//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 // Story: The Collector // by gallagsp the corgi //------------------------------// Octavia paced back and forth nervously in the hospital room. Her pupils were dialated and she was sweating. She remembered being attacked, and that she woke up in the hospital with her cutie mark missing and doctors asking a lot of questions. Questions she didn't have the answers to at the moment. She took a breath and thought hard. Something wasn't right about this. This was too wierd. Ponies had been mugged in Canterlot before but none would steal a cutie mark. She didn't even know that was possible. Of course, she didn't know much about magic, being an earth pony and all. She shook her head and walked over to the window. She peared down below. There was a taxi out in front of the hospital, and three ponies were getting out of it. She couldn't tell from the so high up, but one looked like she was on the brink of insanity, the other two were walking a few steps behind her as they approached the doors, and they kept glancing nervously at each other. Maybe those two had brought the first one here because of that crazy look. Who knew? Octavia resumed her pacing again and glanced at the clock. It was almost noon. More thoughts ran through her head. How long ago was she attacked? A few hours ago? A few days ago? She had no idea. What she did know was that her life was going to change forever. For starters her Cutie Mark was stolen, then someone stole her cello. She left it in the alley when she was attacked and hasn't seen it since. She thought about that cello. It had been a gift from her father, years ago. She could still remember the look on his face when she discovered her talent for it. He was so proud, and he rushed her out to the best music shop in Canterlot, getting it special ordered. The dark wood was from a rare tree in the everfree with magical properties. The strings of the finest fiber, the bow made of the same stuff. There was a silver inlay on the body, swirling around forming beautiful shapes. Octavia could have chosen gold, but she didn't like it as a filly. She thought gold was too bright, to flashy. She liked the smooth, calming affect of the silver and how it went with her coat and mane. Sure, she had had other cellos through the years, but that one held a special place in her heart. And now it was gone. Octavia was overcome with a wave of grief. She had lost the most precious thing she had ever owned. A single tear formed in the corner of her eye as the gravity of the situation finally hit her. A gift from her father was gone, and she was a blank flank. She fell to the bed as more tears came. Soon she was sobbing quietly into the pillow. She didn't know how long she was crying for, but there was a knock at the door. She sat up and wiped her eyes, taking a moment to compose herself before saying anything. "Come in." She said after a minute. Her voice was high pitched and squeeky, she hated sounding like this. This os how fillies sounded when they got emotional, not a grown mare. The door opened slowly and three mares stepped inside. Octavia recognized them as the three who had walked into the hospital about ten minutes ago. The purple one looked much calmer, and was running a brush through her de-frizzled mane as she stepped into the room. The blue one came in next, looking around the room nervously. Finally, the green one came in. She smiled and walked up to Octavia. "Hello, you are Octavia, am I right?" She said. "Yes. I am Octavia, and who, may I ask, are you three?" Octavia raised an eyebrow. "I saw you walk into the hospital earlier. You even looked like you were here for the phsyc ward." She pointed at Twilight, who blushed and discarded the brush. "Yeah. My name's Lyra, this here is Twilight Sparkle, and that there is Colgate. You two have something in common." Lyra smirked, earning her one helluva glare from Colgate. Octavia didn't get what Lyra ment by that, until she looked at Octavia's flank. "You! Your Cutie Mark!" Her eyes dialated and she pointed. "Yeah. Thats why we're here. You were attacked last night, wern't you? I was attacked a few nights ago, same pony, and we're trying to find him." "Really? So this pony is a serial... Um, theif?" "We don't know what to call him. He is a theif, but nothing like this has ever happened before. I'm not even sure there are laws against this." Lyra closed her eyes in thought. "So far the only thing we can get him on is several accounts of Assult, Kidnapping, and Torture. We may be able to charge him with Illegal use of banned magic, if something like this is illegal." "No idea. I could look into it while we're here in Canterlot, but that could take weeks to search through the Castle Archives." Twilight said. "But we don't have time for that. We don't even know where this guy even is anymore." "Right." Colgate looked around. She was waiting for something to happen, when nothig did, she sighed. "Look, I now you have a lot of questions, but we need your help. You're probably scared, but think about how many more ponies this pony would hurt. We are trying to find him, and bring him to justice. We need your help, will you join us?" Colgate looked around. The three mares were looking at her hopefully. She thought long and hard about her decision. On one hoof, it was over. She could live without a Cutie Mark. Plenty of ponies succeeded in life without one, and maybe the story of what happened could get this pony without her help. On the other hoof, he could hurt so many more ponies. These ponies needed her help. "I have one question. Why not contact the police? Why go out and do this in your own.?" "I am the police." Lyra said. "Well, I'm working with them. There are a lot of reasons why they arnmt invokved, so they have me, and in return they forgive my small criminal record." "For what?" "Tresspassing, breaking and entering, stuff like that." "I see." Octavia sighed. "Alright. I'm in. Where do we begin?" "By getting you out of the hospital, then we hunt this guy down like the animal he is." "Sounds good to me." Octavia extended a hoof, Lyra took it in hers with a look of confidence on her face. They may be back at square one, but they have more help. Things were starting to look up, at least it seemed that way to Colgate.