Prologue: The Missing Element
"Come on! There has to be something here!"
"Calm down. We're all worried about her. We can only hope that she's safe."
"Oh, if only Twilight was here."
"Yeah. She could help us track AJ down easy!"
"Oooooooh! Look at this!"
"Huh? What is it?"
"An amulet?"
"What's with that design? It's very peculiar."
"Huh? What's that mean? Is it a food? What does it taste like?"
"Pinkie!"
"I'm not rambling again, am I? Anyway, I've seen this design before on the cover of a story Granny Pie would tell me from time to time!"
"Really? What was it about?"
"It was a story about an old world, full of beings called 'Youkai.' They were magical, powerful, and, unfortunately, rather savage. They would fight for any reason, even just saying hello. This behavior spread to ponies and even gods that were near them. One that stood out in particular was Reimu Hakurei, the shrine maiden that watched over that world. She would lash out at others rather swiftly, even harming those who were actively trying to help her."
"Oh my!"
"How rude!"
"Yeah, she was. But in the end, she always did the right thing for that world. The Scarlet Mist, The Missing Spring, The Corrupt Moon, she had all sorts of adventures. One story that always stood out to me, though; The Demystified Feast. Why? The 'villain's evil plan' was to gather those like her; PARTY ANIMALS!"
"Gah!"
"Eep!"
"Pinkie!"
"Sorry. Anyway, the story has another side to it, with someone else stealing all the credit. But here's the strange thing; eventually, it all just up and, well, vanished. Just gone. No real reason. One day, all were there, alive and well, then the next day came, and then there were none."
"..."
"..."
"... What does that mean?"
"It was once part of a nursery rhyme, called, 'Ten Little Guards.' If you're talking about the world, well, it's just what it sounds like. It's sad really. I would have liked to meet Ibuki. She sounds fun."
"Wait... Reimu... Ah! I've heard that name before! It's the mare Twilight had to have an important meeting with!"
"Finally! A lead!"
"It's not much of one."
"Any lead is a lead. Let's go!... Huh? Who are you?"
"..."
"Whoa! Get back, sister! Get back!"
"Don't try anything funny, or you'll have to deeeaaaaAAAAAHHHHHHH!!"
"KYAAAAH!"
"AHHHHHH!!!"
"HEEEEELP!"
"... And then there were none..."
