//------------------------------//
// Suspicion Confirmed (and its scary) 
// Story: The Creature 
// by SirVindicator 
//------------------------------//

"You know maybe we should just answer a few questions to avoid any...altercations." Mid Tier said trying to mitigate the situation.

"Wait, Tempest! Trixie has a solution for this. While I was in the castle library with Starlight learning about more advanced spell casting. I found one that reads a unicorn's magic usage, as in how much magic did they use within a given period of time. Starlight used it on me to know how much I practiced my lessons. I could use it on Mid Tier." Trixie said, thinking it to be a decent enough idea.

Cloud Nine rejected the idea, claiming it would prove nothing. Unicorns, especially enforcers practice magic consistently so Trixie would gain nothing from doing it. More importantly how would the irregular use of magic prove that either he or Mid Tier know anything about said creature or whatever plans it has.

"Maybe Mid Tier used a large teleport spell out of fear or used a lot of magic in dealing with the creature." Trixie said with confidence.

Tempest was about to say something when she noticed that Mid Tier was holding back some nervousness. She then said, "Let's see where this goes, it sounds like a good place to start."

"Umm... I would...but I can't right now. Besides, it's an advanced spell and Trixie might still be learning, so we wouldn't want an accident to happen if she messes it up." Mid Tier said now starting to show how nervous he is.

"Come on, Mid Tier let's get out of here before she does something to us that she will later regret." Cloud Nine said getting behind Mid Tier and pushing him towards the exit.

"Tempest is right, what are you two hiding?" Luna asked sternly.

"I trust you, Trixie, cast the spell on them." said Starlight.

Trixie focused and cast the spell on Mid Tier and nothing happened to him. The only thing is that Trixie's horn briefly glowed red and then returned to normal.

Trixie then said confused, "The spell is saying that you haven't cast anything within the past 24 hours."

"Maybe you cast the spell incorrectly." Mid Tier said now standing still.

Starlight decided to try the spell herself and extended the time out to three days and her horn glowed red too and then returned to normal. No, Trixie did cast the spell correctly and for some reason it was saying that Mid Tier had not cast anything in the past three days or even used any of his magic; not a teleportation spell or even a consistent use of levitation that would register as some magic use. Come to think of it, she had noticed earlier that Mid Tier did not even use his magic to levitate the coffee to his mouth.

Shallow Night then chimed in overhearing the conversation, "But that can't be right, Mid Tier was practicing several spells in front of me yesterday and the day before. What's up? What's​ going on Mid Tier?"

At this point the interrogation of Mid Tier and Cloud Nine had attracted the attention of the other ponies there. All of them now looking at Mid Tier and Cloud Nine.

"I give up with this facade. You just kept going." Cloud Nine said starting to not sound like himself.

Out of options and with everyone watching them, Mid Tier and Cloud Nine revealed the truth, bluish tentacles sprouting from their bodies accompanied sounds of bones cracking and the sight of blood spilling out of wounds made by the tentacles and their eyes turning completely red.

"Yes, we found it and now we ARE it." Cloud Nine said in a voice very similar to the creature’s.

"You really should have just let the matter go, creatures. Your lives may have been spared or at least you all could keep being yourselves." said Mid Tier in the creature's voice. He then said, "For example, because of you now she won't survive."

What used to be Mid Tier pretended to strike at Trixie, but instead shot tentacles at Shallow Night. Unfortunately, she had fainted after the previous display of horror and was engulfed by tentacles, steam then coming from her body as it is slowly dissolved by acids.

"I didn't think THIS would happen! What do we do!?" Trixie said now visibly horrified.

"Get behind me, all four of you." Luna said preparing her horn. Starlight, Moon Dancer, Trixie and Tempest all got behind Luna as she summoned a large barrier around them.

To be continued...