Spectral Eclipse

by Relux_the_Relux

Haste

Three nights remain until the Nox Eterna Festival.

The room was filled with darkness, except for one spot, where basking in a weak flickering light there was a large purple egg lying upon a pedestal. Dusk approached the pedestal. He then took a closer look at the pillow that supported the egg to find a scalpel there. It was slightly bloody. He retrieved the scalpel and slowly prepared himself to press it against the top of the egg. But as he was about to do so, the three members of the triumequat jumped out of the darkness surrounding him.

"You are not allowed to!" They chanted in unison.

"What? Why no—" Suddenly, the floor below Dusk gave in.

He saw the egg get more and more distant as he fell. He tried to reach towards it but it was of no avail. Eventually, it could no longer be seen. Then a current began carrying him away. No matter how much he flailed, it was futile against the force of the current. Suddenly on the horizon, there was his old foalsitter sitting hundreds of meters tall with his back to Dusk. Dusk tried to call for help but was ignored, not even granting a single look. No matter how he begged and cried. The cold condemnation was crushing.

"Please, I didn't want to—" Dusk attempted to swim towards him but the current was too strong for him to overcome and before long the pink alicorn had disappeared.

Nurse Redheart trotted through the darkness towards Dusk. She stopped before him and stared with a sly grin.

"You think people don't see through you?" And before Dusk could muster an answer she trotted away.

Then appearing from the depths below, a giant Nightmare Moon head rose. Her eye sockets were empty. However, Dusk could still feel her stare.

"It seems We were mistaken taking you in, Dusk Shine." Streams of water began to pour out of her mouth, eye sockets and ears, as she continued,  "My Sister was right to refuse thee!"

"No! Please wait! I can—"

But before the pupil could answer, Nightmare Moon's head began to melt into liquid silver. The wave of the molten metal then swept Dusk away.

It was still just a little past the ninth sleeping hour. He laid, staring wide-eyed at the ceiling, taking in long deep breaths. Slowly taking back control of his respiration, Dusk ground his teeth. It seemed sleep would not be one of the privileges granted to him this night, so he simply waited while hearing the clock tick. The festival was near. Time was slipping by.
 
He would not disappoint. He would not fail. Never again, no matter what.

Dusk came slowly downstairs, his mind not yet deciding if he should be asleep or awake. The table had already been set by Cockcrow who now was in the process of taking the leaves out of the tea. Pancakes were already waiting for him.

Cockcrow looked a bit worried as he watched his companion stagger downstairs, "did you not sleep well, sir?"

"I am fine." Dusk dragged himself up the chair. "Just give me some tea," he grumbled.

After pouring a cup for Dusk and then himself, he sat down to enjoy his own omelet. Sluggishly taking his cup, Dusk sniffed the aroma. Then he immediately began chugging all of its contents down. The heat and flavor helping stir him further awake.

"Another cup, this time leave the leaves in," Dusk requested, as the bottom of his cup hit the table.

Taken aback by seeing his companion quickly drink a whole cup of hot tea in a single motion, Cockcrow tried to reaffirm his companion's well-being. "Uh... a-are you sure you are ok, sir? You seem... uh... tense."

"Tense? No. I am determined." Dusk gave a toothy smile to his companion. "Just need another cup."

"W-well, I-If you say so." Cockcrow went to prepare another batch.

 The way Dusk was smiling at his pancakes disconcerted Cockcrow. As his companion was preoccupied using his knife perhaps a bit too forcefully on the pancakes, he set to prepare a new kettle of tea. As he waited for the water to boil, Cockcrow hesitantly sat to eat his omelet. After taking the chiming kettle and pouring the leaves to let them steep. Then whenever he tried to reach for the tea so that he could pour it, he could feel as if Dusk was giving a look saying he shouldn't which caused him to let the tea steep a bit longer each time.

When both he and Dusk had finished their respective dishes, Cockcrow couldn't wait anymore. He poured the fresh tea letting the leaves fall into the cup.

"Don't let it seep for too long though. It could get bi—" Cockcrow stopped in shock as Dusk was already chugging the next cup. He hoped at least his companion was not going to swallow the leaves. As seemed the leaves were still in his mouth, he was slightly relieved. Relief was brief, however, as he heard Dusk chewing them. 

