The city of Los Pegasus was one that never slept. During the daytime hours, there were all sorts of all age fun to be had as ponies filled the various game halls that seemed to stretch on forever. With their blinking lights, playful atmosphere, and the almost never ending sounds of machines dispensing tickets made this a great getaway for the family. Then, when Celestia began to lower the sun, other types of fun could be found. As the crowds at the gaming halls began to thin, the various stage halls sprang to life showing off various acts from magicians to comedians to incredible acrobatics. Those who were unable to get tickets would either head over to one of the many cheap all you can eat restaurants to show off their winnings with their friends or to complain about how they were cheated in a game of go fish.

The setting sun also signaled something else. Various ponies from all across Equestria would head back to their hotel rooms to change into more fancy attire. Stallions would put on their best suits while the mares would dress in the hottest fashions before heading towards one of several banquet halls that dotted Los Pegasus. There, events like conventions and award ceremonies would be held with some of the finest food in the area littered on the tables. The ponies, and sometimes a griffon or two, would mingle with each other while above their heads chandeliers made in the Crystal Empire shone brightly. Sometimes there would be polite laughter over the tinkling of fine crystal glasses thrown into the mix, nothing like the wilder party life found elsewhere.

And right now, Hunter would have given every bit he owned to be anywhere else but in one of the banquet halls.

“Cheer up Hunter,” said Moondancer as she patted her dom's shoulder. The thestral only moaned in response, his head planted into their table and caring nothing for how this might look.

“I can’t believe it,” he muttered into the table. “I…was so sure we would win some extra bits. Maybe not one of the top prizes, but something. We could…you know.”

“I know,” said Moondancer as she kissed his cheek. Slowly, Hunter raised his head to look at her in her gown, feeling a twinge of guilt as he did. The black dress fit her perfectly and made it difficult to tell if the choker was a part of the outfit or not. However, it showed signs of wear and tear, with several areas fraying. Anypony who looked at her would think that it was either an old dress that she didn’t want to part with or second-hoof. Hunter wasn’t fairing much better, dressed in a similarly rugged black suit and red tie. Both of them had considered using the bits from their house fund in order to wear something better for this evening; however Hunter had been the one to point out that every bit they saved helped. That if he did win something, they would be able to get closer their goal.

What made him feel worse was just how close he had been and who had beaten him. If he just sold sixteen more books he would have beaten Red Herring, another ‘murder mystery’ writer who he loathed. She was, in his mind at least, a real piece of work. While the two of them wrote similar genres, Red seemed more focused on love triangles and adding cooking recipes to her stories in order to get more ponies to pick up her books. Hunter had always found this annoying because it would sometimes feel like the murder was a background element rather than the driving force. But that was just her as a writer, as a pony she was far less tolerable. Every time the two of them were in the same room, she would only refer to him as a ‘lunatic’ or ask which of his acquaintances the murderer was based on and whether the royal guard had caught them yet.

“Do you, um, want to leave?” asked Moondancer as she nervously adjusted her glasses. “I mean, we could go you know where and have some fun if you want.”

Hunter looked over at the mare with a raised eyebrow. One of the things he had learned from other doms was never to have a session with your sub when your spirits were low or when you were angry. He had been told, as a dom, one of the highest responsibilities he would have was to keep his sub safe. If he wasn't in control of his emotions going into the session, if he brought in any baggage, then there would be the temptation to take it out on her. To lash out in anger, losing control until - well, Hunter really didn’t want to think about what might happen. He couldn't risk hurting Moondancer.

“Nah,” he said after a moment, trying to put on a smile. “We can go there anytime we wish. But, really, how many times will we get a vacation like this? In Los Pegasus for the weekend? Might as well make the most of it. Besides, aren’t there a few ponies you’d like to meet?” As Hunter said this, he gestured to a small stack of books lying on the floor next to Moondancer. His nerdy unicorn had brought them with her, in the hopes that she might get a few of them signed.

“W-Well,” stammered Moondancer with a delightful blush on her face, her eyes moving to the crowd and then back towards Hunter. “If you don’t feel up to it I understand. Right now, I just want to help make you feel better.”

