.

It was a tiny doll in the shape of a pony, complete with a soft black cloth for the coat, and stringy, orange material for its mane. Buttoned eyes completed the package, creating a tiny, squishy replica of Jessica Scrawl. Amy cocked an eyebrow at the plush, now suspended in the air by its own devices. The tendril that launched it retreated back into the shadow on the ground, which quickly made for the grounded detective.

Amy blew into her whistle as loud as she can. Locks’ ears sprung to life, his eyes wandering around until he caught sight of the magic encompassing the shadow.

Locks ran around the plaza, doing his best to avoid the shadow that was creeping behind him at the same speed.

The airborne pony changed directions, beginning to drop down to help out her detective.

A flash of orange blinded her as the doll came swinging around in the sky, blocking her from the ground. The pudgy horn at the top of the plush’s head started to glow with an ominous orange glow.

Amy’s wings desperately fluttered backward to create some room.

The doll spun in place before stopping again, facing Amy with its cold, lifeless presence. Amy waited for something to happen, for a spell to erupt or a blast to come from the plush.

A sharp, orange needle sprung from the side of the plush’s head, nearly three inches long and sharp enough to scratch metal with just a nudge. The needle quivered in place, then, with a mind of its own, the needle angled itself facing directly towards Amy.

The needle punched off of the doll, whizzing right past the spot Amy’s wing was just in. She recovered from the quick dive she made to avoid the attack, turning back to make sure that the needle didn’t make a second round at her. She looked back to the plush with grimace in her face.

Dozens of needles sprouted from the plush, covering its entire body like a cactus. On an invisible order, the doll lunged forward, its forelegs stretched out towards the pegasus.

Amy gasped, immediately taking off in the opposite direction.

On the ground, Locks continued to run from the shadow that was creeping right behind him. Tendrils were starting to stretch out from the inside of the shadow, reaching out in an attempt to grab him. He climbed over another small vendor, whose structure was immediately ripped to shreds by Jessica’s puddle of wild tentacles. They ripped the entire foundation in two before speeding on after the colt.

‘I can’t find a way to look at her again,’ Locks ducked his head to avoid another swipe. The shadow bolted lightning fast towards him, only to speed by as he jumped away. The shadow ran up the side of the building ahead of them before ramming into the outer edge of the dome Jessica had planted earlier. Locks followed the shadow with his glowing eyes as it crawled on the ceiling of the magical dome.

‘What exactly is that? Jessica, you’re insane.’

The shadow hovered directly above him, hundreds of feet in the sky. Against the little cloud coverage they had overhead, Locks could barely make out the tendrils that were raining down towards him. One struck just inches away from him, crushing the snow underneath and cracking against the concrete buried below. The colt kept running away, his eyes peeled for any other sources of magic that could come rushing in from any direction.

A tendril fell down several yards in front of him, turning a sharp angle to face him head to head. It opened up, revealing a familiar horn inside of the shadowy figure. It fired a quick, concussive spell at his feet, throwing him off his balance. Before he could regain control, another tendril came from the side, side swiping him like a fly, hurling him through a mound of snow before he came to a stop.

Locks pulled his head out of the snow, coughing as the air returned to his lungs. A strange, whirring shot past him, and several needles shot through and landed half-inside of the snow right by his head. He cringed, looking back up at the skies.

The Jessica doll was chasing Amy around, the latter doing her best to shake the puppet to avoid its tiny missiles. Needles continued to spawn from the surface of the doll, which remained intact regardless of the needles that punctured its delicate cloth.

Amy jerked up towards the sky, forcing the doll to follow her into the clouds. The doll fired again, forcing Amy to take a hard turn to avoid ramming into the surface of the clouds ahead of her. She spun around in the sky, losing control after such a sudden twist. The doll immediately spawned more needles, launching them at the mare.

A single needle managed to finally connect, punching straight into her left foreleg. It jammed itself in, an inch or so still dangling from the outside. The guardian hissed out her pain before turning around to face the doll. Blood was already staining her hoof. She clenched her eyes shut, drowning the pain out to focus on her flying. Another spare needle whizzed by her ear, her eyes snapping open to see the doll still in hot pursuit.

She shook her head, taking off into the clouds once more.

Spells rained down back on the ground, all aiming straight at the detective. Though his agility and foresight with his eyes allowed him to avoid the spells, the tendrils were starting to wear him down. Another slammed into him, sending him spinning back against the ground. Small bruises were hidden underneath his dark blue coat, but his body was already crying out to him to cease the struggle against the powerful mare.

“What an unbelievable creature you are,” Locks couldn’t help but compliment her. “How many ponies would have enough magic and endurance to keep both Lily and I at bay like this, while also hiding it all under a veil?”

“Thank you Locks,” the witch’s voice came through the sky. “I’m as surprised by the results as you are. It’s exciting.”

“Well, I’m happy for you,” he spit. “Maybe perhaps you can make better use of it in the future.”

“Glad to see that you’re still so lively despite the situation,” Jessica laughed. “It’d really help me if you could just surrender already. The Royal Guard is already running around looking for you.”

“Not until Scarlet’s home,” Locks shook his head.

“Too bad.”

Locks caught sight of another tendril. He rolled out of its way, wincing at the pressure he put under one of his new bruises. He stood back up, doing his best to catch his breath.

Amy’s familiar whistle rang out in the sky. Instinctively, the detective jerked his head upwards.

Instead of his large, brown coated assistant, he was greeted by the falling black mass that had swallowed Jessica’s body. He couldn’t react in time, falling on his back as the shadow pounced on him. The black mass fell through him, creating a far darker shadow underneath him, with some traces of darkness still staining his coat.

He felt hair and hooves touching him. From the shadows, sprouted Jessica’s body, coiled and wrapped up against his own.

“Gotcha,” Jessica moved forward. She touched her nose against his own, bouncing off of him with a weak push. The darkness left behind by the mare ensnared him, pulling him against the ground like a powerful adhesive. The shadows flung about his body, coiling around him and each other like a horrific, tangled web. Speckles of the shadows ran up and down the web, like tiny spiders, crafting more and more of the shadows into the web-like substance, each bridge making the cage harder to pull away from.

“Dammit!” Locks yelled in frustration, watching as Jessica slowly trotted away, looking up at the clouds, hunting for his partner.

Jessica’s knees buckled. “It worked wonderfully, but it drained so much more than I’d have hoped,” Jessica complained. She took a deep breath, flicking her tail in Locks’ direction. “Now I just need to take Lily out and I’m all set to go, aren’t I?”

A tiny splat came from the sky, directly in front of Jessica’s hooves. She looked down at the source, her face unchanged. Her doll, barely recognizable, had been shredded into nothing but traces of its coat, mane, and with fluff strewn all about the surface. One of the button eyes was completely missing. She looked back up, her eyes glued to the pegasus responsible.

Amy’s hoof was still bleeding, this time, from more than one source. Several needles were busy nestled into the same hoof as the first. Amy landed on the ground, keeping her injured hoof airborne. She looked at Jessica with a deep scorn on her face, raising her hoof to her mouth. Jessica watched as, one-by-one, the guardian of the Agency slowly picked each needle out, wincing with every nudge that came from the process.

“Wow, Lily,” Jessica praised. “That’s… insane. Did you kick the doll?”

Amy spit another needle out of her mouth, looking back at the orange mane pony in annoyance.

“Wait... You did? Holy crap.”

Amy finished pulling the last one out, still doing her best to avoid contact with the ground on her hurt leg. Her wings beat against the ground, her legs slowly rising from the surface.

Jessica’s eyes narrowed. “I see. No nonsense, huh? Well then, now that Locks is out of the way, let’s have ourselves some fun.”

Amy shot straight at Jessica, who responded by immediately lifting herself high into the sky. Jessica fired several spells at the pegasi mid-flight, several of them colliding with the pony, but none of them managed anything but to slow the determined mare down.

The gap closed, Amy flew up against Jessica’s face. She pulled back her right foreleg, ready to kick Jessica’s face in.

“I saved your life.”

Amethyst immediately faltered, her kick missing completely. Jessica pointed her horn at her, firing a quick spell that launched Amy far into the clouds, the collision causing a puff of vapor to escape from the cover.

“Look Lily,” Jessica brushed her mane aside. “Sweetheart, I get it. You don’t want to hurt me after what I did for you.”

Amy cleared the clouds away, sitting on the surface of another one while catching her breath. She kept her injured hoof in the air. The bleeding was starting to come to a halt, but tiny droplets continued to fall to the ground below. She grabbed her whistle, and blew on it.

“Well, there is an easy answer,” Jessica shrugged. “All you two gotta do is come quietly. Just trust me with Scarlet. I can help her, and the charges against you and Locks won’t be as severe. In fact,” she moved closer to the mare, “If I pulled a few strings, I can get you off completely free, if you wanted.”

Amy’s whistle fell to the side. Her face was that of a filly who had just been betrayed. She stared at the black mare in the sky, her strong, purple eyes colliding with Jessica’s chaotic, orange orbs.

Amy threw her hair back with a swish of her head, holding it back with a hoof. She arched her head upward.

Jessica, in the heat of the moment, felt her stomach drop at the sight of the grisly scar left behind by Lily’s assailant those years ago. She let the unicorn stare into her scar before dropping her head and picking her whistle back up. She blew strong notes into it again.

“Clever,” Jessica sighed. “I did everything I could to heal your scar because I wanted to save you. Now, you’re doing the same for Scarlet?”

Amy shook her head once. She placed her bloody hoof against the cloud, wincing at the pain, but working through it as the discomfort slowly vanished. She blew into her whistle again.

“I’m supporting her suffering?” Jessica hovered back. She looked away, conflicted by Amy’s well-chosen words. “I… suppose that’s true. To some degree. But you don’t understand-”

The large guardian bore her teeth, her face immediately wrinkling into a permanent frown. She slammed her uninjured hoof into the cloud below, punching a hole clear through it. The cloud, unstable from her stomp, vaporized, leaving her to fly with her wings. Amy stared at Jessica the entire time, reaching around her neck to wring the whistle loose. She ripped it from her neck, snapping the wire. With an aggressive grunt, she threw it away.

Jessica watched the relic tumble towards the ground. It disappeared from sight after several moments passed. “No more games, huh?”

Amy’s response came with another powerful lift off, one that kicked all of her surrounding clouds into vapor on lift off. Jessica didn’t react, focusing on the pegasus’ expression, trying to see past the newfound determination behind her eyes.

“Come on Lily, I know you don’t want to do this,” Jessica assured the charging missile.

Amy cocked back her fresh hoof, ready to swing straight at the black unicorn.

Jessica’s expression came undone.

“Oh shit!” Jessica finally responded to the icy glare in the guardian’s eyes. Her horn erupted, lending to the mare a large, fortified bubble of space, coated in an orange tint that mirrored her horn.

The walls of this new space thickened. Amy rushed right up to the wall, her body turning with the preparation for her blow.

A single brown hoof came crashing into the dome of Jessica’s impromptu barrier, punching straight through it with ease, shattering it into tiny magical fragments. Jessica pulled away during the swing, barely managing to dodge Amy’s mighty kick. The impact with the barrier sent Jessica spiraling several yards away.

Jessica’s face spelled out her panic. Her eyes quivered, watching the last bits of her spell evaporate. She looked back at Amethyst, whose eyes refused to break away from the small mare.

Amy was locked on her prey, and there was no stopping her rampage.

The brown pegasus launched forward, disregarding all means of defense, rushing recklessly towards the idle mare. The wicked pony jerked back before her horn burned with strength. Though her magic was still incredibly powerful, not even Jessica could out speed the determined guardian charging down upon her. Amy jerked her uninjured front hoof back in a swift motion, readying her kick.

She fired forward, her hoof punching through the sky like a bullet. Jessica ducked at the last possible moment, her ears picking up a heavy swoosh carried by Amy’s might. Several strands of her orange mane lagged behind, being ripped from their place on the black mare’s head in an instant, spinning wildly into the night.

Amy didn’t pause. She continued to fly in a straight line, quickly shrinking as the distance grew between the fighters. Jessica turned around, confused by the pony’s actions.

