There! That should do it. Not only did I find one book on home remedies, I found two. There could have been a third if it wasn't checked out already.

Once I register the check-out of both books, I float them into my saddlebag. When I do so, I realize it is a good thing I brought my saddlebag after all. Earlier I debated the point of bringing it to a dinner date, but I found I just couldn't part with it. That even seems to be more true as I get older. I'm tempted to call it a “growing up” thing, but the fact is many ponies wander about their daily routines without saddlebags. I'm not sure why. They really come in hoofy.

With my prize secure, I make my way out of Starlight's castle. As I proceed, I daydream about how proud and happy Button Mash and his mom will be that I helped out. I sure hope they will be grateful and they probably will be. Go me!

Along my way out, I notice Starlight Glimmer poke her head out the door of what used to be considered the main friendship counsel room of this castle. Despite my hurry, I decide to be polite by acknowledging her.

“Hey Starlight!” I say to her with a happy wave.

“Huh?” Starlight blinks at me in surprise. “Oh Sweetie Belle. This is a surprise considering how late it is tonight.”

“Yeeeeah,” I say slowly. “My parents probably are getting worried. The reason I'm up this late is a bit of a long story. No need to get into it,” I say with a dismissive wave of a hoof. During this time, I pause in the hallway long enough to converse with Starlight in order to make sure I don't pass her before I finish my point.

“Hmm.” Starlight narrows one eye at me as she gives me a thoughtful look. Whatever that thought is leads her to a bright conclusion. “Well, since you're here, do you mind lending me a hoof with a magic experiment?”

“Um . . . sure, but . . .” I linger on those words as I give a worried look towards the exit of the castle. After all, I'm doing an errand already. In this case, a pony’s health is at stake.

“It should only take a few minutes,” Starlight prompts on encouragingly, likely in response to my visible reluctance, though she shouldn't know why yet.

“I guess so,” I concede. “I love helping out ponies.” I almost take a step towards her but I pause when a thought occurs to me. With my right hoof still frozen in the mid-process of taking a step, I cautiously ask her, “Is the experiment safe? And will it require much magic on my part? Because, I have to warn you, I'm still a beginner as a sorceress. I'm nowhere near your level and probably never will be.”

Starlight shakes her head in denial as she proclaims, “No. This magic experiment won't require magical training on your part. In fact, it wouldn't require you to be a unicorn at all. As for dangerous, do you really think I would invite you into this experiment if I thought it was, in any way, dangerous for a young foal?” Before I can say anything, she continues with a dismissive wave of a hoof through the door as she says, “No, silly. No. In fact, if my project is successful, it may actually aid in the security of Equestria.”

“Well that sounds worthwhile!” I cheer. “What do I have to do?”

“Well, first of all, come in,” Starlight bids as she backs off but also gives a “come hither” gesture with a hoof. I proceed to do so. In doing so, I enter the room I expect to see, the friendship counsel room. All the chairs are still there and so is the Cutie Map.

Ah, the Cutie Map. That takes me back.

As I gaze across the room while following Starlight, I marvel at the seats themselves which each show a cutie mark symbol of each of the Elements of Harmony . . . plus an extra seat for Spike. That one is a smaller seat though since he was a baby dragon when this room was first formed. There's something about that seat that feels like an amused afterthought. It's the only chair that is blank. Looking upon that seat, I have to wonder what his cutie mark would have been if he was capable of attaining one. As I think about that one, it occurs to me that maybe it would have some symbolic reference to his loyalty to Twilight, for it is very hard to deny that his life somehow revolves around her.

“What are you doing up so late anyway?” Starlight asks when she arrives at the Cutie Map then spins about to face me.

I blush shyly as I admit, “Well, if you must know, I was going to have a dinner date with somepony that I am hoping will be my very special somepony.”

“Aw! That's cute!” Starlight coos with a giddy but also proud smile to me.

My ears fall a bit as I go on to say, “However, he didn't show up tonight.”

Her ears mimic my reaction as she says in disappointment, “Aw. That's too bad. Do you know what happened?”

