"No! Not another one!" Twilight cried from the foot of the hospital bed.

"Twi? You gonna be alright, girl?" Applejack stood next to her and wrapped a foreleg across her back. "We really need your help on this one and Ah don't need you fallin apart on me too."

"I'm sorry AJ," Twilight sniffled a bit. "The last day has been really stressful and I guess this just pushed me over the edge."

"I understand Twi," AJ patted her on the shoulder. "Now buck up, ya'll said something bout another one. Do ya reckon you know what's wrong with my brother?"

Twilight stood back up on all fours before wiping away the tears in her eyes. "I do. I saw a pony in this same condition yesterday."

Doctor Horse stepped forward, reminding them he was in the room. "Excuse me Princess. But is this illness contagious? Should we be worried?"

Twilight looked over to the doctor and shook her head. "This isn't an illness, but before I say anymore, I need to ask both of you. Who has seen Big Mac in this condition?"

AJ rubbed the back of her head, "well, after I seen him like this, Ah got him into the cart we take to market. Apple Bloom freaked out something fierce once she saw his cutie mark missin, so Ah figured we should cover him up for the trip over. Don't need no folk stirring up a panic after all."

"And it was early enough when they came in," continued Doctor Horse. "That only a few of the hospital staff and myself have seen him in this condition and we came to the same conclusion as Applejack. This looks like something that would stir up a real panic if it became public knowledge. So we moved him to one of the out the way rooms that don't see a lot of traffic."

"That'll have to do," she pulled out a scroll and started scribbling on it. "The only other pony I've seen like this is in Canterlot hospital and Princess Celestia is doing her very best to keep this a secret for now."

She rolled up the scroll as she opened the door to find the guards that followed her standing there. "I need one of you to have Spike send this letter to Princess Celestia right away." One of them took the letter under a wing, saluted, and made for the lobby.

"Spit it out, Twi," Applejack took off her Stetson and held it to her chest. "What's wrong with my brother?"

Twilight took a few moments to steady her breath before continuing, "This was the result of an attack by another pony, a pegasus."

"How could a pegasus do that?"

"I don't know, but I do know what he looks like. We're looking for a pegasus stallion named Storm Chaser. He has a white coat, black mane, and a vortex shaped cutie mark."

"What the hay's does that look like?" Said Applejack. "Stop speaking in fancy, girl."

"It's what water looks like when it spirals down a drain," Twilight deadpanned. "It shouldn't matter too much, only one or two pegasi in look remotely close to him.

"Well why didn't you say so," AJ put her hat back on, a stern look on her brow. "So all we gotta do, is find this fella, truss him up like a goose, and find out what he did. Sounds simple enough."

"I can only hope its that simple," Twilight said as she stepped over to Big Mac and started casting a spell. "I'm going to try a tracking spell I've been working on. It led me back to Ponyville when I used it on the other patient but unfortunately we're a step behind him." She casted the same spell she used on Soarin, laying a field over him until she found a thread of magic leading out of him. It was a red color this time, and it led out the door, same as last time.

"I've got a lead," She looked to AJ. "If this works like last time, it should take me to Sweet Apple Acres before going somewhere else. Applejack, can you round of the girls and meet me there? And keep an eye on the sky. Maybe we'll get lucky."

"Ah'm on it, sugarcube." AJ galloped out of the room.

Twilight looked to Doctor Horse, "sorry I couldn't help more. But I don't know anything more that could help."

"Well his vitals seem stable enough," he said while looking over the charts. "You just go do what you need to do. We'll take care of Mr. Macintosh here."

"Thanks doctor," and she ran out of the room, following her new lead.

Twilight galloped across town, following the new thread. The two pegasus guards stayed behind to guard Big Mac's room. Apparently Princess Celestia had sent a reply to her letter only moments after sending it, stationing them at the hospital until she could send a proper contingent out that way.

It didn't take too long to get to the farm while following the thread since it was moving along the same path that the apple family's cart took to the hospital. She took a few minutes to catch her breath once she got there and waited for her friends to get there.

Rainbow Dash was the first to arrive, touching down next to her. "Hey Twilight, what's up? Applejack said you needed us for something."