Hunter chuckled before he whispering . “I thought it was the dom’s job to cheer up the sub when she needs emotional comfort, not the other way around.” He smiled playfully.

“I think in any relationship, the couple is supposed to help each other out,” replied Moondancer with a small smile of her own. “Sometimes, I think, somepony like me needs to step up when she sees that the pony she relies on needs a helping hoof. And after all you do for me; I’m always willing to give you that hoof and more if it’ll help.”

In response, Hunter leaned over and kissed her. It was perhaps less passionate than he wanted to - after all, they weren’t alone right now - but it was a caring kiss. She responded by almost melting into him. When it was over, Hunter pulled back just a tiny bit so that she could feel his lips moving as he spoke.

“What did I ever do to get such a wonderful mare like you to be in my life?” he asked.

“You decided to chase me,” was her response.

“Well then, let me help you chase down some ponies so you can get those books signed,” Hunter said, already feeling better.

As Moondancer picked up her books in her magical aura, Hunter scanned the crowd. Most of them were huddled around in the center front of the hall. The thestral knew that Spitfire of the Wonderbolts was there, promoting a new tell-all autobiography of her time as leader of the Wonderbolts. He was sure many of the authors here wanted to chat up one of the biggest stars here for one reason or another. Further scanning showed a group of self-styled griffin entrepreneurs who had written some ‘get rich quick’ books showcasing mostly-legal methods of making your first fortune. They were laughing like mad ponies…er, griffons? Either way, they wouldn’t likely interest Moondancer. He did spot a few romance novelists in another corner talking about-

Suddenly, Hunter found himself being levitated along with several books. “There he is!” cried Moondancer, her eyes shining with admiration as she charged towards an elderly stallion. Hunter's heart froze. He knew this unicorn. Even if he weren't wearing a grey v-cut sweater and half moon spectacles, that light blue coat and grey mane and beard gave him the appearance of a learned stallion. While he had never met this pony face to face, their last few letters to each other had been less than pleasant.

“Professor Beaker,” Moondancer squealed as they approached him, the stallion almost jumping in the air in surprise. As soon as he turned around the stallion's eyes widened upon seeing that a large book was thrust in front of his face. “Could you please sign my copy of Alchemy: Where Magic and Nature Meets?”

For a moment, Professor Beaker seemed frozen there. Then he gave a deep, heartily chuckle. “Of course my dear, of course,” he said as he summoned himself a quill. “I must say, don’t get many requests for one of these here. Or anywhere in fact. Young ponies like yourself would sooner ask for the signature from the likes of A.K. Yearling than an old husk like me, my dear.”

“That’s such a shame,” Moondancer sighed as she watched the professor sign her book with great interest. “There are so few books out there that give such a detailed account on how alchemy works and even fewer that discuss the important difference between the types used by zebras and deer. Erm, that is, if you even consider the deer method to really be alchemy. I mean, it's only been identified as a thaumaturgical branch in the last three years, right?.”

“Yes, that is true,” said Beaker as he gave the now signed book to an excited Moondancer. “However, I personally consider it alchemy. They require liquid reagents, and it is ultimately a form of chemical transmutation and refining of base elements.. While their method of application is novel and unorthodox,, I still find myself more fond of the the zebra school, since it focuses more on healing rather than restoring nature. Of course, they did cure my chest pain for me, so I suppose I'm a bit biased. One drink and the pain was gone.”

“Ah, I hate to interrupt,” Hunter ventured, still floating in the grasp of Moondancer's magic. Both of the unicorns turned to look at him, as if noticing him for the first time.

“Oh no!” cried Moondancer as she lowered Hunter to the ground. “Hunter, I’m so sorry. I got excited and-”

“It’s fine,” Hunter said calmly as he placed a hoof on her shoulder..

“Well now,” said Beaker as he looked at the two. “Who might this be?”

“Right,” said an embarrassed Moondancer. “We haven’t introduced ourselves. My name is Moondancer and this is my coltfriend Star Hunter.”

