The Purple Sentinelby keithsterlingChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 18:00 pm Hearth’s Warming Eve: Royal Canterlot Museum, Precious Gem Display room, Royal Ward, City of Canterlot, Capital City of Equestria. A light snow falls covering the grounds of the Royal Canterlot Museum which is a block down from the Royal Palace. A single royal museum earth pony mare guard quickly makes her way around the museum checking windows and doors to make sure they are locked before heading to the museum food court to join in on the celebration of Hearth’s Warming Eve. All of the other Museum Guards, Royal Palace Guards and Solar Guard Troopers assigned to guard duty at the museum are waiting for her arrival. In the center of the room, the purple Sentinel sat in the Precious Gems Display case. In the case was a square princess cut purple gemstone with beveled sides. This large precious Amethyst gem is on loan to the Royal Canterlot Museum from the personal collection of Princess Luna. Like her sister Princess Celestia, Princess Luna has a small collection of precious gems she keeps and has never shown. The Purple Sentinel is one of Princess Luna’s favorite color purple. After some ticklish negotiating executed by her faithful student and nephew Prince Somnus Silverlight, Luna agreed to loan her Purple Sentinel to the museum for a jewel show. As the royal museum guard finishes her rounds, she turns and heads straight to the food court for the Hearth’s Warming Eve party. Watching from the skylight on the roof of the museum was a pegasi pony mare in black. As the museum guard moves out of sight the pegasi mare carefully opens the skylight with her front hoofs. She slips into the museum using her wings and quietly flies down landing in front of the purple sentinel display case. After studying the display case for few a seconds, the mare uses her wing to reach into her saddle-bag and obtains a small jack. She places the jack on a pedestal and begins pumping it with her hoof, lifting the glass square up until it’s high enough to reach under and takes the Purple Sentinel from its resting place. She places the gem into her saddle-bag and takes to the sky. An inebriated Royal guard staggers into the precious gem display room. After missing several pedestals, the inebriated royal guard bumps the pedestal that the Purple Sentinel sat on causing the glass box to fall to the ground. It shattered to pieces setting off all the alarms in the museum as every guard arrived at the scene of the theft. 8:00 pm Hearth’s Warming Eve: Silverlight stable: family room main house, Noble ward, City of Canterlot, Capital city of Equestria. Meanwhile at the Silverlight Stable in the Noble Ward of Canterlot, gathered around in front of the fireplace, in the family room of the main house, enjoying each other’s company and playing a friendly game of cards for Hearth’s Warming Eve was the Silverlight unicorn family and the two princesses along with Celestia’s royal children. Normally, on Hearth’s Warming Eve, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna would celebrate the holiday with each other at the Canterlot Royal Palace, but since Celestia married into the family the two Princesses have found a whole new family to care about. With the addition of her own children this holiday season, it has become more special to these two long living Alicorn mares and last pure Alicorns. “Your bet, Auntie?” Somnus reminding her as Luna stares at three of a kind in her magic bubble. “My last horseshoe.” Luna said tossing it into the pot. A moment, later everything goes wrong as her young niece Princess Blueberry puts down four of a kind beating her aunt’s three of a kind and wins the pot with her last horseshoe. Slowly Luna gets to her hoofs and walks away from the family card game floating her mug of hot apple cider with her. Somnus looks toward his mother who nods her head as all of her sister’s regalia are given to him, so it may be returned to her. On the balcony, overlooking the snow covered garden of the Silverlight stable stood Luna trying to figure out how she will win back her princess’s regalia with her string of very bad luck. “Huh?” Luna exclaimed surprised as her princess’s regalia floats beside her in a dark blue bubble. She turns around and standing just inside the door, pretending he’s not paying attention to her, drinking his mug of hot apple cider was her nephew Somnus. “Thank you Somnus.” Luna said softly kissing him on his cheek and hugging him as he joins her on the balcony looking out over the white blanketed garden. “There’s no need to thank me Auntie, Hearth’s Warming Eve is all about spending time with those ponies that you care the most about and tending that flame of friendship, that’s the core of Equestria.” Somnus explains as a single tear runs down Luna’s cheek, wondering what she did to end up with a nephew like Somnus. In the foyer of the main house, Princess Celestia stands looking at a beautifully decorated tree. After Luna left the game, the family started to target her as the next Princess to lose her Princess’s regalia. She knows it’s all in fun that the family would keep her regalia and make her win it back. Before that could happen, Celestia excused herself saying she was going to stretch her legs. Slowly the door leading into the family room opens and out walks a younger Alicorn mare, Princess Aurora, Celestia’s oldest daughter. She walks over to her mother and joins her by the tree. “How’s the game going Aurora?” Celestia asks looking at her daughter, who is still wearing her own princess’s regalia, “Well mother, the family has started to target Blueberry for her Princess’s regalia. but it’s not going to be easy. I think Blueberry has father’s skills at playing cards.” Aurora comments as Celestia chuckles. There’s a knock on the front door of the house surprising both Celestia and Aurora. “I wonder who that could be, mother.” Aurora comments a bit puzzled as they both approach the door to open it. Outside the door, standing in ankle deep snow on the stairs was a unicorn mare museum guard wearing a scarf, a pair of snow boots and a warm coat. After calling the Canterlot Royal City Watch to the museum, her supervisor wrote a message and asks this mare to deliver it to the Silverlight stable. She was to give the message to the Royal Investigator Somnus Silverlight. Slowly the front door opens and a unicorn museum guard breath catches in her throat. With a friendly smile on her snout was Senior Princess Celestia Silverlight. She was flanked by her oldest daughter Princess Aurora Silverlight. Being the lowest pony on the totem pole she has never met or ever seen senior Princess Celestia. “Your highness?” the unicorn mare voice quavers. “Yes, how can I help you?” Celestia says kindly. “My supervisor sent me with this message for Royal Investigator Somnus Silverlight.” The unicorn mare said in awe of senior princess Celestia. “Then you are looking to talk to my son Prince Somnus.” Celestia replied as the guard gawks in disbelief. She turns and gestures her daughter to go get her brother. “Royal Investigator Somnus Silverlight, is Prince Somnus? next in line to inherit the Throne of the moon from Princess Luna.” The guard shocked as Celestia has a gracious smile on her snout. A few minutes after 8:00 pm, Hearth’s Warming eve: common room, Ridge Garden Tavern, Hope Ward, City of Canterlot, Capital City of Equestria. The Ridge Garden Tavern is a public house in the heart of the Hope Ward. Most ponies after work that lives there frequent this establishment for great food and drink in all of Canterlot. But of late, ponies from the other wards have found this establishment, turning this local business into a hot spot. In all, Canterlot brings many bits to Hope Ward and the Silverlight unicorn family, the supervising noble family of the ward. In the common room of the tavern, sitting in a booth was a white pegasi mare with a blue, white and pink mane and tail enjoying the Hearth’s Warming Eve party thrown by the owner of the establishment. A moment later, a second white pegasi mare with a purple mane and tail walks into the tavern. On her flank was a pink butterfly cutie mark and hanging from her side was damp well-warn set of saddle-bags. She rudely pushes her way through the crowd passing the first white pegasi who wished her a happy Hearth’s Warming Eve and is met with a sneer. ‘How rude, I just simply wanted to wish her a happy Hearth’s Warming Eve’ the first white pegasi mare thought with a scowl. As a lavender earth pony mare with a rose pink mane and tail, the owner of the Ridge Garden Tavern walks up to the table carrying a mug of hot apple cider in her hoof. “Don’t worry about her, Star Catcher that mare is pretty rude to all of the customers around here most of the customers leave her alone and enjoy my place here.” The earth pony explains with a southern accent. “Who is she anyway, Clover?” Star Catcher inquires as Clover sets her mug down on the table and joins her in the booth. “Kin say I know, she arrived in Canterlot about a month ago, signed my guest book as Cloud Climber, and rented one of my rooms upstairs, she leaves early in mo’nin and returns very late at night, she pays her rent on time so I kin complain. But anyway, are you on duty tonight Star Catcher?” Clover inquires taking a sip from her mug of hot apple cider as Star Catcher uses her wing to place a gunmetal gray helmet on her head and snaps a pair of gunmetal gray horseshoes on her front hoofs again. “Technically speaking Clover, I am on my dinner break right now. Now I have to return to the Solar Guard Outpost One to pick up some rookie guards and show them the ropes. So yes, I am on duty tonight. Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve, Clover.” A friendly Star Catcher said as she pulls on a string with her teeth that tightens her warm cloak. “Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve to you too Star Catcher and you be safe out there.” Clover said friendly, as Star Catcher leaves the tavern and heads back to her outpost. Still a few minutes after 8:00 pm, hearth’s Warming Eve: Royal Canterlot Museum, Precious Gem Display room, Royal Ward, City of Canterlot, Capital City of Equestria. Meanwhile at the site of the robbery, the Royal Investigator, Somnus Silverlight, assisted by his two sisters, Solar Guard Commander Aurora Silverlight and Royal Coroner Blueberry Swirl Silverlight searches the site for clues. High above the precious gem display room checking the skylight was Aurora. When she finishes she lands and approaches Somnus. “What did you find up there Aurora?” Somnus inquires floating a notebook and pencil in a dark blue magic bubble. “It looks like the skylight is how the thief got into the museum, I found one of the windowpanes loose from the skylight.” Aurora explains pointing with her hoof at the third windowpane in the skylight, “What’s your rough guess of the type of thief, Aurora?” Somnus inquires waiting on an answer from his older sister, “Can’t say for sure, Somnus. till I get up on the roof of the Museum and look around up there.” Aurora explains floating her warm cloak back on, “But if I had to guess, Somnus my guess would be pegasi but that’s just my guess.” Aurora comments as she heads outside to fly up to the roof to look around. A moment later, Blueberry arrives after talking with all the guards. “So what did you find out from the Guards, Blueberry?” Somnus inquiry, “Not much Somnus. All the guards were in the food court of the museum for a Hearth’s Warming Eve party when the gem was taken. They only discovered the theft after all the alarms went off when the glass broke on the display.” Blueberry explains pointing at the broken glass on the ground with her hoof. “I see.” Somnus discouraged, Things start to get worse for Somnus as the front door of the museum slowly opens. In enters the one pony Somnus doesn’t want to see accompanying his mother Princess Celestia, his aunt Princess Luna. Princess Luna made her nephew Somnus promise he would take care of her precious Purple Sentinel. “Lord Somnus Silverlight! Come before your Princess of the Night!” Princess Luna bellows as Somnus’ mind reels and he stands paralyzed with fear. “Thy Princess of the Night will not ask again! Lord Somnus Silverlight make yourself known to thy Princess!” Princess Luna bellows louder as scared Somnus quickly threads his way towards his Aunt. Once Somnus arrives in front of his Auntie Princess Luna, a blue magic hand grabs onto his tail and drags him into a separate room. In that room Princess Luna unleashes her anger and disappointment in her nephew. Lying on the ground was crushed Somnus. For most of his life his Aunt Luna was the one pony he didn’t want to disappoint. For Luna was his heroine for facing and beating the darkness inside her. As Luna started to calm down she said she was sorry for taking it out on him and to demonstrate her sincerity she wrapped her wings around him and hugged him lovingly. Chapter 28:30 pm, Hearth’s Warming eve, Disturbance call: Ridge Garden Tavern, Hope Ward, City of Canterlot, Capital city of Equestria. Running at their max speed from the Solar Guard Outpost One was a squad of ten strong Solar Guard city watch earth pony troopers leading them was Captain Star Catcher. About an hour ago, a city watch guard ran into the Solar Guard outpost and reported a huge fight at the Ridge Garden Tavern. As the only ranking Solar Guard officer on duty at that time, Captain Star Catcher quickly gathered together Solar Guard personnel on duty at the post and lead them to the tavern to break up the fight. “Solar Guard! Begin to break up the fight and arrest those ponies that started the fight!” Captain Star Catcher ordered as the earth pony troopers ran in and started to break up the fighting ponies. Without a second warning, the fighting explodes anew and with the addition of both Solar Guard and the City watch ponies into a full blowing skirmish, forcing the Hope Ward Division to call in the assistance of Royal Ward Division and Solar Guard Commander Aurora Silverlight. Upon her arrival at the scene of the fight it quickly breaks up, knowing, sooner or later, her own mother might arrive to help her daughter to restore the peace and no pony wants to take on the Sun Princess in a fight. “Is the peace restored, Commander?” Celestia inquiries landing next to her daughter and folding her wings onto her sides. “Yes, your highness.” Aurora answers as she hugs her mother after bowing to her, “So how did this all start, Aurora?” Celestia inquiries as several ponies are cuffed and haul off to spend the rest of Hearth’s Warming Eve in jail till morning, “All I know mother is that there was a yearly Hearth’s Warming Eve party here at the tavern, and a City watch pony reported a fight at the tavern to the solar guard outpost one. Captain Star Catcher headed to the tavern with a squad of solar guard city watch personnel to break it up. Sometime later the Hope Ward Division called for assistance from the Royal Ward Division and here we are now mother.” Aurora explains as her mother gestures her daughter to lead on as Celestia has never observed how her oldest daughter runs a crime scene, because crime is rare in Canterlot. Slowly Celestia’s pride begins to grow, watching her oldest daughter move about the crime scene in a calm and collective manner talking and taking statements from the witnesses in the tavern. As Aurora comes around a table in the common room she suddenly stops and yells to Captain Star Catcher to summon the Royal Investigator and Royal coroner to the crime scene. Before Celestia and the other customers knew what was going on, her daughter clears the common room and pushes them all outside the tavern. Following that order up by having two solar guard unicorn magic troopers cast a seal and protect spell on the building, till the Royal Investigator and Royal coroner arrive at the scene. “Aurora what is going on dear?” Celestia inquiry as Aurora pays no attention to her mother’s question as she continues to organize her Solar Guard resources into a well oiled machine. With that done, she turns her attention toward her mother who is a bit crossed with her daughter ignoring her. “I am sorry mother, but I had to get my resources organized because of what I found in the tavern.” Aurora explains as Celestia calms herself down, “What did you find in the tavern, dear?” Celestia inquiry as Aurora takes her mother away from the other ponies from the tavern to talk to her, “There was a body of a white pegasi mare on the floor of the tavern most likely dead from the amount of blood around her.” Aurora explains as Celestia lifts her hoof to her mouth and gasps. “Dead?” Celestia exclaimed as her face glazes with shock, “What resources are you going to need from the crown, Commander Silverlight?” Celestia ask as Aurora smiles at her mother and kisses her. “Whatever resources the crown can lend to us, your highness. Till the Royal Coroner Blueberry and Royal Investigator Somnus arrive. I can’t say for sure.” Aurora explains as her mother opens her wings and gets ready to take to the sky. “Commander Silverlight, I have some paperwork to begin to free-up the resources you might need. So I am heading back to the royal palace to set the paperwork in motion. I’ll tell Luna what’s going on, so she can begin her paperwork and with that you will have the full support of both ruling princesses of Equestria to call on as you need them.” Celestia explains as she takes to the sky and heads toward the Royal palace. 8:33 pm, Hearth’s Warming Eve, Death investigating Ridge Garden Tavern, Hope Ward, City of Canterlot, Capital City of Equestria. After stopping by the Silverlight Stable, her family home, in noble ward to borrow her Aunt Seer’s field medical investigating kit, Royal Coroner Blueberry Swirl Silverlight arrives at the scene of the crime and sets to work. A few moments later, a gracious older light blue unicorn mare with a crimson red mane and tail, streaked with gray arrives at the scene. On her flank was a magic wand with a shooting star. As she approaches the tavern, the herd of ponies bows to her as she passes in front of them. This older unicorn mare is Countess Ophelia Silverlight administrator of the Hope ward and the great grandmother to the royal foals. “Commander Silverlight, May we speak?” Ophelia inquiry as Aurora bows to her. “Of course, your Ladyship.” Aurora answers as she gives her people orders and follows her great grandmother away from the tavern scene. “Aurora? Why was I not informed of this death in my ward. You know the rules as well as I, when something like this happens in any ward, you are to report this incident straight away to the supervising noble family of the ward or the sitting Princess.” Ophelia said testily as Aurora’s ears droop a bit. “Please forgive me great grandmother. I forgot I’ve been so busy with the scene, that I forgot to inform you of the death in your ward, your ladyship.” Aurora said apologizing as Ophelia hugs her great granddaughter. “It’s ok great granddaughter, but I hope you informed either your mother or your aunt about this incident.” Ophelia commented kindly, “Mother was here when the scene was discovered, so she knows about the incident. She left a few hours ago to begin the paperwork and she was going to tell Auntie about the incident when she got back to the royal palace.” Aurora explains as a smile forms on Ophelia’s snout as Aurora begins to explain what happened in the Tavern. 8:42 pm, Hearth’s Warming Eve, Pegasi mare’s rented room at the Ridge Garden Tavern, Upstairs, Hope ward, City of Canterlot and Capital city of Equestria. The rented room of the dead pegasi mare is a standard 10 x 10 foot area with a bed, a single dresser with a mirror, a table and desk. Searching the room for clues was Royal Investigator Somnus Silverlight and assisting him was a darker blue pegasi mare with a Yellowish green mane and tail. She was wearing the purple colored lunar guard armor and horseshoes with a fin like helmet on her head. On her flank was a diamond shield with a yellow lightning bolt. This pegasi mare is Lunar Guard Captain Adrian Night Wing. Like his father Somnus found a loyal ally in the wings of the Pegasi mare, a member of Princess Luna’s royal night guard unit. “OW!” Adrian exclaims as her face twists in pain after getting smacked squarely in the snout by a loose board she stepped on as she was searching the small closet in the room. “Adrian? What happened?” Somnus inquires as he notices Adrian rubbing her sore snout with her horseshoe. “I think I found something in the closet, Somnus.” Adrian answers as she backs out of the closet so Somnus could look in. In front of Somnus was a loose board. He uses his unicorn magic to float the board out of the way and lift a small wooden box out of its hiding place. The small wooden box had some weight to it on one side, so he set the box down on the bed and opened it. Inside it was a small red pouch that jingled when Adrian lifted it out of the wooden box. She rested the pouch on the underside of her silver horseshoe and shook it a few times by her ear. “It sounds like maybe 100 bits inside this pouch, Somnus could it be the mare’s life savings or a way to start over here in Canterlot?” Adrian comments as Somnus was reading a letter that was inside the box with the money pouch, “No, it’s not the mare’s life savings or a way to start over. It was the first payment for a job this mare was doing here in Canterlot. From this letter it sounded like it was a specialty job, the full payment would be 400 bits.” Somnus comments as a small iron key with a paper on it falls out of the letter onto the bed. “Look at this Somnus, A key.” Adrian exclaims as she examines a small new looking iron key with a paper on it resting on the underside of her horseshoe. “What does the paper say Adrian?” Somnus inquires as Adrian looks at the