The taste finally served to fully awake Dusk.

He wouldn't be thwarted. Not by the triumequat, not by Redheart nor by anypony else. Maybe nopony else did believe in him but Nightmare Moon did. And if these ponies didn't want to give him the details, he would just find another way. However, breaking into the triumequat base of operations would be too risky. He didn't also know exactly where the morgue is in the hospital, making it a non-starter for now. But what about the magistrate's office? That could work, Dusk thought. Due to the construction, It seemed that the gamut of documents there could even be greater than what just pertained to her duties.

Now if only he had a way to distract her.

"I need you to get the magistrate for me."

Dusk was once again before the overcrowded town hall. He was glad he wouldn't have to enter it again... at least not the regular way, that is. Cockcrow had gone inside to summon the magistrate. When he deemed enough time had passed for his companion to have brought the magistrate out of her office, he sought a corner out of view. After all, he didn't want to garner attention again.

He searched until he found a nearby side alley obscured by construction waste. Careful that he was not seen, he quickly slipped into the vacant alleyway. Dusk closed his eyes as he focused his mind remembering the twists and turns that they had taken to arrive at the magistrate's office. Thankfully the years of exploring the castle and its secrets had accustomed Dusk himself to keep a good mental map of any structure he entered. This is it, the archmage thought before disappearing.

This time there was no couch to cushion his fall as he crashed into the floor of the magistrate's temporary office. But his distress was temporary and as he stood back up after face planting, it was of no matter. After using the light of his horn to find the lamp, he was back at the over-cluttered room. Haphazardly packed storage shelves, bursting cabinets, strewn boxes and messy tables.

Being the quickest to access, he began to check the papers on the table first. However, looking over what had been left behind on the desks it seemed to be mostly just scattered maps, drafts, reports and miscellaneous forms. Nothing relevant to the task at hand. He would go through the contents of the cabinets

Had it not been for his mission he would have instinctively started to sort, catalog and classify, as the mere opening of a drawer caused loose pieces of paper to fall off. Dusk ground his teeth as he skimmed through the documents. Many seemed to not even pertain to the magistrate's office but were just shoved in here for now. It was unbelievable that she was able to work somewhere so unorganized. Dusk’s eye twitched. How can she even work here?

While attempting to comb through the files, memos and all kinds of reports of his third drawer, he thought, this is taking too long.. Thankfully, his pursuit of knowledge caused him to learn methods to help in situations like this. He took a step back to the center of the room and focused his magic on all the strewn documents. Soon cabinets sprung open as the documents inside flew throughout the room. The documents floated, joining the large ring of papers before leaving and being to be organized into piles on the floor or on the desks.

Most of what passed the ring was just some form of Ponyvilian bureaucracy. Then something caught his attention. It was a letter from Midnight Oil from a few days before Doctor Horse's death. Bringing the letter closer he read:

Magistrate of Ponyville Mayor Mare,

Undue panic is not desired. Especially, so close to the Nox Eterna Festival. Until further notice, mention of an attack at the Nightmare Moon shrine or mentions of Berry Punch's death is to be suppressed in the public press.

Furthermore, access to the shrine is to be kept closed for the next three nights for restorations due to "vandalism".

I trust you to not fail your duties.

Supreme Lunar Inquisitor,
Midnight Oil

He wasn't sure how much longer Cockcrow would be able to delay Mayor Mare. He quickly pocketed the letter, put the documents into their places and turned off the lamp. Then he focused once more.

After managing to finally go through the tiresome process of pushing their way through the masses of bureaucrats, craftponies and guards, and exiting the slow-moving checkpoint, Cockcrow led Mayor Mare to and where he had left Dusk. To his dismay, Dusk was no longer there. 

"And where is Our Honorable Apprentice?" Asked the Magistrate as she stepped outside.

"Uh..." Cockcrow looked around trying to find where his companion might have gone. Then, trying to come with an excuse, he suggested, "Maybe.... he needed to... relieve himself? "

Mayor Mare just lifted an eyebrow in response.