“Yes. He's sick,” I explain.

Starlight widens her eyes at me slightly as she says in alarm, “That makes it even worse!” Then she goes on to say more calmly, “But at least this means he hadn't stood you up on purpose.”

I nod in agreement before I say, “It's also why I'm here. At his mother's request, I came here to check out some books on home remedies. She couldn't come because she needs to watch her son, and besides . . . she didn't want to risk spreading the cold to anypony else.”

“A wise precaution,” Starlight agrees. After that, her proud smile returns to her lips. “Ah, Sweetie Belle. You're so helpful.”

“I know,” I say matter-of-factly. “That's my thing.

“Sooooo,” my eyes wander the room, “what can I help you with tonight?”

“Well, actually, my experiment involves this thing,” Starlight explains as she looks at and even affectionately pats the Cutie Map. While her face still remains directed at the table, her eyes shift to look at me as she asks me, “As I'm sure you are aware, this map, and indeed this whole castle, was grown from the magic of harmony from the empowered Tree of Harmony.”

I nod as I say, “Yeah. I remember. It was exciting to look out my window and see this new castle out there. My excitement and sheer wonder were so intense that I couldn't breathe for a few moments.

“Then, shortly later, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom frantically knocked on my door. When I answered, they cried out excitedly,” I now mimic Scootaloo's voice as I repeat, “'Sweetie Belle, you got to come see this! Check this out!', to which I replied, 'Yeah, I know. I saw it out my window.”

Starlight nods at me knowingly as she says, “Good. Then I don't have to explain to you that this map and castle is an extension of the magic from the Tree of Harmony.

“Now, on to my next point. You are aware of what happened to the Tree of Harmony eventually, are you?”

“Yeah,” I answer with a disappointing expression. “King Sombra destroyed it, although I heard it partially grew back into a crystal tree house, not unlike this castle, but much smaller and way more pink.”

Starlight nods again as she says, “Right.” Her look returns to the table. “However, despite some recovery from the Tree of Harmony, this Cutie Map has never functioned again.”

“Yeah. That's disappointing,” I lament as I look at the table. “I remember one time when the map actually summoned both my friends and I to go to Mount Aris to help solve a friendship problem. Not only was that my first assignment from this magical map, but that was also the first time I got to see the beautiful mountain of Mount Aris.” I cast a pleasant sigh as I give a dreamy expression. “The peaks of Mount Aris have a place that has natural musical acoustics to it called Harmony Heights. I swear, if I didn't live in Ponyville with my friends or was needed here so frequently, I'd probably live up there. I can still easily see myself retiring up there, or at least visiting it again when I grow up.” I shake my head to clear the vision and blink at Starlight as I ask her, “Anyway, what's your point? Have you figured out a way to jump-start the Cutie Map again?”

“I've been trying for a long time now,” Starlight explains to me, “but I've recently been trying a new approach. This suggestion actually came from Sunburst. We refined it together.” Starlight pauses as she rubs the magic table affectionately. “What we've been trying to do is take a more limited approach to this project. At the same time, it may also expand upon its potential.” She looks at me. “This map is still connected to the Tree of Harmony and it seems connected to all living beings in Equestria. I don't know why it stopped sending us on friendship missions.

“Anyway, my new approach is to use my own magic and a spell that Sunburst and I have been devising together to tap into some of that latent connection energy and use it to summon the image of anyone we want.” She lifts a hoof. “But not for a friendship mission, mind you. Instead of that, I'm hoping to use this map as a means of magical location tracking.”

“Oh!” I express in amazement, then repeat, “Oh,” in a much more disturbed way. “But . . . wouldn't that be a massive invasion of privacy? I mean, with the ability to track anyone at any time . . . isn't that too much power for one pony to wield?”

“Not if it's hoofled responsibly,” Starlight counters. “I have no intention to use this map for frivolous purposes, but there are urgent circumstances where this kind of power is warranted. For example, we can use it to track down super villains or would-be super villains and stop them before they cause great harm, or at least stop them from causing further harm.”