Twilight sighed, "we need to chase down a pegasus."

"Is that all! Why do you need everypony for that?! I can chase down any pegasus in ten seconds flat."

"Rainbow, you do everything in ten seconds flat."

"No I don't, I..."

The rest of her friends ran up at that moment.

Applejack was the first to speak, "ok sugarcube. Ah found everypony. Still don't know why you need all of us to chase down a pegasus. Ain't no pony faster than RD."

Rainbow puffed out her chest, "told you, Twilight."

"Rainbow Dash...I'm not so sure in this case," admitted Twilight. "We're looking for the one that attacked the Wonderbolts yesterday."

"What?!" Screeched Rainbow Dash. "The one that outflew Princess Luna?!"

"That's right. We're going to need everypony to bring him down," said Twilight. "I've developed a spell to help us track him down, but it's going to take time to work and we might get lucky if we're all keeping a lookout for him in the mean time."

"Oh my," said Fluttershy. "This sounds serious. So what does this pony look like?"

"Oh, right, he's..."

"He's a handsome stallion with a white coat and a black mane and he's got a vortex cutie mark which kinda looks like the way water drains and the only good picture any pony has of him is when they saw him on a date with a unicorn who was secretly Princess Luna in disguise. Oh! And I have a picture of them right here," Pinkie Pie pulled a photo out of her mane.

The girls hudled around to see the picture while Twilight sat there for a moment with her eye twitching. She almost ended up losing the spell she had to hold for an extended period of time again. Where does this pony get her info?

"Oh good heavens," exclaimed Rarity. "He is quite the looker and they make such a cute couple."

Twilight moved over to get a good look at the picture. It looked like they were enjoying a very nice evening. "Pinkie?! Where did you get this photo?!"

"Oh Twilight, don't be silly," Pinkie gave a dismissive gesture with a hoof. "I got it from my mane. You were right here when I did."

Twilight took a few steps back as she felt her mind fall out of touch with reality. It's fine, she's just being Pinkie Pie. Don't question it.

"Ok, back on topic. I just need to find a signal for us to follow. Right now I'm only tracking Big Mac and I know where he is right now." Twilight followed the red thread up to the front door and into the house.

Behind her she heard Rainbow ask AJ, "Where is your brother anyway? I haven't seen him this morning."

Twilight followed the thread up the stairs and into one of the bedrooms. It stopped over a particularly large bed, most likely Big Mac's, and just like before, it twisted into a big mess before a green thread led away from it. She followed it to the window where the trail dropped down to the ground. Carefully leaping out the window, she was able to flutter her wings a bit so she didn't fall too hard. She was getting better at using these things on her back.

Following the magic it brought her back around to the front of the house where the girls were waiting. None of them were smiling, except Pinkie, but even that looked a bit forced. "I take it you told them, AJ."

"Ah did," admitted Applejack. "You girls are like extended family. It didn't feel right to keep them in the dark when my family is in a crisis."

"Yeah, and now I got a reason to pummel that pegasus when I see him." Rainbow Dash grinded her hooves together.

"Not just you Rainbow Dash," Rarity said with some flourish. "We'll show him that if you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us."

"We're with you Twilight," even Fluttershy had some fire in her eyes.

"No one messes with our friends," shouted Pinkie.

"I'm glad to have you girls with me," Twilight cried a bittersweet tear. "Nothing can stop us when we stand together!"

They followed Twilight as she raced through Ponyville on hoof. All the while her horn glowing as they followed the trail the assailant left behind. Rainbow and Fluttershy flew overhead trying to find the wayward pegasus from the sky. Meanwhile, the rest of Twilight's friends looked up and down the streets they passed trying to find him.

The trail led them back to the library, which left left Twilight feeling a bit nervous. The thread of magic ran over a couple shelves, through the kitchen, and went into a couple of the other rooms, including her bedroom. That last one left her a bit unsettled and kind of glad she slept downstairs last night. Speaking of downstairs, the trail stopped just before the door down to the archive, went back and forth over it a bit, and then trailed back out the front door.