Please don’t remember me, thought Hunter. Please don’t remember me. Please don’t remember me! For the love of Luna, Discord, and Celestia PLEASE DON’T REMEMBER ME!

“Hmm, that name sounds familiar,” commented Beaker, tapping his chin with his hoof while looking at the ceiling. “Now, you couldn’t have been a student of mine. No, that would be impossible for a thestral like…Wait, now I remember! I believe I sent you a letter once.”

Hunter let out a sigh while his wings drooped a little. “Yes,” he said woefully. “But just calling it a letter wouldn’t do it justice. It was fourteen pages long and you used some very…colorful words.”

“Yes well,” began the professor, looking rather embarrassed now. “Perhaps I got carried away when I wrote to you. My only intention was to correct a serious mishandling on the basic capabilities of a unicorn's magical grasp and thaumic field. I had several very worried students who believed, in no small part due to that one book of yours, that it was possible to destroy another pony’s heart via a relatively simple and commonplace spell. Your explanation was thorough enough to fool the average layperson, and between my students and the non-unicorn community I found myself answering three or four inquiries a day as to whether some psychopathic unicorn could do something like this.”

“Well there was that one case seventy years ago,” Moondancer mused, her words causing Beaker to take a step back. “I remember reading about it in some old news clippings back when I was a student in Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns.” She paused for a moment, blushing under the curious gazes of the two stallions. “A small project on using simple spells in unusual ways. Didn't the abstract for the project claim it was theoretically possible?”

“Well, er, it is possible,” admitted Beaker. “But that's hardly the point! An average unicorn who has not undergone extensive magical training would find the task nearly impossible even if they were aware of its plausibility.. The way you wrote it made it sound as if-”

“Hey, hey now,” said a cheery voice off to the side. “Less shop talk gentlecolts! This is a party!” Hunter turned to see a black unicorn with a white spot over his left eye. He was dressed in a bronze colored suit that looked like it had copper gears sown into it as well as a matching top hat. His horn looked like it was encased in copper with a steam pressure gauge sticking out of its side and copper saddle bags near his rear. Hunter recognized him as Method Writer, author of the popular Steam Horn series.

Beaker let out a groan. “Oh, another writer of utter nonsense,” he said while rolling his eyes. “The implausibilities you spew in those books of yours. Mechanical ponies powered the same way a train is? Impossible!”

“What you call implausible, I call inspirational,” replied Method with a grin. “Might challenge some young pony to try and make them a reality.” The unicorn then turned to look at Hunter. “Now I believe we should celebrate since Star Hunter here was able to get an invite. And well deserved! I quite enjoyed reading your last book. The way you described the killer's thoughts made me feel like he was more an animal stalking his prey, relishing every moment up to the kill. Very gripping. Your best work to date!” At this, Hunter and Moondancer shared a look before giving their best ‘not nervous’ laugh.

After that, the four of them chatted pleasantly about nothing. In all honesty, they were just talking to talk. Beaker talked to Moondancer about some new research trip he was planning during the next break to observe some creatures that could use similar shape changing magic as the changelings. Method, meanwhile, spotted Red Herring and began to do impressions of her that were so good that that Hunter burst out laughing. All in all, it was just an enjoyable experience that, sadly, had to end sooner or later.

Once they had departed from the company of Beaker and Method, Hunter began to scope out who else Moondancer might like an autograph from. As he did, out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of a blur heading to various tables to remove dirty dishes before refilling drinks. Whoever it was seemed to slow down a bit when they got close to Spitfire. Not enough for Hunter to make out many features but enough to give him an idea that she was a pegasus mare. It only lasted a moment, however, and once that moment was over the mare sped into the kitchen.

“Oh Celestia,” whispered Moondancer, catching Hunter’s attention. Looking over at her, he noticed she was pointing a hoof at another unicorn with a very long silver mustache. “That’s Secret Scrolls! He worked hard to restore several ancient spell books that Twilight discovered in the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters! Classical magical knowledge might have been lost forever if he hadn’t been there to preserve them.”