paper on the key. “It says, Box 345 Canterlot Main Post Office. it’s a post office box key from Canterlot.” Adrian explains as Somnus takes the key from Adrian and runs downstairs. In the common room of the tavern, keeping the scene secure was Commander Aurora Silverlight and her 1st Royal ward Division troops. She released the Hope ward division troops from the scene and ordered them back on patrol duty. “Have you found out anything Blueberry?” Aurora inquires as Blueberry slowly gets to her hoofs. “The mare’s body is still warm to the touch .so she died less than three hours ago maybe during the fight at the tavern. My initial finding of the cause of death is stabbing. As for the type of weapon, I have no idea until I get the body back to the morgue. I can’t tell you anything more, Commander.” Blueberry explains as she’s gestures her Medic pony troopers to transport the body back to the palace morgue. “Understood, Blueberry. oh yes, mother has authorized you to call in our aunt Seer for help on the case.” Aurora explains as Blueberry’s face flushed with happiness as she has never worked with her Aunt Seer on a case. “Understood, commander, I’ll get right on it.” Blueberry said hearty as she headed to the palace morgue to get to work. “Commander!” Somnus calls running down the stair case floating the post office box key in front of him followed closely by Adrian. “Yes, Royal Investigator Silverlight what did you find in the room?” Aurora inquires as she takes hold of the key Somnus was floating in front of him with her magic. “It’s a post office box key for the main post office here in Canterlot. Do you have a trooper that can go to the post office and look into it and find out what’s in it?” Somnus inquires as Aurora examines the key closely. “Well I do, but I think it would be safer if I go myself to check out this post office box.” Aurora explains as Somnus agrees with her idea. 45 minutes later, Hearth’s warming Eve, Canterlot Central Post Office, Royal Ward, City of Canterlot, and Capital City of Equestria. The Canterlot Central Post Office is smaller than the Canterlot Royal Palace where the royal family resides with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Stand outside the main lobby and post office box building was Solar Guard Commander Aurora Silverlight and two Solar Guard Elite Scout mares Pegasus. As the three ponies enter, it’s full of ponies getting their mail from around Equestria. Once inside, the ponies all at once bow to Princess Aurora Silverlight. Aurora’s face grows haggard with worry that the ponies present will get hurt if she just opens the post office box, just in case it’s a trap. “My dear little ponies, if you could please leave the building very calmly for the moment. The eldest daughter of your princess will be very grateful to you.” Aurora said very calmly and authoritatively, the calmness in her voice causes the ponies in building to begin to file out of the building one by one until it’s empty. With the building clear of ponies and the arrival of the back-up Solar Guard troopers from the Royal Palace, Aurora’s hooves click loudly on the tile floor. She scans the wall of different sized square post office boxes, looking for right one. On the furthest wall from the main entrance, was the post office box she was look 345. Slowly her horn begins to glow with a dark blue magic aura, a small shield forms on the wall on top the small door of the box. Beads of perspiration form on Aurora’s forehead as she inserts the iron key into the keyhole of the box. There’s a very soft click as she turns the key. “Huh?” Aurora exclaims her voice tightens as the small shield she placed on the door that doesn’t allow it to be opened. She pumps more of her own magic energy into the shield causing the shield to get bigger till the door can be opened easily. “A wooden box?” Aurora comments puzzled looking into the post office box as she releases the magic from around the key. Suddenly magic energy beings to build in a confined space of the box and an orange and red ball swirls in the back. “Nnnnnno!” Aurora’s voice shrills with horror as she yanks the wooden box out of its space with her magic, running at full speed back to the main entrance slipping and sliding all the way as her hooves can’t grip the tile floor of the post office box building. At the main entrance, she dives through the door as a delayed fireball spell catches her tail on fire. She sits down quickly in a pile of snow to put out the fire on her tail. “Can this get any worse?!” Aurora screams as her face glazes with shock watching the wooden box slide across the icy ground toward the staircase and through the air into the middle of the street as a large group of ponies smash the box to piece as they run by the post office. (Aurora lifts her head into the air and her eyes mist over with tears). “Mommy!”Aurora screams at the top of her lungs as she let loose a shower of tears. In response to her daughter’s cries, Celestia winks in and wraps her pink-purple tinted feathered wings around her daughter in a calming embrace. After calming her oldest daughter down, both Celestia and Aurora walk down into the street toward the smashed box in the middle of the street. Celestia carefully uses her magic to pick through the remains of the wooden box looking for anything that survived the crush. Under the crushed top, she spied an envelope that looks very familiar to her. The envelope was 4 1/8long by 9 ½ wide. It was light purple in color with a crescent moon embossed on the left side of the envelope. “By my light, this is an invitation to the first showing of the Purple Sentinel gem stone at the Royal Canterlot Museum.” Celestia exclaims as her breath catches in her throat floating the envelope in front of her in a yellow bubble. “How do you know it’s an invitation to the museum, mother? It looks like all of the other envelopes auntie uses to send messages around Equestria for communication. It even has her cutie mark embossed on the envelope.” Aurora doubts her mother’s memory (pointing her hoof at the cutie mark on the envelope) “You are correct dear; the envelope is the same size and color as Luna’s everyday envelopes. But what you don’t know is that on her everyday envelopes the mark is raised and not pressed down on it like this (pointing at the pressed mark with her hoof). She specially ordered them for the Gem shows from the printer about a month ago. I picked them up a few days back for her, because the printer’s shop is only open during the day.” Celestia explains as Aurora was a bit bugged with this. “Then how in all of Equestria? Did a dead stranger pegasi mare end up with an invitation from the Princess? I am pretty sure that the personal guard to her highness Princess Luna would know her. but he didn’t.” Aurora said as she gives a look of uneasy puzzlement toward her mother. “(Sighs) Luna asked me not to tell the Solar Guard about it.” Celestia said “What happened, mother?” Aurora said sharply trapping her mother in one corner of the building so she can’t get away. “How did a dead pegasi mare get an invitation to the first showing of the Purple Sentinel without Somnus’ knowledge?” Aurora asks forcefully with a slow, appraising glance that caused Celestia to begin to chew on her lip. “All right I’ll tell you. But you can’t tell Somnus.” Celestia asking nicely as Aurora crosses her wings behind her and listened to her mother’s story. Chapter 39:00 pm Hearth’s Warming Eve, Canterlot Royal palace, Royal ward, City of Canterlot, Capital city of Equestria, Throne room. The throne room of Canterlot Royal Palace is unusually quiet for a busy weekday evening but Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have given all their advisers Hearth’s Warming Eve off to spend time with their families. The only groups still on duty were the Princess’s elite guard detachments known as the Solar Guard or the Royal Ward Division commanded by Princess Aurora Silverlight (the overall commander of the Solar Guard Division in Equestria). Lying on the top tier of the throne was Princess Luna, looking at a small statuette of her cutie mark floating in a blue magic bubble given to her by her nephew Somnus as a Hearth’s Warming Eve gift. A single tear runs down the cheek of this pony of the night, which at one time; was the only pony of the night before the birth of Prince Somnus Silverlight from her sister Princess Celestia. The throne room door bursts open as Somnus eyes rakes the room. “Your Highness why. Was I not informed of the stolen invitation from you?” Somnus inquires testily (placing his hoof on his aunt’s collar resting on her chest) catching his Aunt Luna by surprise as she looks towards her sister Celestia following behind her oldest daughter. “Celestia, thy talk too much.” Luna exclaims bothered that her sister told Somnus what happened. “It was nothing; Somnus, it was an extra invitation from my order of 100 printed, no need to involve the Royal Investigator or the Solar Guard in finding it.” Luna explains casually as Somnus gives his aunt the once-over. “We found it, your highness!” Somnus said as an edge of impatience creeps into his voice, a strange feeling wash over Luna as her nephew has never referred to her in such a formal manner privately. “Where was it found?” Luna inquiry “It was found in the possession of that pegasi mare from the tavern.” Somnus said gruffly as Luna’s breathe catches in her throat. “Are you accusing thy Princess (placing her horseshoe clad hoof on his chest) Sir Knight of wrongdoing?” Luna said spitefully poking him on his chest. “I am just following the evidence placed before me.” Somnus comments as Aurora steps between them before anything happens. “Now Somnus do you really think our aunt would do something like that, I mean you’ve been around Auntie since you were 5 has she ever done something like that before?” Aurora said defusing the situation before it gets out of hand as Somnus shook his head. “As for you Auntie, if you told us about the stolen invitation before now. Somnus would not be thinking you are hiding something from us.” Aurora explains in a calm and cool voice as Luna’s ears drop. “Please forgive me for thy error, my dear Somnus. I have told you many times to be honest with me. I guess this aunt of yours should listen to her own advise. Will you forgive me? Somnus. I am very sorry.” Luna said conciliatory as she walks over to Somnus and hugs him. “All right, Auntie.” Somnus said forgivingly as he returns the hug. “Now Auntie will you tell us what happened with the invitation that disappeared?” Aurora inquiry as Lune nods her head in agreement, taking a deep breath before she begins to recount the facts. “A month before the Purple Sentinel showing at the Royal Canterlot Museum I ordered 100 invitations to the show from a local printer shop here in Canterlot, since the printer shop is closed during the night. I asked your mother (point at Celestia with her hoof) to pick them up for me