I awoke as the evening sun swept across my face. Feeling just as confused as when I had fallen asleep I lay there for a moment, wondering what the note had said and how I was going to be able to handle all of this. Dealing with the castle was one thing. Dealing with a guard captain that was in a secret society, that I knew nothing about, and that had already kidnapped somepony was an entirely different beast. Much as I hated to admit it, I just might need help on this one.
Told you.
“Oh, shut up.” I rolled from my bed and found my bag. Scribbling a note I addressed it to Twilight Sparkle. I would have to see if the hotel offered mail services this late.
After a quick shower and a bite to eat I checked the front desk to see if they would send my letter. The dragon was just packing up to go home but offered to send my letter if it was ready to go. I tossed him the scroll and he sent it on its way. I thanked him and went to sit down on one of the couches in the lobby. Twilight would respond quickly. That was her way.
Less than five minutes later, the mare behind the counter said I’d received a response. I smiled and took the letter from her with a thanks and a tip. As I ventured back over to the couch I unrolled the scroll and two more scrolls fell out. How she had written three pages in under five minutes was baffling to me. I read the first and it clarified for me.
Detective Chaser,
Thank you for thinking of me and knowing you can always ask for help. I know that isn’t your style. I’ve included two spells that you might find useful. I’m afraid it’s all I can offer without being there in person. Perhaps if you told me more about the situation I could use my connections to help you further. Regardless of your decision, good luck on your mission.
-Twilight
P.S.: Your book is two days overdue. Please return it when you get a chance.
I smiled. Good old Twilight. She could always come through in a pinch, without too many questions of my job. Somepony else always comes through too. I grabbed the scrolls and headed back up to my room. I would practice while the sun was still up and begin my snooping when Luna brought the moon into place.
The first scroll was something I’d always dreamed about. The description said it would allow me to walk on walls and ceilings. While that seemed like a particularly useful skill, I wasn’t sure I could master it in such a limited time. The second scroll I knew I would need at least a week to learn it properly. It was the spell Twilight had invented herself. Teleportation. I read over both spells and decided to get to work on the wall walking.
After a few failed attempts I had a result that I thought would work. I leaned my front hooves onto the wall then followed it with one of my back hooves, supporting myself on one leg. I went to move the last hoof and fell over backwards. After a few more minutes I had figured out my mistake. The spell called for complete trust. The minute you doubted its ability to work, it would stop working.
With that thought in mind I cast it again and this time, I jumped at the wall. Much to my surprise, I stuck. I began to gingerly walk up the wall and then across the ceiling. Amazed at how simple the spell really was I walked back down the wall and, as per Twilight’s standing order, I proceeded to burn the scroll.
She had always said that if too many magic spells made it out to the general public that the results could be pretty disastrous. After walking across my ceiling and down the wall, I didn’t disagree with her. The last thing you want is for somepony to doubt their magic while walking up a building.
I looked at the second scroll and decided I would give it a shot. I read the spell twice to make sure I had it down. I braced myself and thought of the place I wanted to teleport to. In this case, the bathroom of my hotel room. I felt myself strain and then it felt like I was falling. Both subsided quickly and I opened my eyes. I was in my bathroom! I couldn’t believe it.
I went back to the scroll to make sure I had really done everything right and that it hadn’t just been a fluke. After reading and re-reading I decided I’d gotten the basics down. I wouldn’t try for a far distance but any teleportation at all would help me out immensely.
Feeling refreshed, I took out the note I had found in the garbage, hoping that fresh eyes would be able to piece something together. ‘Via’ had to mean Octavia. ‘Geons’ had caught in my mind. Not too many words had that combination of letters and if we were talking about the castle that could only mean the dungeons. It was a long shot but it was all I had.
A long shot? That’s a shot in the dark.
I gathered my things and burned the second scroll. I looked out the window and saw Luna had just taken over the night from her sister. I slipped my bag on and headed out the door.
“Let’s go hunting.”
You’re so lame.
As I headed back to the same club from the night before I decided to take in a show and find out what I could from the inside. I walked in and was met by the same waitress. After the over tipping last night she was probably excited to see me again. She took me to the same table and I order the same glass of cider.
I looked around the room slowly, taking in all the ponies and sounds. Something was off. These were all the same ponies. Not that that was so strange, many bars had regulars. But the ponies in this room were the exact same people who had been here the night previously. No random walk-ins. No one who looked like they didn’t belong. Except you.
My drink came and I thanked the waitress. As I glanced around at everyone I absent mindedly picked up my drink. Don’t drink it. I stopped and looked at the cider, something was definitely off about it. For once my head was right, I shouldn’t be drinking this. For once!?
I set my drink back down and turned my attention to the band. It was the same band, playing the same songs. They finished up what I recognized as their last song and I waited to see if last night would be repeated. Once again, I was not disappointed.
Octavia took the stage slowly. She walked with a slight limp. She sat on the provided chair on stage and said what she had the night before.
“Hello, everypony. My name is Doria and this is my cello. We’ve only got one song for you tonight but we promise it’s a good one.”
I was astounded. What was going on? I waited for the first sad notes of her song but for the first time that night I was met with something new.
Octavia played a brand new song. This song sang of Discord, of betrayal by false friends, of what it meant to be loyal. Not particularly sad in any way. She sounded more angry than anything else. I wondered what had changed to make her want to be so scornful.
Hello? Secret society!
She finished her song and the applause were a bit louder this time. She smiled and bowed slightly before limping slowly off stage.
I wanted to follow her. Every fiber of my being was telling me to just grab her and run. That’d never work. Well, almost every fiber. I waited until she was completely out of sight then headed to the restroom to shift my plan into action.
Once inside I cleared the room and made sure I was alone. With a little luck I’d be able to hide in here all night. Really? That’s your master plan? Hiding in the bathroom? I stepped into a stall and closed the door. Casting my wall walking spell I strode up the back wall and to the far corner of the bathroom’s ceiling and braced myself again. Casting two spells on top of each other was no joke but if this was going to work I had to have some faith in myself.
I closed my eyes, concentrating as my horn grew black. As the aura began to surround me I sat down slowly. Since I had to remain still to use this spell if I had remained standing I would’ve been stuck there for hours. At least now I could be comfortable. I finished the spell and could see the slight shimmer in front of myself. Now all I had to do was wait until closing time.