//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: A Curious Night. // Story: The Bizarre Adventure of Three Fillies // by TemporaryName //------------------------------// The sun was just beginning to descend as the Crusaders and Apples arrived back in Ponyville, wagon laden with garbage and trinkets alike. Atop this pile the fillies were worried; while each one was willing to take their part of the blame in each other's injuries, none were looking forward to the inevitable verbal lashing at the hands...hooves...tongues! At the tongues of their guardians. The exhaustion each of them felt didn't help matters, as all of them would rather get into bed with few diversions and detours. Applejack tried to explain it wasn't entirely their fault and whatever awaited them wouldn't be nearly as bad as they thought, but the three still had reasonable apprehension as youngsters are wont to do. As they approached the Sweet Apple Acres, the cart stopped and Applejack hopped off."Alright, you three! C'mon, get down!" She said, stomping her hoof. “But we aren't home yet!" Said Applebloom. "Cuz we're headin' to see Twi together, that way y'all can explain what happened." Three groans let loose in response."Hey, no. bellyachin'! Ah know its been a long day, but a bit of walkin' won't kill y'all." "Can't we just..." Sweetie Belle started. "C'mon! Let's get a move on!" Applejack interrupted. Realizing the futility of further protest, Scootaloo, Sweetiebelle, and Applebloom climbed off the back of the cart, unhappy regarding what they considered forced compliance. Satisfied she proved her point, Applejack turned to her brother."We'll be back in 'bout half an hour, Big Mac. See you then." As Big Mac began the long trek home, Applejack and the Cutie Mark Crusaders began their trip to Casa de Friendship, arrow tucked away in Applejack's saddlebag. "Ah just hope we ain't late." Said Applejack. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Something was wrong and the Crusaders knew it, even if on an instinctual level instead of an academic one. They had been trotting through the town at a brisk pace for six minutes at most, a trifling time for such young, active fillies. In normal circumstances this would actually shake the tired out of someone, granting them a second wind. Given they felt on the brink of passing out, eyelids growing heavy and legs transmuted to lead, these clearly weren't normal circumstances. Still they pressed on, partly to get it over with, mostly out of obligation, yet they would be lying if they said the arrow fan the embers of curiosity. What was it for? Where did it come from? Why did Mrs. Delicious have it? Frankly at this point they would be disappointed...no, livid if Princess Twilight wasn't available. Not enough to storm up to Canterlot and demand answers, but a reasonable amount of rage at having the one event that would redeem the day erased. "Phew! Looks like we made it on time!" Applejack said as the crystalline structure came into view, deep blue and purple spires gleaming in the sun, refracting and reflecting its rays to make it almost glow, as though it were constructed from naught but light. Off to the side of the massive twin gates was a sky chariot, gold plated and polished to shine like the sun. Regal yet humble, much like its prior and current owners. Much like the Apple family wagon, this too was filled to the brim with all manner of objects. Books, beakers and other scientific apparatuses lay with pillows, pictures and other personal effects. Whereas the Apple's wagon was filled haphazardly,however, here every item was carefully organized and sorted, leaving few questions as to who was packing it. 'Even as Princess of Equestira, once an egghead always an egghead.' thought Scootaloo. Just as they were about to knock, the doors opened. Out strolled a walking pile of boxes stacked haphazardly. Though neither the Crusaders nor Applejack could see behind it, the short, stubby , shaky legs laid bare the identity well enough. "Howdy, Spike!" The box pile flinched in surprise, and it was sheer willpower alone that he did not drop his cargo. It did cause the three fillies to flinch and take a step back."Oh, hey Applejack." Spike said while poking his head out from behind his load."Thought you were busy with family matters today. Did you finish early?" Applejack nervously tapped her hoof."Er, not exactly. When you pack away those boxes, could ya please bring Twi down here? Ah have somethin' to show her." "Okay... what is it?" "Bring her down and Ah'll tell you." "Alright. Just give me a sec." At this point, he noticed the visibly exhausted Crusaders, eyes struggling to stay open and fur matted in sweat. Their legs shaking as his were not moments ago, struggling to prevent a cardboard avalanche."Does it have something to do with them?" "Bring Twi down and Ah'll tell you." Not wanting to push his luck further, he went inside to fetch the mare in question. Once out of sight, Applejack