A large blanket of clouds stood in Amy’s way, but not even the thick cover would stop Amy from her task. She spun in the air, twisting her body until her hind legs were facing the clouds. She crouched, colliding with the puffy material, her body shrinking into itself. With a wild grunt, she bucked as hard as she could, instantly turning the cloud behind her into dust. She tore back in the direction she had come, even faster than she had arrived, using the clouds like a slingshot to pull herself back towards Jessica.

The unicorn gasped, focusing her magic into her horn for another spell. Shadows reached out from the ground far below, reaching up and grabbing Jessica by the hind legs once again.

Amy’s hoof came swinging by like a bazooka. Jessica, captured by her own spell, could’ve completely avoid the swing, the very edge of the larger pony’s hoof clipped against her cheek. Even so, the blow forced Jessica’s body swinging back, the tendril thrashing with her to keep its grip.

The tendril pulled Jessica lower, the mare gasping for air, feeling a burn against her face. She reached up with a hoof, placing it on her face to feel something warm. She looked down, a thick, blue fluid flowing freely from her cheek.

“I can’t get hit. Absolutely not,” she looked back up. “She’s using the clouds as a we-”

She stopped, hearing a fast approaching pair of wings. The tendril spun her around mid-descent. Amy was already on her way straight at the mare. With a grunt, her spell hastened, forcing the tendril to painfully drag her lower. Amy whizzed by with a whistle, Jessica’s mane and tail pulled in the direction of the massive warrior’s path.

With no clouds at the altitude they had dropped to, Amy flipped around with a u-turn, her focus refusing to falter. Jessica spotted her path, charging her horn to counter her approach.

Something shined in Amy’s free hoof, glimmering against the moonlight. It was dark, so much so that it was impossible to make out in the night, and at the speed in which Amy was moving. The large pegasus shifted directions, jerking higher, facing directly above the pony. The light formed a large border around the mare that blocked out the rest of her body’s color. Then, with another lunge, Amy started to plummet directly at the wicked mare below.

The tendril rearranged Jessica’s body, flipping her so that her back was facing the ground. Her horn continued to charge when she saw the same glimmer in Amy’s hoof, this time, swinging towards her, ahead of the pegasus.

Jessica had no chance to identify it. The metal object came down on Jessica, slamming against her horn.

At that moment, the night pony’s eyes quivered with fear, the numbness in her horn confirming what the object was. Amy’s inhibitor, the very same one that she had used on Jessica so many months ago, slammed against the base of her horn with an oppressive thud, short circuiting the flow of magic. The spell fizzled out. The tendril that kept Jessica in the air disappeared as well, cringing as it let the pony go, leaving the mare completely open and suspended in the air, gravity slowly pulling her down.

The inhibitor bounced away, failing to lock around her horn, but the damage had been done. Jessica’s breath was stolen by the pair of concentrated purple eyes charging at her. Amy curled her body into a ball, spinning as she descended. As Jessica’s vision because a blur of brown fur and feathers, the guardian bucked out her hind legs with enough force to level a tree.

The double kick found its mark, sinking deep into the dead center of Jessica’s gut. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head, blood instantly firing from the back of her throat, feeling her body sinking rapidly towards the ground below. Her mind was in a haze, her world nothing more than fantasy in her head.

“What the-?” Locks raised an eyebrow as the webbings controlling him suddenly melted back into shadows. Confused, he picked himself up, dusting off his hair and sides. A loud clap erupted from the sky, pulling his attention away from his mystery. Jessica Scrawl was falling to the ground, from hundreds of yards in the air.

He stared at the lifeless mare, letting a small gasp through his teeth when he saw a spark of magic pop from her horn. He immediately ran over in her direction.

Jessica’s body, devoid of the sensation of touch or pain, continued to spin in midair, closing her distance with the chilly ground. ‘Teleport.’ She could feel the surface of the earth coming closer. ‘Teleport…!’

Her horn fired up, magic bursting from the tip with a wild fervor. Her growing shadow from the ground wiggled before another tentacle fired up, spiraling around her twisted body. It pulled, tightening and coiled around her, before dropping back down and into the shadow. It jiggled and bobbed, thrashing about as the momentum from her blow carried over to the tendril.

Another spark of magic ignited from within the spell, and the tentacle reached out again. A small bubble ran up through the base at the pool of the shadow, running up until the tip before it ripped open. Jessica Scrawl popped straight out like a cannonball, still tattered, carrying the same momentum she had when falling.

Now parallel with the ground, Jessica’s body slammed into it, the strength from Amy’s kick finally exploding around her. The force from the landing launched her back into the sky, dragging her mane and whatever snow her body scooped up with her. She bounced two more times before finally coming to a painful stop against hard concrete, its snow previously melted by one of Jessica’s own attacks.

“She… broke through the inhibitor,” Locks kept a close eye on her body. He felt his guardian’s wings beating against the air nearby, three hooves landing with a clop right next to him. “You realize that you could’ve killed her, right?”

Amy couldn’t respond, but her stoic focus was enough of a signal to Locks that she particularly didn’t care at the moment.

“The dome barrier hesitated, but somehow she managed to keep it up. It must be running on some of the disposition from the outside as well,” he took a step closer to the body. “She’s still alive though. Had she died, that dome wouldn’t exist.”

Sure enough, the small body of their opponent fidgeted, a loud, unladylike cough erupting from the distance. Jessica shuffled about in the melted snow, cringing and coiling into herself. A blue fluid was seeping from her mouth, dripping onto the floor from the tip of her fangs and her lower jaw. Her eyes were glazed, completely unfocused on the two staring her down. She pulled herself to her four hooves, gasping for air. She hesitated, trying her best to take a step.

She collapsed back onto the ground, holding her stomach with a spare hoof.

“It hurts,” she croaked out between gasps. “God it hurts.”

“Stay down Jessica, for everypony’s sake,” Locks commanded of the lithe mare.

She managed to lift herself back up, one of her hooves still gripping her stomach tightly. She was wincing with each breath, spitting another wad of blue onto the pearly white snow.

“Blue,” Locks eyes sparked. “… Magic. Again. Just like before. Raw magic.”

“I think that’s the first time that I’ve ever felt something so agonizing,” Jessica took a few steps before stumbling over, leaning on a broken vendor for support. “I’m not used to being hit at all,” she coughed again, her tongue lapping up some of the blood running down her mouth. “Much less from somepony like her.”

Amy snorted in response.

“… I don’t like it,” her black horn came to life. “I hate it.”

The magic wrapped itself around the mare, her mane thrashing about in the swirling mess of arcane magic. The blood seeping from her mouth vanished, the gloss in her eyes disappeared, and her hoof slowly removed itself from her belly.

“Magic like that is incredibly draining on your resources,” Locks pointed at the dome. It fizzled once more, weakening ever further. “Healing yourself helps your body, but every unicorn has a limited supply of disposition at their disposal. How are you gonna keep up with Amy and I at this rate?”

“Hah,” Jessica’s horn violently burned. “Me? Low on magic? What a joke!” She swept her head against the ground. A powerful surge of magic crawled through the ground, reaching over to Locks and Amy instantaneously. A bolt of magic fired wildly from Jessica’s horn in response to the sudden surge of power.

Locks gasped. “Jessica, no! Stop!”

Amy jumped in front of Locks, cocking her head in confusion, spreading her wings wide to protect her valued partner.

“She’s digging into her own personal disposition!” Locks shouted as the winds started to pick up. The clouds in the sky slowly twirled around, gravitating towards the center of building magic. Amy gave Locks another shrug.

“Unicorn magic burns disposition in the air to work,” Locks clenched his teeth. “Jessica is using her own personal disposition, the essence that keeps all ponies alive! Unicorn disposition is as strong as their magic, but using it as a replacement for the natural magic in the air destroys them from the inside out!”

The ground beneath the duo started to crack between them. “She’s insane! Jessica, stop!”

“Know your place, Locks!” Jessica whipped her head over towards the pair.

The earth ripped apart, a fissure separating Amy from Locks.Before either could react, a large, shadowy curtain rose up through the cracks, growing like a wave before crashing down onto Locks’ side. The cobalt stallion gasped, lifted by the current and thrown back into another vendor several yards away.

Amy jerked her head towards Jessica, now levitating off of the ground by several inches. She grunted, snorting out steamed air before bracing herself.

Jessica hissed at Amy, bearing her fangs. She raised a hoof, coaxing Amy to attack her.

Not that she needed to, Amethyst paid no mind to Jessica’s gambit, launching herself straight at the supercharged unicorn. Jessica’s grin stretched as the guardian stretched a foreleg back for a kick.

Jessica’s magic reacted with a frenzied sizzle, a small ball of orange appearing in front of the unicorn. Amy’s hoof came straight down towards Jessica’s face. The ball of magic jerked on reaction, throwing itself in front of Amy’s blow. Her hoof sunk deep, stopping just inches before touching the black mare’s muzzle. The sphere screamed, throbbing while a charge of light pulsed from the spell. Sparks fired from the back end, a testament to the sheer muscle behind Amethyst’s attack.

“Try again!” Jessica winded up her own hoof. She mockingly swung out, slapping Amy’s face.

Enraged at the coyness behind Jessica’s eyes, Amy jerked to the side, cocking back and throwing another kick at Jessica. Expectedly, the ball of magic pulled itself right in front of her blow once again, pushing back against the blow, becoming a tint brighter in the process. Grunting, the pegasus swung again, her hoof sinking once more into the spell.

“Oh, what’s wrong Lily?” Jessica scoffed. “You can break my barriers but you can’t get past a teeny tiny ball?”

Amy grunted through her teeth, starting to wildly throw kick after kick, the black imp mocking her between each attack. Frustrated, Amy pulled back before lunging forward for another punch. She didn’t spot the shift in Jessica’s shadow positioned right underneath her. A pillar of orange magic fired from below, landing square on Amy’s chest.

Amy’s blood was ripped from her mouth as the concussive blast launched her high into the sky, towards the swirling vortex of clouds. Shaking her head from the blow, she quickly recovered, spinning to launch herself off of the twirling clouds up above.

Locks, free from the attention of the devious pony, struggled to make his way around the large fissure that scarred Canterlot Plaza, speeding up after seeing his assistant get hurled up into the sky.

Amethyst reached behind her with her good foreleg, grabbing a tuft of cloud. Like a spring, she jumped from the vortex, hurling herself straight back towards Jessica, who was waiting for the adamant pony’s counter attack.

“Headstrong and stubborn in battle. If you weren’t so strong you’d have been dead long ago!” Jessica taunted, readying herself.

Amy winded her hoof up, firing the small chunk of cloud at the black mare. It softly stopped just feet behind her, innocently bubbling in the air.

“What was that!?” Jessica busted out laughing.

Amy turned in the air, repositioning herself to fly straight at Jessica. She spun in the air, throwing her hind legs out like a spear. Jessica easily twisted out of the way, giggling the whole way.

Her laughter came to a sudden halt when she turned around to the sight of the brown pegasus, all of the momentum in her charge being absorbed by her springlike hooves against the tuft of cloud she had thrown earlier.

For the third time, Jessica’s eyes shot open. Amethyst thrust herself against the cloud, and with only inches separating the two ponies, rammed into the tiny unicorn with a vicious head-butt right up against her chest.

All of Amy’s momentum was thrown straight into Jessica, who went flying away towards a nearby wall.

A tendril reached up from the ground, swallowing the injured unicorn just as before. Amethyst landed, watching as the shadowy pool on the snow shifted with the momentum. It darted over towards the spot Jessica had been when she was struck, sending out another tentacle.

It was Amy’s turn to gasp. The tentacle lurched before spitting out a furious unicorn. In her hoof was the small sphere of magic that Amy had been pounding on for the last few minutes. Jessica’s momentum didn’t change, charging straight towards the brown mare. Amethyst jumped to her hind legs, unprepared for the sudden shift in motion.

Her eyes caught onto Jessica’s, the latter quickly throwing the sphere out in front of the pegasus’ face. The ball of magic pulsed in unison with Jessica’s horn.

Locks turned, finally reaching the other side of the fissure that separated him from his partner. He arrived at the scene just as a large flash of light exploded from the sphere in Jessica’s hoof.

“This is how much you hurt.”