“Oh.” I look back at the table. “That makes more sense.”

“There's more,” Starlight goes on to say. “We can also use this map to track down missing person cases. With this,” she pats the map, “we can find ponynapped victims or lost foals or what have you. Ponies or creatures who absolutely need our help. Creatures that would be grateful to be found. They'd appreciate us using this map for that purpose.”

“That also makes a lot of sense,” I agree again.

“Some security measures would have to take place if I can get this thing working to that effect,” Starlight adds. “Because you are right too. That kind of power needs to be hoofled carefully. I'd need to place a protective spell over it so that not just any creature can use it, especially those who intend to use it for foul harm.”

“Okay.” I nod in acceptance. “Have you had any luck with that so far?”

“At first, no,” Starlight admits. “Sunburst and I have been at this for quite a while, too. No matter what we try or the way we tweak our spell, this map refuses to function for us.” She looks back at me. “Until we tried another new approach. After all, this map is connected to all creatures using the magic of friendship and harmony. Sunburst and I had no luck with this map while we focused on utilitarian purposes.” She looks up. “Which makes me wonder . . . I once used this map to travel through time because I was aware it was a powerful link to all things across Equestria.” Starlight looks forward above my head. “However, ever since then, it seems as if security measures have already been stepped up regarding this map. I thought Twilight was the cause of it until I wrote her a letter about it. She replied that she did no such thing, but rather laments that she didn't think of it before.”

I giggle a little bit due to that comment.

“Anyway,” she looks back at the map, “when Sunburst and I attempted to use our emotions to attempt to summon the image of a cutie mark or anypony that we specifically care about and have deep connections within our hearts, we finally got this magic map working.”

“That's great!” I cheer.

“But to a very limited degree,” Starlight is quick to add as she looks back at me. “So far, the only targets we succeeded to summon on this map are those we have a very deep and personal connection to.” Starlight nods once. “Considering the kind of magic that empowers this map, that makes sense. However, if you think about it, that severely limits the end results. It means we cannot use this map to show the location of anypony or any creature that we don't have a deep personal connection with. If that is the only way it works, then the only way to find missing persons’ cases is to also locate some creature that has a deep connection to the lost one, bring that person here, then I cast the spell while that other person focuses on the one they love.

“At least, that is the theory, and that is why I've brought you here.” She looks back at the map. “Sunburst and I have used the map for this purpose over and over again and it seems to work for the two of us rather well.” She looks back at me. “The next step is to see if some other pony can use this map to focus on somepony they care about while I cast the spell, rather than the caster always being the one to summon a target.”

“I see,” I say in a tone of realization. “If only you or Sunburst can use this table then your spell would have a very limited usefulness indeed.”

“Well,” Starlight gives a half shrug. “I do have a lot of friends that I care about. With this map, I can already track down you, your parents, your sister Rarity, and in fact all of the Elements of Harmony, including Princess Twilight. Princesses have a reputation for being ponynapped but with this thing,” she pats the table again, “we now have a safeguard. No matter where the ponynappers try to take Twilight, we'll have the means to find her. In the process, we'll likely also find out who is responsible and take action against the ponynappers.”

“That sounds super useful,” I admit.

“But if I can get somepony like you, or any other for that matter, to focus on their feelings in order to change the target to somepony that might be a stranger to me, then that would expand the potential of this strategy.”

“And I have lots of friends, too,” I announce proudly.

“Exactly,” Starlight concurs. “Right now all I want to do is find out if you can use it in choosing a target for the map. As for myself, I'll simply concentrate on the spell and nothing else. If I do not focus on a target and a cutie mark appears on the map anyway then I'll know it's from you.”

I nod as I say, “That makes sense and is a very worthwhile goal.

“But, ah, Starlight . . . do you ever think you can get this map started again on friendship problems?”

