Everyone took two hours to rest before meeting in the barn again, this time with all of their findings. Apart from Lotus's diary and the information from the other world, Pinkie had found a wallet photo belonging to Filthy Rich of the spa, and Fluttershy learned that the two of them had owned the same cat for a collective year.
"Of course, it's not anything conclusive," Twilight said. "But after coming up empty after our trip to the other world and looking in Lotus's diary, even the most insignificant connection between them gives me some hope."
"So what DID you find in the other world?" Spike asked. "I'm guessing that Lotus's place was a copy of the spa."
Twilight nodded. "She secretly loathed working at the spa, but she felt like she couldn't leave...or she and Aloe would've had to move back to Canterlot."
"Then Rarity got a Persona," Rainbow added casually.
"Wait, really?" Applejack asked.
"I most certainly did!" Rarity said, beaming. She walked over to the side, where everyone could see. Her Arcana card floated down to her as she lifted a sewing needle with her magic. She used it to jab the card and shatter it, thereby summoning her Persona. "His name is Jack of Clubs."
"Oh, that means your Shadow came out, right?" Pinkie asked. "What'd it say, what'd it say?"
"Pinkie!" Twilight scolded. "That's very personal information."
"No, no...it's all right," Rarity assured. "Besides, it's important that it's heard. I'm sure you're all aware of Spike's...little crush...on me?"
"Oh, everypony knows about that," Pinkie said with a giggle. She took out a clipboard with a list of names. "I took a survey!"
"Seriously?" Spike asked dryly.
"And you're also aware of how Spike insisted on doing me favors?"
Everyone nodded.
"Well...as much as I'm loathe to admit it, I got spoiled from his generosity. I began to...take advantage of it."
"Oh, that?" Spike asked. "Yeah, I knew about that."
"Wait, what?" Twilight asked as everyone turned to Spike.
Spike nodded. "Yeah, and I don't mind. I love doing favors for you guys! If it makes you happy, it makes me happy. That's really all there is to it to me."
"Nevertheless, it's still absolutely deplorable of me," Rarity replied. "To abuse your good will like that...the thought sickens me still."
"Don't worry...I know how you feel." Spike seemed a bit sheepish.
Rarity gave Spike a tender smile. "Spike...you are simply the best kind of person. Do us all a favor...never change."
Spike's cheeks burned at the praise. "Aw, c'mon...I don't do all that much..."
Rainbow Dash cleared her throat. "Hey, I like bonding just as much as the next pony, but can we move this along? We're here about the murder."
"That's right. My apologies." Rarity was silent for a moment. "So...what do we know?"
Fluttershy timidly raised a hoof. "Um...before we started talking about Rarity's Persona...I noticed that both Filthy Rich and Lotus Blossom hated their jobs, but for one reason or another, they felt like they couldn't quit."
"Hey...you might be onto something!" Twilight said. "Out of what connections we've established, that's a lot more likely to be applicable than a photo or a cat."
"Also..." Applejack's eyes were thoughtful. "Didn't the two bodies show up right after a rainy day? And then they were missin' fer two days b'fore that?"
"Indeed," Rarity replied. "I believe it's safe to assume that their time spent missing is time spent in the other world."
"How do they stay in there for three days?" Pinkie wondered. "Does the murderer throw in food and water for them?...Or a porta-potty?"
"Well, that doesn't matter," Rainbow said. "What DOES matter is that we've got ten days before the next light shower. The big storm is another week after that."
"So what do we do until then?" Fluttershy asked.
"We have eight days before the murderer makes another move, if what we're going on is right," Spike said. "Why don't we just take some time off? This murder mystery stuff wears me out."
"Try fighting the Shadows," Twilight replied, rolling her eyes. "After fighting Rarity's Shadow, my everything is sore."
"Does this mean we can throw a Time-Off-From-Hard-Work party?" Pinkie asked.