Her horn popped violently, the sphere following in tow. It exploded into a wide radius, enough to envelope the entirety of Amy’s body. A tremendous force tore into each and every inch of Amethyst’s body, crushing her underneath a frightening level of power that nearly snapped her bones apart. A cataclysmic boom erupted from the point of impact, akin to that of a keg of gunpowder.

Locks followed the remains of Amy’s body as it tore through the sky. Her massive size easily shattered a pair of vendors that stood in her path, the debris ripping into her with extreme prejudice. She crashed headlong into a shop on the edge of the dome, disappearing behind a veil of snow, dust, and feathers. A loud crash followed as her body crashed through the shop, an echo of glass and wood breaking beneath the force of the blow. The front of the shop gave way under the damage her form caused, collapsing into the ground and burying the mighty warrior underneath the rubble.

His breath lost to him, Locks stared at the hole in the shop. Never before had he seen such a frightening amount of brute power being released in one moment in time. It was deafening. The sound of the attack left a ringing in his ears. He stayed glued to the ruins, waiting for his partner to react, to kick out from beneath the wood, ready and primed for more action.

There was nothing but the ringing to accompany him while he waited. He could feel the air running through his body again, slowly breathing, and processing the horrific image of his friend’s body being tossed into the snow covered tomb. Amy’s body didn’t rise for what felt like eons.

His eyes started to glow. Underneath the rubble, he could spot a small bundle of magic. It was weak. Too weak. As the dust settled, Locks could make out what looked like a hoof. It dangled lifelessly underneath a broken bench, blood dripping from the coat of her foreleg.

A wretched voice, uncaring to the damage and pain she had just caused, came from behind. “One down, one to go. How are you going to take me down all by yourself, Domino?”

Locks slowly turned his head to face the demon that destroyed his partner. His eyes burned with the intensity of a star, infuriated at the blow the mare so callously gave to one of her own friends.

Jessica collapsed, rubbing her chest. Her horn fell silent, the swirling clouds up above dispersing back into a regular pattern against the sky. The tendril retreated back into her form. She exhaled, feeling several droplets of blood dropping from her jaw once again.

“I got careless,” she flinched, falling to her haunches. “It still hurts. Both of them.”

“I can take you down as you are,” Locks snorted, grinding his teeth together. “We can both see it. Lily leveled you. Just take a look.”

Jessica followed his hoof back to the dome. At the apex was a large crack, slowly being tended to by more of Jessica’s rogue magic.

“You’re reckless, Scrawl.” His eyes burned bright crimson. “You even exhausted a large portion of your own disposition to do it. How you’re still standing is beyond me, but you’re broken. You’re broken, and that’s all I need to take you down for good.”

“Broken? Don’t be stupid, Locks. I’ve still got plenty of tricks left.”

“But how far are you willing to go? For Scarlet?”

Jessica spat out another driblet of blood. “Everything if it means that I get to Scarlet.”

“Doesn’t that sound familiar to you?” he focused his eyes on the unicorn.

Jessica’s gaze jerked away from the colt at the realization of what he was trying to do. “Nice try. I’m not falling for that one again.”

“You might’ve killed Lily, Jessica. She could be dead underneath all of that rubble. I can barely make out her disposition underneath it all.”

“It’s… a necessary risk,” she looked away.

“You’ve disobeyed your country, Scrawl!” He stomped. “You might have killed our friend! Scarlet’s friend!”

She remained silent, taking his verbal lashing.

“Killing one of your own friends… you’re a horrible creature, Jessica Scrawl.”

Her fangs extended from her mouth, her blood starting to boil at his words.

“What would Jacqueline say?”

Jessica’s head jerked straight back at the colt, fury burning away in her glowing, orange eyes. She stared directly at him, into his tormenting eyes. “DON’T YOU DARE SAY THAT NAME!” She yelled. “YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT!”

She couldn’t break away. It wasn’t until a powerful, surging numbness took hold of her body did she realize what she had done.

“NO!” She cried, her horn resisting Locks’ magic. It shrieked with energy, building up a mass of magic within the tip. With a thrust straight at Locks, she fired.

The spell barely left her horn before it exploded in the air, throwing her back several feet.

“Princess! Look! Over there!”

The grand ivory alicorn jerked her head towards the smaller, gray colt ahead of her. Princess Luna followed the motion, as well as the platoon of guards at their disposal. On the other side of town was a large dome, covering a massive portion of Canterlot from view. It flickered, generating a large magical feedback. A crack, visible from the top of the spell, stretched across the dome, cutting it into fragments. Before it could shatter, it flashed, disappearing from sight once again.

“Canterlot Plaza,” Celestia narrowed her eyes. She turned her head towards a Royal Guard member, adorned in a gold trimmed armor with purple plating surrounding his chest and back. Atop his head was a helmet, matching his outfit with a combination of gold and purple, his large, white horn exposed from the center.

“Get your troop and hurry over there as fast as you can. Break that barrier.”

The guard nodded his head, shouting a command as his entire squad launched into the skies. Steele, Celestia, and Luna followed cautiously behind the troops.

“Unbelievable,” Locks’ eyes faded back to their natural state. “She was able to break away. Again.”

Hoofsteps approached from the smoke. Locks could make out the form of her small body as it broke through the haze, her head down to avoid eye contact with the stallion.

“Why?” she panted, wiping more blood from her nose. “Don’t you just stay down? It’s for the best. I promise. I must get to Scarlet. I need to.”

“No,” the colt stared down at her. “Early this morning Lily, Mystery and I agreed that we wouldn’t look back when we decided to defy the Agency. We knew the risks going into this, and now, at this point, we’ve gone way, way too far to even consider backing down.” He looked behind Jessica, towards the direction of the small town miles away. “The letter’s been sent. We’re so close. Once we get past you, it’s over.”

“God dammit!” She stamped her hoof against the ground. “I’m so fucking sick of this shit!” She pointed her horn directly at him. “No more! Just… no more!”

Locks watched as more of her essence seeped into her weapon. “Channeling more of your own disposition? Jessica, please, for your sake…”

“NO!” She shouted. “You just finished saying that you’ve come too far to back down. Well, so have I.”

The spell in her horn turned violent. The orange hue that naturally colored Jessica’s spells faded, instead replaced by a far more threatening black. A deep color that contained not even the slightest trace of light inside.

“Jessica… you’re….” Locks eyes dilated.

The spell ripped from her horn as a thin, potent beam of energy. It whizzed right by Locks, the shell-shocked colt barely snapped to the side in time to evade it. The spell traveled onward, colliding with a building’s wall before fizzling back out.

Terror was spelled out on his face. Sweat, ran down his muzzle, his slow breath coming out in hurried puffs. The heat from the fight went completely ice cold, his hooves glued tight to the ground.

“Black magic,” he practically whispered, fear finally taking hold. “That spell would’ve killed me…”

Jessica fell to her knees, feeling the painful side effect of burning through her reserves. She gasped and groaned, looking back up at Locks, this time looking him square in the eyes with no regard for his abilities.

“It’ll all be worth it.”

The cold swept up against his face, snapping him back to attention. His breath was visible in the night again, the temperature around the pair dropping down significantly. “This is just like back at the office…”

His eyes, still shaking and unfocused, caught traces of magic from all around him. They were shifting, moving away from their natural place and slowly dragging towards the mare in front of him. Disposition from the air gravitated towards her, the clouds unfolding on the scene. The snow and the portions of concrete below faded in color, combining into a mashed gray color that was devoid of life. Locks peered down at his own body. Traces of magic that littered his coat were slowly being pulled into the center of the black witch’s body.

Even amidst the rubble where Amy rested, Locks could see magic trickling through, leaving behind the same faded colors of the world. Several bits of wood fell over from the pile, a twitch of Amy’s hoof the only response to the phenomenon.

His world, colored in a lively blue, was slowly turning black.

Jessica’s eyes were pulsing a sinister orange color. The blood she was leaking was soaking back into her coat with a nasty sounding suction. The magic of the surrounding environment slowly channeled into her body from all directions, feeding her. Nursing her body.

“It’s all flowing into her…”

“It’s just like in Dodge. All those years ago,” Jessica reminisced, looking up to the drained skies. The dome overhead was cracking more and more, her body eating up all of the remaining power it had left. “Let me tell you an interesting, short story, Locks.”

She took a step forward, towards the blue colt. “When I was just a filly, growing up in that blossoming environment that Gemini cultivated, I was under the watchful eye of my dear, sweet mother: Jacqueline O’Curbi.” The color in Jessica’s mane and coat grew brighter, full of life and energy. “She let me play with the other foals in town, just like any ordinary pony would. It was a happy life, free of many of the worries I deal with here in Canterlot. It was a comfortable life.”

The black mare shut her eyes, retracing ancient memories. “One day, I was with a few other fillies. The bunch of us were hooligans at times, breaking the rules because of how exciting it was. I loved doing it. It made my heart race, and it was so exhilarating to feel that kind of adrenaline pumping through my body.

“We fillies decided to play along the railroad tracks that had been set up by the train station. We didn’t know any better, and thought it’d be a fun experience, just like all the others.” She took a deep, relaxing breath, shaking her mane free. She looked just as she did before their battle had begun, coat cleaned and shimmering in the night, fangs glistening, and her mane bobbing with eccentricity.

“It was fun… until we heard the blare of the train from the distance. We panicked, and the whole herd of us ran over to the train station for safety. My hoof… it got stuck against the side of the tracks, and I fell over. I couldn’t pull myself free.” She looked down, analyzing her midsection. “It was pretty far to the station from where I was, and nopony looked back when I called out to them. I was left alone on the tracks, trying desperately to pull myself out. I was scared, and the scream of the train grew closer the more I pulled.”

Locks took a step back to match Jessica’s advancing figure.

“The last thing I remember is seeing that giant, mechanized beast. It turned the corner screaming, drowning out all of my senses. Everything after that… just a blur of pain. Nothing more.

“But then, despite how dire my situation was, my eyes snapped open,” her figure paused. “I was on the side of the tracks, alive and well. I was completely perplexed. I had no idea how I managed to avoid such a horrific death. I slowly got up, and ran away, back to the station, where I met all of my friends once again.

“When I got back to Dodge, everything was different. Nothing looked different, but everything felt as though it had changed,” she dragged a hoof against the faded ground. “The color of the sand was never the same as it had been. The buildings looked as though they had aged, and for some reason or another, unicorn magic became far more difficult to muster out there.”

She continued, “When I grew up, I left to Canterlot, and never went back. Imagine my surprise when I found out that it’s nearly a ghost town, occupied by only a hoofful of farms and a tiny population. Something big happened to both me and the city on that day. I felt it in my body the moment that train tore into me.

“I died that day, Domino. Yet, despite that,” she presented herself with the wave of a hoof, “Here I am, as lively and energetic as ever.”

“Jessica Scrawl,” Locks eyes continued to burn. “The magic of the area… you absorbed it. No creature I’ve ever met before has had such an ability… what are you?”

She put her hoof to her mouth, hushing the detective. “I’m a unique thing. I’ll say that much. All I know is this: I cannot die here, Locks. My body feeds off of the disposition in the atmosphere in dire times. You ponies and your magic give me life. That is why I cherish it so much!” The black pony finally broke into a smile. “Don’t you get it now? You cannot possibly win! You can’t stop me from feeding off of more magic, and even somepony like you, Steele’s greatest asset to his little club, has a limit to his strength!”

Locks remained silent.

“So please, surrender to me. It’s pointless to continue.”

To her surprise, he shook his head with just as much reassurance as before. “I can’t do that, Jessica. Nothing will change it except for Scarlet’s safe return to Canterlot.”

“Domino!”

“Nothing will stop me.” He braced himself. “Everypony has a weakness. I know what yours is. Not even you are invincible, Jessica.”

“You…” she looked back at the ground. Her hoof started to tap against it impatiently. “What’s your problem?” Her hoof pounded the ground harder. “Why do you have to make it so complicated?”

Her horn started to charge another spell. It quivered with its typical orange aura, before coating itself in the black magic that Locks identified immediately.

His heart felt as though it was about to rip out from his chest.

