Monday came, and with it the cream filly wandered into the school. Her eyes scanned the crowd. And there they were: Snips and Snails. Walking over: she breathed in as she offered them their notes back. They seemed shocked to see her.
“I thought you were time looping!” A soft frown, confusion. Sweetie looked away and breathed in as she looked back.
“I was…but for some reason it just…stopped. For the past 7 or 8 weeks I’m certain of it…” She looked to them: pleading with them. Begging.
“I know it sounds far-fetched…but please believe me.” Maybe….Maybe they’d believe her?
“Well,” mused one as they shared a glance. Snails would levitate the notes: and give a small smile.
“Well; you did bring the ‘proof’ did you not?” Snips spoke a moment later. They both gave boyish grins, and fresh tears filled her eyes. Relief overwhelming as she pulled them onto a warm hug. Only interrupted by the hoofalls of two certain ponies. Ears folding back: Sweetie moved to step back as the two boys moved to defend her.
All too swiftly: two became four.
“Well if it isn’t Sweetie Dull.” The diamond on the tiara of the pony glinted as she stepped forward, tilting her nose up in disgust at them. Apple and Scootaloo seemed to share a guilty glance. A mouth briefly, slowly, opening as Apple Bloom stepped up to speak. For a moment: a shiver of hesitation. But then Sweetie steeled her mind.
“At least my docile tones aren’t as fake as the tiara on your head.” Stepping shoulder to shoulder with the colts: her gaze trained on Diamond and narrowed. The four flinched back as Snips and Snails both blinked in shock.
“Now could you go play somewhere else? Unlike you I have things to be doing.” Her gaze turning away as she began to walk.
“Come along Snips. Snails. We have work to do.” A soft smile began to fall on her face. An excitement filling her mind. Thoughts of what she’d learned. Of what she knew. The reality of it all weighed on her. But she laughed.
“Who knows, we might save the world~” That was enough to sell the two on the idea. Bouncing along after her they began an onslaught of questions. A brief pang settled on her heart at the bridge she’d burned today. But she needed loyal ponies. Ponies who believed her even with no proof.
Yes. What she needed was the help of true friends.
“I think we’ve found him this time Sweets.” A quiet voice spoke out as Snails poked his head from his pile of books. In the kitchen: Snips was current making them food. The scent of fresh hay and cooked bread wafting through the room: distracting them with their stomachs. All too quickly the book was taken from Snails, and into the waiting magic of Sweetie Belle.
“I knew it. We’ve finally found that rat. This is it exactly.” Her smile grew. The proof she’d been seeking was finally in her hands. A simple scrap of paper that detailed a certain forbidden spell that could be cast only by Starswirl himself. Rising: she held it high in victory.
“Just you wait! When we show this to Twilight she’ll have no choice but to believe us! We have actual factual proof!” Running over: she hugged them both and began to dash around and pack a bag of clothing and coin.
“We need to get ready. We can’t let this clue slip past us like my notes that stupid fire burned down. Or the memory be stolen from me again. This….is…” a slow trailing off of her voice occurred as she saw their bemused glances: and the plate of sandwiches ready on a plate in Snip’s mouth.
“Well,” she smiled. “I suppose we can wait 30 minutes and get some food in first.” A jolt: and her hoof shot up.
“B-But no longer! We cannot let this madman get away!” They both grinned and gave a salute.
“Aye aye Cap’tn.”
“Ahm ahm ah-phm.”
“Sweetie Belle, this note is…” Twilight began: frowning. “Amazing!” Her wings shot open as she began to fly around her library: pulling out books.
“I-I have to cross reference this and-and.”
“TWILIGHT!” Cried out Sweetie Belle as she huffed in annoyance.
“Do you believe me NOW?!” She stomped a hoof, and waited. Pausing: Twilight landed and walked over. Eyes glancing to and fro: eventually she gave a sigh and smiled.
“I believe you.” Gently patting the filly: Twilight began to look into books and try and cross reference the spell.
“We’ll find him.”
“Persistent….little….” Growled a cat.
“You can’t hide your magic signature forever!” Twilight pointed at the cat. “You’re under arrest for cruel and unusual punishment to an innocent filly!”
Lifting a paw: Starswirl meowed out in boredom. “I surrender.”
“Fluttershy what did he say. Er-She.” Glancing to the only pony known to be able to speak to animals: Twilight smiled.
“He said he surrenders.”
“You brought this on yourself you know.” A soft voice spoke: rainbow mane gleaming gently in the sunlight. Celestia looked down upon the pitiful state of the cat in the cage. Large and covered in enchantments to block all magic. Starswirl was to live his life in the cell: and then quietly pass.
A soft purring came from the cat as Starswirl licked his paw, and cleaned his face.
“I’ve already won,” he mowed out, glaring at Celestia. Narrowing her eyes: Celestia turned and began to exit the jails. Though not without at least one final comment.
“I don’t speak cat, Starswirl.” As the door creaked closed: Starswirl began to laugh. His gaze going to a spider in the corner of the cage. A fly in its web. Breaking free the fly began to move around. It attempted to fly out of the cage: and was zapped. Dying instantly.
“Mmmmn,” he purred.
“It seems I’ll need to find an animal smaller…” Curling up: his purring grew in volume. The spider curled up at the far back of the nest: nursing a bundle of eggs. Not yet ready.
But soon.