Yawning, Twilight took a sip of her bitter coffee. She had been up all night grading papers. Worse, her assistant hadn’t returned from the party he was going to, meaning she had to grade them all by herself. Worse still was that her assistant hadn’t returned that morning either, likely implying she was working alone for all of that day.

This wasn’t the first time this had happened, that’s for sure. Two weeks prior, back when Rarity was still around, he left for three days straight on a quote, “business trip,” whatever that meant.

She was beginning to get tired of these bouts of absence, but seeing she had responsibilities waiting for her, she didn’t have time to dwell. Sighing, she levitated her schedule to her, along with a quill and ink jar.

Suddenly three fast-paced taps came from her office doors. “Come in,” she said, popping her head up. The door to her right swung open as a shaking Gallus walked in. He looked like he had run a mile. Sweat poured down his head, his wings fidgeted, and his chest heaved. “Gallus? Is something wrong?”

He didn’t say anything. Instead, he walked up to the chair in front of her desk and sat down nervously. His eyes darted all around the room, trying to lock onto something. Taking a deep, shuttering breath, Gallus stuttered, “I-I need to t-tell you s-something.”

Twilight straightened her back and slid the schedule aside. “Is something bothering you?” she asked, her concern growing. “Do you need me to get Starlight?”

“I…” Gallus seemed to be hesitant. “No… No, I-I have to tell you f-first. J-Just in case…” He nervously scratched his foreleg, still trying to avoid eye contact. “T-Twilight, I… I-I did something really b-bad.” Gallus paused for a few seconds, tapping his claw on the side of the chair. “I-I was scared, a-and I didn’t want to get in any trouble and I…”

Twilight took another sip of her coffee as she tried to read him. “You were scared?” she asked. “About what?”

“I-I…” Gallus took another shuttering breath before explaining, “J-Just hear me out, o-okay? D-Do you remember what happened with S-Sandbar?”

A bad feeling sunk into Twilight’s stomach. She remembered coming into his dorm. She remembered how the needle in his foreleg still clung to his skin. She remembered the awkward conversation she had to have with his parents after he was revived. She sighed. “Do you have something to do with that?” she asked.

“W-Well… S-Sandbar wasn’t the o-only creature taking d-drugs.” He shifted in his seat. “Ocellus and I, we… W-We don’t do that kind, b-but… w-we take drugs ourselves for f-fun… C-Can I get a glass of water?” he asked. Twilight levitated a small plastic cup to a water cooler, pouring him a glass. She levitated it to him, and he took a sip. “T-Thanks,” he muttered.

“So you and Ocellus have been doing drugs on school grounds, I take it?” Twilight asked, her face growing stern.

“Y-Yes,” Gallus stammered. “B-But there’s more to it… Ocellus and I were… caught. S-Spike took a photo of us taking them, and he threatened to show them to you.” Twilight’s eyes widened. Don’t tell me… “W-We were scared of being expelled, s-so we told him we’d do anything he asked…” Damn it, she thought. Does that mean his business trip was blackmailing Gallus and Ocellus?

“Spike blackmailed you?” Twilight asked, leaning forward. She tried to keep her face as expressionless as possible, hoping he couldn’t read her sudden anxiety.

Gallus didn’t respond, staying quiet for a few seconds instead. His nervousness became somber, only to wrack up again as he continued. “H-He told us t-to meet him in the alley near Sugar Cube Corner. What he told us to do, I... I can’t live with it any longer.” Gallus began crying, his body shaking like a broken laundry machine.

Trying to keep steady nerves, Twilight asked, “Well, what did he tell you to do?”

Sniffling, Gallus answered, “H-He told Ocellus t-to turn into a trash bin… a-and he told met-to… l-lure Rarity into the alley… and… h-hold her d-down…” He held his head in the palms of his claws, crying loud sobs.

Twilight stared at him in disbelief. Her whole world felt as though it were spinning. That means… Oh, Celestia, she thought. Spike… My adoptive brother and number one assistant raped somepony? And… Rarity probably disappeared soon after! Does that mean… Realizing she was jumping to conclusions, she shook her head and continued pressing. “Gallus, what exactly did he do to Rarity?”

“What do you think he did to her?” he spat, his eyes finally locking onto hers. “He fucking raped her! Mounted her and fucked her while we held her down!”

The sudden outburst caused Twilight to flinch, her ears pinning backward, and her pupils shrinking. Holding up a hoof, Twilight said, “C-Calm down, Gallus. What I was asking was what he did with Rarity after he,” Twilight shuttered, “raped her.”

Taking a few more breaths, Gallus softly answered, “We just left her there, in the alley. She figured out it was him, despite the voice changer he wore, but he didn’t stick around. He just left her there, crying. A-And then we parted. T-That’s all.”