and leave them on top of my desk in my bed chamber. I wrote them out that night after I finished evening court. When I finished, I had an extra invitation left in the box, I thought nothing of it. So I left it in the box and left instructions (pointing at Somnus with her hoof) to take them to the post office for me.” Luna explains as Aurora, Somnus and Celestia follow Luna to her bed chamber. “(Pointing her hoof at the empty box on top of her desk) The follow night when I was getting ready for evening court, I happened to look into the box and noticed the extra invitation was missing. Wondering if your mother took it from the box, I asked her. She told me no and she had not been in my bed chamber since she dropped off the box the day before. So I figured one of the Royal Servitors might have taken the invitation out of the box without asking. So instead of telling you, the Royal Investigator, (pointing at Somnus with her hoof) that would get the Royal Servitors in trouble. I decided to handle it myself.” Luna said pausing for a moment to catch her breath. “I spoke to each of the Royal Servitors that I allow into my bed chamber when I am sleeping. They all told me they have not been in my bed chamber at all. I confirmed their story by talking to the two solar guard troopers on permanent guard duty at my bed chamber door. With nowhere else to go, I figured that I might have misplaced it and find it when I am not looking for it.” Luna explains as Aurora talks to the troopers at her auntie bed chamber door while Somnus looks around her bed chamber. “Auntie? May I call in grandmother? Her magic might be able to give us a clue to the missing invitation and how that pegasi mare came into possession of it.” Somnus inquiry as Luna nods her head again. Sometime later, a dark blue bodied older unicorn mare with a well kept crimson red mane and tail with a hint of gray arrives at the palace. On her flank was a white shimmering diamond cutie mark. She quickly bows to the four royal ponies in front of her, before hugging them all in turn. This older unicorn mare is Baroness Shimmering Diamond Silverlight the co-head of the Silverlight unicorn family and the grandmother to Celestia’s royal foals. “Welcome your ladyship.” Celestia said politely “Welcome thy ladyship.” Luna said politely “Greetings Grandmother.” Aurora said politely “Greetings Grandmother.” Somnus said politely “Greetings you four. You sent for me Somnus?” Shimmering Diamond inquires turning towards her grandson Somnus. “I did grandmother; I need your magic to reveal some clues to a case I am working on.” Somnus explains as Shimmering Diamond lifts her hoof up and stops Somnus from telling her anymore. “You know, how I work grandson tell me no more, other than where I need to use my magic at, I’ll do the rest.” Shimmering Diamond explains. “Very well Grandmother Luna’s bed chamber.” Somnus comments as Shimmering Diamond blinks with surprise with the location her grandson wants her to use her magic on. “Your Auntie’s bed chamber?” Shimmering Diamond exclaims a bit puzzled as she walks over to Luna and asked her a few questions about her bed chamber, before turning and walking in. Once inside the bed chamber alone, Shimmering Diamond walks to each corner of the room placing a small magic star in them, before walking out onto the balcony and placing stars on the four corners of the balcony. With that done, she walks to the center of the room and sets off the first part of her spell. Magic lines begin to connect each star together forming an outline of the bed chamber. With that constructed, Diamond begins to construct the items inside the room using the same small stars, forming a complete picture of the room. “So Luna said she was asleep.” Shimmering Diamond comments as she walked over to Luna’s bed and created a magic replica of Princess Luna. “Since she sleeps during the day, let set the time from mid-morning to early evening and move the time forward from there and see what happens.” Shimmering Diamond comment (moving two magic dials with her hoof in front of her) as she set the magic time in motion. As the time progresses nothing really happens in the re-creation, till a few minute before noon. A white pegasi mare with a purple mane and tail lands on Princess Luna’s balcony. She pokes her head into the darken bed chamber and sneaks in. She heads straight to Luna’s desk and uses her wing to steal an envelope with Luna’s cutie mark on it from a box on top of her desk, before leaving the same way she came in. With that, Diamond dispels the re-creation. She walks over to the desk and picks up the empty box with her magic bubble; she looks it over and notices that on the side of the box it reads: The quick filly printer shop, noble ward, canterlot. 100 invitations ordered by Princess Luna To be picked-up by Princess Celestia Silverlight or Prince Somnus Silverlight. “So it looks like some pony stole an invitation from Princess Luna most likely to the showing of her Purple Sentinel at the Royal Canterlot Museum. I must say that pony is bold to sneak into the Royal Bed chamber of Princess Luna, here at the royal palace.” Shimmering Diamond thought setting the empty box back on top of the desk as she calls in the four ponies from outside. “So what did you find out, grandmother?” Somnus inquiry “Well grandson, you are looking for a white pegasi mare with a purple mane and tail. She nabbed the invitation.” Shimmering Diamond comment as Aurora, Somnus and Celestia faces pale. “What’s wrong with you three?” Shimmering Diamond inquiry looking at Aurora, Somnus and Celestia a bit puzzled. “That description fits the dead mare from the tavern in the morgue, Aurora; did we search her person before we sent her to the morgue?” Somnus inquiry hopefully talking to his sister, who’s face, is glazed with shock. “No, we did not. We never thought that pegasi mare might have been the one who stole the Purple Sentinel from the museum Blueberry should have the personal possessions of the mare in the morgue with her.” Aurora explains as Aurora and Somnus turn on their hooves and run down to the morgue. A few minutes after 9:00 pm Hearth’s Warming Eve, Canterlot Royal Palace, Royal ward, City of Canterlot, basement, and Palace morgue. The palace morgue is a huge room with three steel tables side by side lit by a very powerful unicorn light spell. Lying on the center table was the body of the dead mare from the tavern covered by a sheet. Finishing up the case file was Princess Blueberry. After concluding the autopsy of the mare the Royal Medical Examiner Lady Seer handed her findings over to Princess Blueberry the Royal Coroner to write the coroner’s report. “So my guess was right on, auntie she died from the single stab wound from the front to her heart. The blade was a solid 24 inches with a point.” Blueberry comment as her Auntie Seer washes her front hoofs off in the sink and dries them. “That is correct niece the absence of defensive wounds on her, means she didn’t expect it. So you can conclude that she was killed during the fight at the tavern but there’s still one big question, niece.” Seer explains as she floats her gown off herself along with her mask. “Why?” Blueberry exclaims “Right again, niece but that’s a question your brother and sister must answer. Our job is done for now. so I am heading home for the rest of Hearth’s Warming Eve. Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve Blueberry. I hope we will see you at Hearth’s Warming Day dinner at the stable with your mother and aunt.” Seer says as she hugs and kisses Blueberry. “I’ll try really hard to make it to the dinner with mother and auntie.” Blueberry said promising her aunt Seer as the door flies open into the morgue. “Auntie! Blueberry! Where are the personal possessions of the mare?” Somnus exclaims followed by Aurora. “Over there, Somnus.” Blueberry said pointing with her hoof over to a small table with all the personal possessions bagged and tagged from the dead mare. Quickly Aurora floats the clipboard with the evidence release form on it to herself and steals the pen that Blueberry was using to write the coroner’s report from out of her magic grip. She quickly signs and dates the document on the clipboard releasing the evidence into her care. “It’s done, Somnus!” Aurora calls as Somnus tears open the bag with the mare’s saddle-bags in them. He dumps all the items out of the saddle-bags onto the table and begins to search through the possessions. Inside the saddle-bags, Somnus finds a hoof drawn floor map of the Royal Canterlot Museum. The Precious Gem display room was circled in red. He also found a hoof drawn map of the Canterlot Royal Palace. Noted on the map were the positions of both the Solar Guard troopers and the Palace guards at different points throughout the day and night. Inside a small notebook were the times that the Museum guards made their rounds and how many Solar Guard troopers and Royal Palace Guards would be on duty at the museum during the show. The most unusual things to be found in the saddle-bags where the cheap copies of both his Mother’s and Aunt’s horseshoes that they wear. These cheap copies would fool any pony who has never seen the two princess’s real horseshoes. “No! It’s not here Aurora!” Somnus exclaimed disappointed “What?” Aurora exclaims as she turns towards her little sister still sitting at the desk. “Blueberry, please tell me she had more than what’s on the table over there.” Aurora exclaims. “I am sorry Aurora but that’s all she was carrying on her.” Blueberry answered as Somnus repacked the saddle-bags. 10:00 pm Hearth’s Warming Eve, streets of Canterlot, Penumbra ward, City of Canterlot, Capital city of Equestria. A blue bodied earth pony stallion with a blue and white streaked mane and tail walks down the street of the Penumbra ward on his way home with an ironic smile on his snout. As he passes a lamp post, a flying shadow appears behind him as if following him from the Hope Ward. “Well, Old Score, bang on it, looks like we made a bloody big score from that arrogant sod to think she would show a stranger a huge gem like this, just because she can and the Bobby’s are no better.” Score said with a British accent assuming a posture of superiority tossing the Purple Sentinel in the air and catching it again. “Well love, It looks like you will be spending Hearth’s Warming Eve with old Score here, (talking to the Purple Sentinel in his upturn hoof) till I can pawn this pretty little bauble away in Fillydelphia.” Score comment as a light gray pegasi mare with an orange mane and tail lands in front of him. “Who the bloody are you?” Score exclaims as the mare folds her wings to her side “The mare that’s going to take away that pretty little bauble, love.” The mare speaks with the same British accent as Score’s eyes widen with alarm the moment a dagger appears from under her wings. “Blast it all!” Score cries out dropping to the street dead after being stabbed by the mare’s dagger. She takes the gem and flies off.