“Watch it you idiots!” screamed a loud voice that echoed through the hall, cutting off Hunter before he could open his mouth. A series of crashing noises quickly followed the voice before it screamed again. “Would you quit your crying already! I’m out there, busting my flank while you and the rest of these losers drag your hooves! Do any of you know how to move past a crawl?!”

There was another crash, but this time was not followed by the screaming voice. A few ponies murmured inquiries about what, exactly, was happening, but before any theories could be brought up the doors to the kitchen slammed open and revealed a mare dressed in the white, button up shirt, black vest, and red bow tie of the venue's wait staff. Even though the doors were a good distance away, Hunter’s eyes could still make out her light turquoise coat and amber mane with gold stripes. She seemed to be glaring at everything and her teeth were gritted together so tightly that Hunter thought he could hear them grinding faintly. She snorted, visible jets of air coming out of her nostrils as she marched out into the crowd who parted away from her.

“You know what?” she shouted while turning her head to look at the rest of the staff within the kitchen, all of them looking scared or about to cry. “I don’t have to put up with you losers. I’m out of here!” With that, the mare began to storm her way through the crowd while using one hoof to tear off her uniform piece by piece before throwing it behind her without caring where it landed.

“Dusty, please wait,” came a familiar voice that caused Hunter’s eyes to perk. He turned his head back toward the kitchen and saw Lightning Wing, the mare who had first brought him to the Clocktower Society. Panic was seared into her features as she flew over to Dusty and landed in front of her. “Please don’t do this again. I had to get on my knees to beg for you to get this job. Don’t throw this chance away!”

Dusty rolled her still eyes. “If this is the best begging gets you, mom, then I don't need it.” she growled. Lightning Wing raised a hoof, her mouth open to say something, but Dusty was already a blur and out of the building before a word could be formed.

As the crowd began to murmur and talk amongst themselves about what they had just seen, Hunter watched as Lightning Wing fell onto her plot. He could clearly see the face that had once been sat across the table from him and smiled as she offered him the chance to make his dreams come true slowly lose its composure until she was on the verge of tears. As the mare placed a hoof on her heart and began to breathe deeply, Hunter walked towards her with Moondancer following. He had no idea what he was going to say or what he could do. He didn’t even knew if he should do anything, if it would be better for the Society if he just pretended he didn’t know her and met up with her when nopony else was around. Yet, at that moment, he knew he had to go towards her.

When he was close enough, Hunter gently placed a hoof on her shoulder. Lightning Wing let out a gasp and spun in his direction. Her eyes then went wide as she recognized him, followed with her biting her lower lip. They stared at each other for a moment, and Hunter wondered if she was as confused and worried as him.

Finally, Hunter spoke. “Hey,” he said gently before gesturing over to a nearby table. “I saw what happened. Let’s get you off this dirty floor and onto something more comfortable.” Lightning Wing nodded, her face relaxing somewhat as she got to her hooves. As they approached the table, Moondancer used her magic to pull the seats out for them so that they could be seated close to each other. Once they were all seated, a glass of water teleported in front of Lightning Wing.

“My mother used to do that for me when I got upset,” said Moondancer as Lightning Wing took the cup in her hooves. “I think it’ll help more than the hard drinks they're serving here.”

“Th-Thank you,” stuttered Lightning before she gulped down the drink. Once it was empty, Lightning set the cup down and took several more deep breaths which seemed to help. She still looked miserable as she stared down at the table.

For a moment or two, they all sat there in silence. It was Hunter who finally broke it.“So, about what happened. Do…Do you want to talk about it?”

“I,” began Lightning Wing before she gulped. “I just don’t know where I went wrong with her.” Her voice trembled and she sniffled, threatening another bout of tears.

“Was she always like that?” asked Moondancer as she summoned up a pitcher of water and poured Lightning Wing another glass.

“Celestia no,” replied Lightning Wing as she looked up. “Dusty has always been headstrong and proud but she never used to blow up like she did tonight. My daughter used to have it all: a good reputation around these parts, a decent paying job, even a special somepony who was planning on giving her a,” Lightning Wing lowered her voice a bit, “special collar.” Lightning Wing then shook her head sadly before taking another drink.