"So, how have the preparations for the festival been? Hopefully, all the chaos hasn't caused too many problems for you," Cockcrow inquired offering the widest smile he could muster.

She sighed. "It is simply not the same when Ponyville was a simpler town with simpler problems." She rubbed her right temple with her hoof. "The increased workload that has come with an expanding city has definitely taxed the council more work than were prepared but with organizing the Nox Eterna festival on times like these? I don't even have time to even glance at all the paperwork. I’m surprised we are being able to keep everything on schedule."

After several minutes of idle chat, it dawned on him that Dusk did not in fact had planned to talk with Mayor Mare. As they waited it slowly realized that his companion had set up this. He tried to keep the magistrate distracted but eventually, he couldn't stir the conversation forward, both due to his lack of deceptiveness and his uneasiness with the situation. As his contributions to the conversation began to progressively consist solely of one-word answers and wordlessly interjections.

"He is not coming is he?" Mayor mare asserted.

He avoided her gaze. "No."

She reprimanded the guard, "Please, Cockcrow, if you wish to hang out and catch up just say it. Don't play tricks on me and bring the archmage's name into this. You're not a foal anymore. Also, shouldn't you be keeping an eye on him?"

 He took a deep breath. "Yes, magistrate."

She then wordlessly turned away from him, having to return to her post. As she joined the back of the queue, the magistrate let out a groan as she would now have to repeat the process of entering her workplace. Unsure if he should search for Dusk or if he would come back for him, Cockcrow stood there. His doubts leading to inaction. As ponies came and left, he wondered if the archmage would even care to come back for him. Eventually, Dusk appeared out of the crowd and rejoined his companion.

"So, what can you tell me about a certain 'Berry Punch'?"

Apparently, this Berry Punch had become quite a drinker ever since she had returned from duty, causing most ponies to disassociate with her. Not many would have noticed her vanishing, so it is not a wonder a death like this could be covered up. Now they were back to the streets, Dusk wondered what his next action should be. Attempt to coerce information from ponies who might have seen her from her drinking places or go directly to the crime scene. But there was something else bothering him.

Dusk noticed that there was something... off with his companion. His previously perturbing smile was missing, he was dragging his hooves while also avoiding looking at Dusk. Dusk kept telling himself to block this out of his mind and focus on his mission. However, he proved himself unsuccessful.

"There is something bothering you." Dusk chastised himself mentally for letting out this comment.

"You could have told me the truth..."

"I did, I told you I needed to get the magistrate for me." He stopped to turn towards his companion. "That was exactly what I needed."

"That... That is misleading!" Cockcrow protested, lifting himself a few inches in the air as he did so.

Dusk rolled his eyes. "Don't be too disappointed; I will buy you sweets."

"Wait, wh— I’m not a foal!"

Dusk pondered for a second. "You do seem to eat like one."

Cockcrow looked equal parts indignant and hurt.

Dusk let an annoyed sigh. "I just need you to—"

At this moment they noticed a small commotion nearby. It seemed there was a cyan unicorn yelling trying to move past two guards that stopped him trying to search him.

"Where do you think you are going?" A guard questioned him while blocking him with a spear.

"Going to do what should be done, you dogs!"

There was a cloaked pony, who seemed to be resisting a body search as tried to push past them, yelling towards the archmage, "do you think everypony just forgot what you did!?"

But then they noticed something in the unicorn’s telekinetic grip.  Some kind of package. That's when they realized what he was trying to do. Some ponies attempted to flee. One of the guards began to shout, "GET DO—"

As Cockcrow was tackling Dusk, they were both knocked down by the sudden explosion. Hitting the ground dazed him, taking a few moments to be aware of his surroundings again. As soon as he did, he checked himself and his companion but it didn't seem neither he nor Cockcrow were hurt. Dusk shoved his protector off him in order to get a better look around him. It seemed that whatever the unicorn was carrying had been knocked out of his grip and triggered while in the air. It seemed that several ponies had been knocked down and were disoriented but none were grievously wounded. 