Applejack piped up as they started running away from the library, "hey Twi? Quick question."

Twilight stopped to catch her breath, "What is it?"

"If we're following the path he took, how did he get past the guards Ah saw here this mornin?"

"Maybe they were asleep darling," Rarity answering for her.

Twilight shook her head, "I don't think so Rarity. Shining Armor told me that royal guards are trained to go without sleep as long as possible if they're still on duty. Chances are neither of them have slept and won't sleep until the reinforcements from Canterlot get here."

"So what you're telling me," Pinkie looked around with shifty eyes. "Is on top of this pegasus being a daredevil speedster, he's also a ninja?!"

"I don't know what to think," She shook her head. "But I do think it's strange he hasn't taken off into the sky yet. He may still be in town. Come on!"

They continued following the trail into the park. A few ponies were up at this time. Cheerilee could be seen going for a morning run. Lyra and Bon Bon were sitting on a bench relaxing. Some earth pony stallion was smoking a hookah. Another one was filling a wooden tub with...jelly? But no sign of their missing pegasus.

The thread continued its journey back into town before stopping at Sugarcube Corner. It led them inside and up to the front counter where Ms. Cake was sitting.

"Well hello dearie," she cheerily greeted her. "What can I get ya?"

"We're looking for some pony this morning," Twilight said while Pinkie passed her the picture. "Have you seen this pegasus?" She pointed to the white pegasus in the picture.

"Can't say that I have dearie," she explained. "Seen all sorts of folks in here this morning, but I think I would've remembered a face like that." Ms. Cake gave her an apologetic look, "sorry I couldn't be more help. Anything else you need? I just took out a fresh batch of banana bread."

"No...thank you for the offer though," Twilight followed the thread back out front of the shop feeling a bit crestfallen. That's twice now he should've easily been either caught or spotted. Yet no sign of him.

"Twilight," came Rainbow Dash from overhead. "Still no sign of him from the air. You gonna be ok there?"

"I don't know. Somehow I feel like we're on a wild goose chase."

"I've chased a wild goose before, they can be tricky," said Fluttershy before receiving a glare from Rainbow. "I'm not helping, am I?"

Twilight sighed, "let's keep looking."

The path took them back into the park where a few more ponies had found a reason for enjoying the sunny weather. The earth pony was still enjoying his hookah, Bulk Biceps was bench pressing...the bench, Lyra and Bonbon were still on the bench giggling, the other earth pony was now bathing in jelly, and a pegasus stallion with a white coat and a black mane was sunning himself on the grass. Wait, what?!

They ran up to him as fast as possible. Rainbow Dash was the first to get there as she dove out of the sky and tackled him to the ground.

"Ow, Rainbow Dash! What gives? Is this because I skipped out on weather duty that one time?" Said Starry Eyes.

Twilight slowed her pursuit when she realized it wasn't the pegasus they were looking for. White coat, black mane, but the cutie mark was all wrong. "Rainbow, let him up. He's not the one we're looking for."

"What?!" Exclaimed Rainbow while jumping off of Starry Eyes. "Sorry Starry, thought you were some pony else."

Starry grumbled a bit before taking to the air and flying away from them.

"Sorry Twilight," blushed Rainbow facing her. "I guess I got a little overexcited."

"It's fine," said Twilight. "I think we're all getting a little high strung."

She got back on track following the thread, it took them back into the Whitetail woods up to the edge of the crater she was at the day before. It stopped there for a moment before turning around and heading back into town.

"Uh Twilight?" Came Pinkie who was running next to her with a worried look. "What do you suppose happened back there?"

She kept running as she answered the pink party pony, "Oh that? Apparently Random went and blew himself up with the Alicorn Amulet last night."

Pinkie reflexively held a hoof to her mouth. After being reassured some pony hadn't removed her speaking parts, she relaxed a bit but still looked worried. "Wait. He blew himself up?! Is he ok?"

They kept running back through the park...again. "Yeah, he's ok. Looks like he just needs to sleep it off right now," said Twilight. Scootaloo was zipping down one of the park paths on her scooter now while another pony watered the flowers.