“You damn idiots. Ignorant. Stubborn. Naive!” Jessica called. “I’m running out of time. I can’t be dealing with your bullshit any longer!”

Locks crouched low to the ground.

The beam fired directly at him, the colt again managing to scrape by without getting touched by ducking underneath it. A portion of his mane was ripped right off as the spell brushed by.

Jessica’s horn whined, the intensity of the spell still burning away at her body. The menacing aura around her horn quickly changed back to its natural hue of orange, charging into the ground around the colt. His hooves vibrated against the rumbling ground, snow falling through growing cracks around him. A shred of orange flared out at him from under the surface of the snow covered plaza, tossing out a large chunk of the land at a sharp angle.

Locks tumbled in place, darting to the side, picking up speed while charging through to Jessica. She winced, gathering herself before jumping back several feet, firing more spells through the snow as she retreated.

‘She’s exhausted. Her black magic is losing consistency,’ Locks stumbled over a step in the ground, nearly tripping over himself. He straightened out, gasping when he caught another dense charge of devilish black magic charging at him from ahead. He pulled his neck back, feeling the heat from the spell burn under his neck. ‘Firing wildly.’

Locks’ knee buckled with another step, fatigue starting to overcome his own adrenaline rush. Jessica’s spells wildly combed the land, causing more formations to pull and push under the blanket of white. Several strands pulled towards the sky, against the cracked dome blocking them from the outside world. The dome cringed under the weight of the spell, but didn’t give way as several familiar tentacles sprouted from the ceiling. They came barreling down on the detective, several slamming into the ground where he stood with an oppressive, terrifying force.

He pulled ahead of the tendrils, catching another spell that created a tremor under-hoof. His vision quaked wildly, his balance lost as another spell came buzzing straight at him.

The portion of cement under his body caved in from the miniature earthquake the mare-devil caused, pulling him under an inch. The incoming spell rammed right into his face, blinding him with a bright blue light and tossing him back some feet. He quickly rebounded, throwing his face every which way with a grunt.

A high-pitched ringing filled his ears, his sense of touch crippled by what he found to be a numbing agent in the spell. He struggled to focus on his target, only visible by the strong blue outline of a mare in his vision. With a growl, he lifted himself from the small crater in the ground, bounding back onto the snow and charging straight for the black witch.

The distance was growing as short as Jessica’s patience. Her frustration capping out, she fired another thick wave of magic at the colt, aiming for the area underneath his feet.

Locks eyes pulsed, his fiery red gaze illuminating the area around. Jessica turned away, making sure she was looking nowhere near him, but still able to spot him in her peripheral vision.

His irises were focused on her spell, contorting it mid-flight. It twisted in midair, its color bending, transforming into a new hue. Jessica, catching the act, gasped when her typical orange aura flashed into a bright green. The spell sharply turned, hitting the ground with a splash of covering smoke.

Jessica’s hooves planted themselves deep in the ground, her horn crackling maliciously. She fired several rounds of black magic into the plume, sweat bleeding off of her forehead.

A pair of large, blood-red irises crashed through the smoke, falling straight at her from the air. Jessica lost her control, swinging her horn upward at the colt. Locks’ hoof swung down hard against her forehead, spinning her head to the side and avoiding any magic spells she could have primed.

He collapsed on top of her, the pair crashing into a heap against the snow. Pellets of packed, frozen moisture kicked up into the sky while they struggled to overpower one another. They rolled further from the site, tumbling, grunting, and swinging hooves at each other’s bodies wildly, turning the fight into an all-out brawl.

They tumbled their way towards the broken shop where Amethyst was downed, finally coming to a stop. Jessica, with a gut-wrenching yell, hoisted Locks off, his body plopping right behind her. She struggled to her hooves, hearing the detective doing the same thing. A rogue blue hoof charged into the back of her knee, forcing her to buckle under the force. Another grabbed her by the chin, pulling her head straight up.

She was lifted right into a set of burning, shining eyes just inches away.

The two stood as one, absorbing every detail from the other’s eyes before the silence that now surrounded the ponies was broken by the little black mare.

“I didn’t know you could do that…”

“I wouldn’t give away my secrets that easily, Jessica.” Locks failed to blink. Jessica was trapped.

“Changing magic to obey you though? That’s beyond being an artifact, Domino.” She slowly breathed out, a bit of a shake in her voice. “All of this mystery about me and my past. What about yours?”

Locks let her question sink in for a moment. “I won’t lie about it Jess. I’m a very special pony. Perhaps in an alternate reality, I could’ve shared more with you, but not here.”

Jessica gulped. Her eyes narrowed, a clashing of both anger and defeat swelling in her mind. “You caught me. I can’t look away, Domino.”

“I know. It’s over.”

Jessica’s orange eyes started to twinkle. Tears were building up at the base. “Yeah.”

“I’m sorry Jessica. Had it not been Scarlet…”

“I get it.”

Another pause. “Do you know what happens now, Jessica?’

“… I think so.”

“Then tell me,” Locks moved closer, their noses squished against one another, eyes as close to each other as possible.

Jessica hesitated, feeling a warmth invading her mind. Her horn was burning. “I don’t know, Domino. I thought I understood your power, watching you tonight. I feel like anything can happen.” She let out a chuckle.

“Laughter? That’s a unique response.”

“What else can I do?”

The cobalt pony gave a deep sigh. “I can alter emotional bridges with spells. They’re only temporary if I so choose them to be.”

“If you choose?” Jessica’s voice strained, becoming more submissive.

“I’ve only ever done it once. Maybe twice. I can make it permanent.”

What little color remained in Jessica’s expression was gone. “Permanent?”

Locks nodded. “You’re a menace, Jessica. I can’t let a pony as strong as you are wander about Equestria. Not with the lack of control you have. You could’ve killed Lily. You tried to kill me five times.”

“Please…!”

“I’m going to remove every single emotional bond you have to your magic. You’ll never perform a single spell again.”

“Domino, please!”

His eyes started to flash, nearly blinding the helpless black pony. “I’m sorry Jessica, but this is how it has to end. You’re finished.”

“DOMINO!”

The ponies’ faces were enveloped in Locks’ bright light, shining through and obliterating all of the shadows nearby. It swept over the broken shop, illuminating the pile of shifting rubble.

The broken wood and rock slid down into a smaller pile, revealing a bloody, bruised Amethyst underneath. She gasped for air, throwing her body out and onto the pile, stretching her wings to ensure that they weren’t horribly damaged. Silently, she looked over to the source of the light, spotting both Jessica and Locks facing off. She sighed, knowing that the end was near.

Locks ears flickered with the sounds of the mute in the back. “Thank Celestia. Amy’s alive.” His gaze petrified the poor unicorn beneath him. “You should consider yourself lucky.”

Tears streamed down Jessica’s face, pouring down and creating multiple rivers that ran around her muzzle. She could feel Locks’ presence inside of her. Invasive, uncaring, and methodical. It dug deep into her core, her heart, searching for that unique link between creature and magic, with only the intention to destroy it.

Jessica was actively sobbing, Locks doing his best to avoid blinking, to ignore the painful sounds of the broken mare. He could feel her emotions growing stronger within. Those very emotions that tied themselves to the magic she had mastered over her thousand-year spree. Her feelings weren’t extraordinary, a sobering thought, perhaps even a depressing one, to Locks. Strip Jessica of her rank at the Agency, and of her notable history with the Princesses Celestia and her connection to Gemini, and she was just an ordinary unicorn pony. Happiness, sadness, anger, and hope were recognized here, just as they had been in the other ponies Locks had pried into. They were swollen with energy, much like their mischievous host, who used her abilities for the common good, helping the Agency stop criminals day by day.

Locks felt the guilt ride up in his gut. He remembered the sad, sick red mare in Ponyville, suffering because of Jessica’s manipulation. In pain because of the truths that remained hidden behind the horrific cases the four ponies pursued together. He couldn’t forgive her, no matter what benefit she provided for their pony society.

“Magic… it’s all I am,” he heard her weeping. “It’s all I’ve ever been attached to.”

A surge of powerful emotions overwhelmed Locks as he reached closer to her core. The disposition resting inside of her that empowered her magic. He reached towards it with utmost caution.

A horrible lurching feeling of regret washed over him. It was a gate to her heart. A sweeping feeling of remorse for a horrific crime. Locks peered deeper into the emotion.

Two still, insect-like eyes stared back at him. The creature, devoid of a soul, looked at him without budging an inch, its mouth agape.

“It’s all I’ve ever been,” she sobbed.

Another gate rushed through him. It was positively bright and upbringing, an emotion that completely overpowered the one previous. He felt as though he was reliving the memory attached, seeing a fragile black hoof stretching out towards a warm, smiling face. The pony bearing down on the memory smiled, her bright yellow coat and sweet, ravishing jade eyes looking down at what seemed like a miracle.

“Do you see me now?” Jessica asked the detective, knowing in full what Locks was witnessing. “I’ve worked towards what I am. Who I am. Whatever the fuck I am. I’ve worked on it for one thousand years. All in preparation for tonight. For Scarlet’s sake. For everypony. I can hear it crying out to me Locks! The voice that wants my help! Only I can save it!”

‘That voice again. She mentioned it before,’ Locks let his attention falter for a single moment. “Enough Jessica. I’m almost there.”

“Domino,” her voice weakened, the realization of what was about to happen finally accepted. Tears were freely flowing down her face. Finally, the mare was broken. “… Do what you wish.”

The stallion felt his way up to her center. There was one final resistance there, waiting for him to unlock it. He reached out one final time, ready to eradicate the menace to his friends.

The gate lashed out at him.

A wretched face appeared. For only a split second, but its impression was permanent. It imprinted itself into Locks’ memory: A bloody mess of a pony, screaming at the top of her lungs, ripping her throat out with her voice. Her face was wretched and sunken, her eyes frighteningly baggy. Her yellow eyes were embracing a terrible fate, a sense of betrayal devouring her soul from the inside out.

Jessica saw a change in Locks eyes. The intensity he had been bearing down on her had stuttered, the colt stunned at the gruesome, heartbreaking sight.

A tear started to form in the detective’s eyes.

“Not that one…” Jessica moaned.

Locks had stopped, afraid to get any closer to the core of Jessica’s magic. Stunned, hooves cold against the snow, breaking out in another cold sweat. His tears were building up in his eyes, terrified of what remained in this stunning unicorn’s heart.

Jessica’s horn fizzled, resisting the throbbing blood stare.

“Jessica…” he muttered. “What…”

A spell started to form at the tip of her horn.

The pair’s ears flicked. Another set of hooves were charging at them. Something was changing.

“You can’t take it away from me,” Jessica whimpered.

“It’s too much… Jessica.”

“What would I be without my magic?”

Locks’ tears streamed down his face, his body out of his control. “Jessica… why didn’t you ever say anything?”

Her eyes widened. “I couldn’t…”

“Why not?” his voice fell deathly quiet.

The spell at the tip of her horn shrank down to the size of a small marble.

“Magic… it’s my friend,” Jessica mumbled. “And so are you…”

“Jessica,” his breath trembled under the great weight of her final gate. “I’m scared.”

“If I told you… then we’d become enemies.”

Jessica’s core overwhelmed the detective. His eyes weakened.

With a definitive gasp, the pair blinked.

The silhouette of a large, winged pony jumped in the sky behind Locks.

Jessica’s tears burned away, her mind far from their struggle. The spell on her head unleashed itself straight at the detective. Her vision went completely blank.

Locks reared himself up, unable to dodge the spell. It was a tiny thing, a small beam that was no thicker than half an inch. He felt his chest ignite with an intense heat. The searing sensation buzzed through his body, leaving as swiftly as it had come. His entire figure lifted off of the ground with a vicious thrust.

His eyes, agape and in shock, saw the grim scene unfold behind him as he fell back. Lily was frozen, much like Locks had been moments ago. Jessica’s spell was drilling through her neck, straight into her scar with a grisly ease. It ripped straight out of the back of her neck, just at the base, before flying off towards the barrier far away. The force from the spell launched Amy, as it did to Locks, away from the point of impact.