The attacker had been struck down. He was lying on his side as ponies were fleeing away from him creating a small clearing. A red pegasus wearing the Indigo cloak with a white stripe and an underlined omega on the front of its hood hovered just where the unicorn had been standing. The mare's body was wholly covered in scars. It was the triumequat's third member: Scarlet Scar. Ponies were now scurrying away from both the flying inquisitor and the attacker forming a clearing around them.

As he was trying to stand up, Dusk saw the letter had fallen out of his pocket. He needed to think fast. In a fraction of a second Dusk had set the letter aflame, quickly burning it to cinders.

The recovering unicorn struggled to stand up, as his eyes locked onto the new arrival.

"Do Y—"

Before he could react, she closed the gap, positioning herself crouching before him. She uppercut his jaw interrupting him and causing whatever spell he was preparing to fizzle towards the sky. Then she proceeded to hit his underbelly, lifting him and making him fall on his back. She then landed beside the attacker, staring at him and before he could reorientate himself before she began to stomp on his head as if she was trying to ram his horn into the earth. She continued to do so, kick after kick. At first, there were screams of pain, which were soon reduced to mere groans. 

Meanwhile, Dusk carefully and slowly got closer to the pair to get a better look and Guards had begun to form a perimeter around, pushing away a few onlookers. She continued kicking as he went unconscious. She continued kicking until his horn broke. She stopped, admiring her work. It looked for a moment that she would recommence her assault but she turned around and announced to the guards, "you can arrest him now."

A pair, still shook by the demonstration, scrambled the unconscious unicorn and began carrying him away.

 A voice broke through the crowd. "We have horn suppressors for that!" It was Cardinal Zannia shortly followed by Midnight Oil.

"Oh well." She shrugged. "I must have lost mine while dealing with the dragon."

Cardinal Zannia looked unimpressed. "Sergeant!"

One of the guards left the perimeter and joined the triumequat, saluting them. "Yes, sir!"

Not breaking eye contact with Scarlet, Zannia demanded, "give me a horn suppressor."

The guard quickly produced the suppressor. Due to the heightened security, Ponyville had been under stricter surveillance and horn suppressors had been supplied to the guards. "See?". He presented it on his hoof with an unamused stare.

She shrugged. "I will try to keep in mind". Dusk could swear he could hear Zannia's teeth grind in response.

Midnight Oil turned to Dusk in contempt. "Still here? Has the honorable apprentice not noticed that he is not needed?"

Dusk furrowed his eyebrows and lifted his left hoof, bending his foreleg at a 90-degree angle.

"Oh, because your excellencies have performed such flawless work finding the 'Ghost'. How could one ever think that nopony else is needed? Also, your efforts in securing the city certainly proved to be lackluster. Just four nights here and I have already had close encounters with homemade explosives on two different occasions. And clearly, you have not properly secured the political figures and their seats of power either. Maybe you've just hidden the death of some, considering your track record. Clearly, the experience needed is yours which after months are sti—"

Something felt off, as he saw that Midnight Oil was facehoofing while Cardinal Zannia was shaking his head in disapproval. That is when he noticed that Scarlet was not in front of him near her colleagues, but to his side mimicking him.

Unable to bear anymore, Midnight admonished, "you should stop that."

"Oh c'mon! He does the exact same thing she does!" Scarlet justified, laughing as she rejoined the side of her colleagues. Midnight Oil glowered at her, as Scarlet tried to recompose herself.

As Midnight admonished  Scarlet, Zannia addressed the archmage, "and why are you here? Hopefully not attempting to get yourself involved in businesses that aren't your business, to begin with." 

"Don't worry. I just thought it would be a good idea for me to check the festivities while I am here." He pulled Cockcrow to his side with his left foreleg reaching around him. "Cockcrow here was even going to show me a bar. What was it called again?"

"T-the Dizzy Weasel, sir."

Midnight's eyes narrowed on the pair as if she was trying to probe their mind through the sheer force of her stare. 

Cardinal Zannia alerted his colleague by bringing out his pocket watch, "we have to go now. We have wasted enough time with distractions." He turned and left, followed by Scarlet.

Midnight gave the archmage and his bodyguard one last stare. "Fine." Before following her colleagues' suit.