“So what happened?” asked Hunter, very curious now.

“I don’t know!” exclaimed Lightning Wing as she threw up her hooves.. “One day she told all of us that she was going on an important trip and would only tell us where she went when she got back. The look on her face when she said this, she was so excited that I thought she had been in, well, one of the special pits that I know she likes. But, when she came back, she refused to say where she went or what happened.

“That…That was when it really started. She would be fine for a couple of days before suddenly exploding in random bursts of anger. There were times when she would become more impatient with others, yelling and screaming and causing a scene. It was just horrible. Then when we tried to calm her down she’d just snap at us, as if we were part of the problem. And when it was all said and done she’d act like nothing had happened. Eventually she lost her job and most ponies in these parts started to steer clear of her.

“That’s not all she’s lost,” continued Lightning Wing, in a low voice once more. “Her coltfriend, well he did his very best to stand by her side through it all but eventually things just got worse between them. In their, ah, sessions she would avoid ringing her bell or using the safe words no matter how intense things became. Then, whenever he got worried and ended things, she said she could have taken it and called him him chicken or accused him of not having faith in her. In the end, he walked away from her as well.

“You have no idea how much this hurts me,” she said while shutting her eyes tightly. “I feel so powerless to help my one and only daughter as she destroys her whole life. She’s bouncing from job to job, can’t pay any of her bills, chased away somepony who cared about her, and soon she’ll lose the only thing she has left other than me: the Society.”

“Hasn’t anypony there talked to her about this?” asked Hunter.

Lightning Wing let out a sigh. “I’ve tried getting her to see a Den Mother since this all began,” she said. “But she refuses every time claiming she’s not the pony with the problem. I…I’ve been doing the best I can to keep her in the Society because right now it’s the only place she has left that hasn’t thrown her on her flank. I’ve been paying her membership fees and putting out fires she’s created, but it’s only a matter of time. She’s been caught several times already sleeping in the personal suites as well as other places she shouldn’t be. Not only that, but more than a couple of doms have launched complaints against her before I could stop them. She’s had several warning already and if this keeps up I’m afraid she’ll get kicked out.”

“Well, there has to be somepony she’ll listen to,” said Hunter as he racked his brain for an idea. “What about, ah, her father?” At that, Hunter watched as Lightning Wing’s body became very rigged.

“Dusty hasn’t seen her father since she was six weeks old,” she almost snarled. “I woke up one morning to find all of his things gone and not even a note saying where he was going.”

“Well,” began Moondancer as she adjusted her glasses. “Can I assume that we’re all thinking that this trip she went on didn’t go so well?” Both Hunter and Wing nodded, Wing calming down a great deal as she did. “Then, judging by her behavior, I believe she is trying to repress it and ignore whatever pain or anger she is feeling inside resulting in herself destructing on the outside. And, well, I don’t think she’ll get any better until she finally admits what the problem is. Hopefully she won’t hit rock bottom before that happens.”

Lightning Wing placed her head on the table while letting out a pitiful moan. “She’s so headstrong I don’t think even hitting rock bottom will get her to admit anything. Maybe if I could figure out where she went, then maybe I could confront her and get her to open up.”

“Well, maybe we can help,” said Hunter. At this declaration, Lightning Wing raised her head and her mouth hung open for a moment.

“I-I can’t ask you to do that,” she said.

“We are in town for the weekend,” said Hunter. “I think we can spare a couple of hours to see if we can find out what happened. Maybe even coming up with a plan to help her confront what happened.”

“And it’s the least we can do,” said Moondancer, a smile on her face as she said this. “The way I see it, it’s because of you and Dusty that we’re together right now. You were the one assigned to approach Hunter about the Society. Then, according to Hunter, the reason you weren’t with him during his private tour was because your daughter got into trouble. If that hadn’t of happened then maybe I might never have bonded with Hunter that day the way I did.” As she said this, Moondancer reached over and placed a hoof on one of Hunter’s. He smiled and caressed it, his heart swelling with pride.