The path took them back to Sweet Apple Acres but instead of going up to the house, it broke off into the trees. It took them up to one of the trees that looked like it had been freshly bucked that morning.

"Sugarcube," said Applejack. "This is getting plum ridiculous. We're right back where we started...sort of."

Twilight panted a bit as she kept up a her run, "Trust me, I wish this spell didn't need me to trace the exact path he used."

"Wait," Rainbow Dash swooped down, "you said we're following the exact path this pegasus we're chasing took? Then why hasn't he gone airborne yet?"

They found themselves back in the center of the park where Twilight came to a dead stop while thinking over that question. "You know...pant...that's a good question. He would've had to run all through the town to leave a trail like this."

"Wait," said Pinkie thinking. "Are we following a trail, a path, a scent, or a thread? I'm confused."

"I DON'T KNOW!" Twilight shouted as her nerve broke. "I found the spell in a really old book, it sounded weird, but I tried it anyway. It told me all I had to do was believe the thread exists and low and behold it appears. Maybe I've been using it wrong all this time. Maybe I'm no good at this kind of magic. Maybe Princess Luna won't trust me with stuff like this again." She was rubbing her hooves together now while a few hairs of her mane fell out of place. "Maybe I've had no idea what I'm doing this whole time!"

Rarity moved in front of Twilight and used her hooves to pull the gaze of the the princess in full panic mode to meet her eyes. "TWILIGHT!" She shouted at her. "Keep it together, it's been a long morning and we can't do this without you. I want you to take a few deep breaths and CALM DOWN!"

Twilight continued to hyperventilate for a few more moments before breathing in deeply with a hoof placed against her chest and pushing her hoof outward as she exhaled. She repeated the exercise a few more times until she had steadied herself. "Thanks Rarity, I guess I got a little worked up. I'm just so worried we'll never catch him and find out what he did to Big Mac and Soarin."

"We're all worried," said Rarity. "But we can't have you falling apart on us. Previous experience has shown us that nothing good can come from losing one's nerve."

"Hey Twilight," came Pinkie. "I was wondering. We keep passing through here an awful lot. Is it possible you can grab the thread and pull on it. Maybe pull out who's on the other end instead of us chasing him all over Ponyville."

"I don't think that's how magic works Pinkie," Twilight smiled.

"There's that smile you've been missing, I thought it was gone for good." Pinkie gave her trademark grin. "By the way, you said a moment ago you had to believe the thread existed to be able to see it." She rubbed her chin thinking. "Maybe you just have to believe you can pull on it." She started hopping in place, "it might be worth a shot."

"You know Pinkie," chuckled Twilight. "Why not. It can't hurt anything to try." She stepped up to the thread she'd been chasing and dipped her horn into it. Then with nothing really backing it up except Pinkie believing she can do it, she pulled on the thread. Surprisingly, the thread started to move with her. And it wasn't just the one thread. About two dozen other green threads passing through the same space made themselves visible as she pulled on them. All of them led from one end of the park to the other. All the threads...all except one.

She mentally grabbed the stray thread and pulled it taut. It snapped like it was tied to something at the other end. She followed it as she pulled it in, taking herself off the path and up into the grass. Past the mares on the bench staring oddly at her, past the stallion enjoying his jelly bath, and stopping at the earth pony stallion who was laying on the grass and peacefully enjoying smoking his hookah. She tugged a bit more on the thread but it lead right into him. Even more disconcerting was the way his head snapped to look at the invisible thread as she pulled on it. "Well that's something that just happened," Twilight said as they stepped up to the pony.

Twilight took a moment to take in his features a bit better. He had light green fur, a blond mane, brown eyes, and... smoke curling around twisted vines for a cutie mark. Huh, that's an unusual mark.

His eyes calmly focused on her as he took another slow pull of smoke from his hookah, "is there something I can help you with, Princess?"

Author's Note

This be writing rampage week. I had something possess my keyboard yesterday and next thing I knew, I had a 7000+ chapter written out. Kinda promised myself I wouldn't make another chapter as long as the first one.
So instead, gonna post 2 chapters this week. One now and I'm planning for the other one on saturday.
Ya'll have a good turkey day.