Operation: Desert Horn

    Spike's eyes swayed like the pendulum of the grandfather clock as the meeting had come closer to starting. Last night, Twilight told him that she was going to leave extremely early, allowing her plenty of time to browse the royal library and assured he didn't need to go with her when she left for the palace. He fumbled with the first-class express ticket she gave to him and once more glared at the clock.

This can't be right, he thought, She's never late to meetings.

      The royal sisters had entered the meeting room and sat near Spike as a couple guards followed in and sternly stood by the entrance. Unlike most sections of the palace, the board room was modest with a short table made of oak with a granite top that sat in front of a fire place with carvings of mythical creatures and displayed symbols of a language long lost. For some time the room had been stale with the constant chiming of the clock only breaking the silence.

"Where is Twilight," asked Luna, "we were expecting her here twenty minutes ago."

"Probably in the library," stated Spike huffing, "for a large, expensive palace the least you could do is put a coloring book or something on the table."

"This room isn't a fun house, Spike," Celestia explained, "and it hasn't had any action since the Lunar war. We used this room to discuss war strategy in secret."

Spike argued, "well if what you're discussing so secret why am I allowed here?"

"We were meeting on the topic of troop deployment and whether we should station some by the border of Saddle Arabia," Luna replied and continued, "We are concerned that misguided warheads from there continue to pelt the cities on the border, though our sources have concluded that the Saddle goverment had no part. The last thing we need is the Arabians misinterpreting our intentions and have them prepare for war. The only reason our debate is 'secret' is that our subjects need not to fear any of these actions." She glanced at the clock noticing thirty minutes had passed since the meeting was intended to commence and sighed adding, "surely she should've been here by now."

"Well you know her, always gazing at a book," Spike guessed, shrugging.

"Was there anything out of place at Golden Oaks when you woke," questioned Celestia.

"No, not really," assured Spike.

"Did you hear or see anything out of the ordinary last night," Luna inquired.

"No, I was asleep." Spike rocked in his chair, sipping his tea. "Isn't it your job to patrol the night?"

"Why would I ask if I hadn't noticed anything on my rounds," Luna reasoned.

"Your highness, have I permission to speak," one of the guards requested.

"Yes, you may speak," Celestia agreed, motioning to a nearby servent for a drink.

"One of our guards returned recently from the library and reported no sign of Princess Twilight and the captin of the watchponies said he never saw her enter the city." With a horrified look he added, "I have no more evidence of her whereabouts or lack of, but I think she may have been ponynaped!"

"Ponynaped," exclaimed Spike.

"Now, Spike let's not jump -" Celestia reasoned.

"Then what do you think she's doing insted of being here? You know she wouldn't skip a test or lesson." The room grew silent as the guards gawked at the baby dragon yelling at their princess in such a fashion. "We need to investigate! She can't leave like this! Not like -" Spike's creeks radiated a deep scarlet as salty liquid tricked down his face, words progressing into mumbles with each vowel.

"silence," Luna's Caunterlot voice resonated throughout the halls and added in a more soothing tone, "We would love to help you, unfortunately crime has peaked ever since the attacks and a large portion of our investigative team is comissioned by the border, with the remaining currently investigating an alleged Arabian lead crime ring whose actions jeopardize our national security."

"I believe I know of a pony who can point out what has happened," Celestia smiled as she motioned to her servent to ready her carriage for Ponyville.

Last night

    The sun had long since reposed beneath the horizon; the moon luminated as it danced on the zenith of the heavens as the clouds observed it waltzing amongst the stars. The only life in Ponyville was the few leaving the taverns who bothered to stay open and the occasional flyby from Luna.

    Three ponies approached the library: two stallions and a mare, both stallions clad in dark turbins, the mare a unicorn in a grey burqa. The mare unsheathed a grappling hook from her saddlebags, hooking the balcony as the three ascended. Nearing the window, the beige stallion equipped a knife and carefully carved it, perfectly detaching it from its frame and proceeded towards Twilight's chamber. The mare levitated a scarab necklace from her bag and put it on Twilight's neck as the grey stallion gaged her and sealed her weary frame in a burlap sack. They exited through the window and one stallion sealed the window back in position.

    Twilight, collecting what was happening, struggled as a dark aura grasped her like a boa constrictor with each futile attempt. She gasped for breath and slowly drifted out of consciousness.

The current day in Ponyville

"Who'd you have in mind to investigate, Celestia," questioned Spike as the duo trotted toward the Carousel Boutique.

"Let's just say she has a niche for the finer details," She alluded as the door bell jingled.