“But, that’s not the only reason,” continued Moondancer. “For a long time, I sort of self destructed in my own way. I shut myself out from the world and let everything crumble around me. My home, my relationship with my friends, and even my goals in life. I really couldn’t see how bad it was until an old friend stopped by and sort of stalked me for a few days. She…She tried everything she could think of to get me to open up again. It went badly, but eventually I was able to let out all the pain that was inside of me. When that happened and I saw that I wasn’t alone, I took that first step into getting better. So I really don’t mind us taking some time out of our vacation to help out Dusty.”

Both Hunter and Moondancer looked over at Lightning Wing who still looked a little shocked. Yet, as the seconds passed, her face began to scrunch a bit as a smile appeared on her face. Tears filled with joy and relief began to form in her eyes as she quickly got out from her seat. Lightning Wing moved at a galloping speed despite the very short distance towards them, wrapping her forelegs around them when she was close enough and hugging them with all her might.

“Ok,” said Hunter as both he and Moondancer walked down one of the busy streets. It was about noon and the thestral was having a hard time keeping his eyes open, not helped by the blinding sunlight, which he almost suspected was the result of Celestia raining down some kind of cruel judgment on the city. In front of the couple was a six story apartment complex, not so different than many of the others that now dotted the streets of this part of Los Pegasus. Gone were the noisy game parlors and bright lights, replaced by this more residential area.

“According to Lightning Wing, this is where Dusty used to live,” continued Hunter with a yawn and doing his best to point to the building with one of his hooves. “If we’re going to find out anything, this will be the best place to start.”

“Are you sure?” asked an equally tired Moondancer. Having become more nocturnal like her dom made this just as difficult for her. “Wouldn’t it be better to start with some of her old friends or maybe her old coltfriend?”

“According to my police contacts, the best place to start detective work is always a home or office,” explained Hunter, wishing he had a hot chocolate or something to help keep him awake. “It’s a stationary location that, even if the pony you’re looking for isn’t there, will provide at least an insight into what makes them tick. Besides, we know this address and not how to find any of her old friends. Starting with them would mean we’d have to try and figure out where they work and hope that they’re there today or run around town searching for them. Who knows how much time we could lose?”

Moondancer gave a weak nod. “I guess that makes sense,” she admitted.

As the two approached the building, one of the windows opened to reveal a dark red pegasus with a crooked jaw. Looking at the two, the stallion grinned while sticking his unshaven face out the window.

“Hello young couple,” he said in a thick accent. “Are you here for apartment? I have one open on top floor. Is perfect of you. Has three bedrooms for growing family and easy roof access. Low, low rates and good neighbors.”

“Must be the landlord,” muttered Hunter before he spoke a bit more loudly to the grinning stallion. “Hi there. We’re looking for information on a pony who used to live here. Went by the name Dusty?”

At once, the stallion's face hardened and the air was filled with such a bad vibe that the two took a step back. “Lightning Dust!” he hissed before spitting on the ground. “She is still telling ponies she lives here?! Even after she gone I get this. Bah! No more. If I have to put up sign saying she’s not here I do it then!” He then turned his full attention back to Hunter and Moondancer. “Begone with you. I know not where that cow is.”

As the stallion pulled his head back inside and prepared to slam the window shut, Hunter stepped forwards. “Actually, we’re doing a favor for Dust’s mother,” said Hunter quickly. “All we want to do is look around her old apartment and-”

“Somepony else has taken it,” said the landlord, his hooves still on the window. “Few months back she not pay her rent. First time, I let slide since it never happen with her before. I tell her to pay me when she can. Second month comes by and still no rent. I speak to her and we exchange words. Very strong words were said about my mama. My mama is a very good, nice pony and I love her very much, so I tell that rent-welching shrew to pay up and she slams door in my face. So, when she left the next day, I change lock on her door. Tell her then and there that if she wants her shit back she pays what she owes. Good day!” With that, the landlord slammed the window shut so hard that it created several cracks in the window.

“Well, that was…enlightening,” said Moondancer as she adjusted her glasses.

“So he’s keeping her things,” said Hunter thoughtfully before he turned to Moondancer. “Let’s take a look in the back.”