turned back to the fillies. When Spike asked about those three, he sounded concerned. Now that she had a closer look , she understood why. He was under reacting if anything!"Land's sakes! You three look like you've been through a hurricane." "Feel like it too..." Scootaloo complained. "Y'all must really be tired, then." It wasn't mere whining as she thought. No wonder they didn't want to leave the wagon; these three looked halfway to Death's door just by standing here. Sweet Celestia, was the arrow infected at all? The thought alone almost made her leave with them right now and scramble to Ponyville Hospital. However, while she may not be book learned, she didn't know of any illness that took effect that fast, no sickness with such speed. Plus, if it was disease then it should still be on the arrow, and Applejack was a few minutes away at worst from a direct conversation with Equestria's best analyst. If Twilight has spells for changing frogs into fruit and altering the diets of bats, then finding out what diseases are on an arrowhead should be small potatoes. As if sensing her thoughts, the castle doors opened, and out popped the familiar lavender Alicorn, Spike standing vigilant beside her. In spite of her new status as monarch of Equestria, Twilight Sparkle still looked like Anypony else you'd meet on the street, if an inch or two taller than average. She wore no regalia, which made sense; all she was doing was just getting her stuff, not making a diplomatic speech or having a royal hearing. In her telekinetic grasp were many, MANY books with titles Applejack couldn't read from where she was standing and titles she couldn't understand even if she could read them. "Hey, Applejack! Spike said you had something to show me." She noticed the Crusaders."Are they alright?" "Maybe you can tell me, Twi. See, we were cleanin' up Goldie's place, tryin' to make some room, y'know? Well, Applebloom and her friends found something shiny an' sharp." "Oh, they didn't hurt themselves, did they?" In response, Scootaloo stuck her bandaged tongue out, the wrapping now red in the center from the blood. "Guess." Twilight was immediately upon her."Sweet Celestia! Why would you put it in your mouth? Don't you know where it could have been?" "I didn't mean to slice my tongue..." "Please tell me some disinfectant was used! The sheer variety of diseases that could be caused this way... Applejack!" She turned to the farmpony."Do you have whatever caused this?" "Hey! We were stabbed too!" Applebloom shouted. "All the more reason for me to see it!" Her eyes were frantic and ."So, do you-" "The whole reason Ah came here was to show you, Twi." Applejack said, pulling the arrow out of her saddlebag."What can you tell me 'bout this?" The gleam of the arrowhead blinded Twilight for a second, but after it passed and she saw what Applejack wanted her to investigate, she was overcome with excitement. Those markings, the material on the head, the symbols! "Haven't seen anything like this before. One moment...." her horn shimmered with an aura of purple. Twilight's face contorted and twisted; whatever she saw confused her, and horn still shimmering she looked at Applejack for a moment before focusing back on the arrow. A few more seconds and she visibly relaxed. “So what is it, Twi?" "I wish I knew." Twilight said, shocking everypony and Spike. Hearing a couple gasps and one declaration of 'what in tarnation', Twilight raised her hoof and clarified."The spell I used showed there is something on the arrow, a virus to be exact." "Then shouldn' we..." "Fortunately, it isn't airborne and doesn't appear capable of infection through physical contact. If it could, Applejack, then you would currently suffer from the same symptoms as these three.” She gestured to the fillies, who were in fact in a far worse state than Applejack.“Outside of that, I have no idea. I have no idea whether or not it's fatal. I have no idea where the arrow came from..." "It came from Goldie's house" Scootaloo interjected. "I meant whoever made it." Her magic pulling at the Aether itself, rending and mending the very laws of reality, she summoned three simple objects; an ink pot of the blackest ink, a yellowish white quill tipped with gold, and a notebook that soon opened to a blank page. “Using carbon dating, I found the haft of the arrow to date back somewhere between 3000 and 4000 years ago.” She drew a line halfway across the notebook to represent this because magic could do many things, including teleportation and time manipulation, but acting as a wipe board was apparently beyond the best of mages.“What I found with the head...well...” another line was drawn across the notebook until it hit the edge, then it curved around and hit the other side. And again, and again, and again it went, every time a curve was made the eyes of all present raised further in shock. All aside from Scootaloo. “So the arrowhead is old.” “Possibly, but I doubt it.” Twilight began pacing back and forth, the glint of wondrous and frightening discovery in her eye.