“S-So she was alive?” Twilight asked. Thank Luna, he didn’t murder her.

As Gallus nodded, Twilight took a shuttering breath. So she disappeared after Spike… after Spike raped her. A lump in her throat forced her to swallow. Rarity wouldn’t want to leave Sweetie Belle for good, so she likely didn’t kill herself. But that still leaves the mystery of where she went… She glanced around the room, trying to collect her thoughts.

She recalled the strange request Spike made to enchant his gem-encrusted bow tie and felt a twinge of guilt herself as she realized what he really intended to use it for. “Right,” she said, finally. “Gallus, head back to your dorm. If you aren’t there when I arrive… I’m calling for Royal Guard assistance.”

“U-Understood,” Gallus croaked. Slowly, he sauntered out of her office. Twilight leaned over to her phone, dialing the number to Starlight’s office. The phone rang once, twice, three times. Finally, Starlight picked up.

“Hey, Twilight,” Starlight droned. “Need something?”

Twilight’s voice shuttered as she answered, “I-I need you to send Ocellus to her dorm. If you can’t find her, inform me immediately.”

“Uh, okay,” Starlight agreed hesitantly. Her seemingly tired voice became alert as she asked, “Twilight, is something wrong?”

“I…” Twilight looked over to her schedule. “I’ll tell you during our lunch break.” Without another word, she hung up the phone, only to dial another number.

***

Pinkie dumped the pile of organs and muscle down onto the pile she had collected. The pile reeked of rotting meat. Flies covered the surface, flying around and picking at their banquet. “Sheesh, I really need to clean this up,” Pinkie muttered. She looked over to her bloody shovel and sighed. “Guess I should get it over with now…”

Begrudgingly, she walked over to the shovel and picked it up in her mouth. Walking over to the massive pile, she stuck the head in, scooping a large amount out of the pile, and dumped it into a large, blue, plastic bin with wheels underneath.

I wish I had some help, she thought. It’s no fun having to do this all alone… But I can’t get any help. Even if I promised not to use them in my art projects, they’d just scream and try to run away.

Her eyes watered as her mane deflated. I mean, I love working on my art, but… I’m so lonely… Sighing, she dumped one last scoop of rotten meat into the bin and set the shovel down. If I could just talk to somepony while I work, maybe this would be more fun.

And I don’t wanna grab some random killer of the streets, she thought as she wheeled the bin over to the furnace. I wanna have a friend help me. Without care, she dumped all the bin’s contents into the machine and flicked the on switch. The meat burst into flame, filling the room with the horrid smell. She recoiled a bit before slamming the metal door shut.

None of my friends would wanna help me, she thought. Fluttershy would just curl up and cry… Applejack would tell on me in an instant… Twilight and Starlight would probably turn me to stone… Even my Dashie wouldn’t wanna help me…

As she dragged her hooves over to the small shower she set up in the basement, an idea intruded into her head. What if I could force somepony into helping me? She turned the faucet on, causing water to rain down onto her blood-covered mane. If I could just find some way to force somepony into helping me, then maybe…

Her eyes widened, and a smile crept onto her face. I could have a friend be my forever assistant! The gears in her mind began turning. In fact, I could have two friends help me! All I’d need to do is kidnap one and use them to get the other’s help! It’s the perfect plan! But wait. Who would I get?

As Pinkie began running shampoo through her mane, she began to think of her options. There’s Applejack and Apple Bloom… Nah, one of them is too young. Dashie and Fluttershy? Maybe… No. Dashie’s creeped out by this stuff, and Fluttershy would be too scared to do anything…

Pinkie gasped as she thought of another combination. Twilight and Starlight! That’s it! Twilight would be the best-est forever assistant out of everypony! She’s even a princess! And seeing how close she is to Starlight, it would work perfectly! Her smile grew again as she imagined all the fun she and her soon to be assistant would have.

***

Starlight opened one of the large double doors to the library. Please tell me she’s in here, she thought. As she glanced across the room, she spotted one of Ocellus’s friends, Yona, reading a thick book while sitting on a bean bag chair. Maybe she knows where Ocellus is. Smiling, she trotted over to Yona, who looked up as she approached.

“Hello, counselor pony,” Yona greeted in her choppy ponish. “Does pony need something?”

“Yes, actually,” Starlight affirmed. “Twilight asked me to send Ocellus to her dorm, but I can’t seem to find her. Do you know where she is?”

Yona’s brow furrowed. There was a small break of silence before Yona answered, “Yona do know something, but… Ocellus told Yona not to tell…”

Starlight’s eyes widened. This really is bad, she realized. “Ocellus told you not to tell me where she was?” Starlight asked.

“Well, not exactly, but…” Yona stared off, squinting her eyes as if she were trying to read something far away. “Ocellus told Yona not to tell headmare where changeling is, and counselor works for headmare, so Yona do not think changeling would want Yona telling councilor either…”

Shit. Time for a different approach. “Yona, I need to know where Ocellus is,” Starlight sternly ordered. “She might be in a lot of trouble if I can’t find her. You need to tell me where she is.”

“Trouble?” Yona asked. “Yona do not want friend to be in trouble!” She stood up with haste. “Ocellus told Yona that changeling was going to apple farm, but please don’t get changeling in trouble,” Yona pleaded. “Yona don’t want to lose another friend…”

Sighing, Starlight soothed, “I’ll try my best to keep her out of trouble. I promise.”

“Pinkie promise?”

“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye,” Starlight chanted, making sure to do the motions correctly.

“Thank you,” Yona whispered. “Yona will not forget pony’s kindness. Yona promise.”

Chuckling, Starlight began walking towards the library’s exit. “No problem Yona. Have a good weekend!”

“Pony have a good weekend too,” Yona shouted as Starlight exited the library.

Starlight hastened her pace as she trotted through the school’s halls. Why is Ocellus trying to run away? And what did she do, anyway? It’s not like Twilight caught her in the act of doing something. After all, if she did, she’d be able to catch Ocellus immediately, right?

Running, she passed through the school’s entrance. She trotted into town, looking around to see if she could catch Ocellus on her way. “Hey Starlight,” a bubbly voice exclaimed. Starlight skidded to a stop, turning around to see Pinkie bouncing up to her. “What’s the hurry? Are you playing a game of tag? Ooh, can I join? I love tag!”

Starlight was left speechless as she stared into Pinkie’s joyful eyes. “N-No, I-I’m just looking for Ocellus. Herd she was heading to Sweet Apple Acres. Did you see her by any chance?” Starlight asked.

“I did, I did,” Pinkie exclaimed. “In fact, I can take you to her if you want!”

“You know where she is?”

Nodding profusely, Pinkie explained, “She said she was looking for something she lost near the Crusader’s Clubhouse. Ooh, I know! Let’s have a search party! Just you and me! It’ll be so much fun! Aaand we’ll find Ocellus more quickly with two eyes! Or would it be sets of eyes?” Pinkie asked, rubbing her chin.

It would be easier finding her if I had some help, Starlight thought. “Alright,” Starlight agreed. “But we need to hurry. No detours.”

“Got it. Super serious detective Pinkie is on the case,” Pinkie informed, saluting. “Follow me!”

The two passed through the town at a fast but reasonable pace, Pinkie choosing to bounce the whole time. As they walked, while Pinkie rambled on and on about something, Starlight continued to ponder the situation. Why did Twilight seem so nervous? And why does she want me to send Ocellus to her dorm? Wouldn’t it be easier to just have me take her to my office?

Before Starlight knew it, Pinkie shouted, “We’re here!” Looking up, she saw the now abandoned clubhouse. Ever since ponies began disappearing from Ponyville, Applejack stopped allowing her sister to roam around the town unsupervised, and after Rarity went missing, Sweetie Belle’s parents did the same. That only left Scootaloo, who didn’t have any reason to go to the clubhouse if her friends weren’t going to be there.

“Right, let’s get searching,” Starlight ordered. As she began strolling to a small bush, Starlight reminded, “We’re looking for a changeling, so she could be anywhere. Keep your eyes open.”

“Got it,” Pinkie replied.

Starlight searched the branches of the bush, looking for small, discolored bugs. Fortunately, Ocellus had a lot of trouble changing her colors, so unless she transformed into either a pony or an inanimate object, she’d stick out like red paint on a blue canvas. Starlight groaned as she saw a normal ladybug crawl by. “This is going to take forever,” she complained.

“Hmm,” Pinkie thought. “Maybe you should rest on it?”

Shaking her head while continuing to search through the bush, Starlight explained, “Pinkie, we don’t have time! Besides, where would I-” Starlight felt a heavy object ram into her skull. She instantly collapsed to the dirt below her. Starlight’s ears rang as she struggled to look up. Above her was a pink mare holding a shovel right where her head was.

As her eyes slowly closed shut, she heard Pinkie’s cheery voice echo in the distance. “Nighty night, Starlight!”

Author's Note

A much calmer chapter for sure. I've decided to make a few alterations to the story's direction, and have since swapped Spike's tag for Starlight's, seeing how big of a role she plays compared to Spike. I've also changed the first chapter to the prologue and have named this as the first chapter, though nothing's changed within the chapter itself. Anyway, I'll try to have another chapter out soon, so stay tuned!