They had reached the so-called "Dizzy Weasel", as the neon magenta sign declared.  There was also, a neon-sign illustration of said dizzy weasel, for which the cause of dizziness was apparent if one looked at the bottle in its left paw. The establishment itself seemed to be one of the larger ones of its type in Ponyville.

Dusk asked Cockcrow to wait by the door and keep an eye for anyone suspicious. Entering the local, the all-permeating scent of alcohol stung his nostrils but he was more than willing to tolerate it to further his goals. Most tables seemed to be occupied. Dusk could feel some stealing glances at him and others gossiping. However, most appeared to be engrossed with their leisure. Looking over the poster at the entrance, it seemed that there was a special going on related to the festival.

Although the bar was clearly new, it was decorated with wooden furniture and rustic paintings had been treated to be aged. It seemed the owner was trying really hard to make this place appear to be an inherent part of the town since the olden days. He didn't know if it was because the owner wanted to belong or if it was because he thought it was a way to attract newcomers who wanted a "genuine" Ponyville experience. He didn't know, he didn't care. The only thing he cared about right now, was whatever would bring him to fill the next checkbox. 

Tending the bar there was a sizeable light-brown earth pony while wearing an apron. He was cleaning the glasses. He smiled at the archmage. Dusk purposefully approached and sat at the counter opposite to him.

"And what brings the inquisitor to our humble establishment? Have decided to have a taste of Ponyvillian cider?" He hinted with his head at the bottle of "Sweet Apple Acres Apple Cider" on the shelf behind him.

"I am sorry but the thirst I have is not for beverages." Dusk took a seat and leaned closer to him. "What I really need is some info on a certain Berry Punch."

"My job for which I am remunerated is to serve customers and maintain the bar, not to surveil them." He exaggeratedly placed his hoof on his chin.  "But she sounds like a heavy drinker. Could be somepony who has been a regular before?" He then shrugged. "But how can I know, I am just a barkeep and not a therapist for my customers this is not the kind of task I am paid to do," then after a pregnant pause he added,  "so please, order a drink or let pony that wants to your seat."

Dusk's eye twitched. At this moment, the aforementioned cider flask shattered. The barkeep immediately froze. It was followed by other flasks of the same cider.

Dusk attempted to put on his widest smile. "Well, in this case, please, bring me a cup of black tea." He then put 50 bits on the counter. "I am sure this is more than enough."

Some patrons nearby had turned to see what had happened.

The bartender waved and gave a hearty laugh, trying to dismiss their concerns. "Don't worry! I have just dropped a few things!" He then leaned closer to Dusk. "Fine. I have understood."

Either that others attribute to their drunkenness or that he would solve the case before anypony could stop him anyway. After a while of waiting as the bartender cleaned the mess and served the patrons who approached the counter, his tea had arrived. It was time to talk.

The brown stallion started, "so..."

Dusk brought a hoof up interrupting him, he then took a scroll and a quill. "Now we can begin."

The brown stallion started again, "so what do you want to know? She didn't do anything stupid did she?"

"I just need to know of anything unusual that you have observed related to her or she talked about in the past few months," Dusk stated.

"Fine," he sighed before continuing, "she would come here already drunk, then, would spend so much time here we would need to kick her out to be able to close."

Dusk simply looked at him, waiting for something of interest.

"But, eventually she started to come here less and less and staying and not staying as long when she did come." He ran his hoof through his mane.  "She said she needed to keep moving. She told she wanted to forget but they wouldn't stop following her."

Was she actually aware of being followed by the attacker?

"She stopped coming here altogether about a month and a half ago. Think she probably has gotten a new drinking place now." He sighed. "At least, that is what I prefer to think. Things could be worse, especially if she went into withdrawal... especially if you are here. She didn't do anything stupid did she?"

Dusk offered no response.

As they approached what before Nightmare Moon's reign would be called a nightclub. The existence of a "nightlife" in modern times was a motive for joy for  Her Majesty. Not for her apprentice, however, as he had such a vicious look in his eyes that if he were not investigating murder Cockcrow would have thought he was the one who wanted to kill. Cockcrow hoped at least this event of the night wouldn't be as volatile as the previous ones. Also, he had always wanted to be in one of DJ-PON3's parties but he never had the time ever since he joined the guard, especially now where she had grown in popularity and performed mostly in places other than Ponyville.