“Whatever it's made of, I cannot say; it looks like it's made of a gold alloy with hints of bronze in some areas, except gold has a heavily documented strengthening effect on magic. Not only was the spell not strengthened, made more accurate, or any of the usual responses but instead there was...distortion is the best word. A distortion unlike any other material I know of.” Anticipating an imminent panic attack, she took a deep breathe.“I don't know if it's the arrowhead itself or whatever is on it, but it is undoubtedly alien in nature.” She turned back to Applejack."Applejack, do you mind if I take this with me? I have a psychometer back in Canterlot as well as some non-intrusive methods of testing substances and..." "Twi, the whole reason Ah brought that thing here was to give it to you. You can and do anything with it short of breakin' it." "Really? You'd trust me with a family treasure like this?" "After all we've been through, Ah'd be stupid not to." She leaned towards Twilight and whispered."'Sides, I trust you to handle it more safely than those three." "Hey! We heard that!" Sweetie Belle stated. "We did?" Scootaloo and Applebloom groggily asked in unison. "Shhh! She didn't need-doesn't need to know that." Sweetie's declaration was followed by a yawn. "Maybe Ah should take 'em home. You sure they'll be fine?" "All I can tell is the virus isn't easily transmissible. Here." In Twilight Sparkle's telekinetic grasp were three scrolls, each tied with a blue ribbon adorned with the seal of the crown."If anything goes wrong write it down and press down on the seal until it cracks. It'll be sent to me and I'll be right over with the royal doctors. Here's one for Rarity and one for Scootaloo's aunts. Tell them not to worry if it bursts into flames after following directions; the spell works by mimicking Spike's dragon fire." "What if Ah plum can't write down the problem fast enough?" "Then write 'HELP!' in big letters." Twilight put the arrow away in her saddlebag."Until then-Or until they get better, whichever comes first-best to keep them at home; easier to keep an eye on them." "Dang it!" Exclaimed Applebloom "Ah guess we can't spend Sunday together after all, girls." "Yeah, it sucks." agreed Scootaloo,"Right as- YAWN - sorry. Right as summer starts, too..." "Hopefully this won't be a big deal..." said Sweetie Belle. "How long will it take to figure everythin' out, Twi?" "Anywhere from one to three months." "OH, COME ON!" the Crusaders exclaimed in unison. All the work they put in, all the time spent on their Crusading business, studying for the final test of the year, all of it was for nothing. Summer was going to pass them by while everypony else was camping, running, playing, and so on-ing. Worst of all, they knew this was their fault the arrow stabbed them; there was nopony else to blame but themselves. "Now girls, Ah know Y'all feel bad 'bout this; Celestia knows nopony who'd want to waste their summer like that. But it is what it is." Applejack turned to Twilight."'Sides, if anypony can solve this mystery faster than Angel runnin' from Winona, it would be Twilight Sparkle. Right, Twi?" Twilight was hesitant for a moment. On one hoof, she didn't want to put forth expectations she couldn't meet, especially with her royal duties taking center stage. On the other, she couldn't honestly say this arrow didn't pique her interest."I'll do my best, Applejack." She eventually settled on saying."Spike, would you please write this down in my agenda: 7:30pm to 10:00 pm, everyday for the foreseeable future; study artifact. Description: arrow with golden head." "Already done!" Spike said cheerfully, holding out the open planner as evidence. Sure enough, there was already an entry written exactly as Twilight described, shocking the purple pony in question. "How did you..." "I knew you wouldn't say no to an opportunity like this, and there wasn't much free time available." To highlight his point, Spike pointed at a section of the agenda for earlier in the day. In it was so much ink, graphite, and highlights that it resembled a madman's last journal page rather than a princess's royal schedule."Tomorrow alone you have Royal Court from 5am to 10am, followed by a formal declaration of the 'Royal Sisters' wing of Canterlot Public Library. At 12pm you have 30 minutes for lunch, which you will eat while getting a head start on reviewing proposed laws, which will continue until 2pm. After that..." "I get it Spike." Twilight said wearily, fully aware the sheer amount of work she has ahead of her."Maybe I could hand it to Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns to hold. Their virology department's research team has been dying for an opportunity like this for a while now. Er, you don't mind, do you Applejack?" "Ah trust your judgment, Twi." The farmpony was beginning to look as tired as the rest of her