    Rarity dashed about the shop, levitating multiple fabrics and dyes while balancing other sewing supplies. Having heard the bell she halted and for a few moments panted, staring at the two as she regained her breath.

"Welcome, Princess Celestia and Spike " - she bowed in courtesy - " what brings you here your majesty?"

Celestia replied," Earlier today, Twilight was supposed to meet with Luna and I at the palace and my guards never saw her enter the castle. I'm afraid that Twilight might of gone missing and I require your help to investigate."

"Oh my stars! I do hope wherever she is, she's alright," stated Rarity,"but of course, I'll help, darlings; although I have a large request for my summer line in Manehattan, I cannot simply abandon my friend."

    The three set out for the library; as they neared Golden Oak they noticed a familiar yellow pegasus pearching on a branch as she lulled a baby bird to sleep.

"Hey, Fluttershy," Spike greeted as the unsuspecting pegasus leaped from her pearch, hitting her head on a higher branch.

"Ohh," she moaned hovering down, "hello, Spike, if you could, might you try to greet me in a lower tone when I'm tending to the animals, please?"

"Sorry about that, Shy, I didn't think I would have startled you that much," Spike apologized.

"Oh, it's alright," Fluttershy accepted,"so... what's going on everypony?"

Celestia replied,"we have suspicion of Twight being ponynaped and we're investigating her dissappance."

"Oh no! I hope she's fine, might I tag along," asked Fluttershy.

"Why not," Spike agreed, "the more, the merrier!"

Finally the group reached their destination, Rarity's horn begun to illuminate to library when,

Crash!

"Rainbow," Rarity cried, "hasn't Twilight told you that you're supposed to use the door enough? It's bad enough that you're tampering with a crime scene."

"How was I supposed to know this was a -" Rainbow paused to process what Rarity said, "wait did you say 'crime scene'?"

"I haven't explained to you, my bad," she apologized and added," we suspect that Twilight was ponynaped and I'm investigating her dissappance."

    Rarity then continued to scan the tree as she hovered over a section of the floor.

"Ouch," she cried,"when I scanned the floor, my spell detected a very special gem and it seemes that it was enchanted," Rarity explained, "whomever had this gem clearly doesn't want anypony to discover the residue of it with a spell."

"What type of gem might this be," inquired Celestia.

"It seemes to resemble a very rare gem: 'Scarabus', it's only been discovered in one region: 'Wadi Hornifa' , a valley located in central Saddle Arabia." She followed the trail of residue to the window and observed,"the trail leads here and it appeares that somepony dismantled the window and resealed it as well as the trail of residue might be enchanted with dark magic."

"I thought we whooped that Sombra guy. Who else knows dark magic," Rainbow asked.

Celestia explained,"although dark magic is forbidden in Equestria and books on it are banned, there are still a few books left outside of the country and items enchanted."

    Rarity exited Twilight's room and noticed some scratch-marks on the railing and stated," there appears to be some scratches, this might suggest the ponynapper used a grappling hook to avoid detection."

"Hey, Rarity," asked Spike," when Pinkie had her cake eaten, why didn't you help to investigate?"

"Did somepony say my name," asked Pinkie appearing as coming from no where, " how's your search for Twilight going?"

"How did -" asked Rarity.

Rainbow interrupted "Come on, Rarity, you've been here long enough to know it's just Pinkie Pie."

Pinkie explained, " no, silly, the author wrote it that way!"

Rarity stated,"I'm not going to ask about what you just said. The only reason I didn't search for the cake is since my spell only detects material changes, such as a dent in the wall, since the cake was made mostly of natural ingredients such as eggs and milk, I was unable to decipher who did it."

"I'm sorry, but I need to set the sun and must go," stated Celestia, " it seemes like everypony has made good progress on this case. Farewell, My little Ponies!"

"Bye Princess," everypony, excluding Celestia greeted.

"What now," spike asked.

"It seemes like we have all the evidence pointing to the valley, though it's awfully late, I suggest we wait until morning to set out for her."

"Rarity," Rainbow scolded,"Twilight has the newest 'Daring D'- I mean we have our friend missing, we can't abandon her!"

"Wadi Hornifa is miles away and is a huge area," Rarity reasoned," we need all the energy we have if we're traveling."

"Okay, fiiine," Rainbow Dash whined,"it's just that I don't like knowing she might be miles away, extremely injured. When I find out who took her i'll-".

Rarity interjected,"Rainbow, darling, save that for when we find the culprit."

"Alright, I'll bring Applejack here with me tomorrow and I'll fill her in," said Rainbow and she flew off, shouting her goodbyes.