Chapter 18:00 pm Hearth’s Warming Eve: Royal Canterlot Museum, Precious Gem Display room, Royal Ward, City of Canterlot, Capital City of Equestria. A light snow falls covering the grounds of the Royal Canterlot Museum which is a block down from the Royal Palace. A single royal museum earth pony mare guard quickly makes her way around the museum checking windows and doors to make sure they are locked before heading to the museum food court to join in on the celebration of Hearth’s Warming Eve. All of the other Museum Guards, Royal Palace Guards and Solar Guard Troopers assigned to guard duty at the museum are waiting for her arrival. In the center of the room, the purple Sentinel sat in the Precious Gems Display case. In the case was a square princess cut purple gemstone with beveled sides. This large precious Amethyst gem is on loan to the Royal Canterlot Museum from the personal collection of Princess Luna. Like her sister Princess Celestia, Princess Luna has a small collection of precious gems she keeps and has never shown. The Purple Sentinel is one of Princess Luna’s favorite color purple. After some ticklish negotiating executed by her faithful student and nephew Prince Somnus Silverlight, Luna agreed to loan her Purple Sentinel to the museum for a jewel show. As the royal museum guard finishes her rounds, she turns and heads straight to the food court for the Hearth’s Warming Eve party. Watching from the skylight on the roof of the museum was a pegasi pony mare in black. As the museum guard moves out of sight the pegasi mare carefully opens the skylight with her front hoofs. She slips into the museum using her wings and quietly flies down landing in front of the purple sentinel display case. After studying the display case for few a seconds, the mare uses her wing to reach into her saddle-bag and obtains a small jack. She places the jack on a pedestal and begins pumping it with her hoof, lifting the glass square up until it’s high enough to reach under and takes the Purple Sentinel from its resting place. She places the gem into her saddle-bag and takes to the sky. An inebriated Royal guard staggers into the precious gem display room. After missing several pedestals, the inebriated royal guard bumps the pedestal that the Purple Sentinel sat on causing the glass box to fall to the ground. It shattered to pieces setting off all the alarms in the museum as every guard arrived at the scene of the theft. 8:00 pm Hearth’s Warming Eve: Silverlight stable: family room main house, Noble ward, City of Canterlot, Capital city of Equestria. Meanwhile at the Silverlight Stable in the Noble Ward of Canterlot, gathered around in front of the fireplace, in the family room of the main house, enjoying each other’s company and playing a friendly game of cards for Hearth’s Warming Eve was the Silverlight unicorn family and the two princesses along with Celestia’s royal children. Normally, on Hearth’s Warming Eve, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna would celebrate the holiday with each other at the Canterlot Royal Palace, but since Celestia married into the family the two Princesses have found a whole new family to care about. With the addition of her own children this holiday season, it has become more special to these two long living Alicorn mares and last pure Alicorns. “Your bet, Auntie?” Somnus reminding her as Luna stares at three of a kind in her magic bubble. “My last horseshoe.” Luna said tossing it into the pot. A moment, later everything goes wrong as her young niece Princess Blueberry puts down four of a kind beating her aunt’s three of a kind and wins the pot with her last horseshoe. Slowly Luna gets to her hoofs and walks away from the family card game floating her mug of hot apple cider with her. Somnus looks toward his mother who nods her head as all of her sister’s regalia are given to him, so it may be returned to her. On the balcony, overlooking the snow covered garden of the Silverlight stable stood Luna trying to figure out how she will win back her princess’s regalia with her string of very bad luck. “Huh?” Luna exclaimed surprised as her princess’s regalia floats beside her in a dark blue bubble. She turns around and standing just inside the door, pretending he’s not paying attention to her, drinking his mug of hot apple cider was her nephew Somnus. “Thank you Somnus.” Luna said softly kissing him on his cheek and hugging him as he joins her on the balcony looking out over the white blanketed garden. “There’s no need to thank me Auntie, Hearth’s Warming Eve is all about spending time with those ponies that you care the most about and tending that flame of friendship, that’s the core of Equestria.” Somnus explains as a single tear runs down Luna’s cheek, wondering what she did to end up with a nephew like Somnus. In the foyer of the main house, Princess Celestia stands looking at a beautifully decorated tree. After Luna left the game, the family started to target her as the next Princess to lose her Princess’s regalia. She knows it’s all in fun that the family would keep her regalia and make her win it back. Before that could happen, Celestia excused herself saying she was going to stretch her legs. Slowly the door leading into the family room opens and out walks a younger Alicorn mare, Princess Aurora, Celestia’s oldest daughter. She walks over to her mother and joins her by the tree. “How’s the game going Aurora?” Celestia asks looking at her daughter, who is still wearing her own princess’s regalia, “Well mother, the family has started to target Blueberry for her Princess’s regalia. but it’s not going to be easy. I think Blueberry has father’s skills at playing cards.” Aurora comments as Celestia chuckles. There’s a knock on the front door of the house surprising both Celestia and Aurora. “I wonder who that could be, mother.” Aurora comments a bit puzzled as they both approach the door to open it. Outside the door, standing in ankle deep snow on the stairs was a unicorn mare museum guard wearing a scarf, a pair of snow boots and a warm coat. After calling the Canterlot Royal City Watch to the museum, her supervisor wrote a message and asks this mare to deliver it to the Silverlight stable. She was to give the message to the Royal Investigator Somnus Silverlight. Slowly the front door opens and a unicorn museum guard breath catches in her throat. With a friendly smile on her snout was Senior Princess Celestia Silverlight. She was flanked by her oldest daughter Princess Aurora Silverlight. Being the lowest pony on the totem pole she has never met or ever seen senior Princess Celestia. “Your highness?” the unicorn mare voice quavers. “Yes, how can I help you?” Celestia says kindly. “My supervisor sent me with this message for Royal Investigator Somnus Silverlight.” The unicorn mare said in awe of senior princess Celestia. “Then you are looking to talk to my son Prince Somnus.” Celestia replied as the guard gawks in disbelief. She turns and gestures her daughter to go get her brother. “Royal Investigator Somnus Silverlight, is Prince Somnus? next in line to inherit the Throne of the moon from Princess Luna.” The guard shocked as Celestia has a gracious smile on her snout. A few minutes after 8:00 pm, Hearth’s Warming eve: common room, Ridge Garden Tavern, Hope Ward, City of Canterlot, Capital City of Equestria. The Ridge Garden Tavern is a public house in the heart of the Hope Ward. Most ponies after work that lives there frequent this establishment for great food and drink in all of Canterlot. But of late, ponies from the other wards have found this establishment, turning this local business into a hot spot. In all, Canterlot brings many bits to Hope Ward and the Silverlight unicorn family, the supervising noble family of the ward. In the common room of the tavern, sitting in a booth was a white pegasi mare with a blue, white and pink mane and tail enjoying the Hearth’s Warming Eve party thrown by the owner of the establishment. A moment later, a second white pegasi mare with a purple mane and tail walks into the tavern. On her flank was a pink butterfly cutie mark and hanging from her side was damp well-warn set of saddle-bags. She rudely pushes her way through the crowd passing the first white pegasi who wished her a happy Hearth’s Warming Eve and is met with a sneer. ‘How rude, I just simply wanted to wish her a happy Hearth’s Warming Eve’ the first white pegasi mare thought with a scowl. As a lavender earth pony mare with a rose pink mane and tail, the owner of the Ridge Garden Tavern walks up to the table carrying a mug of hot apple cider in her hoof. “Don’t worry about her, Star Catcher that mare is pretty rude to all of the customers around here most of the customers leave her alone and enjoy my place here.” The earth pony explains with a southern accent. “Who is she anyway, Clover?” Star Catcher inquires as Clover sets her mug down on the table and joins her in the booth. “Kin say I know, she arrived in Canterlot about a month ago, signed my guest book as Cloud Climber, and rented one of my rooms upstairs, she leaves early in mo’nin and returns very late at night, she pays her rent on time so I kin complain. But anyway, are you on duty tonight Star Catcher?” Clover inquires taking a sip from her mug of hot apple cider as Star Catcher uses her wing to place a gunmetal gray helmet on her head and snaps a pair of gunmetal gray horseshoes on her front hoofs again. “Technically speaking Clover, I am on my dinner break right now. Now I have to return to the Solar Guard Outpost One to pick up some rookie guards and show them the ropes. So yes, I am on duty tonight. Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve, Clover.” A friendly Star Catcher said as she pulls on a string with her teeth that tightens her warm cloak. “Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve to you too Star Catcher and you be safe out there.” Clover said friendly, as Star Catcher leaves the tavern and heads back to her outpost. Still a few minutes after 8:00 pm, hearth’s Warming Eve: Royal Canterlot Museum, Precious Gem Display room, Royal Ward, City of Canterlot, Capital City of Equestria. Meanwhile at the site of the robbery, the Royal Investigator, Somnus Silverlight, assisted by his two sisters, Solar Guard Commander Aurora Silverlight and Royal Coroner Blueberry Swirl Silverlight searches the site for clues. High above the precious gem display room checking the skylight was Aurora. When she finishes she lands and approaches Somnus. “What did you find up there Aurora?” Somnus inquires floating a notebook and pencil in a dark blue magic bubble. “It looks like the skylight is how the thief got into the museum, I found one of the windowpanes loose from the skylight.” Aurora explains pointing with her hoof at the third windowpane in the skylight, “What’s your rough guess of the type of thief, Aurora?” Somnus inquires waiting on an answer from his older sister, “Can’t say for sure, Somnus. till I get up on the roof of the Museum and look around up there.” Aurora explains floating her warm cloak back on, “But if I had to guess, Somnus my guess would be pegasi but that’s just my guess.” Aurora comments as she heads outside to fly up to the roof to look around. A moment later, Blueberry arrives after talking with all the guards. “So what did you find out from the Guards, Blueberry?” Somnus inquiry, “Not much Somnus. All the guards were in the food court of the museum for a Hearth’s Warming Eve party when the gem was taken. They only discovered the theft after all the alarms went off when the glass broke on the display.” Blueberry explains pointing at the broken glass on the ground with her hoof. “I see.” Somnus discouraged, Things start to get worse for Somnus as the front door of the museum slowly opens. In enters the one pony Somnus doesn’t want to see accompanying his mother Princess Celestia, his aunt Princess Luna. Princess Luna made her nephew Somnus promise he would take care of her precious Purple Sentinel. “Lord Somnus Silverlight! Come before your Princess of the Night!” Princess Luna bellows as Somnus’ mind reels and he stands paralyzed with fear. “Thy Princess of the Night will not ask again! Lord Somnus Silverlight make yourself known to thy Princess!” Princess Luna bellows louder as scared Somnus quickly threads his way towards his Aunt. Once Somnus arrives in front of his Auntie Princess Luna, a blue magic hand grabs onto his tail and drags him into a separate room. In that room Princess Luna unleashes her anger and disappointment in her nephew. Lying on the ground was crushed Somnus. For most of his life his Aunt Luna was the one pony he didn’t want to disappoint. For Luna was his heroine for facing and beating the darkness inside her. As Luna started to calm down she said she was sorry for taking it out on him and to demonstrate her sincerity she wrapped her wings around him and hugged him lovingly.
Chapter 28:30 pm, Hearth’s Warming eve, Disturbance call: Ridge Garden Tavern, Hope Ward, City of Canterlot, Capital city of Equestria. Running at their max speed from the Solar Guard Outpost One was a squad of ten strong Solar Guard city watch earth pony troopers leading them was Captain Star Catcher. About an hour ago, a city watch guard ran into the Solar Guard outpost and reported a huge fight at the Ridge Garden Tavern. As the only ranking Solar Guard officer on duty at that time, Captain Star Catcher quickly gathered together Solar Guard personnel on duty at the post and lead them to the tavern to break up the fight. “Solar Guard! Begin to break up the fight and arrest those ponies that started the fight!” Captain Star Catcher ordered as the earth pony troopers ran in and started to break up the fighting ponies. Without a second warning, the fighting explodes anew and with the addition of both Solar Guard and the City watch ponies into a full blowing skirmish, forcing the Hope Ward Division to call in the assistance of Royal Ward Division and Solar Guard Commander Aurora Silverlight. Upon her arrival at the scene of the fight it quickly breaks up, knowing, sooner or later, her own mother might arrive to help her daughter to restore the peace and no pony wants to take on the Sun Princess in a fight. “Is the peace restored, Commander?” Celestia inquiries landing next to her daughter and folding her wings onto her sides. “Yes, your highness.” Aurora answers as she hugs her mother after bowing to her, “So how did this all start, Aurora?” Celestia inquiries as several ponies are cuffed and haul off to spend the rest of Hearth’s Warming Eve in jail till morning, “All I know mother is that there was a yearly Hearth’s Warming Eve party here at the tavern, and a City watch pony reported a fight at the tavern to the solar guard outpost one. Captain Star Catcher headed to the tavern with a squad of solar guard city watch personnel to break it up. Sometime later the Hope Ward Division called for assistance from the Royal Ward Division and here we are now mother.” Aurora explains as her mother gestures her daughter to lead on as Celestia has never observed how her oldest daughter runs a crime scene, because crime is rare in Canterlot. Slowly Celestia’s pride begins to grow, watching her oldest daughter move about the crime scene in a calm and collective manner talking and taking statements from the witnesses in the tavern. As Aurora comes around a table in the common room she suddenly stops and yells to Captain Star Catcher to summon the Royal Investigator and Royal coroner to the crime scene. Before Celestia and the other customers knew what was going on, her daughter clears the common room and pushes them all outside the tavern. Following that order up by having two solar guard unicorn magic troopers cast a seal and protect spell on the building, till the Royal Investigator and Royal coroner arrive at the scene. “Aurora what is going on dear?” Celestia inquiry as Aurora pays no attention to her mother’s question as she continues to organize her Solar Guard resources into a well oiled machine. With that done, she turns her attention toward her mother who is a bit crossed with her daughter ignoring her. “I am sorry mother, but I had to get my resources organized because of what I found in the tavern.” Aurora explains as Celestia calms herself down, “What did you find in the tavern, dear?” Celestia inquiry as Aurora takes her mother away from the other ponies from the tavern to talk to her, “There was a body of a white pegasi mare on the floor of the tavern most likely dead from the amount of blood around her.” Aurora explains as Celestia lifts her hoof to her mouth and gasps. “Dead?” Celestia exclaimed as her face glazes with shock, “What resources are you going to need from the crown, Commander Silverlight?” Celestia ask as Aurora smiles at her mother and kisses her. “Whatever resources the crown can lend to us, your highness. Till the Royal Coroner Blueberry and Royal Investigator Somnus arrive. I can’t say for sure.” Aurora explains as her mother opens her wings and gets ready to take to the sky. “Commander Silverlight, I have some paperwork to begin to free-up the resources you might need. So I am heading back to the royal palace to set the paperwork in motion. I’ll tell Luna what’s going on, so she can begin her paperwork and with that you will have the full support of both ruling princesses of Equestria to call on as you need them.” Celestia explains as she takes to the sky and heads toward the Royal palace. 8:33 pm, Hearth’s Warming Eve, Death investigating Ridge Garden Tavern, Hope Ward, City of Canterlot, Capital City of Equestria. After stopping by the Silverlight Stable, her family home, in noble ward to borrow her Aunt Seer’s field medical investigating kit, Royal Coroner Blueberry Swirl Silverlight arrives at the scene of the crime and sets to work. A few moments later, a gracious older light blue unicorn mare with a crimson red mane and tail, streaked with gray arrives at the scene. On her flank was a magic wand with a shooting star. As she approaches the tavern, the herd of ponies bows to her as she passes in front of them. This older unicorn mare is Countess Ophelia Silverlight administrator of the Hope ward and the great grandmother to the royal foals. “Commander Silverlight, May we speak?” Ophelia inquiry as Aurora bows to her. “Of course, your Ladyship.” Aurora answers as she gives her people orders and follows her great grandmother away from the tavern scene. “Aurora? Why was I not informed of this death in my ward. You know the rules as well as I, when something like this happens in any ward, you are to report this incident straight away to the supervising noble family of the ward or the sitting Princess.” Ophelia said testily as Aurora’s ears droop a bit. “Please forgive me great grandmother. I forgot I’ve been so busy with the scene, that I forgot to inform you of the death in your ward, your ladyship.” Aurora said apologizing as Ophelia hugs her great granddaughter. “It’s ok great granddaughter, but I hope you informed either your mother or your aunt about this incident.” Ophelia commented kindly, “Mother was here when the scene was discovered, so she knows about the incident. She left a few hours ago to begin the paperwork and she was going to tell Auntie about the incident when she got back to the royal palace.” Aurora explains as a smile forms on Ophelia’s snout as Aurora begins to explain what happened in the Tavern. 8:42 pm, Hearth’s Warming Eve, Pegasi mare’s rented room at the Ridge Garden Tavern, Upstairs, Hope ward, City of Canterlot and Capital city of Equestria. The rented room of the dead pegasi mare is a standard 10 x 10 foot area with a bed, a single dresser with a mirror, a table and desk. Searching the room for clues was Royal Investigator Somnus Silverlight and assisting him was a darker blue pegasi mare with a Yellowish green mane and tail. She was wearing the purple colored lunar guard armor and horseshoes with a fin like helmet on her head. On her flank was a diamond shield with a yellow lightning bolt. This pegasi mare is Lunar Guard Captain Adrian Night Wing. Like his father Somnus found a loyal ally in the wings of the Pegasi mare, a member of Princess Luna’s royal night guard unit. “OW!” Adrian exclaims as her face twists in pain after getting smacked squarely in the snout by a loose board she stepped on as she was searching the small closet in the room. “Adrian? What happened?” Somnus inquires as he notices Adrian rubbing her sore snout with her horseshoe. “I think I found something in the closet, Somnus.” Adrian answers as she backs out of the closet so Somnus could look in. In front of Somnus was a loose board. He uses his unicorn magic to float the board out of the way and lift a small wooden box out of its hiding place. The small wooden box had some weight to it on one side, so he set the box down on the bed and opened it. Inside it was a small red pouch that jingled when Adrian lifted it out of the wooden box. She rested the pouch on the underside of her silver horseshoe and shook it a few times by her ear. “It sounds like maybe 100 bits inside this pouch, Somnus could it be the mare’s life savings or a way to start over here in Canterlot?” Adrian comments as Somnus was reading a letter that was inside the box with the money pouch, “No, it’s not the mare’s life savings or a way to start over. It was the first payment for a job this mare was doing here in Canterlot. From this letter it sounded like it was a specialty job, the full payment would be 400 bits.” Somnus comments as a small iron key with a paper on it falls out of the letter onto the bed. “Look at this Somnus, A key.” Adrian exclaims as she examines a small new looking iron key with a paper on it resting on the underside of her horseshoe. “What does the paper say Adrian?” Somnus inquires as Adrian looks at the paper on the key. “It says, Box 345 