//------------------------------// // Pursuing the Talent Thief // Story: Light and Darkness – The Shadow of Midnight // by Rakoon1 //------------------------------// A few days have passed and it looked like the twins were adapting quite well in their new school. Despite the strangeness around them, with the help from their brother and friends, it cleared soon enough. It was clear that Sunny was the one that excelled in the class in comparison to Midnight, as she had a very logical thought that she had inherited from her mother. However, Midnight, with her intuition and natural talent wasn’t too behind of her sister. The fact that they could go and explore Leafgreen at ease was also a great way for the twins to adapt, as they could clear their minds and be with their friends. Gallus, who normally preferred to be left alone, eventually started to go out with the twins, Silver Wind and Gust, as he was the latter’s roommate. Initially keeping to himself, he started to open up, despite keeping always his somewhat sarcastic and rude behavior. One pony that tried to get included at all cost was Cozy Glow. Whenever she had the chance, the pegasus filly tried to get in the conversation using her charm and sweet talk or else trying to help. Most of the students actually liked her, but Midnight, despite sharing the same room with her and, for that reason, being the pony spending more time with her, wasn’t capable of considering her a friend. She didn’t know the reason for that, only that Cozy Glow seemed to be hiding something behind all that sweetness of her. Meanwhile, the Cutie Mark Crusaders continued their role as teachers, while keeping investigating the talent thief. Until that moment, they haven’t noticed any strange movement, even having a magic mirror given to them by Mirror Coat charged with the energy they have found connected with the talent thief. Because of that, they focused on their duties to the academy. Apple Bloom, being the head of the Club of Activities, was responsible for overseeing all the activities practiced in the academy and creating new ones. Scootaloo helped Gideon in training the flying derby team, while scouting for promising flyers. However, at that time, the team was not yet formed, but there were already young flyers starting their training for the selection, including Star and Gunter. But some news regarding the flying derby would soon be known, as there would now exist two categories: the junior, for the younger students, and the senior, for the older students. Sweetie Belle, on her side, was teaching Enchanted Music, while looking for possible prodigies. At the end of the first week, some first year students were having Enchanted Music as their last class of the day, what included the twins and Cozy Glow. Sweetie Belle was teaching them the concept of the Thirteenth Note, the secret behind the musical power of the prodigies. “And as you can see, prodigies can use the Thirteenth Note for a great number of ends” Sweetie Belle explained, while pointing to the black board where she had visual graphics of the subject. “It can expand the natural ability for musical magic, what allows the user to do many feats of magic they would never be able to do.” Sunny raised her hoof and Sweetie Belle said: “Yes, Sunlight?” “What kind of feats can be performed?” she asked. “Well…” Sweetie Belle started. “Isn’t obvious, silly?” Cozy Glow replied, while making her childish giggling, before Sweetie Belle could continue. “Feats that ponies like Melody can do, like calming ponies or even manipulating them, and… Oh, sorry, Professor Sweetie Belle, I think I went little… overboard.” “It’s okay, Cozy Glow” Sweetie Belle replied, with a smile. “Actually, those were good examples of what the Thirteenth Note can use. However, you must take in count that Melody is not a prodigy, but her light is the source of the Thirteenth Note.” “Wow, Cozy, you really know a lot of this” Midnight noted. “Well, I like to read a lot” Cozy Glow said. “Yeh, I also like to read too” Sunny said. “Perhaps we can make book trades. We may have books that each other don’t have.” “That sounds great!” Cozy Glow replied. The bell to the end of the class rang and Sweetie Belle said to her students, while they started to pack their things: “As homework, I want you to make a small essay about the Thirteenth Note and its uses.” As the students started to go out, Sweetie Belle started to clean the board, when Scootaloo came in and said: “Sweetie, hurry up! We have something on… you know who.” Hearing that, Sweetie Belle hasted to clean the board and then followed Scootaloo. They went to Apple Bloom’s room who was watching the hoof mirror Mirror Coat had given to them. The reflective surface was glowing. “Ah jest notic’d the trackin’ mirror glowing a few moments ago” Apple Bloom said. “Fortunately, Scoots was with me so she went tah find ya as fast as possible.” “Finally we have something on the talent thief” Scootaloo said. “I was starting to think the solo reason for the Tree of Crisis to send us here was to become teachers. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love training young fliers, especially when I can prove Rainbow Dash how great coach I can be, but I did sign up for a little action.” “Where is it coming from?” Sweetie Belle asked to Apple Bloom. “From the academy?” “Fer what Ah can see, it’s comin’ from Leafgreen” she replied. “Great, so let’s go!” Scootaloo exclaimed, preparing to go. “Wow, Scoots, hold on a sec” Apple Bloom said. “We can’t jest go like that. Have ya forget this is a secret mission? We should probably wait until night befere goin’ after the talent thief.” “But he can get away while we wait!” Scootaloo protested. “I don’t think so, Scootaloo” Sweetie Belle said. “The best way for somepony like him to move around without being caught is at night.” Seeing she was in disadvantage in that discussion, Scootaloo sighed and said: “Okay, we act at night.” The night fell, but it was not the only thing to do it, as it also started to rain. The Cutie Mark Crusaders, using hood cloaks, started to patrol the Leafgreen. Sweetie Belle had the tracking mirror, using her magic to prevent it from getting wet. She had also casted a telephatic spell given to her by Mirror Coat to link her and the other two’s minds so they could coordinate their pursue of the talent thief. They have scattered all over the village, looking for him, while keeping contact. “No sign ov tha suspect at tha square” Apple Bloom said. “The entrance of the town is also cleared” Sweetie Belle added. “I can’t see anything either” Scootaloo said, while flying above the village. “And this rain is not helping at all.” “We have tah keep looking” Apple Bloom said, while walking down the square and looking around. “This is our first lead ov tha talent thief here in Thicket. We manage tah get him, not only we’ll stop the kidnappings, but we can also give the Generals a way to know more about the threat coming from that sealed realm.” “It’s easy for you to say that” Scootaloo said, while flying. “You’re not the one that has to flying during the rain. ” “He’s close, I’m sure of that” Sweetie Belle said, looking at the mirror. “The mirror doesn’t lie. Once we find him, we can pinpoint his location.” Apple Bloom was looking around until she noticed some movement. Hasting to follow it, she told: “Ah have movement at mah area! She then saw who was running, catching a glimpse of his face. He was an earth stallion, also using a hood cloak, with a dark grayish cornflower blue coat with some scars, a mane with shades of dark blue and dark grayish blue eyes. Using the telepathic link, Apple Bloom sent that image to the others, telling then: “Got it?” “Got it!” Using that image and comparing it with the energy readings they had, Sweetie Belle got a match. “It’s him!” she exclaimed, starting to run towards the place where Apple Bloom was. Noticing Apple Bloom running towards him, with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo soon following her, the stallion started to run away. He tried to mislead them, but, despite we would be able to do it with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, the same couldn’t be said about Scootaloo who drove to try to catch him. Using an impressive agility, he dodged her and was able to climb a house and continue to run away through the rooftop. “What the…” Scootaloo said, caught by surprise. “Oh no you don’t!” And she went up again to keep pursuing the stallion. He jumped down the rooftop, passing through a wall that blocked Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom who were following him at the ground. Scootaloo, arriving there, quickly helped them pass over and they continue the pursue. While Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle followed the stallion, Scootaloo went to try to find a way to corner him. The former two pursued the stallion. Even with him trying to dodge them, they were able to reach him, what caused the three to share a look. The two mares tried to attack him, but he was able to dodge and again went to the rooftops using his agility. With that, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle didn’t have any other option, but to take another turn. They then arrived to an alley full of trash cans where there was no sign of him. “We lost him” Apple Bloom said. Sweetie Belle looked to the tracking mirror and saw something coming from that alley. “He’s here, that’s for sure” Sweetie Belle said. Scootaloo landed besides her friends and the three of them advanced with caution, looking everywhere for the stallion, but they didn’t see anything. “Tha alley is empty” Apple Bloom said. “But he’s here in front of us” Sweetie Belle said, looking to the mirror. “We got you!” Scootaloo exclaimed, advancing and causing some gathered trash cans to fall, only to find nothing but a stray cat. “Great, we spent our time chasing a cat. Mirror Coat should really see if his mirrors work before giving them to us.” “Normally, they work” Apple Bloom said, while Sweetie Belle tried to calm down the cat with her voice. “That’s what mah sister normally says.” “I think we better go” Sweetie Belle said, while letting the cat go. “We won’t be able to catch him now. He must have hidden and now is aware of us.” “Sweetie is right” Apple Bloom said. “We better go.” Scootaloo released a frustrated groan before she and the others moved away and returned to the academy. After they left, a figure appeared at the alley and the mysterious stallion appeared, while taking the hood. At Apple Bloom’s room, the three Cutie Mark Crusaders were cleaning their wet coats and manes, while discussing what happened. “I can’t believe he escaped!” Scootaloo exclaimed. “We were so close!” “For an earth stallion, he is quite fit” Sweetie Belle said. “Did you see how he was so agile? He even dodged Scootaloo easily.” “Yeah, don’t remind me of that” Scootaloo said. “I don’t want Rainbow Dash to know that an earth pony beat me.” “What Ah don’t understand is why we couldn’t find him” Apple Bloom said, looking to the tracking mirror. “The mirror showed that he was there.” “In my opinion, Mirror Coat gave us a defected mirror” Scootaloo said. “Having in count how perfectionist he is with his glass nature, I doubt that” Sweetie Belle replied. “I believe that stallion was able to camouflage himself. That would explain why the mirror sensed him, but we couldn’t see him.” “Whatever happen’d, we must keep our eyes open’d” Apple Bloom said. “Somethin’ tells me this won’t be tha last time we’re going tah see that stallion.”