The flashing sign proudly announced it as "the Comet". At the entrance, a large indigo mare in shades was scrutinizing anypony who wanted to go in. She lifted her shades so that she could take a better look at the approaching pair. The archmage stared directly into the eyes of the one who stood on his way. The bouncer hesitated.

"Uh... oh, of course, the student of Nightmare Moon can come in." She stepped aside. As soon as she did, Dusk strode inside.

"I’m with him!" Exclaimed Cockcrow, quickly following the archmage inside.

Various beams of flashing lights combed the crowded dance floor. A low artificial fog permeated the club. And his old acoustic nemesis assailed his ears once again. The white mare with wild blue hair and purple glasses operated the DJ desk flanked by two huge speakers. As memories flashed of nights of uninterrupted disturbance caused by the raves of this same DJ, Dusk stood there scowling at her. 

Cockcrow did not share the sensibilities of his companion. This kind of reminded him of when he did come to such parties before Her Majesty's return. He hoped that they could maybe stay here for a while before or after doing whatever he planned to.

"So what do yo—"

Then in a moment, a bright flash of light had appeared and Dusk was before DJ-PON3's desk. A few of the party-goers had stopped dancing and were trying to see what happened but the vast majority either didn't notice or didn't care as they continued to revel. The DJ either didn't notice or was actively ignoring him, as she simply worked her equipment. Either way, Dusk was determined to change that soon.

"Where can one find rohyponol!?" he demanded.

She just stared back in confusion. However, she continued to try and continue her duties even with this madpony staring her down, hoping he would soon leave.

Dusk stepped closer, "tell me where they are selling the dream eraser!". 

She just shrugged at the unhinged demands of the nuisance who stood before her.

"Do not act so clueless!" Progressively more and more ponies were stopping and staring at the situation that was unraveling.

Recovering from the initial shock, Cockcrow then flew over the partygoers to Dusk's side. Cockcrow and the bodyguards exchanged looks. The bodyguards one of confusion and Cockcrow's nervous sheepish laughter followed shaking his head.

Dusk placed his forehooves on the desk, inadvertently breaking the plates. As the music suddenly stopped, the few remaining dancing ponies also stopped. "And please don't play games with me! Just tell who is selling the dream erasers and we can continue hopefully never to talk again!"

"W-wait, sir," Cockcrow cried trying to place himself between the two as well as he could. "Sir, why do you think she would know about it?" He further attempted tried to disarm the situation, "also, I'm pretty sure that she is mu—" 

"YOU COME HERE AND CRASH MY PARTY TO ASK ME ABOUT A DATE RAPE DRUG!? HAVE THE BOOKWORMS GOTTEN TO YOUR BRAIN!?" She also climbed the desk to face the nuisance that had materialized itself this night, avoiding the plates as best she could.

"Will you tell me or not!?" Dusk asked, pressing harder on her equipment.

Her glasses had slid slightly down her muzzle, allowing him to see her seething red eyes staring back. "GET. YOUR. DAMN. HOOVES. OFF. MY. DECK."

The archmage and the DJ stared at each other bearing teeth. After a few seconds, Dusk snorts and backs away. Cockcrow's gaze just kept shifting between the two unsure if he should say anything. DJ-PON3 lifted the pieces of the records with her telekinesis lamenting their losses. She then took a deep breath and stepped away from the deck.

She pointed to Cockcrow and Dusk Shine. "YOU TWO! BACKSTAGE! NOW!"

The two looked at each other before following the DJ and her bodyguards into the backroom.

They were now in the green room of DJ-PON3. It was decorated with bright red sofas against the walls, large speaker boxes and a pool table. There was a red electric guitar leaning against the wall in one of the corners.  Several open energy drink cans laid on the vanity dresser, now with the magenta glasses placed near them. The musician glared with such fury that one would think that bodyguards in the room weren't to protect her but the uninvited guests.

"And you thought I would know where to find the eraser?" She lifted her hoof in ire. "Did your hermit mind go: the stuff is also a date rape drug which is used in parties so the wub pony must know, or what?"

Dusk did his best to steel his gaze and not avert it to not give it away.

"Miss Scratch?" One of the bodyguards spoke up.

Scratch turned her head towards the mare and gave a look saying, what is it? The guard approached and leaned in to whisper something in her ear.

"Hmhm." The DJ nodded as she continued to relay something. "Really?" She lifted her eyebrows with slight interest. Lastly, she ground her teeth. "Ok."

The guard then stepped back. The MC then took a deep breath.

"Well then, you're in luck, book horse." She proceeded to explain, "apparently they caught a mare trying to sell some of the stuff outside," she explicated with gritted teeth, "so dude, I will let you interrogate her if you stop bothering me and never come near me, my stuff or my parties again. Capisce?"

Nothing he would consider this a great loss. He snorted, "sure."

She grabbed her glasses with her telekinesis and on her way out she warned, "also, I will be sending you the bills for tonight."

She was followed by her bodyguards, with the exception of the one who had passed the info to the MC which stayed behind.

"Please come with me." The mare opened the door and waited to make sure these two would be coming with.

Dusk "Aren't you going to come too?" He addressed his companion who stood there transfixed, still shook by the interaction between the archmage and the DJ.

He quickly recomposed himself. "Y-yes! Let's go."

They had offered one of the storage rooms. A white table had been placed in the center. Waiting there was a cyan pegasus mare with pale blonde hair. She shifted nervously in her seat as she tapped her hooves on the table.

"Name?"

"Sassaflash."

"And why did you have the stuff with you?"

"I don't remember. Somepony must have just planted it onto me." She offered a nervous smile.

"Somepony snuck over 200 doses of dream eraser onto you." Dusk simply let the statement hang in the air with a deadpan expression.

She nodded fervently. "Y-yes." At Dusk's unchanging expression, her smile faltered. "No."

"Now, might want to share why did you carry it with you them?" 

"It was for... personal use."

"Personal use?" Dusk leaned closer. "Personal use to use on yourself or on somepony else?"

"Myself." She hastily clarified, "I need it to fall asleep."

"So due to sleep problems you carry on yourself a drug that cannot be obtained legally?"

"O-ok, I didn't use it. I was just selling it, I swear," she tried to hastily correct herself.

"That doesn't actually make your situation any better." Dusk leaned back rubbing his temple with one of his hooves. "Due to the current circumstances being involved in the supply makes your situation worse."

"W-what do you mean?"

"You know, currently there are insurgents hiding in Ponyville. We suspect that a group opposed to her Majesty currently here in Ponyville has been abusing the drug to avoid her detection. If it is found out you were involved with any of such elements. We could raise it to insurgence charges," Dusk warned her.

She swallowed. Unable to say anything.

"Of course," Dusk offered, "if you were to collaborate with us maybe the insurgence component could be discarded."

She pursed her lips in reflection, sitting there thinking for a while, until making a decision.

"The abandoned playground north just beyond the breach in the fence." There is a breach in the fence? Dusk would certainly need to report it... later, of course. First, he needed to make use of this lead."There is a code to knock on the bench three times. B-but I wouldn't bother going. T-they will remain hidden if they think you are there to bust the whole thing... They will just regroup elsewhere so I-I really wouldn't bother..."

As Dusk kept notes, Sassaflash looked anxiously at him.

"S-so what happens now? Will you take me or...?"

In response to her plea, Dusk simply stood up and left. He was sure someone would come sooner or later to arrest her.

Dusk returned home still filled with obsessive determination. His companion, however, still carried an expression of shock. As Dusk opened the library's front door, Cockcrow immediately walked absent-minded past him without words into the kitchen calling it for the night. Dusk simply went upstairs.

The Festival was soon. He had to hurry. He would prove it to them. He didn't need anyone.

Back in his bedroom, it was time to review his progress. He took his checklist and quill and updated it. As he finished it, he stared at his checklist, disappointed. There were new checkboxes but no new checkmarks. He laid in bed. Was he actually getting closer? Were the triumequat suspecting him? Did the nurse rat him out? Doubts filled his mind as he drifted to sleep.

List of Tasks: D-4
As of necessary for: finding the “Ghost”