> My Little Investigations: The Gemstone Godfather
>  by Metool Bard
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue: Welcome to My World
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Alright, I'm only gonna say this once, so listen up and listen good.  I'm not telling this story to become famous.  I've never been a famous pony, I never will be a famous pony, and I don't want to be a famous pony.  I'm just trying to vent my frustrations here.  So if you're a journalist who's looking for a good scoop, put away that notepad or tape recorder right now.  Otherwise, you'll be hearing from my lawyer.

There.  Now that I've gotten that out of the way, I should probably introduce myself.  My name's Amethyst.  Amethyst Star.  But, you can call me Sparkler; most ponies do (I'm not sure why).  I'm just a simple mare working as a jeweler's apprentice and part-time foalsitter in Ponyville.  I know that sounds like a boring life, but trust me, it's not.  Ponies often see me as an island of sanity in a sea of craziness, and truth be told, they're not that far off.

Yeah, Ponyville is a bit of a crazy town.  Most ponies say it's just a backwater village out in the middle of nowhere, but that's because they haven't seen it for themselves.  There is no such thing as a dull day in this town; partially because of all the quirky ponies who live here.  Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is a matter of perspective.  I'm personally on the fence.

I mean, I love this town.  There's a great sense of community, a lot of fun stuff to do, and a certain charm that you really can't get anywhere else.  I'm very proud to call Ponyville my home.  However, it's also a bit of a crazy magnet.  It's not just because of the eccentric ponies here, although that is a factor.  It's just that every once in a while (which is more often than you'd think), something insane happens.  Ponyville has been attacked by parasprites; an Ursa Minor; dragons; clones; the Master of Chaos himself.  Heck, even the Everfree Forest we share a border with invaded the town just a few weeks ago!  How crazy is that?!

Oh well.  Life would be boring if you didn't have some craziness, amiright?  After all, the only thing predictable in life is its unpredictability.  Which is why never in a million years did I predict this to happen to me.

What am I talking about, you may ask?  Well, let me fill you in.  It all began a couple of days ago on a lazy summer afternoon.  Of course, I had no way of knowing that at the time...


***
July 10, 4:45 PM
Ponyville
Jewelry Store
***


As was my wont, I was meticulously cutting some gemstones in the back.  There were still fifteen minutes to closing time, but I usually like to make every minute count.  Hey, I'm not getting paid to just sit around and do nothing.  Besides, cutting raw gems so that they can be fitted into necklaces and the like is my special talent.  Pretty much every stone I cut is a near-perfect work of art.  However, that's not all there is to being a successful jeweler, hence why I'm still an apprentice.

I was putting the finishing touches on a piece of quartz when the door to the back room opened.  In walked Karat, the owner of the jewelry store and my boss.  This could only mean one of two things.  Either he was just checking up on me, or there was a customer that he wanted me to deal with.

"Amethyst, would you mind stepping out front for a moment?" asked Karat. "It's you-know-who."

Yep, it was the latter.  And yes, I knew very well who he was talking about.  I sighed.

"I'll be right out," I said, finishing up the piece of quartz before getting up from my workbench.  There's no use arguing about it, but I have the sinking suspicion that he keeps having me handle this guy because he doesn't want to.  I mean, not that I blame him or anything.  You'll see what I mean in a minute.

I stepped out of the back room, and I was immediately greeted by Ponyville's star fashionista, Rarity.

"Good day, Sparkler," she said sweetly. "Just making another donation to the store.  You know how it is."

Sure enough, there was a little red wagon behind Rarity filled with gemstones of all shapes and sizes.  Her special talent is finding gems, and she uses them in her fashion designs quite often.  Because of that, she never has to buy jewelry from us (unless it's for a special occasion).  However, she often donates any extra gemstones she digs up to us.  And what's more, she never asks for anything in return.  Say what you want about Rarity (and a lot of ponies have said a lot about her), but she really does have a good heart.

But, she wasn't the customer Karat wanted me to deal with.  No, that would be her little assistant; a baby dragon named Spike.  And of course, he was right there alongside Rarity, staring up at what we had on offer and licking his lips.

"Now, remember what Twilight said, Spiky-Wikey," said Rarity. "You're only allowed to buy one jewel here.  We can't have you hoarding again."

"I know, I know," Spike grumbled. "Twi only gave me enough money for one, anyway."

I should probably explain some of this.  See, Spike is the only customer in town who considers this jewelry store to be a candy shop.  I don't claim to be an expert on dragons or anything (honestly, I doubt anypony is), but from what I do know, they love snacking on gemstones.  There's also something about them growing big and nasty when they hoard stuff (like gemstones), which is why Rarity's donating her excess gems to us instead of him.  That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if he snarfed a few on the way here.  From what I understand, he does have quite the appetite.

And I'm not gonna lie; selling jewels to him feels kinda weird.  Most customers just try to find one that looks pretty; he just wants one that tastes good.  He even asked me if we had any free samples once, and I really didn't know how to respond to that.  I know dragons see gems differently, but that aside, it's like me going to a five-star restaurant in Canterlot and asking for a free sample of truffles.  It's too ridiculous to even consider.  Despite the old saying, there are times when the customer is not always right.  I guess that's why Karat always has me deal with him.

"Alright, Spike.  What're you hankering for this time?" I said, keeping the exasperation out of my voice.

Spike stroked his chin in thought as his eyes darted from jewel to jewel. "Hmm...  Eh, I had sapphires last week...  Emeralds are too filling...  Oh!  How about that nice, big ruby?"

I looked at the ruby he was pointing to, and then at the emeralds.  The ruby was, considerably bigger.  How it's somehow less filling than a bunch of small emeralds, I have no clue.  But hey, I'm not a dragon.

"Excellent choice, sir," I said, levitating the ruby out of its case with my magic. "That'll be forty two bits, please."

Spike took out a small jar of bits from the wagon and laid them out on the floor.  He was about to start counting them when I simply levitated the pile onto the counter.

"Well well.  It seems like someone's been saving up," I said, counting the bits.

"Yeah, well.  Twilight said it's important to save money," said Spike. "But not too much in my case.  You know, hoarding and all that."

"Yes, I'm well aware," I said just as I finished counting. "Looks like you've got enough.  Here you go."

I took the ruby with my magic and levitated it down to Spike's waiting claws.

"Thanks a bunch, Sparkler," he said with a wide grin.

I chuckled. "You're very welcome, Spike," I said.  I'd be lying if I said I didn't get some enjoyment out of dealing with Spike.  I chalk that up to the fact that I have a bit of a soft spot for kids.  We'll get to that later.

"Have you made your purchase, Spike?" asked Rarity.

"Sure did," said Spike.

"Good," said Rarity with a nod. "Now then, let's get back to the boutique.  There's a few more errands I'd like you to take care of."

"Always a pleasure to serve you, milady," said Spike with a bow.  And with that, they left.

"Well, Amethyst, I think we should close up for the day," said Karat.

I checked the clock up on the wall.  It was only five to five.

"Isn't it a bit early?" I asked.

"Yes, but I wanted to talk to you about something before you head for home," said Karat.

"What is it, Mr. Karat?"

"Amethyst, how would you like to run the store tomorrow?"

I-I was rendered speechless for a moment.  Karat has never asked me to run the store.  I mean, I'm sure I could do it, but every time I asked him if I could, the answer has always been no.  

"Y-you want me to run the store?" I asked. "As in, by myself?"

"I'm going on a business trip to Trottingham tomorrow, and I figure you could use some hooves-on experience," said Karat. "Of course, if you don't feel that you're up to it..."

"Hey hey hey.  Who said I'm not up to it?" I interrupted. "I may still be an apprentice, but you have to admit that I've learned a lot under your guidance.  I can handle this, no problem."

Karat smiled at me. "I like to see that enthusiasm, Amethyst.  Very well, I'll be sure to tell you everything you need to know before I set off tomorrow morning."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Karat," I said with a smile of my own. "This really means a lot to me.  I promise, I won't let you down."

"Of course you won't," said Karat with a nod. "Alright, see you tomorrow, Amethyst."

"Right, seeya."

I left the store with a spring in my step.  This was fantastic news.  I was going to be running the store on my own for the first time.  Finally, this was going to bring me one step closer to completing my apprenticeship and proving myself.  I could just picture the smiling faces of my family at home when I told them.  Yessiree, I was on top of the world.  For me, life was sweet.

Little did I realize that it was only a matter of time before everything would come crashing down...
> Good News/Bad News Time
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 10, 5:12 PM
Ponyville
Golden Harvest's House
***


I got home a bit earlier than usual; partially because Karat let me go early and partially because I was so excited to tell my family the good news.  But even though I was early, I could already smell a sweet, all-too-familiar aroma in the air.  I smiled and licked my lips despite myself.  That particular aroma could only mean one thing: Carrot Top was cooking dinner tonight.

In case you don't know, Carrot Top (or Golden Harvest, whichever you prefer) is our landlady.  She owns a carrot patch in Ponyville, which is why it's always easy to tell when she's cooking dinner.  Now I know what you're thinking: "Why would your landlady make dinner for you?"  Well, I use the term "landlady" a bit loosely here.  I mean, she collects the rent from us and does pretty much everything else a landlady does.  But as far as my mom is concerned, she's practically one of the family.  Not many ponies say that about their landlords or landladies, but my mom's a special case (I'll get to that in a minute).  Besides, Carrot Top is one of her closest friends, so it makes sense.

I looked under the mat quickly and saw that the key was still there.  I actually thought it was a bit strange.  My mom usually gets home long before I do, and I wasn't that early.  Figuring she was just running late, I picked up the key with my magic and opened the door.

"Carrot Top!  Dinky!  I'm home!" I called out.

As soon as I walked in the door, I was immediately greeted by my little sister, Dinky Doo.  She nuzzled her cheek against my chest and gave me an adorable smile.

"Welcome home, Amethyst," she chirped. "How was your day?"

"Not bad, not bad," I said coyly, not ready to reveal the surprise yet. "How about you, Dink?"

"It was pretty fun," said Dinky, beaming at me. "I've almost finished reading Bellerophon and the Chimera, and I helped Ms. Harvest pick some carrots for dinner."

I had to smile back.  Most kids Dinky's age wouldn't consider reading and helping out in the garden "fun," especially not on a nice summer day when they can be hanging out at the swimming hole or the arcade.  But, Dinky's not really like other kids.  She still has that playful innocence and active imagination that most kids do, but she's also very polite and eager to please.  How many kids can you say are like that?  I can't think of many off the top of my head, and I do quite a bit of foal-sitting.

Not only that, but she's pretty smart as well.  Okay, she's not exactly a child prodigy or anything, but every once in a while, she'll say something that'll blow your mind.  She'll say it in a cutesy childlike way, but if you pay close attention, you'll soon realize that she knows exactly what she's talking about.  She certainly knows more about the world around her than I did when I was her age.  And yet she doesn't know what her special talent is yet.  Go figure.

"That sounds very nice," I said. "I'm sure you were a big help."

"She certainly was," said Carrot Top, coming in from the kitchen.  She was wearing her "Carrots are Good for Your Eyes" apron (it's just as silly as it sounds, but don't tell her I said that) and holding a wooden spoon covered in carrot glop.

"It's gonna taste extra good because I helped make it," said Dinky happily. "Food always tastes better when you work for it."

I suppressed the urge to giggle.  That right there is just one part of the Zen of Dinky (as I've come to call it).  Sweet and innocent, yet very true to life.  For the most part, anyway; I happen to be a terrible cook.

"Well, I can't wait to taste it myself," I said. "By the way, Carrot Top.  Did Mom say anything about being home late?"

Carrot Top shook her head. "No, she didn't tell me anything.  It must be a last-minute delivery or something.  Anyway, dinner shouldn't be ready for another couple of hours; I'm sure she'll be home by then."

"Good, 'cause I've got some great news, and I want her to be home to hear it," I said.

"Really now," said Carrot Top, looking at me with interest. "I thought you looked rather chipper."

"Can you tell us now, Amethyst?  Please?" asked Dinky, her eyes glistening. "I promise I'll act surprised when you tell Mama."

I chuckled. "All in good time, Dink.  I really want Mom to hear this."

"But she'll hear it whether you tell us now or not," said Dinky.

"Yes, but I want you all to hear it at the same time.  That'll make it all the more special."

"But I said I would act surprised, so it'll still be just as special."

"Dink, I thought you didn't like lying."

"It's not lying; it's playing pretend.  There's a difference."

I would've continued the argument, but I was just in such a good mood that I really didn't feel like it.  Besides, in a very childish logic way, Dinky kinda had a point.

"Alright, alright.  You win," I said with a sigh. "Mr. Karat is letting me run the jewelry store by myself tomorrow."

Dinky gasped and then tackled me into a hug. "That's wonderful news!" she cheered. "Congratulations, Amethyst!"

"Yeah, congratulations Sparkler," said Carrot Top. "I'm sure Derpy's gonna be very proud of you."  She then peeked back into the kitchen. "Actually, I've got a few carrots left over.  Do you want me to make some carrot muffins for dessert to celebrate?"

"Nah, that's fine," I said. "Besides, Mom will probably end up making them, anyway.  You know how she is."

"All too well," said Carrot Top with a laugh.

I guess there's no sense in beating around the bush any longer.  In case you haven't figured it out yet, my mom is Derpy Hooves; Ponyville's resident mailmare.  Most ponies know her for being a kooky klutz with weird eyes and a muffin obsession.  And well, she is.  All of that is true.  But, she's more than that, and I mean a lot more.  She also has a big heart and a strong sense of determination to overcome her weaknesses.  Like Dinky, she's always willing to lend a hoof to those who need it, even if she goofs it up a few times.  Actually, that's how I ended up living with her.  It's, kinda hard for me to talk about, so I won't get into it here.  All you need to know for now is that I'm very happy that a pony like Derpy is in my life.

"So, what happened?" Carrot Top asked. "How did you convince Karat to let you run the store?"

"Oh, he actually came to me this time," I said. "He's going on a business trip to Trottingham, so I'm looking after things while he's gone."

Dinky then looked up at me with concern in her eyes. "But, won't that mean that you'll be all alone?"

"Well, technically," I said. "But I believe that I can handle the responsibility."

"It's not a matter of responsibility," said Dinky, shaking her head. "Won't you get lonely?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Why would I worry about that, Dink?  I've got a job to do."

"That's not enough to keep you from getting lonely," said Dinky.

I sighed. "Dink, listen.  It doesn't matter if I'm lonely or not."

"Yes, it does," said Dinky firmly. "Mama says if you're doing something for the first time, it's best to do it with a friend."

I started to get a good feeling as to where this was going. "Dink, I'll be okay," I assured her.

"'Okay' is not good enough.  I want you to be happy, too," said Dinky. "So, can I help you tomorrow?  I promise not to do anything without your permission."

While I knew Dinky would stick to that promise, I wasn't sure if I could convince Karat to let her help me.  Smart or not, Dinky's still just a kid.  A kid without her Cutie Mark, no less.  This wouldn't be a bad thing per se, except that we had a problem with some Cutie Mark Crusaders Jewelry Salesponies last week.  Don't ask; I'm actually trying to forget about that incident.

"Well, I'll have to ask Mr. Karat if it's okay," I said. "But if he says yes, well, why not?"

"Thanks, Amethyst," Dinky cooed, giving me another hug. "You won't regret this."

You know, it's hard to be cynical around kids, especially Dinky.  In the back of my mind, I knew this had the potential to get me in trouble, but really, I didn't care.  I'm just glad I've got ponies looking out for me, even if they sometimes take it too far.

Just then, there was a loud thump outside.

"That must be Mama!" said Dinky. "I'll get it!"

In a flash, she darted to the door and opened it.  I then heard her gasp in horror.  Puzzled, I turned to see what she was so excited about.  When I did, well, I had the same reaction.

Now, something most ponies know about Derpy is that she crashes a lot.  Her telltale wall-eyed stare is actually a condition that limits her depth perception.  Usually when she crashes, it's either cute, mildly annoying, or mind-numbingly frustrating.  This time, however, it was none of those things.  It was, actually kinda horrific.

She was covered from head to hoof in bruises and what I could only describe as burns.  She had a nasty-looking scratch on her right cheek.  Even her mailbag looked like it had seen better days.

"Mama, what happened?" asked Dinky. "Are you alright?"

"Mmmph.  I-I'm okay, Muffin," Derpy said weakly, struggling to get to her feet. "I'm sorry I'm late."

"What the heck happened to you, Mom?" I asked. "You look horrible."

"It's, not as bad as it could've been," said Derpy in a strained tone, still struggling.

"Here, let me help you," I said, placing her foreleg over my shoulder.

Derpy smiled. "Th-thanks, Ammy," she said.  I carried her inside and had her lay down on the couch.

"C-can we get you anything, Mama?" Dinky asked meekly.

"N-no, I'm fine," said Derpy. "I just need to rest for a bit."

"Derpy, is that you?  I was wondering when you'd—  Oh my goodness!"

Carrot Top had the exact same reaction as Dinky and I when she reemerged from the kitchen.

"Derpy, you look like a wreck!" she said, running up to her. "What happened?"

Derpy sighed. "I-I don't know.  I was just flying around and minding my own business when something just came out of nowhere and shot me out of the sky.  The rest is, kind of a blur, but I do remember seeing somepony protecting me from something."

This, was bad.  There isn't a pony in Ponyville who would do something like that.  Especially not to a mare like Derpy.

"Well, at least you're still alive," I said.

"Yeah," said Derpy with a warm smile. "Thanks to the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well."

I blinked. "The what?"

"The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well.  She's the one who saved me," said Derpy.

That didn't really sit right with me.  The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well was a bizarre Ponyville phenomenon from a long time ago.  She was this weird costumed pony who kept showing up Rainbow Dash with these acts of heroism.  After Rainbow Dash crashed our first celebration honoring her, she just up and vanished.  It was kinda hard for me to believe that she'd decide to come back now of all times.

"Derpy, Mare-Do-Well disappeared a long time ago," said Carrot Top, sharing my sentiments. "Maybe you were just seeing things."

Derpy shook her head. "No, Carrot Top.  I know what I saw.  It was the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well.  She rescued me from, something.  I don't know what."

"Should we tell anypony?" asked Dinky.

"Maybe we should let Princess Twilight know," said Carrot Top. "Sparkler, do you think you could go tell her?"

"No, it's okay," said Derpy. "I'll tell her tomorrow.  I don't want anypony worrying about me."

"We can't help it, Mom," I said with a sigh. "You look like you need a doctor."

Derpy chuckled. "Ammy, you know I've had worse than this.  I just need some rest, and I'll be back to my old self in no time."

Oh, did I forget to mention that Derpy can be pretty stubborn at times?  I don't know if it's because of her physical weaknesses or whatever, but once she sets her mind to something, it's almost impossible to dissuade her.

"Well, you just rest for now, Mama," said Dinky, giving Derpy a peck on the cheek. "If you need anything, be sure to let us know, okay?"

Derpy smiled. "Okay, Muffin.  I will."


***


The rest of the day was just us looking after Derpy and having dinner.  I did manage to tell her my good news, although it was rather trivial at this point.  Still, it brought a smile to her face, and I couldn't ask for anything more.

I had a few questions, of course, but Derpy insisted that it was nothing to worry about.  She was gonna tell Princess Twilight tomorrow (yes, a princess lives in our town; you figure that one out), and she'd no doubt find a way to sort it out.  Then I could focus on running the jewelry store with Dinky and proving myself to Karat.  Despite the mysterious attack on my mom, I still had a feeling that tomorrow was going to be a great day.

I couldn't have been more wrong if I tried.
> An Impossible Ultimatum
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 11, 8:30 AM
Ponyville
Golden Harvest's House
***


The next morning, I have to say I was kinda surprised.  After Derpy's, incident yesterday, I thought she wasn't going to be able to get herself out the door.  But no, she was actually considerably better.  She was a lot less cheery and still in a bit of pain, but she was still better.  My mom's always surprising me like that.

"Now Derpy, I know we're not going to be able to convince you to stay home," said Carrot Top. "But I still think you should see a doctor."

"I'll go see Dr. Horse later," said Derpy. "I've got something to deliver to him, anyway."

"And don't forget to tell Princess Twilight about what happened," I said.

"I won't, Ammy," said Derpy with a nod.

"And don't push yourself too hard," Dinky pipped up.

Derpy smiled and nuzzled Dinky. "Okay, Muffin.  I'll try not to," she said softly.  She then gave us a salute and took off into the sky.

"That Derpy.  She's always been quite a trooper," Carrot Top mused wistfully. "Well, good luck today, Sparkler."

"Thanks, Carrot Top," I said.  With that, Dinky and I headed out.  While we were walking, I noticed that Dinky was lagging behind a little.

"What's the matter, Dink?" I asked.

Dinky yawned. "Sorry, Amethyst.  I-I couldn't sleep last night."

That was understandable.  I had trouble nodding off myself.  I couldn't help it.  I was just so, worried and confused.  I'm sure Dinky was feeling the same way.

"Well, if you're too tired to help me, you can go home and go back to sleep," I suggested.

Dinky shook her head. "No, it's fine.  You need me to keep you company."

"Dink, I really..."

"You say you don't, but I don't believe you," said Dinky, cutting across me. "Work is a lot less stressful if you're with a friend."

I sighed.  It's not fair when she resorts to the Zen of Dinky to win an argument.

"Alright, fine," I relented. "But don't start dozing off on me, or I'm sending you straight home."

"Deal," said Dinky with a wide grin.

We continued walking in silence.  I took a few deep breaths to calm my nerves.

Okay, Amethyst.  You can do this, I thought. Just don't think about Mom, and you'll be okay.

"What the buck happened to my store?!"

An exclamation from Karat snapped me out of my meditation.  We were still quite a ways away from the jewelry store, but I think half the town heard that.

"That can't be good," I muttered half to myself. "Dinky, I'm going ahead to see what's up.  I think you should probably go home."

"But..."

"No buts, Dinky," I said firmly. "This could be dangerous.  I don't want you getting hurt."

"I'm not a baby, Amethyst," Dinky said with a pout. "I can take care of myself."

I know from experience that her statement is, kinda true.  But the big sister in me remained steadfast.

"I know you mean well, but Mom would have a fit if she knew you got into trouble," I said. "Go home, Dink.  I'll be alright."

"I promise not to get into trouble," said Dinky earnestly. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."

That's, not really something you can guarantee.  But at this point, I realized that it was impossible to reason with her.  I firmly believe that she inherited her stubbornness from our mother.

"Okay, okay," I said. "But I'm holding you to that.  Now c'mon."

With that, we galloped off to the jewelry store.


***
July 11, 8:48 AM
Ponyville
Jewelry Store
***


When we arrived at the place, my jaw simply dropped.  It was a mess.  The windows were busted open; glass and gemstones lay strewn all over the ground; everything was in disarray.  No wonder Karat was so upset.

Speaking of Karat, he was standing outside and surveying the damage.  He looked like he was still in shock.  I decided it was best not to talk to him right this second.  Also, there were a lot of other ponies just standing around and staring at the mess.  None of them really knew what to make of it.

"Omigosh," Dinky gasped. "Wh-what happened?"

"I-I-I dunno, Dink," I said, feeling utterly astonished myself. "I-I-I really don't..."

It was as if my greatest aspirations had all gone up in smoke.  I was so excited about this.  I was going to get some more responsibility at my job; hopefully proving myself to Karat, and what happens?  The store is ransacked before I could even open shop.  Life had just bucked me over royally.  What did I ever do to deserve this?  Heck, what did Karat ever do to deserve this?!  I was just about to start crying when I felt Dinky tap my leg.

"Amethyst, look there," she said.

I looked at where Dinky was pointing.  There was an envelope lying in the rubble.  Curious, I walked up to it and levitated it off the ground with my magic.  I had no address on it, and overall looked very plain.  I opened it up and found a letter inside.  It read as follows:


Amethyst "Sparkler" Star:

You have a very nice life, you know.  A good job; a loving family; a roof over your head.  It would be a terrible shame if something were to, happen to all of that.  Don't you agree, Ms. Star?  Of course you do.  After all, without all that, you'd have nothing.

So, here's what I want.  I want you to pay me a gem tribute.  Nothing major; just a little something every week or so to show me that you're serious about preventing these horrible things from happening to you.  I've already given you two warnings.  I'll delay the third one for five days, just to show you that I'm not such a bad guy.  But three strikes, and you're out.

This is an offer you can't refuse.  If you try, I'll make you wish you were never born.  Otherwise, have a nice life.

~Anonymous


I just levitated the letter in front of my face, reading it over and over again.  I-I couldn't wrap my mind around it.  W-was someone trying to blackmail me?  Why?  And furthermore, why me specifically?  I'm just a small-time apprentice.  Wouldn't it make more sense to go after somepony more well-known?  Not only that, but who would do such a thing?  With all the craziness that happens in this town, the last thing I'd expect from anypony living here is, well, this.  The freaking Princess of Friendship lives here, for Pete's sake!

Then something else hit me.  If I don't know who this guy is, how the bucking hay was I supposed to pay this stupid tribute?!  There was no way I could!  As if threatening my family and livelihood wasn't bad enough; now this prick had to toy with me, too!  What, was I just supposed to guess who to pay the tribute to?!  Maybe that would make sense in Discord's twisted reality, but he's reformed now (or so I heard)!  This wasn't so much an offer I couldn't refuse as much as an offer I couldn't possibly accept!

"Amethyst, are you okay?" asked Dinky.

I think she knew the answer to that question.  I was far from okay, that much I knew.  But I wasn't entirely sure how to feel.  Half of me was very frightened; teetering on the edge of despair, even.  But the other half wanted to go out and tear this cocksucker a new dock-hole.  I was kinda torn both ways.

"Maybe we should go home," said Dinky. "You don't look so good."

Something else hit me right then and there.  Was this, thug going to rope Dinky into this?  She's just a filly.  She shouldn't be a part of this.  It isn't right.  None of this was.  As I slowly recovered from the shock, I felt a stinging sensation in my eyes and an angry inferno building up in my chest.  But before I could release it all in one big tantrum, I heard another voice.

"Amethyst."

I looked up to see Karat standing before me.  He looked pretty mad, but I knew that I had nothing to do with it.  Well, not directly.

"I'm very sorry about this, Amethyst," he said somberly. "I, really don't know what happened."

"N-neither do I, Mr. Karat," I said.  Yeah, I know that was only half-true, but I really didn't want to make this situation any worse than it already was.

"The worst part is I can't reschedule my appointment in Trottingham," Karat grumbled. "Amethyst, do you think you could do me a favor and let Princess Twilight know about what happened here?  She should have the necessary resources to investigate this."

"Y-yessir," I said, hiding my face.

"Good.  I leave this in your hooves then," said Karat.  He then sighed. "I know you were looking forward to having more responsibility, Amethyst.  Again, I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, Mr. Karat," I said.

Karat simply gave me a nod and went on his way, telling everypony to clear out and assuring them that the princess would handle it as he went.  I sighed.  In a way, I kinda felt responsible for this.  I realize that I had no way of knowing this would happen, but still, this prick was hurting ponies that I care about just to get to me.  I couldn't simply ignore it.

"C'mon, Dink.  Let's go," I said, getting to my feet.

"Are we going to Golden Oak Library to tell the princess?" asked Dinky.

I shook my head. "No.  We're going to find out what happened here."

Dinky blinked. "What?  But Mr. Karat told you to..."

"Mr. Karat is leaving things in my hooves," I interrupted. "I don't want to let him down."

"When somepony tells you to do something, you need a good reason not to do it," quipped Dinky. "So, what is that reason?"

I bit my lip.  I wasn't ready to show Dinky the letter.  It would break her heart.

"It's a good reason," I said curtly. "That's all you need to know for now."

Dinky raised an eyebrow, obviously not buying that explanation. "Hmm.  Something is rather fishy here," she mused. "Hang on, I need to get something.  I'll be right back."

Before I could say anything, she trotted off.  I wasn't sure what she was getting, but I didn't really care, either.  All that was on my mind was getting to the bottom of this before anypony else got hurt.  Unfortunately, I had a bad feeling that this was gonna be something easier said than done...
> Long Time No See
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I stepped inside the wrecked jewelry store to get things started.  As you'd expect, it was just as bad inside as it was outside, if not even worse.  All of the display cases were busted open; glass and jewelry littered the floor; even the back room had been turned inside-out.  Whoever trashed the place, they were pretty thorough about it.

However, I found that they weren't exactly that thorough.  I looked again at the ransom letter, and then at the jewels on the floor.  If this guy wanted a gem tribute from me, why didn't he take any gems?  That's what he wanted, right?  Also, the cash register was busted open, and all of the bits were scattered on the floor as well.  As far as I could tell, nothing was taken.  It's as if they just decided to let a manticore loose in here or something.

"Is there a reason you're in here?"

I heard an unfamiliar voice from behind.  Figuring it was just some gawker, I sighed.

"I actually happen to work here, thank you very much," I growled, slowly turning around. "I'm taking it upon myself to find out what the bu—"

When I fully turned around to address the stranger, I had to do a double take.  Standing before me was a pony dressed in a skintight outfit with a purple cloak and wide-brimmed hat.  I recognized her right away, but I wasn't sure what to make of it.

"W-wait a minute," I said. "Y-you're the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well, aren't you?"

The stranger tilted her head. "You've heard of me?"

"Um, of course I have," I said, still a bit confused. "I mean, you were a household name here in Ponyville for a long time."

"Oh, that's where you know me from," said Mare-Do-Well with a thoughtful nod. "I figured as much.  I just had to confirm it."

"Is there somewhere else I should know you from?" I asked.

"Never it mind; it's not important," said Mare-Do-Well.  She then started walking around the place, looking at everything with a critical eye.

"Uh, what are you doing?" I asked.

"Same thing you are.  I'm investigating," said Mare-Do-Well, not even looking up. "Is there a problem with that?"

"Not really," I said, trying desperately to wrap my head around this. "But, I just have one question."

"And what might that be?"

"Why?"

Mare-Do-Well looked up. "Why?" she parroted.

"Yeah.  Why are you investigating?" I said. "I mean, I don't mind or anything, but I don't remember you ever being a detective."

Mare-Do-Well obscured her eyes with her hat, and the room somehow felt a lot colder.

"I protect ponies who are in peril," she said. "Part of that is trying to find out who's trying to hurt them."

"Well, why are you coming back now of all times?" I asked. "You've missed a lot since you vanished, y'know.  Cerberus breaking loose; an army of Pinkie Pie clones; a mad unicorn taking us over.  Heck, the forest itself tried to attack us a few weeks ago.  Where were you when that was happening?"

"Busy," said Mare-Do-Well curtly. "Look, it doesn't matter.  The point is that I'm here now, and I'm here to help you, Ms. Sparkler."

It's as if every time she opened her mouth, it just served to make me more confused. "How do you know my name?" I asked.

"Your mother told me yesterday," said Mare-Do-Well.

It didn't take me long to make a connection. "Wait, so you really did save her life?"

"Indeed," said Mare-Do-Well. "How could I not?  After all, saving ponies is what I do."

So Derpy wasn't just seeing things.  I had to know more.

"Where did you save her?" I inquired. "Did you see what attacked her?  Do you know where they went?"

"She was traveling close to the northern timberline of the Everfree Forest at the time, no, and no," said Mare-Do-Well, answering all my questions in quick succession.

I sighed. "Well, what about this mess?  Why didn't you prevent this from happening?"

Mare-Do-Well let out a sigh of her own and shook her head. "I would've if I had known, Ms. Sparkler.  Unfortunately, I didn't witness the crime."

I raised an eyebrow. "Really?  You appear out of nowhere whenever there is danger with no rhyme or reason, and you weren't there for this?"

"Please don't expect the impossible out of me, Ms. Sparkler.  I'm only one mare," said Mare-Do-Well.  She then got up and looked straight at me. "Which is why I want to ask you something."

"Um, okay?" I said.

Mare-Do-Well lowered the brim of her hat over her eyes again. "This is, a bit difficult for me to say, but it must be said.  I, might need your help."

Well, that came out of nowhere. "You, need my help?" I asked. "I thought you were helping me."

"I am," said Mare-Do-Well. "But there's only so much I can do alone, and you obviously have a stake in this.  We're after the same thing, basically.  So, we should help each other."

"But, I'm not a detective," I said. "I was just looking into this because I felt responsible."

"I understand that," said Mare-Do-Well. "Which is why I'm offering you a choice."

"A choice?"

"You don't have to help me if you don't want to."

I felt like I just got whiplash. "Wait, so you need my help, but you're saying I don't have to help you.  Could you at least try to make sense, please?  I'm confused enough as it is, thank you."

"I simply don't want to force you to do anything you're not comfortable with," said Mare-Do-Well with a shrug. "This may become dangerous, so I'll understand if you decide to just leave things to me.  But if you're willing to face that danger, then I'll do whatever I can to aid your investigation.  I'll respect whatever decision you make and abide by it."

Well that was, considerate of her.  Seriously, I had no idea why she was giving me this choice.  Maybe I was just missing something.  That being said, I was still feeling guilty over this, so I figured the best way to make amends was to solve this mystery.

"Alright then, Ms. Mare-Do-Well.  I'll help you investigate," I said. "Just one question."

"Yes?"

"How do you know this guy is after me?  I mean, I just found out about it today."

Mare-Do-Well let out a brief chuckle. "Sometimes, it pays to do a bit of creative thinking," she said. "Derpy Hooves and this jewelry store have something in common, and of course, you know what that something is."

I blinked. "Okay, how do you know that?  You weren't exactly the most social pony in the world."

"That doesn't mean I don't overhear things every once in a while," countered Mare-Do-Well. "Anyway, it doesn't matter.  The point is that you've decided to investigate, correct?"

"Yeah," I said with a nod.

"Then you'll need this."

She placed something on the floor and slid it over to me.  I picked it up with my hoof.  It looked like a dog collar with a small orange gemstone attached to it.  It certainly wasn't part of the store's inventory.

"Where did you find this?" I asked.

"It was hidden amongst the rubble.  I stumbled across it while we were talking," said Mare-Do-Well. "Does it mean anything to you?"

Actually, it did.  There's only one kind of creature who would wear something like this, and that's a Diamond Dog.

Any jeweler worth their salt knows what Diamond Dogs are.  I had never come across one myself, but Karat told me all about them.  They're gem scavengers that live in underground cave networks.  In fact, one such cave network exists just north of the Everfree Forest.  And that meant that I had a suspect.

But before I could share this revelation with Mare-Do-Well, a voice called out from behind.

"Okay, Amethyst!  I'm back!"

I turned around to see Dinky wearing a weird hat on her head, holding a magnifying glass with her magic, and blowing bubbles out of a bubble pipe.

"Dink, what is that?" I asked.

"Pinkie Pie says she has detective kits stashed all over Ponyville in case of detective emergencies," said Dinky. "So, I decided to get one."

You'd probably think that sounds utterly ridiculous, and you'd be right.  It is utterly ridiculous.  But if you know Pinkie Pie like everypony else in this town does, then you know not to question it.

"Right, of course," I said. "Well, I was just talking to..."

I turned around to where Mare-Do-Well was standing, only to see that she had disappeared while my back was turned.  I'm not sure how she pulled that off, nor do I know why she decided to leave before I told her about this vital clue.  I know she's the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well, but even this was pushing it.

"Talking to whom?" asked Dinky.

"Never mind.  I'll tell you later," I said.

"Alright," said Dinky, blowing a few bubbles out of her pipe. "Now then, have you found any clues yet?"

"Just this," I said, showing her the dog collar. "But it's a big one.  I think we have a suspect."

Dinky looked at the collar with her magnifying glass and nodded. "Hmm.  Interesting," she said. "Actually, I thought of something interesting while I was getting the detective kit."

"Oh?"

"You can't break glass silently," said Dinky. "And that means that somepony should've heard this going on last night."

That was a good point.  There's no way anything could do this much damage and not make a ruckus.  There had to be some eyewitnesses.

"Good thinking, Dink," I said with a nod. "Alright, I think I know what to do."

"What's that?"

"You go ask around town and see if you can find out anything.  I'm going to look into this clue."

Dinky frowned. "Why can't I come with you?"

"Because it, might be dangerous," I said. "Look, don't argue with me, Dink.  I know what I'm doing."

"Well, I don't," said Dinky with a pout. "If you want ponies to help you, then you have to be open with them."

This might be the first time that the Zen of Dinky has been wrong about something, or at least it's the first time it has been wrong about something that actually matters.  I didn't like lying to Dinky, and she knew it.  But the big sister in me kept saying that I had to protect her, no matter what.  And if that meant hiding this from her to keep her out of trouble, then so be it.

"Listen, we can get a lot more done if we split up and investigate different things," I said. "I'll share everything I discovered with you when we regroup, honest."

Dinky thought about it for a moment, and then gave me a stern look. "You promise?"

"I promise."

"Pinkie Promise me."

I gulped.  I, really couldn't do that in good conscience.  Nopony, and I mean nopony, breaks a Pinkie Promise if they know what's good for them.  But, it was the only way Dinky would let me go.  I sighed.

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye," I said.

"Good.  Now you have to tell me later," said Dinky, looking very pleased with herself. "Let's meet up at Sugarcube Corner for lunch when we're done investigating."

"Alright, sounds like a plan," I said. "Seeya later, Dink."

"Good luck, Amethyst," said Dinky with a smile. "Now then, I must be off.  For the game is afoot!"

Okay, I'm not gonna lie; that was adorable.  Dinky always finds a way to put a smile on my face.  Which is all the more reason I had to keep her out of harm's way.

"Alrighty then," I said. "Good luck to you too, Dink."

With that, we went our separate ways; Dinky to interview some eyewitnesses, and me to track down some no-good Diamond Dogs.
> Past Learners
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 11, 9:27 AM
Everfree Forest
Northern Timberline
***


It's not easy sharing a border with the Everfree Forest.  It's like having a shady neighbor: You never know what it's gonna do.  However, you wouldn't know that by the way we in Ponyville conduct ourselves.  Sure, we warn everypony that going into the forest is not a good idea unless you have a really good reason, but apparently, that doesn't apply to the area immediately outside the freaking place.  Case in point, the northern timberline.

The northern timberline is actually a great boon to jewelers setting up shop in Ponyville.  For some reason, it houses a nigh-unlimited supply of gem deposits.  And of course, a massive supply of raw materials means we don't have to worry about running low on inventory.  True, we have other gemstone suppliers (like Rarity), but it's good to know that we have this place to fall back on in tough times.

But that doesn't mean those gem deposits are simply up for grabs.  Any unclaimed land that has gems is considered to be Diamond Dog territory (according to Karat at least), and the northern timberline is no exception.  Granted, they don't usually cause too much trouble, as they like to stay underground and keep to themselves most of the time.  But when they do decide to start something, they can be very tricky to deal with.  And seeing that I was trying to look for them, I had to be on my guard.

As I walked around the rocky plains of the timberline, I kept my eyes peeled for any holes that would lead to the underground network the Diamond Dogs called home.  I knew that if I had any hope of confronting these mutts, my best bet was to take 'em by surprise.  Considering that they could've been right under my hooves at any moment, that was gonna be easier said than done.  Despite my nerves, I continued my search, making sure not to make a sound as I did so.

After a while of searching, I felt a slight tremor in the earth accompanied by a digging sound.  Thinking quickly, I took cover behind a rock formation and kept a close watch.  Sure enough, three bipedal canines sprang from the ground.  One was a short fellow with pug-like jowls and tan fur.  The second was a larger one with a red vest and glowing green eyes.  The last one was larger still with dark blue fur and powerful-looking jaws.  Thankfully, none of them seemed to notice me.

"Alright, let's get to work before you-know-who shows up," said the red-vested one. "Spot, you and I will start digging.  Fido, keep on the lookout.  We can't afford to have any more thefts."

The pug sniffed the air a few times and wrinkled his nose. "Boss, something doesn't smell right," he said.

The red-vested dog sniffed the air himself and scowled. "You're right, Spot.  Something has already been here," he said. "Fido, check it out while Spot and I get to work."

The large dog saluted and began sniffing around.  I felt my heart pound against my chest.  This was something I didn't count on.  If they found me, I wasn't gonna stand a chance.  I had to act fast.

So, before the large dog could pick up my scent and locate me, I used my magic to lift up a pebble and toss it away.  While he was distracted, I leapt out from my hiding place and startled him.  This of course brought the other two running, but I stood my ground.

"Fido, report!" the red-vested one barked. "What is...?"

He trailed off when he caught sight of me.  Soon, all of them were staring right at me.  I arched my back and snorted.

"Alright, you mangy mongrels," I growled. "I've got a bone to pick with you, and..."

"Gah!  Don't hurt us!"

Now it was my turn to be caught off-guard.  Much to my surprise, the Diamond Dogs were cowering at my feet.  I really did not see that coming.  I don't think anypony would have.

"Um, what?" I asked, staring blankly at the trio.

"W-we weren't going to kidnap you!  Honest!" yelped the pug. "And we haven't kidnapped any other ponies!  Please leave us alone!"

"Wait, who said anything about kidnapping?" I said, getting even more confused.

"We gotta get out of here, Boss!" yelled the large dog. "She might start whining at any moment!"

"Didn't you hear her, bonehead?!  She said she's mad at us!" the red-vested one snapped. "Whatever it is, we'll do anything to apologize!  Just don't start whining!"

I, started to have my doubts about my initial suspicions.  I mean, the real culprit wouldn't just beg for mercy like this, would he?  Still, I couldn't just let them off the hook.  After all, I had evidence.

"Okay, time out," I said, gesturing with my hooves.  I then took out the ransom note and levitated it in front of their faces. "Does this look familiar to any of you?"

The Diamond Dogs stared at the note for a long time.  The red-vested one started scratching his head.

"Who's 'Anonymous?'" he asked.

"That's what I want to know," I said. "Someone's trying to shake me down for gems, and I think it's one of you guys."

"But, there's no one in my pack named 'Anonymous,'" said the red-vested one.

Now I was really starting to have my doubts about these guys being the culprit.  If he didn't know what "anonymous" meant, he couldn't have possibly written the ransom note (not to mention that I had a feeling that these guys weren't exactly the sharpest tools in the shed).  But even so, I still couldn't trust them.

"Okay, I want to ask you guys a few questions," I said. "I promise not to hurt you or, whine, as long as you cooperate.  Deal?"

The Diamond Dogs huddled together and began muttering amongst themselves.  After a while, they broke the huddle and turned to me.

"This is, acceptable, pony," said the red-vested one. "We apologize about before.  We've, had a bad track record with kidnapping ponies in the past."

"But we won't do that to you!" the pug added hastily before being smacked upside the head.

"Quiet, Spot!" the red-vested dog hissed. "Do you want her to get suspicious?!"

I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Look, I just want some information, okay?"

"O-of course, pony!  We'll tell you whatever you want!" said the red-vested one with a nervous chuckle.

"Right," I said, taking out the collar. "This morning, I found that the jewelry store I work at was ransacked.  This was found at the scene.  Does it look familiar?"

Spot walked up to the collar and reached into the pocket of his vest, taking out a jeweler's eyeglass.  He then observed the gem on the end very closely.  His brow then furrowed.

"Boss, this collar belongs to the Silvervest pack," he said darkly.

"The Silvervest pack?" I parroted. "What's that?"

After a pause, the Diamond Dogs huddled together again.  When they turned back to me, they all looked rather serious.

"We shouldn't talk out here," said the red-vested one. "Fido."

"Yes, Boss?" asked the large dog.

"Escort the pony to the main chamber.  Spot and I will go on ahead," said the red-vested dog.

"Hang on," I said with a snort. "How do I know I can trust you?"

Spot gulped. "W-well, you know what they say, pony.  Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.  Heh heh..."

I sighed. "Alright, fine.  But if any of you try to hurt me, I start whining, got it?"

"Got it," said the Diamond Dogs in unison.

"Good," I said.  With that, the red-vested dog and Spot disappeared underground.  This, was actually going easier than I expected.  I'm wasn't entirely sure why these guys were afraid of me, but this was a good chance to get some information out of them.

"Okay then.  This way, pony," said Fido as he began digging.

"Oh, and one more thing," I said. "My name is not 'pony.'"

"Oh, right.  Sorry," said Fido sheepishly. "What, is your name then?"

"Amethyst.  Amethyst Star."


***
July 11, 9:41 AM
Underground Network
Redvest Territory
***


When we finally got to the underground network, I have to say it was like nothing I've ever seen before.  It was just a massive expanse of tunnels going every which way like some kind of crazy labyrinth that went on forever.  This was certainly not a place anypony would want to get lost in.  The other thing that struck me was the smell.  It was like rotten eggs mixed with skunk spray and timberwolf breath.  It took sheer force of will to keep myself from gagging.  How the Diamond Dogs managed to live with it is beyond my understanding.

Fido led me to a large central room where Spot and the red-vested dog were waiting.

"Good to see you, pony," said the red-vested dog. "Can we get you anything?  Some water, perhaps?  I mean, it's not sparkling, but..."

"No thanks," I said, cutting across him.  Yeah, I wasn't gonna take any chances with these guys.  I still didn't fully trust 'em yet.

"O-okay then," said the red-vested one, clearing his throat. "Anyway, you were wondering about Silvervest, yes?"

"Yeah, your friend mentioned the Silvervest pack when he saw the collar," I said. "What's that all about?"

"Well, you see, we Diamond Dogs live in packs," said Spot. "Each pack is named after their alpha, who is defined by the color of their vest.  For example, Rover Redvest here is alpha of the Redvest pack."

"I see," I said with a nod. "So, what's so important about this Silvervest pack?"

Rover sighed. "The Silvervest pack is one of the most powerful and influential packs known in the underground network.  They have more gems than any alpha could ever dream of, and they know it.  But they're also a nasty bunch, even by our standards.  Especially their alpha, Sykes Silvervest.  They say that those who displease him meet a bad end."

"And, their pack is located near Ponyville?" I asked.

"Oh, no.  The Redvest pack is the only one here for miles," said Rover. "But even in this remote region, we cannot escape Silvervest's influence."

"Why not?"

The Diamond Dogs all cast their gaze upwards and began shuffling around uncomfortably.

"Well, it's a bit of an embarrassing story," said Rover, his cheeks starting to match his vest. "You wouldn't be interested, pony."

"First of all, my name's Amethyst Star," I said. "Second, if this Sykes Silvervest is trying to shake me down for gems, I want to know why."

"But we don't know why, po— I mean, Ms. Star," said Fido. "Sykes Silvervest just does whatever he wants.  He can, you know."

"Besides, this story wouldn't help you in the slightest," Spot added, wringing his paws.

"Let me decide that," I said firmly. "Now tell me this story, or I'm gonna start whining."

"No!  Anything but that!" yipped Rover. "We'll tell, we'll tell!  Just, don't tell anyone else, alright?  The Redvest pack's reputation is bad enough as it is."

"I'll, think about it," I said. "That's the best I can give you.  Take it or leave it."

"W-we'll take it, po— Ms. Star," said Rover, clearing his throat. "A-anyway, it's like this.  The Redvest pack is, in debt to Sykes Silvervest."

I raised an eyebrow. "In debt?  What do you mean?"

"It all started when we found this pony who could find gems better than we could," said Rover. "We tried to take her and force her to work for us, but she was just impossible!  All the whining and the crying and the criticism, raagh!  It just wasn't worth it!"

"So, we let her go," continued Fido. "But that mistake cost us a lot of gems, and we were losing our standing with the other packs.  What's more, that pony was still the better gem hunter.  And as long as she was around, we couldn't even begin to make up for it."

"So, what happened?" I asked.

"Sykes Silvervest said that he'd bail us out if we paid him back," said Spot. "And in our weakened state, we couldn't possibly refuse.  The problem now is that we're forever indebted to him.  For every five gems we find here, three of them have to go to the Silvervest pack.  It's been that way for many moons now."

"And, you think he's after me now?"

Rover's face darkened. "If he is, you'd better do as he says, pony.  No one dares to cross Sykes Silvervest."

I took a moment to process this.  This Sykes Silvervest sounded like the kind of guy with enough clout to threaten me.  But one thing just didn't add up.  Why did he remain anonymous?  If he was as infamous as these Diamond Dogs said he was, wouldn't he mention all that to force me to comply instead of making me play this guessing game?  And furthermore, that still didn't answer why he was interested in me.  I never even heard of him before, so how the hay did he know who I was?

"Mr. Redvest, I want to ask one more question," I said.

"Of course, po— Ms. Star," said Rover.

"How would I go about meeting this Sykes Silvervest?"

Rover's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. "Wh-what?!  You actually want to meet him?!"

"Well, yeah," I said. "Is there a problem with that?"

"Of course there is!  You can't just meet with Sykes Silvervest!" Rover barked. "He has to come to you.  It's the only way not to displease him."

"Regardless, I want to meet him," I said, standing my ground. "He has to answer for this."

"Um, we hate to disagree with you, but no.  No, he really doesn't," said Spot. "Sykes Silvervest can get away with anything.  He's too powerful."

"So powerful that he doesn't have the balls to tell me who he is while demanding tribute from me?" I retorted.

That seemed to stump them for a while.  Again, I had a feeling that they weren't exactly all that bright.  Finally, Rover spoke up.

"I'll speak to him," he said. "If he wants to grant you an audience, then he'll do so.  If he doesn't, then he doesn't.  Come back tomorrow, and we'll tell you how it went."

I wasn't sure about this, but really, I didn't have many other options at this point.

"Alright, fair enough," I said. "I think that's all for now."

"Thank you, po— Ms. Star," said Rover with a bow. "Fido, show her back to the surface."

"Yessir," said Fido with a salute.

As we made our way back, I continued to reflect on what these Diamond Dogs just told me.  I still didn't trust them, but by this point, these pathetic schmucks couldn't possibly be the culprits I was looking for.  Apparently, it was this Sykes Silvervest guy, whoever he was.  And to be honest, I couldn't be sure it was him, either.  For all I knew, Rover could've been exaggerating his power because of the debt he owes.  So really, I was an inch away from being back at Square One.

The hardest part, of course, was going to be sharing this information with Dinky.  I still didn't want to rope her into this, but after making that Pinkie Promise, I had no choice.  Well, there was still some time before lunch.  Hopefully, I could get some more answers before then.  But the way things were going, I had a bad feeling that was just wishful thinking.
> Mother Knows Best
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 11, 10:00 AM
Everfree Forest
Northern Timberline
***


After I returned from the underground network, I started heading back to Ponyville and planning my next move.  I didn't get far before I heard a voice calling out to me from above.

"Ammy~!"

I looked up to see Derpy Hooves flying around with her friend, Raindrops.  Apparently, they were looking for me.  I wasn't sure why, but I had a feeling that I'd find out soon enough.  Before I could process this new development, Raindrops spotted me.

"Derpy, I found her!" she hollered. "She's over here!"

Derpy looked down at me and frowned.  She then swooped in and touched down right in front of me, giving me a stern glare.

"Uh, Mom?  What are you doing here?" I asked.

Derpy folded her forelegs. "Ammy, why is Dinky going around town asking about the jewelry shop being ransacked last night?"

Hoo boy, did I ever feel dumb.  I sent Dinky on that investigation to keep her away from the Diamond Dogs.  It never occurred to me that Derpy would find out about it.  Hindsight's a bitch, ain't it?

"H-how much do you know?" I asked.

"'Drops told me everything that Dinky told her," said Derpy, her face clouded with concern. "Ammy, I'm worried about you.  Is something wrong?"

She already knew the answer to that question, of course.  She was just asking me to get the details.  The problem was I didn't really feel like sharing.  I couldn't bear to break her heart.

"I-I'm sorry, Mom," I said with a heavy sigh. "I-I can't tell you."

Derpy tilted her head. "Why not?  Don't you trust me?"

"O-of course I do, Mom.  But this isn't about trust," I said. "Y-you already have your own problems.  I don't wanna..."

Derpy cut across me with a sigh. "Ammy, let me worry about that.  Right now, I want to know what's wrong so I can help you."

She had me there.  With a sigh of defeat, I took out the ransom note and levitated it in front of her face.

"Um, what's this?" Derpy asked.

"Read it," I said, averting my eyes.

All was silent for a time as I braced myself for the inevitable.  The silence was broken by a gasp from Derpy, and I cringed.

"Ammy, wh-where did you get this?" asked Derpy.

"I-it was in front of the jewelry store," I whimpered. "I-I'm sorry, Mom.  I..."

I was interrupted by Derpy wrapping her forelegs and wings around me, squeezing some of my tears out.

"It's okay, Ammy," Derpy whispered. "I'm not mad at you.  I understand why you didn't want to tell me about this.  But still, I'm glad that you did.  Because now, I can help you."

I don't know how to explain this, but hearing her say that made me feel better and worse at the same time.  On the one hoof, it was a bit of a relief to get that off of my chest, and well, I took a bit of comfort in knowing that somepony had my back.  But that was all the more reason to worry about what would happen if this anonymous guy took that support away from me.

"Th-thanks, Mom," I said. "I-I really appreciate that."

"I know," said Derpy, releasing me. "So, what are you doing out here, anyway?  Dinky said you were following up on a clue or something."

I told Derpy about my investigation thus far, including the bit with Mare-Do-Well.  Derpy frowned and furrowed her brow.

"Well, I don't know anything about Diamond Dogs myself, so I can't really help you there," she said with a shrug. "But if you're going to see this Sykes Silvervest guy, I want to come with you."

"Are you sure?" I asked. "What about your mail route?"

"'Drops can substitute for me," said Derpy. "Isn't that right, 'Drops?"

"Huh?  Oh, um.  Sure," said Raindrops, twiddling her hooves. "I mean, maybe.  I'll, have to check my calendar."

"Of course, of course," said Derpy with a smile. "You know I wouldn't want you to get in trouble with the Weather Factory, 'Drops."

Raindrops smiled back. "Right, of course," she said, brushing the back of her mane sheepishly.

I let out a muted chuckle.  Besides being one of Derpy's best friends next to Carrot Top, Raindrops is known in Ponyville for being one of the town's most diligent weathermares.  It's because of her hard work at the Weather Factory that she made it into the Wonderbolt Academy.  However, she's also a bit wishy-washy.  She just doesn't like treading on other ponies' hooves.  I guess that's something she and Derpy have in common.

"Alright, fine," I said. "But don't tell Dinky about this, okay?  I'm trying to protect her."

"I understand," said Derpy with a nod. "But I think you should tell her eventually.  She's worried about you too, y'know."

"Yeah, yeah.  I'll, think about it," I said. "Anyway, since we're here, I want to ask you a couple of things about what happened to you yesterday afternoon."

"Oh.  That," said Derpy nervously. "Um, I honestly don't know how that's gonna help.  Like I said, a lot of it was a blur."

"Just tell me what you remember," I said.

"Well, okay," said Derpy with a shrug. "I was out here just minding my own business, when all of a sudden, something hit me and caused me to crash.  I don't know what it was, but I do remember the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well saving me from it and helping me home."

"Hmm," I said, knitting my brow. "What were you doing here, anyway?  Did you have a package to deliver or something?"

"Well, yeah.  I did," said Derpy, blushing profusely. "But I, kinda got lost on my way back from Fluttershy's cottage.  Besides, that package was destroyed by whatever hit me."

If you're wondering how a mailmare in a town like Ponyville can possibly get lost, don't.  There are actually two reasons for this.  One, Derpy doesn't have the best sense of direction in the world.  I mean it's not terrible, but she'll sometimes end up going the wrong way (this actually isn't that frequent, which is why she managed to keep her job).  Two, Fluttershy's cottage is at the edge of the Everfree Forest, and quite frankly, anypony could get lost in that place.  Seriously, only a select few ponies know their way around in there.  So really, that wasn't a whole lot to go on.

"Is there anything else you remember?" I asked.

"I remember it being very, hot," said Derpy thoughtfully. "The rest is just blank."

And that wasn't a whole lot to go on, either.  Still, if the attack on Derpy and the ransacking of the jewelry store were connected (which I'm pretty sure they are), I could use this information later.

"Just one more question," I said. "Where's Dinky?"

"Oh, I took her home on Derpy's insistence," said Raindrops. "She said she found everything she could, so she didn't mind.  Although if I were you, I'd probably tell Mayor Mare or Princess Twilight about this."

Derpy stroked her chin. "I dunno, 'Drops.  Ammy seems pretty determined to figure this out herself."

Raindrops blinked. "Wait, why?  I was there when Karat discovered that his shop was wrecked.  He told Amethyst to see Princess Twilight."

"'Drops, we can't go to the princess for everything," said Derpy. "She's still getting used to her new title."

"Okay, you have a good point there," said Raindrops. "But, are you sure it's alright for Amethyst to investigate on her own?"

Derpy gave me a quizzical look.  I knew what it meant.  She was asking me if it was okay for her to let Raindrops in on the secret.  I shrugged, indicating that I wouldn't mind either way.  I wasn't sure if Raindrops could help, seeing as she had her own stuff going on, but I understood that Derpy would want to share this kind of thing with her best friend.

"It's, kinda tough to explain, 'Drops," said Derpy. "I don't want to trouble you."

Raindrops raised an eyebrow. "Sounds to me like you're being a bit of a hypocrite, Derpy."

"W-well, I can get away with it because I'm Ammy's mother, and she knows to do as I say and not as I do.  So nyah~!" said Derpy, sticking her tongue out at Raindrops.

I groaned.  It's, hard to get a fix on how mature Derpy is.  Sometimes, she's incredibly wise and knowledgeable.  Other times, she's like this.  I chalk this up to the fact that she is, well, a bit of a ditz.  But that doesn't mean she's stupid; not by a long shot.  There are just a few times when she forgets to use her brain.  It happens.

Raindrops chuckled. "Okay, whatever you say, Derpy," she said. "But remember, if you need my help, you can just tell me."

"Trust me, 'Drops.  I can never forget that," said Derpy with a laugh of her own. "Well, I'd better get back to my mail route.  Seeya, 'Drops!  Seeya, Ammy!"

With a salute, she took off into the air and flew back towards Ponyville.

"Yeah, I'd better get going, too," said Raindrops. "I'll see you around, I suppose."

With that, she took off after Derpy.  I decided to head back to Ponyville myself.  I still had to meet with Dinky and see what she found.  I was hoping that she was luckier than I was, because all I had was a lead I couldn't capitalize on and some information that didn't do me a whole lot of good at the time.  Plus, there was that whole matter of keeping things from her that I had to get over.  While I did Pinkie Promise to tell her everything, I still didn't want to do it.

...

But the funny thing is that I didn't really like lying to her, either.  Talk about your catch-22s.
> Detective Dinky
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 11, 10:44 AM
Ponyville
Golden Harvest's House
***


When I got home, Dinky was right there waiting for me at the front door.  She still had that ridiculous hat on as well as the bubble pipe.  And yes, she still looked adorable.

"Hi, Amethyst," she said. "So, how did your investigation go?"

I gulped.  I still wasn't ready to tell her about the note, so my best course of action was to stall for time.

"Um, are you sure we should talk about that right now?" I asked. "I mean, what if Carrot Top hears us?"

"Oh, you don't have to worry about Ms. Harvest," said Dinky. "She's tending to her garden right now."

"Oh," I said. "W-well, let's start with you then.  How did your investigation go?"

Dinky furrowed her brow and blew a few bubbles out of her bubble pipe. "It's most curious, my dear Amethyst," she said, walking inside and pacing around. "I talked to several ponies about what happened, but they all told me the same thing."

"Which is?"

"They didn't notice anything wrong last night."

I, wasn't sure if I heard that right.  And judging by Dinky's tone, it didn't sound like she believed it, either.

"How is that possible?" I inquired. "The jewelry store was practically destroyed.  At least somepony had to notice something was up before Mr. Karat discovered it this morning."

"Well, I don't get it, either," said Dinky with a shrug. "But that's what everypony's been telling me."

"Who did you ask, out of curiosity?"

Dinky's horn glowed, and she lifted her hat off of her head.  Underneath, there was a notepad and quill (honestly, are you surprised at this point?).  She then took out the notepad and began reading it over.

"Well, first I went to Mayor Mare," she said. "I figured that she had a right to know about this.  Then I started interviewing ponies that live nearby the jewelry store.  That includes Mrs. Crumbles, Mr. Davenport, Ms. Heartstrings and Ms. Bon-Bon, Ms. Shoeshine, Mrs. Tap, and Ms. Raindrops."

"And all of them said that they didn't hear anything last night."

"More or less."

"Who else did you ask?"

Dinky brushed the back of her head sheepishly. "Well, after talking to Mr. Davenport, Mama kinda found out and told Ms. Raindrops to take me home."

"Yeah, I know about that part," I said with a sigh. "I'm sorry, Dink.  I didn't think that through."

"It's alright, Amethyst.  I still managed to get a lot of sleuthing done," said Dinky. "Actually, I found something else that might be interesting."

"What might that be?"

"It happened while I was talking to Mrs. Crumbles," said Dinky, taking a seat in the living room. "In the middle of my interview, Sweetie Belle made her way into the conversation.  She seemed rather, distressed."

"Distressed?" I parroted. "How is that interesting, Dink?"

"Well, to be polite, I asked her about it," said Dinky. "She said that Ms. Rarity was supposed to take her gem hunting today, but because of something that happened yesterday, she had to cancel."

My initial gut reaction was indifference.  On the surface, that could mean anything.  But after thinking about it for a moment, I began to see why Dinky found this interesting.

"You think that Rarity knows about how Mom was attacked yesterday?" I asked.

"It's a theory," said Dinky. "However, I couldn't confirm it with Ms. Rarity before Mama found out about my investigating and sent me home."

Maybe it was just a theory, but it was a darn good one.  If Rarity had some idea about what was going on, then it's possible that her testimony would be a good lead.  Of course, I would probably have to be the one to talk to her.  Dinky was probably going to stay home as a precaution.  She, uh, doesn't like to make Derpy mad, and believe me, I know exactly where she's coming from.

"So, what about you, Amethyst?" asked Dinky. "Did that clue you found help?"

Oh Celestia, was I ever dreading this.  No matter how many times that damn Pinkie Promise kept nagging at me, I just couldn't bring myself to frighten her.  Thinking quickly, I decided to tell her about most of what I found.  It would be enough for her to help me, and it wouldn't scare or hurt her in any way.  I took a deep breath to calm my nerves.

"Well, the clue did kinda help me, I suppose," I said. "See, it's like this..."

I then recapped my investigation to her, conveniently omitting the ransom note and Sykes Silvervest.  B-but I told her everything else, honest.  Luckily for me, that seemed to be enough for her.

"So, you thought it was the fault of the Diamond Dogs, but it turns out it wasn't," mused Dinky, blowing some more bubbles out of her bubble pipe. "I understand why you didn't want to bring me along.  You were protecting me."

"Yeah, well.  That precaution might not be needed next time," I said with an awkward laugh. "Turns out the Diamond Dogs around here are more afraid of us than we are of them."

Dinky giggled, and then gave me a warm smile. "I'm glad that you're looking out for me, Amethyst.  But next time, try not to lie, okay?  Liars are often punished by starting to believe their own lies."

Well, I wasn't gonna do that anytime soon, despite what the Zen of Dinky stated.  However, the irony of that statement did still hit me like a grand piano being dropped on my head.  I tried my best not to show it, but Dinky seemed to catch on.  I say "seemed" because thankfully, she didn't call me out on it.  Instead, she decided to look into something else.

"You said that Mama gave you some details about what happened yesterday," she said, scribbling some notes down in her notepad. "For the record, do you remember what she said?"

"Well, she was delivering a package, but got lost in the Everfree Forest and ended up at the northern timberline.  That's where she was attacked," I said. "She also mentioned something about being hot.  I'm not sure what to make of..."

I trailed off as something struck me.  Yesterday, there was something about Derpy's condition that connected to that statement.  I'm not sure why I didn't notice this before; I guess I just got caught up in so many things that I didn't take time to look at the smaller details.  Kinda ironic, considering that my special talent involves paying close attention to detail, but it was a stressful morning, alright?  Cut me some slack.

"Dink, do you remember what Mom looked like when she came home yesterday?" I asked.

Dinky shuddered. "How could I forget?  It was, terrible," she said, shaking herself. "She was covered in bruises and what appeared to be, burns.  And if we were to connect that with her statement about being hot, that means that she was attacked with fire!  Amethyst, you're a genius!"

"I, uh, wouldn't go that far, Dink," I said sheepishly. "Because that doesn't really tell us anything about the culprit.  Mom was attacked by someone using fire.  So what?  That could mean a dragon, or a flaming arrow, or fire-based magic; anything really."

Dinky sighed. "It's better to guess wrong than to say nothing, Amethyst," she quipped. "If you're gonna be a detective, you have to understand that."

She had a point, but I still didn't want to waste time.  Chasing after false leads would mean precious seconds down the drain, and with this time limit hanging over my head, I couldn't really afford that.  However, I suppose it was better than sitting on my hooves and doing nothing.

"Well, let's go over what we know," I said. "Mom was attacked yesterday by a fire-based attack, and then the jewelry store was demolished."

Dinky nodded and blew some bubbles out of her bubble pipe. "If we could somehow connect the two, then we might have a better idea of what happened," she said.

She looked over her notes again and again, stroking her chin and blowing bubbles.  I struck a thinking attitude myself, but nothing was coming to mind.  If you took the ransom note out of the equation, there wasn't a whole lot that connected the attack on Derpy to the attack on the jewelry store.  Or, so I thought.

"Wait.  I think I might've found that connection," said Dinky, her eyes glistening.

"What is it?" I asked.

"The jewelry store was attacked, and Mama was hurt by fire," said Dinky. "What would use fire in that way and attack a jewelry store?"

There was only one thing that came to mind. "Um, a dragon?"

"Exactly," said Dinky. "I'll admit that there are some holes in this theory, but it makes the most sense."

That didn't bode well for our investigation if our clue was this flimsy.  Actually, it was even flimsier than Dinky probably thought it was.  Besides the fact that no gems were taken (or eaten, as the case may be) and the fact that somehow nopony noticed a large dragon trashing a jewelry store, why would a dragon write a ransom note to me?  Do dragons do that?  I confess that my experience with dragons is very limited, but from what I understand, they just take what they want.  And it's not like they don't have the power to do that.  So, why even bother with the note at all?

"I dunno, Dink.  It still seems like a bit of a stretch," I said.

"How so?  Mr. Spike told me that dragons live in the Everfree Forest," said Dinky. "It would definitely explain how Mama got those burns."

"But it doesn't explain anything else," I mused. "I mean, is it typical for a dragon to just destroy a jewelry store and not take anything?"

"I honestly don't know," said Dinky with a shrug. "Then again, Princess Twilight Sparkle says that ponies don't know a whole lot about dragons.  She says they're too rare or too scary to study."

So even if the culprit was a dragon, I'd still know nothing about him.  This just kept getting better and better.

"What about Spike?  Do you think he would know anything?" I asked.

Dinky stroked her chin for a moment. "Princess Twilight Sparkle says that Mr. Spike isn't a typical dragon," she said. "Still, it couldn't hurt to try."

"Right," I said. "I think I'm gonna do some more sleuthing.  Thanks for your help, Dink."

"Of course," said Dinky with a smile. "I'll be sure to keep on helping you as long as Mama doesn't ground me."

I chuckled. "Well, I really don't think that's gonna happen, Dink.  But even if it does, I'll put in a good word for you."

"Thanks, Amethyst.  You're a great sister," said Dinky.

Yeah, I'm a great sister.  A great sister who lies to her younger sister in order to protect her.  I mean, I didn't feel like I was wrong in doing that, but it didn't feel right, either.  Plus, like I said, nopony breaks a Pinkie Promise if they know what's good for them.  I had to tell her eventually.

Putting those thoughts on the back burner, I headed out.  Now that I had discussed some things with Dinky, I figured that there were two people in town worth talking to: Rarity and Spike.  Deciding to go for the easy one first, I made my way over to Carousel Boutique.
> Dragons 101
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 11, 11:03 AM
Ponyville
Carousel Boutique
***


What can I say about Carousel Boutique?  You know, without sounding like I'm blatantly promoting Rarity's business.  Trust me, that's not an easy thing to do.  I hesitate to say that this is what put Ponyville on the map because I can't possibly credit Carousel Boutique alone.  However, this is a place where even the stuffiest of Canterlot nobles get their garments from.  And really, they have good taste.  If you see a dress made by Rarity, you know right away that it's nothing short of a work of art.  In fact, I can't picture buying clothes from anywhere else.  Although, that's mainly because I'm not exactly spoiled for choice when it comes to clothes shopping in Ponyville.  I guess you could say I lucked out on that front.

As I mentioned before, one thing that makes Rarity's designs special is her use of raw gems.  Yeah, you heard me right.  None of the gems in her clothes have been treated in any way, shape, or form, and yet they still look gorgeous.  Also, as you're no doubt aware, she hunts from them herself, so she actually can charge a lot less than big-time manufactures do.  And take a wild guess where she usually hunts for them.  That's right, the northern timberline of the Everfree Forest.  And if Dinky's hunch was correct, that meant she probably knew something about what happened to Derpy the day before.

When I got to the boutique, I saw through the open windows that there didn't seem to be anypony inside.  Of course, that didn't mean that Rarity wasn't there.  Most likely, she was upstairs working on a new creation, or in the back doing laundry.  Yeah, did I mention that Carousel Boutique also doubles as Rarity's house?  I'm not sure why she decided to do that, but hey, it's not the weirdest thing I've seen in this town.

Seeing that she wasn't manning the store, I rang the doorbell.  A few seconds later, Rarity opened the door.

"Oh, Sparkler.  What a pleasant surprise," she said sweetly. "I do apologize, darling, but the boutique is not open for business right now."

"That's alright.  I'm not here to buy anything," I said. "I just thought I'd drop by and say hello."

"Oh," said Rarity. "Well, that's quite neighborly of you, Sparkler.  To what do I owe the pleasure?"

I, didn't know how to answer that question.  Not only was I trying not to arouse her suspicion, but I didn't want to freak her out, either.  She actually has a reputation around here for being the Drama Queen of Ponyville.  If something is causing her distress, the whole flipping town knows it.  As far as I knew, this mystery was only affecting me, my family, and my employer.  And I was planning to keep it that way.

"Um, no reason, really," I said with a shrug. "I mean, I've got nothing doing right now, so..."

Rarity pursed her lips and stroked her chin for a moment. "Well, I was just about to fix myself a small brunch, and I hate eating alone," she said. "Would you care to join me, darling?"

"Um, are you sure I'm not imposing?" I asked.

"Oh, don't be silly, Sparkler.  We're practically business partners," said Rarity with a laugh. "I'm actually surprised you haven't dropped by before."

I gave an awkward laugh of my own. "Yeah, well.  I've just been rather, busy," I said.

"Of course, of course," said Rarity. "Well, don't just stand there, darling.  Come in, come in!"

Honestly, that was a lot easier than I anticipated. "W-well, thank you.  Thank you very much," I said as she led me inside.

"I, uh, heard about what happened at the jewelry store from the Mayor," said Rarity, giving me a concerned look. "I'm, terribly sorry about that.  Are you alright?"

"I'll be fine," I said. "We should have enough funds to make repairs, and nothing was taken.  It's not as bad as it could've been."

"Thank Celestia for small favors, I suppose," said Rarity with a smile. "Well, you let Karat know that if you need anything, I'll be more than happy to help."

I sighed. "Rarity, I couldn't ask that of you."

"Oh, pish posh.  It would be no trouble at all, darling," said Rarity with a dismissive wave of her hoof.

"Thank you, Rarity.  But I think we'll manage," I said.

"Of course," said Rarity. "Well, just know that the offer's still on the table."

"Right," I said.  We then made our way to the kitchen, where Rarity had already prepared some cucumber sandwiches and a pot of tea.

"Just have a seat, darling," said Rarity, taking another plate, teacup, and saucer from the pantry.

"Uh, thank you," I said as I did so.  I then watched as Rarity set the silverware in front of me and poured me some tea.

"Sugar?" Rarity asked.

"Yes, please.  Two lumps," I said. "I'll stir it myself, thanks."

Rarity nodded, and plopped two lumps of sugar into my tea.  Using my own magic, I levitated the small stirring spoon on the table and idly stirred the sugar in.  After a pause, I cleared my throat.

"So, Rarity.  You planning on doing any gem hunting today?" I asked.

Rarity sighed. "Alas, no.  Well, I was, but something came up," she said as she set a few cucumber sandwiches in front of me. "It's a shame, too.  I was planning on taking Sweetie Belle to help me.  She's been so eager to spend time with me, and I really feel bad for letting her down."

That matched the information Dinky got from Sweetie Belle to a T.  There was no doubt in my mind at that point: Rarity definitely knew something.  I decided to press her for more information.

"What came up?" I inquired.

"It's, a bit difficult to explain," said Rarity, sitting down across from me and taking a sip of her tea. "See, I couldn't in good conscience take Sweetie Belle on a gem hunting expedition right now.  It's far too dangerous."

I raised an eyebrow. "Isn't it always dangerous?  I mean, this is the northern timberline of the Everfree Forest we're talking about here.  Not to mention the Diamond Dogs you have to contend with."

"Oh, those ruffians don't bother me," said Rarity with a giggle. "They know better."

I then remembered what the Diamond Dogs said about a pony they tried to make into their workhorse, but only ended up driving them nuts.  I had a pretty good feeling that Rarity was the pony they were referring to, seeing as she's probably one of the only ponies who hunts for gems in that region.  At least, she's the only one who's so good at it that it would get their attention.

"Huh.  You don't say," I said, taking a nibble out of my sandwich. "So, if it's not the Diamond Dogs you're worried about, then what is it?"

Rarity's face darkened. "Are you sure you want me to tell you, darling?  I'm all for morbid curiosity and gossip, but I certainly wouldn't want to raise a panic."

This coming from the pony who screams at the top of her lungs when she loses a ribbon.  Then again, I can't remember the last time Rarity's melodrama ever caused a panic.

"I won't tell anypony unless I have to," I said. "Promise."

"Thank you," said Rarity, dipping her voice. "Anyway, the thing I'm worried about is, dragons."

I had to stop myself from doing a spit take.  What was Rarity talking about?  I was at the northern timberline not two hours ago, and I didn't see any dragons.

"Um, dragons?" I parroted after swallowing my tea.

"Yes, darling.  Apparently, there's a whole bunch of them in the mountains," said Rarity.

"How do you know that?" I inquired.

"Well, it happened yesterday after I had concluded my gem hunting expedition," said Rarity. "Spike and I were getting ready to leave when we saw a large group of shadows passing by overhead.  It was indeed a group of dragons, but they didn't seem to notice us.  So, I paid it no mind until this morning, when Derpy was delivering a package for me."

"What do you mean?"

"I noticed that she had quite a few unsightly burn marks on her coat," said Rarity. "When I asked if she was alright, she simply told me not to worry about it; that it was just an accident from yesterday."

"That sounds like my mom, alright," I said with a sigh. "So, you think it was a dragon that attacked her?"

"I've seen dragon fire burn things before, darling.  Those marks could only have been caused by a dragon," said Rarity.

I wasn't going to doubt Rarity on that.  Part of what makes her a great fashion designer is her attention to detail.  This is the kind of thing she could pick up on easily.  So, maybe Dinky's theory was correct.  Maybe the culprit was a dragon.  But, that still didn't answer all the questions nagging at me.

"Why weren't you concerned about the dragons when you first saw them?" I asked.

"I happen to know from Spike that there are some dragons that live in the Everfree Forest," said Rarity. "Such a sight is not uncommon."

Just then, the doorbell rang.

"Oh, speaking of Spike, that must be him now," said Rarity. "Please excuse me for a moment, darling."

"Oh, sure.  Take your time," I said.  Well, this was certainly lucky.  Not only did I manage to get some helpful information from Rarity, but now I had a chance to ask Spike a few questions, too.  I really felt like I was making some progress.  Not a lot of progress, but it was certainly better than nothing.

A few moments later, Rarity returned.  Sure enough, Spike was right by her side.

"Hey, Sparkler," said Spike with a wave. "Rarity told me you were just dropping by for a visit."

"Yeah, well.  I didn't have much else to do today," I said with a shrug. "What brings you here?"

"I was planning on having brunch with Spike here before you came along," said Rarity. "It's alright, darling.  You can still join us."

"Um, thank you," I said as Spike hopped up onto a chair and took out an assortment of gemstones.  He seemed to be a bit disappointed (I'm guessing it had to do with me), but he didn't voice it.

"Anyway, Sparkler and I were just talking about the dragons that have made their home near the northern timberline," said Rarity.

"Oh, those guys?  What about 'em?" asked Spike.

I sighed. "We, kinda think that they attacked my mom yesterday."

Spike's eyes went wide. "For real?!  But why?"

"Well, did you see her coat this morning?  It was a disaster!" Rarity said melodramatically. "She had those grotesque burn marks, and those could've only been caused by a dragon!"

Spike snorted. "I bet it was a bunch of teenage dragons pulling some mean prank."

"Teenage dragons?" I asked.

"Yeah.  Bunch of no-good jerks," Spike growled. "See, baby dragons can't fly, and full-grown dragons usually keep to themselves unless they're provoked.  Only teenage dragons would stir up trouble just for kicks."

"And you know this, how?" I inquired.

"It's a long story," said Spike, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "All you need to know is that I will never be like them.  I swear on my honor as a noble dragon."

"Well, that takes a load off of my mind, I guess," I said with a shrug.  I took a moment to try and piece this together.  I now had another suspect: A group of rowdy teenage dragons pulling a prank on me.  If that was the case, it would certainly answer a lot of questions, such as why the ransom note made no sense.  But, was that really what was happening?  I still thought back to the attack on the jewelry store.  No gems were missing, nopony saw these dragons wrecking the place, and there was still the matter of the Diamond Dog collar found at the scene of the crime.  Not to mention the fact that these dragons apparently knew who I was.  I still couldn't draw any conclusions yet.  I needed more information.

"Actually, I was passing through the northern timberline this morning to kinda clear my head," I said. "I didn't see any dragons while I was there."

"Yeah, we were pretty surprised when we saw 'em, too," said Spike. "It's not often that ponies get to see a dragon, after all.  Well, a grown dragon, I mean."

"But still, I'm surprised they ignored you," I said. "Weren't you carrying a wagon full of gems?"

Spike furrowed his brow. "Huh.  That is weird," he mused. "I guess Rarity and I just got lucky."

That was very likely, but something in my gut told me that it wasn't that simple.  After all, nothing else in the mystery was simple; why the heck should it start now?  It was time to get some more sleuthing done.

"Well, I'd better get going," I said, finishing off my tea. "I don't want to take up any more of your time.  Thank you again for letting me have brunch with you, Rarity."

"You're very welcome, Sparkler.  Feel free to drop in anytime," said Rarity. "And give your mother my well wishes, would you?"

"I'll be sure to do that," I said. "Seeya 'round, Rarity.  Bye, Spike.  It was nice talking to you two."

"Yeah, seeya," said Spike.

With that, I took my leave.  With no other course of action, I decided to go back to the northern timberline one last time.  If there really were dragons lurking around in that area, I wanted to see 'em with my own two eyes.

...

No, I wasn't planning on confronting them like I did the Diamond Dogs.  I'm not an idiot, y'know.  It's just that all of the evidence I had at that point was severely lacking, and I had to take what I could get.
> The Dogs of War
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 11, 11:59 AM
Everfree Forest
Northern Timberline
***


"Alright, you mutts!  Pick up the pace!  Double time!"

A familiar bark took me by surprise as I approached the northern timberline.  When I had left the place, it was pretty much barren and desolate.  But in the two hours I was gone, a large number of Diamond Dogs had popped up and were hard at work digging for gems.  It seems as though they realized that Rarity wasn't around, and they decided to take advantage of the opportunity.

And speaking of opportunities, I found one of my own.  If anyone was going to know about dragons in this area, it was going to be the Diamond Dogs.  Not only that, but they were already willing to cooperate with my investigation by talking to Sykes Silvervest.  Getting some more information out of them was going to be a cakewalk.  With that in mind, I began to approach them.

But before I could even get close to one of the sentries, somepony pulled me behind a rock and placed a hoof over my mouth.  Turning my head, I saw that it was the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well.

"Shh.  Keep down," Mare-Do-Well whispered as she released me. "And keep your voice low."

"What's the big idea?" I hissed. "I don't know if you know this, but these Diamond Dogs aren't that dangerous.  I talked to them; they're willing to help out."

"Notice how they're all on high alert," said Mare-Do-Well darkly. "They're expecting something."

"How the hay do you know?" I asked.

"Keep in mind that you and your sister are not the only ponies investigating," said Mare-Do-Well. "I've figured out a few things myself."

"Like what, for instance?"

"Like the fact that this Sykes Silvervest is the least of this pack's worries."

I blinked. "Wait, you weren't there when I met with Rover Redvest.  Heck, you left before I could tell you about the collar you found.  How do you know this?"

"I follow ponies who are in peril so I can protect them," said Mare-Do-Well with a shrug.

"So, you're stalking me."

"A little," said Mare-Do-Well, sounding a bit ashamed. "But once I saw that the Redvest pack didn't pose a threat, I took the opportunity to do some investigating of my own in the catacombs."

"And, what did you find?" I inquired.

"From a few select conversations I managed to eavesdrop on, it appears that the Redvest pack has been the victim of thefts in the past few days," said Mare-Do-Well.

"Oh yeah, I kinda remember Rover saying something about that when I first came across him," I said. "But, who would want to steal from these guys?"

"What do you mean?" asked Mare-Do-Well.

"They told me that the Redvest pack isn't doing so hot right now," I explained. "They lost a lot of gems and status because of a failed endeavor, and they're in debt to boot."

"To Sykes Silvervest, I presume," said Mare-Do-Well. "He seemed to come up a lot in conversation."

"Yeah," I said with a nod. "And apparently, they think he's after me, too."

"I wouldn't be so quick to jump to conclusions, Ms. Sparkler," said Mare-Do-Well, lowering her hat over her eyes.

"Well, I'm not," I said with a shrug. "Then again, there aren't a lot of conclusions to jump to right now that make sense."

"Indeed," said Mare-Do-Well. "So, if I may be so bold to ask, what are you doing here?"

"I'm trying to follow up on a lead I got from Rarity," I said. "You see..."

Before I could go into any further detail, one of the Diamond Dogs let out a bloodcurdling howl.  I was about to poke my head out and take a peek, but Mare-Do-Well forced me to hide and shook her head.

"They're back!  The bandits are back!" I heard Rover roar. "Take what you can and get underground!  Defend your hauls at all costs!"

As he was barking these order, I noticed that a shadow was passing me overhead.  I looked up to see a swarm of dragons flying in, hooting and hollering as they descended upon the Diamond Dogs.  Although Mare-Do-Well prevented me from seeing most of the ensuing battle, I managed to get a few glimpses of it.  And well, it wasn't pretty.  The Redvest pack did their best to fight back, stabbing with their spears and springing from the ground to try and trip the dragons up.  Nevertheless, the dragons clearly had the upper claw, and they were merciless.  Diamond Dogs were getting burned and tossed left and right.  One was even slammed into the boulder I was hiding behind.  Through my peripheral vision, I saw the dragon's flame toast the boulder.  I don't know if that Diamond Dog survived, but part of me hopes he did.

And all the while, Mare-Do-Well was looking on, panting heavily and clenching every muscle in her body.  I couldn't really tell because of the mask, but if I were to guess, I think she wanted to go in and help the Diamond Dogs.  I don't blame her, but I doubt even the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well can take on a swarm of dragons.  Stopping out-of-control vehicles and fixing dams are one thing; dragons are, well, dragons.  I think she knew that, which is why she was resisting the urge to join the fray.

After a long battle, a loud voice made itself known over the awful din.

"Alright, boy-os!  That's enough fun.  Take five."

This time, Mare-Do-Well allowed me to take a peek at what was going on.  Diamond Dogs were strewn all across the landscape, and all of them were badly injured.  In the center of the carnage stood another Diamond Dog wearing a pair of shades and a vest that appeared to be made out of dragon scales.  His shaggy fur was white with brown spots, and he had something in his paw that he was fiddling with.  I couldn't quite make out what it was.

"Yo, boss!  We're kinda sick and tired of you doing this!" snarled one of the dragons. "Why don't we just waste 'em and take all the gems they got?!"

"Peace, Garble.  You know why we can't do that," said the shaggy Diamond Dog. "Redvest is not our enemy."

"Then why attack us at all, you lunatic?!" Spot snapped. "This is the third time this week you and your dragons have gone after us like this!  What did we ever do to you?!"

"If you don't know, then you are fools," said the shaggy Diamond Dog. "In the meantime, take solace in the fact that you have no serious casualties.  Your lives are more important than gems."

"Don't try to confuse us with your fancy philosophy!" Fido barked. "Just stop picking on us!  We're not worth it!"

The shaggy Diamond Dog sighed. "You know how to make this stop, Redvest pack.  Let Silvervest know that Kohryu has marked him, and that he must repent."

Rover snarled. "The answer is the same as before!  This Kohryu you speak of is a myth!  Silvervest doesn't believe in myths!  Stop dragging us into your crazy war!  You won't win, anyway, even if you get the support of all the dragons in the land!"

The shaggy Diamond Dog snickered. "Redvest, are you so naïve that you honestly think Silvervest is untouchable?  Open your eyes, man.  Only Kohryu is untouchable."

"Yeah, he's untouchable because he doesn't exist!" barked one of the soldiers who somehow survived the battle. "You're crazy!"

"You really think so?" said the shaggy Diamond Dog, fiddling with the weird object in his paw. "Because my boy-os here seem to disagree.  Do you want to take it up with them?"

That put the soldier in his place.  The shaggy Diamond Dog smiled.

"Didn't think so," he said. "Anyway, I'd love to stick around and set a spell, but we gotta blow this joint.  If Silvervest doesn't know what's going down in five days, we'll be back.  Catch ya later.  Oh, and you might wanna shield your eyes."

He then held up his paw and looked towards the sky. "Bright as the flame!"

In a flash of light, a giant phoenix appeared out of nowhere.  With a loud screech, the bird spread its wings, causing a blinding light to radiate from its plumage.  When the glare died down, the dragons were gone, as were any gems in the area and the weirdo Diamond Dog.  As the Diamond Dogs started tending to their wounded and heading back underground, I sat there staring blankly into space.

"Wh-what the heck did I just see?" I asked.

"I'd wager we just bore witness to the Redvest pack being robbed," said Mare-Do-Well.

"Yeah yeah yeah, I got that part," I said. "But, since when do dragons take orders from a Diamond Dog?  And not just any Diamond Dog, but a crazy one who has an ax to grind with Sykes Silvervest."

"I don't have the answers to these question," said Mare-Do-Well with a sigh. "Nor do I know who this Kohryu is.  All I know is that this might be a lot more complex than we thought."

"You're telling me," I said. "I came here figuring that those dragons were just playing a prank on me, but that doesn't seem to..."

I trailed off as a realization struck me.  That crazy Diamond Dog was apparently at war with Sykes Silvervest.  And because of that ransom note, I was somehow caught up in it.  I mean, Sykes Silvervest and those teenage dragons were my only real suspects at this point, so I had to be involved somehow.  I began to tremble all over.

"Oh, Celesita.  Why me?" I murmured. "Why my family?  What did we ever do to deserve this?"

Mare-Do-Well placed a hoof on my shoulder. "No one deserves this, Ms. Sparkler," she said. "That being said, I did tell you that investigating would be dangerous."

"Y-you never said anything about a war, though," I said.

"That's because I didn't know," said Mare-Do-Well, obscuring her eyes with her hat. "I'm sorry."

"No, no.  It's, not your fault," I said. "I just feel a bit, overwhelmed.  I mean, I'm just a jeweler's apprentice.  I'm not prepared to deal with this."

"I understand," said Mare-Do-Well. "Actually, if you were to stop investigating now, I wouldn't hold it against you."

Part of me thought that was a good idea, but another part said that I couldn't give up.  I-I really didn't know what to do.

"M-maybe I should go to Princess Twilight.  She might know how to fix this," I said.

"I'm, not sure if it's that simple," said Mare-Do-Well. "Ponies interfering in Diamond Dog politics might spark an international incident."

"Don't you think that's a bit of a moot point now?  I mean, they're roping me into their war!" I said.

Mare-Do-Well sighed and shook her head. "Politics is a fickle thing, Ms. Sparkler; especially when it comes to other species," she said. "I wish it wasn't that way, believe me.  But you have to understand that not every creature in Equestria views the world from a pony's perspective."

"Th-then, what am I supposed to do?" I asked.

"Just as before, you have a choice," said Mare-Do-Well. "Either investigate and find the truth, or leave everything to me.  I'll protect you and your family either way, so there's no pressure."

Even though she said that, I felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders.  I wanted to defend my family, but I felt like this was way over my head.  I-I just couldn't decide.

"L-let me think about it," I said.

"Fair enough," said Mare-Do-Well. "For the moment, I'll assume you're still investigating unless you tell me otherwise.  And of course, I will respect whatever decision you make and abide by it."

I gave her a nod and got up to leave.  I'm not sure why, but Mare-Do-Well giving me this choice didn't feel, right.  I mean, I was kinda glad that she was taking my feelings into consideration, but if she needed my help, why wasn't she giving me a pep talk or anything?  Just like everything else in this stupid mystery, it just didn't make sense.

"Wait, Ms. Mare-Do-Well.  I have one more que—"

I turned around to get an explanation, only to find that she had once again disappeared.  I, guess I just had to hold that thought for later.  With a heavy sigh, I headed for home.


***


I spent the rest of the day just debating with myself over whether or not to continue investigating.  Sure, it would be dangerous, but should I let that stop me?  What chance do I have going up against ruthless Diamond Dogs and powerful dragons?  Did I have more strength than I realized?  Should I believe in myself, or know my limits?  Even now, I don't have any answers to these questions.

But the deciding point was seeing Dinky all curled up and snug in her bed as I passed by her room that night.  It took sheer force of will to hold my tears back.  Dinky was involved in this too, whether I wanted her to be or not.  Whether it was Sykes Silvervest or that wacko and his dragon clan, someone was dragging my sweet little sister into a war.  I couldn't let that happen.  I vowed right then and there that I'd keep trying despite my doubts.  Because I was not going to let anypony hurt her.

Well, now you're all caught up, and you know where I stand.  Someone is soaking me for gems, they won't tell me who they are, and there's a big war over, something that I'm somehow involved in.  As crazy as Ponyville is on a regular basis, I think this is gonna be hard to top.  I don't know if my resolve will last, but for what it's worth, I'm gonna make every last bit of it count.

Wish me luck.  I feel like I'm gonna need it.  Badly.
> Misery Loves Company
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 12, 7:30 AM
Ponyville
Golden Harvest's House
***


"Ammy~."

I awoke to the sound of Derpy's voice coupled with a gentle prodding from her hoof.  With a mumble, I tried to go back to sleep.  I realize that I have a lot of important things to do today, but I spent the majority of the night tossing and turning.  I just wasn't ready to get up yet.

"Mmph.  Five more minutes," I murmured.

"Ammy, you know what I always say.  The early pony gets the muffin," said Derpy. "And speaking of muffins, I made some for you today.  Muffins are good brain food, y'know."

"That's nice and all, Mom.  But I'll get up when I'm..."

"It's cappuccino~.  Your favorite~."

My stomach rumbled a bit, and I sighed in defeat.

"You fight dirty, Mom," I grumbled half-jokingly, pulling myself out of bed. "Is Dinky up yet?"

"Nope," said Derpy, dipping her voice. "I'm gonna wake her up later, but first, I want to talk to you about her."

"What do you mean?" I asked as we made our way downstairs.

"Well, have you told her everything yet?"

I sighed. "No, I haven't.  I told you before, I want to protect her.  She shouldn't be a part of this."

"I see where you're coming from, Ammy.  But you can't hide things from her forever," said Derpy. "That being said, I don't think we should take her to the Diamond Dogs."

"Agreed," I said as we sat down for breakfast. "So, what?  Should we give her something to do while we're sleuthing?  She already knows I'm investigating."

"Well, isn't Karat coming back today?" asked Derpy. "Maybe you could have her ask him some questions."

I knitted my brow. "I guess, but what exactly would he know?  When he saw the store in ruins, he was just as surprised as everypony else."

"It couldn't hurt to try," said Derpy with a shrug. "Besides, it's better than putting Dinky in harm's way with the Diamond Dogs."

I honestly couldn't agree more.  My mom might be a kook, but when she's right, she's right.

"Alright, we'll go with that," I said, taking a bite out of my muffin.

"But that doesn't change the fact that you need to tell her everything," said Derpy sternly.

"Don't worry about that, Mom.  I will," I said.

Derpy raised an eyebrow and gave me a look.  I got the distinct impression that she didn't believe me.

"Honest, Mom.  I'll tell her," I insisted. "I promise."

"Pinkie Promise?" said Derpy.

Oh sweet Celestia, not another one!  I already have one Pinkie Promise hanging over my head; I don't need two!

"J-just let me handle it, okay?" I said defensively. "I-it's not gonna be easy for me.  I don't wanna hurt her."

"I know, Ammy.  But you'd be hurting her more if you just continued to lie," said Derpy, placing a hoof around my shoulder. "She loves you, Ammy.  Just like I love you.  Never forget that."

I gave Derpy a sad smile. "Trust me, Mom.  I wouldn't be so worried about all this if I did forget that.  I love you and Dinky, too.  And I'm gonna make sure that this jerk doesn't hurt you anymore."

Derpy smiled back and nuzzled my cheek. "I'm glad you think that, Ammy," she said. "And I'll be more glad when I can see you truly smile again."

"Sparkler!"

My tender moment with Derpy was interrupted by Carrot Top walking into the dining room.

"Oh, hey Carrot Top.  What's up?" I asked.

"I was just outside getting the paper when I found a note nailed to the door," said Carrot Top, giving me a small folded piece of paper. "It's apparently for you."

I had a good idea as to what this was.  Using my magic, I took the note from Carrot Top and read it over.


Amethyst "Sparkler" Star:

You have four days left.  Just a friendly reminder.

~Anonymous


Yep, just as I suspected.  "Friendly reminder" my flank.  Just reading that made me lose my appetite.  How the hay does this schmuck know so much about me?  He knows who my family is; where I work; where I live.  Is he having some goon stalk me or something?  And I know I'm being a broken record, but why me of all ponies?  It's all very creepy, but it's also incredibly frustrating.

"What's wrong, Ammy?" asked Derpy.

Without a word, I showed the note to Derpy.  Derpy closed her eyes, let out a sigh, and then gave me a small hug.

"It'll be okay, Ammy," she said softly. "Remember, we're all here to help you."

"Um, sorry, Derpy.  But, I'm kinda out of the loop," said Carrot Top. "What's going on?  Does it have to do with the jewelry store being destroyed yesterday?"

"Kinda," said Derpy. "I'll tell you more about it later.  For now, let's just say that Ammy is having a hard time."

"Alright.  I won't pry any further," said Carrot Top. "But just know that you can come to me if you need to, Sparkler.  After all, I'm part of this family, too."

I smiled. "Thanks, Carrot Top.  I'll keep that in mind," I said.

With a nod, Carrot Top walked off.

"So, I figure I'll get Dinky out of bed and then send her on her way, and then we'll go see the Diamond Dogs," said Derpy.

"Sounds like a plan," I said. "I'll meet you outside."

Derpy nodded and flew off upstairs.  I sighed.  Hopefully, Rover Redvest had enough clout to schedule a meeting with the infamous Sykes Silvervest.  But even if he didn't manage to do that, I'd find a way to meet him.  He was my only lead at this point besides the wackjob with the dragons.  And as dangerous as he sounded, I had a feeling that he was going to be the safer lead to pursue.  Hey, I'll take bad breath over fire breath any day.


***
July 12, 8:45 AM
Ponyville
Town Square
***


"So, you think Mr. Karat will know something?" asked Dinky.

"It wouldn't hurt to get his side of the story," I said. "Also, be sure to tell him that the Mayor is looking into things as well.  I know he wanted me to tell Princess Twilight, but the Mayor has just as many recourses."

"I understand," said Dinky with a nod. "What will you be doing in the meantime?"

"Mom and I are gonna be following up on our own lead," I said. "We need to speak to the Diamond Dogs one more time."

"But, didn't you say that they didn't do it?" asked Dinky, tilting her head.

"We just want to make sure, Muffin," said Derpy. "Now, how about we meet up at Sugarcube Corner for lunch to go over what we found?  My treat."

Dinky nodded. "Okay, Mama.  I'll see you later, hopefully with some more clues."

With that, she donned her silly-looking hat, placed her bubble pipe in her mouth, and pranced off.

"I can't believe she kept that detective kit," I said.

"I can," said Derpy. "She wants to help you investigate, after all."

"I, guess I can't argue with that," I said with a shrug. "Alright, let's— oof!"

Before we could head off, somepony bumped into me.  When we got to our feet, I realized that it was Rarity.  She looked, um, kinda mad.  And I don't know why, but something about the way she looked sent shivers down my spine.

"I'm, terribly sorry, darling," said Rarity, sounding a bit strained. "I didn't see you there, on account that I'm actually seeing red at the moment."

"Seeing red?" I parroted, shaking myself. "What's wrong?"

"See for yourself."

Rarity levitated a piece of paper in front of my eyes.  I gripped it with my own magic and took a look at it.  It read as follows:


Prissy Pony:

Give us gems or else.

~Anonymous


I blinked. "Um, where was this?"

"I found it nailed to my door this morning," huffed Rarity. "Can you believe this?  I honestly thought those ruffians knew better!"

"You mean the Diamond Dogs?" I said.

"Who else would call me a prissy pony and threaten me to give them gems?" said Rarity. "This has their pawprints all over it, and I'm going over there to give them a piece of my mind!"

Just like the rest of this mystery, this didn't make sense.  From my experience with the Redvest pack, those guys are downright terrified of ponies, and Rarity specifically.  They have no reason to threaten her, did they?  Were they lying to me before?  If they were, why did they feel the need to do so instead of just, I don't know, beating me up?

"Rarity, are you sure you're not jumping to conclusions?" I asked.

"Darling, there's no other conclusion to jump to," said Rarity firmly. "Those Diamond Dogs clearly didn't learn their lesson.  In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they were behind the attack on the jewelry store yesterday.  Well, don't worry, Sparkler.  I'll make them answer for what they've done!  It.  Is.  ON!"

Before I could say anything else, Rarity ran off at full gallop, leaving the note behind.  I looked over it again.

"What was that all about?" inquired Derpy.

"I'm, not entirely sure," I said, sharing the note with Derpy. "All I know is that Rarity might be making a mistake."

"Hmm," said Derpy. "Well, maybe we should stop her."

I had to agree.  For one, the Redvest pack have enough problems without an enraged Rarity beating down their door.  Also, it was gonna be pretty hard to talk to them if Rarity was stirring up trouble.  Besides, I had a feeling that this wasn't as simple as she was making things out to be.  It seemed like a pretty darn convenient coincidence that she was being soaked for gems the same time I was.  Maybe if I set her straight, it would lead to more clues.  Yeah, I know.  That's a bit of a stretch.  However, I'd like something more solid to go on.  Let's face it; none of the clues I have right now are necessarily what I'd call concrete.

"I think that's a good idea, Mom," I said. "C'mon, let's go."

With that, I galloped off to the northern timberline with Derpy flying right behind me.
> Confrontation: Rarity
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 12, 9:01 AM
Everfree Forest
Northern Timberline
***


"Alright, you ruffians!  Come on out!  You have a lot to answer for!"

Thankfully, Derpy and I made it just in time.  Rarity was standing in the middle of the plain yelling for the Diamond Dogs, but none of them came up to answer her call yet.  I don't know if they just didn't hear her, or if they were too afraid to face her.  I think both of those theories are valid.

"Rarity, wait a minute!" I called out as I made my way over to her.

Rarity turned around and blinked. "Sparkler?  What are you doing out here?"

"I, uh, wanted to talk to you about something," I said.

"Can it wait?  I need to teach some no-good Diamond Dogs a lesson," said Rarity.

"N-no, it can't," I said. "Because, well, I think you might be acting a bit hasty here."

Rarity gave me a quizzical look. "Why would you say that, darling?  Don't you know what these brutes are capable of?"

I deadpanned. "I'm a jeweler's apprentice, Rarity.  Of course I know what Diamond Dogs are capable of," I said. "And that's why I think you're overreacting."

Rarity pouted. "Hmph.  Well, I mean no disrespect, darling, but I think I have a better grasp of the situation than you do."

"Alright then, prove it," I said. "Because I don't want you to make a fool of yourself."

"That's, very kind of you, Sparkler," said Rarity, appearing a bit confused. "Regardless, I shall explain exactly why these Diamond Dogs are the ones threatening me.  In turn, you should explain to me why you're so willing to defend them."

"Agreed," I said.  From Rarity's tone, I could tell that she had no idea what I was thinking.  Then again, this was pretty odd behavior for me.  I was poking my nose where it didn't belong, and I usually don't do that.  However, you know what they say.  Desperate times call for drastic measures.


***
Argument: The Diamond Dogs' Threat
***


"You may not know this, Sparkler, but I've had firsthoof experience with the Diamond Dogs," said Rarity. "A long time ago, they kidnapped me and forced me to be their slave.  Of course, I worked my way out of that situation.  Nevertheless, I suspect that they became bitter after suffering such a humiliating defeat.  Thus, they're trying to get revenge by threatening me to give them gems.  They have a motive, darling, and nothing you say can refute that."

I can see why Rarity would think that, but it didn't change the fact that she was wrong.  The Diamond Dogs (or at least the Redvest pack) didn't have a motive to attack her.  And I had to convince her of just that.  But first, I needed to know more.

"I realize that you and the Diamond Dogs had some bad blood between you," I said. "But is that really your only evidence?"

"Well, of course not," said Rarity. "I also have the note I showed you."

I raised an eyebrow. "How is that evidence?" I inquired.

"Well, look who it's addressed to," said Rarity, showing me the note. "'Prissy Pony.'  Notice that they didn't call me by name.  They never did that when they ponynapped me unless I reminded them.  Believe me, Sparkler.  This has their pawprints all over it."

That was an interesting point.  The Diamond Dogs did have trouble calling me by name when I went to meet them.  But there was something she was overlooking.

"Rarity, I want you to look at something," I said, pointing to the bottom of the note. "This letter is signed 'Anonymous.'  Now, why would the Diamond Dogs do that?"

"Humph.  They must think I'm stupid," huffed Rarity. "They think they're tricking me, but..."

"But they have no reason to trick you," I interrupted.

Rarity blinked. "I, beg your pardon?"

"If the Diamond Dogs wanted you to give them gems, then they would've told you who they were," I said. "Let's face it, even without their signature, you knew it was them.  Why would they even bother to be anonymous?"

Rarity had no answer for that. "W-well, I-I'm sure they had some reason..."

"Not one that makes sense," I countered.

"Eep!"

Rarity recoiled from my logic, but she still wasn't willing to back down.

"S-Sparkler, be reasonable!  Th-there's no one else it could be!" she sputtered. "And why are you defending them, anyway?!"

"I have my reasons," I said. "And those reasons have to do with this."

I showed her the Diamond Dog collar.

"I found this in the wreckage of the jewelry store yesterday," I said. "Recognizing it, I went out here to see the Diamond Dogs about it."

"And?"

"Turns out they weren't the culprits," I said. "In fact, they were downright afraid of me.  Not only that, but they said it was because they had bad luck with kidnapping ponies in the past.  Does that sound familiar?"

"Indeed it does!  My stars, darling!"

It didn't take long for Rarity to connect the dots.

"So, now you see that the Diamond Dogs aren't to blame for this letter," I said.

"W-well, I certainly see your point," said Rarity sheepishly. "However, there's still another matter left unsolved."

"Which is?"

"If those brutes didn't write this letter, then who did?"

"I, uh, I don't know," I said with a shrug. "All I know is that it wasn't these Diamond Dogs."

Rarity furrowed her brow and thought for a moment. "Wait.  I think I might know who it could've been."

"Yeah?"

"Remember yesterday, when Spike mentioned the teenage dragons?"

"Well, of course."

"It was them.  I has to be."

I raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess, you had a run-in with them, too."

"Of sorts," said Rarity. "I won't give all of the details, seeing as Spike would get rather cross with me if I did.  Let's just say that, well, they're not very nice."

If their attack on the Redvest pack yesterday was any indication, I'd say that's putting it mildly.  However, something was still bothering me.

"Rarity, tell me about this run-in you had," I said.

"Well, alright," said Rarity. "But I'm not going into every last detail.  I must respect Spiky-Wikey's privacy."

"Sure, whatever," I said.

"Are you sure that's okay, Ammy?" Derpy whispered to me. "What if some of those details are required to help us out?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it, Mom," I whispered back. "But in the meantime, I have to agree with this.  Otherwise, Rarity isn't going to tell me anything."

Derpy shrugged. "If you say so," she said. "I just hope you know what you're doing."

Well, I had a rough idea, at least.  So, that's something.


***
Testimony: Teenage Dragons
***


"It happened a while ago, during the last great Dragon Migration," said Rarity. "Spiky-Wikey got involved with a gang of ruthless teenage dragons.  Of course, I kept a close eye on him to make sure he was safe.  When the dragons started pressuring him into something he wasn't comfortable doing, I stepped out of the shadows and told them in no uncertain terms that I would not hesitate to pummel them if they so much harmed a scale on Spike's little head.  They, didn't take kindly to that, and ended up chasing us all the way back to Ponyville.  They're probably up to their old tricks again, just as Spike mentioned yesterday."

Once again, I couldn't blame Rarity for thinking that.  After all, I came to the same conclusion when I first heard about them.  But just like before, I know this wasn't the case.  I had to set the record straight if I was going to get anywhere.

"So, these teenage dragons saw you, and chased you back to Ponyville," I said. "Is that right?"

"That's correct, darling," said Rarity.

"So, at any point, did they know that you worked with gems?"

Rarity opened her mouth to speak, but then furrowed her brow and stroked her chin in thought. "Hmm.  Now that you mention it, they didn't.  Actually, I'm not sure why they would bother with a letter in the first place.  They could just take whatever gems they wanted, couldn't they?"

"My thoughts exactly," I said. "I'm not sure why you didn't catch onto this sooner, honestly."

"Mmm.  It seems I'm not quite thinking straight today," mused Rarity. "However, that still leaves us with this problem.  Who exactly is demanding gems of me?"

"We, actually might have an idea," said Derpy, giving me a nudge.

I gave Derpy a look. "We do?"

"Of course we do, Ammy," said Derpy. "Think for a minute.  Someone is trying to force Rarity to give them gems.  Doesn't that remind you of somepony?"

I saw what she was getting at, but I wasn't sure how to react.  This was a bit of a long shot, and even if it was true, I wasn't comfortable with roping Rarity into my plight.  Still, I didn't have many options at this point.

"Um, yeah," I said, clearing my throat. "I, do have something that might answer your question."

"Oh?  What is it?"

I sighed and brought out the ransom notice I got.  Rarity used her own magic to take it and levitate it in front of her face.  After a few seconds, she gasped.

"Oh my stars, darling!  Of all the worst things that could happen, this is THE, WORST, POSSIBLE, THING!"

For once, that wasn't an overreaction.  As you know, I pretty much had the same reaction when this stupid thing was dumped onto my lap.

"Yeah, I know," I said. "I found this yesterday just outside the jewelry store.  Someone is trying to blackmail me into paying a gem tribute, but they won't tell me who.  I think that same someone is trying to blackmail you as well, and they made it look like it was the Diamond Dogs so that they would take the rap."

"W-well, that's quite a shock, Sparkler," said Rarity. "A-are you alright?"

"Frankly, no.  But I'll manage," I said. "Look, the point is it's possible that this same jerk wrote these two letters."

"But, that makes no sense," said Rarity. "Why demand a gem tribute without revealing your identity?"

"If I knew that, I wouldn't have come all the way out here to defend the Diamond Dogs in the first place," I said with a sigh. "I'm actually trying to figure it out myself."

"Darling, you shouldn't shoulder this heavy burden on your own," said Rarity. "I'll go tell Twilight.  She can help you."

"Thanks, but I feel responsible for this," I said. "Whoever this dock-hole is, he's threatening my family.  They're being targeted because of me.  I-I want to be the one to protect them."

Rarity paused for a moment. "My word, Sparkler.  This is a side of you I've never seen before," she said. "I didn't know you felt this strongly about your family."

"Well, I never had to defend them before," I said with a shrug.

Rarity nodded. "Well, the offer's still on the table if you need any help," she said. "I can't imagine you doing this alone."

"Well, I'm not," I said. "I've got my mom helping me, and some friends in high places.  Actually, the Diamond Dogs said they were willing to help me, too."

"Oh," said Rarity, blushing a little. "That's, part of the reason you were defending them, right?"

"Yeah," I said. "Don't worry, it's not your fault.  I blamed them at first, too."

"Mmm," said Rarity. "Well, I guess I'd better head off back to town.  Best of luck, darling.  And remember, if you need any help, I'm more than willing to provide it."

"Right, I'll keep that in mind," I said. "Thank you."

"'Tis no trouble at all," said Rarity.  With a polite nod, she headed off.

"That was pretty good work, Ammy," said Derpy. "Now we have some more facts."

I tilted my head. "We do?  I didn't get much out of that conversation."

"Well, now we know that the same anonymous meanie threatening you is also threatening Rarity," said Derpy.

I sighed. "Mom, that was only a guess.  I don't know if it's true or not.  Besides, if that was the case, why did this dock-hole send me an elaborate threat while Rarity only got a simple, straightforward message?  And furthermore, why wasn't she attacked?"

Derpy placed a hoof to her muzzle and struck a thinking attitude. "Well, you said before that the Diamond Dogs were meant to take the blame for this.  Maybe to reinforce this notion, the culprit deliberately decided not to attack Rarity."

So, that meant the culprit knew of the Redvest pack's history with Rarity.  That wasn't all that useful in and of itself, but I decided to make a mental note of it, anyway.  Whoever this guy is, he sure likes his mind games.  Almost makes me wonder if this entire farce has a point or not.

"Is she gone yet?"

My musings were interrupted by a meek voice coming from my right.  I looked over to see Rover Redvest and his two pals, Fido and Spot, hiding in a small hole.  It appears that they were going to meet me, but took cover as soon as Rarity came running in.  I let out a brief snicker.

"Yes, she's gone," I said.

Rover breathed a sigh of relief. "Phew.  That was close," he said. "Thank you for standing up for us, po— I mean, Ms. Star."

"Yeah, well.  I figured you guys weren't the culprits," I said. "So, did you manage to arrange the meeting?"

"Um, about that," said Rover. "We, did tell Sykes Silvervest about your problem."

"And?"

"There's no one in the Silvervest pack named 'Anonymous,' either."

I smacked my forehead. "I wasn't asking if there was, you nimrods," I growled. "Look, can I meet him or not?"

"H-he says he's willing to meet with you, but there's a catch," said Rover.

"And that is?"

"You have to wear this."

Spot then reached into his vest and pulled out a blindfold.

"Sykes Silvervest says he doesn't want any ponies knowing where his territory is," said he.

"That's ridiculous," I said. "I wouldn't be able to find my way around those catacombs, anyway.  The blindfold's completely unnecessary."

"Regardless, that's the only way he'll meet with you," said Fido. "Take it or leave it, pony."

I sighed. "Alright, I'll take it.  Sheesh, I wasn't aware the great Sykes Silvervest was so paranoid."

"Mind your tongue!" Spot barked nervously. "Sykes Silvervest wouldn't take kindly to that!"

Oh, brother.  I'm really getting the feeling that Sykes Silvervest isn't nearly as scary as the Redvest pack is making him out to be.  Still, this was my only way I was going to talk to him, so I had to play along.

"Oh, and give one to me, too," said Derpy. "I'm going with her."

"Who's this pony?" said Rover. "Ms. Star, you didn't say anything about taking another pony with you."

"Well, I happen to be her mother," said Derpy sternly. "And I want to make sure my daughter is safe.  You got a problem with that?"

Rover swallowed. "N-not at all, Mrs. Pony.  I mean, Mrs. Star.  I mean..."

"Hooves.  My name is Derpy Hooves," said Derpy.

"Right, Hooves.  Yes," said Rover, wringing his paws. "Spot, fetch another blindfold for Mrs. Hooves!"

"Right away, sir!" said Spot, diving underground.  Fido then pulled himself up and presented the blindfold to me.

"Okay, Ms. Star.  Now just hold still," he said.

"Hang on, hang on.  I got this," I said, taking the blindfold with my magic.  I then tied it around my eyes so that I couldn't see anything. "There.  Happy?"

"Um, yes," said Fido. "Now, this way, po— Ms. Star."

"Just a sec," I said. "We should all leave together, don't you think?"

"Oh, right.  Yes," said Fido sheepishly.

It wasn't long before Spot got back with a second blindfold for Derpy.  After putting hers on (which I figure was difficult, considering Derpy's eye condition.  I don't know for sure because I was blindfolded myself), we made our way into the darkest reaches of the underground network to meet with the infamous Sykes Silvervest.
> Business of Power
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 12, 10:45 AM
Underground Network
Silvervest Territory
***


"Alright, Ms. Star.  We're here."

After being led around blindly for what felt like an eternity, Fido removed my blindfold.  Looking around, I noticed that it was slightly better looking than Rover Redvest's territory, but that's not saying much.  Sure, they had mine cart tracks and firefly lanterns instead of torches, but that didn't change the fact that it was still a network of tunnels that went on forever.  It did smell a lot nicer, though.

"So, when do I get to meet this Silvervest fellow?" I asked.

"Patience, Ms. Star.  Sykes Silvervest is a very busy Diamond Dog," said Rover. "He'll be along soon enough."

"Actually, he got bored of waiting for you and decided to attend to some other matters," said a gruff voice. "You sure took your sweet time getting here, didn't you, Redvest?"

From the shadows emerged two slender Diamond Dogs with black fur and long snouts.  One of them wore a red collar; the other wore a blue one.  Aside from that, they were impossible to tell apart.  Well, except for the fact that the one with the blue collar was looking at me funny.

"Th-there were some complications, Mr. Rosco," said Rover meekly. "You see..."

"Spare me the excuses, Redvest," snarled the dog with the red collar. "The Top Dog doesn't like excuses."

"Right.  No excuses.  Got it," whimpered Rover.

The blue-collared dog looked me over with a critical eye, and then looked at Derpy.

"You said that there would only be one pony," he hissed, licking his chops. "Did you bring the other to appease us?"

"Forget it, Desoto," said Rosco. "You know the rule: Business before pleasure."

"But I like ponies, Rosco," rasped Desoto, leering at Derpy. "I like to eat 'em."

I snorted. "You so much as lay one paw on my mom, and I'll tear you limb from limb."

Desoto stared at me for a moment, and then burst out laughing. "Oh, that's rich!  Did you hear that, Rosco?!  The pony is gonna tear me limb from limb!  Ooh, she must be so tough!"

"She has to be if she wants to meet the Top Dog," said Rosco, folding his arms. "That or stupid."

"Hey!  Don't talk about Ammy that way, you big bullies!" Derpy snapped.

"Oh-ho.  They're both feisty.  Just the way I like 'em," said Desoto as he started to drool.

"Down, Desoto," said Rosco sternly. "We were given specific instructions not to cause trouble during this arrangement."

"C'mon, Rosco.  Can't I at least nip the goofy-looking one?" said Desoto. "She looks extra tasty."

"Don't you dare," I growled, standing my ground.

"N-now now.  L-let's all calm down here," said Rover, standing in between me and the thugs. "There's no need for violence."

"Out of the way, Redvest!" Desoto roared. "These ponies are askin' for it!"

"Desoto, heel!"

After Rosco barked the command, Desoto clammed up and snarled.

"Good boy," said Rosco, patting Desoto on the head before turning to me. "Forgive my brother.  He can be a bit, feral, at times."

"Is this normal for Diamond Dogs?" I asked.

"No, but he's a part of the Silvervest pack all the same," said Rosco. "So you'll treat him with the proper respect, you hear me?"

"They hear you, they hear you!" yipped Spot.

"Let me speak for myself, please and thank you," I said firmly. "Now then, who exactly are you guys?"

"Rosco and Desoto.  We're Sykes Silvervest's personal bodyguards," said Rosco. "The Top Dog told us to meet a pony who wanted to see him."

That would probably make them the most unwelcoming welcome wagon I've ever seen.  I cleared my throat.

"Well, I'm that pony," I said. "My name is..."

"Not something I asked for," interrupted Rosco. "All I know is that you've got some business with the Top Dog.  That's all I need."

"Right, sure," I said, rolling my eyes. "Anyway, do you know when he'll be here?"

"He'll get here when he gets here, pony.  Keep your horseshoes on," said Rosco, narrowing his eyes. "And keep that mouth in check.  The Top Dog isn't as forgiving as we are."

At this point, I still wasn't buying all this hype about how tough Sykes Silvervest was.  The Redvest pack was clearly afraid of him because they were in debt, and these two bozos were just trying to intimidate me.  I shot Rosco a glare of my own.

"I'll decide that for myself when he gets here," I said.

Rosco was about to protest when a click-clack sound was heard from deep within the catacombs.  As the sound got louder and louder, I saw a beam of light flashing from one of the tunnels.  It belonged to a mine cart traveling along the tracks.  There was a loud screech as the breaks were applied, and the cart stopped right in front of me.

Sitting in the mine cart was a large Diamond Dog wearing a silver vest and a pair of reading glasses.  His face was covered with scars of all shapes and sizes, and he looked like he could chuck me across the room with no effort at all.  If this was Sykes Silvervest (which I'm pretty sure it is), his appearance certainly lived up to the hype.  He held out his paw, showing a diamond ring on his finger.  Rosco and Desoto both licked it.  The Diamond Dogs of the Redvest pack all got on one knee and bowed to him.

"You're late, Redvest," Sykes rasped. "You know how I don't like to be kept waiting."

"S-sorry, Mr. Silvervest.  W-we have no excuse," whimpered Rover. "H-here's the pony who wanted to see you."

Sykes leaned out of the mine cart and lowered his spectacles. "I thought you said there was only one pony, Redvest."

"Change of plans, sir," said Rover. "Last minute, sir.  Completely out of my paws, sir."

Sykes grunted and looked me in the eye.  His face was hard to read, but at the same time, it sent chills up and down my spine.  I don't know how to describe it; it's like he had this aura of nastiness.  Nevertheless, I stood firm.

"What is your name, pony?" he asked.

"Amethyst Star," I said. "And this is my mom, Derpy Hooves."

Sykes looked at Derpy and raised an eyebrow. "Well, that's understandable, I suppose.  Still, she's kinda young to be your mother, isn't she?"

"That's none of your beeswax, buster," I snapped before I could stop myself.

"Hey!  I thought I told you to watch your mouth!" Rosco yelled. "This is Sykes Silvervest you're talking to here!  You will show him respect or else!"

"Let me handle this, Rosco," growled Sykes.  He then turned back to me. "That being said, I'd heed his warning.  I happen to be in a good mood right now, but that can quickly change.  None of us want that."

"R-right.  Sorry," I said, clearing my throat. "That's just, a tricky subject for me."

"Apology accepted," said Sykes, leaning back in his mine cart. "Now then, what business do you have with me?"

"This," I said, taking out the ransom note.  Sykes snatched it up and read it over.

"Hmm.  Looks like someone's trying to start up their own protection racket," he mused.

"Protection racket?" parroted Derpy. "You mean like in those crime dramas?  Because those criminal ponies aren't very nice."

"That's, kinda the point, Mom," I said with a sigh. "Anyway, I think that you're the one who wrote that letter."

Sykes frowned. "What makes you say that?"

"The jewelry store I work in was trashed yesterday, and I found this in the wreckage," I said, showing him the Diamond Dog collar. "I was told that this collar belonged to your pack."

Sykes looked over the collar with a critical eye, and then gave it back to me.

"There's something you should know about my pack, Amethyst Star," he said. "My name may be Silvervest, but my status wasn't given to me on a silver platter.  The Silvervest pack earned its reputation through hard work and careful strategy.  I pick my allies, my adversaries, and my clientele with the same amount of care.  Everything I do has a reason behind it."

"Okay, that's good to know," I said. "Now, is there a reason you're trying to fleece me for gems?"

"Actually, there would be."

I blinked. "Wait, would be?"

"It's just common sense, Amethyst Star," said Sykes. "When starting a protection racket, you need to choose a client who is weak and vulnerable.  Someone who won't fight back.  Now, for the sake of argument, let's say I did write this note.  What exactly were you planning on doing about it?"

Crap.  I didn't really think about that part.  Well, I kinda did, but it should've been at the forefront of my mind.

"I-I'll have you know that there's a princess where I live," I said. "And she wouldn't hesitate to..."

"Desoto, fetch."

Before I could finish my thought, Desoto bounded up to me and tackled me to the ground.  He glared at me with hungry eyes and raised his paw to strike me.

"Get off of her!" Derpy screamed.  I couldn't really tell from my position, but I could hear Rover and his pack holding her back.  Desoto laughed.  I scrunched my eyes shut, hoping that Mare-Do-Well was somewhere nearby.

"Desoto, heel," Sykes ordered.

Desoto complied.  I just laid on my back, trying to catch my breath and recover from the attack.  Now I see what all the hype was about.  Sykes Silvervest does not screw around.

"You see?  You are the perfect mark for a protection racket," said Sykes. "Believe me, Amethyst Star.  I know these things.  I've been alpha of the Silvervest pack for a long time."

"Ammy, are you okay?" asked Derpy, rushing to my side. "Here, let me help you."

Without a word, I let her help me to my feet.  Before I could shake myself, she pulled me into a hug.  I could feel her tears soaking my coat.  Part of me wanted to cry, too.  But at the same time, I was furious.  After taking a moment to collect myself, I shot Sykes a cold glare.

"Okay.  I see your point," I said. "But tell me this.  Can protection rackets be conducted anonymously?"

"Certainly not.  It defeats the purpose," said Sykes.

"Then, why did you...?"

"Oh, I'm not admitting to anything, Amethyst Star," said Sykes, cutting across me. "In fact, this is the first time I've ever met you."

"Don't give me that," I said. "What about the collar?"

"Well, you're right about one thing.  It does belong to the Silvervest pack," said Sykes. "Or at least, it did."

I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean, Amethyst Star, that I might have an alibi," said Sykes. "There are several activities the Silvervest pack engages in.  Some of them are, indeed, protection rackets.  However, due to recent events, I have been focusing my resources on something more important than protection."

"Like what?"

"Like war."

The way he said that caused my heart to stop for a moment.  I swallowed.

"W-war?" I stammered.

"Yes," said Sykes. "A member of my pack has gone rogue.  I haven't figured out why, but he has been a thorn in my side for quite some time now.  That collar you hold belonged to him."

"And, who is he?"

"His name is Dodger, but he currently goes by the moniker of Dodger Dragonvest," said Sykes. "He's under the delusion that his fictitious savior, Kohryu, will force me to atone for all that I have done."

So, that was the name of that nut who attacked the Redvest pack yesterday.  I had to know more.

"So, you're saying that this Dodger Dragonvest is the one who's after me?" I asked.

"Who's to say?" said Sykes with a shrug. "I hardly understand anything that's going through that poor bastard's head.  I don't even know why he's trying to take me down to begin with.  He just snapped one day and declared war."

"Mr. Silvervest, if I may interrupt," said Rover, clearing his throat. "Dodger Dragonvest has attacked my pack several times, and he claims you're ignoring him."

"Because I am," said Sykes.

"B-but you said you were devoting your resources to war."

Sykes shook his head. "Tsk tsk tsk.  This is why you haven't been able to rise through the ranks, Redvest.  When a child throws a temper tantrum, the last thing you want to do is indulge them.  That is, until it gets out of hand.  Dodger may be a lunatic, but he's no fool.  He's trying to get me riled up because he has a plan to try and take me down.  It won't work, of course.  Because I'll be ready when he forces me to retaliate."

"B-but what about my pack?  We can't pay off our debt like this!" said Rover.

Sykes stroked his chin. "Hmm.  That may be a problem," he said. "Tell you what, Redvest.  I have a dinner arrangement with the Jadevest pack today.  I'll see if I can pull a few strings and have them deal with your little pest problem."

Rover's expression brightened. "Y-you'd really do that?"

"Of course," said Sykes. "I'm invested in your pack, after all.  It wouldn't be right of me to ignore that investment."

"Oh, thank you, Mr. Silvervest!" said Rover with a bow.

"Don't thank me," said Sykes with a wink. "I'm not the one who will save you."

"Oh, yes.  Of course," said Rover with a nervous chuckle.

Sykes then turned back to me. "Is that all you wanted, Amethyst Star?"

"For now," I said. "I might have some more questions later."

Sykes sighed. "You're fighting a losing battle, Amethyst Star.  I've already demonstrated that you're in no position to strike back against your oppressor, whoever it may be.  Heed my advice: Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong.  It might get bitten off."

He then snapped his fingers. "Rosco, Desoto.  We're leaving."

"Got it, Top Dog," said Rosco.

The two goons then hopped into the mine cart, which then sped away.

"Well, are you happy now, Ms. Star?" asked Rover.

"Not in the slightest," I said.  Even though Sykes had an alibi, I still didn't trust him any farther than I could throw him.  The problem was that, well, he did have a lot of power.  I couldn't fight him on my own.

"I-I was afraid I was gonna lose you, Ammy," said Derpy with a sniffle. "Th-that settles it.  I'm not leaving your side while you're investigating."

There was part of me that wanted to groan and tell Derpy that I didn't need a foalsitter.  But honestly, I couldn't tell her that.  I needed her more than ever.

"Th-thanks, Mom," I said. "C'mon, let's go back to Ponyville.  Dinky's probably waiting for us."

Derpy nodded. "Okay."

The Diamond Dogs then reapplied our blindfolds, and we set off for home.  Boy, when Mare-Do-Well said this investigation stuff was gonna be dangerous, she wasn't kidding.  Not that I thought she was, but y'know.  This kinda was my first brush with death here.  And I've got a bad feeling in my gut that it's not gonna be my last.  Oh Celestia, give me strength...
> Luncheon Logic
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 12, 12:18 PM
Ponyville
Sugarcube Corner
***


"Hi, Mama!  Hi, Amethyst!"

I don't mean to sound sappy, but it always warms my heart to see a smile on a kid's face.  Especially when that kid is Dinky Doo.  And she was wearing a big one when she greeted us at Sugarcube Corner.  After my meeting with Sykes Silvervest, that kind of joy was something I needed to see.  The only downside was that it forced me to hold off on my Pinkie Promise.  Hey, don't look at me like that.  If you saw that adorable smile on Dinky's face, you wouldn't want to ruin her mood, either.

"Hello, Muffin," said Derpy sweetly. "You seem to be in a good mood."

"You bet!  I found out a lot!" said Dinky. "C'mon, I'll tell you over lunch."

This, actually doesn't surprise me.  Deep down, I think Dinky knew that we had her talk to Karat so that she would stay out of harm's way.  But instead of getting mad about it, she decided to take the initiative and do some extra sleuthing elsewhere.  It's very sweet that she wants to help me so much.  I kinda wish she didn't though.  You should know why that is by now, so I'm not gonna bother repeating myself.

Anyway, as soon as we walked through the door, we were greeted by none other than Pinkie Pie.  There's a bit of a saying we have in Ponyville: Laugh and Equestria laughs with you; cry and Pinkie Pie will cheer you up.  Seriously, it's almost impossible to be in a bad mood around Pinkie.  I say "almost" because, well, she's also one of the nuttiest ponies in town (and in a town full of eccentric nuts, that's saying something).  If you thought my mom was kooky, she's got nothing on the randomness that is Pinkie Pie.  It's, hard to explain without some form of visual aid, so let me just say that detective kits aren't the only thing Pinkie has stashed all over Ponyville.  I realize that it's very tempting to take that the wrong way, but try not to.

"Hello there, Derpy.  Hi, Sparkler," said Pinkie. "Dinky reserved a table for you.  Right this way."

Although she wore a wide grin, I felt as though she was reining her bombastic nature in a bit.  Again, I wasn't surprised.  Pinkie Pie makes it a point to befriend everypony in town, as well as keep herself informed about anything that's going on (she's even memorized everypony's birthday, if you can believe that).  As such, she knew at the very least that I was going through some tough times.  Once upon a time, she would've ignored that fact and proceed to try and cheer me up, anyway.  But after a while, she learned to show more consideration for the feelings of other ponies.  I doubt I'm alone when I say that I'm very grateful for that.

"Thanks, Pinkie," I said as she led us to our table.

"So, what'll it be?" Pinkie asked. "The usual today, or are you in the mood for something different?"

"The usual for me," said Derpy. "Lemon poppyseed this time."

"I'll have a plain bagel with cream cheese," I said. "And some mint tea."

"I'd like a crescent roll with strawberry jam and some mint tea, please," said Dinky.

"Coming right up," said Pinkie.  With that, she trotted off into the kitchen.

"So, Dink.  What have you come up with?" I asked.

Dinky took a moment to blow some bubbles out of her bubble pipe before answering me. "Well, I asked Mr. Karat about the attack on the jewelry store yesterday, just like you told me to.  As I thought, he didn't have much to contribute to the investigation.  He didn't know the store was broken into until yesterday morning.  So instead, I continued to ask around town to see if anypony else found anything suspicious."

"And?"

Dinky took out her notebook and rummaged through it. "I was getting more of the same answers as yesterday.  Out of everypony I asked, none of them saw or heard anything out of the ordinary during the night of the attack."

I tilted my head. "That's nothing new, Dink.  I thought you said that you found a lot of clues."

"I was just about to get to that part," said Dinky. "See, after hearing the same answer so many times, I figured that there had to be a reason for it.  And then, it hit me."

"What hit you?"

"The reason ponies never noticed anything has to be because of some form of magic."

That explanation was plausible enough, but I knew there was a catch.

"What kind of magic?" I asked.

Dinky's cheeks turned pink. "Oh.  Um, I don't know," she said sheepishly.

Yeah, I figured.  Dinky might be a whiz kid, but she's still just a kid.  She only has a very basic understanding of magic and how it works, which is typical for a filly her age.  Then again, maybe I shouldn't talk.  I wasn't sure what spell to look for, either.

See, the basic concept of unicorn magic is that you make something you want to happen happen.  Unicorn foals discover this rather quickly through magic surges.  But if you were to ask any adult unicorn on the street (such as Yours Truly), they'd all tell you the same thing: It's a lot more complicated than that.  If I wanted to, say, cast a protection spell, I couldn't just think of a forcefield and make it appear.  There's a specific procedure to spell-casting, and each individual spell has a different procedure.  And unless your special talent just so happens to be magic, it's not very likely that you're gonna know those procedures off the top of your head.  That's why the average unicorn only knows two kinds of magic: Telekinesis (which comes naturally to every unicorn) and spells that tie in with their special talent (which in my case would be cutting and refining gemstones).

Of course, that's unicorn magic.  So far, my only suspects have been Diamond Dogs and dragons.  I have no flipping idea what kind of magic they use, or if they can use magic at all.

"So, you came up with this theory that magic was used when the jewelry store was attacked," said Derpy. "What did you do then, Muffin?"

"Well, I thought I could learn some more about the subject, so I went to the library," said Dinky. "Princess Twilight Sparkle wasn't there, but Mr. Spike was.  And actually, he told me something very interesting."

"Oh?  What's that?" I asked.

"He thinks that you were attacked by dragons, Mama.  Mean teenage dragons who were pranking you."

That was the same theory he told me when I had brunch with Rarity yesterday.  I knew it wasn't exactly true, but I had a feeling that Dinky was going somewhere with this. "So, did you ask Spike any other questions?"

"Of course," said Dinky. "I asked him if dragons could use magic, but he said he didn't know of any who could besides himself.  He explained it's because Princess Celestia enchanted him so that he could send letters.  And then, I had another idea."

"Another idea?" parroted Derpy.

Dinky nodded. "Based on what Mr. Spike told me, wild dragons probably don't use magic because they don't need it.  However, the same cannot be said about Diamond Dogs.  So, my theory is that the dragons were pranking Mama, and the Diamond Dogs used their magic to destroy the jewelry store."

I rubbed the side of my head. "I dunno, Dink.  We still don't have a motive for the Diamond Dogs to do that."

"Well, that's why we're comparing notes," said Dinky. "Speaking of which, how did your investigation go, Amethyst?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Derpy give me a look.  I knew what it meant.  She was expecting me to tell Dinky everything.  But, I just wasn't ready.

"Well, we found out quite a bit, too," I said. "Here's what we know, Dink..."

I then told her about my meeting with Sykes Silvervest while Pinkie brought us our lunch.  Once again, I neglected to mention the ransom note.  Derpy gave me a look of disappointment that caused me to wince.  Dinky didn't seem to catch it, as she was too focused on processing the story.

"So, there's a Diamond Dog who's leading a gang of dragons and waging war against this Sykes Silvervest guy?" said Dinky.

"Yeah," I said. "Actually, I might've seen him yesterday."

"Oh?"

"After meeting with Rarity, I wanted to talk to the Redvest pack again," I explained. "But before I could see them, they were attacked by a gang of dragons who were led by another Diamond Dog.  I wasn't sure what he was talking about at the time, but now I know that he's after his former boss, Sykes Silvervest."

"I see," said Dinky, taking a bite out of her crescent roll. "Is there anything about that Diamond Dog that stood out?"

That question sparked something in my mind.  Even if we couldn't figure out what spell was used, Dinky did figure out something important.

"Yes, actually," I said. "He was fiddling with something in his paw.  When he left, he raised it into the sky and summoned a phoenix out of nowhere.  The phoenix blinded us all, and the Diamond Dog and his dragons got away."

Dinky smiled. "Now we're getting somewhere.  I was right.  Diamond Dogs can use magic.  So maybe this Diamond Dog who led the dragons is our culprit!"

At this point, that's a good possibility.  However, that's all it is: A possibility.  We still needed concrete proof before getting the princess involved.  And there was only one way I was gonna get that proof.

"Dinky, I have a new assignment for you," I said. "After lunch, head back to the library and see if you can find any books on Diamond Dogs.  There might be something about how they use magic."

"Will do," said Dinky. "What are you going to be doing in the meantime?"

Something very stupid, was what I wanted to say.  But instead, I said, "Mom and I are heading back to the northern timberline to ask about the dragons.  Maybe there's something we missed."

Dinky frowned. "You've been going into danger a lot lately, Amethyst.  I know you want to solve this mystery, and I know you've been lucky so far.  But still, please be careful.  I don't want you to get hurt."

"Don't worry, Muffin," said Derpy, patting Dinky on the head. "Mama's not gonna let anything bad happen to your big sister.  I promise."

Dinky's smile returned. "Thank you, Mama.  I know she'll be safe with you."

And visa-versa.  My mom might be tough, but I'm gonna be watching her back just as much as she's watching mine.  And apparently, Mare-Do-Well is watching all of us.  Speaking of Mare-Do-Well, I wonder what she's up to.  I haven't seen her since yesterday.

Oh, well.  I suppose she just pops up whenever she wants to, anyway; she'll probably drop in when she has found something.  In the meanwhile, I think it's time I paid Dodger Dragonvest a visit.

...

Hey, I told you I was gonna do something stupid, didn't I?  Heck, I never would've mustered up the courage to face him alone.  But I don't care what Sykes Silvervest says; I'm not weak and helpless.  I'm fighting against this protection racket for as long as my inner strength holds out, and nothing's gonna stop me.
> The Dragon's Hierophant
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 12, 1:01 PM
Everfree Forest
Northern Timberline
***


"Alright, Ammy.  What are you planning?"

Something about the way Derpy said that made me uneasy.  She hadn't said a word to me since we parted ways with Dinky after lunch, so the fact that this was the first thing out of her mouth was more than a little disconcerting.

"Wh-what are you talking about?" I asked, turning to her.

Derpy folded her forelegs. "Ammy, don't try to pull a fast one on me.  You and I both know that those Redvest Diamond Dogs aren't gonna have any new information about those dragons.  So, what are we doing back here?"

Crud.  It's so easy to forget that Derpy isn't as dumb as some ponies make her out to be.  Then again, mothers always seem to know when their daughters are up to something.  I sighed.

"Well, I'm thinking we should pay Dodger Dragonvest a visit," I said. "He's our only other suspect."

"Uh-huh," said Derpy. "And, when were you going to tell Dinky about this?"

Double crud. "Um, I-I just didn't want to worry her, Mom," I said meekly. "Y-you know where I stand on this."

Derpy sighed. "Ammy, you're a grown mare; I'm not gonna tell you what to do.  But lies aren't going to protect Dinky from reality.  Just keep that in mind."

Great.  As if I didn't feel guilty enough already; now Derpy's quoting the Zen of Dinky at me.  I guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.

"Mom, let's not discuss this now," I said. "We should keep our eyes open for the dragons."

"You mean those dragons?" asked Derpy, pointing with her hoof.

I looked where she was pointing, and saw three winged figures silhouetted against the sun.  Speak of the draconequus.

"Crap!  Get down!" I exclaimed, dashing behind a rock and pulling Derpy with my magic.  From our hiding place, we watched as three dragons descended from the sky.  One was a tall red one with a square jaw and orange wings.  To his left was a rotund brown one with a large chin and a club-like tail.  To his right was a lanky purple dragon with orange hair that obscured his eyes.

"Alright, boys.  We have our orders," said the red one. "Let's get to digging."

"Man, this bites," complained the purple dragon. "Why do we let that dumb mutt push us around?  All those tasty gems are just going to waste."

"Must be a Diamond Dog thing," said the brown dragon, smashing the ground with his tail. "The fact is that he's got Kohryu on his side, and what Kohryu says goes."

"Pfft, Kohryu," the purple dragon huffed. "That's all I've been hearing about ever since we let that mongrel become our leader.  Kohryu requests this; Kohryu decrees that; blah blah frickin' blah.  I never knew eastern dragons were so pushy."

"Look, Fume.  I don't like it any more than you do," said the red dragon. "But I'm not gettin' on his bad side.  If you want to, be my guest."

"Yeah, we'll be sure everyone remembers you as the greatest martyr of all dragonkind," scoffed the brown dragon.

"Oh, hardy har har.  Very funny, Clump," said the purple dragon dryly. "Let's just get this over with.  I don't wanna be down here digging any longer than I have to."

I'm beginning to see why Spike hates these guys.  There was a subtle repulsiveness to their speech and mannerisms that kinda made me sick.  Is this typically how wild dragons act?  'Cause if so, I'm wondering why anyone would want to recruit them for anything.  They might be powerful dragons, but they sound like they're impossible to work with.  Heck, they don't even like their so-called leader.

"Despicable," Derpy whispered. "Didn't their mothers teach 'em any manners?"

"Shh!  Quiet, Mom!" I hissed. "We don't want them to catch us!"

"Man, this is taking forever, Garble!" Fume griped. "How Diamond Dogs do this all day is beyond me."

"I hear ya, Fume," said the red dragon. "Hey, Clump.  Bust down that big boulder over there."

"On it," said Clump.

"Big boulder?" mused Derpy, keeping her voice low. "I wonder what they're talking abou—"

Her thought was interrupted when our hiding place was smashed to pieces.  I had a feeling that was the case.  Ugh, ponyfeathers.

"Hey, Garble!  Look what we have here!" said Clump. "It's a couple of namby-pamby ponies spying on us!"

Garble walked over to us, a sinister gleam in his eye. "Well well well.  Isn't this a surprise?" he said. "It's been a long time since a pony had the balls to spy on us."

"Heh heh, yeah," said Fume, pounding his fist into his palm. "What's say we rough 'em up a bit?"

My mind and heart raced in unison.  Part of me wanted to grab Derpy and run away as fast as I could, but another part wanted to prove Sykes Silvervest wrong and stand up to these mooks.  After a few seconds of inner debate, fight won out over flight.  I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and looked Garble in the eye.

"I'm not afraid of you punks," I said as boldly as I could. "I'll show you just what this namby-pamby pony can do."

The dragons stared at me for a moment, and then started laughing.

"Y-you think you can take us on?!" Garble roared between guffaws. "Bahahahahah~!  Yeah, right!  Sure!"

"Wanna try me?" I said, arching my back and pawing the ground. "As it just so happens, I've got a major bone to pick with you and your boss."

The dragons stopped laughing and glared at me.

"Oh, do you now?" growled Clump. "Well, the Boss isn't gonna like that."

"Yeah," said Garble. "We'd better take care of this loudmouth before she becomes a problem.  It's obvious she has a death wish, anyway."

"And here I thought this was gonna be a waste of time," said Fume with a sneer. "Any last words, pony?"

"Ammy, we should get out of here," said Derpy. "I-I don't like this."

I didn't, either.  But, where exactly were we going to run?  We couldn't bring these guys to town, and getting lost in the Everfree Forest wasn't a good idea, either.  We were kinda stuck unless Mare-Do-Well came in to save the day.  I swallowed.  I knew this probably wasn't going to be my best idea, but I never thought it would be this bad.

"And just what do you think you're doing?"

A harsh, raspy voice suddenly echoed throughout the plains.  In a flash of blue light, a creature appeared behind the trio of dragons.  It appeared to be a long blue snake floating in midair, but it also had short, stubby claws that were similar to those of a dragon.  Its face was also dragon-like in appearance, with the exception of two wiry whiskers sprouting from the middle of his snout and what looked like a greenish-blue lion's mane around his neck.  I honestly never saw a creature quite like it before.

"Piss off, Seiryu," Garble snarled, not bothering to turn around. "This is none of your business."

"I beg to differ," said the creature. "The Great Kohryu has not marked these equines.  Their lives are sacred."

"But they were spying on us, and she's askin' for it!" Fume roared, pointing at me. "Are all of you eastern dragons a bunch of sanctimonious pricks?!"

"Commenting on that is beneath me," said Seiryu haughtily. "But continue to raise my ire, and I'll gladly take this up with the Great Kohryu.  Either that or feed you to the timberwolves for supper."

"Um, I'm sorry to interrupt, but we're kinda confuzzled," said Derpy. "What exactly is going on here?"

Seiryu looked down at us and raised an eyebrow. "I do believe we're the ones who should be asking questions, equine.  For starters, what exactly were you doing here?"

At this point, I recovered from the shock and quickly shook myself.

"Well, if you must know, we were planning to meet with Dodger Dragonvest," I said.

"See?!  They were spying on us!" Clump exclaimed.

"Peace, Clump.  Allow me to handle this," said Seiryu before turning back to me. "Now then, why do you wish to see the Great Kohryu's hierophant?"

"Hiero-whatzit?" said Derpy, tilting her head.

"His high priest," Seiryu clarified.

Ah, that explains a lot.  It doesn't explain anything useful, but at least I know why he seems to like talking about this Kohryu fellow as if he was Princess Celestia or something.

"I want to talk to him about this," I said, levitating the ransom note in front of Seiryu's face.  Seiryu furrowed his brow.

"And, which one of you is Amethyst 'Sparkler' Star?" he asked.

"That'd be me," I said.

"I see," said Seiryu with a nod. "Well then, allow me to introduce myself.  I am Seiryu, the Azure Dragon as sharp as the timber, and one of the Great Kohryu's acolytes.  On behalf of the Great Kohryu, allow me to apologize for these three.  They were out of line."

"Um, sure.  Whatever," I said. "Look, can I see Dodger Dragonvest or not?"

"Unless he is communing with the Great Kohryu, he can see anyone," said Seiryu. "So yes, you can."

Well, that was easy. "Great.  Let's go."

"One moment," said Seiryu. "I ask that you close your eyes as we travel.  Outsiders are not allowed to know the location of the hierophant's lair."

Just my luck.  Dodger Dragonvest had to be a paranoid nut, too.

"Sure, alright," I said with a sigh.  I then did as he asked.

"I thank you," said Seiryu. "Garble, Clump.  Take these ponies to the hierophant."

"Oh yeah?  What if we don't wanna?" Garble growled.

"Then we can take this up with the Great Kohryu," said Seiryu simply.

I guess that was the end of that argument, because the next thing I knew, a pair of claws dug into my haunches, and I felt myself being lifted up into the air.

"Ow!" I yelped. "Hey, careful!"

"Be glad you're still alive, pony," Garble snapped.  We then took off in some direction with Garble grumbling all the way.


***
July 12, 1:28 PM
Everfree Forest
Dragonvest Territory
***


"Open your eyes, Amethyst 'Sparkler' Star."

When I did so, I have to say I was pretty amazed by the setup.  We were in this large cave furnished with all sorts of gemstones and trinkets.  It looked like a treasure trove straight out of a Daring Do book.  And sitting in the middle of the room was the same shaggy Diamond Dog that attacked the Redvest pack yesterday.

"Dodger Dragonvest, I presume," I said.

"You presume correctly," said the Diamond Dog. "Please, sit down and set a spell.  Seiryu tells me we have a lot to talk about."

"Indeed we do," I said, sitting down next to Derpy. "First, let me introduce myself.  My name is Amethyst Star, and this is my mom, Derpy Hooves."

Dodger raised an eyebrow. "Do you bring your mom with you every time you do this sort of thing?"

"Um, I guess?" I said with a shrug. "I've never had to do this before."

"And it shouldn't matter, anyway," said Derpy curtly. "Ammy's in danger, and I'm making sure she's alright."

"Alright, alright.  You don't need to get on my case about it," said Dodger.  He then started fiddling with something in his paw.  Upon closer inspection, I saw it was a set of crystal orbs; one red, one blue, one black, and one white. "So, why have you come to see the Dragon's Hierophant?"

"This is why," I said, showing him the ransom note.  Dodger read it over carefully and shook his head.

"Bummer," he said. "You seem to be in a pretty tight spot, Momma's Girl."

My eye twitched involuntarily.  He was probably trying to get under my skin, and well, it worked.

"Don't call me that," I growled through gritted teeth.

"Then don't make it so obvious, Momma's Girl," Dodger retorted.

"You're asking for a black eye, pal," I said, feeling my body become tense.

"Hey, hey.  Cool it," said Dodger. "We're all friends here, aren't we?"

"That's still debatable," I said, taking out the Diamond Dog collar. "Yesterday, the jewelry store I work at was attacked, and I found this at the crime scene.  Does it look familiar?"

Dodger took a good look at the collar and nodded. "Yep, it does.  But I'm afraid that's from the life I left behind.  I'm a new dog now."

I found that hard to believe. "If you left that life behind, why are you after your old boss?"

Dodger sighed. "It's simple, Momma's Girl.  It's because he has sinned against Kohryu, and thus has been marked."

"Who exactly is this Kohryu we keep hearing about?" asked Derpy.

Dodger lowered his shades. "You mean you don't know?"

"Um, no.  We don't," I said. "Ponies know next to nothing about dragons."

"Well, you should know about this one," said Dodger. "Kohryu is a legend amongst dragons.  There isn't a dragon alive who can match his power nor his wisdom.  He can even do something that most dragons don't have the brains to comprehend."

"And that is?"

"He can perform magic."

Well, that was unexpected. "What would a dragon need with magic?"

"Ah, that is a typical western dragon mentality," said Dodger, wagging his finger. "All they think about is their instant gratification.  But eastern dragons are a much more civilized lot.  They think about more than eating gems and amassing wealth.  They are scholars and philosophers.  And Kohryu is the greatest of them all."

Maybe it's because I've only met one eastern dragon thus far, but I'm having trouble picturing a dragon as a great philosopher.  I guess you learn something new every day.  Now I need to learn something that's actually useful.

"Why has Kohryu marked Sykes Silvervest?" I asked. "What did he do wrong?"

Dodger's face darkened. "Sykes Silvervest is a monster.  He doesn't care who he hurts as long as he can stay at the top.  He disregards the lives of anyone beneath him.  This has angered Kohryu.  And that is why he has chosen me to be his hierophant: To overthrow the Silvervest pack."

Something about this story reeked to high heaven.  Maybe it's because I'm getting this dock-hole vibe from Dodger, but I don't think he's being straight with me.  Not that I can prove it right now.  Instead, I decided to try and get some more information.

"How did you meet Kohryu?" I asked.

"Now that is a tale I love to tell," said Dodger whimsically. "I was working for Sykes Silvervest in the mines one day, just doin' his dirty work.  When all of a sudden, I stumbled upon these bad boys."

He held the orbs in his paw aloft.

"I didn't know what they were, but I knew I couldn't give 'em to Sykes.  So, I hid them away.  Then, that night, I had a vision.  I was visited by Kohryu's four acolytes: Seiryu the Azure Dragon, Suzaku the Vermillion Phoenix, Genbu the Black Tortoise, and Byakko the White Tiger.  They told me that one of my own had committed a terrible sin by exploiting the misery of others.  They told me that Kohryu had chosen me to right this wrong.  Of course, I knew they could only be talking about one Diamond Dog."

"Sykes Silvervest," I said.

"And give the Momma's Girl a prize," said Dodger with a toothy grin. "So, you probably know the rest.  I broke ranks with Sykes, and now I'm aiming to make him see the error of his ways.  It is as Kohryu has decreed."

Okay, that explains Dodger's beef with Sykes, but it doesn't really help me any.  I was still no closer to finding out the identity of the jerk trying to get a gem tribute out of me.

"So, is there any reason Kohryu would be interested in me?" I asked.

"I'd have to ask him myself," said Dodger with a shrug. "I certainly didn't get any memo about you, Momma's Girl."

"What about those other dragons?" inquired Derpy. "They don't seem to like you."

"Well, I needed an army to take on Sykes, and with Kohryu at my side, it made recruitment easy," said Dodger. "I know they're not exactly thrilled, but hey, beggars can't be choosers."

This wasn't getting anywhere.  I decided to cut this meeting short.

"One last question," I said. "Do you have any idea who's after me?"

Dodger stroked his chin in thought. "Your guess is as good as mine, although it does sound like something Sykes would do.  I'll ask Kohryu and see if he knows anything."

I raised an eyebrow. "How would he know anything?"

"Kohryu has never steered me wrong before," said Dodger. "I should know.  I'm his hierophant.  It is most likely that he has an answer for you."

Okay, I'm getting kinda sick of this preaching.  Princess Celestia during the Summer Sun Celebration doesn't get this much praise!  It almost makes me want to see this Kohryu guy for myself, just to see if he's all he's cracked up to be.

"Well, alright," I said. "Thank you for meeting with us."

"My pleasure, Momma's Girl," said Dodger. "Take care now.  Garble, Clump.  Escort these fine ponies home."

He's gonna keep calling me that no matter what, isn't he?  And the worst part about that is I might have more questions for him later.  That's not gonna be fun.

But as I was carried off, I thought about something else.  As painfully obnoxious as Dodger Dragonvest is, he might not be the culprit.  In fact, there's a chance that his hired goons aren't all that loyal.  Once we get back to the northern timberline, I think I'm gonna need to ask a few more questions.  I just hope Mare-Do-Well has my back in case things go south...
> Confrontation: Garble
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 12, 1:59 PM
Everfree Forest
Northern Timberline
***


"Alright, pony.  This is as far as we take you."

Before I could open my eyes, Garble released me in midair.  I fell to the ground with an unceremonious thud and gave him an angry glare.

"Yeah, thanks," I said sarcastically.

"Hey, I'm not a taxi service," Garble growled. "Now, you and your mom beat it.  We've got work to do here."

"Actually, I'd like to ask you a few questions," I said.

Garble raised an eyebrow. "Do you have wax in your ears or something?  I said beat it.  Am-scray.  Vamoose."

"Maybe we should do what he says, Ammy," said Derpy.

"I know what I'm doing, Mom," I said before turning back to Garble. "Listen, I just want you to clear up a few things on this Kohryu guy your boss keeps talking about."

"Well, why are you asking me?  I've never met the guy," said Garble. "None of us have."

I blinked. "Wait, if you've never met him, then why do you follow him?"

"Because shut up," Garble snapped, sounding a wee bit defensive. "We don't have to tell you anything, pony."

"Well, what're you gonna do if I don't leave?" I said smugly. "Kohryu might not be too happy with you if you try to hurt me."

Garble snorted. "Go ahead, play that card.  I don't care.  What Kohryu doesn't know won't hurt him."

"Oh, really?" I said. "I was under the impression that he was always watching you."

Garble snickered. "If you think that, you're sorely mistaken.  I know he's not watching me all the time."

"I don't believe you," I said. "If I was working with you guys, I'd always make sure to keep my eye on you."

"It's not that simple," said Garble.

"Then simplify it for me," I countered. "Because otherwise, I'm not leaving."

Garble clenched his claws into fists and gritted his teeth for a while before finally letting out a great sigh. "Alright, fine.  But after that, you'd better scram.  Got it?"

"Got it," I said.  And yeah, just so you know, I was bluffing my flank off that whole time.  It was risky, but I had a feeling that Garble knew something about all this.  I had to take my chances.


***
Testimony: Kohryu's Watchful Eye
***


"It's true that Kohryu usually oversees us through his stupid acolytes," said Garble. "However, it's not a perfect system.  The acolytes work in shifts, and in between those shifts, we can do whatever we want.  Trust me, if it wasn't for the fact that he's not a dragon to mess with, we wouldn't follow him at all."

Hmm.  Not really the information I was looking for.  I already knew that these dragons feared Kohryu on some level after overhearing their conversation earlier.  I had to dig a bit deeper.

"So, you follow him because you're afraid of him?" I inquired.

Garble's eyes narrowed. "Give me a reason to roast you alive, pony.  'Cause I just might do it, Kohryu or no Kohryu."

I swallowed. "I-I'll take that as a 'yes,'" I said, trying to keep my cool. "Well, what do you know about him?"

"All I know is that he's the toughest pansy who ever lived," said Garble. "Sure, he says all life is sacred and whatnot, but if you make him mad, you're a goner.  So, we don't make him mad."

"It doesn't change the fact that he's a prick," Fume growled.

Okay, I think I'm missing something here.  If Kohryu claims that life is sacred, why is he telling Dodger Dragonvest to orchestrate a war against the Silvervest pack?  I doubt Garble has the answer to that question, so I decided to focus on something else.

"What exactly do you do when Kohryu's back is turned?" I asked.

"Like I said, anything we want," said Garble. "Eat gems; raid phoenix nests.  Y'know, dragon stuff."

"Uh-huh," I said with a nod. "Now, does that include attacking ponies?"

Garble stroked his chin in thought. "Well, it could.  Which is why you'd better get a move-on right now.  We don't have the time to deal with you."

I smirked and brushed the underside of my nose with my hoof. "Oh, I'll leave when I'm good and ready," I said. "Because right now, I think there's something you should answer for."

Garble scoffed. "Did you forget who you're talking to, pony?  I don't have to answer for anything."

"Oh, yeah?  Well, let me jog your memory," I said. "Two days ago, my mom here was attacked on her mail route.  She was passing by this exact area when it happened.  Not only that, but she was covered in burns.  You see what I'm getting at?"

"No, and I don't care," said Garble bluntly.

"According to a friend of mine who had a run-in with you guys, those flames were caused by dragon fire," I said. "Ergo, that means you and your motley crew are the only ones who could've attacked her!"

I half-expected Garble to attack me at that point, but instead, his eyes started darting around every which way. "I-I don't know what you're talking about, pony," he said. "W-we'd never do that.  Kohryu said..."

"Ah, but you said you would attack ponies for whatever reason if Kohryu's acolytes weren't watching you," I said. "So who's to say you didn't?"

"Shut up!  It wasn't us!"

Garble expelled a plume of flame from his mouth as he recoiled from my logic.  Something was clearly making him uneasy.

"So, you deny that you attacked my mom two days ago," I said. "Can you prove it?"

"O-of course I can!" said Garble. "Clump and Fume can vouch for me, too!  Right, fellas?"

Fume huffed. "You're losing your edge, Garble.  We don't have to tell the pony anything.  She can believe whatever she wants to believe.  It's not like she can do anything about it."

"Perhaps not.  But I can."

A slow, methodical voice came from off to the side.  I turned to see that it was coming out of what looked like a large black rock.  Four legs then slowly emerged from the rock, followed by the head of a tortoise with a scar across his eye.

"Oh!  Hey, Genbu!" said Garble nervously. "Nice weather we're having, huh?"

"Do not change the subject, Garble," said the tortoise. "I am eager to hear the rest of your story.  Please, do go on."

"So, wait.  You can talk back to a fellow dragon just fine, but you're afraid of a turtle?" asked Derpy. "That's silly."

"It's not silly!" Clump blurted out. "That's Genbu, the Black Tortoise as cold as the frost!  He can freeze us with a thought, and we dragons hate the cold!  We're not messing with him!"

Normally, I'd be skeptical of such a claim, but let's face it.  If a dragon says he's afraid of something, there's probably a damn good reason for it.  Besides, a talking magical tortoise with ice powers isn't the weirdest thing I've seen in my lifetime.  Again, I live in Ponyville.

"Let's get back on track, shall we?" I said. "You said that you could prove that you didn't attack my mom, correct?"

"That's right," said Garble, clearing his throat.

"Okay, how?"

"I know who did."

Now we're getting somewhere. "Alright then.  Let's hear your side of the story."

"You got it," said Garble, nervously eyeing Genbu.  I get the feeling that if that tortoise wasn't around, none of these dragons would be nearly as cooperative.  I need to make the most of this and squeeze every last bit of information I can out of them.


***
Argument: Garble's Alibi
***


"You said the attack happened two days ago, right?" said Garble. "Well, as it just so happens, we were here at that time mining for gems.  We were being watched, so it couldn't possibly have been us.  However, I did see a pillar of fire burst from the ground in the distance.  It had to be that dragon who attacked the pony!"

"So, you saw this and you didn't do anything?" asked Derpy.

"H-hey!  Kohryu told us to mine gems, so we were mining gems!" snapped Garble. "It wasn't our business!"

Derpy pouted. "You dragons are mean."

"And I'm sure they're really ashamed of that," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Yeah.  They should be," huffed Derpy.

I sighed. "Never mind," I said.  Yeah, Derpy doesn't always pick up on sarcasm.  But, enough about that.  I had to clear up any ambiguity in Garble's story and see if he was telling the truth or not.

"Describe the event for me in detail," I said.

"Right, sure," said Garble. "Well, it was some time in the afternoon.  We were all just digging around and minding our own business.  Then, off in the distance, I saw it.  A great pillar of orange flame just burst from the ground and hit something out of the sky."

"And you think that flame belonged to a dragon?" I asked.

"Hey, I think I know a dragon's flame when I see it, pony," growled Garble.

"But, I was under the impression that all of the dragons in this area were serving Kohryu," I said.

"Well, not all of them," said Garble. "For whatever reason, the Boss has just been recruiting us teenage dragons.  It could've been some other dragon."

That didn't seem likely, and I think Garble knew it.  I shook my head.

"No, it couldn't have," I said. "I think you're hiding something from me, Garble."

"Wh-what?!"

Garble expelled another plume of flame as he recoiled from my logic.

"I-I wouldn't lie to you in front of Genbu!" he yelled. "He'd turn me into an dragoncicle if I did!"

"You said that all you saw was a pillar of flame spring from the ground," I said. "However, if a full-grown dragon attacked my mom, you should've seen a lot more than that.  In fact, you wouldn't have described it as a flame from the ground at all."

"She has a point, Garble," said Genbu. "Would you care to counteract it?"

Garble swallowed. "W-well, there is one teenage dragon who's not with us," he said. "B-but it couldn't have been her!"

"Why not?" I asked.

"'Cause she's a goofy cross-eyed weirdo!"

Oh, he did not just say that.  Out of morbid curiosity, I turned to Derpy.  She was anything but happy.  In fact, if looks could kill, Garble would've been stone dead by now.

"And what do you have against goofy cross-eyed weirdos, huh?" she snarled.

"Hey, I wasn't talking about you, okay?" said Garble, sticking his tongue out at Derpy.

And Genbu just sat there and did nothing while this was going on.  I guess according to Kohryu, insults are allowed as long as they don't end up killing anything.  Meanwhile, Derpy looked like she was ready to punch Garble in the face.

"Calm down, Mom.  It's not worth it," I said, trying to defuse the situation.

"B-but Ammy..."

"Mom, he didn't know you were sensitive about that," I said. "Besides, we're not gonna get anywhere if we dwell on this."

Derpy paused for a moment, and then sighed. "Y-you're right," she said. "I'm sorry, Ammy."

"It's okay.  I understand," I said, nuzzling her cheek.  I then turned back to Garble. "Anyway, tell me about this dragon."

"Her name's Crackle," said Garble. "Like I said, she's a bit of a weirdo.  But apparently, she had enough brains to make herself scarce when the Boss was starting to round up recruits.  We have no idea where she is now.  Either way, I highly doubt it was her.  I mean, what would she be doing underground, anyway?"

That's a good question, but I think I have an answer.

"Maybe you guys aren't the only ones allying yourselves with Diamond Dogs," I said. "Maybe she got recruited herself."

"You mean by that Silvervest pack the Boss keeps going on about?" asked Fume.

"It's possible," I said with a shrug.

Garble stroked his chin in thought. "I suppose it is.  I mean, if those Diamond Dogs have enough gems, they could certainly bribe a dragon to do their bidding."

"Hmph, lucky Crackle," grumbled Clump. "She gets bribed, and we get threatened."

"If you dragons considered the greater picture instead of your short-term gain, we would not have to threaten you," said Genbu sagely.

The dragons had nothing to say to that, so they remained silent.  In the meantime, I had another problem.  It was only a hunch, but it's possible that this Crackle dragon was hired by Sykes Silvervest in order to attack my mom.  It still didn't explain the attack on the jewelry store or anything else for that matter, and I couldn't even prove that it was true.  I think I might need to meet with Sykes again and ask him.  I'm really not looking forward to that.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH~!"

My musings were interrupted by an all-too-familiar shriek that came from Ponyville.  Anypony who has lived in Ponyville long enough knows that shriek.  It's a shriek that could be heard for miles.

"That sounds like Rarity!" Derpy exclaimed.

Of course it was Rarity.  There's nopony else in Ponyville who shrieks like that.  Now, as I said before, Rarity is a drama queen, so she'd freak out over just about anything.  But in this case, I couldn't ignore her.  I still had that theory about her being blackmailed by the same guy who's blackmailing me.  Maybe this would confirm it.

"Well, that's our cue," I said to Garble. "Thanks for the info; it was really helpful.  Gotta run, bye!"

"Yeah, bye!" said Derpy.

Before Garble could respond, Derpy and I booked it back to Ponyville as fast as our legs could carry us.  Part of me is hoping that Rarity just misplaced a spool of thread or something, but I highly doubt that's the case.  This mystery hasn't been kind to me so far; why should it start now?
> Everything is Relative
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 12, 2:17 PM
Ponyville
Carousel Boutique
***


As I suspected, not a lot of ponies were crowding around Rarity trying to figure out what was the matter when we got to Carousel Boutique.  Like I said, Rarity's melodramatic freak-outs have yet to cause a panic in this town; mainly because everypony knows that Rarity can throw a hissy fit over the silliest of things.  That's not to say that nopony takes her seriously when she really does need help, but she's not called the Drama Queen of Ponyville for nothing.

We found Rarity standing outside her house and looking up into a tree.  From that image alone, I think I can figure out what the problem is.

"What's wrong, Rarity?!" asked Derpy. "Are you alright?!"

"Oh, Derpy!  It's horrible!  Just horrible!" Rarity cried. "My poor Opal is stuck in that tree, and she can't get down!"

Yep, I totally called that one.  With a sigh of exasperation, I looked up into the tree, expecting to find Rarity's pet cat, Opalessence, clinging to a branch for dear life.  What I actually saw caused my jaw to drop.  Opal was in the tree, sure, but she was tied to the branch and had a gag in her mouth.  There are only three words I can think of to describe what I'm looking at right now: What, the, and buck.  I know Ponyville is a crazy town, but seriously, who does that?!

"Omigosh!" Derpy gasped. "H-how did she get like that?!"

"I-I don't know!" wailed Rarity as she started to hyperventilate. "I was just *phoo phoo phoo* working on my new line *phoo phoo phoo* and minding my own business *phoo phoo phoo* when the next thing I knew *phoo phoo phoo* Opal was up there!"

Already, my mind was forming a connection between this and what happened to the jewelry store.  Without some form of magic, there's no way that anyone could sneak into Rarity's house, kidnap her cat, tie her to a tree, and do it without getting caught.  Especially not in broad daylight.  Call it mare's intuition, but I'm starting to suspect that this is the work of the same guy who's after me.  I guess that theory I made up on the spot was right after all.

"Sorry I'm late, milady!"

My musings were interrupted by Spike running in and panting heavily.  Huh, I was wondering where he was.  He's pretty much the only resident in town who takes Rarity seriously no matter what she's freaking out about.

"Oh, Spike!  Thank goodness you're here!" said Rarity. "It's my darling Opal!  She's stuck in that tree!"

After catching his breath, Spike looked up into the tree and immediately did a double-take. "Whoa!  What the heck happened here?"

"Your guess is as good as mine, buddy," I said.

"Please, Spiky-poo!  Save my poor wittle Opal~!" Rarity bawled.

"A-at once, milady!" Spike said with a hasty bow.  In the span of a few seconds, he darted up the tree.  There was a pause.

"Um, Rarity?" he hollered.

"What is it, Spike?!" Rarity called back.

"We have a bit of a problem!" said Spike. "If I cut these ropes, Opal's gonna fall!"

"Hang on," I said.  I then positioned myself directly underneath Opal. "Alright, Spike!  I got her!"

"Right, here goes!" said Spike.

With a swipe of his tail, Spike severed the ropes that held Opal to the tree.  Concentrating as hard as I could, I used my magic to slow her descent until she was safely on the ground.

"Oh, thank goodness!" Rarity exclaimed, pulling Opal into a hug. "My dear Opal is safe!  Thank you both so much!  Thank you thank you thank you~!"

"'Tis no trouble at all, milady," said Spike as he climbed down from the tree. "It was my pleasure."

"Yeah, no problem, Rarity," I said. "Glad we could help."

Rarity then released Opal and raised an eyebrow. "Strange.  There seems to be something written on the gag in her mouth."

"Really?  What does it say?" I asked.

Rarity's face contorted in disgust. "I, um...  I don't know.  H-here, Sparkler.  You take it out and see."

I should've seen this coming.  Rarity has a major aversion to anything that's messy (or "icky," as she calls it).  She refuses to get herself dirty unless it's absolutely necessary.  Never mind that she can just use her magic to take the gag out; there's no way she's handling something that's been in a cat's mouth.  Oh well, it can't be helped.

Rolling my eyes, I used my magic to carefully remove the gag so that Opal's jaws didn't tear it.  I unfurled it and read it aloud.


Prissy Pony:

More terrible things like this will happen if you don't give us gems.

~Anonymous


Okay, that clinches it.  This was done by the same guy who's after me.  It can't be a coincidence that both Rarity and I are getting ransom notes at pretty much the same time.  Not to mention that he managed to pull this off without anyone noticing, just like he did when he trashed the jewelry store.  It has to be him.

That being said, he's pretty inconsistent, isn't he?  I mean, let's compare my situation to Rarity's for a moment.  To me, this guy's a legitimate threat.  He has access to dragons, magic, and who knows what else; and he's been using all that to make my life miserable.  To Rarity, he amounts to little more than an obtuse nuisance.  Either he really wants Rarity to blame the Redvest pack (which doesn't make sense), he's getting lazy (which isn't likely), or he's going out of his way to drive me up the Celestia-damn wall.

"So, those mangy mutts are behind this, huh?" Spike growled, clenching his fists. "Well, I'll show them."

"Um, actually, Spiky-poo.  I got a letter this morning that was very similar to this one," said Rarity. "I thought it was those ruffians at first, too; but Sparkler proved me wrong."

"It's a long story," I said.

Spike furrowed his brow. "Well, if it's not them, then whose tail do we need to kick?"

"I wish I knew," I said with a sigh.

Rarity tilted her head. "Are you sure you don't want me to tell Twilight about this, Sparkler?  I'm sure she'd be more than happy to help, especially now that I'm involved."

"Thanks, Rarity.  But I don't want to involve the princess unless I know what we're up against," I said.

"That hasn't stopped her before," said Spike with a shrug.

I was about to respond when I spotted a familiar shadow out of the corner of my eye.  When I looked over, I saw that it was beckoning me to follow.

"Um, sorry to cut this short, but I gotta run," I said. "I'll tell the princess myself when I can; you don't have to tell her for me.  Seeya!"

With that, I ran over to Rarity's front yard, where the shadow was waiting.


***


When I got there, I saw the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well hiding in some nearby bushes; just as I suspected.

"About time you showed up," I said, dipping my voice as I joined her in her hiding place. "You must be losing your touch if you couldn't save Rarity's cat from being tied to a tree."

Mare-Do-Well sighed. "Spare me the sarcasm, Ms. Sparkler.  I told you before; I can only be in so many places at once."

"Alright, alright," I said. "So, what do you want to see me about?"

"I'm currently working on a theory that might lead to our quarry," said Mare-Do-Well. "But, I need to ask you a few questions first."

"Okay, shoot."

"I remember you saying that you wanted to investigate because you felt responsible for this mess.  Is that correct?"

"Well, yeah," I said with a shrug. "Why?"

"Because, Ms. Sparkler, I don't see any reason for you to feel guilty," said Mare-Do-Well. "None of this is your fault; it's the culprit's.  So why do you feel responsible?"

I bit my lip. "I-I don't wanna answer that question.  It's, personal," I said.

Mare-Do-Well placed a hoof to her muzzle and knitted her brow. "Mmm.  I see," she said. "Fair enough.  I won't pry."

Sheesh, and I thought Raindrops was wishy-washy.  How many times is she going to contradict herself just to make sure that she doesn't make me uncomfortable?  I get the feeling that there's something she's not telling me.

"Well, I'm grateful that you respect my privacy," I said. "But, didn't you say that you needed this information for your theory?"

"I did, and I do," said Mare-Do-Well. "But there are other leads that I can follow up on in the meantime.  For example, this particular incident."

"You mean with the schmuck tying Rarity's cat to a tree?"

"Precisely."

"What about it?"

"Consider this, Ms. Sparkler.  Our quarry has some method of committing crimes whilst undetected.  He has used this method to destroy the jewelry store.  Why, then, did he not do the same to Carousel Boutique?"

"You got me on that one," I said, rubbing the side of my head. "He's obviously putting a lot more effort into threatening me than Rarity, but I don't know why."

"Hmm.  Perhaps I do," said Mare-Do-Well. "Let's say that Ms. Rarity's boutique was demolished just like the jewelry store.  What do you think she would do?"

"I dunno, freak out about it?" I said.

"I mean after that," said Mare-Do-Well in a deadpan tone.

"Right, sorry," I said. "Well, I guess she'd go to Princess Twilight."

"Exactly," said Mare-Do-Well. "And from there, the princess would be spurred into action, despite the potential international incident."

"Which is why you don't want me to involve her yet," I mused. "But, that doesn't make sense.  I could've just as easily gone to the princess.  I simply chose not to."

"Correct.  And somehow, the culprit knew you would do that."

That, took me by surprise. "Wh-what?  What are you talking about?"

"We already know that the culprit knows a lot about you, Ms. Sparkler," said Mare-Do-Well. "The question is, how much does he know?"

"Well, he can't know everything about me, can he?" I said.

"No, he can't.  But he can know enough," said Mare-Do-Well somberly. "Which is why I asked you that question earlier.  If I know what he knows, it'll be that much easier to find him."

"Yeah, well.  I'm not sure if that's likely," I said. "It sounds too far-fetched, y'know what I mean?"

"Many truths are far-fetched at first, Ms. Sparkler," said Mare-Do-Well. "Do you still wish to continue?"

"I don't really have a choice, do I?" I said.

"Well, you do," said Mare-Do-Well. "Again, if you decide to just leave this matter to me, I won't hold it against you."

"Thanks, but I'm alright for now," I said. "But, could I ask you a few questions?"

"As long as they're reasonable," said Mare-Do-Well.

"Why have you come back?  I mean, I'm glad you're here to help, but this is a pretty big coincidence, don't you think?"

Mare-Do-Well lowered her hat over her eyes. "You're not exactly wrong, Ms. Sparkler.  However, I promised not to pry into your personal affairs; please don't pry into mine."

That's, fair I guess.  But an answer that cryptic only makes me more curious.  I suppose it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, and I should just be grateful that she's here to support me in these dark times.  Even so, I don't get her.  I know she's the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well, but you'd think she'd be a bit more open with me.  After all, she needs my help, doesn't she?  I mean, that's what she says.  Then again, she also contradicts that by telling me I can stop investigating if things are getting too heavy for me.  Nnngh, I'm tying my brains into knots just thinking about this.

"Amethyst!"

I poked my head out of the bushes to see Dinky and Derpy looking for me.  Dinky was the first to spot me, and she giggled.

"There she is, Mama!" she said. "What are you doing in there, you silly-filly?"

I let out a sigh as my cheeks got warm. "S-sorry," I said, getting out of the bushes. "I was just talking to..."

I gestured with my hoof, but Mare-Do-Well was long gone.  Okay, that's three things I don't get about her: I don't know why she's back after all this time, I don't know why she keeps contradicting herself, and I don't know how nor why she vanishes into thin air when my back is turned.  Y'know, her whole "mysterious" shtick is really starting to grate on me.

"Talking to whom, Ammy?" asked Derpy.

"Never mind," I said with a sigh. "What's up, Dink?  Did you find anything at the library?"

Dinky flattened her ears and shook her head. "No.  I found some books on Diamond Dogs, but nothing about them using magic.  Mr. Spike said that he could ask Princess Twilight Sparkle to check the Canterlot Archives for it."

That's going to take time we don't have.  However, there is another option.

"It's okay, Dink," I said. "I think I know someone who can answer that."

"You mean the Diamond Dogs?" said Derpy.

"Yep," I said with a nod. "I think we should pay another visit to the Redvest pack."

"Ooh, ooh!  Can I go with you this time?" asked Dinky. "You said these Diamond Dogs were nice, so I won't be in danger."

Derpy frowned. "I dunno, Muffin.  That area is a very dangerous place right now, even if those particular Diamond Dogs are nice."

"But Mama~!  I wanna help~!" Dinky whined (which is actually very rare for her). "When family is concerned, danger doesn't matter."

"Yes, but unnecessary risks are the most dangerous kind," Derpy countered. "I know you want to help, Muffin, but you'll be more helpful to Ammy and me by staying here in Ponyville where it's safe."

"But—"

"No buts, young filly.  I can find something for you to investigate here, and you might be able to find out more than Ammy and I did.  But you are not coming with us to see the Diamond Dogs, and that's final."

Dinky sighed. "Okay~," she said dejectedly. "I just want to help Amethyst as much as I can."

"I know, Muffin," said Derpy, giving Dinky a hug. "Don't worry, you're doing a great job.  Now keep up the good work."

Dinky nodded and smiled. "Okay, Mama.  So, what do you want me to investigate?"

Derpy quickly recapped what happened to Rarity.  Once Dinky got the gist, she was off like a shot.

"Thanks, Mom," I said.

"Well, I worry as much about Dinky as I do about you, Ammy," said Derpy with a soft smile. "Which is why I still think you should tell her everything."

I sighed. "It's not that easy, Mom."

"I never said it was," said Derpy. "Anyway, I'll leave that up to you.  For now, let's go see those Diamond Dogs."

With that, we headed on back to the northern timberline.  Y'know, besides being a confusing mystery, this might be the biggest guilt trip I've ever been on in my life.  And, well, it's not just because of my Pinkie Promise to Dinky.  That's all I've got to say about it.

...

Hey, if I'm not telling Mare-Do-Well, I'm sure as heck not telling you.  Despite what she says, I don't think it's all that relevant to this mystery, anyway.  At least, I hope not...
> Raw Magical Charms
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 12, 2:34 PM
Everfree Forest
Northern Timberline
***


"Rargh, I can't believe this!  This is not fair!"

Huh.  How ironic.  The Diamond Dogs of the Redvest pack don't like it when ponies whine and complain, and what are they doing when I happen upon them at the northern timberline?  Whining and complaining.  Not that I blame them or anything.  I'd be whining too if I was in there horseshoes.  Er, paws.  Whatever, you get my point.

"We'll never be able to pay off Silvervest at this rate!" Fido griped. "Those stupid dragons keep taking all the good ones!"

"As if the prissy pony wasn't bad enough," growled Spot. "How come we always have the worst luck?!"

"If you have time to complain, you have time to dig," Rover snarled. "There has to be something those dragons missed, and we're not leaving until we've found it.  Now quit acting like a couple of ponies and keep working!"

"Ah-HEM!"

I cleared my throat noisily as Derpy and I approached the Diamond Dogs.  Rover blanched and swallowed.

"O-oh!  H-hello, Ms. Star!" he said nervously. "Wh-what are you doing back here?"

"Well, that depends," I said. "Am I interrupting anything?"

"Um, no!  No, not at all!" said Rover. "We were just, digging.  For gems.  You know, that's what we do!  Heh heh..."

I sighed. "Calm down, Mr. Redvest.  I'm not mad at you."

"Oh, phew," said Rover, wiping some sweat from his brow. "I thought for sure that you overheard my, comment."

"I did, but I just chose to ignore it," I said. "Because there's something a bit more important that I want to discuss with you."

"If it's another meeting with Sykes Silvervest, you're out of luck," said Rover. "He's already gone into Jadevest territory.  He won't be back until tomorrow morning."

"Good to know, but that's not what I'm here for," I said.

"Then, what is it?"

"Can Diamond Dogs use magic?"

The three Diamond Dogs exchanged looks for a moment before turning back to me.

"Well, it's certainly possible, I suppose," said Spot with a shrug. "None of us have ever done it, but that's because it's very difficult.  Very few Diamond Dogs have experimented with the concept."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why's that?"

"It's, a bit tricky to explain," said Rover, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

"Try me," I said, folding my forelegs.

"W-well, let me ask you this, Ms. Star," said Rover. "Do you know what a Fire Ruby is?"

I smirked. "That's a no-brianer.  It's a special type of ruby with a crimson hue.  They're very rare to come by as far as gems go."

"Ah, but do you know why it's called a Fire Ruby?" asked Spot.

Well, this is embarrassing.  As a jeweler's apprentice, I feel like I should know this, but I, don't.  I'm sure Karat would be pretty disappointed if he saw me right now.  I shrugged meekly.

"I see," said Spot with a nod. "Well, it's quite simple, actually.  Fire Rubies are called that because they can be used to conjure fire."

I had to do a double take. "I'm sorry, what?"

"It's true," said Fido. "There are many different kinds of gemstones with magical properties.  The Fire Ruby just happens to be one of them."

This isn't exactly news to me, but it's the first time I've heard of Fire Rubies being used in that context.  Using a charm to augment your magical abilities is not unheard of, and although Karat doesn't stock them, most of those charms utilize gemstones, crystals, and the like.  But to my understanding, those charms work because they're enchanted, not because they have a latent magical charge.  I had to know more about this.

"So, how exactly does it work?" I asked.

The Diamond Dogs exchanged looks again.

"Um, like we said, we've never used them before," said Rover. "It's very difficult."

"How is it difficult?" asked Derpy, tilting her head. "Ammy here uses magic all the time, and she says that it's as easy as breathing."

"I, don't think it's that simple for them, Mom," I said. "After all, they aren't born with magical horns."

"Oh~.  Right.  Heh, silly me," said Derpy sheepishly.

I sighed.  It's times like this that I have to remind myself that Derpy isn't really as dumb as she looks.  She says that stuff usually makes more sense in her head before she says them out loud, but I fail to see how that's possible.  Again, she's weird like that.

"It's alright, Mom," I said before turning back to the Diamond Dogs. "So, do you guys at least know how it's supposed to work?"

"That we do, po— Ms. Star," said Spot. "But we'll need a bit of visual aid.  Would you be willing to follow us to our home?"

"Hold on a minute," said Derpy, narrowing her eyes. "Why can't you show us out here?"

"This visual aid is very, important to us," said Rover. "We don't want those dragons to snatch it up or anything."

"Sounds reasonable enough to me," I said with a shrug. "Alright, we're game."

"Good," said Rover. "Fido, escort these fine ponies to the main chamber."

"Will do," said Fido with a salute.

As Rover and Spot disappeared underground, Derpy gave me a puzzled look.  I shrugged again.

"At this point, I'm willing to give the Redvest pack the benefit of the doubt," I said. "At the very least, I can trust them not to try anything stupid."

"I, suppose that's fair," said Derpy. "Just know that if anything goes wrong, I'm right here to protect you, okay?"

I chuckled. "Believe me, Mom.  I'm not gonna forget that anytime soon."


***
July 12, 2:48 PM
Underground Network
Redvest Territory
***


"Ugh, pee-yew!" Derpy groused as Fido led us to the central chamber. "When's the last time you dogs took a bath?"

"Don't bother, Mom.  Apparently, they like it like this," I said, resisting the urge to gag myself.  I really hope I don't have to come down here too often.  Would it kill these guys to at least hang up some air fresheners or something?  You'd think that with powerful noses like theirs, they'd be more self-conscious about this.  I know the Redvest pack is pretty low on the totem pole, but do they really have to smell like it?!

"Ah, just in time, Ms. Star," said Rover. "Spot just went off to get the visual aid from our hoard.  He should be back shortly."

"Right here, boss!"

It seems that Rover was as good as his word.  As if on cue, Spot returned from one of the many tunnels in the cavern.  He was holding a Fire Ruby in his paws.  I can see now why they didn't want to bring that out in the open.  Not only is it extremely rare as far as gems go, but according to Spike, it's up there as one of the best-tasting gems for a dragon (next to topaz, apparently).  I could just picture Garble or one of his motley crew snatching it up while the acolytes were changing shifts.

Spot cleared his throat, as if he was preparing for a lecture. "Anyway, Ms. Star.  This here is..."

"A Fire Ruby.  Yes, I know what one looks like," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Oh," said Spot, blushing slightly. "Well, let's just skip ahead, shall we?  Now then, as we said, the reason they're called Fire Rubies is because they can be used to conjure fire.  But it can't do that in its current state."

"Why not?" I inquired.

"We, don't exactly know why," said Rover. "What we do know is that before these gems can be used, they have to be treated."

"Treated?  In what way?"

"You have to smooth out all of the sharp edges," said Spot.

I smiled. "Oh, is that all?" I said. "Here, give it to me.  I think I can do that."

Spot blinked. "You what?"

"I'm a jeweler.  I specialize in this sort of thing," I said. "I'll have that Fire Ruby primed and ready, no problem."

Spot looked at Rover for a moment, who simply shrugged.

"Um, okay.  Here you go," said Spot.

I took the Fire Ruby with my magic and levitated it over.  After looking at it from every angle, I set it on the ground.

"Doesn't look too difficult," I said. "Alright, here goes..."

I closed my eyes and concentrated as hard as I could.  After building up some energy, I opened them again and stared intently at the Fire Ruby.  A narrow beam shot from my horn and struck one of the gemstone's points, cutting along the line until it was all smoothed out.  I did the same with the next sharp edge, and the next one and the next one.  I kept a close eye on my work, making sure that each cut was just as clean as the last.  After whittling it down for quite some time, I finally smoothed out all of the ruby's edges.  What I was left with was a small, shiny orb.  An orb that looked, very familiar.

"Th-that's amazing, po— I mean, Ms. Star!" exclaimed Rover. "How did you do that?!"

"It's my special talent," I said with a shrug. "I've always liked arts and crafts as a kid, but it was only when I discovered gemstones as a medium that I got my Cutie Mark."

Rover raised an eyebrow. "Your what-now?"

"Uh, this thing," I said, pointing to the three diamonds on my flank. "It's a pony's sign of maturity."

"Ah," said Rover. "Well, now that we have a Fire Ruby that's ready for use, we can finally show you how this works, hopefully!  Spot, if you would."

"Yessir," said Spot with a salute.  He then sauntered up to me and picked up the carved Fire Ruby. "I suggest you stand back, Ms. Star.  This might be dangerous."

"Um, just one question," said Derpy nervously. "If you've never done this before, how are you gonna show us?"

"Well, like we said, we know how it's supposed to work," said Spot. "Now, please stand back.  I'm not sure how much power this gemstone has."

Derpy and I complied.  Once we were a safe distance away, Spot started rolling the carved ruby around in his paw.  As the ruby began to glow and shimmer, something clicked in my mind.  I've seen this before.  I know I have.  In fact, it's very similar to...

"Hiya!"

Before I could reach my epiphany, Spot thrusted his paw out.  A minuscule plume of flame erupted from the Fire Ruby, and quickly vanished.  Derpy started clapping.

"Ooh~!  Ah~!" she cheered.

"H-hey, don't patronize me!" Spot barked. "This is my first time doing this, y'know!"

Derpy tilted her head. "I'm not patronizing you.  That was actually very impressive.  I've never seen anything like it before."

Spot blushed. "Oh.  W-well, thank you, po— Mrs. Hooves."

"Yeah, yeah.  It's nice and all," I said. "But, I have a few questions."

"Like what?"

"Are there other types of gemstones that can do stuff like this?"

"Oh, plenty," said Spot. "The Fire Ruby just so happens to be the most common one.  There are also Iron Diamonds, Woodland Sapphires, Frozen Onyx..."

As he continued to rattle off gems, the gears in my mind went into overdrive making connections.  Of the acolytes I've met so far, there was the Azure Dragon as sharp as the timber (whatever that means), the Vermillion Phoenix as bright as the flame, the Black Tortoise as cold as the frost...

Wait a minute.  That's it!  That's where I remember that stone from!

"Does Dodger Dragonvest know about this kind of thing?" I asked.

"Well, I would assume so," said Rover with a shrug. "After all, he always carries those orbs around."

I knew it!  Those orbs he carries around must be made out of those magical gemstones!  Which means, something, I guess.  Dammit, I really thought I was onto something here, but all this did was throw a bunch of new questions onto the pile.  For one, it punches a big hole in his story about how he met Kohryu.  As far as I know, this gem-carving technique is exclusive to Diamond Dogs.  Why, then, are Kohryu's acolytes tied to them?  Do the Diamond Dogs know about Kohryu?  They at least know of him, from what I heard.  But Sykes Silvervest just dismisses him as a myth.  Is it a common Diamond Dog myth?  Now that I think about it, I don't know all that much about Kohryu other than how "great" he is.  I'm gonna need to look into this more, and that means another visit to Dodger Dragonvest.  But I also need to know something else.

"Hmm.  Just one more quick question, fellas," I said. "Do you think you could ask Sykes Silvervest if I can meet with him tomorrow?  I want to discuss a few things with him."

"Well, like we said, he's over in Jadevest territory until tomorrow morning," said Rover. "It's impossible to reach him now.  I'll see what I can do, though."

"Thanks," I said. "You guys have been very helpful."

"I-it's no problem, po— Ms. Star," said Rover, wringing his paws. "Anything we can do to help a nice, non-whining pony like yourself.  Now, I'm sorry to cut this short, but we've got work to do.  Fido, please escort our friend back to the surface."

"Right away, boss," said Fido with a salute.  And with that, Derpy and I headed for home.


***


The rest of the day was rather uneventful.  Dinky didn't come up with anything we didn't already know, and I figured I'd give Garble and his gang some time to cool down before I started asking them about seeing their boss again.  Dragons can be pretty nasty when they're angry, as most ponies are aware.

Luckily, Rarity didn't tell Dinky anything about my predicament while she was interrogating her.  I guess Derpy told her to keep quiet about it for my sake, and for that, I'm grateful.  But, that doesn't change the fact that I'll have to tell her eventually.  And, well, I still don't want to.  I have enough problems without that stupid Pinkie Promise haunting me.

And do you know what the worst part is?  I still don't feel like I made any progress.  I mean, I've made progress, but I don't know where this mystery is taking me.  As you can imagine, that irritates me to no end.  I just hope that...

...

No, I'm not gonna say it.  If I do, I'll end up jinxing myself.  And I really don't want that to happen.  But, knowing my luck, it probably will, anyway.  I realize that sounds very pessimistic, but hey, better safe then sorry, y'know?
> Two Birds, One Stone
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 13, 7:45 AM
Ponyville
Golden Harvest's House
***


"Amethyst~!  Time to wake up~!"

Dinky's gentle voice was accompanied by a soft tapping on my door.  I groaned and drew my sheets closer to my body.  Once again, I couldn't get much sleep.  Not only was I worrying over everything, but part of me didn't want to see the nightmares brewing in my subconscious.  As such, I didn't really have the strength to get up.

"Nnngh.  Leave me alone," I mumbled.

"Mama says you have a lot of important things to do today, and you can't do them in bed," said Dinky.

"Mmph.  What time izzit?" I murmured.

"Quarter to eight."

"Then what's five more minutes?"

"It's five minutes that you're wasting doing nothing when you should be doing something.  And you're not gonna get them back."

That got the ole adrenaline flowing.  Sometimes, I really hate the Zen of Dinky.  I know she didn't mean it, but that little nugget of wisdom reminded me that I'm on a deadline with this mystery.  I can't be wasting time in bed.

"Alright, I'm up!" I moaned groggily as I forced myself out of bed.  As I did so, I noticed that there was a small note on my nightstand.  Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I scooped it up with my magic and read it to myself.


Dear Ammy:

I have to go to work today, so I won't be able to join you for your investigation this morning.  I'll join you as soon as I'm done with my route.  In the meantime, please please please don't do anything reckless.

I told Carrot Top everything last night while you were asleep, so she knows what's going on.  She wants you to know that she has your back, and she'll do everything she can to help you.  She thinks you should probably tell Princess Twilight, but I'll leave that up to you.

Love and Muffins,
Mom


I couldn't help but smile at that.  I knew right away that this letter was dictated because Derpy has horrible penmanship, but it's the thought that counts.  Y'know, it's little things like this that keep me going through this whole stupid ordeal.  I'm so lucky to have a pony like Derpy looking out for me.  Which is why I have to do the same for her.

Well, no Derpy meant I couldn't go see Sykes Silvervest or Dodger Dragonvest, so my investigation options were limited.  I guess the best thing I could do while Derpy is working her route is brush up on those mystical gemstones the Redvest pack told me about.  If Karat doesn't know about 'em, I'm sure Golden Oak Library would have a book or two on the subject.  Plus, I could investigate alongside Dinky without putting her in danger.  She'd love that.

I put the note inside the drawer of my nightstand and opened my door.  Dinky was waiting eagerly for me outside.

"Good morning~," she chirped.

"'Morning, Dink," I said with a yawn. "What're you doing up so early?"

"Ms. Harvest kinda woke me up," said Dinky sheepishly. "She didn't mean to, but I figured it was for the best.  After all, we've got a lot of investigating to do today!"

"Yeah, we sure do," I said, stretching myself out. "C'mon, let's go have some breakfast."

"Um, before we go downstairs, I think I should warn you about something," said Dinky, twiddling her hooves.

I tilted my head. "What's wrong, Dink?"

"It's Ms. Harvest.  She seems, upset.  We should probably try and stay out of her way today."

This doesn't bode well.  Carrot Top is usually an easy-going mare, but she is downright scary when she gets mad.  I mean, I don't blame her or anything.  Derpy did tell her about what I was going through, after all.  However, if this is anything like the gopher infestation we had last month (the less I say about that, the better), then I'm glad she's on my side.

"Right.  Thanks for the warning," I said. "Alright, let's go."

With that, we headed on downstairs.


***


"Hmm.  I might need to bring out the heavy artillery this time around.  Can't be too careful."

When we walked into the kitchen, I felt an immediate sense of dread.  Sitting on the counter was a massive array of bear traps, coils of rope and barbed wire, pine boxes, and a lot of other stuff.  Carrot Top was looking over the stuff while wearing a green army helmet on her head.  Remember that gopher infestation I told you about?  Yeah, this was pretty much her reaction back then.  Again, I don't blame her.  Her home's being threatened because of me; that would make anypony unhinged.  But I know for a fact that when Carrot Top's like this, she takes things a wee bit too far.  Except this time, I could argue that she's justified in doing so.

"Um, hey there Carrot Top," I said meekly. "Do you think we could get through?  Dinky and I need to get our breakfast."

Carrot Top looked up and gave me a salute. "Ah, Sparkler.  Good to see you.  How're you holding up?"

"Uh, I'm hanging in there, I guess," I said. "Listen, we shouldn't take up any more of your time, so if we could just..."

"Oh, sure," said Carrot Top, shuffling her supplies to the side. "Don't mind me.  I'm just updating security a little."

Well, at least it's not the exact same song and dance as the gopher incident.  That time, she was really freaking out.  Actually, to be fair, Derpy did give her some advanced warning, so she probably had some time to cool down before getting her booby traps ready.  They say that "normal" ponies are simply ponies that you don't know very well, and nopony is a better example of that than Carrot Top.

"Having problems with the gophers again?" I asked, getting a couple of rolls from the breadbox.  I gave Carrot Top a wink as I said that, and she winked back.  Luckily, Dinky didn't seem to catch it.  She was too busy climbing up onto a stool in front of the counter.

"No, it's not gophers this time," said Carrot Top. "Although if those varmints get the bright idea of taking my carrots again, they're gonna think twice once I get all this set up."

"I just hope you don't get in trouble with Fluttershy like you did last time," I said. "You know how she is about animals."

"Oh, I doubt she'll mind," said Carrot Top. "Not even she would want to deal with something like this.  I'm better off handling these pests on my own."

As I brought our rolls over to the counter, I noticed that Dinky had a quizzical look on her face.  She was probably really curious about what Carrot Top was referring to, but because she didn't want to set her off, she held her tongue.  I sighed inwardly.  I wonder how much longer I can keep this up before she gets wise to me.  Like I said, Dinky's not a dumb kid.  Sooner or later, she's gonna tell me to uphold my Pinkie Promise, and then...

No, I'd better not think about that right now.  I've got more important things to focus on.

"So, Dink.  I'm thinking that after breakfast, we should pay another visit to the library," I said.

"Oh?  Why's that?" asked Dinky, taking a bite out of her roll.

"Because I found out something interesting about Diamond Dogs from the Redvest pack," I said. "Apparently, they can use magic."

Dinky smirked. "I thought as much.  That must mean that our culprit is a Diamond Dog."

"That could be a possibility," I said. "But here's the thing.  They said that the magic they use comes from these rare, mystical gems.  And each gem seems to only control one kind of magic.  We still don't know what kind of magic the culprit used to ransack the jewelry store and hogtie Rarity's cat without anypony noticing."

"And you think Golden Oak Library has a book on these mystical gems?" inquired Dinky.

"Most likely," I said with a shrug.

Dinky nodded. "That's some good thinking.  I actually wanted to ask Princess Twilight Sparkle a few things, so we can easily do both."

I raised an eyebrow. "What did you want to ask her?"

"I wanted to get her take on everything that's happened," said Dinky. "She must've heard about what happened to Ms. Rarity's pet cat, either from Mr. Spike or Ms. Rarity herself.  Maybe she's investigating, too."

I don't know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing.  From what I heard, Princess Twilight has some pretty good investigation skills.  At the very least, nopony can deny that she's good at figuring things out.  However, Mare-Do-Well's warning about international incidents kept repeating in my head.  If she is investigating, she'd better be careful.

"Oh, before you head out, Sparkler, I've got something for you," said Carrot Top.  She then took out a small note and dipped her voice. "I found this nailed to the front door this morning, just like last time.  It's probably from you-know-who."

I swallowed.  Well, it's not like I wasn't expecting this.  Taking care to hide the note from Dinky, I opened it up and read it.


Amethyst "Sparkler" Star:

Despite what happens today, you still have three days left.  Nevertheless, I hope that this gives you some more, incentive.  What am I talking about, you may ask?  Oh, you'll see.  Let's just say for now that you're not my only client.

~Anonymous


I felt a chill go up my spine.  I knew this couldn't mean anything good.  Somepony was going to get attacked by this guy, and it was probably gonna be somepony connected to me in some way.  But, who was he talking about?  I already know that he's after Rarity, and he already sent her two messages yesterday.  So he couldn't be talking about her, could he?  And furthermore, why all the cryptic secrecy?  Can't this guy ever be direct?  Does he get off on watching me suffer?  Because if that's the case, I'm gonna be very pissed off.

"What's wrong, Amethyst?  You look a bit pale."

I took in a sharp breath through my teeth as I heard Dinky voice her concerns.  Thinking quickly, I hid the letter underneath Carrot Top's arsenal.

"N-nothing.  Just, worrying about Mom, that's all," I said.

Dinky sighed. "I'm worried too, Amethyst.  But if you wind yourself too tight, you're going to snap.  I don't want that to happen to you."

"Hey, it's not like I'm trying to drive myself nuts, Dink," I said.

"I know," said Dinky, placing her hoof atop my own. "That's what we're here for."

Before I could respond, there was a thud heard outside.  Having a good idea who it was, I quickly got up and opened the door.  And wouldn't you know it?  My suspicions were correct.

"Mom?  What are you doing back here?" I inquired.

"I-I just got back from making a delivery," said Derpy, getting herself to her feet. "There's something you might want to look into.  You'd better brace yourself, Ammy.  It's pretty bad."

"Why?  What's wrong?" I asked.

Derpy sighed. "There's been a ponynapping just outside of Ponyville.  News hasn't quite gotten to the princess yet, but I'm sure it will."

I don't like where this is going. "Wait.  Just outside Ponyville, you said?"

"Yeah.  On this big farm on the outskirts of town."

Oh no.  I think I know what she's talking about. "Mom, you're not talking about the Pie Rock Farm, are you?"

Derpy hung her head. "I'm sorry, Ammy."

Sunnova bitch, I knew it.  The Pie Rock Farm is another one of the jewelry store's suppliers when it comes to raw gems.  Karat actually gets a lot more gems from them than from the northern timberline.  This matches the culprit's cryptic description to a T.  Ugh, Celestia dammit.

"Th-thanks for the heads-up, Mom," I said. "I-I'll be sure to look into it."

Derpy nodded. "Stay strong, Ammy.  Remember, we're not letting you fight this alone."

Derpy then gave me a quick hug goodbye and took off into the air.  I heaved a great sigh and turned to see Dinky looking up at me.

"What was that all about, Amethyst?" she asked.

"Change of plans, