Symphony of Peril

by Manaphy

Rating: teen
Tags: Mystery, Adventure, Dark
Length: 33570

After a frightening experience, Octavia joins up with some of her friends in order to figure out who is after her and why.

Everypony has at least one secret. Octavia knows this, as do many other ponies in Equestria. However, some ponies have much darker secrets, one pony's directly involving Octavia. When a sudden chain of events culminates in one of the most frightening moments of Octavia's life, she joins up with friends new and old as they attempt to figure out who is after her and why.

However, they'll have to survive and conquer the challenges set before them. And piecing together the puzzle will be anything but simple. Octavia just hopes that the solution can be quick and that nopony gets hurt along the way.

Thanks to ShadowStrike11 for pre-reading.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2016-01-21 00:25:02 UTC

Setting the Stage

Everypony had at least one secret. For Octavia, hers was one nopony would even believe at first, especially if it came from word of mouth.

She loathed the pretentiousness the upper crust of Canterlot exuded.

It wasn't as though she wasn't fond of luxury and social etiquette, but something about how the poshest of ponies behaved rubbed her the wrong way. She'd roll her eyes whenever somepony whined about not getting special treatment at a restaurant or wasn't recognized by literally everypony who trotted past them. If she could, she'd trudge up to each and every one of them and tell them to tone down the ego. Luckily, those days of having to mingle with them were few and far between.

Unluckily, today was one of those days. It was a social gathering known as the Twilight Ball, a relatively new phenomenon only in its second year. All of the posh ponies who turned any Grand Galloping Gala into a dreary bore were present, and as one of the most famous members of the Royal Canterlot Orchestra, Octavia was required to show up.

Even ponies who found themselves among the elite yearned for some peace, quiet, and relaxation; the pungent perfumes and dresses which exuded money over taste were a blockade as far as Octavia was concerned.

"When can this dull day end?" muttered Octavia. She sighed. "I just want to practice music and sleep the rest of the night."

At least the ballroom in Canterlot Castle was as lively as ever. Marble pillars jutted from the floor and up to the skies. The violet walls and gold trim coupled with the stained glass windows brightened the room. Octavia's eyes twinkled as she studied the environment; it was truly an architectural marvel. Even the table she sat at had a luxurious aura to it, the white cloth atop it was spotless—for now—and the flowers adorning it in the center filled her nostrils with a rosy aroma. The smooth surface sent chills through her forelegs at the touch.

And sitting to her right was the best part of it all.

A white unicorn with a bright blue mane and purple shades: Vinyl Scratch.

Octavia turned to Vinyl, making eye contact. "Is everything okay, Vinyl?" she asked.

Vinyl shrugged. "Yes," she said. Talking wasn't something Vinyl was fond of, though if needed, she could string some sentences together. Music, techno tunes blaring from her famous turntable, were her main methods of expressing herself, even if Octavia's ear drums cried out for an alternative. But it also warmed Octavia's heart at the thought for reasons she couldn't explain.

"Are you getting along with the other guests?"

With pursed lips, Vinyl shook her head.

"I can't blame you there." Another sigh left Octavia's lips. "Honestly, it's as though none of these ponies know the concept of fun. You know what I mean, right?"

Vinyl nodded. She then crossed her forelegs and rolled her eyes underneath her shades.

"I wonder if anypony else is feeling the same way?" Octavia rubbed her muzzle. "Maybe there's just one pony who isn't so full of themselves that I can talk to." Scanning the room once more, Octavia noticed most of the patrons wearing frilly dresses or black suits, all of them adorned with smug, ghastly smirks which made her wince. It was as though haughtiness was given life.

Wincing a tad, she shifted her gaze toward the leftmost corner of the room. For once, the ponies present wore normal faces and their dresses struck the perfect balance between luxury and expression. Octavia turned back to Vinyl. "Do you think we could get away with moving elsewhere?" she asked.

Vinyl froze in place for a moment. Gently tapping the table for a moment, a faint smirk decorated her visage. "Why do ya ask?" she responded.

"We'll probably suffocate out of boredom if we're forced to spend any time with—" Without warning, a shoulder brushed against Octavia's head. Aches covered the stricken portion as she rubbed it, turning to spot Jet Set and Upper Crust trotting past with ugly scowls. There were more creases in their scrunched muzzle than she could count. "As I was saying, Vinyl, if we have to spend time with such rude ponies, I'd probably try to devise ways of getting kicked out instead of just 'enjoying' the event."

"Why would ya wanna get kicked out?"

"You know how I feel about these places." Octavia pouted, groaning. "Same goes for the rotten attitude. There's a reason why I prefer Ponyville to Canterlot."

Vinyl merely nodded with a slight smile. Octavia knew it usually meant she understood.

"So then, there's a place in the far left corner of the room." Octavia pointed to the region, the crowd consisting of a few familiar faces. All of them were decorated with radiant, natural smiles instead of the faux ones most attendees plastered on their faces. "They all seem friendly."

Bringing her gaze to the area in question, Vinyl bobbed her head once more.

"The problem is that such a society doesn't take kindly to moving far away from our assigned seats."

"Yeah, it's kinda stupid," muttered Vinyl, her tone blunter than a damaged sword.

"So, shall we chat with them?"

Bobbing her head again, Vinyl donned a bright grin.

"Marvelous."

Without wasting a second, both Octavia and Vinyl stood upright, pushing their chairs in and trekking across the tiled floor toward their destination. A heaviness lifted from Octavia's shoulders as she abandoned the table, her muscles loosening as well. There was something oddly liberating about disregarding such pointless norms and forging her path. It was breaking free from the shackles of conformity in Octavia's mind, being able to breathe once more. The skip in Vinyl's step as she trotted alongside her hinted she felt the same way.

The repetition of clacks ended as soon as they were a few hoofsteps away from the party in question. Sitting at one of the tables was none other than Rarity, her purple and curly mane standing out in the light. Chances were she attended the Twilight Ball alongside her five other friends due to her status in Equestrian society. Being the embodiment of any emotion must've been exhausting work; at least Octavia saw it that way.

Adorning Rarity was the frilled dress she wore at the Grand Galloping Gala a year or so ago, sparkling as brightly as ever. Octavia always smiled a tad whenever she spotted her, the fashionista especially helpful during her plight for a concert in the Crystal Empire. The quest for the right wardrobe was something Octavia knew she'd never forget.

Rarity's younger sister, Sweetie Belle, sat right next to her. The filly's beaming grin forced Octavia to adopt a similar expression at the sight. She refused to sit still, bouncing around like a spring in her seat. At least her eating habits were nowhere near as messy, always making sure to use her napkin if needed and not gobbling up her plate like a vacuum. Her behavior was rather adorable as far as Octavia was concerned.

And seated across from them were two members of the Apples, Applejack and Apple Bloom. Both wore smiles of their own and worked through a mouthwatering Prench apple tart. The fruity, crisp scent tickled Octavia's nostrils. She'd probably ask for a quick taste if she was starving, though her packed stomach argued the opposite.

Rarity glanced to her right, spotting Octavia and Vinyl. "Hello, dears," she greeted. "Have you been enjoying the ball?"

"Not particularly," confessed Octavia. "Some of the ponies we've butted shoulders with have been—" Octavia rubbed the back of her neck "—not the kindest of ponies."

"I'm so sorry to hear that."

"No need to apologize." Octavia paused for a moment. "Anyway, how are you?"

"I'm feeling simply divine." Rarity placed her hooves atop the table. "The food here has been exquisite. I've never had a meal as good as mine in a long time."

"I'll give you that. The food does have a wonderful taste to it." Wonderful was an understatement in her eyes. The salad Octavia ordered a few hours ago was sublime; the dressings and the fruits which accompanied it pleasing her taste buds at the thought. "So, how's everything else?"

"It's fine. I've stuck with my friends throughout the night, so I don't think I've had the same kinds of experiences you've had."

"However, there's somethin' fishy about this ball," added Applejack. She assumed a bemused expression, brow raised. "I don't know why, but I can't shake the feelin' that somepony's been watchin' us."

Octavia tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

"Just call it a hunch, but I think somepony's lookin' for trouble." Pausing, Applejack then straightened her seating posture. "I saw a stallion sneakin' around the ballroom earlier, and I think I saw somepony else with the funniest look."

"I saw her as well," said Rarity. "She was the one with the handkerchief, right?"

"Yep."

"There was something odd about her. Maybe we should ask her if everything is alright if we see her again."

Octavia rolled her shoulders, lips pursed. "Perhaps they're just the haughty types I mentioned before," she said. However, a tingling sensation coursed through her spine. A peculiar uneasiness swirled throughout the room, tightening her throat for a moment. "Well, maybe somepony should keep an eye on them."

"Don't worry, dear." Rarity forced a smile on her face. "The Royal Guard is supposedly looking into it."

Octavia wiped her brow. "That's a relief."

"What would they even want?" asked Sweetie. She arched an eyebrow. "And why would they even wanna cause trouble in the first place? It's just some fancy event."

"Maybe they're tryin' to steal some bits," Apple Bloom suggested. "That's what I think is goin' on."

Vinyl trotted toward the table and bobbed her head. She raised her hoof and cracked a smile.

"So you think the same thing?"

Another nod was Vinyl's response.

"Gotcha."

In a flash, Rarity turned to face Vinyl, their eyes gazing into each other. "Who would your friend be?" asked Rarity.

"I'm Vinyl Scratch," she answered, adjusting her shades. "It's nice to meet ya."

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well, darling." The two then shook hooves. "I hope you're having a fun time here."

Vinyl shrugged, head cocked. "I'm in the same boat as Tavi."

"That's unfortunate." Rarity sighed. Grabbing a nearby glass, she took a sip of water. "Hopefully, things liven up in a positive and glamorous way."

"Anything positive would do," said Octavia. She twiddled her mane for a moment.

If something positive or fun crossed paths with her, it'd only salvage the Twilight Ball in her eyes. Having the chance to perform a solo in front of those who appreciated music would've been a start, given how much melodies soothed her ears even during the most stressful times. However, with not a peep reaching her regarding a solo or even a concert, such desires were likely stuck as dreams.

"Do you wanna join us?" asked Apple Bloom; she leaned closer to Octavia and Vinyl. "C'mon, it'll be fun!"

Octavia and Vinyl shared glances with each other. A moment later, Vinyl nodded; Octavia responded in kind.

"We'll join you," said Octavia, bringing her gaze back to the group. "We'd be honored to spend time with you."

"That's wonderful!" Rarity cheered. A radiant grin was plastered on her face. "Please take a seat and make yourselves comfortable."

Octavia and Vinyl scanned the room for a moment. Spotting a few unoccupied chairs off to the side, they slid them over to where the group was before sitting down. A slight chill covered the seats, the hairs of Octavia's coat standing up the moment she touched the smooth metal. At least the backrest comfortably hugged her body.

"Octavia," said Rarity as she locked eyes with her. "Do you have any plans for playing music tonight?"

Octavia shook her head. "Sadly, I don't," she replied. "The Royal Canterlot Orchestra's instructions were to just show up and exude class throughout the event." Faint chuckles left her lips. "Those weren't their exact words, but that's what they were stressing in their invitation. And if they did phrase it like that, it wouldn't surprise me."

"How come?"

"The Royal Canterlot Orchestra is filled with some—" Octavia gently twirled her hoof around "—interesting characters." Another slow laugh escaped her mouth, cheeks reddened. "Vinyl can vouch for me."

"I hope they're at least friendly and sociable. And it's a shame that you're not playing tonight, as I adore your exquisite music. It's the most marvelous antidote for my ears."

Smirking, Octavia's cheeks flushed a little. "Why thank you. I do appreciate your compliments."

"You're welcome, darling." Rarity turned to face Vinyl. "And what brings you here?"

"Just hanging out with Tavi," Vinyl softly answered. "It's nice spending time with her, though I wish the Twilight Ball wasn't so—" Vinyl winced and gnashed her teeth "—so pretentious and boring."

"I can agree with ya on that one," said Applejack. She raised a hoof and donned a bemused expression. "It makes the Grand Galloping Gala look like one of Pinkie Pie's parties."

"It makes a monotonous business meeting look exciting," Octavia murmured. She yawned, stretching her forelegs out. "Anyway, does anypony have something planned after this winds down?"

Vinyl merely shook her head.

"I'm probably gonna get some shuteye when I get back home. Same goes for Apple Bloom."

Without warning, Apple Bloom raised her hoof. "But what if I—"

"Ya can't stay up past midnight, remember?"

Pouting, Apple Bloom groaned and ruffled her brow. "Fine."

"How about you, Rarity?"

"We're planning on doing the same when we get back," said Rarity. Sweetie Belle slowly nodded in agreement, yawns escaping her throat and eyes half-open. "I have some orders for Sassy Saddles and Sapphire Shores I need to tidy up for tomorrow. I can't waste much time on those."

"You've met Sapphire Shores as well?" Leaning closer to Rarity, Octavia's lips curled into a faint smile. "That's wonderful!" She'd only met Sapphire once in her life, though the experience was definitely unforgettable. Something about the star's personality and cheerful demeanor brightened even the dimmest of rooms. "Was she as lively as I recall?"

"I don't know what your experience with her was, but I'd say she was marvelous."

"That's how I'd—"

"Octavia Melody!" a voice hollered from afar.

Octavia's throat tightened a little. Rarely did anypony use her full name, let alone shout it in such a commanding tone. Slowly peeking behind her, she noticed a burly stallion wearing a tuxedo approaching her. Black shades dangled from his neck and his pale blue coat highlighted the wrinkles on his forehead. A putrid stench filled the air, Octavia cringing and shielding her nose for a moment. Yet that wasn't the only scent coming from the stallion.

There was another, undefinable scent he carried. It was also one Octavia twinged at; the scent forbade something serious as opposed to being a pungent perfume. It wasn't what she'd define as a typical smell.

However, her eyes were a bit droopy. Maybe she was just getting drowsy.

That had to be it.

"Octavia Melody, you know very well where you're supposed to be," the stallion continued. He huffed and puffed, a hoof pressing on his chest as he stood as tall as possible. "You're supposed to be over on the stage performing a solo for everypony, remember?"

Octavia arched an eyebrow. She'd received no notes regarding a performance, let alone a solo featuring her. Unless the mail was accidentally lost among a sea of envelopes in the delivery process, she was never scheduled to be up on stage. Perhaps the stallion was somepony's assistant; Octavia noticed some stains on his tuxedo and the misaligned tie around him. Those finer details struck out the odds of him being an esteemed assistant. Then there were the strange characters the others told her about.

But she couldn't disappoint the Royal Canterlot Orchestra if they needed her. If she refused to obey the orchestra, she'd have to curl up in her blanket and hide from the consequences.

"I must have not received the note," Octavia answered at last. She exhaled, muscles loosening. "My apologies, but who are you?"

"I'm W—Willow Wisp," the stallion answered, providing a business card. However, his name was hastily scribbled on with a black marker as opposed to the meticulously clean writing the Royal Canterlot Orchestra stressed. A small portion was even scribbled out. However, the logos decorating the card alongside the name checked out. "I'm serving the Royal Canterlot Orchestra for today."

"That's—a unique name." Octavia tilted her head. "No offense."

"You have no idea how often I get that." Willow feigned a snicker. He then motioned a hoof toward the back wall, an elevated platform completely unattended nearby. "Hurry up. You mustn't be late."

Octavia pushed her chair away from the table and then stood up. Without warning, Willow patted Octavia's back, earning him a scowl from the latter. "Please don't be so pushy."

"I won't be if you move faster."

Octavia rolled her eyes. Straightening her posture, she glanced back to everypony back at the table and waved.

"Good luck, Octavia," said Rarity. "We're supporting you all the way!"

Vinyl simply nodded, cracking a wide smile.

"Thanks for the support, everypony," Octavia responded, a sheepish smile across her face.

With a deep breath, she then weaved her way through the chairs and tables scattered about the room. The curious glances she received from the other patrons weren't unusual, given how being pulled from a table to a stage was bound to garner attention. Yet of the ponies gazing at her, some watched her like a hawk. It sent shivers down her spine, particularly some of the more well-adorned mares covered from head to hoof in jewelry. There was a vileness which emanated from them.

At least playing the cello would relieve some of the internal tension. It always did.

Music was her love.

She just hoped nothing would yank her from playing such soothing melodies.

Continuing her way across the room, weaving through furniture as though she was on an obstacle course, Octavia arrived at the stage. Yet as she exhaled and awaited her instrument, two other ponies joined her with perplexed visages. One was a pale blue mare named Beauty Brass, her pinkish dress perfect for blending in with the other haughty ponies.

The other was a purple stallion known as Parish Nandermane, only a tie adorning his neck. From Octavia's brief encounters with him, fashion was never something he considered; he'd flail his hooves about as he tried to put a tie on, eventually sighing and trotting out with it crooked or in a bundled mess.

Neither Brass nor Parish had been known for cracking a smile, let alone anything resembling a facial expression outside of wrinkly frustration or featureless boredom. While Octavia was somewhat reserved herself, she conveyed more expressions in a day than what Brass or Parish showed in a year. She sometimes wondered if she behaved in such a way as to earn the cold shoulder from them, but her interactions with them were few and far between.

Not to mention they refused to crack smiles even if requested. One would have to beg for them if they needed one.

And upon recalling the pair, chills coursed through Octavia's spine upon spotting them with tilted heads and arched brows. Both of them being replaced by changelings who didn't do their homework was one such possibility. Despite this, there wasn't the thinness in the air associated with the presence of changelings.

"What are you two doing here?" asked Brass, her sharp tone like claws on a chalkboard. "I thought this was supposed to be my solo."

"It's supposed to be my solo, not yours," Parish hissed under his breath. He pouted. "Trying to steal the show, are we?"

"Funny." Brass averted her gaze from Parish, rolling her eyes. "I would've said the same about you." Pausing for a second, she then shot a glare at Octavia, the latter stepping back a little. "And why are you here, Octavia?"

"I was told to show up here for a solo as well," said Octavia. She shrugged, a tingling sensation forming at the back of her head. "Did a Willow Wisp ask you to show up?"

Both Brass and Parish nodded.

"He told me to show up here as well."

In a flash, the two shuddered, making eye contact with Octavia.

"Excuse me?" Parish blurted out. "Did you say Willow Wisp?"

Octavia nodded. "I did."

"Willow Wisp asked me to come up and perform a solo as well," Brass added. She rubbed her muzzle. "Do you think this was a misunderstanding?"

"I doubt it."

"How come?"

Exhaling, Octavia gently tapped the stage's floor, ear-splitting clacks reaching her ears. She twitched, cheeks somewhat pale. Most stages she performed on in the past had a fluffy carpet or smooth wood beneath her, the familiar shuffles or clicks whenever somepony stepped onto them etched in her mind. Everypony wanted the musicians or minstrels to be content, after all. That was how quality music was passed along. However, this stage's sounds were unlike what she was used to.

They were more like glass.

No music worth listening to would come from there.

And as she mused about the stage, something about its general build felt off as well. The stages in Canterlot were typically like this, an elevated platform, though this one seemed—almost like an afterthought.

"Did you think of something, Octavia?" asked Parish. "Or are you just as lost as we are?"

"A little of both, if I must be honest," Octavia answered. She patted the floor once more; the same clacking sound polluted the air. "Either this stage is built unlike any before it, or Willow Wisp sent us to the wrong location."

"Where do you think the right location would be?" asked Brass.

Leaping off of the stage, Octavia trotted away from the pair with a scrunched muzzle. Brass and Parish followed her soon after, donning the same blank expressions they usually wore. "I don't know." A groan escaped her lips. "I do hope there's some sort of explanation. Everything about this is odd. From the stage's appearance, material, and location to being dragged over here by the same pony and everything else, something just isn't adding up."

"It probably is some misunderstanding." Rolling her eyes, Brass turned to her left and trudged away from the scene. "Just go back to your seat and pretend nothing happened." With a flick of her tail, she then blended in with a nearby group of ponies huddled next to each other; indistinct whispers left their mouths, Octavia's ears twitching as she picked up the words. Yet none of it was of any interest.

For a brief second, nopony said a peep. Octavia heard her own breathing. The room felt colder than ever before; she shivered as a white mist left her mouth.

"Well, I guess I'll be heading back to my table," said Octavia as she regained her composure. "The next time we meet up better be important, or—"

A crackling sound reached her ears; Octavia's legs quivered as tingles had spread throughout her body. A heartbeat later, she glanced behind her at the noise's source. But nopony was doing anything suspicious. All of their faces were adorned with widened eyes, drooping jaws, or both. Some gasps even left a few ponies. However, nothing out of the ordinary was before her.

Octavia trudged toward the stage, her chest tightening itself into a knot. Each step she took was heavier than the last.

"What—happened?" Octavia questioned. "Is everypony okay?"

Nopony was groaning or shrieking in pain, let alone lying on the floor out cold. And as Octavia approached the stage once more, its form a bit more uneven than before, she soon realized why everypony was so pale.

Much of the glass-like floor was cracked, fissures running along it to where even a feather could've destroyed the whole thing. In the stage's center was a small hole, likely only a few inches in diameter, but it was powerful enough to render the stage unusable in its current state. Octavia continued tottering toward the broken stage. A few shards managed to land outside of the stage, their forms glowing like tiny stars.

Upon arriving as closely to the stage as she could, Octavia peered down at the hole in the center. Inside was a small, concrete niche carved into the main floor. No cushions or anything were supplied at the bottom, and peeking outside was a strange mechanism consisting of a gray, rusted block.

Octavia's pupils shrunk to the size of pinpricks. She clenched her teeth, creeping away from the scene as the world became less steady. It was as though everything was on uneven ground. Placing a hoof to her forehead, lightness overcame Octavia, her veins freezing and muscles constricting her.

Somepony was trying to harm Brass, Parish, and her. It wouldn't have killed her, but the thought of splitting her leg bones into pieces churned her stomach. She swore her cheeks were turning into a pale green. At the same time, not a single name crossed her mind as to who'd yearn to harm her, let alone in such a flashy manner. Even the strange devices used to perform such a stunt were elaborate in nature. Anypony who glanced at the hole raised eyebrows in response; not a single theory which left somepony's mouth had any basis in reality.

A white blob tapped her shoulder. Muffled sounds polluted the air.

"Octavia, are you okay?" a voice hollered.

"V-Vinyl?" Octavia shivered as gravity behaved normally once more. She swiveled behind her to find Vinyl wearing a grim visage, lips pursed. "I'm okay now." A deep breath left her mouth. "But to think I almost fell into that hole. I probably wouldn't have been able to play for months if I fell in there—or worse."

Octavia cringed. Glancing back at the broken stage, now a shattered window if anything, her ears wiggled as a shuffling sound reached them. She raised her head; a shadowy figure was perched as high as possible. Any details regarding the figure's appearance or gender were shrouded by distance, though its pony-like shape did narrow things down a bit.

And in the blink of an eye, the figure disappeared from sight, almost as if it never existed in the first place.

No wings flapped and feathers fluttered.

No horn lit up or cast a bright aura.

The figure just vanished.

Princess Twilight Sparkle arrived at the scene seconds later; a grim expression adorned her face. Studying the room and the hundreds of ponies refusing to blink or look away from her, she then glanced over to where Octavia and her fellow musicians all stood. She flashed the faintest of smirks and wiped sweat from her brow.

"Thank goodness nopony is hurt," said Twilight. Folding her wings, she trotted toward Octavia. "Do you know who might've done something so horrible?"

Octavia shook her head. "I wish I knew. I can't think of anypony who'd fit the description."

"That's unfortunate." Twilight rubbed her muzzle. "But if the cases I've read in the past are anything to go by, chances are the culprit has some sort of relationship with you." She paused for a moment, pursing her lips. "Then again, questioning all of the Royal Canterlot Orchestra outside of you or your friends would take too long. And as far as I know, I haven't noticed internal tension when I've seen the whole orchestra before."

Octavia nodded and her throat tightened. There was little doubt the Royal Canterlot Orchestra had little to no role in whatever just transpired. As an integral piece to the whole, the same applying to all of the band members, trying to injure her and keep her out of the orchestra just didn't add up. If there was some sort of competitive aspect to it all, she'd have a hunch, but it wasn't as though cellists were particularly needed, especially with her on the scene.

"Anyway, I'll continue the investigation throughout the castle," Twilight continued. She unfurled her wings and, as she gently flapped them, took to the air as a mild gust swirled beneath her. "Let me know if you have any questions, okay?"

Octavia nodded. "Understood, your majesty."

"Please, just call me Twilight. No need to be so formal." She blushed for a split second. "Anyway, feel free to inform me if you also discover anything."

"We'll help out, dear," said Rarity.

"Thank you, Rarity." Twilight rubbed the top of her head, eyes closed for a second. After a brief pause, she nodded. "Okay, let's split up. I'll get everypony else up to speed and we'll search throughout the castle. And by splitting up, we'll cover more ground and find out more in a shorter time. I doubt the culprit managed to get too far without somepony noticing him or her."

"Sounds like a wonderful idea."

"Excellent!" She clasped her hooves together. "Let's get to the bottom of this, everypony!"

And as Twilight glided across the room and through one of the adjacent rooms, Octavia only watched as she took deep breaths. Her chest expanded and contracted as though she'd just climbed the mountain leading to Griffonstone, though she'd prefer the tasks that made her muscles twinge than being tossed into whatever was occurring. The countless questions she stared down, all increasing by the second, only added to the air's tightness.

Something more complex was ahoof; that was all Octavia knew for certain.

Any hopes of the future being nothing but calm were quickly dashed. Octavia only wished the investigation wouldn't prove so troublesome.

Then again, situations such as this were never simple. Octavia had yet to encounter or think of a single example that would suggest otherwise.

The Depths

Why anypony would try to harm Octavia and her fellow musicians only prodded her mind the more she thought about it. Twilight's initial observations only twisted things further, the end result seemingly harder to unravel than a tightly knitted bow. And even if Octavia was one of the more beloved members of the Royal Canterlot Orchestra, which wasn't saying much considering how the other musicians were categorized as either enigmatic or crude, it wasn't as though anypony she knew held an intense grudge against her.

Yet there she was, gazing down at the deep pit with a pale complexion. The Twilight Ball was hectic enough as it was and there were plenty of shady characters out and about. Some may have just been know troublemakers in Equestrian society. Though nasty ponies like Starlight Glimmer or the much less extreme Flim and Flam probably avoided such high profile events. And if the hearsay Octavia heard regarding Starlight's mysterious circumstances were anything to go by, her being involved was unlikely.

Octavia figured that keeping such names tucked in the back of her mind might prove useful.

"Are you okay, dear?" asked Rarity, out of breath. She trotted up to Octavia and patted her shoulder. "You're not hurt, right?"

Octavia nodded. "I'm okay," she said. "Just trying to recompose myself." She exhaled thrice and wiggled her forelegs. While the muscles throughout her body only marginally loosened, wasting time trying to relax would get her nowhere. With one more sigh escaping her lips, she brought her attention toward Rarity, the mare's eyes widened to the size of saucers. "Did you see anypony suspicious watching us?"

Rarity rolled her shoulders. "To be fair, there were plenty of ruffians to go about," she answered. Approaching the broken stage, Rarity peered at the hole's bottom and then to the ceiling. She tapped her hoof on the floor for a moment, lips pursed. If her darting eyes were anything to go by, at least she had a knack for such situations.

Maybe pairing up with her would be for the best. Safety in numbers was an important saying if Octavia recalled correctly.

"Did you find anything?" asked Octavia.

Rarity lifted her hoof up. A moment later, she donned a glum and downcast expression, sighing. "Nothing," she whispered.

Octavia's throat tightened. That was the last word she wished to hear.

"However, maybe there's something related to what broke the stage."

Vinyl trotted up to Rarity, raising her hoof.

"Yes, dear?"

Clearing her throat, Vinyl adjusted her shades. "Well, there's probably something that connects to what broke the stage," she said.

Octavia bobbed her head. "Yes, that's true."

"And—and maybe following where the device is connected can lead us to the culprit?"

"That would also be true—for the most part," a familiar voice said.

Octavia turned toward the voice's source. A yellow pegasus with a fiery orange mane stood before her. While she had a somewhat hunched posture, her mere presence exuded a powerful aura that tickled Octavia's coat. Goggles hung around the mare's neck; she twiddled them in her hooves. A blue and yellow uniform covered almost all of her body with small openings for her eyes, muzzle, and wings.

The picture was crystal clear to Octavia. It was Spitfire, Captain of the Wonderbolts. While only gawking at their acrobatics once or twice in her mind, she was somewhat familiar with most of the members. Most of her interactions with the team came about during a concert some time ago, but while ponies had conflicting opinions about their character, she found them pleasant as they showed her around Manehattan.

Why Spitfire showed up was beyond Octavia's understanding. Only the Grand Galloping Gala was required of the Wonderbolts, after all. The tautened expression across her face, however, brought a chill to her spine. Normally, Spitfire always wore a calm or stern visage, never changing them even during the times she was furious or hiding something.

This third expression of hers, the grim frown she rarely donned, always spelt something serious. The last time she assumed such a face was during the Tirek incident, an event nopony wished to revisit.

"Spitfire?" Applejack blurted out. She cocked her head. "What are ya doin' here?"

"I heard the news about what happened," said Spitfire. "I saw Wind Rider hightailing it out of the scene before I arrived, so I think you have one of your suspects."

"Wind Rider?" Applejack blurted out. "Who in the hay is Wind Rider?"

"Rarity can explain what happened with him better than I can, but he was a former Wonderbolt and kicked out for poor behavior. Either way, I think catching up to him and questioning his involvement might be for the best. We don't know why he'd target Octavia or any of the Royal Canterlot Orchestra."

"That sounds too easy," said Apple Bloom, bouncing up and down with her muzzle scrunched. "There's gotta be more to it!"

"You're right." Spitfire ruffled her wings. "First of all, why would Wind Rider even be complicit in the crime? Furthermore, since he had to be working with others in order to pull it off, the rest of the suspects are still at large. Nopony else spotted any suspicious activity. Only the Wonderbolts and I saw Wind Rider fleeing the scene."

"But as you said, Wind Rider was a former Wonderbolt," said Vinyl as a matter of fact. She raised an eyebrow. "Why would he do something so shady?"

Rarity rubbed the back of her neck. She blushed and donned a sheepish smirk. "As Spitfire said, it's—a long story."

Vinyl tilted her head.

"Okay, maybe I was involved in an investigation of my own and Wind Rider was caught for sabotage."

"Well, I guess that explains his demeanor," said Octavia. "But that doesn't explain why he'd target me."

"Does he hate classical music or somethin'? asked Apple Bloom. She shrugged. "Can't think of any other reason."

Spitfire made her way toward the stage, her head swiveling about as her eyes darted back and forth. "Well, he doesn't listen to music often," she said. "At least from what I know of him."

"Any friends of his who'd think of this?" questioned Sweetie.

"Maybe, but who is the next question." Flapping her wings, Spitfire scrutinized the mechanism used to shatter the stage. "Looks like a hammer attached to some sort of arm was used. Clever, if a bit overly complicated for such an operation." However, as Spitfire continued examining the trap, she peeked further down the pit, almost as if somepony dropped their belongings in there. "I think I see what's going on."

Octavia quivered for a moment; she quickly turned toward Spitfire. "You do?" she asked.

"Yep. Much to your luck, there's a design flaw in this mechanism that can lead us to where the trap was activated." Spitfire fluttered away from the hole. With a faint smirk, she planted her hooves on the floor and then trotted back toward Octavia. "There's a long, linear bar that connects the switch to the mechanism. Understandable, since designing one that weaved its way around like a labyrinth would take too long to construct, especially for something that's likely temporary."

Blinking, Octavia then slowly nodded. Perhaps that rumor of Spitfire being the fourth or fifth biggest bookworm in Equestria had some weight after all. It was odd given how Octavia always imagined her as purely competitive or strict when it came to teaching cadets and conducting business. Maybe her arrival was what she needed to solve the puzzle.

"And how would that help?" asked Rarity.

"The thing is, there's a gap just wide enough to peek through and see what's on the other side. It seems to lead to some cavern covered in crystals."

"I know that place!" Applejack shouted. Her expression lit up and became brighter than the sun. "Twilight told me about it when she escaped with Princess Cadance during the Royal Wedding!"

"Well, it looks like we have a destination in mind," said Octavia. She glanced around the room, locking eyes with those before her for at least a second. "What's the plan?"

"I'll join you, darling," Rarity replied. She puffed her chest out and ruffled her brow. "I cannot allow such a crime to elude my eyes!"

"I'll join you as well," said Vinyl. "You're my friend, Tavi. I can't leave you hanging."

Applejack adjusted her hat; she nodded. "I'll take Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle back to Sweet Apple—"

"But I wanna go, too!" Apple Bloom whined, pressing her head to Applejack's chest. "Can I please join 'em?"

Scowling, Applejack shook her head. "No! It's too dangerous for y'all and you know it!"

Apple Bloom stepped back with drooping shoulders. Her head hung low as a sigh escaped her lips.

"Understood?"

A sigh left Apple Bloom's mouth. "Understood." She slowly nodded.

"I guess I'll join the investigation party," said Spitfire. She paused for a moment, lips pursed. "I'll let the other Wonderbolts know what's going on before we head out. They'll have some idea of where to search."

"Then it sounds like we have a plan," added Octavia. She forced a soft smile and trotted toward the ballroom's exit. A number of eyes locked onto her and those with her, all with perplexed or pale expressions, sometimes both. There was a tight uneasiness in the air as well, squeezing her legs as though it refused to let go. But as Octavia took a deep breath, the tension dissipating slightly, she kept her head held up high. "Let's do our best, everypony."

As Octavia arrived at the gardens just outside, everypony who spotted her wore the same expression as those inside. Blank stares, their lips pursed and cheeks tautened, characterized most of the looks Octavia received. Given how Twilight had spread the news to her friends and associates, chances were that they heard the news as well.

The gardens outside of Canterlot Castle always carried a fresh, rosy aroma regardless of where somepony found themselves. The flowers scattered about the fields, their petals in different colors of the rainbow, cleaned the air and cancelled out the repulsive perfumes Octavia cringed at. Why anypony would find such putrid stenches pleasing confused her. Willow Wisp's perfume was easily one of the worst her nostrils encountered.

Some of the perfumes the upper crust sprayed on their bodies were close in how abhorrent they were; their scents outweighing the flowers' the closer Octavia approached them. She brushed shoulders with a few passersby as well, many of them sneering or scowling the second after they collided with each other.

Octavia rolled her eyes. There was now a second reason for solving the mystery in a flash.

At least the sights were something to gawk at. Small lights akin to fireflies fluttered about the garden with most orbiting the central fountain. Said fountain featured a marble sculpture of Star Swirl the Bearded. The fountain struck her as odd considering this was technically Princess Celestia and Luna's castle, but perhaps they weren't the kind of ponies to remind the world of who they were. The same couldn't be said of most other palaces and mansions, for better or worse.

And standing out from the crowd were a few shrubs, all of them a bright green and overshadowed by the flora and decorations which surrounded them. Not one pony who trotted past even bothered to glance at them, their eyes affixed to the other sights or the tables adorned with food spread out across the garden.

Rarity wasn't any regular pony, however.

"There's a passage here that most ponies don't know about," said Rarity as she approached one of the shrubs. Extending her hoof out, she brushed it across the plant's leaves and nodded. The sound of rustling shrubs reached Octavia's ears. "It's the same one Twilight told me about during the Royal Wedding."

Vinyl arched an eyebrow and cocked her head.

"Why is it so secretive?" Rarity cocked her head. "Darling, it's merely hidden underneath this shrub. You'd have to know where and what the passage is in order to find it. Life is full of stunning surprises, you know. No matter where you look, there could be something hidden or obscure yearning to be found."

"But wouldn't sneaking into the bush seem—suspicious?" asked Vinyl. "They'd just disappear and we're supposed to accept they just sunk into the ground?"

"You make a fair point, Vinyl," Octavia added. She rubbed her muzzle. "Why anypony would place an entrance under there—to a cave of all places—doesn't make much sense."

"I heard the Royal Guard had somepony stationed there once," said Spitfire. She trotted up to the shrub. "In the distant past, I know Canterlot had an underground treasury, though it was moved somewhere else about a hundred years ago according to articles about it. I don't know if they're still guarding the entrance, and I bet it'd be paltry to the investigation at hoof." Pausing, she twiddled her goggles for a moment and pursed her lips. "I'll admit, it's pretty weird. You'd have to ask Captain Shining Armor or Princess Celestia about it, however. They know more about it than I do."

"Can we please stop whining about this?" Rarity muttered, brow sagging. She pushed the shrub out of the way. "We can't waste precious time."

"Agreed," said Octavia. "The more we question why the entrance would be here, the less likely it is we'll find any clues."

"Precisely!" Rarity motioned to the group. "Follow me, everypony. And watch your step."

Octavia nodded. Following Rarity's example and pushing the shrub away, its leaves poking her, she spotted a series of stairs descending into the world below. Unlike the rest of Canterlot castle, there was a certain gloominess in the steps' form. Chances were that it was due to the type of bedrock, though the chills escaping the cave's maw tightened her limbs nonetheless. The pitch black which shrouded much of the cavern only dried her throat further. Octavia loathed meandering without a clue as to where she was.

At least Vinyl was with her. She'd help; she always lent a helping hoof.

"Let's go," Octavia murmured under her breath. "This had better be simple."

One step onto the rough and uneven surface was enough for Octavia's legs to wiggle about. She grasped onto the nearest support in a heartbeat, a pebble jutting out of the left wall. The prospect of bashing her head against one of the steps was one she wished to avoid. Being accidentally knocked a while ago was another event she'd rather prevent. Embarrassment of any kind was the worst.

Her body shivered as though a blizzard swirled past her; it may as well have been the colder version of Tartarus.

"You okay, Tavi?" asked Vinyl.

"Not especially," said Octavia. Her teeth clacked, though her body ceased squirming. A bruise or gash across her foreleg was the last thing she wanted. "But I can do this. They're just pesky stairs, after all."

Shrugging, Vinyl then adjusted her shades. "Are you sure?"

"I'm positive." A deep breath left Octavia's lips. It wasn't as though turning back was an option. But her fleeing over something as meaningless as almost toppling over lacked common sense. One of her friends might've done so, though she panicked over rabbits and bees as well. "Okay, maybe I am a little nervous, though it's more to do with what's inside."

Vinyl cocked her head.

Sulking, Octavia sighed. "Okay, so I almost embarrassed myself." It never took more than a minute for Vinyl to piece together what truly swelled in Octavia's mind. Most of the time, such a trait was helpful, especially when they happened to work together. Other times, she wished Vinyl would just let her wiggle her way out of problems herself. The depths before her were an instance of the latter.

"Need help?" asked Spitfire. She nudged her hoof closer to Octavia. "C'mon, I'll help you get down safely."

Octavia wrapped her hoof around Spitfire's as instructed. Holding her breath, the pair slowly descended down the stairs, Vinyl following close behind with her horn lighting the way. Color seemed to fade as they trudged deeper into the depths of Canterlot and into what felt like a second world. The dimness of the place suggested as much, an undeniable clash with the vibrant and various colors of the surface.

And as Octavia and company continued following Rarity, she couldn't help but take her mind off of Spitfire. There was the tough as nails Captain of the Wonderbolts, a mare Octavia thought always shrieked orders at others and knocked ponies down a peg whenever they prodded her. Yet there she was, guiding Octavia down like a mother would and somehow maintaining that calm visage. Her smile lit the cavern as much as Vinyl's glowing horn did.

Maybe she wasn't the only one with a secret.

"We're here," said Rarity. "Through here is the passage to Canterlot Cave."

"And then what?" asked Vinyl. "Do you know where to go from here?"

Silence lingered. A moment later, Rarity gently kicked the air, sighing. "Well, I know it should be straight ahead. That's where the machine's arm was, right?"

"That's right," said Spitfire. "Unless the machine disappeared out of nowhere, it should be straight ahead."

"And what if there are forks in the road?" Rarity bit her lip. "What do we do then? I'd rather witness a crime against fashion than be trapped in such a ghastly place." She shivered; her mane swished about as a howling breeze rushed past the group. How wind even managed to reside in such an enclosed space lacked reason. Then again, magic had produced stranger things in the past. Octavia never bothered to question things at times. "We'd better hurry."

Everypony else nodded in unison. Catching up to Rarity, the group then noticed a wooden frame, their heads tilting in unison at the sight. A wooden sign drew their eyes a second later, the smooth frame gently swaying on the rope holding it up. Rust covered the nail affixing the rope to the rightmost wall. Approaching the sign, Octavia read the yellow words inscribed on the plank.

Gone to lunch.

Will be back in an hour.

-PA

P.S. Tell Windy to knock it off with the machine's controls. We don't want to screw this up immediately.

"The marker doesn't seem that old," said Spitfire as a matter of fact. "Less than ten years old from the looks of things, but it could still be new." She lifted the sign up, scrutinizing the plank before checking the opposite side. But not a single word or marking was inscribed on its back. "No fading or anything else that would indicate that. Furthermore, the wood feels freshly cut. There are zero signs of rotting anywhere. Somepony must've been here not too long ago."

"And how do you know this?" asked Vinyl, a bemused expression across her face. "I don't think I've met anypony who knows these things."

"I've done plenty of investigations in the past. As a Wonderbolt, you'll eventually learn things most ponies would call trivial. It's not as exciting as it sounds." Spitfire winced a tad; a bemused expression was painted across her face. "Trust me. If it's not interesting, it's either boring, smelly, or both."

"But how did anypony get here without drawing attention?" asked Octavia. She rubbed the top of her head. "Vinyl mentioned it before, so unless they sneaked into the gardens at midnight, I doubt they'd be able to crawl inside without raising suspicion."

"That's the most likely explanation. They'd be fools to try doing this in broad daylight, so sneaking into night was their only option. Even then, the fact that the gardens are heavily guarded means they should've been caught."

"Then perhaps they used some form of stealth," said Rarity, pressing her weight against a nearby wall. "Wouldn't be the first time somepony crept into Canterlot Castle."

Nodding, Spitfire let go of the sign. A harsh plopping sound split the air. "That's the only explanation I can think of. But then who are the ponies the sign addresses? Other than Windy possibly being Wind Rider, I don't know of anypony who goes by the initials 'PA.' Maybe there's somepony from Canterlot's upper crust I'm not recalling."

"I know some of the upper crust," said Rarity. "I deal with them as customers from time to time." She shuddered and winced. "It's—it's a memorable and sometimes appalling experience. And believe me, I'd know if somepony called themselves 'PA.'"

"Maybe it's a pseudonym," Octavia muttered. "Perhaps they used one in case anypony happened to stumble across this sign." She shrugged and tapped her hoof on the rough surface; clacks filled the air. "It's just as good of a guess as any. But whether it's a pseudonym or not, I doubt it'll get us much closer to solving the case."

"But at least we know it's not old," Vinyl added. The other three nodded in unison. "The writing and the wood itself must be a clue. I'm betting it's new."

The cave's dampness and the shallow puddles spread throughout the hallway should've washed away most of the writings after a short time. And with the wood's smooth texture, Octavia couldn't doubt Vinyl and Spitfire's words. She donned the slightest of smirks. Maybe it'd be smooth sailing from here.

Rarity stretched her forelegs, turning to face the frame. "Shall we press on?" she asked.

Octavia nodded. "We should. Let's be careful, everypony."

"Of course! I wouldn't want to ruin my marvelous complexion, dear."

Rarity trotted forward with Octavia, Vinyl, and Spitfire following close behind. The roaring waves grew louder as the group marched forward, almost deafening at some points. The terrain was oddly smoother as well. Perhaps the previous visitors tidied up the place before making their mark. There were some scratches along the cave's walls and floor, Octavia glancing at them for a second before catching up to the others. They looked like the work of pickaxes.

"Everypony, look!" Rarity shouted, her voice echoing throughout the cavern. "Aren't these just marvelous?"

Octavia's jaw dropped to the ground. Around her were a series of crystals, all of them wearing a spotless sheen bright enough to double as mirrors. At least every other square inch of the cave was adorned with one of these crystals; some were three times the size of ponies while others were as minuscule as a bread crumb. But even the smallest of the gems lit the area in a dazzling light as rainbows bounced around the room. And cutting through some of the floor was a narrow and winding river. A slight rustling sound reached Octavia's ears as the water whipped about its path.

Octavia's eyes sparkled and widened. The mere sight of this locale was a treasure.

"It's amazing!" Spitfire blurted out as she gawked at the scenery. Hovering above the ground, her body twirled around as she studied the cave's crystals. "I've heard stories about the underground, but who knew such a place could've been resting underneath Canterlot the whole time? It's as if we've discovered something new!"

Octavia faintly snickered; she blushed. "I'll admit, maybe they had a good reason to spend time here," she said. "I don't think such sights could ever get old."

Vinyl nodded in agreement, lips pursed.

"I'd swoon at the chance of using these crystals for one of my dresses," said Rarity. A glowing, aquamarine gemstone caught her attention. Approaching it, she tapped its face, shivering before stepping away from the giant crystal. "But stealing from such a wonderful sight would be disgusting."

"Focus on the mission," said Spitfire. "As beautiful as all of this is, we can't get too distracted for even a few seconds." She fluttered past Rarity, though she continued scanning the environment. "But don't stop looking around for anything that might help. There's probably some sort of clue waiting for us."

"And maybe we'll be able to figure out why they tried to hurt me," Octavia added.

Such a discovery was of the utmost importance, though second only to preventing the culprit from attempting to harm her or anypony else again. Crimes akin to what the culprit pulled were uncommon in Equestria, especially at such a major event like the Twilight Ball. But stranger things had happened in Equestrian history. Some of it was good; others not so much.

"I think I found something," said Vinyl. Over to Octavia's right, the DJ motioned a hoof toward the other three.

"What did you find?" asked Rarity. "Will it solve this mystery?"

Vinyl shook her head. She slowly extended her foreleg, pointing to a small tunnel to her right. Crystals surrounded the entrance. Every crack and jagged stone within the tunnel's entrance was clearly natural. But how anypony could squirm through such a passage seemed almost impossible at first glance.

Octavia arched an eyebrow at the sight. "Do you think we should explore this?" she questioned. She rubbed her muzzle, though her chest tightened. She'd rather avoid crawling into something horrifying; the fewer monsters to worry about, the better. "We'd have to go in one at a time."

"I'll venture forth on my own," said Vinyl. "You three can keep an eye out for me, okay?"

Octavia's chest tightened. "Are you sure? What if it's dangerous?"

"Relax, Tavi. If something comes up, I'll back off and let you all know." Vinyl gently waved her hoof. With a deep breath, she crouched down and crawled through the small niche in the ground. Rocks shuffled underneath her as she made her way through the passage, disappearing into the unknown seconds later. "Wish me luck!"

Octavia touched her lips, quivering. "I hope nothing bad happens."

"What could be in there, anyway?" Spitfire questioned. She approached Octavia with a smirk, though her cheeks were tautened. "I wouldn't worry too much. Besides, if Vinyl needs help, we'll rush in there and pull her out. She'll be safe no matter what happens."

"But I'm still unsure." Octavia twiddled her mane. A deep breath drew her gaze toward Spitfire's eyes. "You two can go ahead with searching the area, but I think I should stay here just in case."

"There doesn't seem to be anything else," Rarity muttered. Swishing her tail, she lifted up one of the smaller crystals and peeked under it, only to find air. "We're not straying too far off in case Vinyl needs our help, dear." She clacked her teeth. "I'm nervous, too. But we need to keep pressing forward." She raised her head, peering into Octavia's eyes. "And if you don't mind me asking, are you a bit frightened of places like this."

Octavia slowly nodded. Lying would get her nowhere, after all.

"Thought so. But don't forget that coming here was brave of you."

"Exactly," Spitfire added. "You're quite the amazing pony, Octavia."

With flushed cheeks, Octavia giggled for a brief moment. "Thanks, everypony." She brought her attention back to the small tunnel. "Anyway, let's hope Vinyl comes back with some good news. There's bound to be a clue hidden around here somewhere, right?"

A minute then passed by, but nopony uttered a peep.

Two minutes had flown by; nothing reached Octavia's ears.

Octavia wiped the sweat from her brow. Biting her lip, she turned to where Rarity and Spitfire stood. "Do you think we should follow her?" she asked.

"You can go ahead if it makes you feel comfortable," said Rarity. She approached Octavia and rubbed her back. The smooth, soft sensation loosened her muscles a tad; she could breathe freely once more. "Spitfire and I will continue keeping an eye out for things. We can't just leave this place unguarded, dear."

"Rarity makes a good point," Spitfire added. "But be careful down there. We'll still be here if you need anything."

"Okay." Nodding, Octavia crouched down and trudged toward the small niche. "I'll holler if I see anything, okay?"

"Understood." Spitfire ruffled her wings. "Good luck, Octavia."

Luck was only a fraction of what Octavia needed. Nevertheless, she feigned a smirk before slithering into the small hole. Bedrock rubbed against her coat as she descended further down the cave. And turning around was the last thing on her mind. Fear was one thing, cowardice was something entirely different.

First, checking up on Vinyl was the task at hoof. Anything she'd find pertaining to the mystery could wait for now.

The possibility of the two being connected also lingered in her mind. Octavia held her breath for a moment and scrunched her muzzle. She trudged at a slightly faster clip.

A rock slipped underneath her hoof.

Octavia shuddered for a moment; the exit was already before her, yet Vinyl was still missing from her sights.

Upon reaching the tunnel's end, Octavia slid down the pathway, her bottom landing on a cold but smooth surface. A thud echoed in the room, Octavia rubbing her aching back. Clenching her teeth, she pushed herself upright.

"You okay, Tavi?" asked Vinyl.

In a flash, Octavia brought her attention to Vinyl, not a scratch across her white coat nor a crack on her shades. "Vinyl!" she cried out. Octavia leaped toward her friend, enveloping her in a tight embrace. "You're okay!"

Vinyl chuckled for a moment. "Of course." She blushed, returning the favor. "I'd tell you if something bad happened, remember?"

"I know." The pair released each other from their hug; both of them wore radiant grins. "You were quiet for so long that I got worried." She rubbed the back of her neck. "Sorry if I interrupted you or anything. I'm just relieved to see you unhurt."

Vinyl nodded. She then patted Octavia's shoulder. "No need to apologize. Besides, you need to check this out."

"Did you find something?"

"I did." Vinyl pointed to her left. "You should tell Spitfire and Rarity to come, too."

Octavia cocked her head. "Why? They're keeping tabs on the other side, remember?"

"I know. It's just—this is really important."

"If you insist." Clearing her throat, Octavia turned to face where the tunnel dropped her off. She shrieked at the top of her lungs, "Rarity! Spitfire! Come over here, please!" Octavia brought her focus back to where Vinyl stood. "Do you think that will do the trick?"

Vinyl bobbed her head once more.

"Good." Octavia paused, then turned to the locale Vinyl pointed at. "Now then, what do we have here?"

Upon gazing at what rested before her, Octavia immediately raised an eyebrow. It was a small wooden desk, its light brown color and flat surface more fitting for something she'd find at a store. A peculiar switch was perched atop it, stacks of papers over to the switch's right. Two candles flanked each side of the table; neither of them were lit and most of the wax had melted away. Crumbs from some kind of meal covered the left side of the table and a used napkin hid below it.

"So this was some sort of operation," said Octavia as a matter of fact. She swiped the topmost sheet of paper, familiar writings adorning the sheet in a red stationary. It was too bright to be blood, however, Octavia catching her breath at the observation. After all, using blood for their writings was just eccentric and creepy enough to turn her cheeks pale. "Alright, what do we have here?"

Log XXXVII

Three months have come and gone since I've put the plan into motion. Not much has been accomplished yet, but it's amazing what fools will do for money and a slice of revenge. I know of a few who've snooped on our plans in the past. I'll have to make sure they learn to stay away from us for good.

One of my clients already has lots of money, oddly. Why they'd need more is none of my concern. Either way, he wants Octavia to have a rotten time at this new event or something, so I'm complying. Why somepony not conforming to standards is such a big deal makes no sense. After all, I'm as strange as they come. Maybe it's my brilliant genius and how everypony thinks I'm bigger than life.

May as well catch some sleep now. Probably won't return to this cave until the day of the assignment. At least I have Windy helping out. But I can't remember for the life of me who the other assistants' names were. I'll learn them in due time—maybe.

These next few days are going to be very interesting.

-PA

A gasp escaped Octavia's throat, pupils shrunk. "Vinyl!"

Vinyl tilted her head and made eye contact with Octavia.

"There's something much worse going on! It looks like this 'PA' is scheming to do something awful."

"Huh?"

A second later, Rarity and Spitfire slid toward where Octavia and Vinyl stood. Both mares dusted themselves off and stood upright; the pair donned grim expressions as the approached the desk and scrutinized the evidence. For some reason, the crumbs were of particular note to Rarity, sniffing them for any hints of a scent.

Though all she did afterwards was cringe.

"What's the problem?" asked Spitfire. "You're not hurt, right?"

"We're fine," said Octavia. She and Vinyl nodded in unison. "But we'll need to find out who this 'PA' is as soon as possible."

"How come?"

"She's planning something much worse than making my life miserable," she said in a deep tone. With a downcast expression, Octavia sighed. "We should tell everypony else as soon as possible."

"Oh, no." Spitfire gulped. "I don't like the sound of this."

"It looks like we'll be investigating this for longer than I thought."

No matter how long they'd have to spend on the investigation, returning to the surface to assess all of the information was a must. Today wasn't going to be the only long day in Octavia's future after all. Plenty more were awaiting her with their own surprises, and she knew such days were unavoidable now.

First Interrogation

Octavia yearned that she'd finally get the answers to all of her questions.

Of course, knowing how such investigations and interrogations worked, Octavia figured that the odds of closing the case right there were merely a fraction above zero. Wind Rider likely wasn't the type of pony who'd confess everything he knew without a fight. Somehow prying it from his mind required more than just a sharp wit.

Heartbeats filled her ears as she formulated how she'd question Wind Rider; his suspicious behavior during the Twilight Ball and why he disguised himself were among the topics Octavia wished to cover, though the Princess Amore connection captivated her attention most of all.

At least the journey toward where Wind Rider was being held consisted of dazzling sights. It always struck Octavia as unusual that fewer ponies appreciated the night a thousand years ago. The twinkling stars in the night sky were always a visual treat, the lamps and buildings lighting the typically dull roads of Canterlot breathed new life into the environment. It was a spectacle and one perfect for viewing atop a balcony.

However, the cobblestone roads being flooded by an endless stream of pastel ponies was one such thing to never change. Most of the residents were quieter and there was actually room to wiggle about for once, though hearing the crickets' chirping or dancing across empty streets was impossible in Canterlot. It was a minor miracle how anypony managed to sleep as well.

As Octavia and her friends arrived at the ornate structure where Wind Rider was being held, a small itch formed at the back of her head. Perhaps Wind Rider was merely a pawn in a much bigger game, the possibility constricting Octavia's throat. She'd rather not deal with such intense dilemmas. With everything Rarity and her five closest friends had gone through in the past, Octavia wondered how they managed solving everything so often whilst not going insane. Some of the messes were days she wished were just nightmares, others merely surprises or nuisances.

Now was not the time for worrying.

"You'd think this place would be a bit more—macabre," said Rarity. She swiveled her head about, scanning the white and purple walls that decorated the section of the castle. A small fountain rested in the middle of the field, short hedges surrounding it. Some flowers also bloomed off to the side. It was rather surreal given what the place housed. "Seems more like a luxury hotel than a place where ne'er-do-wells are questioned, but I can't complain about such exquisite beauty."

Octavia shrugged. She wished she could've retorted by mentioning how tacky the golden trim was, though doing so seemed rude in her mind. Merely nodding and donning a smile was Octavia's only response, though Vinyl couldn't be pressed to respond with an emotion, real or fake. It was the same story for Spitfire, the Wonderbolt's attention glued to the door one second and the surrounding world the next.

And standing by one of the doors were two ponies of the Royal Guard. Their golden armor and stern expressions defined who they were. From what Octavia had learned, they were more for scowling and intimidation. Nevertheless, their bulky stature and armor signified them as ponies not to mess with. They still specialized in bruises should anypony be foolish enough to ask for one.

"Excuse me!" Spitfire called out. The two guards turned toward her, expressions unchanging. "We're here to question Wind Rider. As the Captain of the Wonderbolts, I'm requesting permission to enter."

The rightmost stallion trotted up to Spitfire. He squinted at her, examining every last detail down to each individual strand of her mane. Nopony uttered a syllable for a minute, the slight breeze all Octavia noticed. At least Vinyl knew how to spend the time, silently tapping her hoof and bobbing her head. It was always her method of coping with boredom. It was something Octavia never understood, however.

"Checks out," the guard said in a gruff voice. "Sorry for the wait, ma'am."

"It's fine," Spitfire replied. Nodding, she then ruffled her wings a bit. "Anyway, what room is Wind Rider being held at?"

"Room 116. Take a left upon entering and trot down the hallway. It'll be to your right and labeled, so don't worry about missing it or anything."

"And can we come along as well?" asked Octavia, gently waving her hoof at the guard. "We're all related to the case in some manner and have our own questions." She trotted up to him and made eye contact. "If you could let us in, please, that would be much appreciated."

The guard glanced back to Spitfire and tilted his head. "She and the others are a part of your group, right? Just making sure."

"They're with me," said Spitfire.

The two guards then shuffled their hooves away from the door. Both of them assumed a tall, straight posture like before upon halting, muzzles scrunched somewhat.

"The door is unlocked, so go ahead," the other guard said. "We'll stay here for the time being."

Spitfire pressed her hoof against the wooden frame. Upon pushing it, a slight creak rang in the air, Octavia's ears aching a little. As she followed Spitfire into the building, a spine-chilling current swooped past her. Octavia shivered; her teeth clacked for a moment and the hairs of her coat stood up.

While Wind Rider was involved in the scheme to harm her, a vast array of unblinking eyes must've been focused on him. The tension lingering in the air and wrapping around Octavia didn't loosen up, however, the consequences of screwing up or something going awry tucked in her mind.

The group followed the guard's orders, Octavia counting each room she trotted past. All of the white walls were somewhat weathered; such a heavy contrast earned an arched eyebrow from Octavia, though Rarity's cheeks became a pale green in response. Octavia occasionally rubbed her eyes or blinked whenever she glanced at one of the bright red doors.

"What monster thought this was a good idea for an interior?" Rarity muttered under her breath. "If I had to spend one day in here, I'd probably go crazy. There aren't even any windows to show the marvelous architecture outside, but those would probably be covered in the nastiest drapes if they existed." She exhaled and then rubbed her forehead. "Focus, Rarity. This is paltry to the matter at hoof."

"Yeah, keep focusing on that," said Vinyl. She adjusted her shades. "Tavi needs our help."

Octavia nodded. "True." Rubbing her muzzle, she noticed the door numbers slowly approaching 116. Questions swelled in her mind, lips pursed for a moment. "But what kinds of questions are we going to ask Wind Rider? I've never done anything like this before, and even though I have an idea of what to ask, what if he refuses to comply?"

"Well, we have to coerce him to reply," Spitfire replied. She peeked behind her shoulder and gazed into Octavia's eyes. "This may seem random, but are you somewhat familiar with psychology? I only ask because if we play our cards right, we can get Wind Rider to spill the truth. As you may imagine, I know a lot about what makes him tick, but I'll need all the help I can get."

Octavia bobbed her head, then shrugged. "A little, but are you sure it can better ensure Wind Rider will tell the truth? I mean, we have enough evidence to assume he was an accomplice based on the sign in the cave, among other things. Beyond that, there's the puzzling matter of whether anypony else aside from PA is involved. There's a few strange ponies trotting about, but are they merely coincidences?" She tapped her hoof on the floor, clacks polluting the air. "We can't just assume they're involved."

"That's right." Spitfire pressed her weight against the wall and crossed her forelegs. "Anyway, looks like Room 116 is right over there." She pointed to her right. Directly next to her extended foreleg was a door with '116' emblazoned on it. Faint hums echoed from within the room as clicks occasionally followed. "As for my theory, the idea is that if we can better reward Wind Rider or reduce his punishment for telling the truth and actually follow up on it, we're more likely to get at least some evidence. Furthermore, we have to be respectful, even if he's slimy. But the question then becomes whether we can differentiate what's a confession and what's a lie."

"Wind Rider likely won't make friends with any of us, so that's out," said Rarity as a matter of fact. "How troublesome, and it's not like all ponies are a friendship speech away from redemption." She blushed, snickering for a moment. "I don't know how Twilight does it, but I'll gladly admit her skills are envious."

"She's the Princess of Friendship for a reason," said Vinyl.

"True, though we can't just expect her to show up right away," Octavia added. "I'd imagine she's quite busy being a princess and helping with the investigation. Maybe we should head on over to Ponyville one day and ask if she's made any progress." Pressing a hoof against one of the walls, she sighed. A downcast expression adorned her visage. "I don't want to interrupt or nag her."

Rarity donned a faint smile. "She'll answer, dear. Even when she's a little busy, she'll set aside some time to help her friends when they need it most."

"Perhaps." Octavia trudged toward the door. Gulping, she then straightened her posture and puffed her chest out. It was now or never when it came to interrogating Wind Rider. "Is everypony ready?"

Rarity, Vinyl, and Spitfire all nodded in unison.

"Okay." A deep breath left Octavia's lips. "Here goes nothing."

Pressing her hoof on the door, Octavia pushed it open as harsh creaks had split the air. She winced, the beating of her heart speeding up. Before her was a surprisingly lush room complete with a fireplace and a red, fluffy carpet. The scent of ashes flowed into her nostrils and it was the same story for the flowers' aroma. And even the tables, chairs, and decorations exuded opulence, Octavia struggling to avoid rolling her eyes at the sight. It wasn't as though it wasn't fitting for an interrogation room, the building was probably a hotel at one point for all she knew, but the gaudy decorations which surrounded her seemed more for satisfying one's ego than having any real purpose.

Octavia loathed such displays.

And sitting on one of the chairs was Wind Rider, his body sinking into the green cushions. A stern, wrinkled expression decorated his face. It was a familiar expression as well and just like the one Willow Wisp wore during the Twilight Ball.

"Wind Rider, we're here to question you," said Octavia. Her throat tightened. "Can you guarantee that you won't lie to us?"

Wind Rider slowly peeked behind his shoulder, gazing into Octavia's eyes. "I can't promise anything, and you know that. The only reason why I'd tell the truth is if it benefited me in some way, either that or it doesn't hurt me." He cleared his throat. "Look, I know I've done some rotten things before, but I'm not a part of your little story."

"Is that so?" Octavia arched an eyebrow. "How about you truthfully answer the questions and we'll see about that."

"If that's how you want to play, then we'll play!" Wind Rider waved his hoof, muzzle scrunched. "Have a seat and we'll get started. Your friends can join as well."

Octavia nodded. Making a beeline toward one of the empty couches, she plopped onto the cushions and sensed as though she sat atop a cloud. Vinyl, Spitfire, and Rarity had done the same, beads of sweat dripping down Wind Rider's forehead upon noticing the latter two sitting down.

"So I have to deal with you again," Wind Rider scoffed. He scrunched his muzzle. "Snooping around other ponies' business won't win you support, you know."

"We're here for a valid reason," said Rarity. "And I think you know why."

"Get on with it. I'd rather have this whole discussion be over with."

Spitfire crossed her hind legs and made eye contact with Wind Rider. "Sounds fair to me," she said. "First, where were you on the night of the Twilight Ball?"

"The Twilight Ball?" Smirking slightly, Wind Rider then feigned a chuckle. "Yeah, I was there minding my own business. Just because I was kicked out of the Wonderbolts for framing somepony and something bad had happened at that event doesn't mean that I'm to blame. You know better than that."

"Some witnesses and I saw you fleeing the scene of the crime. A number of guests and patrons reported spotting you flying across the sky mere seconds after the stage broke. And I'm pretty sure all of the Wonderbolts and I would instantly recognize you. For somepony who was once seen as a living legend and now stands on a—" Spitfire gulped and pursed her lips "—a broken pedestal, I'm pretty sure most ponies would've recognized your face and body. And us Wonderbolts sure aren't forgetting anytime soon."

"Fair point. I may have flown away shortly after the event, but that doesn't connect me to the crime."

Octavia shook her head. "In most cases, you'd be right," she replied. "However, I don't think you were being truthful at the Twilight Ball."

Wind Rider leaned closer to Octavia. "Explain."

"Does the name 'Willow Wisp' ring a bell?"

"Not at all!" Wind Rider shuddered, his forelegs trembling somewhat. Either Octavia poked a nerve or she'd opened the book to Wind Rider's deepest secrets. She couldn't help herself from cracking the faintest of smiles as gibberish left Wind Rider's mouth for a few seconds. "What are you talking about?"

"It's relatively simple. Willow Wisp, or Wind Rider as he's mostly known as, gave me a business card, though it wasn't what one would call—" Octavia rubbed her muzzle "—professional. It just had the pseudonym scribbled on the back in a fine marker. Most ponies would've probably considered it a hastily made identification card instead of something serious. It was obvious the business card was a fake, though I never questioned why until after the incident took place and during the initial investigations. As they say, hindsight is twenty-twenty."

"T-that could've been anypony's fake card!" Wind Rider extended his foreleg and pointed at Octavia, scowling. "You don't have a shred of evidence to say that! You're just bluffing."

"Then what's with the stuttering?" asked Spitfire. "I've seen plenty of ponies wear the same kind of look you're wearing. The pursed lips, tautened cheeks, and the sweat falling down your face like a waterfall tells me everything I already need to know. There's no use in hiding it, Wind Rider. You're Willow Wisp. And let's not forget about a sign we saw within one of the caves beneath the castle."

"What?"

"I'm pretty sure PA and this secret project you're involved in ring a bell, Windy."

Wind Rider bit his lip. It soon became a question of not if he'd confess, but when. Octavia couldn't help but realize how smoothly everything had turned out so far, not even having to resort to psychological tactics. A few questions and some evidence were all that she and her friends needed to confirm part of the story.

The problem then became whether Wind Rider would admit to everything he was involved in.

"No need to act surprised," said Rarity, twirling her mane. "There was a new sign attached to the wall, and with everything we've uncovered so far, there's little doubt that it referred to you. The oddities and disguises mentioned before would normally make us suspicious, but with how you've reacted to these claims, I think there's something you're hiding from us." Rarity assumed a slight frown. She glared at Wind Rider. "You can tell the truth whenever you want. We've got all day."

With a deep sigh, Wind Rider lowered his head. He ruffled his wings a tad and adopted a glum visage. "You want to know the truth?" He looked up at the group. "I know I can't beat you. We'd be here forever if I kept on trying to evade the truth. There's too much evidence pointing at me to continue denying it."

"How can we be certain what you'll say next is true?"

"You can't." Wind Rider released a nervous snicker, fading away seconds later. "But I can tell you that I was involved in the scheme to hurt Octavia. I know what PA wants as well, but if you're looking for a name or a face to search for, you're out of luck. She wears this long robe that's decorated in a lot of colors. I can't even describe it." He caught his breath. "She can use magic as well, but that's all I have when it comes to appearance."

"And why did you want to hurt me?" asked Octavia. "What have I done that would warrant such measures?"

"You've done nothing wrong. However, it's your personality that's of PA's concern."

"Personality?" Vinyl blurted out, head tilted. "I know Tavi can be a bit bossy at times, but—" Octavia glanced over to Vinyl. Blushing, a series of soft chuckles left the latter's lips. She then took a quick breath and regained her composure. "There's nothing bad about Tavi. She's one of the best ponies one could ask for."

Octavia cracked a smile. While hearing such words from Vinyl was commonplace, especially during troublesome times, they always warmed her heart like a blanket. And while the blaring sounds of Vinyl's techno music occasionally poked her nerves, she felt the same way. Some ponies were adamant that opposites couldn't be attracted to each other, Octavia understanding why such claims were often uttered. But Vinyl was a bit different; she had enough in common to where Octavia strengthened her friendship with the DJ in some conversations.

Blinking, Octavia then escaped her brief trance. She squinted at where Wind Rider sat.

"I think I can answer this," said Wind Rider. He cleared his throat, then shimmied a bit in his chair. "Octavia, are you fond of learning? Would you consider yourself intelligent? And as an aside, did you know a little about Nightmare Moon's tale before the legends were deemed true?"

Shrugging, Octavia rubbed her muzzle for a moment and arched an eyebrow. "Well, if you must know, I'd say that I do enjoy learning new things," she replied. "As for whether I'd call myself intelligent, I feel as though I'm nowhere near qualified to determine that. I think I'm adequate in some fields, but have much to learn in those I'm not familiar with." She took a quick breath. "However, even I'd have to admit that I'm gifted in the art of music. And as for your last question, I was aware of Nightmare Moon's legend before its confirmation just over a year ago. I never thought much about it, though Twilight Sparkle apparently knew the history of it better than anypony else."

"That's what I was expecting to hear."

"What do you mean?" Octavia donned a bemused expression.

"I doubt you'll believe me, but this next part will require some explanation. Are you willing to listen?"

Octavia and her friends all nodded together.

"Good." Wind Rider pursed his lips for a moment. He glanced behind his left shoulder and then his right shoulder. And after rolling his shoulders, he brought his attention back to Octavia and company. "Listen up, because I'm only going to say this once. Ever since I was kicked out of the Wonderbolts, I've been looking for ways to find some quick money. Call it greed if you want, but that's the truth."

"It is greed," Vinyl muttered in a blunt tone. "I'm pretty sure you're already rich. What part of your motive isn't greed?"

"I know, but I just couldn't help myself to having a bit more." He sighed and gently shook his head. "But that's beside the point. Anyway, it was a few days after I was caught framing Rainbow Dash that I was approached by an old mare. She never revealed her name, but I wasn't forgetting those glassy eyes anytime soon?"

"What did she want?" asked Rarity.

"She's the leader of a group of bandits, though what they do isn't by the book. More specifically, this mare and PA were both obsessed with a treasure said to have been a lost relic of Star Swirl the Bearded. It was rumored that this artifact could explain all of the strange happenings recently. Nightmare Moon and Discord's return, the swarm of parasprites from a while ago, the reports of the—" Wind Rider gnashed his teeth "—the Sonic Rainboom, and much more."

"There are a lot of rumored artifacts ponies claim are connected to Star Swirl the Bearded," said Spitfire. She raised an eyebrow and crossed her forelegs. "What makes your ally so certain that this treasure even exists? Furthermore, what does this have to do with your earlier questions and the efforts taken to hurt Octavia? Everything you've said so far just leads to more questions. Are you going to tell us or not?"

"Persistent as always, Spitfire." Wind Rider released a chuckle. "There's a reason why you're lumped into the same group that Octavia was."

"So your little group was after me as well. Can you elaborate further?"

"That plan already happened. That's what the old mare said at any rate."

Spitfire's eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

"If the old coot is telling me the truth, the incident at the Best Young Fliers Competition a year ago was something she'd been expecting."

Gasping, Rarity's cheeks turned pale. She almost leaped out of her chair as her body shivered. "What are you talking about, ruffian? My egotistical behavior and constant flailing was all my doing! There's no way somepony else could've been working behind the scenes! You've got a lot of explaining to do, mister!"

"Easy." Wind Rider gently waved a hoof. "It'll all be explained, so just be patient."

"What are you waiting for?" Rarity leaned closer to Wind Rider; she was on the edge of her seat. "Explain, please."

"First of all, there are other pegasi involved in her group, and when you entered the competition—somehow—everypony knew something would go wrong. The mare hurried over to Cloudsdale just before the show, waiting patiently for what she felt was inevitable."

"Why was this mare certain something bad would happen? Did she somehow control destiny?"

"No." Shaking his head, Wind Rider then adjusted his seating posture. "It was more of a gamble if anything. They saw you as reckless and if somepony tried to catch you, they'd probably get punched in the head first."

A deep breath left Rarity's mouth. She ruffled her brow and scowled. "Excuse me, but I'm graceful instead of reckless. What gave your little friends that idea?"

"From what they said when I asked about you and the Wonderbolts, the old coot claimed your pride and consistently dramatic attitude were the perfect recipe for making trouble. Add to the group being bigger than you think and that all adds up to us covering all of our bases. We could be anywhere." Glowing specks formed in Wind Rider's eyes. He adopted a slight frown. "That's how the group keeps on going."

Rarity pouted, twisting her head to the left. "I should take offense at such slanderous claims, but I guess the second part is somewhat true. I'm dramatic, but only when something truly harrowing is before me. A stained dress deserves panic, but messing up breakfast only requires a more marvelous touch for next time." She waved her hoof. "You may continue with the story, but don't you dare skip over anything important."

"Anyway, the old mare supposedly knows a spell that can insert messages into the minds of other ponies, but if the subject is sleeping or unconscious, sending the message becomes effortless. I know it sounds like something that would be more suited to somepony like Princess Luna, but she was adamant it was true. And when everything at the competition went according to her predictions, I think you can figure out the rest."

Spitfire shuffled away from the other ponies on the couch. Sulking, a slight frown adorned her face.

"Were the messages negative?"

"They were," Spitfire muttered. "And I—I believed them. I've tried fighting back against those feelings, but it hasn't been easy."

"That's the mare's power. In other words, the old mare wanted Octavia knocked out so that sending the message would be almost effortless. And as for why she resorts to such tactics, it's because she's trying to discourage others from looking into Star Swirl's treasure." In a flash, Wind Rider brought his focus over to Spitfire. "Isn't that right?"

"It's true. I was told something about avoiding an old treasure. The voice referred to it as the Platinum Staff, though it was so ill-fitting that I simply never thought much about it." Spitfire straightened her posture and lifted her head up. "I guess it's the artifact that you mentioned earlier. And now that this staff is a part of the investigation, I can't ignore it any longer." Pausing for a moment, she then took a deep breath. "But I have one more question related to that incident."

"Fire away."

"How was the old mare able to submit those messages into my mind? Even if she was in Cloudsdale at the time, there couldn't have been an easy way for her to know that I was unconscious for a while. And since she's a unicorn, she must've cast the same spell as Twilight in order to traverse over clouds."

"She's a powerful wizard. It was after you returned above the clouds that she used the spell where nopony would notice her." Wind Rider shrugged, peering up at the ceiling for a moment. Other than the gaudy chandelier dangling in the room's center, there wasn't anything particularly noteworthy. Octavia wondered if Wind Rider was attempting to piece together the mare's identity, though such an action didn't require such stressed wrinkles. "For the record, she's not somepony you've encountered before, Rarity."

"What do you mean?" Rarity questioned, head cocked to the left. "Does that mean she's not—"

"She's not that Starlight Glimmer some ponies have been gossiping about. These things aren't hard to discover if you pay attention."

"True," said Vinyl. "I've noticed Starlight out and about more often."

"And one more thing." Wind Rider rubbed his forehead and scrunched his muzzle. "That PA and the old mare are different ponies. However, their voices sound somewhat similar, so maybe they're related or one in the same. It's not like I'd know for sure, however. There are too many differences or uncertainties to know if they're the same pony." He sighed, pausing for a moment. "That's all I know. Anything else?"

"If that's all you have, I'm more than content with the new information," said Octavia. "At least we know of two new suspects, though finding them will be the tricky part." She gazed into Wind Rider's pupils. "Do they often spend time somewhere? It'd help us in finding her."

Shaking his head, Wind Rider pursed his lips momentarily. "Sorry, but if you're looking for them, you're out of luck. They rarely ever show up in the same place. They could appear anywhere, especially if one of their cohorts needs them. Furthermore, PA and the old mare rarely ever show themselves. The only times I've seen them together are in a few photographs, but those won't help."

"Figures." Sighing, Octavia stood upright, her friends following suit a second later. "Thank you for your cooperation into this investigation."

"Not a problem. However, there's one thing you should keep in mind."

As the group all trotted out the door, they froze in place at once and brought their attention back to Wind Rider. Octavia pursed her lips and her cheeks tautened. The grim visage decorating Wind Rider sent chills down Octavia's spine, the latter squirming a little. The pair made eye contact.

"Watch your back," said Wind Rider. "PA, her old friend, and everypony else involved in that group know how to stir up trouble. For the record, I've never had a chance to learn their names, but what I do know about them is that they'd do almost anything to have a chance at the treasure. There are some rumors flying around about each member thinking of betraying the group and snatching the treasure for themselves. Just—don't do anything stupid."

Octavia arched an eyebrow. "And why would you be concerned for us?" she asked. "We're part of the reason why you're being held by the Royal Guard."

"My connections with that group are pretty much over now." Sighing, Wind Rider rubbed his forehead. "It's complicated. Either way, I'm not returning. There's no way I'd miss their company."

Nodding, Octavia crept through the open doorway. "We'll be careful as usual."

Rarity gently closed the door once everypony but Wind Rider was out of the room. And once a soft click rang in Octavia's ears, the group released a collective sigh, their postures straightening out a little. It was as though the weight of the world had been lifted off of Octavia's shoulders. For the first time in what felt like forever, her muscles no longer ached. The soft smiles Vinyl, Spitfire, and Rarity all wore told a similar story. Yet Spitfire's smile tickled Octavia's coat, but the reason why was lost to her.

However, prodding Spitfire for an explanation would've been more trouble than it was worth.

There was a more important investigation in progress, after all.

"What should we do from here, dears?" asked Rarity. Leading the way down the hall, the rest of the group followed close behind. "We know a little about the group Wind Rider was a part of and their plans, but all it does now is raise further questions. Should we discover what's so important about this Platinum Staff?"

"We should, and the Royal Canterlot Library may provide the answers we're seeking," said Spitfire. "While they may not have everything, as I've learned recently, it's worth a shot."

"You really are similar to Twilight, aren't you?" Rarity chuckled, everypony else following a second later. "But that does sound like a marvelous idea. I'd imagine there are some clues in books related to artifacts or archaeology."

"It all kinda sounds like something from a Daring Do book," Vinyl teased. "Maybe we should track down A.K. Yearling and ask if the Platinum Staff was based on something real or an artifact she made up."

"That sounds more like a last resort if there's a book titled Daring Do and the Platinum Staff," said Octavia. "I've always been more focused on the classics and historical books, so forgive me if my knowledge on those novels is limited." She shrugged. "I've read and enjoyed the first two, though I've been meaning to read the other eight books."

Vinyl waved her hoof. "It's fine."

"But we agree that the Royal Canterlot Library is our next stop, right?"

Everypony else all nodded in unison.

"Let's waste no time."

There was something about having more evidence that warmed Octavia's heart a little. Even if it was just a small piece of a colossal puzzle, anything which proved useful in the journey was something to be cherished. Even as a filly, Octavia viewed such occurrences in a positive light.

However, with Wind Rider's warning and the oddities revolving around this group of bandits fresh in her mind, Octavia's chest tightened as well. Investigations were bound to have perils and challenges awaiting those who rummaged through the clues; such a fact was unavoidable in Octavia's eyes. She just wished said challenges weren't too troublesome.

Much to Octavia's dismay, guaranteeing nothing troublesome would occur was something beyond her control.

Troublesome Times

It wasn't often Octavia had the opportunity to visit the Royal Canterlot Library, though given the two or three times she trotted into the library, she distinctly recalled gawking at the sights without fail.

This particular visit was no different. Her eyes widened and twinkled upon stepping inside.

The library's inner walls were all decorated in a dark blue much like the night sky. Octavia had never seen it donning such decorations, though the rumor was that Princess Celestia somehow infused the rooms with a peculiar kind of magic that changed the walls' color depending on the time of day. Shining white and gold colors adorned the library during the day that could've lit even the darkest of caves while the dark blue and silver colors Octavia spotted represented the night. If the books she read were telling the truth, the Royal Canterlot Library earned such a feature because Celestia wanted something to remember her sister by before the latter's return.

Such a thought warmed Octavia's heart, a soft smile across her face.

However, if she and her friends were ever going to solve the growing mystery, they'd all have to shut out the stunning sights and focus on the books which resided within bookshelves or niches within the wall. There were tens of thousands of books, some spotless and others covered in a thick blanket of dust. A few were close to falling apart if the ragged covers were anything to go by. At least half of them could've hid some information relevant to the investigation.

"Where should we begin?" asked Octavia. She surveyed the library, noting each of the bookshelves labeled with detailed descriptions of what rested inside. "If we're going to get to the bottom of this, we'll have to find out whether the Platinum Staff even existed. Perhaps it's buried in a book about Star Swirl's treasures." She paused for a moment, taking a quick breath. "One of the library's sections must involve treasures."

"That's right," said Spitfire. "One of the library's sections deals with treasures. Heck, one segment explicitly features books about treasures connected to Star Swirl. How do I know this?" She snickered for a moment. "Well, I was in the Royal Canterlot Library not too long ago." Glancing back at Octavia and company for a moment, Spitfire then trotted ahead. "Follow me. Try not to get lost."

"It's only a library, dear," Rarity replied. She slowly wrapped her mane around her hoof. "I doubt we'll get lost."

"You've never been to the Royal Canterlot Library, have you?"

"You're serious?" Freezing in place, Rarity's pupils shrunk and her mouth hung agape. "You're actually serious? I thought that was hyperbole."

"I'm almost always serious." Spitfire quickly gazed back at Rarity, the latter shuffling back for a moment. "Stay close behind, okay?"

Rarity nodded. "Understood."

A few minutes had passed by, nopony else uttering a peep as they weaved around bookshelves and noted the different labels affixed to them. Octavia couldn't help herself from raising an eyebrow at the specificity of a few bookshelves, The History of Changeling Agriculture in Winter Months being so specific to where she stifled a giggle. Somepony out there probably yearned to research something like that, and if the filled bookshelves were anything to go by, the Royal Canterlot Library had plenty of scholarly evidence.

The more time Octavia spent wandering about the library, the clearer it became to her why such a place earned Princess Twilight's approval. And as it turned out, Spitfire wasn't blowing things out of proportion. Octavia wondered if the library even had an end or if it just stretched on for eternity.

Octavia pondered whether finding the book would've required days of searching. Weeks may have been possible if luck wasn't on her side.

However, much to everypony's relief, the group had arrived at a bookshelf labeled Treasures of Star Swirl the Bearded: Confirmed with an adjacent bookshelf titled Treasures of Star Swirl the Bearded: Disputed or False. Octavia squinted at the latter, noticing the wooden frame extending toward the horizon as book after book occupied each niche. Some were only a few inches thick while others were large enough to act as weapons. At least all of them had their titles emblazoned on the spine.

"There should be something about the Platinum Staff here," said Vinyl as a matter of fact. Trotting into the hallway and bobbing her head, her eyes swiveled about as they studied each book present. "Let's search for any books about it to start out. Oh, and anything that catches your eye works."

"That sounds like a plan," said Octavia. Twiddling her mane, she pursed her lips. Her tail swished about like a swing. "Any information on it will help a little, but something seems a bit off." Her chest tightened. The room was darker than before, but the lights overhead shone as they always did. "We should be careful either way."

Vinyl bobbed her head. "Naturally."

Octavia and the others all trotted ahead, following Vinyl's lead. Most of the books seemed rather generalized, offering unspecific titles or a brief overview about each of the treasures. Much to her luck, a few did manage to specify what rumored treasure they discussed, though such luck was countered with said books all having nothing to do with the Platinum Staff. And after completing one length of the leftmost bookshelf, Octavia resumed her search on the second row.

It was the same story there.

The third row wasn't of value to her as well.

She clenched her teeth, sweat dripping from her brow as she glared at the array of books. While learning new things appealed to her and she didn't mind discovering new facts or theories about the subject, now wasn't the time for dabbling with secondary research. And flipping through all of the generalized books would've taken hours at best. The sun would've returned by the time they all scurried through just the indexes to each book.

A sigh left Octavia's lips.

"I think I found it," Vinyl muttered without warning.

Octavia, Rarity, and Spitfire all swiveled their heads to where Vinyl stood, the DJ tugging a book away with her magic. It was among the smaller texts, though the title was enough for Octavia's visage to become brighter than the sun. The Legend of the Platinum Staff was printed on the book's leather cover, the golden letters twinkling.

"What are we waiting for?" asked Spitfire. She and everypony else approached Vinyl, eyes glued to her. "This probably has the answers we need."

Vinyl merely nodded in response. She sat down and flipped the book open, stopping once she reached the opening chapter. Adjusting her shades, she scanned the page's contents, Octavia and Rarity both joining in from behind her shoulders. Much of the opening paragraph was fluff or leading up to something important, though a chill coursed through Octavia's spine as she continued reading. Her teeth clacked together. The library itself became much colder as if by magic.

"This can't be good," Vinyl muttered. She glanced up at Octavia and Rarity. The latter two shrugged and stepped back, Vinyl resuming her reading, skimming through the pages at a blistering pace. Most of the time, she made her way to the first few pages, but she quickly scanned some of the book's other pages.

Sweat dripped down Octavia's forehead.

Either there was nothing else of value or a plethora of information adorned the pages.

Part of Octavia wished for the former. She clenched her teeth

"So the Platinum Staff is believed to hold immense power," said Vinyl. "But the truth is that nopony even knows if the staff ever existed." She caught her breath. "It's rumored to be housed in an abandoned temple. Exactly which temple and its general location are unknown." Her lips sagged into a frown. "I checked the index tons of times, but got nothing."

"That doesn't help at all," said Rarity. In the blink of an eye, she tugged her mane, cheeks tautened. "We're trotting into something catastrophic at this rate, something like that Alicorn Amulet from a while ago, but—" she cocked her head "—but why was this atrocious group so concerned about anypony else finding out? Such fiendish actions couldn't have been without reason." Pausing, Rarity then rubbed her muzzle. "Perhaps they were worried somepony else knew about it."

"Or maybe it was a trap," said Octavia.

"What do you mean, dear?"

Octavia exhaled. While her statement was uttered without thinking, something about the staff's mysterious origins, the bandits' possible motives, and the messages planted into other ponies' minds prodded her. The tension lingering in the air hadn't helped.

As Octavia juggled each fact and idea, the pieces slowly fell into place. It all came back to Wind Rider's confession.

If Wind Rider wasn't one for giving in so easily, then perhaps spilling the truth was his goal from the start. But if that was the case, Octavia wondered why he even bothered trying to deny his role in the first place. Everything she meandered into had more layers or questions; the mystery caused Octavia's forehead to twinge. Blinking, she sighed and rolled her shoulders.

"Something doesn't seem right," Octavia continued. "Does anypony else find it suspicious that the bandits have been trying to discourage looking up information about the Platinum Staff? You'd think they would try to make their operations as undercover as possible."

Vinyl bobbed her head and arched an eyebrow. "Yeah, but maybe they're weird like that."

"They probably are." Taking a quick breath, Octavia then made eye contact with Vinyl. "But they must have a valid reason for acting this way. They might be trying to plant curiosity into ponies' minds." She tapped her hoof against the floor, clacks echoing in the room. "Maybe they're actually honest about such warnings."

"We're making this larger than it is," said Spitfire. "I doubt they've enacted a plan that complicated." Stepping back, she fiddled with her goggles. "Regardless, once they have enough clues to determine where to go, they'll snatch the staff. But why couldn't they just do it themselves? Are they too lazy to look at some books?"

"Wind Rider did say they were a large organization, so perhaps they'll have that old mare track down and get the answers from somepony who knows." Octavia picked up the book. Closing it, a harsh thud rang in her ears, Octavia then pushing the book back where it was found. "That being said, researching the Platinum Staff may not be the best idea for two reasons."

"What do you mean, dear?" asked Rarity.

"First, it may not help us in our investigation. Just because we know where it is doesn't mean we'll be much closer to solving the mystery. Secondly, those bandits are likely curious about us."

"And what about them just checking out the library?" asked Vinyl. She shrugged, a bemused expression across her visage. "They have to know books on the staff exist."

"Maybe it's to not draw suspicion." Octavia shrugged. "If their members checked out or studied a number of books linked to the Platinum Staff, everypony will know who to question and go after if they find it. And if they're not suspects, they can do their dirty work without trouble. There's a chance it could be as simple as that."

"But we can't rule out something weirder," Spitfire added. She raised a hoof. "Most reasonable hypotheses are possible."

"They're probably more interested in secretive schemes." Crossing her forelegs, Octavia exhaled and loosened her chest. "That cave is proof enough. If they were out in the open about it, I'd imagine it wouldn't take the princesses too long to untangle the mystery."

"If a book were to know where the staff is, how come nopony has found it yet?" questioned Vinyl, arching an eyebrow. "Surely somepony must've discovered the Platinum Staff. Either that or they have some clues about where it is." Vinyl trotted back toward where the entrance was; Octavia followed close behind, lips pursed. "Tavi, maybe you're just overly anxious about this."

Octavia nodded. She couldn't have denied that her heartbeats echoed in her ears and that her cheeks became pale. Lying about her anxiety would've just wasted time, and if anypony wouldn't judge her harshly for such emotions, it was Vinyl. There was something to be said about living in the same house as her.

And maybe it was all just anxiety feeding her mind with outlandish situations.

At the same time, if this older mare among the bandits was able to send thoughts into the minds of others, it wasn't a stretch in her imagination that she'd also be able to read minds like an open book. And there must've been something missing given how Wind Rider just casually told some key evidence. If his group cared about secrecy, they would've ensured he kept quiet.

Or maybe they didn't.

A sigh left Octavia's lips. "Maybe you're right," she said. "Perhaps this is all anxiety."

She glanced at the different books she passed by, noticing a variety of documents or novels that piqued her interest. None of them were related to the case, but reading them in the near future was a possibility. Octavia cracked the slightest of smiles. Those books were likely something Moondancer was aware of. If everything fell in place, perhaps books akin to those in the library would've made intriguing topics of conversation.

While Octavia wasn't lonely or anything like that, the soft visages her friends wore alongside her bright eyes a symbol of that, the possibility of forging another friendship tickled her chest.

In a flash, Octavia's eyes widened. "Hold on a moment," she blurted out. "Maybe we're going about this the wrong way."

"What is it, dear?" asked Rarity. "Did you come up with something?"

"Moondancer might know where to go from here."

Rarity cracked a smile, nodding. "I do like that idea, but asking her about the Platinum Staff is the same as finding it in a book. It'd be a marvelous discovery for us, but if what you're saying is true, those ruffians could still get the answer they're looking for." She swished her tail. "Are you thinking of something else?"

"I am." Octavia pressed her hooves together. "Moondancer may know somepony that can give us more clues about PA or the group that Wind Rider joined. If this organization is as widespread as Wind Rider claims, maybe there are friends of former members we can contact. It may not get us anywhere, but it's worth a shot."

"But Moondancer was a recluse for over a year." Rarity arched an eyebrow. "At least that's what Twilight told me."

"For only a year, but that means she was interacting with others before and after that time period." Smirking, Octavia then made a beeline toward the library's front door. She placed a hoof on the smooth surface, chills coursing down her foreleg at the touch. "She doesn't even have to be friends with somepony she knows about. If she has a lead, it's worth investigating."

Vinyl bobbed her head and flashed a radiant grin.

"I see where you're going with this," said Spitfire. "Don't investigate what PA wants, but look into the organization itself by trying to contact as many ponies as possible. That way, we can catch those who tried to hurt you at the Twilight Ball." She ruffled her wings, donning a sheepish expression. "As interesting as the staff is, we don't have to worry about it too much right now."

"But we should remember it moving forward," said Vinyl.

"Naturally."

"Sounds like we're all in agreement," Octavia muttered. "Let's get some rest and resume investigating tomorrow." Yawning, she placed a hoof in front of her mouth. "We'll need to be fully rested up if we're going to get anywhere."

"That sounds fantastic, dear," Rarity replied, stretching her forelegs. "I do need to get some beauty sleep."

"Same," said Spitfire.

Octavia pushed the door open, holding it until Vinyl, Rarity, and Spitfire all trotted outside. "Let's meet up at the train station tomorrow at nine." She momentarily snickered, a soft breeze swirling past her. "And let's also not wake each other up by screaming at our bedrooms this time. I'd rather not roll off of my bed and risk banging my head."

"No promises that I'll control my tone." Spitfire winked. "But I'll try my best for all of you."

"Same here."

However, as Octavia stepped out of the Royal Canterlot Library and back into the lush gardens, flowery scents soothing her nostrils, her throat tightened nonetheless. Even if she and her friends did everything in their power to solve the mystery, an itch at the back of her mind filled her with uncertainty. And regardless of whether the old mare could've peeped into the minds of those who knew about the Platinum Staff, Octavia couldn't help but also think that researching its origins was a lost cause.

She just hoped that her fears were incorrect.

As Spitfire promised, no shrieks had reached Octavia's ears as she opened her eyes and rose from her bed. An elongated yawn left her mouth as she stretched her forelegs. And by a sheer coincidence, she noticed the clock to her left reading a time of around eight o'clock. It was the perfect time for meandering over to the train station, maybe checking up on how Vinyl, Rarity, and Spitfire were doing outside of the investigation. The growing mysteries and oddities surrounding her only produced headaches; some casual conversation for once was a possible antidote in her eyes.

However, something about the idea of the culprits planning on seeping information about the Platinum Staff's origins made less sense the more she thought about it. Octavia rubbed the top of her head and scrunched her muzzle. While such a plan was within the realms of possibility, the inconvenience of that hypothesis compared to just reading the books poked her nerves just thinking about it.

"Maybe I was just tired and anxious," Octavia muttered to herself. "That must be it."

And after completing the usual rituals of cleaning up, having a small breakfast, and locking the hotel room upon leaving, Octavia soon found herself back in the outside world. Given that this was Canterlot, however, early mornings still showcased roads and paths packed with ponies of all shapes and sizes.

Coffee was the dominating scent of the morning, Octavia's nostrils clearing up. The hurricane of gossip that lingered was at least softer, though Octavia's ears twitched as she heard mutterings about her situation and a few stories that originated from Ponyville. She chuckled at a few of the more lighthearted conversations.

Octavia glanced to the left, then to the right, and nodded. "The train station is to the right of here," she reminded herself. "I should be able to—"

Something gently tapped Octavia's shoulder; she shivered and hopped in the air. Turning around, she spotted Vinyl carrying a small bag, her trademark headphones, shades, and bright smile adorning her face. Vinyl merely waved and nudged a step back, snickering for a moment.

"Sorry, Tavi," said Vinyl. Flicking a switch on her headphones, she took them off her ears and placed them around her neck. "Anyway, I woke up about an hour ago." She paused for a moment, exhaling. "I toured around the city to pass the time. Nothing important or anything." She crossed her forelegs, a sheepish smile adorning her. "I just wanted some fresh air."

"That sounds lovely," Octavia replied. She motioned toward Vinyl and trotted forward, the latter following right beside her. "I was planning on making my way over to the train station. I imagined Rarity and Spitfire would get here a little earlier than scheduled." She glanced back to Vinyl and gazed into her eyes. "How are you feeling?"

Vinyl pursed her lips "A bit nervous."

Nodding, a sigh left Octavia's mouth. "I'm nervous as well. Hopefully, this investigation will be over soon. If Wind Rider was telling the truth, at least we know who to look out for." She rubbed her muzzle. "But without a lot of detail to go off of, finding PA or the old mare will be quite troublesome. They're the most vital parts of that organization, after all."

"Yeah." Vinyl playfully nudged Octavia and forced a smirk across her visage. Nevertheless, her cheeks were tautened and pale. "By the way, I got you a gift." Rummaging through the small bag, Vinyl procured a small booklet, its cover a faded brown and the words Legendary Composers printed on it in a gleaming silver. "I know ya love reading and music, I tried picking up something that brought both of 'em together." Blushing, she stretched her hoof out toward Octavia. "If I was buying some stuff, I thought it was only fair."

"Thank you, Vinyl." In a heartbeat, Octavia briefly wrapped her forelegs around Vinyl, the pair giggling together for a moment. "I'm honored to have you as a close friend." She released Vinyl from her warm embrace, her lips curling into a grin. Even if it wasn't something that pertained to her interests, any gift or action that brightened the world warmed her heart. "Can you place it in your bag for the time being, please?"

Vinyl bobbed her head and followed Octavia's instructions.

"What did you get for yourself?"

"Just the usual stuff," Vinyl replied. "Tracks for my turntable and new supplies. Ya know, stuff like that."

"Maybe we'll both be able to perform as usual once this is all wrapped up." Octavia turned to the left with Vinyl following suit. "Even though it hasn't been that long since the Twilight Ball, I deeply miss the days where I could sit down, read a book, and practice my music without worrying so much. Your company and a smooth glass of wine if I'm ever in the mood add to those moments." She paused for a moment, sulking somewhat. "I miss Ponyville as well. Having to spend another few days in such an overly posh community will—" Octavia stuck her tongue out, pretending to hack up something "—you know."

"I miss home, too. Even if the investigation doesn't end right away, maybe we can move our efforts to Ponyville for a bit."

"If anything comes up where that's an option, we should take it." Octavia squinted at the large, marble building before her, train cars sticking out in the distance. Small clouds of steam bellowed out of a metallic pipe and rose into the air. "It looks like we're almost there. Are you ready for today's investigations?"

Bobbing her head and smiling, Vinyl then adjusted her shades. "And do you think Rarity and Spitfire are waiting for us?"

"If their behavior is anything to go by, they probably are."

Vinyl feigned a chuckle. "Good point."

Given that Spitfire was waving at them in the distance, her uniform and bright orange mane instantly recognizable, Octavia returned a snicker. Rarity stood beside Spitfire as well, twirling her own mane and swishing her tail about. Galloping toward the pair, both Octavia and Vinyl reached them in a matter of seconds, their friends donning smiles upon their arrival.

However, Octavia was drawn toward Rarity's sagging eyes, the fashionista yawning and her normally combed mane somewhat messy. Perhaps she was on the receiving end of the alarm clock known as Spitfire, though her smile quickly reverted into a glum frown, Spitfire's eyes focused on Rarity.

"Good to see you, everypony," said Spitfire. She fiddled with her goggles. "Did you get some much needed rest?"

"I did," said Octavia. "Vinyl also slept well." She shifted her focus back to Rarity. "And is everything okay, Rarity? Did you have trouble sleeping last night?" Octavia knew the answer if Rarity's bloodshot eyes indicated anything. As for why she was this way, Octavia only pursed her lips thinking about it. "Did you have nightmares last night?"

"Or was somepony making loud noises outside?" Vinyl questioned.

"The first one and a bit of the second," said Rarity. She shuffled toward the other three, yawning. "Octavia, you could've been right about your theory."

"Excuse me?" Octavia blurted out, eyebrow arched. "You couldn't possibly mean—"

"Yes." Rarity nodded. Her shoulders sagged for a moment. "Your concerns about the Platinum Staff might be warranted."

"How?" With shrunken pupils, Octavia trudged toward Rarity until they were inches apart. Her heartbeats became audible. "I know I was certain back then, but that might've been me being too careful. Do you think it could've just been a typical nightmare? After all, the Platinum Staff was the last thing we investigated before going to bed."

"It's a bit odd—" Rarity swallowed a lump "—and distressing, but something about it made me think of your hypothesis."

"Can you remember what your dream was?"

Rarity tilted her head, rubbing her muzzle. "The details of that horrible nightmare are a bit fuzzy, but I do recall the Platinum Staff being involved in it somehow. For some reason, I found it within a closet and tucked in between some of the fabulous dresses I've sewn. The gemstones decorating the staff were marvelous as well, yet I also distinctly remember my heart beating faster than ever."

"And you touched it and something bad happened, right?" asked Vinyl.

Biting her lip, Rarity nodded in response. "That's exactly what happened. All I recall was this sudden surge of power. I vaguely recall a horrifying inferno."

Chills coursed through Octavia's spine. She gulped. "Was Ponyville ablaze or something?"

"Well, it was something bright. And the scent was the exact opposite of glamorous." She shuddered and her coat turned pale. "It felt so real, yet so dreamlike as well, and it was when I saw a strange figure trotting toward me that I woke up. It was one of the worst nightmares ever."

"Maybe Princess Luna might be able to help," said Spitfire. With a sigh, she then sat down on one of the nearby benches, eyes glued to Rarity, Octavia, and Vinyl. "And if it was something other than a typical nightmare, there should be something different about the dream or the seconds after you woke up."

"Other than how your dream felt, was there anything peculiar about it and the moment you woke up?" Octavia questioned.

Rarity shook her head. "Aside from a brief gust of wind, nothing caught my attention."

"That's odd." Octavia trotted closer to Rarity. "If I remember correctly, last night wasn't particularly windy." She blinked and swiveled her head toward Vinyl; the pair made eye contact with each other. "Vinyl, were there harsh winds last night or was everything rather calm regarding the weather?"

"Calm," Vinyl replied.

"Was it the same for you, Spitfire?"

Spitfire bobbed her head. "No strong winds I heard of. And if there were, I probably would've woken up from the sound."

Raising her brow, Octavia then approached toward the same bench Spitfire resided, sitting down next to her. Octavia's muscles loosened as the bench's curved frame perfectly accommodated her seating posture, a deep breath leaving her lips. However, her chest twinged at times nonetheless.

Something about Rarity's story seemed peculiar. If none of her other friends heard a gust of wind, let alone one fierce enough to disturb even the heaviest sleeper, perhaps it was the work of imagination or somepony hurriedly dashing off somewhere else. And if it was somepony attempting to flee the hotel Rarity rested at, they'd have perched themselves right on her porch in order to create such a sound.

Octavia rubbed her muzzle.

Every possible outcome she thought of just produced headaches.

There had to have been some sort of detail to explain such a phenomenon.

"It just doesn't add up," muttered Octavia. Sulking, a sigh left her lips. "Maybe it was just a coincidence." She stood up and swished her tail about; Octavia then stretched her hooves and trotted forward. "Let's not dwell about it too much, especially with no leads of the sort. We should still meet up with Moondancer as planned."

"Maybe somepony was perched on the porch," said Vinyl. "They could've escaped when Rarity woke up. Athletic pegasi can carry ponies into the air, so maybe they worked with PA or the old mare to torment Rarity with a nightmare. It'd be risky and stupid, but possible."

"Perhaps, but are you sure they could've gotten away with that?"

"Almost anything can happen at night. Trust me, Tavi, my work as a DJ comes with plenty of strange sights once the sun sets and the moon rises." Blushing, she rubbed the back of her neck and snickered. "It's pretty much drinking a little too much or doing things that most ponies would consider childish. You probably wouldn't believe half of the stuff I've seen."

Octavia gently nodded, lips pursed. While she had only attended some of Vinyl's performances as her friend, even those brought glowing neon lights, frantic cheering, and the occasional whiff of alcohol with them. The latter tickled Octavia's nostrils at the thought; she almost yearned she could've sneezed them away. None of those compared to the performances after Vinyl, however, both Octavia and her friend rolling their eyes at what some considered music.

Those were supposedly the calmer events.

"If you insist," said Octavia. She brought her focus toward Rarity. "Do you think we could investigate your apartment? If some of the group's members were stirring up trouble there, they may have left behind some evidence by accident. Strands of hair or dropped items might prove useful for the investigation."

Less than a second later, Rarity bobbed her head. "That would be marvelous, dear."

"And we'll visit Moondancer afterwards."

Octavia's friends nodded in unison.

"Let's get—"

"Hold on a second," said Spitfire, extending her foreleg toward Octavia. "I think we're being watched."

Octavia donned a bemused expression. "Watched?"

Nodding, Spitfire pointed to her right; a peach-colored unicorn with sagging eyelids and a faded, gray mane jotted words down on a notepad, occasionally glancing to where the four ponies were. At first, she seemed like any other pony, minding her own business as she worked on something and checked the sights around her, eyes widened as though she had expected somepony. However, every time she turned away from her notepad, she gazed blankly at the group, lips pursed.

In most situations, this would've been nothing noteworthy.

Octavia wasn't bogged down in anything ordinary.

This was an investigation, after all. The mare's wrinkled visage coupled with her checking up on the same sight prodded Octavia's nerves. Perhaps this was the old mare Wind Rider mentioned, this time being right in the open for reasons unbeknownst to anypony but her and perhaps a few others.

Octavia rubbed the top of her head.

"I'd hate to bother her, but maybe we should ask if she knows anything," whispered Octavia. "It's worth a shot. If she tries running away or acting suspiciously, we might have a major discovery on our hooves."

Vinyl, Rarity, and Spitfire all nodded in response.

With light steps, Octavia and company approached the enigmatic mare. A palpable aura lingered in the air. Octavia's chest tightened the closer she was to the old mare, her mind wondering what would become of the group should this figure be the pony they're looking for and a constant troublemaker. But with other ponies out and about, all of them just trotting, shopping, or just gawking at Canterlot's architecture, the odds of her doing anything nefarious were slim.

Such comforts still weren't enough to loosen the tension within Octavia's chest.

She exhaled, forelegs squirming a little.

"Excuse me," said Octavia. The old mare raised her head and arched an eyebrow. "But do you mind if I ask you a few quick questions?"

The mare shielded her notepad with her hooves. Slowly turning to face Octavia, her pupils shrunk. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice raspy. "I'm not in the mood for questionnaires or surveys, so it better be quick."

"I just wanted to ask you two questions." Octavia stepped back. As a chill coursed through her spine, she shivered and took a quick breath. "Anyway, what have you been writing during this time? You've been scribbling all sorts of words or phrases ever since I got here, and that notepad your covering does suggest it means a lot to you." She then feigned a snicker. "I'm not going to take it."

"It's for—" the old mare scrunched her muzzle "—it's for a novel."

"A novel?" Cracking a smile, Octavia gently nodded. "I love reading the classics. What kind of novel are you working on?"

"It's a—a romance." The mare bobbed her head, lips pursed momentarily. A minuscule glow shone in her eyes. "That's what it is. Nothing more, nothing less."

"I do like the romantic novels." Octavia twiddled her mane and smiled. It wasn't recalling the myriad of romantic tales she perused through during breaks and free time, but rather something about the mare opening up like a book. Such blatant cues couldn't have been coincidences, especially how much the mare has tried hiding the notepad. "Sometimes, they warm my heart. Others make me weep for the characters, especially the tragedies. Many of the greatest works in fiction have been romantic in nature."

"I know." The mare ruffled her brow and groaned.

Octavia arched an eyebrow, her focus glued to the covered notepad. "By the way, would you mind if I took a quick look at it? Don't worry, I'm good at keeping secrets."

"Tell me your name."

Octavia shuffled her hooves back an inch. She leaned away from the old mare. "Why?"

"I need to make sure I can trust you." The mare furrowed her brow.

"Trust me? I already gave my word."

"The name is more important."

Octavia's cheeks tautened. There was no denying it; sitting before her was the same old mare Wind Rider had mentioned in his confession. And if those cursory glances toward her and her friends were anything to go by, the contents of the mare's notepad must've pertained to them in some manner. Whether they'd reveal useful information was a mystery, however.

A sigh left Octavia's cheeks. "Tell me the truth," she said. "You're not working on a romance novel, are you?"

The old mare clenched her teeth. Sweat dripped down her wrinkly forehead as no words left her lips.

"You've heard of PA, right?"

Nothing.

"I'll take that as a yes." Octavia sighed. "You're going to make this difficult, aren't you?"

Scanning the environment around her for a moment, she noticed a few ponies all gazing directly at her, their visages blank. While most of the crowd went on their merry way, those few who focused on her as if they'd suck the magic out of her turned her pale. The tautened expressions Rarity and Spitfire wore told a similar story; Vinyl's horn emitted a bright blue light, though she bit her lip.

As Octavia turned to where the old mare was, she leaped into the air as emptiness took her place. She gulped, rubbing her eyes. Perhaps it was just an illusion conjured by somepony. She'd heard about plenty of illusion spells in the past. Magicians like Trixie utilized such spells to great effect as she recalled, though Trixie hadn't caused a ruckus in ages. But there was one problem with that hypothesis.

It felt too real.

Octavia wiped her forehead. "Was I hallucinating?" she asked.

"You weren't," said Vinyl. She approached Octavia and gently placed a hoof on her shoulder. "I saw it all unfold."

"And those strange ponies staring at me were real as well?"

"I saw them, dear," Rarity replied. "They were definitely real, not to mention ghastly. I've never seen expressions so mellow in such a long time; I thought I'd pass out."

"And it looks like our suspect dropped something," murmured Spitfire. The Wonderbolt trotted toward a notepad resting atop the cobblestone road. Squinting at it for a second, she checked her surroundings before swiping it and rushing back over to Octavia. "I think it was the same one she was trying to hide, though it could be something else." She paused for a moment. "Either way, she must've dropped it after disappearing. It might be our lucky day."

"Let's hope," said Octavia. She stared into Spitfire's eyes, then shifted her attention to the notepad. "What does the latest entry say?"

Spitfire flipped through the various pages that made up the notepad, eventually stopping three-quarters of the way through. "We'll read through all of them, but here's the latest entry." She paused for a moment and fiddled with her goggles. "You might want to check this out. It's serious."

"Serious?" Vinyl blurted out. She peeked at the page's contents, Octavia and Rarity following suit. "How bad are we talking?"

"Terrible. Read it for yourself."

Octavia nodded as she studied the page.

PA,

I'm still in Canterlot at the moment, but I must inform you that not only has our attempt at knocking out Octavia failed, but Wind Rider was captured as well. However, even if he confesses, we know he'll keep the details as vague as possible. And he'll undoubtedly mention the Platinum Staff, too. Such a setback can be easily corrected, however, especially since we're far from done.

As you know, our efforts at discovering where the Platinum Staff is haven't gotten anywhere. Even after checking every library we could get our hooves on, nothing has come up yet. There are simply too many ancient temples to excavate. And despite encouraging ponies to discover the staff for us, just to make our job easier, we haven't heard a peep about it. But I know the Platinum Staff is out there. It cannot be mere myth, so don't worry.

With this in mind, I've devised three new targets for us to focus on. The first two shouldn't be too difficult to track down, though the third will be a pain. However, I think we can get the third if we employ some help. I've heard stories and rumors, some outlandish, and it might be in our best interest to check the validity of that rumor.

I've listed the names of the three ponies to message down below.

1. Cloudchaser

2. Cheerilee

3. A.K. Yearling

I'll update more on the situation when I can. Our dreams are within reach.

Velvet

Octavia rubbed her eyes, cheeks pale. "At least we have a suspect," she said. "But I don't like the sound of the last part at all."

"Cloudchaser is one of my cadets," Spitfire added. "She's not the fastest or the strongest, but she's an incredible pony. She's a friend as far as I'm concerned. I see a bit of myself in her, which might be why it's unsurprising as to why Velvet and PA are interested in going after her. We should hurry to Ponyville as soon as possible and warn her."

"We can warn Cheerilee about what's to come as well. She lives there, too."

Spitfire bobbed her head. She donned a stern expression, eyebrows sagging. "Let's not waste any time, but we'll need to investigate Rarity's apartment before the evidence disappears." A quick breath left her mouth. "If we hurry, there's a possibility we could warn everypony before it's too late. We'll also send our questions to Moondancer once things calm down." She ruffled her wings. "Let's move."

In a flash, the four ponies grouped up together and stormed toward where Rarity's apartment was. Octavia knew sending their questions to Moondancer via letters were a possibility. She'd understand given the severity of the situation. The limited communication was unfortunate, but something she could've worked around without too much trouble.

What tensed Octavia's muscles most of all was the danger looming over Cloudchaser, Cheerilee, and A.K. Yearling.

Much to her dismay, the mystery had metamorphosed into something much more than just an isolated incident.

The Struggle

One troublesome event was awful enough for Octavia, but a whole series of them grouped together into one melting pot was a nightmare brought to life as far as she was concerned.

Every second felt like a minute. Sweat poured down Octavia's forehead as she huffed and puffed, tongue sticking out. If Canterlot's roads weren't packed with ponies, she'd have dashed toward the hotel and just crashed on one of their couches. Anything to heal the tightness throughout her body was welcome.

Standing to her left was none other than the building where Rarity's room was. Large, red letters adorning the hotel read Divine Rooms, a hotel Octavia vaguely recalled as being the home to some of the more snobbish ponies. Of course, such stereotypes didn't describe all of the hotel's patrons; some were likely friendly and easy to get along with. Others, however, wore slight scowls and often stuck their noses up.

It was the perfect place for flaunting wealth.

Growls erupted from Octavia's stomach for a moment, her cheeks turning green.

The somewhat dim lights weren't helping matters.

Octavia glanced over to where Rarity, Vinyl, and Spitfire were. All three of them wore stern expressions and ruffled brows. Her heart thrashed about. Maybe finding a scrap of evidence would've proven almost impossible, if such evidence even existed. Turning toward the hotel's front door, Octavia exhaled and pressed her hoof against the door's smooth frame.

A slight creak pierced the air.

There was no turning back now.

Standing before Octavia was a taller mare, her light blue coat and orange mane commanding attention. The faint smile she wore across her face was innocent enough, though the gaudy dress that adorned her exuded a fashionable aura. Octavia stepped back, making eye contact with the mare.

There was a small speck of light in the mare's eyes. Octavia couldn't help but wonder if she'd met her before; curiosity prodded her hooves.

"Excuse me," said Octavia. She cleared her throat. "Have we met before? And I'm awfully sorry, but we're in a bit of a hurry. My friend needs to check her room with us. I know that my friend would be best to talk to than somepony who'd never stepped inside the hotel before, but—"

The mare gently poked Octavia's lips with her hoof. "I'm not with the hotel," she replied. "And it's fine. There's a meeting I'm required to attend, so I just stayed here for the night." Rubbing her muzzle, the mare stepped back and gazed behind Octavia's shoulders. Not a second later, her eyes sparkled as a gasp left her mouth. "Rarity, is that you?"

Rarity trotted forward, making eye contact with the mare, and cracked a bright smile. "Yes it is, dear." She then shifted her attention to Octavia. "This is Sassy Saddles. I once worked with her on a few extravagant dresses for the then new Canterlot Boutique." She rubbed her neck, blushing. "It was a bit of a roller coaster, but I think we all learned something marvelous from it."

"It's a long story." Sassy stepped out of the way and stretched her forelegs to her right. "But what brings you and your friends here?"

"We're investigating a possible intrusion into Rarity's room," said Vinyl. She cocked her head. "Well, it was only her balcony that was messed with."

Sassy's eyes widened, lips pursed for a moment. "That sounds awfully serious. Was anypony hurt?"

Shaking her head, Rarity then trudged inside. "Not really, though the culprit plagued me with the most horrific of nightmares. We've already collected some evidence, but they're after my friends and a few other ponies as well." She twiddled her mane as Octavia and company joined her inside the hotel's lobby. "By the way, are you familiar with PA?"

"Princess Amore?"

Rarity shuddered; she then arched an eyebrow. "Sassy, do you know something that we don't?"

"Sort of, though I don't know if you'll believe me." Sighing, she meandered toward one of the sofas and plopped onto the velvet cushions. Reclining on it like a bed, she raised her head and stared at the group with a blank visage. "You're in deep trouble if you're messing with this group."

"So you know about them," said Spitfire as a matter of fact. She made a beeline toward Sassy, her eyes unblinking. "We've heard about their activities from an ally of theirs. Now that we know that some of his story was true, I'd like to ask if you have more information about this group. Are you a member or a former member? Is a friend of yours a member?"

"The second one. Suri Polomare once told me she'd joined some strange group, though she never saw it as weird." Sassy raised an eyebrow. Lighting her horn, she brought a glass toward her and squinted at it, licking her lips. "I think I recall it during a dinner one day. I think it was after she lost a competition in Manehattan. She was on her own and needed the money, so some strange figure approached her."

"Was her name Velvet?" asked Vinyl.

With sealed lips, Sassy nodded.

"How come you never told anypony about this before?" questioned Octavia. "If it was as unusual as you're implying, it was worth informing the Royal Guard about it." She approached Sassy and maintained eye contact; Octavia then sat on an adjacent chair, shimmying around a bit until she felt comfortable. "Was there a threat if you broke silence?"

"There wasn't."

Vinyl adjusted her shades. "Then why keep quiet?"

"Because from what Suri told me, it wasn't anything serious."

Sassy glanced up as a waiter passed by, filling the empty glass and those nearby with red wine, the other glasses all pushed toward Octavia and company. The scent was rather strong, Octavia's nostrils picking up the fruity aroma; it was one she associated with a recent trip to Griffonstone, though why the hotel had that wine puzzled her momentarily. It wasn't as though Griffonstone's wine was commonly exported due to the complications of bringing it over; its rarity was one of its selling points, after all.

Maybe it was one of those occasional specials the hotel was offering.

Sassy took a sip from her glass, then sighed. "She said it was just to get some extra money after Coco left her," she continued. "When I asked for the details, she just blathered on about how it'd be the chance she had at glory once again, so I only assumed she was referring to dresses."

"That's an understandable assumption, darling," said Rarity. She brought one of the glasses toward her, gently shaking it as the wine swirled like a whirlpool. "But if you're telling this to us now, does that mean Suri quit or already discussed it with other ponies? I don't see why you'd share it so readily if Suri wanted it secretive."

"It was the first one. Suri quit over something she referred to as 'morally wrong,' but she only cringed whenever I asked what they wanted her to do. I only assumed it involved dressmaking, to be honest." As she pressed her hooves together, Sassy clenched her teeth. A quick breath left her mouth. "Look, if I was in your position, I'd just let bygones be bygones and try to avoid them, though I'd imagine Princess Twilight could deal with them if things became troublesome."

"She can't do everything on her own, dear." Rarity feigned a chuckle. "Anyway, it must've been quite horrific for Suri to find it morally reprehensible. I'm guessing they'll go after her if she shares it with the princesses, the Royal Guard, or the Wonderbolts." Rarity placed the glass back down, a soft clack reaching Octavia's ears. She pursed her lips, cheeks tautened. "This is much more troubling than expected."

"If they were willing to hurt Suri if she reported them, I'd imagine their numbers must be larger than we think," said Octavia. "Of course, if that journal entry we found from Velvet is anything to go by, they must have a large network of bandits and spies working for them." Her chest tightened. Octavia glanced around the open room, though nothing stood out. She exhaled. "If the journal is anything to go by, I'd imagine their current goal is to knock out targets so that PA or Velvet can transfer their messages. Maybe they're looking for Cloudchaser right now."

"That's probably what they're doing," Spitfire replied. She fiddled with her goggles and then approached Octavia. "However, that doesn't change the fact that they're probably interested in us right now. We've interrogated one of their members and you've eluded their trap, so maybe they're focused on us at the moment."

"Did you just say they're targeting ponies and knocking them out?" asked Sassy. With shrunken pupils, she nudged away from the group, mouth agape. "That must've been what Suri meant when she referred to immoral actions! I'd have never imagined that such a strange organization could've ever existed!" She swiveled her head toward Octavia and donned a stern expression. "You must be careful up there. I don't know what they're planning, but whatever it is, I bet it's serious."

"It's to do with the Platinum Staff," said Vinyl. "Something about having a lot of power or money, maybe both."

"Either way, they mean business. Promise me you'll try staying safe."

"We can't make any promises about that," Spitfire responded. She sighed, head hung low for a second. "However, if we're careful and take this one step at a time, we might be able to get out of this mess in one piece." Spitfire gnashed her teeth. "Because they're this dangerous, we might have to get dirty at times, but I think we can handle it."

Octavia nodded, as did Rarity and Vinyl. While fighting wasn't something she was fond of or anything fitting a light mare like herself, Octavia accepted the fact that physical confrontations were probably in her future. The idea turned her coat pale and sent shivers through her spine, but such was one of the moments where bravery was essential. Octavia took a deep breath and stood upright.

"We'll go check the room now," muttered Octavia. She adjusted the pink bow adorning her. "Sassy, thanks for sharing some of what you know. Please let us know if anything else comes up. The more witnesses and information we have, the sooner all of this can be resolved."

"You're welcome," Sassy replied. "Anything else?"

"Do you know Suri Polomare's whereabouts? If she was a former member of this group, there's a high likelihood she may be willing to step forward and share some of their secrets." Octavia rubbed the top of her head. "Of course, she might be too nervous to share a single fact, but if we can get her somewhere away from prying eyes, it's worth a shot."

"Suri is over in Appleoosa at the moment." Sassy shrugged. "She never told me why she went there, but if I was a betting mare, I'd wager it has to do with her failure in that fashion contest and how getting caught for plagiarism practically ruined her career. She still makes dresses, but they're nothing amazing."

Octavia bobbed her head. "We'll be sure to check Appleoosa when we can." She brought her focus to Rarity, Spitfire, and Vinyl, the three of them standing straight and wearing blank visages. "We're ready to check out the room, right? Is there anything we should do before investigating?"

"We're good," Vinyl answered, nodding. "Just nervous."

"Let's be careful."

The four ponies grouped together and trotted up the staircase, Rarity taking the lead as she brought the keys to her room along for the ride. The carpet beneath Octavia tickled her hooves, though each step was heavier than the last. It was almost like climbing a mountain as far as she was concerned, the air becoming thinner. Her heart raced as she pondered if anything or anypony was waiting at Rarity's hotel room. Even not having normal access didn't prevent them from possibly being able to wreak havoc, as Velvet or PA must've done. However, if Velvet had fled to Ponyville in search of Cloudchaser, Octavia figured the room was safe.

Her chest tightened nonetheless.

The group was already at the third floor, Rarity still ascending the staircase as everypony else followed close behind.

Seconds passed.

Spitfire bit her lip.

Vinyl twisted her head about.

Rarity made a sharp left upon reaching the sixth floor. Taking a deep breath, she gazed at a door with 602 emblazoned on it in a gleaming bronze. Fiddling with the set of keys, Rarity shivered as she placed it into the lock and twisted it. Yet despite the door being unlocked, she merely remained static, though sweat dripped down her mane.

A soft clicking sound reached Octavia's ears. Her heartbeats were audible as she watched her friend quivering.

Anything could've been inside, though nothing could've been expecting their arrival as well.

Rarity pushed the door open, everypony else following her inside.

Awaiting them was something Octavia hadn't expected.

Nothing was inside.

The room itself was nice; a lavish interior with a cozy fireplace and plenty of couches and chairs for sitting on welcomed Octavia and her friends. The slightest hint of ash still lingered in the air, Octavia's nostrils twitching at the scent. The oak tables were polished to the point that they outshone mirrors, though the showy decorations adorning its legs earned cringes from Octavia. At least the paintings clinging onto the wall and some of the cabinets were modest, though the rest was extravagant enough to the point of being an eyesore. Even the closed doors throughout the room exuded opulence.

And as Octavia continued scanning the room, she couldn't help but notice no hiding spots anywhere. The few statues littered about were too small for crouching behind. Only a spider would've had luck in blending in, and even that would've been trouble for the arachnid.

Vinyl swished her tail about, lips pursed. "A bit much for nothing, don't you think?" she asked. "All I see are a bunch of fancy things."

With a slight scowl, Spitfire stretched a foreleg toward Vinyl and shook her head. "We're not done yet," she whispered. "For all we know, somepony could still be waiting inside. If we find something quickly, we might be able to wrap it up before anypony will even know that we were here."

Octavia nodded. "Check the balcony first, right?"

Bobbing her head in return, Spitfire donned a slight smirk. "You've got it."

The four all made a beeline toward the nearby balcony in a flash. Rarity slowly pushed the sliding door, a soft ruffling sound filling the air as they stepped onto the balcony. The floor was a warm, soft slab of stone, though no specks of dirt covered it at first glance. There wasn't much in the way of items or furniture either; only a circular table and a trio of chairs surrounding it rested atop the floor. A vase with a flower inside adorned the table's face.

It was one of the few humble parts of the apartment, Octavia cracking the slightest of smirks at the sight. Yet as she surveyed every inch of the balcony, nothing out of the ordinary jumped out at her. There were a few puddles here and there, possibly residue from one of the higher floors, but she figured that wasn't a clue of sorts.

Minutes passed by as she and her friends all squinted at the different parts of the area.

Nothing came up.

A sigh left Octavia's lips. Her shoulders sagged. "If somepony was atop this balcony, they must've made sure to leave no evidence behind," she said. Octavia then glanced over to her friends; Rarity stood out in that she rubbed her muzzle and hummed, gently swishing her tail about. Raising an eyebrow, Octavia trotted up to her. "Did you find something?"

"Maybe I have, dear," muttered Rarity. She stepped back and gazed at the small puddle. "I'm sorry for not pointing this out sooner, but I think this water wasn't here before. The service at this hotel is impeccable, and if they cleaned up while I was out with you, they'd have made certain that nothing so blatant remained."

"One of the newbies could've been on the job," said Vinyl.

Spitfire shook her head. "I've been to hotels like these with my team before. If there's one thing about their service you can take away, it's that they don't let anypony clean the hotels and that they ensure even the tiniest speck is spotless. If I had to guess, this might be the work of Velvet or one of her cohorts."

"That's possible," Rarity replied. "We should keep this in mind. It might lead us to more information about those ruffians." She twiddled her mane. "Still, it's a shame that no hairs or anything like that were left behind. That would've simplified everything."

"The job is never simple." Spitfire rubbed the back of her neck. "Trust me."

Nodding, Octavia briefly glanced behind her shoulder. There was a slight chance something from inside Rarity's apartment held a clue to those after her, though the tightness in her throat suggested otherwise. Time wasn't on her side with Velvet targeting Cloudchaser next, each minute moving as quickly as a second. With a deep breath, Octavia nudged forward and bit her lip. As before, it was just a lush room with plenty of luxuries.

Octavia noticed one of the doors slightly opened; her heart skipped a beat.

"Somepony is here," whispered Octavia. Her legs wiggled as she pressed forward and her breathing quickened. Glancing over to Rarity, her cheeks tautened. "Rarity, do the ponies who clean these rooms enter without asking first? Is there protocol when it comes to cleaning rooms like this?"

Rarity's pupils shrunk as she nodded. "They usually ask first or put a notice on the door before cleaning the rooms." As she swiveled her head around, a gasp left her mouth upon gazing at the squished curtains to her right. She nudged closer to the purple fabric and bit her lip. "The curtains were moved recently, too. I always make sure they're in exquisite condition, but they're now a horrible mess."

"Then somepony entered uninvited."

"Oh, great," muttered Vinyl, groaning. A bright aura enveloped her horn. "If this pony tries fighting back, I'll stop them."

"Please don't destroy any of the furniture," said Rarity. She grabbed onto Vinyl's foreleg in a flash, the aura surrounding the latter's horn vanishing. "The owners of this hotel aren't going to let me hear the end of it if those statues are blasted into rubble. Do you know how expensive they are?"

"Very?"

With her mouth closed, Rarity quickly nodded, sweat dripping down her brow.

"We should be careful regardless of the furniture," said Spitfire as a matter of fact. Flapping her wings and hovering an inch above the floor, she placed her hooves on her flanks. "The suspect might try knocking things over if they try escaping, so being mindful of our surroundings will be the key."

"Understood," said Octavia.

With another deep breath, chest expanding and contracting, Octavia shuffled toward the opened door. Upon arriving, she poked her head through the gap.

Twinges covered much of her body.

She blinked. The bathroom that made up the room was decorated with the usual essentials and toiletries, though behind one of the curtains were a pair of silhouettes. One of them was clearly a unicorn while the other was a pegasus with her wings unfurled. Their lips moved as if they were whispering something, though not a sound escaped them.

Octavia winced, nearly gasping.

They must've been hiding the moment she and her friends arrived.

Chills coursed through Octavia's spine.

Why they'd spend time in Rarity's apartment instead of somewhere else, however, prodded her nerves. It wasn't as though they'd be any closer to finding out where the Platinum Staff was if they rifled through Rarity's belongings. Perhaps they were merely petty thieves, but most who had the ability to break locks would've gone for something more special.

Without warning, the unicorn turned his head; the mare next to him followed suit.

Octavia dove back into the living room, her eyes locked onto the two ponies emerging from the bathroom. The gray unicorn lifted his hoof up, thrusting it toward Octavia, though he missed by a few inches.

As for the grape-colored pegasus, she grabbed onto Rarity and pulled her mane. The latter clenched her teeth and cringed as she flailed about.

Octavia glanced around the room, hoping to find something she'd be able to defend herself with. But as she spotted one of the statues, the stallion from before stepped in front of her and exhaled. His jaw cracked as he shifted it from left to right and his bulging muscles froze Octavia's blood; even a sword would've proved ineffective against the unicorn's rock-like build.

Octavia gnashed her teeth.

If she was escaping this mess, she needed a plan. Physical activities never connected with her; she needed something else.

A quick breath left her nostrils. Her chest twinged a little upon spotting a faint glow surrounding the unicorn's horn.

In a flash, Spitfire wrapped her forelegs around the unicorn, the green aura surrounding the latter's horn vanishing in an instant. The stallion furrowed his brow and glanced at Spitfire.

"Get him, Octavia!" Spitfire shouted at the top of her lungs, grunting as she tightened her grip on the enemy. "I don't care how strong you are! Just—just—hit him as hard as you can!"

Nodding, Octavia threw a quick jab at the stallion's stomach. She cringed; it was like crashing into a boulder, aches coursing throughout her hoof. As she made eye contact with the unicorn, Octavia stepped back and punched him across the cheek, a snapping sound reaching her ears.

Hardly any signs of damage decorated the unicorn's face.

Octavia shook her hoof, cringing.

However, as Octavia prepared for a third hit, the foe broke free from Spitfire's grasp. He lifted his foreleg once again and wrapped it around Octavia's neck. Air was forced out of her throat, Octavia choking and gasping as she flailed around. The world became a slight blur seconds later. Her coat turned pale.

"H-help me," she murmured.

Barely moving, Octavia's limbs then became limp seconds later. She blinked, struggling to remain conscious.

The tightness crushing her throat dissipated without warning. Deep groans from the unicorn's mouth rushed into Octavia's ears. If her still hazy eyesight was telling the truth, Spitfire was making quick work of the bandit, the blue, yellow, and orange streak consistently striking the enemy each second.

The unicorn released Octavia and fell to the ground.

A sickening thud echoed in the air.

Spitfire landed before Octavia and gazed into her eyes, the former's brow furrowed and muzzle scrunched up. "Are you okay?" she asked. Kneeling down, she gently placed a hoof on Octavia's muzzle. "Do you need help?"

Octavia slowly nodded. "I'm fine," she said, shifting her focus to the turquoise mare wrestling with Rarity and Vinyl. All three of them were wrapped in a ball, rolling back and forth as they occasionally bumped into marble statues. "Thank you for saving my life." Octavia placed a hoof to her chest, exhaling. "Shall we—"

Before Octavia finished, the pegasus shoved Rarity and Vinyl aside and charged forward.

A hoof struck Octavia's cheek; she crashed into the floor with a harsh clunk, grunting.

"Octavia!" Rarity shrieked at the top of her lungs.

In a heartbeat, Octavia pushed herself upright, her eyes locked onto the bandit. Why her foe was so focused on her as opposed to anypony else earned a raised eyebrow from Octavia. And as the pegasus dove toward her once more, Spitfire slammed her hoof into the mare's back.

Octavia clenched her teeth. She smacked the bandit across the cheek. And just to top it all off, Vinyl grabbed onto the mare's forelegs while Rarity delivered a swift kick, her leg a white blur. A crunching sound rang in Octavia's ears; the sound prodded her nerves and turned her cheeks a pale green.

The bandit then collapsed onto the ground at last.

Nopony uttered a peep.

Spitfire panted as she surveyed the two intruders. As for Vinyl and Rarity, they pressed their hooves atop the motionless enemies. If the groans escaping their mouths were anything to go by, they were still alive. Octavia stepped away, muscles constricted. Among the rubble of marble and stone were a few trinkets that must've belonged to the criminals. Most were chipped, fake gems or some basic supplies anypony could've procured, but a pair of cards caught the corner of her eye.

"Is everypony okay?" asked Octavia.

Her friends all nodded in unison.

Octavia trudged toward one of the tipped over statues as the tension vanished from her chest. Kneeling down, she picked up both of the cards, her eyes darting about as she studied the words printed on them. They were a bit hazy, though the text and pictures were just clear enough to make out.

Identification: Stonewall

Unicorn

Platinum Project

Identification: Purple Mist

Pegasus

Platinum Project

"At least we know who they are," said Octavia. She trudged toward the others. Splitting aches covered her forehead seconds later. She rubbed the afflicted area, eyes closed for a moment. "And we know the name of the organization Velvet and her fellow bandits are a part of. That should make it easier when it comes to finding clues."

"Yeah, we can ask if anypony knows something about them," Spitfire added. Huffing and puffing, she sat down on the floor and ruffled her wings. Sweat trickled down her mane. "We'll have to be polite about it, as being too confrontational about the group will likely mean that ponies will be hesitant to share details."

"That does make sense, dear," said Rarity. "However, how are we going to find anypony who knows about the group? As stellar as touring Canterlot is, even I'd grow weary of spotting the same sights while making no progress." She glanced over to Vinyl. "Do you have any ideas of where to start?"

"Maybe we should meet up with the three ponies Velvet is after," said Vinyl. She pursed her lips momentarily and took a quick breath. "Perhaps one or more of them know a thing or two about what they do." Shrugging, Vinyl then adjusted her shades and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "They are being secretive."

"They are," said Octavia. "And—" She cut herself off, the headaches intensifying as the world became a blur. The floor was at an angle for some reason as opposed to the flat surface Octavia recalled, gravity urging her to topple over and crash into the carpet. Closing her eyes, Octavia slowly leaned to the right, a sigh leaving her lips.

She closed her eyes.

"Tavi!"

Moments later, Rarity's room was shrouded in darkness. No words or cries reached Octavia, the floating sensation slowly dragging her toward unconsciousness. Her limbs and chest relaxed all at once. Something about her mentioning a train station reached her ears, though the words were somewhat muffled. A moan left her lips as she struggled opening her eyes.

Silence then lingered around her.

The world had a habit of not connecting with reality.

And even as Octavia drifted in and out of consciousness, she struggled in rationalizing what appeared before her.

She pondered whether she truly had meandered about the Royal Canterlot Library once again. Unlike the visit with her friends, something about the library was surreal, almost as if she was floating in some sort of void. And all of the books seemingly pointed her toward the Platinum Staff, something she knew wasn't true.

Barely opening her eyes, images of the train station then flashed before Octavia.

She could've sworn she was standing with her friends, Vinyl propping her up and noting how she wasn't hurt. It was as if she floated above the gray floor. While her lack of injuries had some truth to it, the aches coursing throughout Octavia's head were sharp enough to where she couldn't merely ignore them. Such twangs were likely temporary, Octavia knowing that headaches weren't permanent and more of a nuisance, though the context behind it churned her stomach.

Brief glimpses of entering a train reached her mind.

And then, a blanket of darkness surrounded her.

Octavia returned to unconsciousness seconds later.

"You almost had the right idea. I can't believe you'd turn down a chance at finding out where something so special might be hiding. Yet while I do appreciate the fact that you didn't delve deeper into the subject of the Platinum Staff, I must remind you that you mustn't look any more into it. I don't care who you are or what your goals are, but stay away."

Those words were glued to Octavia's mind as she slowly opened her eyes, groans escaping her mouth. Blinking, all she noticed was a canvas covered in a green watercolor. The sounds of something rolling across metal and chugging away reached her ears, starting out as muffled and then growing louder and clearer. Everything around her cleared up as well, the green revealing itself as a roof. At least the stylized pattern adorning it was pleasant, though Octavia could've sworn she saw it before.

"W-where am I?" Octavia murmured. She pushed herself upright and rubbed her eyes, head still twinging a little. She gazed at the window beside her, the lush landscape a slight blur. "All I remember is there being a fight in Rarity's apartment, but after that—" she briefly pursed her lips "—after that, I can't remember a thing."

"Good to see you're awake, Tavi," said Vinyl. "You've been unconscious for what must've been an hour."

Shuddering, Octavia swiveled her head toward Vinyl. The pair made eye contact. "I was unconscious?"

"You passed out after the fight with those bandits." Vinyl reached into the bag sitting on her lap, procuring a small cracker. "Don't worry, Spitfire, the Wonderbolts, and the Royal Guard took care of them. They're sitting in some sort of guarded room right now. Shining Armor is supposed to interrogate them later."

"But is everypony okay?"

Vinyl nodded. "Yes. Nopony else was hurt."

"That's a relief." Octavia rolled her shoulders. As she thought about it, perhaps informing Vinyl about the words plaguing her mind while she was out cold was necessary. Other than the cryptic message about avoiding the Platinum Staff, however, much of it was shrouded in a thick fog. She could've sworn she saw herself perusing through the library once again, but other than that, nothing. A sigh left her lips. "I had that dream."

"What dream?"

"The one about being told to avoid the Platinum Staff."

Vinyl nodded, cheeks tautened. "Do you think Velvet could be on this train?"

"Train?" Octavia rubbed her head. Seconds later, she blushed upon noticing the view outside once again. "Right, I'm on a train." She clenched her teeth for a second. "So I assume we're heading toward Ponyville, right?"

With a closed mouth, Vinyl bobbed her head.

"And where are Rarity and Spitfire?" Octavia glanced over to the left, then to the right. "I don't see them anywhere. Are they looking for Velvet?"

"Another good guess." Crossing her forelegs, Vinyl cracked the slightest of smirks, eyes twinkling underneath her shades. "I would've joined them, but since you were still unconscious, I thought it was more important to make sure you were okay and undisturbed. Besides, it's not like we need a whole army to find Velvet."

Octavia gently tapped Vinyl's shoulder. She donned a soft smile of her own. "I do appreciate the compassion, Vinyl."

"That's what friends are for."

In a heartbeat, Octavia wrapped her forelegs around Vinyl, her friend responding in kind. They released each other from their warm embrace seconds later. There was something about Vinyl looking after her that warmed Octavia's heart. From the moment they first forged their friendship, Vinyl always encouraged her and helped her along the way. Even if she wasn't as fond of classical music as her, the fact that she'd do anything to help tickled Octavia at the thought.

Octavia's smile widened.

It was the medicine she needed.

Shortly after, Rarity and Spitfire returned and sat down at the seats across from the two. Both wore warm visages upon making eye contact with Octavia; Rarity commanded most of the attention with her joyful squealing and twinkling eyes, however, though Spitfire donned a wide grin Octavia found cute.

"Glad to see you're okay," said Spitfire. She crossed her hind legs and fiddled with her goggles. "I'll admit, I was worried while you were still out cold." She froze in place, lips pursed. "By the way, did you hear those strange messages about the Platinum Staff while you were unconscious? Rarity and I couldn't find a trace of Velvet, so I just wanted to make sure."

Octavia quickly nodded. "I did. It was—surreal."

Spitfire leaned closer to Octavia. "Can you tell me what happened?"

"Other than the cryptic warning, I recall myself looking through the Royal Canterlot Library again." She rubbed her muzzle. "It's odd, especially since I'm positive that there are no books about the staff's location there. If such a book existed, somepony would've found the staff by now."

"Maybe it's just a general request to continue searching," said Rarity. "But they're determined to push you or Spitfire toward finding out the Platinum Staff's location." Twiddling her mane, she then shrugged. "While we'll likely be forced into finding out more about the Platinum Staff at some point, our goal right now should be to catch the criminals and prevent those cruel ruffians from getting that staff."

"Naturally." Octavia blinked, then raised an eyebrow and tilted her head. "By the way, I have a question."

"Fire away," Spitfire replied.

"How did you get me on this train while I was out cold?"

Vinyl shrugged. "Well, you did request that we head on over to Ponyville just before passing out." Blushing, she rubbed the back of her neck. "You weren't seriously hurt or anything, so we agreed to your request after some debate. And when we got to the train station, you were alert enough to be allowed on the train."

"That's it?" Octavia pressed her weight against the inner wall. A chuckle left her lips. "Well, I was desperately trying to stay conscious, so I guess that might have something to do with it." She exhaled. "Anyway, when we arrive at Ponyville, we should inform Cloudchaser about what's going on as soon as possible. We have to ensure her safety."

Everypony around Octavia nodded in unison.

Octavia brought her attention toward the outside world, much of the trees decorating the horizon a green and brown smear. Already, the sky was painted a light orange, the brightest stars in the sky revealing themselves. If they were lucky, they'd arrive at Ponyville before nightfall. Yet Octavia's chest twinged at the thought of what awaited her and her friends.

Maybe members of the Platinum Project weren't in Ponyville.

She took another deep breath.

Hoping for the best would've only taken her so far.

Canterlot Tour

Among the most painful experiences of Octavia's life, the return trip from the caves had to rank near the top.

At least it was twelve hours or so since she exited the cave's maw, though not even the bed's cushions and the hotel's luxurious decor could've healed her still aching muscles. It was as though Octavia carted around an entire wagon full of cellos and looped the perimeter of Canterlot thrice before collapsing to rest.

Sunlight peered through one of the hotel's larger windows and onto Octavia's bed. She opened her crusty eyes, aquamarine watercolors and a few splotches of white and brown were all she spotted. Groaning, Octavia plopped her head against the bed's pillow, a soft thud ringing in her ears. She'd love to get back to investigating and apprehend whoever tried harming her, but there was just something about staying in bed for a little longer that soothed her soul. She turned to her left; the clock atop one of the desks read seven o'clock on the dot.

"Maybe I can sleep for another hour or three," Octavia whispered under her breath. She yawned. "It's not like I have anywhere to be right now."

A trio of knocks polluted the air.

In a flash, Octavia's eyes widened, still slightly bloodshot. It felt like minutes ago when she wrapped herself in the thick blankets and drifted off to sleep. And as she slowly sat upright, Octavia swore she hadn't forgotten any meetings or assignments at this specific time and day. Forgetting was more Neon Lights' shtick, not hers.

The knocks returned once more, their speed intensifying.

Octavia rolled her eyes and groaned. "What is it?" she asked.

"It's Spitfire," the voice behind the door announced. "It's time to do some investigating. It's seven in the morning and the more time we have, the better." She paused for a moment and then exhaled. "Get moving!"

A soft giggle left Octavia's lips. This was the Spitfire she knew and heard about, acting serious and tough.

Planting her hooves on the cold, smooth floor, Octavia rubbed her eyes and stumbled over to the room's oak door. Almost bumping into some of the cabinets and desks that adorned the room, she managed to reach the door without toppling over, though half-awake and inches away from planting her face against the wood like her bed.

Octavia opened the door. As expected, Spitfire was on the other side, wearing her flight uniform again as well as a bright smile. Vinyl was with her, also smirking a little, and Rarity completed the set as she rubbed her eyes and occasionally stretched her limbs. At least Octavia had some company when it came to drowsiness.

"Glad you're awake now," said Spitfire. She motioned toward Octavia and stepped back. "You're all set for investigating today, right?"

Octavia slowly nodded. "I am," she drawled.

"Good. I do have a discovery I want to show all of you, and it might bring us one step closer to solving this mystery."

"Another clue?" asked Vinyl. She cocked her head.

Spitfire shook her head. "Not exactly. See, while everypony else was snoozing, I decided to head on over to the library and do a little digging on some of the more mysterious things we've found. More specifically, I had a hunch that there might've been more to this 'PA' than one might think, and one of the books I found had something that revealed more than I expected."

"You're sounding more like Twilight every other minute," Rarity deadpanned under her breath.

"What was that?"

Rarity shook her head and blushed. "Nothing!"

Spitfire shot a glance at Rarity, the latter diverting her gaze. The four remained silent for a few seconds as all that echoed in the hallways was a clock's ticking, seemingly begging for attention. With a brief chuckle, Spitfire turned back to Octavia and made eye contact. "As I was saying, there's a book that hints at who 'PA' is. I doubt this pony is the one responsible, but I figured any information would be good to pass along."

"So what did you find?" Octavia asked. She nudged closer to Spitfire as their chests almost bumped into each other; her hooves touched the Wonderbolt's shoulders. "Tell me, please."

Spitfire shuffled back. "Easy there, Octavia."

"Sorry." Octavia's cheeks flushed. Letting go of Spitfire, she brought her hooves back to herself.

"Anyway, during my research, I was directed to a book titled A Brief History of Equestrian Royalty."

"Royalty?" Rarity blurted out. She shivered, teeth clacking and pupils shrunk. "So you mean the princesses might know what's going on?"

"I wish I knew." Spitfire stretched a hoof toward Rarity. "But let's take this one step at a time, okay?"

Rarity took a series of quick, deep breaths; she sounded as though she'd just finished climbing the tallest mountain in Equestria.

"Okay, so has anypony ever heard of Princess Amore?"

"You mean Princess Cadance? Mi Amore Cadenza is something she occasionally goes by, though most call her Princess Cadance."

"Not Cadance." Spitfire shook her head. "According to what I read, Princess Amore once looked over the Crystal Empire, though much of her history vanished as though she never even existed. All we can say for certain was that she was beloved by her subjects and enjoyed fun, but that's not exactly descriptive. I even tried spelunking through the rest of the Royal Canterlot Library in the hopes of finding one book or even one chapter about her, though I came up empty-hooved." A sigh escaped her lips. "Sorry."

"It's fine, dear." Rarity patted Spitfire's back, a slight smile across the former's face. "You tried your best."

"And what does Princess Amore have to do with our investigation?" asked Octavia.

Vinyl nodded in agreement, eyebrow arched.

"Not much as far as I can tell," said Spitfire as she straightened her posture. She paused for a moment and pursed her lips. "However, according to the book that mentioned her, a letter addressed to Amore revealed that she was sometimes referred to as 'PA' like in the evidence we found."

"What?" Octavia and the others shouted in unison. Rarity's jaw drooped as low as it could whereas Vinyl couldn't stop blinking.

"I doubt Princess Amore is directly involved in any of this, especially since scholars say she died over a thousand years ago. That and the fact she was known to be friendly toward almost everypony. But the connection between that and the sign we found in the cave is impossible to ignore."

Octavia and the others nodded in agreement. Their eyes were glued to Spitfire.

"This then begs the question of why somepony would adopt the same alias that Princess Amore did. Is it a coincidence, or is there more to it than we think? Regardless, we should try gathering as much information about Amore as possible. Maybe something will show up this time around."

"That sounds like a reasonable plan," said Octavia. Fully awake, she swiftly closed the door to her hotel room, locking it up as a click rang in her ears. "I doubt we'll be able to find anypony in the vicinity who knows about Amore, but it's worth asking around just in case we're able to get some information."

"I have an idea," said Vinyl, raising her hoof. "It may not work, but it's worth a shot."

Rarity turned to face Vinyl, cheeks tautened. "What's your plan, dear?"

"We put up posters all around Canterlot asking if anypony knows Princess Amore's history and legacy. Those who do will meet up at the Star Swirl Hall and we'll conduct interviews from there." Vinyl cleared her throat. It was rare for her to speak up for an extended period of time. "Also, we'll split up to cover more ground. Tavi and I will take the west section while Rarity and Spitfire will do the east. Anypony who wants to speak right away are also welcome to do so."

"I like that idea," said Spitfire. She nodded with a slight smile across her face. "It's the most efficient method and we'll still have some company to keep us safe." She glanced around the room, making eye contact with Rarity and then Octavia for a moment. "Sound good to everypony?"

"I think it sounds marvelous," Rarity answered.

"Agreed," said Octavia. "Let's head out as soon as everypony is ready."

Canterlot was a claustrophobic pony's worst nightmare. Almost every other second, Octavia was brushing her shoulders against passersby, not because she or anypony else yearned crashing into each other for whatever reason, but because there was simply no room. It was much like trying to tread water in the middle of a raging river; Octavia and Vinyl were both along for the ride. At least unlike the Twilight Ball, the elites of Canterlot seemed somewhat friendly. Some ponies still scowled at her when they butted into each other, though for the most part, everypony apologized profusely or said nothing.

Then again, it wasn't as though she'd hear most of what they whispered with a hurricane of voices filling her ears.

There were also more pressing matters at hoof; Octavia's assignment in decorating the city with posters asking her question was more imperative than figuring out what the words of strangers were, and it wasn't as though what they muttered had any relation to Amore's past.

"This had better work," Octavia murmured under her breath. Sweat dripped down her forehead and tickled her cheeks.

The posters and signs proposing the question about Princess Amore were all stuffed in her saddlebag, the stacks of paper as heavy as concrete blocks. As helpful as her saddlebag was, its primary function must've been accidentally bumping into others and causing twinges through her back. She'd given up counting the times she apologized to others once she passed twenty instances.

At least she had Vinyl helping out with some of the other stacks.

Vinyl always stood by her side, regardless of whether the situation was irritating or catastrophic. Some memories, them witnessing the changelings raining down on Canterlot during a wedding, were among the more memorable moments they shared. At least the investigation wouldn't get as hectic as that. That was her hope.

Octavia sighed, then glanced over her shoulder and gazed into Vinyl's eyes. "Do you think we'll get any responses?" she murmured.

Vinyl shrugged, sticking a poster against a colossal yet smooth wall. "I'd imagine so. Canterlot is a busy place."

Octavia scanned the environment once more, the cobblestone roads beneath her flooded by a sea of pastel ponies. She then turned back to Vinyl, eyebrow arched. "I think busy might be an understatement," she deadpanned. After a few hoofsteps, she planted a poster against a different building, this one characterized by a rough and warm texture. "Still, it should mean that somepony who knows even a bit about Princess Amore will see the poster and share some details."

"That's why Canterlot is the best place to do this." Vinyl nodded, smiling. "Everypony is out and about during the week."

"You make a good point."

Octavia paused for a moment and rubbed the top of her head. If the library lacked any details on Princess Amore other than her physical appearance and a few miscellaneous facts, then relying on Canterlot's population may not be the best of ideas. It wasn't that they weren't intelligent; the truth was that libraries, particularly the Royal Canterlot Library, were like vaults of information and literature. If they lacked such knowledge, then the odds of finding somepony who knew a few things were slim.

Perhaps somepony may have already checked out or bought one of the books. Unlikely given the topic's obscurity, but Octavia couldn't help herself from rubbing her head at the thought.

And as Octavia scanned the perimeter of Canterlot's packed roads, a lone figure caught her eye. Standing atop one of the buildings was a greenish unicorn adorned with a robe, her eyes darting left and right as she snooped on the ponies beneath her like an owl. Already, Octavia's mind whirred into action as she pondered what the unicorn was doing up there. If she was trying to avoid suspicion, she was doing a horrible job at it.

The odds of her being related to Octavia's investigation grew the longer she stared at her.

Octavia blinked.

The unicorn vanished like a mirage.

"Was I dreaming that?" Octavia asked herself. She rubbed her twanging forehead, teeth clenched. Heartbeats filled her ears. "Maybe I'm just a bit tired." She took a few deep breaths and her chest loosened. "No, it felt too real to be a mere dream. But maybe she's not related to the matter at hoof. I'd hate to cause a misunderstanding." Pausing for a second, Octavia then nodded slowly as an idea reached her. "Okay, if I see her like that again, I'm telling the others. Perhaps it was just a coincidence."

"Is everything okay?" Vinyl questioned as she tapped Octavia's shoulder.

"I'm fine." A sheepish smirk ran across Octavia's visage. She rubbed the back of her neck, blushing. "Vinyl, are you sure anypony will have answers?"

Vinyl bobbed her head and winked.

"Let's hope you're right." Octavia plastered another poster on a wall. "I doubt we'll come up with nothing after this is all over, especially with so many ponies out and about." She surveyed the crowded pathways one more time, clicks and clacks reaching her ears. "I'll honestly be surprised if nopony comes up with anything before sundown."

"Nothing?" Rarity blurted out, eyes widened. She gasped. "This has to be the worst possible thing! What are we going to do with no clues?"

Octavia and Vinyl nodded in unison, their frowns grim. "Sorry, everypony," Octavia muttered. "We tried our best, but nopony knew a thing about Princess Amore. Not one response."

At least the cafe they sat outside had a relaxing atmosphere. The candles lit in the middle of the table glowed like a firefly and a grayish smoke bellowed from the flame and into the air. The aromas of coffee, tea, and a variety of baked goods rushed into Octavia's nostrils, provoking the faintest of smiles from her. Even the skies lit by the setting sun proved a dazzling sight, the blue and orange colors like that of a dream. However, all of them put together were far from enough to heal the aching disappointment of getting no replies.

At least it helped out in some manner. The Shooting Star Cafe was Twilight's favorite place to dine in all of Canterlot, and for good reason if the scents hinted at anything. Scholars and researchers adored arranging meetings there or just taking in the wondrous sights for some private philosophizing. Octavia would've loved to have nibbled on a treat or sipped a cup of coffee, however. Maybe she'd just order something anyway and share it with her friends so she could please her taste buds.

Despite this, there were much more important matters at hoof.

"Well, I thought it'd work," said Vinyl. With a downcast expression, she sighed, lips curled into a deep frown. "Sorry."

"It's okay, dear," said Rarity. "We tried our best, and that's what's most important."

"Rarity is right," Spitfire added. "Honestly, I wasn't expecting to receive many replies, and not getting a single response stung, but—" Spitfire placed a hoof on her chest "—but I don't know what went wrong." With a few deep breaths, Spitfire feigned a smirk. "We did everything right, but I guess learning about Princess Amore will be tougher than anticipated. That must be it."

"Did somepony mention a Princess Amore?" a voice asked. Standing on all fours and then trotting toward the group was a unicorn mare, her coat a pale yellow and her mane a red with purple and violet stripes. A black, ragged sweater with a hint of grime adorned her chest as did a large pair of glasses and a slight grin on her visage. Octavia had never seen such a mare before, but she felt familiar at the same time, almost as though if she was a splitting image of Twilight. "I might have a little something to share."

"Are you Moondancer by any chance?" asked Rarity.

"You know her?" Vinyl responded as she arched an eyebrow.

Nodding, Rarity adopted a slight grin. "Twilight told me about her during her trip to Canterlot not too long ago. She's one of the most magnificent scholars in all of Equestria!"

Moondancer blushed. "Please, I'm only an amateur when it comes to research."

"No need to be so bashful, dear." Rarity stood up and waved toward Moondancer, the latter nodding and taking the fifth empty seat at the table. "Anyway, how are you?"

"I'm well. I've been researching the magic of cutie marks for some time now, though I've only found a few minor additions to the lecture Twilight gave on the subject. It's amazing how much Twilight learned about them since there's still a lot we don't know about them. Speaking of which, were any of you in attendance by any chance?"

Everypony else shook their heads.

"Ah. It's okay." Moondancer smirked slightly. "Not everypony is interested in the same subjects I am." She paused for a moment, then exhaled. "Anyway, what's on your mind regarding Princess Amore? I know a few details about her history, most of it being unearthed recently, but it's not much in the grand scheme of things." Rubbing her muzzle, Moondancer then raised an eyebrow. "Come to think of it, how come you're interested in Amore?" She paused before extending her forelegs out a bit, cheeks flushed. "Not criticizing you or anything, just curious."

"Well, you must've heard what happened to me in the Twilight Ball," said Octavia.

Moondancer nodded. "I don't know how I'd not find out what happened there. Not only does news spread fast in Canterlot, but it was all everypony was talking about today. I don't think I've heard any other gossip. Anyway, I'm guessing you found a clue at the scene related to something about Princess Amore, right?"

"That's correct," said Spitfire. "To be specific, somepony used the initials she commonly went by in a letter, and it seems too unusual to be a mere coincidence. And since Princess Amore hasn't been alive for over a thousand years, do you think it's possible that somepony took her initials on as an alias? Is there something more to this regarding her history or legacy? Anything would help at this point."

Moondancer tapped the table with her hoof, soft clacks ringing in the air. "Well, I don't know much about her legacy, but I do know that there were repeated attempts to overthrow King Sombra during his lifetime."

"What?" Rarity shouted, mouth agape. "What happened? I thought Sombra had the entire Crystal Empire under his hoof!"

"That's true, but ever since Sombra's defeat, more information about life under his rule has been slowly trickling out of the Crystal Empire. Of particular interest was a rolled up letter sent between two ponies. They called themselves the Guardians of Love, and the letters archaeologists found relating to them mention bringing Princess Amore back to life so that she'd defeat King Sombra and free the crystal ponies. They kept a record of everything via letters so that even if Sombra's dark magic messed with their memories, they'd recall what their goals were. It was a small operation throughout its lifespan, but quite clever in its design."

"And I'm guessing they weren't successful," said Octavia.

"Of course." Moondancer bobbed her head for a moment. "But they came close on a number of occasions. Most of their progress was hindered by infighting among the group and a few agents being arrested by Sombra's forces. Those arrested were never seen again, but they pressed on regardless."

"And didn't Sombra use ghastly dark magic to keep the crystal ponies in check?" asked Rarity. "I remember learning about that from Twilight."

"That's what everypony says, which makes these letters even more fascinating." Moondancer's eyes widened. She rubbed her hooves together and cracked a slight smile. "Archaeologists are on the verge of an amazing discovery once thought to be lost forever, and it may provide all sorts of answers to questions we never knew we had."

Spitfire smiled in return. "It does sound amazing," she said as a matter of fact. "But did the Guardians of Love use the initials 'PA' when they addressed each other?"

"That seems to be the case. The sender and recipient of each letter have been referred to as such."

"And when did the Guardians of Love fold as an organization?"

Shrugging, Moondancer donned a bemused expression. "I don't know, but the latest letter discovered was around eighty-seven years ago according to the date inscribed. That's what the archaeologists have been reporting back in the Crystal Empire. Most of the ones found, however, are at least hundreds of years old."

Spitfire's posture perked up. Making eye contact with Moondancer, she then leaned an inch closer to her. "So could this be a former member?"

"I think you may have your answer. Chances are one of the suspects you're looking for is a crystal pony, as they were the only ones in the Crystal Empire during Sombra's reign and the only ones to adopt Amore's alias."

"But we'd need to find a members list first. Otherwise, it's about as good as knowing nothing at all." Spitfire rubbed her muzzle, humming for a moment. "What to do?"

"I'll try to see if I can keep you all updated." Reaching into her sweater's pockets, Moondancer procured a note card and a pen, jotting down an address with impeccable cursive. "Here's my address if you need to message me for any reason. My house is easy to spot—" Moondancer blushed "—since it's kind of worn down. But having this will be useful for sending letters back and forth."

"Thank you, Moondancer," said Octavia. She grabbed the note card and placed it into her saddlebag. "We're honored to be working with a mare like you."

"You're welcome." A bright smile adorned Moondancer's face. "I'm glad I could help."

"I'm curious," said Vinyl, brow arched. "How do you know all of this stuff?"

"Well, none of the secrets uncovered have caught the attention of ponies outside the history and archaeology fields. And as somepony who loves researching and learning, I fall under both categories." A warm smile decorated Moondancer's visage. "Ever since I reunited with my friends, Twinkleshine has passed along some of Amethyst Star's discoveries. She's a renowned archaeologist, and her latest discoveries happened to relate to what we just talked about." She rubbed the back of her neck. "It's convenient for all of you, but fascinating to a mare like myself.

Vinyl bobbed her head.

"We're glad to have you on board. But what—" Octavia cut herself off and cleared her throat "—what should we do for now? Princess Amore's initials and the details you've given us are the only new clues we've come across today. Not to mention one of the suspects is still being searched for."

"Wind Rider, right?"

Everypony nodded in unison.

"Well, maybe shift the focus on seeing if you can track him down." Moondancer shifted her focus to Spitfire. "Since everypony calls him a former Wonderbolt, maybe you'll know where he flew off to, Spitfire." She pressed her hooves together and a sheepish smirk ran across her face. "Just a hunch."

"The other Wonderbolts are helping search for his whereabouts," said Spitfire. "We've brought our attention to a few spots he's known to spend time at more often than others as a starting point and spreading out from there. If he was smart, I'd imagine him going to the last place anypony expects."

"And is Wind Rider smart?"

Rarity shrugged. "Well, besides having a grotesque taste in scarves, he was able to conceal how he framed one of my friends for quite some time. He was found out eventually, but it took a lot of work to get there."

"I see." Nodding, Moondancer rubbed her muzzle; she hummed a melodic tune for a few seconds. "We'll probably need to look in the least likely place he'd hide in order to find him. At the same time, if Wind Rider is as clever as you suggest, he might huddle up somewhere ponies would expect to see him, knowing that those tracking him down would find certain locations too obvious."

"So that puts us back to square one," said Octavia. "How bothersome."

A sigh escaped her lips. Already her head ached a little as she formulated the different possibilities. If her memories were telling the truth, Wind Rider was often seen hanging out at pubs during the night and ordering whiskey. Octavia never considered herself a huge follower of the Wonderbolts' activities. However, some stories were planted in Equestria's subconscious long enough for everypony to know at least one or two things about the team or a member. It was a part of what made them well-known.

Maybe there was a Wind Rider story somepony knew that might act as a clue.

Octavia's eyes lit up like light bulbs; electricity coursed through her veins as she sat upright. "Do any of you have Wind Rider stories?" she asked.

"I do," Spitfire replied, waving her hoof. "He used to play billiards all the time because he thought it made him look cool and sophisticated. I remember Silver Lining telling me about the first time he met Wind Rider as well. To put it bluntly, they didn't exactly get along that much. Everypony was surprised they both managed to avoid getting themselves kicked out of the Wonderbolts whenever they got in shouting matches."

"And how does that help?" asked Vinyl. She cocked her head. "No offense."

"Because their shouting matches often took place at Mile High Pub in Cloudsdale. I doubt Wind Rider made his way over there, however, given the distance between here and Cloudsdale. But he's a fast flier, so he might've been able to glide over there without anypony noticing him. I sent Blaze and High Winds over there as part of the investigation process."

"Let's hope they come back with some good news," Octavia added. "I think we could all use some after all of these troubles."

"Same here, dear," said Rarity. She wiped her forehead. "Anything blissful would be a good start."

"Captain Spitfire!" a voice called out. "We've got him!"

In a flash, Rarity donned a beaming grin. "See what I mean?" She chuckled and placed her hooves behind her head. "Just the kind of news we've been waiting for."

A pair of figures swooped in from the sky as clacks rang in the air upon touching the ground. Folding their wings, the two Wonderbolts clad in their uniforms approached the group. One of the mares had a similar color scheme to Spitfire, only her orange mane was darker and lacked a second color. Blue eyes were also behind the goggles on her face, a clear difference to Spitfire's amber eyes. Beside this mare was another Wonderbolt, her coat a bright white and her mane a fluffy blue.

They were Blaze and High Winds respectively; the former wore a stern expression across her visage while the latter was decorated with a calmer, brighter expression. They were complete opposites as far as Octavia could tell; even their coat and mane colors contrasted with each other, though the playful banter she heard from their moving lips and the pair brushing up against each other suggested a friendship.

"You got Wind Rider?" asked Spitfire. She stood up, the smirk on her a sign she already knew the answer.

Both Blaze and High Winds nodded together. "We sure did!" Blaze shouted as she pumped her hoof into the air. "Found out the slimy snake was hanging out in the Mile High Pub as predicted, and it was a cinch stopping him."

"Is everypony okay?"

"Yep!" High Winds cheered. "Nopony got hurt. The mission was a piece of cake."

Octavia leaned over toward Blaze and High Winds, ears twitching. "Where's Wind Rider right now?" she questioned. "Can we see him for questioning?"

"That old geezer is being held by the Royal Guard right now," said Blaze. She crossed her forelegs and flapped her wings, a slight breeze swirling beneath her as she became airborne. "Normally, they don't allow ponies unaffiliated with them go and question ponies who've just been arrested, but since the Wonderbolts and the Royal Guard often work together on cases, I think they can make an exception this time around."

"I'd imagine that's the case," said Moondancer as a matter of fact. Tugging her sweater's sleeves, she shivered a bit. "Anyway, I guess you have your destination now." A soft giggle left her mouth. "I'll be at my humble abode if you need me." Pushing her chair away, Moondancer stood up and cracked a smile. Octavia couldn't help but respond in kind. "Nice meeting you all!"

"Same here, Moondancer," said Octavia. She then turned toward the rest of the group. "Shall we head on over to where Wind Rider is being kept."

Everypony else bobbed their heads together, grins across their faces.

"Let's get to the bottom of this."

For once, Octavia's muscles loosened a tad. It was wonderful breathing freely again and not having to fret over the possibility of turning up with nothing. If there had been nothing to work with, Octavia knew she'd just see every molehill as a mountain until something came up. And solving this mystery felt easier for once with Moondancer on their side; she was practically a living encyclopedia if ponies told the truth.

Octavia's shoulders were no longer being crushed by the weight of the world.

However, some of the tension still lingered.

Wind Rider's confession was likely only the beginning of a long series of interrogations. There was the enigmatic question about Princess Amore still hanging overhead. And Octavia knew it'd likely take more than just his words to find out the full truth and discover who'd tried to harm her.

One step at a time; that was Octavia's procedure moving forward.