Canterlot Main Post Office. it’s a post office box key from Canterlot.” Adrian explains as Somnus takes the key from Adrian and runs downstairs. In the common room of the tavern, keeping the scene secure was Commander Aurora Silverlight and her 1st Royal ward Division troops. She released the Hope ward division troops from the scene and ordered them back on patrol duty. “Have you found out anything Blueberry?” Aurora inquires as Blueberry slowly gets to her hoofs. “The mare’s body is still warm to the touch .so she died less than three hours ago maybe during the fight at the tavern. My initial finding of the cause of death is stabbing. As for the type of weapon, I have no idea until I get the body back to the morgue. I can’t tell you anything more, Commander.” Blueberry explains as she’s gestures her Medic pony troopers to transport the body back to the palace morgue. “Understood, Blueberry. oh yes, mother has authorized you to call in our aunt Seer for help on the case.” Aurora explains as Blueberry’s face flushed with happiness as she has never worked with her Aunt Seer on a case. “Understood, commander, I’ll get right on it.” Blueberry said hearty as she headed to the palace morgue to get to work. “Commander!” Somnus calls running down the stair case floating the post office box key in front of him followed closely by Adrian. “Yes, Royal Investigator Silverlight what did you find in the room?” Aurora inquires as she takes hold of the key Somnus was floating in front of him with her magic. “It’s a post office box key for the main post office here in Canterlot. Do you have a trooper that can go to the post office and look into it and find out what’s in it?” Somnus inquires as Aurora examines the key closely. “Well I do, but I think it would be safer if I go myself to check out this post office box.” Aurora explains as Somnus agrees with her idea. 45 minutes later, Hearth’s warming Eve, Canterlot Central Post Office, Royal Ward, City of Canterlot, and Capital City of Equestria. The Canterlot Central Post Office is smaller than the Canterlot Royal Palace where the royal family resides with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Stand outside the main lobby and post office box building was Solar Guard Commander Aurora Silverlight and two Solar Guard Elite Scout mares Pegasus. As the three ponies enter, it’s full of ponies getting their mail from around Equestria. Once inside, the ponies all at once bow to Princess Aurora Silverlight. Aurora’s face grows haggard with worry that the ponies present will get hurt if she just opens the post office box, just in case it’s a trap. “My dear little ponies, if you could please leave the building very calmly for the moment. The eldest daughter of your princess will be very grateful to you.” Aurora said very calmly and authoritatively, the calmness in her voice causes the ponies in building to begin to file out of the building one by one until it’s empty. With the building clear of ponies and the arrival of the back-up Solar Guard troopers from the Royal Palace, Aurora’s hooves click loudly on the tile floor. She scans the wall of different sized square post office boxes, looking for right one. On the furthest wall from the main entrance, was the post office box she was look 345. Slowly her horn begins to glow with a dark blue magic aura, a small shield forms on the wall on top the small door of the box. Beads of perspiration form on Aurora’s forehead as she inserts the iron key into the keyhole of the box. There’s a very soft click as she turns the key. “Huh?” Aurora exclaims her voice tightens as the small shield she placed on the door that doesn’t allow it to be opened. She pumps more of her own magic energy into the shield causing the shield to get bigger till the door can be opened easily. “A wooden box?” Aurora comments puzzled looking into the post office box as she releases the magic from around the key. Suddenly magic energy beings to build in a confined space of the box and an orange and red ball swirls in the back. “Nnnnnno!” Aurora’s voice shrills with horror as she yanks the wooden box out of its space with her magic, running at full speed back to the main entrance slipping and sliding all the way as her hooves can’t grip the tile floor of the post office box building. At the main entrance, she dives through the door as a delayed fireball spell catches her tail on fire. She sits down quickly in a pile of snow to put out the fire on her tail. “Can this get any worse?!” Aurora screams as her face glazes with shock watching the wooden box slide across the icy ground toward the staircase and through the air into the middle of the street as a large group of ponies smash the box to piece as they run by the post office. (Aurora lifts her head into the air and her eyes mist over with tears). “Mommy!”Aurora screams at the top of her lungs as she let loose a shower of tears. In response to her daughter’s cries, Celestia winks in and wraps her pink-purple tinted feathered wings around her daughter in a calming embrace. After calming her oldest daughter down, both Celestia and Aurora walk down into the street toward the smashed box in the middle of the street. Celestia carefully uses her magic to pick through the remains of the wooden box looking for anything that survived the crush. Under the crushed top, she spied an envelope that looks very familiar to her. The envelope was 4 1/8long by 9 ½ wide. It was light purple in color with a crescent moon embossed on the left side of the envelope. “By my light, this is an invitation to the first showing of the Purple Sentinel gem stone at the Royal Canterlot Museum.” Celestia exclaims as her breath catches in her throat floating the envelope in front of her in a yellow bubble. “How do you know it’s an invitation to the museum, mother? It looks like all of the other envelopes auntie uses to send messages around Equestria for communication. It even has her cutie mark embossed on the envelope.” Aurora doubts her mother’s memory (pointing her hoof at the cutie mark on the envelope) “You are correct dear; the envelope is the same size and color as Luna’s everyday envelopes. But what you don’t know is that on her everyday envelopes the mark is raised and not pressed down on it like this (pointing at the pressed mark with her hoof). She specially ordered them for the Gem shows from the printer about a month ago. I picked them up a few days back for her, because the printer’s shop is only open during the day.” Celestia explains as Aurora was a bit bugged with this. “Then how in all of Equestria? Did a dead stranger pegasi mare end up with an invitation from the Princess? I am pretty sure that the personal guard to her highness Princess Luna would know her. but he didn’t.” Aurora said as she gives a look of uneasy puzzlement toward her mother. “(Sighs) Luna asked me not to tell the Solar Guard about it.” Celestia said “What happened, mother?” Aurora said sharply trapping her mother in one corner of the building so she can’t get away. “How did a dead pegasi mare get an invitation to the first showing of the Purple Sentinel without Somnus’ knowledge?” Aurora asks forcefully with a slow, appraising glance that caused Celestia to begin to chew on her lip. “All right I’ll tell you. But you can’t tell Somnus.” Celestia asking nicely as Aurora crosses her wings behind her and listened to her mother’s story.
Chapter 39:00 pm Hearth’s Warming Eve, Canterlot Royal palace, Royal ward, City of Canterlot, Capital city of Equestria, Throne room. The throne room of Canterlot Royal Palace is unusually quiet for a busy weekday evening but Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have given all their advisers Hearth’s Warming Eve off to spend time with their families. The only groups still on duty were the Princess’s elite guard detachments known as the Solar Guard or the Royal Ward Division commanded by Princess Aurora Silverlight (the overall commander of the Solar Guard Division in Equestria). Lying on the top tier of the throne was Princess Luna, looking at a small statuette of her cutie mark floating in a blue magic bubble given to her by her nephew Somnus as a Hearth’s Warming Eve gift. A single tear runs down the cheek of this pony of the night, which at one time; was the only pony of the night before the birth of Prince Somnus Silverlight from her sister Princess Celestia. The throne room door bursts open as Somnus eyes rakes the room. “Your Highness why. Was I not informed of the stolen invitation from you?” Somnus inquires testily (placing his hoof on his aunt’s collar resting on her chest) catching his Aunt Luna by surprise as she looks towards her sister Celestia following behind her oldest daughter. “Celestia, thy talk too much.” Luna exclaims bothered that her sister told Somnus what happened. “It was nothing; Somnus, it was an extra invitation from my order of 100 printed, no need to involve the Royal Investigator or the Solar Guard in finding it.” Luna explains casually as Somnus gives his aunt the once-over. “We found it, your highness!” Somnus said as an edge of impatience creeps into his voice, a strange feeling wash over Luna as her nephew has never referred to her in such a formal manner privately. “Where was it found?” Luna inquiry “It was found in the possession of that pegasi mare from the tavern.” Somnus said gruffly as Luna’s breathe catches in her throat. “Are you accusing thy Princess (placing her horseshoe clad hoof on his chest) Sir Knight of wrongdoing?” Luna said spitefully poking him on his chest. “I am just following the evidence placed before me.” Somnus comments as Aurora steps between them before anything happens. “Now Somnus do you really think our aunt would do something like that, I mean you’ve been around Auntie since you were 5 has she ever done something like that before?” Aurora said defusing the situation before it gets out of hand as Somnus shook his head. “As for you Auntie, if you told us about the stolen invitation before now. Somnus would not be thinking you are hiding something from us.” Aurora explains in a calm and cool voice as Luna’s ears drop. “Please forgive me for thy error, my dear Somnus. I have told you many times to be honest with me. I guess this aunt of yours should listen to her own advise. Will you forgive me? Somnus. I am very sorry.” Luna said conciliatory as she walks over to Somnus and hugs him. “All right, Auntie.” Somnus said forgivingly as he returns the hug. “Now Auntie will you tell us what happened with the invitation that disappeared?” Aurora inquiry as Lune nods her head in agreement, taking a deep breath before she begins to recount the facts. “A month before the Purple Sentinel showing at the Royal Canterlot Museum I ordered 100 invitations to the show from a local printer shop here in Canterlot, since the printer shop is closed during the night. I asked your mother (point at Celestia with her hoof) to pick them up for me and leave them on top of my desk in my bed