"You have a serious problem, girl," Rainbow scolded. She stretched her legs and wings. "I'm still spent...all I wanna do right now is take a nap."
With that, everyone left the barn, determined to enjoy the break while there was a break to enjoy.
Twilight and Spike went home so that Twilight could rest for a while longer. After that, however, they didn't know what to do. With the mystery temporarily out of mind, the others had work that they needed to catch up on--with the exception of the heavily sleeping Rainbow Dash. This in mind, they decided it couldn't hurt to talk to Looking Glass again. He was standing in the center of the bridge overlooking the river.
"Afternoon, your Highness," came the detective's greeting. "Here for a progress report?"
Twilight nodded. "Skip the procedure and target criteria, though. I managed to piece those together."
Looking Glass sighed. "Well, there's not a whole lot to tell, then. Lotus's body was discovered at the bottom of the river, but she didn't drown. Just like Filthy Rich, we can't figure out a cause of death."
A small, orange pegasus with an unkempt red mane came up, holding a paper bag in her mouth. She put it down beside Looking Glass. "Got your dinner, sir," she said. She turned to Twilight. "How're things, your Highness?"
"Oh, I don't believe you know my assistant." Looking Glass ruffled the young mare's mane. "This is Siren, my niece."
"Sir, we're supposed to stay professional when we're on the clock," Siren said indignantly. Despite that, Twilight could tell that she appreciated the affection.
"Are you working on the case, too?" Twilight asked. "How come we never saw you before?"
"Truth be told, I only got transferred here after the second murder." Siren smiled. "Looking Glass is the best mind on the force, but I help him out with the crimes that are beyond his grasp."
"Aren't you a bit young for this kind of work?" Spike asked.
Siren laughed. "Look who's talking! Besides, right now I'm just an intern. I'll be able to get a real job with the force when I have some work experience."
"You can get internships as a detective?"
"Oh, for sure! You'd be surprised what kind of internships are available to ponies. Firefighter, royal guard, snowflake maker, dragon tamer..."
"Well, we'd better get out of your hair," Twilight said suddenly, before Spike could ask the obvious follow-up question. "It was good to meet you, Siren."
"You too, Princess." Siren winked at Spike. "Bring the kid again next time, yeah? He's a cute little bugger."
Spike was confused. "I don't follow."
Twilight smiled. "We'll just have to see what happens."
As she finished talking, Twilight felt an intensely warm feeling in her heart. To try and describe it would be an exercise in futility, but it was a bit familiar somehow.
"Twilight?" Spike said. "You zoned out there."
"Right. Sorry," Twilight replied. "Let's go."
After their short conversation with Looking Glass and Siren, Twilight and Spike decided to just go home and read. Sundown was fast approaching, and Spike was looking forward to making dinner.
"What're you planning on making?" Twilight asked.
"We haven't had spaghetti in a while," Spike replied. "You've GOTTA try it with topaz dust this time! I gave some to Pinkie, and she loved it!"
"Well, first of all, Pinkie would eat dirt if there were enough ketchup on it, so I'm not sure she's the best judge of taste. Second...well, is that really safe?"
"The gems are ground down to powder. What's there to worry about?"
"Either way, I'm not sure I'd taste it the same way you..." Twilight stopped as she saw a vaguely familiar face. A small, pink, tiara-wearing face.
"What's wrong?" Spike looked at Twilight, then followed her gaze to find Diamond Tiara plodding along. She looked as if she hadn't slept in days.
"Should we talk to her?" Twilight asked.
"I'm...not sure. It'd be nice to support her in her time of need...but she doesn't really seem like the type to accept good intentions like that."
"We can't leave her like this. She's just a filly!"
"A filly with an attitude worse than Discord's..."
Twilight turned to Spike. "How do you know all of this, anyway? You don't go to that school. Or any other school, for that matter."
Spike rolled his eyes. "Scootaloo was desperate for a show-and-tell one day, so she dressed me up and dragged me there. I STILL haven't gotten all the glitter out of my scales."
"Is THAT why I had to buy a new telescope?"
"Hey, uh, maybe we should go talk to Diamond Tiara!"
Twilight giggled. She turned back towards Diamond Tiara and trotted at a brisk pace to catch up, with Spike close behind. At Diamond Tiara's (lack of) speed, they were beside the distraught filly in no time.
"Hi, Diamond Tiara," Twilight said cordially. "How are you feeling today?"
Diamond Tiara didn't respond.
"You...don't look so good. No offense." Twilight's eyes filled with concern. "Have you been sleeping?"
The filly shook her head.
"Who's taking care of you?" Spike asked.
Diamond Tiara turned towards Spike, and he saw the emptiness in her eyes. "Aunt," she muttered. "Inherited the house."
"Is she being good to you?"
Diamond Tiara nodded. She studied Spike for a moment, and her face lit up ever so slightly, as if she remembered something. "Spike, right?"
"Yeah. Though you may remember me better as 'Baja Blast.'"
Twilight stifled a laugh.
"You two are the first to actually say something to me besides Silver Spoon that isn't condolences." Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes. "I guess everypony else is worried that I'll...blow up at them or something. I dunno."
"Didn't Scootaloo try to talk to you?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah, but it didn't really go anywhere. She seemed pretty nervous...suppose I can't blame her for that."
"You're like a completely different pony now," Spike said. "I don't mean to sound rude, but I'm kinda surprised you haven't made fun of me for not having wings yet."
"Spike!" Twilight scolded.
"It's fine," Diamond Tiara said. "I guess...there just isn't much to gain from it anymore."
Everyone was silent for a few seconds. It wasn't an awkward silence, but it wasn't necessarily a happy one either.
Twilight decided to break the tension. "Hey, you're headed home, right? At the rate you're going, it'll be midnight before you get there. Need a lift?"
"...You mean you'll carry me?" Diamond Tiara asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"You look like you could use it."
The filly thought about it for a moment. "...Okay, I guess...I am really tired."
Twilight smiled and gently lifted Diamond Tiara using her magic, placing her on her back as comfortably as possible. She was a bit heavier than Spike, but Twilight managed.
"Do you even know where her house is?" Spike asked.
"It's...straight down the road from here," Diamond Tiara added sleepily. "Big gate...can't miss it."
Twilight was about to respond, but she felt Diamond's breathing slow down. She had fallen asleep the second she stopped talking.
"Well, would you look at that!" Spike exclaimed. He then stopped himself, seeing as there was a sleeping pony not three feet away from him. "She actually looks pretty peaceful. Y'know, as opposed to bloodthirsty."
Twilight giggled softly. Just as she was about to start walking, she felt that same intense warmth again. She wondered briefly if this was what Margaret meant when she said that Merlin grew stronger via bonds.
The trip to Diamond Tiara's house was uneventful, and there wasn't much conversation--Twilight and Spike didn't want wake up Diamond Tiara, after all. It was difficult enough not to jostle around the little pony as Twilight walked. When they entered her house, there was a red mare with a hot pink mane waiting for them. Twilight could only assume that it was Diamond Tiara's aunt.
"Thank you for escorting her," the mare said softly as Twilight carefully placed Diamond Tiara on the couch in the living room.
"It was no trouble," Twilight replied. "She's changed a lot since Filthy Rich died."
"I'll go grab a blanket," Spike said, and he hurried up the stairs.
Diamond Tiara's aunt was undeterred. "I suppose it gave the poor dear some perspective. She's always been afraid of isolation, see. She has a good friend in Silver Spoon, but sometimes, one pony just isn't enough."
"By the way, I don't think I know your name," Twilight said, turning to face the mare. "I'm Twilight Sparkle."
"Well, of course I know the name of Equestria's newest princess! My name is Ruby. It's an honor to meet you."
Spike came downstairs, holding a rolled-up blanket in his hands. He unrolled it beside the couch and carefully spread it out over Diamond Tiara's sleeping form. "Oh, and that's Spike," Twilight said. Spike turned to the two in confusion.
"I must say, I've never seen a dragon before." Ruby looked Spike up and down.
"I used to get that a lot around these parts," Spike replied.
"Well, we should probably go." Twilight turned back to Ruby. "It was very nice talking to you, but it's getting late, and the two of us haven't eaten yet."
"Well, by all means, don't let me keep you," Ruby replied. "Please do drop by to see Diamond Tiara sometime. I'm sure she would appreciate it."
Twilight nodded. She was about to turn and leave...but she felt the intense warmth again. To say that she was confused would be an understatement--after all, this was the third time today.
Spike walked up to Twilight's side. "Jeez, would you quit spacing out like that? You're starting to worry me. Let's get home."
Twilight shook her head back and forth. "Uh...yeah. Yeah, let's do that."
After voraciously eating dinner, Twilight decided it was time she confided in someone about the Velvet Room--and who better to tell than Spike? She kept the description brief, and Spike understood. He was rather excited about the prospect, in fact.
"And just how long is Igor's nose?" the little dragon asked.
"Uhh...I'm not sure. Maybe a foot?" Twilight replied. "It doesn't matter all that much, honestly. He's been nothing but polite, despite his...less than gentlemanly appearance."
"And all you have to do is just...kinda ask to come in with your mind, right?"
"That, or they'll summon me while I'm sleeping. I don't fully understand it myself, but I'm not about to complain. They're very helpful."
Spike was about to reply again, but his cheeks puffed out all of a sudden. He belched out a scroll tied up with a blue ribbon and a golden seal, upon which a single V was inscribed. Twilight picked it up and straightened it out to read it.
"Now who would be writing at this hour?" Twilight asked. She began to read out the letter. "'Miss Twilight Sparkle...I see that you've made a few new bonds during your investigation. You may have noticed that you felt an intense warmth--' Okay, wow, we're being written to by a spirit medium."
"Keep reading," Spike said, "Don't just leave me hanging now."
Twilight nodded. "'...when these bonds were formed. What you're feeling is the power of your Persona growing. It may not be noticeable at first, but eventually, you will see the results of your efforts. Please remember: There will be more to your journey than fighting Shadows and stopping murder attempts. Sincerely...'" Twilight blinked to make sure she wasn't imagining things. "'...Margaret.'"
"Huh! Speak of the devil!" Spike exclaimed. "...Sort of."
"I'm...not sure how she can write to me, but I guess it's a lot less of a hassle than summoning me to the Velvet Room."
"Also...let me get this straight. Personas get stronger when you make friends?"
"Looks that way."
"That is CRAZY convenient. Why do you suppose that is?"
Twilight thought for a moment. "Well, ponies are social creatures by nature, and our hearts grow as we make friends. Since Merlin is a part of me, it makes sense that he would grow along with me." She rolled up the letter and put it on the reading desk. "We should tell the others about this. Who knows? It might be very helpful to them."
"And...since you're friends with us already, Merlin must already be crazy strong, even by Persona standards!"
"Well, without other Personas to compare with, that's kind of impossible to tell."
There was another short silence.
"So, um...Baja Blast?" Twilight asked.
Spike audibly sighed and rolled his eyes. "Do we have to talk about this?"
"C'mon! This is going to bug me all night if you don't tell me."
"Fine, whatever." Spike crossed his arms. "You know that storybook describing the legend of Bahamut?"
"The King of the Dragons? Of course I do."
"Well, Scootaloo figured that everypony in class knew about me already, so she decided I needed a new name for her assignment. She found the storybook, but she didn't know how to pronounce Bahamut...and the rest is history."
Twilight tried her best to stifle her laughter. Spike looked at her with mild distaste.
"Go ahead," Spike sighed.
That was all it took. Twilight fell over as if someone had pushed her, laughing uncontrollably.