“I think that one depends on the Tree of Harmony,” she answers. “I can't put my hoof on this for sure, but it seems to me like the Tree of Harmony lost its previous memories. Sure, it's grown again, but it's like it's been reborn and learning anew. If I'm right, it will need time to get re-acquainted with every creature in Equestria. Once that happens, it could start warning us of friendship problems again.”

“Is there anyway we can help?” I ask hopefully.

“Something tells me you are already helping,” Starlight tells me a bit cheerfully. “Anything you do, or anyone else for that matter, which promotes friendship and harmony likely strengthens the Tree again. So, in other words, just continue doing what you're doing and be yourself. That's the finest advice I can give you at this moment in pursuit of that project.”

“Okay!” I say cheerfully. “I can hoofle that.”

“In the meantime,” she pats the table, “are you ready to help me test if you can choose the target for this map?”

“Sure!” I reply so enthusiastically that my voice squeaks for a moment.

“Alright!” Starlight cheers. “That's what I like to hear.

“Okay, for that, I want you to stand right here next to the table. Meanwhile I'll . . .” she pauses as she uses her magic to teleport to the other side of the table with a pop of magical sparkles. “. . . cast the spell from over here.”

“Does our position around the table actually matter?” I check.

“I don't think so,” Starlight answers doubtfully, “but I want to keep my distance just to be sure. Also, from this position, you are directly across from me so I can observe you better.”

“And does that matter?” I check again.

“Right now I'm trying to gather data so I want to be as thorough as possible. Remember, this is an experiment. It's important, during the early phases of experimentation, to observe and gather as much information as one can.”

“That makes sense,” I agree. “So what do I do?”

“I'll trot you through this process,” Starlight answers. “Just do everything I tell you to do, and don't worry . . . it won't be dangerous or hard.

“The first step is for me to cast my spell.”

Starlight proceeds to do so. She whirls her head around as magic gathers into her horn. From there, that magical shine spreads out and encompasses the whole table. The light especially intensifies at six points around the table. Each point is right in front of a chair that leads to one of the members of the Elements of Harmony. After that, laser lines connect between each of the six points around the table. Together, it kind of looks like a star.

As she continues her work, I think back to the rumors I heard about how the Pillars of Destiny once formed the initial seeds for the Tree of Harmony. Of them, it was Star Swirl the Bearded who used the magic the most proficiently. Supposedly he was able to use this table for purposes no pony was previously aware of, but it occurs to me that quite some time has passed since his return. That is enough time to interview the mighty and legendary sorcerer to not only find out what else he can do with this map, but also determine how he did it. Of the ponies that I'm aware of who have a chance to match the potential of the legendary sorcerer, Starlight Glimmer is one of them.

I smile at her proudly. It feels so good and comforting to notice how we have such a gifted spell caster in our town.

Incidentally, Twilight is the other sorceress who might be able to match the potential of the legendary sage. She is the Element of Magic after all. I didn't see it personally, but this town knew she had uncanny potential when she tamed and peacefully got rid of that ursa minor that attacked this town near the time she first arrived.

Wow! So much has happened since then.

“Okay, Sweetie Belle, do it now,” Starlight instructs me from across the table. “Think of somepony you care about. Any will do, but for now, I want you to focus on only one. Let's keep this simple for our initial test.”

“Okay,” I say back a little shyly. After that, it occurs to me I should have spent my time considering which target.

The first ones to spring to my mind is the other members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. They've been my closest and best friends for many years. I have a very deep connection with them. So deep is it that we even share very similar cutie marks and we got them at the same time.

But the problem with them is Starlight said I should focus on only one pony for now and it's too hard to choose between them. Focusing on either one of them over the other feels like favoritism and my heart just can't accept that.

Next, I briefly consider my parents but I quickly realize I have the same problem there. They are a couple. They should be chosen together if either one of them is picked.

After that, I consider my sister Rarity. I love her dearly, but unlike all the previous candidates, I can see Rarity standing alone in my heart unless I associate her as a member of the Elements of Harmony. Her friends should be included in that social circle, but for me, she will always be my favorite Element and I don't feel too guilty about that.

I almost go with that target until another rather suddenly and intrusively comes to the forefront of my mind.

Button Mash.

It makes some sense. After all, he's been the target of my thoughts and feelings all night. First because of our potential date, second because of my disappointment over the fact he didn't show up, and lastly due to my concern for his health. Even now, as I linger here and attempt to help Starlight with her worthy and very interesting experiment, a strong part of my mind and heart stray to Button Mash anyway. It's probably because I know I have unfinished business with him. It is very likely I will not be able to sleep peacefully tonight until I deliver those books of home remedies to his mom. I have to know that I did everything I could to help him out.

The rest is fate and I can accept that.

Since I cannot easily focus on another target tonight and Starlight wants me to focus on somepony I care about, I realize I might as well focus on him. After all, the sooner I get this over with, the sooner I can take greater measures to help him out.

I can help two ponies with one thought! Go me! I'm so smart!

So I do it. I focus all of my thoughts and feelings on Button Mash. While I do so, I'm not sure how strongly I need to focus on him so, for now, I try to focus on him with all my might.

“Yes. That's it, Sweetie Belle,” Starlight encourages. “Keep it up. It's working.”

As I concentrate, it occurs to me that I haven't announced to Starlight whom I chose, but I suspect that doesn't matter. Starlight simply wanted me to focus on some pony that I care about. Who could be more appropriate than my very special somepony?

Besides, if this works, she'll find out whom I was thinking about anyway since his cutie mark should appear on the map. In this case, I also happen to know where he is, too, so that should help me to confirm if the map found him accurately or not. That's another tidbit of data worth gathering.

Through my closed eyes, I still catch a brief flash of light. I crack my eyes open enough to notice the fact that the laser lines between the six points around the table have since transformed into a solid column of light about six feet tall. That light shimmers a rainbow spectrum of colors like an aurora borealis.

Ooo! How pretty!

I wish I can dwell on this, but I need to concentrate.

I close my eyes again and resume focusing all my thoughts and feelings on Button Mash.

The first time I went to his home was during a cutie mark consultation. At the time I wasn't alone and the visit was strictly for business. It's funny to think about how things can later develop from such humble beginnings.

Button used to annoy me a little. He seemed so childish and into strange things that I used to have no interest in but, during that meeting, I forced myself to care in order to understand him better which, in turn, might lead me to help him discover his cutie mark. That later turned into a relationship that simply felt fun. It's actually hard to tell when I crossed a line into something more serious.

Yeah. It really is hard to think about when it happened. It feels almost as hard as trying to think back and recall when I first started thinking in words.

“There it is! I see it!” Starlight calls out triumphantly. “Great job, Sweetie Belle.

“Okay, now you can stop concentrating. I'll release my spell and-”

The table flashes. A mighty magic boom explodes from the table. I feel a force try to knock me back but, for some reason, I don't launch back. Instead, I hold my place.

No. I take that back. I'm starting to float in the air!

“What?!” Starlight cries out in alarm. “This shouldn't be happening!”

“Starlight, I'm floating in the air!” I cry out to her. “Let me down!”

“I'm trying,” Starlight calls back. “But I . . . I can't seem to cut off my spell.”

On the other side of the table and through the shifting colors of light, I see Starlight struggling to move. She attempts to yank her head from side to side. She partially succeeds, but magic continues to flow from her horn. Now I realize, with horror, that this is happening involuntarily.

“What's happening?!” I cry out fearfully. “Starlight . . . I'm scared!”

“Hold on Sweetie Belle!” Starlight cries out to reassure me. “I'll figure this out. I . . .”

Starlight trails off when new things start happening. For one, Button Mash's cutie mark, which is a D-pad of a video game controller, in this case, floats away from what seems to be his home on the map, notably his accurate location. However, after that, his cutie mark expands and grows much larger as it seems to now hover all over the image of Ponyville. It eventually expands to encompass the circumference of the entire map.

During this time, a weird green flame-like aura starts to engulf me.

“Starlight . . . help!” I cry out fearfully.

