We Found Your Hat

While Pixer and Logo sauntered off to the party, Loops chased after that hourglass fellow. Thanks to his wings, he kept pace. He saw that pony attempt to hide behind a random house, but Loops followed. When he traversed the corner, the tan pony was not there. “Huh?” Loops landed and looked around. “Where did he go?”

“Where did who go?” A voice suddenly popped up from behind, even though Loops had just looked behind him. “Do you mean me?”

Loops turned about. “Wah!” He found the hourglass one. “Where did you come from?”

The tan pony rolled his eyes and played with his spiked brown mane. “Why does everyone ask the same question?”

“...You mean, everypony?” the navy blue Pegasus hesitantly corrected.

The response resounded harshly, “Oh shut up! Look, if you know what's go-” The stranger backed up his head. “Loops. Your name is Loops.” The winged-one went wide-eyed and stepped back. “Oh? Do I have your attention now? Look, Loops, get the law enforcement. Go ahead! Oh wait, Ponyville doesn't have that. I for-got!” The mean-toned Earth Pony wagged his head. “I know, Rainbow Dash is coming this way. Go get her; I bet that will turn out well. I'll disappear the second you turn around, and if you somehow manage to follow me from there, I'll make you regret it. You can use your imagination for what will happen.”

Even after all that, Loops mustered enough courage to say, “You have Princess Twilight's crown.”

“Is that what this is about?” Eyes rolled again. “So what if I do? Are you going to stop me?” No answer. “That's what I thought. Loops, get over yourself. Did you really think you could take me on?” He spoke as if he knew the Pegasus, and while Loops wanted to ask about it, the hourglass struck more than enough fear to silence him. “Now then. Scurry home, child. I don't have time to mess with you. I said go HOME!” The loudness of voice shoved Loops back. Though, as an oddity, nopony else noticed.  “Come on. Are you so terrified that you can't even turn your head? Loops, I'm not having a good day. This is the final time, I tell you. Go home.” The pony took a deep breath. “NOW!” This final yell bellowed so deeply and fiercely that it was not ponily possible. Thus, Loops cringed and snapped both eyes shut.

Silence. There was no more sound. As such, the black-tailed pony opened one eye but found nopony. He unfolded his other eye hesitantly glancing about, but he didn't find that pony. Where had he gone?

“Hey, Loops!” a female voice cheeped from above. “What are you doing back here?”

Still consumed with fear, Loops held still; he could not get beyond what had just happened.

“Are you all right?” Rainbow Dash landed in front of him. “Hello?” Her head cocked and hoof raised waving in front of him. “Loops!”

“Yes?”

“Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost.” Either her perception was incredible or Loops was that easy to read. “Say something. You're starting to worry me.”

“Uhm... did you hear a yell?” he asked in a low tone.

“No. Why?”

“Nothing. Just wondering.”

“Okay. Hey, I was going to Pinkie's party. Aren't you supposed to be coming?” She pointed to her right. “Loops, come on, snap out of it!” Loops jolted back and quivered briefly. “Huh? Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. Are you normally like this? You weren't yesterday.” The stallion's shaking ceased, but he stared blankly to the side. “Ugh... nevermind. I'll be going to the party now. You can come, whenever you want. You know where to go, right?” Loops didn't answer. “Okay, whatever. See ya.” Rainbow hopped into the air and zoomed off leaving that scared-stiff pony by himself.

“Wait!” Loops called out. Hearing the noise, the cyan pony stopped mid-air and gazed back. He rushed over to her to say, “Do you know where Princess Twilight is?”

Rainbow's brow furled. “I don't know.”

Still gripped with intense terror, Loops barely managed to speak, “Her crown—the element.” His mouth shut right after that, though he clearly attempted to spread it open again. Regardless, his few words carried enough desperation for the other Pegasus catch.

“H-huh?” Dash neared him whilst squinting her eyes. “What about it? Loops, did something happen?”

“Somepony stole it!” With that belt, Loops finally shoved aside his fears. “I met him behind that house. I saw him with the Element of Magic, and when I tried to confront him, he scared me and then disappeared.” He sighed. “I'm sorry for not speaking sooner.”

Tangible understanding developed. “I don't know where she is, but let's go to her library. We better hurry, just in case.” Neither wanted to blow off Pinkie's party, but if somepony did snag the crown, then their priority would be to find it. Promptly the two of them zoomed to Twilight's home. Both of them carried enough wing strength to arrive in less than a minute.

Once landed, the flying Mare knocked on the door. “Twilight, are you home?” A little dragon answered the door.  His scales were a bland lavender, his underbelly a olive green, and his spikes vibrant green.

“Oh hey Rainbow.” The young one looked at her before giving Loops a once over. “Who is he?” he asked with suspicion.

“A friend-no time to explain-where's Twilight?”

“Uh...” The little one hesitated, staring off to the side. “She left this morning without telling me, but she did leave a note. She said she went to the Everfree Forest with a pony called Hatless.” Rainbow Dash abruptly bolted, but when Loops did not do the same, Dash screeched to a halt.

“Loops, come on!”

“What's going on?” the wingless child interjected.

“We'll explain later, Spike.” That was clearly the name of the Dragon, and Loops understood as  much. Loops, get your flank moving; we have to get to the Everfree.” Her front legs made a shove motion. The stallion reluctantly lifted off. He was not used to her pace.

“Okay, whatever.” After waving his hand carelessly, the Dragon marched back inside. “I'll just return to looking for Twilight's Element. How coul-”

Rainbow had some mental facilities. If Spike were to be searching for the crown, he obviously didn't know where it was. She exclaimed her surprise, “It's missing!?”

“Yes! Ugh.” Spike's hands emphatically whooshed to the side. “I was gonna tell you that, but you didn't give me the chance.”  They swung vehemently to his other side. “Is something wrong, though?”

The rainbow-mane pony ignored his question and asked one of her own. “Did she say anything else?”

“No. That was it.”

Dash prepared to speed away, but Loops delayed in order to answer the child's question, “Somepony stole Twilight's crown, and we think she might be in danger.”

“Oh no!” Spike's mouth dropped, eyes widened, and hands dangled. “We have to help her.”

With brows firmly lowered, the mare stated, “Just us, Spike. Tell the others if we're not back in five minutes. Now, Loops, let's go!” He nodded and accompanied her, and both flew away at top speeds.