posse. "Wonderful!" Twilight replied with a hug."Thank you so much, Applejack. I won't disappoint." "Just don' make like mah sis an' work yourself to... to an early... jus don' overwork yourself." The younger, more exhausted farmfilly requested. "Yeah, Twi: don' need to walk up to the castle an' buck some sense in you, do Ah?" "If I need it, Spike will let you know. Right Spike?" When Twilight didn't immediately get a reply, she turned towards her trusted assistant, finding him staring off into the distance."Spike? Spike!" "Huh? Oh! Yeah, I'll ask them for help if needed" He replied, obviously distracted by something. Not unusual for the normally attentive dragon, given his age. Twilight was wondering what enraptured him, but when she looked in the general direction he was not a moment ago, she had a good idea. 'I suppose his crush over Rarity had faded' she thought with a smirk.'It is healthier to show interest in his own age bracket.' "Ahem." One of the guards coughed, trying to get the princess's attention and prevent her from missing her duties. Realizing how long she was taking, Twilight blushed began walking towards the royal carriage. Her carriage. That was still something she was getting used to. "Sorry AJ! Princess duties call, I'll send you an update in a week's time!" She hurriedly declared. With the arrow in her satchel, boxes in a her lavender magic, and Spike at her side, Twilight packed up and hopped in her royal chariot. As it took of into the sky, the CMC and Applejack both waved goodbye, and though none except Scootaloo had the eyes to see it, their friendly gesture was reciprocated by the Princess of Friendship. When the chariot disappeared behind the horizon, Applejack turned to the three fillies. Each looked slightly more chipper, though their sagging eyes and unfocused gaze betrayed their exhaustion. She reckoned she denied them rest for long enough. "Alright, Fillies! I'm takin' y'all home." "Finally..." said Scootaloo exasperated. "And Ah'll let your families figure what to do with y'all." If one could bottle the collective terror the three fillies suddenly felt from Applejack's words, there eould be enough to open a deranged changeling bar. Her words even broke through their exhaustion, and their response was uniform and succinct. "Oh no." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7:00 pm, Carousel Boutique "Honestly Sweetie Belle, what were you thinking, playing around with an arrowhead? With anything sharp! You know your magic needs work." Rarity said, addressing her sister's wound with rubbing alcohol, fussing over her like her mother. "I thought I could handle levitating a glorified stick!" She curtly retorted."And I wasn't playing with it, I was just trying to get it down." "Oh? And what would you have done with it if you did bring it down without injury?" Rarity's brow contorted into a questioning gesture. "We would have shown it to Goldie Delicious, asked her if she had any stories about it, and see if Applebloom could take it home to put on the mantle or something." "Now why would she..." "It looked PRETTY, alright?!" Sweetie Belle snapped, taking Rarity aback."I thought you would understand wanting something because it looks NICE." "Sweetie..." Rarity began, voice softened to a whisper. Hearing this, her sister's ire settled. "Sorry, Rarity. It has just been a long day. I just want to lay down and end it already. Can we please talk about it in the tomorrow?" Rarity wanted to retort, wanted to lecture the filly about the importance of proper behavior. Yet Sweeite's tone of voice and expression were devoid of energy, her words sincere. Rarity couldn't help but emphasize; She could thank uncountable long nights sewing and hemming, designing and planning for that. To many days she wanted to do nothing but sleep in, and a too few where she had the opportunity to do so. To deny Sweetie rest at this moment, after all that had happened and with potential sickness, would not only be unproductive, it would be downright hypocritical."Alright, but we will continue this discussion tomorrow. Understood?" Sweetie Belle said nothing, instead slogging up the stairs to her room. Rarity remained downstairs and got back to work. She had an important commission from a wealthy Canterlot noble to design. With Twilight Sparkle taking the crown, much of the aristocracy found their attire to be somewhat outdated. White with blue accents and blue with white accents were out, lavender and purple with traces of amber, both the mineral and the color, were in. At times she wondered if her business was booming as of late solely due to her royal connections. Twilight denied any nepotism on her part, though the thought still echoed in the back of her skull like a worm slowly wriggling about. 