Moondancer answered him wordlessly by nodding before the two began to make their way around the building. There they found several storage sheds that had doors of thick bars instead of solid onesdoors. Most of them held one or two items like grills and lawn chairs. But there was one that was different. It was by far the largest of them all, holding a wide assortment of things like pictures, indoor furniture, letters, and so forth. As they got closer, the two noticed that most of the items in this shed were not in the best of shape. In fact, the vast majority looked as if they had been used as replacement balls for the local hoofball team, and the rest were either coffee-stained or caked with dust.

As Hunter and Moondancer stood in front of this shed, the thestral scanned the contents and noticed a few papers close to the crystal bars. Close enough, in fact, for him to reach in and grab with his hoof. Looking back and forth to see if anypony was watching, Hunter reached forwards but was stopped by Moondancer.

“Don’t do that,” she said quickly before pointing a hoof at something right behind the bars. Hunter followed the path of her hoof, noticing small engravings in the ground. They were symbols, runes by the looks of them, burnt into soil by a powerful spell.

“What are they?” he asked, pulling his hoof back.

“Security markers,” replied Moondancer. “The Canterlot Library had the same thing for the restricted reading section. If anything with mass enters or is removed from that space they will activate, alerting either the landlord or the local police. You can’t reach in to grab something, teleport in, or teleport something out.”

“Well that’s just peachy,” groaned Hunter as he face hoofed. But, as he was lowering his hoof, he noticed Moondancer’s horn was glowing. At first, he thought she might be trying to deactivate the runes. Instead, her magic was lifting several items within the shed close enough to them to inspect.

When he turned to look at his sub again, he noticed Moondancer had a bit of a blush on her face. “Funny story,” she began. “There was this one book that the library had, but I couldn’t get access to because of the markers. Since I couldn’t take it out without them finding out, I wondered what would happen if I just levitated it closer to me.”

“Moondancer, you are a genius,” said Hunter with a wide grin on his tired face.

“Thanks,” replied Moondancer as she adjusted her glasses. “So, let’s see if we can find…anything.”

For the next several minutes, Moondancer began to pull things towards them as they looked through the pile that once belonged to Lightning Dust. She started with some of the larger objects which didn’t really tell them much, even from a distance they could both easily see that they had been smashed by hoof. Given what they knew of the pegasus, it was a good bet that she had done this herself in a fit of anger. Many of them were picture frames, showing a proud and smiling Lightning Dust as she wore various medals behind the shattered glass. There was only one exception: a picture of mother and daughter taken perhaps not too long ago.

After running out of larger objects, Moondancer began to bring over crumbed balls of paper which she easily smoothed out. As it turned out, all of them were Wonderbolts posters and some of them were very old. At some point they might have been part of a collection. However, the state they were in now was…disturbing. A recruitment poster featuring Spitfire had been half-burned. Others were cut up with a knife or had crude words written on them with black marker.

“I think I am getting an idea of what might of happened,” said Hunter as he looked at one poster showing a Wonderbolt stallion with a knife drawn close to his neck, looking like it was about to slit his throat. “Probably tried to get into the Wonderbolts, but they didn’t accept her or something. Which is odd. I mean, did you see her move last night?”

“I know,” said Moondancer as she levitated a letter towards them. “That mare should have been a horse shoe in.” Moondancer opened the letter and her eyes widened. “Ok, now this is just wrong.”

Hunter blinked to make sure his eyes weren’t playing tricks on him. “Is that a haiku?”

“If it is it was poorly done,” groaned Moondancer in disgust as she put it back where she found it. “Personally, I’d like to sit that mare down and teach her how to do it properly. It’s not that hard! All she has…to…do…” Moondancer’s words trailed off as she brought another letter to her, this one holding the seal for the Wonderbolts Academy. Slowly she opened it.

Author's Note

Originally, Hunter was going to get insulted by a character that was too much like one of my other OC's Reasonable Voice and I thought it best to cut it out. Anyways, hope you all enjoyed this chapter because more is coming!

Thanks to Scarlet Weather and Koekelbag for their editing help