The beam continued on, crashing against the base of the dome. It pushed the spell past its choking point, shattering the dome into pieces. A huge feedback rushed throughout the plaza, creating an intense heat that burned away at the entire area. The snow in its entirety instantly evaporated, leaving nothing but a few damp spots on the concrete of Canterlot Plaza.

Amy’s body tumbled through the air, slamming straight into a building right next to the destroyed shop. Her blood splashed wildly against the wall, her head bouncing off of the surface. Her body sunk, leaning against it without a single drop of life. Her eyes were frozen, her mouth leaning open as her form finally came to a stop. Her long mane draped over her face and shoulders, covering her in black stripes that shrouded the wound from sight.

The familiar scream of a black unicorn blared out against the scene. Jessica Scrawl, tears still pouring down her face, stood a bit further from the spot where her spell had fired. She paused, watching as Locks’ body fell. She screamed again, at the top of her lungs, filling the sky with her atrocious guilt. She fell to her haunches, her drive to continue destroyed.

She heard four hooves slam against the ground. A body did not follow the set into the snow. Jessica gasped, looking on at the impossible sight. Detective Domino Locks stood, his hooves digging into the wet floor, looking back at her, having landed perfectly back on all fours. Scratch marks dragged against the ground where he landed, stopping at the base of his hooves. His eyes didn’t glow. They were completely normal. Lime green. Bright against his blue coat.

“G-Green?” she choked, unable to fight against her tears.

Domino Locks continued to stare her dead in the eyes, his breathing slowing down tremendously. Nothing else could be heard outside of his harsh panting.

Blood dripped down onto the concrete below Locks’ hooves. It was quickly pooling into a warm puddle. His head turned, taking in Amy’s mangled body, before swapping back to the black mare.

Jessica couldn’t help but look into the colt’s eyes. The strength they were giving off was far too familiar, too well known to Jessica. The gruesome image of the dead changeling rushed back into her thoughts, the gaze from Locks resembled that same feeling of shock.

The color in his eyes was fading.

“What you want,” his voice made Jessica’s skin crawl. “Is it really worth it?”

She looked at him in disbelief, tracing down towards the source of blood.

“I saw you, Jessica. It was so much,” he coughed. “Tonight was your last chance…”

Jessica’s face cringed, new tears already pouring from her moist orange eyes.

“The barrier’s gone. They’ll be here any second.” Locks took a deep breath, watching his warm breath drift into the sky. “You win.”

“I didn’t want it to end,” Jessica whimpered. “Not like this.”

He nodded his head. “Me too. But Jess… was it worth it?”

“NO!” She finally screamed out again. Several lights on the outer edge of the plaza flickered on in reaction. “I DIDN’T WANT TO KILL ANYPONY!

“I thought,” she hiccuped, “I thought I had it under control!”

Locks closed his eyes, deep in thought. His chest was cold, but his hooves remained unnaturally warm. Finally, he looked down, morbid curiosity overwhelming him.

It was tiny. A small little thing. No larger than half an inch. It was a hole, exposed directly at the front of his chest. As though it were scripted, he coughed blood up his throat at the sight of his wound. He recalled the spell, bulldozing into Amy’s flesh.

“Straight through, huh?”

Jessica didn’t wish to confirm his suspicion. The light breaking through his chest was plenty enough for him.

“I wish you had said something,” he said.

Jessica looked back at him, her eyes begging him not to go.

“If I was in your position,” another tear fell, “I’d have done the same damn thing.”

“Locks! Lily! Please forgive me!” Her body slumped forward.

Locks looked up to the sky, closing his eyes. A cough surged up through his throat, coming out of his mouth as a half-attempted laugh.

“I’d love a cup of hot coffee right about now. Something nice to warm the body.”

Domino Locks fell to the floor with a defining thud, down into his bloody mess.

Jessica’s mane picked up in the wind, the forces of nature no longer blocked by her own magic. Her mind was racing. No, it was frozen. The scribe couldn’t decide. Her eyes jerked between the two bodies, her emotions running wild.

“No. No. I can fix this!” She picked herself up. “It’s not too late!”

She pointed her horn at Locks, whimpering the entire time, fighting through her toxic breakdown in a desperate attempt to right her greatest wrong. A weak ball of magic starting pouring out into the tip of her horn.

Suddenly, she heard another blast of magic. It zapped her horn, burning out her spell. She stumbled onto her backside, her eyes shrunken. She turned to the direction of the blast, towards the south exit of Canterlot Plaza.

A group of ponies stood there at the exit, drinking in the scene of the brutal battle. Two alicorns, one of pure ivory white, and the other of the darkest of blue, were lined up. Flex Steele, Jessica’s own boss, stood several inches behind them, a look of horror stretched out against his face.

In front of the royal sisters and the Agency’s leader, was a single unicorn, clad in purple and golden armor that shimmered against the moonlight. She recognized him immediately by the special armaments he wore.

“ON THE GROUND, NOW!” Shining Armor, captain of the Royal Guard, demanded in an oppressive voice.

“NO! PLEASE! I CAN HELP!”

Another spell slammed her from the back, knocking her onto her stomach. She turned around. A force of unicorns surrounded every possible exit, with several pegasi covering the skies. More lights to surrounding houses were flickering on in response to the commotion.

“Keep the civilians inside their homes!” The Princess of the sun demanded the troops behind her. They hurried about the plaza, helping a handful of pegasi keep the windows shut to the gruesome image just outside.

Jessica’s vision was blinded by a combination of golden armor plated ponies, each one huddling closer. She felt her horn go numb, followed by a series of snaps that bolted together her pair of hind and forelegs in chains. Her horn and neck were also sealed tight, each brace a dark black that she recognized immediately as inhibitors.

“We saw the dome shatter, then a powerful surge of magic erupted from the center,” Steele spoke as the guards spread out, leaving the princesses and the boss to approach. “All of your magic disposition was released the moment it broke. We recorded everything.” The gray stallion turned towards the direction of his downed officers. “HURRY! TAKE THEM TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM! WE DON’T HAVE TIME!”

Several guards lift her up on her sides, forcing her to bend to the Princesses.

“Jessica Scrawl,” Celestia’s voice came. It boiled with a frighteningly controlled rage, only excited further by the arrival of the emergency carriages. “What have you done?”

Princess Luna took a step forward. “You are under arrest for treason against Equestria, practice of black magics forbidden by law, the manipulation of The Agency’s authorities, and for attempted murder.

“Your punishment is pending the survival of the two officers you have struck down tonight, Jessica Scrawl. In the meantime, you shall be escorted down to the dungeons below Canterlot.”

Jessica dropped her head in defeat. She watched as Celestia and Luna whispered to each other, and then to Steele, before the large alicorns stretched their wings. They fired off into the sky, heading straight for the castle. Steele remained, helping the guards move her towards another carriage that had just arrived. It was dark and black, round in shape, similar to that of a pumpkin.

She was tossed into the carriage, the hide thick and metal. She felt an increased numbness when her hooves scraped against it. Metal bars blocked her from sticking her head out of the window, also made from the same material as her shackles. She poked her eyes through the bars, watching as the emergency carriages for Locks and Amy darted away from the plaza and out of sight.

Jessica remained in her carriage, helplessly bouncing around while inside as it passed through the quiet streets of Canterlot. She sniffled, having slowly eased out of her crying mess, quickly accepting her life as a prisoner. She wasn’t alone inside of the cart. On the other end of the tight, small space, was her boss, sitting on his haunches with nothing but a cold, unreadable expression in his eyes.

“Scrawl,” he finally spoke. “You’ve failed spectacularly.”

“Yes, boss.”

“What were you doing tonight? All you had to do was subdue the two, but instead, we arrive and find two lifeless corpses. What was the real goal in that fight? Why?”

“I was trying to help somepony,” Jessica looked down, watching her orange mane bounce along with the bumps in the road. “And I was willing to go all the way in order to do it. At least… I thought I was.”

“But for it to end, Scrawl? Like this? Two officers, some of our finest, possibly dead because of something so ridiculous?”

“It wasn’t ridiculous, boss.” She looked up at him. “Not to me.”

Steele remained silent for a moment. “Our deal fell through because of your act of treason,” he said. “However, you know how I operate.”

“I do.”

“This is the end for you. You can tell me what you know and move on, knowing that in your last free moments, you did what you could to set things right. Or,” his eyes shivered, “You can take your secrets to your grave and leave us clueless for the rest of our lives. It’s your call.”

“No,” Jessica slowly jerked. “I won’t do that to you. No more secrets. I’ve hurt too many ponies as is. I can’t… I can’t do that anymore. I don’t want to.” She sobbed, “I never wanted to.”

“I just have some questions. We’re almost at the dungeon’s entrance, so please, be as punctual as you can.”

Another silent tear fell. “I will.”

“Locks and Amethyst were working together on the case involving Conroy’s death. Princess Celestia and I discussed it at length after the information from Gemini, and we came up with a theory that, with the newfound knowledge of your awareness of Scars, you might be able to confirm for us.”

Jessica felt her heart sink. She expected this first and foremost. “The million dollar question, huh boss?”

He grunted to confirm. “What else could I possibly ask first? You’re the key.”

They heard the sound of a drawbridge being opened. “Can I have one final request before I answer?”

Steele didn’t miss a beat. “State your wish.”

“I wish for Princess Celestia to come visit me. After everything from tonight is taken care of. I want to speak to her in private.”

He puzzled, “Might be a tough arrangement. But I believe I can do that for you.”

“Please.”

Flex took a breath. He was finally ready to put an end to the cases that haunted his Agency for years.

“Who is responsible for the murder of Conroy Justis?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Scarlet Trace.”

Author's Notes:

This is a gigantic chapter. Sorry about the absence, but the story is all done. I just need to upload it. You guys are about to get four full chapters. Hope you enjoy them!

G. R.

502: The Scars

ONE HOUR LATER

In the dead of the night, the Canterlot Hospital could nearly pass as a morgue. The lounge was large, benches sat against most of the walls with rugs and coffee tables seated in front to offer a more home-like feel to those waiting for treatment, or to see a loved one admitted. Potted plants with thick, luscious leaves were neatly stationed between each bench along the walls, sitting directly on one square of tile with an eerie sense of precision.

A janitor whistled to himself far down the hallway, giving the hard floors a proper cleaning, though the sweat on his brow was a tell of his anxiety. In the lounge, waiting patiently for news, were two large ponies, far taller than any ordinary colt or mare in the sleeping city. Their manes flowed with powerful magics, disobeying the laws of gravity. Paragons of might, they perched side by side, their wings tucked to their sides. Princess Celestia motioned to her dark blue sister, and the pair looked back towards the entrance of the room.

Two ponies emerged from the hallway. The gray, aged colt walked ahead, turning around to motion his captive forward. She huffed, blowing some of her pink mane out of the way before obeying. The clank of a pair of hoofcuffs jingled through the hospital, catching more than several nurses by surprise. The two, the stallion and the mare, approached the princesses of Equestria, each bowing to them in respect before sitting along the row of benches nearby.

“Couldn’t you have loosened these up a bit? They hurt,” Mystery Hart grunted, showing the cuffs sinking into her coat.

“We won’t be having any of that,” Steele immediately barked. “Your comfort is far too low on our priorities right now. Are you even aware of what happened tonight?”

Mysty grimaced, lowering her head. “You don’t have to tell me. I saw the flash all the way from the cemetary, just like anypony would’ve if they’d have been awake at the time.” She did her best to remain calm. “How are they?”

“We won’t know until somepony comes out and tells us,” Steele replied. “They were both in critical condition when we arrived at Canterlot Plaza.”

“I don’t understand,” Princess Celestia sighed. “Jessica has never done something as severe as this before. She never came off as the kind of pony that would kill over something.”

“I think we were all fooled into thinking that, Princess,” Mysty added. “I wanted to help Locks and Amy, and I knew the potential risks.” She turned away, “But this is the worst possible thing that could’ve happened tonight.”

“Yeah,” Steele coughed. “You’re part isn’t done yet either, Mystery. You’ll be tried, as will Locks and Amethyst, should they survive. You might be sent to prison.”

“Oh Flex, don’t be so formal with me,” she accepted, a graceful defeat. “I knew well in advance what would happen. I went ahead and did it anyways.”

Princess Luna was busy on the far end of their bench, sifting through floating documents that Steele had given them prior to retrieving the pink haired mare. Case files for both Scarlet and Locks sifted around, her perceiving blue eyes darting across the pages, absorbing every bit of information like a thirsty sponge.

“I can’t believe it came to this,” Luna’s eyes closed in thought. “To think that something this dangerous has been lurking underneath our society for nearly one thousand years.

Mysty looked down in defeat. “It’s our fault. Conroy’s and mine. He wanted to investigate the Scars beforehand, and I encouraged him. We instigated everything that’s happened up until now.”

“Wrong,” Steele stared at the cold tile floor. “You’ve done nothing that wouldn’t have happened either way. The Scars have been killing for so many years. It was inevitable that somepony would eventually catch on. Your family,” he sighed, “just happened to be the first ones to really do anything about it.”

“Tell me this, Mrs. Justis,” Celestia turned to face her. “Would you rather the Scars never be discovered, and allowing it to take any and every pony’s life that it could? Would you be happy with so many more ponies dying without any answer as to why, or how?”

“Of course not, Princess.”

She reassured Mysty with conviction in her words, “Now that we know what we’re dealing with, we can look further into these Scars. Maybe we can even find a way to ward it off.”

“Siphoning information out of Jessica will be our greatest chance at that, Princess.” Steele said. “Have you considered her proposal?”

The Princess of the Sun nodded, leaving her sister more than a bit confused. “I shall go to the dungeon immediately after our work here is done. There are many questions that I need to ask her.” She continued, “Steele, from what I understand, Jessica gave you some basic information before she was imprisoned. Is that true?”

The stallion faltered. “Y-Yes, Princess. I asked her about our theory.”

“Wait, theory?” Mysty’s voice rose. “What theory?”

“What did she say then, Flex?” Celestia ignored the concerned mother.

“It’s worse than we’ve thought, Princess. Jessica says that the Scars is in its final phase. She claims that the magical buildup inside of Trace’s body will eventually blow over because of her inability to contain so much power inside of her. She said that once it becomes unstable enough, it’ll rip her body apart piece by piece until there’s nothing left, much like Gemini’s.”

“Gemini is an alicorn like us,” Celestia looked to her sister. “She must’ve been able to survive because of the increased endurance and strength of our kind.”

“It gets worse, your highness. Jessica said that it should be capping out on Trace’s limits by tonight sometime. And most importantly,” his voice shook, “she confirmed that our suspicions are true, as per Gemini’s word.”

“What word?!” Mysty failed to understand.

“That the Scars are sentient, Mrs. Justis. We believed, up until this moment, that they would lash out at ponies if they knew they were in danger.” Celestia turned back to the gray colt. “Flex, she’s saying that such a thing is true?”

He nodded grimly. “She told me that getting anywhere near Scarlet with the intention to help will put your life at risk. Only those that are aware of the Scars’ existence are in danger of being punished like this.”

“What of Twilight and her friends?” Luna chimed in. “Scarlet Trace has been living with them in Ponyville for months now.”

“They’re fine,” Steele replied with confidence. “None of them are aware of Scars. If Jessica and Gemini are reliable sources, then they should be fine.”

“Twilight and her group of friends are bound by the ultimate magic. I have yet to meet any kind of power that could shatter the bonds forged by The Elements of Harmony.” Celestia turned back to the hallway, waiting for somepony to come through with news. “Even if they knew about Scars, I have no doubt that the elements would keep them safe.”

The rest of the ponies followed Celestia’s movement, hearing a rushed set of hooves charging down the halls. It grew closer to the lounge, slowing down to a hurried trot.

None of the four ponies were expecting the Element of Loyalty to appear at the other end of the hallway. Her rainbow colored mane was pulled back against her face, goggles resting around her neck and dangling at her chest.

“Rainbow Dash,” Princess Celestia perked up. “You’re a far way away from Ponyville.”

The brightly colored mare’s chest rose and dropped frantically, still catching her breath. “Sorry Princess. I,” she panted, “I flew as fast as I could from Ponyville to Canterlot, and when I couldn’t find you at the castle, I had to make my way around the city until the royal guard pointed me over here.”

“I apologize for making your journey so complicated.”

“Nothing I can’t handle,” the pegasus smirked. “It’s kinda busy out there tonight. I didn’t think I’d run into so many guards along the way.”

The four ponies didn’t comment on her observation. Celestia didn’t seem fazed by it. “What brings you here to Canterlot so late into the night, Rainbow Dash?”

“You know Scarlet Trace, right?”

“I do.”

She reached into a small bag resting on her back. In her mouth was a small letter with a familiar marked seal. “The girls and I went out with her to some strange house earlier today and she found something that was really important to her job. She had me come and deliver this letter to you as soon as I could.”

The letter floated from Rainbow’s mouth and directly into the air right in front of Celestia. “Thank you Rainbow Dash. Would you like to rest? I can make accommodations for you back at the castle if you need it.”

Rainbow’s expressive face didn’t show any understanding of the weight of the situation the four ponies were in. “Don’t worry about me Princess. I’ll be back in Ponyville in no time.” She bowed at the sisters, turning to head out of the door. “Have a good night!”

“Wait!”

Dash froze, her hooves bent right before the moment she launched back into the air. She turned back to the soft voice behind her, looking back at Mysty’s needing eyes. “Yes ma’am?”

“You’ve been with Scarlet?”

“Y-Yeah?”

“I’m her mother,” she gave Rainbow a reassuring smile. “How has she been?”

“A little under the weather, actually,” she replied bluntly. “We’ve tried talking her into staying in bed, but she’s pretty stubborn. Reminds me of a friend of mine back home.”

“She’s sick?”

“Yeah,” Dash spotted the worry in her eyes. “But don’t worry too much! She’ll be fine. She’s actually on the train back to Canterlot right now. She’ll be here soon.”

A horrible sweeping feeling punched through the group’s guts at Rainbow’s words.

She waited for a retort. “Ooookay, well, I’m off. Cya later Princesses!”

As suddenly as she had come, Rainbow Dash vanished down the hall and out of the building, darting through the sky at impossible speeds.

‘Why’s Scarlet’s mom with the Princesses?’ Rainbow couldn’t help but ponder as she punched through a lone cloud.

“She’s… coming home?” Mysty gulped.

“This isn’t good. We can’t see her.”

Princess Celestia’s magic tore open the letter, tossing the envelope over to the table in front of the group, her eyes sucking up all of the information in the hastily written scroll.

A sweeping, coursing shockwave brushed over the four ponies. Erupting from the hallway and plowing through them before moving on, sifting through the walls. Like a wave on the beach, it lifted each of their bodies just a fragment off their seats, eliciting a gasp from the princess of the night.

“… What was that?” Steele looked around. A janitor had come into view, cleaning the floors. He seemed unaffected by the unexplainable phenomenon.

“I don’t know,” Celestia looked up from the letter. “Blank Slate.”

The familiarity of the word struck Flex. “That name… It sounds like I’ve heard it before.”

“Gemini,” Luna pointed to her floating documents. “Scarlet wrote that Gemini mentioned it.”

“I know Slate from our case, but this is different,” Steele looked over to Mysty, who agreed with a nervous frown. “I feel like I’ve heard that name from some time way before the cases. It’s strange. I know damn sure that I knew nothing about anypony named Slate until now.”

“Memory spell,” Celestia read aloud. The other three looked back at her.

“Excuse me?” Mysty shook her head.

“This letter from Scarlet,” Celestia’s eyes went through it again. “It’s messy and hurried, but I get it clearly. Blank Slate, a pegasus from Ponyville. He was infected by the Scars and ended up killing himself like Nixie Hope.” She grimaced. “When Scarlet discovered his journal, a spell erupted from his house that Twilight and Scarlet identified as fragments of a memory spell. The spell must’ve just passed through Canterlot. We’ll need to run disposition measurements for all of tonight. Magic’s been surging through Equestria ever since everything started tonight.”

The group put the pieces together. “Blank Slate… made everypony forget about himself?” Mysty raised an eyebrow.

“He didn’t,” Steele growled. “His Scars did. This disease,” he stamped his hoof. “It’s killed too many. Even Conroy.”

Mysty’s entire body grew stiff. She turned to her captor. “What?”

Steele looked back at her. “You wanted to know, so here: Jessica told me all about Scarlet’s Scars. Her Scars, Conroy got too close to it. He became aware of its capabilities.

“The Scars infected Conroy. It drained him of his life. It killed him. Scarlet’s disease killed your husband.”

The princess of the night stood in shock, her mouth hung open. Celestia could only look on with sadness in her eyes, watching as Mysty’s face collapsed from surprise into a deep, somber sadness. The pink mare went completely silent.

Another pair of steps came through the door, only heard because of the deathly silent tension that blanketed the room. Celestia, Luna, and Steele turned back towards the entrance, each one waiting for the pony to say something.

TWO HOURS AGO

A cyan blur burst through the clouds, punching holes into any foolish enough to get in her way. She easily vanished against the horizon, a pair of waving hooves wishing her a safe journey.

“Scarlet, are you sure about this?” Twilight Sparkle put a hoof on the young mare’s shoulder. “The spell gave you back your strength, but you still don’t look too good.”

“I’m fine,” Scarlet Trace waved her off, the dark bags under her eyes a clear indicator that she was lying. She grabbed her hat and jacket and flipped them both on, placing a saddlebag on her back with all of her reports since she had arrived in Ponyville. “If I don’t go back now,” she coughed, “I’ll never get back.”

A chill in the air made the purple unicorn shiver. “It’s getting cold too.”

“I have my jacket,” Scarlet assured her new friend.

The two stared at each other for a moment.

“Thanks for everything, Twilight. You’re a good friend,” Scarlet extended her hoof, a smile hiding the pain that was punching against her gut.

Twilight reached forward, past the detective’s hoof and around her neck. She pulled herself towards Scarlet and gave her a gentle hug. “Stay safe, Scarlet. I hope you get better.”

‘Me too.’ She thought silently. “I will. Give the rest of the girls my best, and tell Rainbow Dash I said thanks again for the help. You’ve all been great.”

“Sure thing.”

Scarlet broke eye contact with the librarian’s purple eyes. She embraced the cold breeze, making her way towards the train station further into town.

She spun her neck around, seeing that the purple pony was still outside of her house, watching her. She raised another hoof, a final farewell to the Element of Magic.

Scarlet Trace was going home.

Scarlet’s ears flickered with every clack of the train. It hadn’t been long since she had departed from Ponyville, but already she was beginning to feel the lingering effects of her disease taking hold. Her forehead was a bit hot, and every so often, the young mare couldn’t help but think she was hearing a faint whisper coming from somewhere in the train, perhaps beyond the doors that separated each individual car.

She wiped her sweating forehead. Scarlet was anxious, ready to return home and tell everypony the news. To finish something that her father had started years ago. The anticipation, or her illness, made her tremble in her seat.

Her soft jade eyes looked out the window on the opposite end of the cart. It was too dark to make much out in the distance, but the gentle light from the moon still illuminated patches of the sky, most of it shrouded behind a thin layer of clouds.

She coughed. Scarlet hadn’t taken anything to eat or drink on the way home, a decision that her stomach was beginning to lament with a growl. Her mind took her back to Canterlot, thinking of what she would do after her work was done.

Another painful sting snapped her out of her thoughts, making her double over with a grunt. Quickly, the pain subsided. She picked herself back up, perched on her seat. Nopony else was on board, save for the conductor and some fresh cargo. Her gut rumbled again, followed by another whimper that seemed to waft through the air, nearly drowned out by the clicking of the train’s wheels.

Coffee sounded amazing. Scarlet licked her lips, remembering their favorite spot at the cafe in Canterlot.

“Double mocha latte. Maybe even a glazed donut on the side,” she murmured to herself. She felt her mouth water at the thought, practically smelling the sugary scent emanating from the baked good.

“Even if Jessica’s there toying with me, it’ll be worth it,” she sighed, her posture slouching a bit.

Another sharp pain rocked her body. Her mind jolted wide awake, her body squirming to get a grip on herself.

“If The Scars don’t get to me first, that is,” Scarlet did her best to joke, the smile all but wiped from her face. She thought back to the Elements’ words, of her outburst back at Blank Slate’s house. She pulled her hat from her head, letting it rest between her shaky hooves. Those ponies couldn’t be lying. Even if it were just for a moment, Scarlet could see the damage herself: The material was still ruffled and slightly torn from the top, a few bits hanging from the surface like tattered wire. She ran her hooves across the scar, cursing herself under her breath.

She couldn’t help but think about what triggered such a crazy reaction. Slate’s house, that oppressive, sad place, drove her mind crazy with strange thoughts. Memories of her long gone fillyhood, of her mother and father raising her, preparing her for her duties at The Agency.

Scarlet felt her mouth form into a frown. The Agency again. Always about that damn place. She placed the hat back on her head, memories becoming clearer from her reaction at Ponyville.

“I never had a choice,” Scarlet grimaced, her face soft from the mental blow. Immediately, another wave of agony struck, almost knocking her off of her seat. She balanced herself, hissing through her teeth as she withstood the damage, whatever it really was, to her body.

She slumped over against the wall of the train. Her eyes wandered out her own window. She choked, her eyes widened. A throaty cough escaped her mouth, followed by a burning warmth. Blood stained the base of the window, thick and slowly drooling down the side.

She groaned. The Scars were already getting worse. She shook her head, fighting off the regret of leaving the Elements so soon.

“I had to get to Canterlot eventually,” she convinced herself. “Better to get it over with now than later. When I’m worse.”

She tensed up at the thought. It would get worse. Gemini had told her before, back on Ignis. Death, according to that ancient Alicorn, was inevitable.

The air was cold in her cart. Scarlet's body crumbled in her seat. She heaved another cough up her throat, rubbing the burning sensation that erupted along the hack. Her figure was shaking, the chill from outside not playing a part.

Scarlet had been working at the Agency for years. Her parents raised her to eat, breathe, and sleep The Agency and its particular line of work. Even though the end result, as painful as it was to admit, was lackluster. Scarlet wasn't a dumb mare, fully aware of her impotence at her job. There was a reason that she was the lowest class of agent. Her abilities were poor, at best.

However fake of a detective she may have been, she wasn't a fake pony. She had lived that daring, bold lifestyle, even if she could barely manage by the skin of her teeth. The experiences themselves, solving crimes, coming head to head with malevolent ponies, working alongside her friends and allies; it was all very real to her. It could’ve been acted, like a play, from the start of her birth, to the finish. It didn’t matter to Scarlet whether or not it was preemptive anymore. She was involved in her life through her emotions, thoughts, and beliefs. No truth could ever take that away from her.

Scarlet cringed again, her mind so far beyond the train ride. Her years as a detective had brought her close to death on many occasions. Barely dodging black magic. Avoiding the wrath of serial killers and monsters that invaded the country. Scarlet herself may have never been the best detective, but she had gone through the lifestyle just as everypony else, and survived. Despite all the odds, and disregarding the killer disease that was currently devouring her, she had made it this far.

She was still far more prepared than anypony else. More prepared than Gemini. Nixie Hope. Blank Slate. She had come face to face with her own mortality so many times when compared to those three.

Even still, on this cold, silent night, with only the clack of the train's wheels to keep her company, she cried.

Scarlet was frightened. Near-death experiences were just those. Near-death. Even with such a lethal job, having survived so many of those horrors, there was always that chance. That invasive variable called luck that always happened to be at her side. The invaluable happenstance that somehow, through those murderers, killers, beasts, and mysteries, Scarlet 'Laya' Trace had managed, through her incompetence, to survive.

Always in the back of her mind, was that will to survive her hardships. That hunger for life kept her going, always giving her that second wind that, even in the most dire of scenarios, would somehow pull her away from death's grasp.

Chance. Luck. Fortune. Whatever it was called, Scarlet always had that. Scarlet always knew that there was a chance that some cosmic interference would spare her insignificant, inept life.

Gemini's words swept through her mind, acting as a painful reminder that no matter how real her experience was, it was worthless when faced with the reality of her situation. Of her disease. Scarlet knew, even from way back in Ignis, that the moment was almost here. She brushed it aside, doing her best to avoid thinking about it for all those months she spent in the bed in Twilight’s library, but just as any other time, swept away by the pass of day and night, the moment was coming all the same.

It was tonight. Scarlet Trace had no doubt in her mind. Another twist pulled at her gut, a burn ripped up through to her head, draining her strength away. She groaned, laying herself flat on the bench with watery eyes.

Scarlet Laya Trace would die tonight. No chance. No luck. No fortune. And she knew it better than anypony else.

There was nothing left for her to do but pray. Hoping through the odds that perhaps she'd have just enough left in her to see her mom and friends one last time.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the flash of a bright light. Scarlet’s ears perked up, her neck raised towards the bloodstained window. Another flash erupted from the distance, illuminating the night. The train continued on its path, oblivious, but the sight was as clear as day to Scarlet. With all her strength, she pulled herself towards the window.

The light faded as quickly as it came, the detective’s eye scanning the distance. It had come from Canterlot, whatever it might have been.

Scarlet wasn’t given much time to ponder the origin of the light, the Scars calling back to her with another stab, this time against her flank. Her neck spun around to her cutie mark, staring at it for a second before falling back to her seat, crippled with agony. She moaned louder, doing her best to pull herself together long enough to make it to Canterlot. It wasn’t a long train ride, and that flash was incredibly close. She’d arrive soon, and get help before it could get any worse.

“Is it time?”

Her body froze. Was that a voice? Scarlet shook her head. It must’ve been the breeze, or maybe her Scars is playing tricks on her again, just like at Slate’s house. She closed her eyes shut, doing her best to ignore the burning that continued against her cutie mark.

Another heat came to her attention. The temperature rose dramatically, forcing her system into full alert. She jumped up, feeling a very real burning sensation coming from all over.

Her black coat had a flame on it. She gasped, pulling it off and immediately throwing it towards the center of the cart. The heat burned up against her head, her hoof instantly grabbing the hat and chucking it atop her coat.

She gathered her breath, more sweat coming down her face. She wasn’t ready for death yet, and burning before her time was certainly not something the detective wanted before the moment came. She coughed, looking back at her coat and hat.

A small fire had gathered on the edge of the coat, as well as the rim of the hat. She raised a quizzical eyebrow at the blue tint within the flames, which was quickly consuming the natural color. The flame suppressed the outfit, yet didn’t spread across the rest of the fabric, content burning away at it piece by piece.

She stared at it in disbelief. Her thoughts were numb, fighting against her fear of getting burned, her drive to dive in and save her father’s treasured hat, and the numbing effects of the Scars that continued to rock her body. As she calmed down, she could feel the Scars slowly getting back to work, eating away at her insides like a gluttonous parasite.

She laid back down, accepting the fate of her outfit as the blue flame wormed its way down the first sleeve, the hat proving its endurance, as the fire hadn’t even crawled an inch from its starting position.

“I just wanna go home,” Scarlet grumbled. “I don’t understand anything anymore. Scars, Slate, Mount Ignis.” She looked towards her destination, the city lights starting to illuminate her window. “Jessica, The Agency, these stupid cases.” She sighed, “Blue fire.”

“Aww come on, it can’t be that bad, right?”

For the second time since the train ride began, Scarlet kicked herself back up to her haunches. The voice was loud and clear, a hint of familiarity within it forcing a plethora of memories to explode from inside. She looked across the room, to the source of the voice.

A stallion, his coat a dark blue, sat against the wall on the end of the train cart opposite of Scarlet. His gentle emerald eyes glistened against the night. He gave her a smile, brushing back a strand of his short, black mane.

Scarlet looked to his flank. A golden scale was imprinted along his backside.

She was just about ready to jump over her bench and crash into Conroy Justis, but the Scars shot another jolt of pain through her head.

“Calm down, Scarlet,” her father looked her over. “You look like you’re ready to pass out.”

Scarlet paused, pulling herself back up, leaning against the wall for support. “D-Dad!?”

Conroy Justis nodded. He looked just as he did the night that the young detective saw his body by the frozen river. He tilted his head slightly, giving her plenty of time to look him over. “Well… yeah?”

She form weakened. “It can’t be you. You’re dead.” She looked back to her flank, a toxic wave of disappointment in her words, “It must be the Scars. They’re toying with my mind.”

Conroy looked back at his daughter, not speaking a word.

“Am I right?”

Conroy’s eyes wandered, looking mostly at the ceiling of the train. They traveled back down, towards the burning outfit that separated the two of them. “Maybe. Maybe not. I couldn’t tell you that.”

“I thought so,” Scarlet frowned. “Just leave me alone.”

“I can’t do that.” Conroy said. “Not ever.”

“How come? You’ve been hurting me all this time. What makes you hesitate now?”

“I’d never willingly hurt my daughter,” Conroy said in a matter-of-fact tone. “And I’d never just let my little girl be left alone to die.”

“You’re persistent,” she huffed after a short silence. “Not that it really matters much.”

“Now wait,” Conroy raised a hoof. “Well, look at it this way, however grim it might be.”

“It’s not like I have many options, do I?” Scarlet rolled her eyes, wincing from another sudden sting. “I doubt you’re going anywhere anytime soon.”

“Only so long as the fire burns, perhaps.” Conroy turned down to the fire. “At least it’s warm now.”

Scarlet nodded. “I suppose.” She looked back up at her deceased father. “So what where you going to say?”

The older stallion cleared his throat. “You can believe me to be whatever you want. You think I’m a side-effect of the Scars, right?”

“It makes sense, considering their track record,” she thought back to Nixie Hope.

“Well, perhaps…” he scratched his mane.

‘He used to do that all the time with mom,’ Scarlet prepared herself. ‘Smile even when faced with such a difficult situation.’

“Whether or not I’m from the Scars should be kinda pointless, right? You’re already infected.”

“That’s true to some extent,” Scarlet agreed, “but in Nixie’s case, at the least, her imagination lead her to her death. How do I know that you won’t end up doing the same?”

“I’d hardly think that such a thing would matter by now,” Conroy chuckled.

“And why not?” She raised her voice.

“Because I doubt that me being here is going to change much of anything. The way I see it, you might as well enjoy the company.”

She wrinkled her face in confusion.

“I mean,” he continued, “Nixie’s imagination killed her out of fright. What do you think I’ll do to you? Kill you with kindness?”

“… Maybe.”

“You’re already on the final phase of the Scars though, right?” Conroy scooted closer. “If Gemini is right, then you might as well go peacefully then.”

Scarlet remembered Slate and Nixie Hope. Gemini’s thousand years of loneliness, too. “A slow, graceful death?”

“Sounds better than the others, right? And that’s assuming I am actually of the Scars’ influence.”

“This isn’t how I imagined my last moments, if anything,” Scarlet grumbled. Slowly, she looked back at her “father.” He stood just like him, his body moved all the same. He even spoke very bluntly, much like he did when he worked.

“At least it’s interesting.”

“It is,” she let out a weak chuckle.

“That’s better.”

“So what happens next?” Scarlet crumbled against another wave. “Do I just slowly lose consciousness? Sudden death?”

“Maybe,” he shrugged, laughing. “You’re still assuming that I’m here with the worst case scenario.”

“Then why would you be here if you weren’t a Scars? You’re supposed to be dead.”

“My body and mind, yes,” he nodded.

Scarlet’s eyes lit up at his response. “Dad… your disposition…!?”

“I can’t say. I wouldn’t know much.”

“But how? Mom always said it took two of three elements to do anything like this!”

“You’re jumping to conclusions again, Scarlet. Think slow and steady.”

She shrunk back, her father’s scolding bringing back many memories as a foal. “Then what?”

“I can’t be ‘back.’ That would mean somepony on this train has either my mind or my body. I can’t say much about that.” He looked back at the fire, his daughter following suit. “However, I can tell you that if I’m not a portion of the Scars infecting you, then I have a good idea where I came from.”

“This all seems too ridiculous to me,” Scarlet looked back at her father.

“It’s up to you to believe whether or not it’s all an illusion. I’m going to play my part all the same.”

Scarlet pulled herself closer to the fire, welcoming the warmth. “Play your part?”

Conroy Justis nodded his head.

“And what exactly would that part be?”

“The same part that I’ve been doing for the last year.”

“What?”

“Watching over you, Scarlet.”

She looked back down at the burning outfit. It was growing, half of the hat and coat devoured completely by the blue flames.

“Blue,” she muttered. “Just like the disposition in the air.”

Conroy shook his head again. “Yeah.”

“You hinted that you might possibly be the disposition from my dad’s death, right?”

“I’m just taking wild guesses. If I had my mind back, I could probably have a better idea of what’s going on.”

“Even if that’s true, how are you able to form now? Why not any time before this night, on this train? And even without the mind, how are you able to remember bits like the disposition at all?”

“I’m not sure if you’re testing me or you’re seriously not thinking about it clearly,” he smirked. “It could be the Scars messing with your head though, I understand.”

“A little bit of both, really,” she gave him a weak smile.

“There we go,” he smirked. “That’s the Scarlet I love.” He tossed his mind in thought. “Scarlet, you know about the three elements of a pony as well as anypony else: Body, Mind, and Disposition. They are attracted to each other by the other two. Get them together with a capable pony, and you can revive ponies, given the right circumstances.”

“Like mom.”

“Right.”

“So what?”

“But you also know that it’s not as black and white as that. You’ve seen your mother work her magic before. Each of those elements are labeled, but that doesn’t mean that they are all independent of one another entirely.

“Mind, Body, and Disposition are so intimately related to one another. You’d have a hard time ripping any of those three elements from the other two without having some fragments clinging on.”

Scarlet let his thoughts sink in. “I get it. You’re saying that if you are my dad’s disposition, that you might have traces of his mind lingering about in there?”

“Well, not in here,” he pointed to himself. “There.”

She followed his extended hoof. It pointed straight towards the burning coat. “My outfit?”

“I’m not sure why, but something must’ve happened. Before tonight, this coat was where I rested. Tucked away neatly behind that locked door back home.”

“I don’t understand,” Scarlet said. “What changed? And how did you get locked up in the coat? Your body and mind were buried and destroyed. You should’ve been recycled like anypony else.”

“I know. It bothers me a lot too,” he leaned in his seat. “I have nothing in the fragments of the mind that came with me that could help either. If only I did.”

“What do you think it was?”

“I’m not sure,” he shrugged. “But something kept me stuck here in this world. And whatever it was, I think it’s finally decided to let me go.”

“The coat burning?”

“Yes. Something has allowed me to roam away from the coat. That fire you see there? Take a good look at it.”

Scarlet looked into the fire with more intensity. Within the burning embers, she could spot traces of blue tinted smoke wafting up towards the top of the train, traces of it being sucked out of the open windows in the cart. Her father’s form also shared the appearance of the rising smoke, traces of disposition flickering off of his body like a light steam.

“Does it make sense to you?” Conroy scratched the back of his head again. “I’m doing all I can on my end.”

“Yeah,” Scarlet slouched again. “It does. If it’s not the Scars’ doing.”

“True,” Conroy followed her example. “If there were anypony else here, we’d know for sure.”

He heard her mumble in response. He looked at her form, cringing again from another gut twisting pain. Her body was still trembling slightly. Conroy lifted himself off of his bench, slowly making his way over to Scarlet’s side.

She gasped when she felt his body touch hers. She could feel his warm blue coat against her pale white, the familiar fragrance of strong coffee finally hitting her. Whatever he was, he smelled like home.

“So why exactly are you here again?” Scarlet’s voice came out like a whimper.

“To do what I always do. Watch over you.”

“Until the end.”

He ran a hoof through her mane. “Yes. Until the end.”

She pulled herself closer to him. “I guess… it wouldn’t be too bad to go this way.”

Conroy winced as she coughed against him, her body jumping with each heave. “It’s what I’ve been here for, ever since the beginning. We can always talk about anything else too, if you want.”

“No,” she replied, snuggling up against him. “This is fine. Perfectly fine.”

Minutes passed, the train starting to slow down as it reached its destination. Buildings could be seen through the windows of the sleeping city. Lights shone down the empty streets, with a small drizzle of snowfall blanketing the thick layer of snow from earlier.

The fire continued to burn. The hat was almost entirely gone, only a single sleeve remaining of the coat. The fire was fading, slowly growing smaller with each passing moment.

“I miss you,” Scarlet mumbled again, her voice far weaker than it had ever been throughout the entire ride.

Conroy remained silent.

“I don’t care about whatever I said back at Slate’s house. I’m… glad that you and mom raised me the way you did. Things could’ve been better perhaps, but I think that what I ended up with was still good.”

“You think so?” he finally asked.

“It was good enough for me.”

He continued to pet her. The train snapped, finally coming to a full stop following the whine of the tires underneath.

“It’s going to be okay,” he assured her. “Just think about things that make you happy.”

Scarlet looked up to her father. “I know. I’ll do my best.”

“That’s my girl,” he lowered his muzzle to hers. He let the tip of his nose press up against hers, letting it sit for a few seconds before breaking away.

“Just about ready?”

Scarlet heard another familiar voice, this time, followed by the sound of hoofsteps coming from the rear of the cart. Scarlet lifted herself up to her feet, following her father. A pony stood several feet away, a smile plastered on his face that rivaled Conroy’s. His bright blue coat stood out against the train, his black and white hair bobbing with each step.

“Locks?” Scarlet gasped. “How did you… were you waiting at the station?”

Detective Domino Locks just grinned at the mare. “It’s time. For all of us.”

“Right,” Conroy walked over to Locks’ side. “This is it, Scarlet.”

Another pull against her flank threw her balance off. Conroy and Locks both flinched, stopping as the youngest detective managed to keep herself on all fours.

“I… I suppose I’m ready.”

“Hey Scarlet,” Locks spoke. The flame completed the coat, licking up the final fragment before evaporating into the air. Her entire outfit had been eaten up. “Go and tell everypony the good news.”

“What?”

“Excuse me ma’am, but we’ve arrived in Canterlot,” another voice came from the other end of the cart.

Scarlet turned to meet the conductor. He pulled open the door to the outside, letting in the chilling bite of the winter weather. “You need to go.”

“I will,” Scarlet said, turning back to her father and friend.

They were gone. No burn marks were shown against the ground where her outfit was either. All traces of the disposition had vanished.

“You’d better hurry, miss. The weather’s only going to get worse.” He hurried Scarlet along.

She shuffled out of the train, onto the boarding platform. Her body trembled from the blast of winter air from outside, hearing the slam of the cart as the conductor moved along in his duties.

That’s when it hit. Harder than ever that entire night. The Scars attacked her with its full might, forcing her to her knees with a burning sensation that seized her entire body. She stumbled across the platform, walking aimlessly until she fell against the bench near the building. She gasped for air, tears flowing down the corners of her eyes. She clenched her teeth, seeing the road that lead towards the center of town. She had a long way to walk to the Agency.

On the bench next to her was another. Somepony she hadn’t seen during her Scars’ fit. The pony was laden in a dark black coat, blocking off any identifiable features. The creature in the coat budged its head slightly towards her direction, the hood shifting no more than an inch as Scarlet stumbled.

“S-Sorry. I’ll be… I’ll be going now,” Scarlet barely managed to stammer out. She coughed at the end, feeling more blood rush out of her mouth with each one. It stained the snow along the side of the building, the gray pony pulling her weight until she could manage to stand all on her own again. She turned back to the hooded figure, who continued to look at her.

“Sorry,” she spoke again, beginning her slow road towards the Agency.

The creature in the hood lifted a hoof, grabbing the top and pulling it down to the sides of her neck.

The pony underneath looked at the poor, dying mare. The lantern that illuminated the bench from the train station hit her with light, swinging around against a gust of wind. It illuminated her red coat and flaming mane, shining through the gaping hole where one of her eyes should’ve been.

“Good-bye, Scarlet Trace,” she softly whispered, pulling her hood back over her head.

RIGHT BEFORE DAWN

Voices poisoned her head. Scarlet’s voice leaked through her lips as nothing more than a rambling note. She couldn’t hear herself through the constant pounding against her head and flank.

“Is it time?”

There it was again. Over and over, dozens of times at once. The question continued to be asked periodically, each time the voice growing stronger. The volume was pushing down against her back, forcing her body to stop every few feet. She coughed, blood freely flowing from her mouth now, dribbling against the snowy streets of Canterlot. She could barely manage to lift her hooves, dragging herself through most of the road.

Her surroundings came to her as nothing more than a blur, unable to really identify anything that was more than several feet ahead. Buildings meshed together in a slather of blues and blacks, the snow smearing itself against the ground in a fuzzy, messy slush. Scarlet could barely make heads or tails of her surroundings, pulling herself towards her destination with a cry for each step.

The Scars were hurting far more than ever before. Her eyes were red and dry, her tears long since gone from the train station. She still sniffled here and there, fighting against both the disease and the oppressive weather. A wind blew against her, making her fight for each step. Her mane and tail were snatched by the wind, the rest of her body falling onto her haunches.

She was drained, all of the energy sucked right out of her. She pulled herself up again, her eyes slowly starting to fade.

It couldn’t end here, in the middle of the street. If she could even muster the capacity to think, she’d fight for her life even harder knowing that. Instead, she barely managed to lift herself onto her hooves.

It was time to die. Time to forget about her discovery with Slate. To throw away all of her knowledge on Nixie and Lada. To say goodbye to the alicorn trapped back in the ruins of Mount Ignis.

Time to leave her mother, her job, and all of her friends behind. To bid farewell to the cafe, where she, Locks, Amy, and Jessica would go between assignments to catch up and just talk to one another. That cafe where she had made a toast with Locks, a promise to meet up again after the Scars case was broken.

Scarlet turned to her cutie mark, that ever present magnifying glass. She grimaced, cursing it with the mangled words that came through her bloodstained teeth. She dragged herself another foot forward, opposing the Scars’ final attack with all that she could muster.

“Is it time?”

Scarlet shook her head, making her tumble before falling onto her knees. She gasped, coughing more blood out in front of her. Her eyes struggled to focus, trying desperately to stay open until the very end.

Two pairs of black legs stood against the snow in front of her. They paused, waiting for Scarlet to look up at their owner. Another voice came through, a panting voice riddled with exhaustion.The cold air billowed from the pony’s mouth as Scarlet took in the small, lithe form.

Scarlet’s eyes ached, tears starting to form despite having cried herself to oblivion. Seeing the face of a familiar pony was all she needed. She felt her weight bear down on her knees harder, all of the energy slowly creeping out of her body.

Jessica looked horrible. Her mane was tangled and worn, hair curling up on all sides. Her eyes were sagged with fatigue, deep bulges hanging underneath. Her smile was gone, and her form drooped, much like Scarlet’s.

Scarlet looked back up into her orange irises, wishing for the unicorn to say anything.

Jessica’s coat was soaked with her own tears. She looked at Scarlet with apologetic eyes. Her lips moved, though no sound came from them.

Scarlet looked at Jessica, confusion strewn about her dying face.

The black mare took another step forward.

“Scarlet,” her voice finally rang in Scarlet’s ears. “I’m sorry.”

“Is it time?”

The tears started to pour down Scarlet’s face again.

“Locks and Amy are dead.”

Her body froze in the snow. In that instance, she fell to the ground, not quite unconscious, but so close that only her senses of touch and hearing remained intact. She felt the cold ground hit her hard, the bite of the icy snow surrounding her.

A faint voice, muttering over time. It was impossible to hear. But she felt it there. A piercing cry erupted from the void. One final pull smashed what little remained of her consciousness to pieces.

Scarlet Trace felt her mind silently fade into the darkness.

Author's Notes:

2 of 4 new chapters. Enjoy!
G. R.

503: Curtain Call

Prior to Scarlet’s Arrival

“I don’t believe it,” Steele’s jaw hung open.

“We did everything we could,” the doctor walked over to the side of the bed, giving the Princesses and their prisoner enough room to enter. “But I think now I can offer a good reason for how she managed to survive.”

The group’s collective gaze met on the pony lying still on the table. Lily Sheen’s eyes and mouth had been closed, bruises and burn marks scattered about her large figure. Her wings were stretched out, the only fragment of her body that seemed unscathed.