'Ah well, it is out of my hooves. Besides, am I really complaining about getting more business, more exposure?' Rarity thought as she sketched her latest design. Gradually her thoughts shifted away from whether she was a beneficiary of the best connection one could have in Equestria and turned towards Sweetie Belle. Rarity knew her sister was a young mare now, one who desired independence, to act upon her own volition and pursue her ambitions, something Rarity could appreciate. However, she still had as much to learn on being a proper mare as Rarity did at that age. Oh, the memories she had from her youth: playing with old schoolmates, her first forays into the fashion business. Even now, she could almost hear the sweet lulling sound of a lullaby much like what her parents sang to her on many a... Her ears perked up and swiveled. No, she was hearing a lullaby. One emanating from Sweetie Belle's bedroom. 'Oh, the poor dear must be trying to sing herself to sleep' Rarity couldn't help but smile softly at the idea.'She must be desperate for sleep and trying everything and anything to get it.' Rarity thought, all to familiar with the peculiar sensation of being exhausted half to death yet unable to sleep.'Might as well help her, maybe offer a glass of warm milk. That usually helps me' As Rarity climbed the stairs, as the melody became clearer, she noticed something odd . Several somethings, in fact. There was no singing with this lullaby; no lyrics, just a soft humming sound. Unusual, though she didn't doubt they existed. Stranger still, as she climbed the stairs, inching closer and closer to Sweetie's room, she was gradually getting more and more tired herself. True, the had a long day of dressmaking and sketching designs, but going to bed at...Rarity glanced at the clock...8:00 pm was unusual for her; in fact, she couldn't remember the last time she did so. When at last Rarity reached her the door, she hesitated. She was starting to have reservations on interrupting Sweetie Belle's attempt to rest, yet sisterly instincts were screaming at her to check. Eventually, the two desires compromised; Rarity would open the door and check on her sister, but quietly and briefly. Just crack the door open, take a quick peak, and head off to bed herself. Gently the the knob turned in her magic and the door opened and Rarity had a look inside. Sweetie Belle was wrapped in her deep pink sheets, sound asleep. The normally light blue walls looking more navy blue in the dark of the night. The light of the moon streaming through the window being the only source of illumination. Combined with the soothing humming ambiance, the whole thing looked the very image of nightly, calm, and restful tranquility. Maybe she should just... In no time at all Rarity the fashionista fell sound asleep on the floor, tiny snores escaping her muzzle. She would certainly fuss about it come morning, as she did whenever she passed out in the middle of any long project, but that was morning Rarity's problem. She noticed neither the incongruity in the scene before her slumber, nor it's architect standing guard. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1:33pm, Sweet Apple Acres Applejack couldn't sleep. To the farmmare, sleep usually came swiftly after a long day of working the orchard, bucking trees, carting fruit, and running other errands. Today's work at Goldie's house wasn't too much different, just none of the bucking and three times the carting. Yet try as she might, no matter how well earned it was, a good night's rest was proving evasive as the bags under her eyes could attest. So now, here she was; sitting at the kitchen table, nursing a tall glass of water, passing the time until finally passed out. 'Consarnit, Applebloom. Why couldn't you and you're friends find somethin' safer to poke around? Like that stuffed bear head.' A shiver went down her spine.'On second thought...' Ching Her thoughts were interrupted by a chiming sound., like the tapping of a wine glass at some fancy party, coming from one of the cabinets. Having nothing better to do at the moment, she went to check it out.'Probably just a glass tipping over.' she thought; sometimes things were put away haphazardly and eventually tip over. So when Applejack opened the small wooden doors and found all cups and glasses within upright, she was more than a little perplexed, her sleep deprived mind not helping matters. "Must be hearin' things. Really need to hit the hay." Applejack said as she walked towards the stairs. She had just passed the kitchen table when... sssshhhhh With a slowness born of lethargy and definitely not fear, Applejack turned and saw the faucet of the sink running; a torrent of water was flooding from the steel spout, filling the basin beneath. A waste of bits, Applejack realized, as she hurried over to shut it off. 