"So what are we looking at, for this one?" Golden Luck asked, as the train puffed along. The five of them were sitting around a table, and a folder was laid out before them. Unlike most of the other missions, this one was fairly thin.

"Shortly after we defeated...after Ponyville was saved, Twilight got a letter. The strange thing about this one is that it wasn't brought by the mail service or any other normal means. It just showed up in her mailbox, as far as she could tell." Angel said, staring down at the file.

Greyhoof stroked his chin, thinking. "It's quite possible that whoever sent this used a spell similar to the one we use to report to Princess Twilight. Though, it takes a fairly powerful unicorn to be that precise without a preestablished link."

Angel shook her head, taking out the letter. "That doesn't seem to be the case for whoever wrote this." clearing her throat, she read aloud.

Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,

I wasn't sure if I should write to you, or to Canterlot. On the one hoof, you're the Princess of Friendship, and this certainly seems like a friendship problem. On the other, the events that have taken place over the past few days seem to be highly unusual, very magical, and I thought it might be best brought to Canterlot's attention.

When I heard about Project Starburst, though, I knew that contacting you was the best option. If anything, I would guess that somepony is using their magic on my friend...allow me to explain.

Recently, my friend, Fire Ruby, has been acting very strange. He often disappears for hours at a time, the same time that one of the mares from the village will be gone. When they reappear, the mare will often seem worn out, and require a large amount of rest. They seem fine afterwards, but my investigations have shown they've been visiting Ruby on a regular basis.

Even this wasn't enough to worry me, until I went to visit him late one evening, to return a quill. The sounds I heard merited further attention, and when I peeked in a window, Ruby seemed to be glowing. What he was doing, I dare not write in this letter, but suffice to say I now understand why he has been taking mares. As quickly and quietly as I could, I returned to my home.

You must understand. Fire Ruby is a gentle, kind stallion, but the pony I saw that night was nothing like him. I am concerned that something or someone has changed him. Please, Princess, if you can't come personally, send those ponies to help me...to help Ruby.

Thank you
Sapphire Stars

"The first question that comes to mind is how did they know about us? Even if it was something that was getting spread around, we've only just started." Golden Luck remarked, frowning a bit as she stared at the letter. "I mean, we literally were on our way back from our first assignment. Unless Twilight sent out ads or something..."

"I can't see the Princess doing that." Cloud Prism noted, as Angel Grace put the letter back into the file. "Unless someone from Carousal told this Sapphire Stars about us, there's really no way for her to know."

"I think, at the moment, we should focus on the main issue. Her friend is in trouble." Spiral Dream pointed out. "She could be in trouble. Princess Twilight put us together for this reason. For better or worse, she knows about us. Doesn't that mean either she really need us, or is a threat, and therefore we should deal with it as soon as possible?"

Silence settled over the car as the occupants all looked at Spiral Dream in surprise. It was Golden Luck who finally broke the silence, shock still evident in her tone.

"Never figured you for the threat assessment type." she remarked, shaking her head.

Spiral Dream shifted slightly, her face tinged red. "We've already faced three dangerous enemies, and every time we've barely made it out. I just thought it was time to start taking our mission seriously, before..."

Greybeard nodded, cutting in smoothly. "Spiral Dream is right. The Princess is counting on us." He looked around at the team, a slight smile on his face. "I think we've proven that we can handle the responsibility, so it's time for us to start to show our stuff. This mission could really go in a lot of different directions. What do you think, Angel Grace?"

Angel looked between the others, startled. "M-me? Well, I don't think that this...this mare would contact us directly if she was trying to capture us or anything...um, the circumstances are strange, but..." she shook her head. "I'll know a bit more when we get there."

Greybeard nodded slowly, sitting back in his chair with a thoughtful expression. While the occasional conversation between the others broke out, both he and Angel Grace were silent for the rest of the ride, the latter spending most of her time looking out the window with a distant expression on her face.

The sun was beginning to set by the time the train pulled into the station, and the five ponies were the only passengers to disembark. A light blue unicorn was waiting by the platform, and when she saw them, her face lit up.

"Excuse me." she said, coming over. "Are you...I mean, this is the only train from Ponyville, so..."

Greyhoof nodded. "We're Princess Twilight's special team. Perhaps you could tell us a bit more about what's going on, and how you found us?"

She shook her head rapidly, pointing back to town proper. "We don't have time for a prolonged explanation! Fire Ruby is going to be headed out soon! It's been three days since..." her voice choked up, and she lowered her head.

Spiral Dream put a hoof on her head, smiling. "Don't worry, Sapphire Stars. We're here to help your friend. Can you tell us a bit more about his activities while we're on our way there?"

Sapphire looked up, her eyes watering. "Of course. This way, please." she turned around, motioning down the path. As the others followed her, she explained. "It all started a couple weeks ago. Everything was normal, Fire Ruby was just coming back from a job...that night, it was the first night that he started acting strange."

"What's his job?" Cloud Flare asked, with an aside glance to Angel. Somehow, he couldn't figure out how, she was taking notes as she walked. It looked like she was stopping every few feet, writing something, and hurrying to catch up. Little mare could put on the speed when she wanted!

"Oh, he's a transport pony. He escorts shipments between towns, and his last one was to some town down the river." Sapphire explained, nodding at the river flowing a little ways off. "Can't remember the exact name. He came back, though, and that night, the first mare disappeared. Ever since then, every three nights like clockwork. And tonight..."

"Tonight's the night?" Golden Luck asked. "A different mare each time, right?"

"That's right." Sapphire responded, taking a deep breath. "He's been taking mares to his home, I know not how, and..." she swallowed, closing her eyes and turning her head away. "And he's been mating..."

After a moment, Cloud Flare spoke up, his tone careful. "Is there any pattern to it? Any mares he seems to pick out?"

Sapphire looked at Cloud Flare, tilting her head in thought. "None that I can see. He's been working his way through the mares of the town at random, as far as I can tell.'

Cloud Flare nodded. "I have a plan, but I'm going to need your help, Spiral Dream." he said. "Really, all your help, but it depends on Spiral..."

Not long later, Spiral Dream was walking down the street, glancing around. It had taken a few minutes to convince everypony to return to their homes, but flashing the emblem of the Princess had done wonders. So far, she'd checked over half the town, and the streets were empty besides herself. It really seemed like this plan was going to work.

The sound of hoof-falls caught her attention, and she turned her head. Still nopony around. Her heartbeat increasing, she moved a little bit faster, turning down the next street. She'd barely made it a few houses in before the sound returned. Louder...and closer. She reached for her magic instinctively as she cantered towards the end of the street. By this point, she didn't dare look back, focused on her goal. When Spiral reached the end of the street, she prepared to make the next turn, but something was in her way. Something large.

Spiral Dream looked up slowly at the deep red Earth Pony standing before her. He was big, even for a stallion, though not excessively so, though he was certainly well built. His black mane and tail were fairly messed, and there was a strange look in his eyes. She didn't have much time to dwell on it, though, as her gaze was slowly moving down as if pulled. Between his hind legs, he was sporting a long, thick erection, and the more she stared at it, the more it seemed to dominate her thoughts.

A mission, she had a mission. She knew what she had to do, why she had been chosen for-

"Come."

The single word rang across her mind. The stallion, who she presumed was Fire Ruby, had turned and started walking, and she was following. Spiral followed him to a nearby house, joining him inside before she fully realized what she had done. The door clicked shut, and the lock secured.

Author's Note

Next time, on Project Starburst: Clop?!