chamber. I wrote them out that night after I finished evening court. When I finished, I had an extra invitation left in the box, I thought nothing of it. So I left it in the box and left instructions (pointing at Somnus with her hoof) to take them to the post office for me.” Luna explains as Aurora, Somnus and Celestia follow Luna to her bed chamber. “(Pointing her hoof at the empty box on top of her desk) The follow night when I was getting ready for evening court, I happened to look into the box and noticed the extra invitation was missing. Wondering if your mother took it from the box, I asked her. She told me no and she had not been in my bed chamber since she dropped off the box the day before. So I figured one of the Royal Servitors might have taken the invitation out of the box without asking. So instead of telling you, the Royal Investigator, (pointing at Somnus with her hoof) that would get the Royal Servitors in trouble. I decided to handle it myself.” Luna said pausing for a moment to catch her breath. “I spoke to each of the Royal Servitors that I allow into my bed chamber when I am sleeping. They all told me they have not been in my bed chamber at all. I confirmed their story by talking to the two solar guard troopers on permanent guard duty at my bed chamber door. With nowhere else to go, I figured that I might have misplaced it and find it when I am not looking for it.” Luna explains as Aurora talks to the troopers at her auntie bed chamber door while Somnus looks around her bed chamber. “Auntie? May I call in grandmother? Her magic might be able to give us a clue to the missing invitation and how that pegasi mare came into possession of it.” Somnus inquiry as Luna nods her head again. Sometime later, a dark blue bodied older unicorn mare with a well kept crimson red mane and tail with a hint of gray arrives at the palace. On her flank was a white shimmering diamond cutie mark. She quickly bows to the four royal ponies in front of her, before hugging them all in turn. This older unicorn mare is Baroness Shimmering Diamond Silverlight the co-head of the Silverlight unicorn family and the grandmother to Celestia’s royal foals. “Welcome your ladyship.” Celestia said politely “Welcome thy ladyship.” Luna said politely “Greetings Grandmother.” Aurora said politely “Greetings Grandmother.” Somnus said politely “Greetings you four. You sent for me Somnus?” Shimmering Diamond inquires turning towards her grandson Somnus. “I did grandmother; I need your magic to reveal some clues to a case I am working on.” Somnus explains as Shimmering Diamond lifts her hoof up and stops Somnus from telling her anymore. “You know, how I work grandson tell me no more, other than where I need to use my magic at, I’ll do the rest.” Shimmering Diamond explains. “Very well Grandmother Luna’s bed chamber.” Somnus comments as Shimmering Diamond blinks with surprise with the location her grandson wants her to use her magic on. “Your Auntie’s bed chamber?” Shimmering Diamond exclaims a bit puzzled as she walks over to Luna and asked her a few questions about her bed chamber, before turning and walking in. Once inside the bed chamber alone, Shimmering Diamond walks to each corner of the room placing a small magic star in them, before walking out onto the balcony and placing stars on the four corners of the balcony. With that done, she walks to the center of the room and sets off the first part of her spell. Magic lines begin to connect each star together forming an outline of the bed chamber. With that constructed, Diamond begins to construct the items inside the room using the same small stars, forming a complete picture of the room. “So Luna said she was asleep.” Shimmering Diamond comments as she walked over to Luna’s bed and created a magic replica of Princess Luna. “Since she sleeps during the day, let set the time from mid-morning to early evening and move the time forward from there and see what happens.” Shimmering Diamond comment (moving two magic dials with her hoof in front of her) as she set the magic time in motion. As the time progresses nothing really happens in the re-creation, till a few minute before noon. A white pegasi mare with a purple mane and tail lands on Princess Luna’s balcony. She pokes her head into the darken bed chamber and sneaks in. She heads straight to Luna’s desk and uses her wing to steal an envelope with Luna’s cutie mark on it from a box on top of her desk, before leaving the same way she came in. With that, Diamond dispels the re-creation. She walks over to the desk and picks up the empty box with her magic bubble; she looks it over and notices that on the side of the box it reads: The quick filly printer shop, noble ward, canterlot. 100 invitations ordered by Princess Luna To be picked-up by Princess Celestia Silverlight or Prince Somnus Silverlight. “So it looks like some pony stole an invitation from Princess Luna most likely to the showing of her Purple Sentinel at the Royal Canterlot Museum. I must say that pony is bold to sneak into the Royal Bed chamber of Princess Luna, here at the royal palace.” Shimmering Diamond thought setting the empty box back on top of the desk as she calls in the four ponies from outside. “So what did you find out, grandmother?” Somnus inquiry “Well grandson, you are looking for a white pegasi mare with a purple mane and tail. She nabbed the invitation.” Shimmering Diamond comment as Aurora, Somnus and Celestia faces pale. “What’s wrong with you three?” Shimmering Diamond inquiry looking at Aurora, Somnus and Celestia a bit puzzled. “That description fits the dead mare from the tavern in the morgue, Aurora; did we search her person before we sent her to the morgue?” Somnus inquiry hopefully talking to his sister, who’s face, is glazed with shock. “No, we did not. We never thought that pegasi mare might have been the one who stole the Purple Sentinel from the museum Blueberry should have the personal possessions of the mare in the morgue with her.” Aurora explains as Aurora and Somnus turn on their hooves and run down to the morgue. A few minutes after 9:00 pm Hearth’s Warming Eve, Canterlot Royal Palace, Royal ward, City of Canterlot, basement, and Palace morgue. The palace morgue is a huge room with three steel tables side by side lit by a very powerful unicorn light spell. Lying on the center table was the body of the dead mare from the tavern covered by a sheet. Finishing up the case file was Princess Blueberry. After concluding the autopsy of the mare the Royal Medical Examiner Lady Seer handed her findings over to Princess Blueberry the Royal Coroner to write the coroner’s report. “So my guess was right on, auntie she died from the single stab wound from the front to her heart. The blade was a solid 24 inches with a point.” Blueberry comment as her Auntie Seer washes her front hoofs off in the sink and dries them. “That is correct niece the absence of defensive wounds on her, means she didn’t expect it. So you can conclude that she was killed during the fight at the tavern but there’s still one big question, niece.” Seer explains as she floats her gown off herself along with her mask. “Why?” Blueberry exclaims “Right again, niece but that’s a question your brother and sister must answer. Our job is done for now. so I am heading home for the rest of Hearth’s Warming Eve. Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve Blueberry. I hope we will see you at Hearth’s Warming Day dinner at the stable with your mother and aunt.” Seer says as she hugs and kisses Blueberry. “I’ll try really hard to make it to the dinner with mother and auntie.” Blueberry said promising her aunt Seer as the door flies open into the morgue. “Auntie! Blueberry! Where are the personal possessions of the mare?” Somnus exclaims followed by Aurora. “Over there, Somnus.” Blueberry said pointing with her hoof over to a small table with all the personal possessions bagged and tagged from the dead mare. Quickly Aurora floats the clipboard with the evidence release form on it to herself and steals the pen that Blueberry was using to write the coroner’s report from out of her magic grip. She quickly signs and dates the document on the clipboard releasing the evidence into her care. “It’s done, Somnus!” Aurora calls as Somnus tears open the bag with the mare’s saddle-bags in them. He dumps all the items out of the saddle-bags onto the table and begins to search through the possessions. Inside the saddle-bags, Somnus finds a hoof drawn floor map of the Royal Canterlot Museum. The Precious Gem display room was circled in red. He also found a hoof drawn map of the Canterlot Royal Palace. Noted on the map were the positions of both the Solar Guard troopers and the Palace guards at different points throughout the day and night. Inside a small notebook were the times that the Museum guards made their rounds and how many Solar Guard troopers and Royal Palace Guards would be on duty at the museum during the show. The most unusual things to be found in the saddle-bags where the cheap copies of both his Mother’s and Aunt’s horseshoes that they wear. These cheap copies would fool any pony who has never seen the two princess’s real horseshoes. “No! It’s not here Aurora!” Somnus exclaimed disappointed “What?” Aurora exclaims as she turns towards her little sister still sitting at the desk. “Blueberry, please tell me she had more than what’s on the table over there.” Aurora exclaims. “I am sorry Aurora but that’s all she was carrying on her.” Blueberry answered as Somnus repacked the saddle-bags. 10:00 pm Hearth’s Warming Eve, streets of Canterlot, Penumbra ward, City of Canterlot, Capital city of Equestria. A blue bodied earth pony stallion with a blue and white streaked mane and tail walks down the street of the Penumbra ward on his way home with an ironic smile on his snout. As he passes a lamp post, a flying shadow appears behind him as if following him from the Hope Ward. “Well, Old Score, bang on it, looks like we made a bloody big score from that arrogant sod to think she would show a stranger a huge gem like this, just because she can and the Bobby’s are no better.” Score said with a British accent assuming a posture of superiority tossing the Purple Sentinel in the air and catching it again. “Well love, It looks like you will be spending Hearth’s Warming Eve with old Score here, (talking to the Purple Sentinel in his upturn hoof) till I can pawn this pretty little bauble away in Fillydelphia.” Score comment as a light gray pegasi mare with an orange mane and tail lands in front of him. “Who the bloody are you?” Score exclaims as the mare folds her wings to her side “The mare that’s going to take away that pretty little bauble, love.” The mare speaks with the same British accent as Score’s eyes widen with alarm the moment a dagger appears from under her wings. “Blast it all!” Score cries out dropping to the street dead after being stabbed by the mare’s dagger. She takes the gem and flies off.
