Everypony sat anxiously in the waiting room of the Centrotlia Hospital. The filly was recognized as Daisy Glow, the first foal to disappear. While everypony was glad that she had returned, that happiness was greatly dampened by her condition: Her breathing was shallow and she looked very thin for a filly her age. The few external injuries she had were very minor, merely a few small cuts and scrapes, but who knew what internal injuries she may have sustained.
Daisy’s parents, upon seeing her, refused to leave her side until arriving at the hospital where they reluctantly remained in the waiting area while their daughter was taken into the ER. Twilight and Luna had started talking with the parents, attempting to reassure them that Daisy would be alright. Everypony else was sitting quietly (except for Mystic and Pinkie, who were pacing in a small circle), unsure of what to think of this turn of events.
“Does this means all of the foals will eventually just come back?” Rainbow thought out loud.
“I don’t think it matters,” said Fluttershy, “That filly has obviously gone through something awful, and we need to find the rest of them as soon as possible.”
“And besides,” added Applejack, “I have a feelin’ that even if the other foals came back, it doesn’t mean that they’ll stop goin’ missin’.”
Everypony nodded in silent agreement.
“Darlings,” said Rarity looking toward Mystic and Pinkie, “Why don’t the two of you sit down? You’re scuffing up the floor.”
“Sorry,” said Mystic, reluctantly sitting down, “I get restless when I’m nervous.”
“And I didn’t want him to feel lonely pacing all by himself.” said Pinkie, who seemed almost as cheerful as always, though her mane was notably less curly.
The group looked up and noticed a nurse come in and say something to Daisy’s parents, who started down the hall immediately after. The nurse then turned to Twilight and Luna, and talked to them for a bit longer. Afterwards, Luna followed the nurse down the hall and Twilight walked back to her friends.
Everypony looked at Twilight intently as she took a calming breath and began to relay what the nurse had said.
“Okay. Daisy Glow is going to be fine. She has no serious injuries, but she’s malnourished and exhausted. She woke up during the examination and, unfortunately, started to have a panic attack. The nurse was able to calm her down a bit, but they’re hoping that seeing her parents will get her to fully relax.”
“Why did Princess Luna go too?” asked Spike
“She wants to ask Daisy some questions, y’know, to find out more about what had happened.”
“Ugh!” grunted Rainbow Dash in frustration, “We’ve only been here since this morning, and we’ve already managed to waste too much time. We need to get out there, find the rest of these foals, and teach a lesson to whatever evil monster is taking them.”
“Rainbow Dash!” said Rarity, “Unless you happen to know something the rest of us don’t, we’ve already discussed that we haven’t the slightest idea on how to begin a search. Right now, we must sit quietly and wait to see if that poor filly can provide any assistance.”
Rainbow let out a huff, but didn’t say anything else.
After another minute or so, a nurse walked up to the group.
“Excuse me,” she said, “Is there a ‘Mystic Night’ among you?”
The silver stallion got up and slightly raised his hoof.
“Princess Luna has asked for you, please follow me.”
“May I come along,” Twilight asked, “There are some questions I wanted to ask Princess Luna.”
“Of course, your highness.” said the nurse as she led the two down the hall.
It didn’t take long to come across Princess Luna, who was standing just outside the room in which Daisy was resting. Upon approaching, Mystic and the nurse made quick bows while Twilight wasted no time in asking her questions.
“Princess Luna, is everything alright? Did Daisy tell you anything that could help us?”
“Twilight, please,” said Luna, holding up her hoof, “This is why I summoned Mystic Night.”
“Princess?” addressed Mystic questioningly.
“Unfortunately, Daisy Glow does not seem comfortable with speaking with anypony at the moment.” the night princess continued, “I have no doubt that she will eventually open up when she’s had more time to recover, but time does not seem to be a luxury we have at the moment.
“Mystic, I believe this calls for your particular skills. I assume you remember the spell I am referring?”
Mystic put a hoof to his chin and thought for a moment before nodding in understanding.
“Pardon me Princess,” came a deep voice from the doorway into Daisy’s room, the ponies looked and recognized the filly’s father, a rich brown unicorn stallion with a golden mane. “I don’t mean to question you, Your Highness, but I can’t say that I’m comfortable with a pony I don’t know magically probing my daughter’s mind.”
“I understand your concerns, Mr. Glow.” said Luna, “But I promise you, this spell will not put your daughter at any risk. This may be the fastest way to discover the location of the other foals.”
Mr. Glow bowed his head in though for a moment before turning to mystic, looking him straight in the eye. “I suppose if the Princess trusts you, then I have little reason not to do so as well. But if you harm my daughter in any way, I will make you sorry. Do you understand?”
Mystic didn’t say anything, but nodded never taking his eyes off the stallion glaring at him.
Mr. Glow nodded and stepped aside, allowing Mystic into the room. Daisy was laying in the hospital bed with her mother, an off-white blue unicorn with a snow white mane, right next to her holding her hoof. Mr. Glow came in behind Mystic and gently ushered is wife aside to give some room for the spell.
Mystic sat down next to the bed and looked at Daisy with a warm smile, with Daisy looking back with uncertainty.
“Hi there Daisy, my names Mystic.” said Mystic, never once changing his warm expression. “Listen, I know that you must have been through something very scary and you don’t really want to talk about it right now, and I’m not going to make you. But there are still other foals still missing, and we need your help to find them. So here’s what we’re going to do. I know a spell that will let me see what happened and hopefully it’ll tell me everything I need to know.
“Now, I can’t do this spell unless you tell me it’s okay. If you don’t want me to use it, I won’t. But it would be very helpful if I could, do you understand?”
Daisy looked away for few seconds, thinking it over. But eventually, she faced Mystic again, giving him a smile and nodding her head in consent. Mystic nodded back and closed his eyes, gathering his magical energy.
Mystic’s horn glowed with the usual transparent red aura. Slowly, the aura turned white and became more opaque. It then began to slowly fade out and back in repeatedly.
Twilight leaned toward Luna, “I don’t recognize this spell.” she whispered as she watched intently.
“It is a lesser known spell, and that’s his talent,” Luna explained, “Mystic Night is very skilled at discovering and performing foreign magics or those nearly forgotten to history. He found this one quite by chance whilst studying my dream-walking abilities. It allows him to take in a pony’s emotions and then follow them like a path to their memories.”
Twilight watched in awe as Daisy closed her eyes and Mystic’s horn began to fade into many different colors.
“Princess Luna, how did you come across Mystic Night?”
“You mean he hasn’t told you? Well to answer your question Twilight, my sister is not the only one allowed to have a student.”
Twilight decided to save further questions for later as Mystic’s horn stopped pulsating and just glowed continually. Apparently, Mystic had found what he was looking for.