'Must've left it on while fillin' up mah glass' Applejack thought, despite having not heard it for the past twenty minutes she was up. Bending her neck forward and placing her hooves on the counter, she stared into the basin of the sink, the swirling of the water down the drain mirroring how her mind felt at this moment."Either Ah'm losin' mah marbles or the house is haunted. Can't be Discord, he's barred from magic right now. But then-" she lightly slapped herself."C'mon AJ, All you need is to head upstairs, fall into bed, and get some shuteye. Come mornin', tonight will make a heap more sense." Resolved to her path, Applejack slowly walked to her bedroom door. She was going to open it, really she was, but as fate would have it she heard a third inexplicable sound that night. Twas a soft little pitter-patter, akin to a mouse or rat, and it came from right behind her. She quickly turned to catch a glimpse at the culprit, but saw nothing but a small puddle of water in front of Applebloom's door. Applebloom's ajar door. Normally, Applejack wouldn't have given it much thought; maybe Applebloom passed out the minute she went to sleep and forgot to close the door all the way. Perhaps she was feeling hot on this summer's night and, wanting air circulation, left the door open. Sleep deprived Applejack was not normal Applejack, the former having little of the mental swiftness of the latter. Thus she had to check her sister to ensure everything was alright. Given today's incident, this was probably the most prudent course of action. Thus with light hooves and a careful nudge, Applejack opened the door. To her relief there was nothing that indicated trouble of any stripe. The walls were still the same brown as always, the floor only had a few spots of water, and Applebloom was snugly tucked in bed. Upon further investigation, Appplejack saw a lone glass of water on the drawer next to the bed, small puddles indicating spills beside it.'Seems she just went to get a drink of water. It would certainly explain the noises I heard'. With that mystery solved, Applejack figured she spent enough time getting distracted; she needed to get to her own room before anything else popped up. She didn't ask herself how Applebloom was so discreet in getting the water, but that was a Question for future Applejack to handle. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9:57 am, Unmarked house in Ponyville In a dark green room with wooden flooring and walls adorned with posters and fliers showcasing the Wonderbolts, beside the lone window letting in the light of day, there was a bed. Inside the messy white sheets a familiar orange filly was fast asleep, something not at all surprising if you know what beds are for. What was rather alarming was how Scootaloo was still sleeping this far into the morning. At the very least, that's what some ponies would think. Outside the room two mares, Scootaloo's current caretakers Aunt Holiday and Auntie Lofty, were discussing whether to wake Scootaloo up, which the latter aunt was fully supportive of, or let her sleep the sickness off, a point which the former was arguing. Words like 'enough' and 'needs her rest' didn't give the impression of much else being discussed. Try as they might, the noise they created ultimately made the decision for them. "Alright! I'm awake! What...!YAWN!...what did you need?" "Oh! Scootaloo!" Aunt Holiday said."Sorry, we didn't mean to wake you up." "I did." "Oh hush, Lofty. Anyway's, how are you holding up?" "Good." She expected exhaustion, weakness, a stuffed nose and was surprised to find instead health and vigor. Confusing? Yes, but was she going to complain about it? No."Better than normal, actually." Were her friends feeling as well? Only one way to find out."I'm going to check up on the other Crusaders, see how they're holding up. Did you need anything while I'm out?" "Nothing you can buy, dear". replied Holiday."You sure you're okay to head out?" "I'm certain." "Well, okay. Just remember to head home immediately if they start sniffling, okay? You may have dodged an arr...Uh, I mean you could have gotten real sick and it's lucky you didn't!" "Alright, Aunt Holiday." With their conversation over- "And don't forget to say hi to Applejack for us." interrupted Lofty. “Alright.” And with that- “Also, please thank Rarity for the dress.” said Holiday "K." The orange filly leaped out of bed and practically burst through the bathroom door. Upon entering the yellow walled room with white tiled floors, Scootaloo went over to the sink, turned on the water, and started splashing it on her face. On a normal day the icy cold would have given her the last kick in the rear needed to get her day started, but since she was wide awake already all it accomplished was making her face cold. 'Force of habit.' The filly thought before turning of the faucet and drying her face. Only after she put the hoof towel down did she noticed a figure in the mirror; a normal occurrence when you realize mirrors are supposed to reflect whatever is in front of them. Less so when you expect one, believe there is only one, know all evidence says there should be only one, yet find two. She turned around to check if her eyes were betraying her, hoping whatever she saw was simply a trick of the light. It was not. "Who are you?"