“What is going on?!” Starlight asks frantically. “This shouldn't be happening!”

“What is happening?” I ask in the same tone.

“I don't know!' Starlight replies.

“SWEEEEEEEEEEETIEE BEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLEEEE!” very loudly calls out Button Mash's voice with a weird and haunting ethereal echo to it. Shortly after that, his cutie mark shrinks and floats closer to the map again except, for some reason, it relocates to somewhere in the Everfree Forest.

During that time the strange green flame completely engulfs me. I feel myself burning and changing. Magic tingles all throughout my body, including my innards. I don't know what's happening to me but I'm afraid for my life and Button Mash's.

“STOP IT!” Starlight cries out. “This isn't supposed to happen. STOP IIIIIIIT!”

A new light explodes from Starlight's horn. It seems as if she changed her strategy. It's as if she failed to cut off her flow of magic from her horn so she added something to the enchantment instead. Whatever it is, it destabilized the whole process which is likely her intention.

A violent explosion of light booms from the table. This time it really does send me flying and crashing into the wall away from the table. From there I sink to the ground in a heap.

My perception blurs quite a bit after that. I am probably very close to losing consciousness but, in this case, I fight it. I eventually succeed, too.

A dim glow continues to radiate from the Friendship Map. For the moment, it is the only reason I can see anything in the room. That, and the fact that the purple crystal that this castle is made of well reflects and refracts any light source within it and outside of it. I note that this room should be brighter but the enchanted glowing crystals along the walls have ceased to function for some reason. The glow off the table really is the only source of illumination now.

I try to add to the illumination using my own horn. I do succeed, but it does it in a way I do not expect. Instead of my usual light green color, which matches my eyes, I get a dark green instead. It is a sickly-looking color.

''What the-” I exclaim in surprise before I examine myself. What greets my eyes startles me even more. Instead of my usual white hide, it is reversed to pitch black. Not only that, but there are now holes in my legs. I seem severely injured in that area except no blood leaks out from them.

“Ug. Sweetie Belle?” Starlight groans as she struggles to crawl back up. “Are you okay? Answer me!”

“What . . . what have you . . .” I start to say but trail off again when I notice my voice has dramatically changed. Instead of the squeaky young voice I have as a foal, it now sounds deep, older, and masculine. “What have you done to me?” I whine.

“Whoa!” Starlight grows startled. “Who is that? Who is there? Show yourself!” Starlight demands because she can't recognize my voice as me either. “Are you responsible for what happened to us? Answer me!”

I squeeze my eyes tight as I cringe painfully.

This is not happening! This is not happening! I must be dreaming again. Or it might be that nightmare I keep waking up from.

This has to be a dream. Wake up, wake up, wake up Sweetie Belle!

“Oh my goodness!” Starlight exclaims. “Who are you?”

I open my eyes again and peer back at Starlight to double-check if she is looking in my direction or not.

And yep. She is.

“Starlight, I . . .” I begin in a small voice.

“WHO ARE YOU?!” Starlight demands. “ANSWER ME! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH SWEETIE BELLE?!”

Tears blur my vision. During this time I inwardly panic. I don't know what is happening but I suddenly get a sharp instinct for danger. Starlight thinks I'm the aggressor now and may soon start attacking me.

Without further thought, I crawl up to my hooves and rush away. As I do so, I scream at the top of my lungs. It should be the shrill screech of a frightened little girl, but instead, all I'm hearing is a grown man making a pathetic attempt to mimic the shrill screech of a little girl.

Starlight says something behind me but I can't make it out over my own voice. All I know is I have to get out of there!

Author's Note

*Note: This chapter has awarded the story with the genre gender-bending.

Okay. Now we're getting to the real meat of the story which you've likely been anticipating ever since you started the story.

This is the chapter that the long description of this story promised would show up. When I wrote that long description, I felt reluctant to give out that much of a spoiler in a story that has the "mystery" genre but I couldn't help it. The plot point of this chapter is the backbone of the entire story.

As always, I'd like to know what you think.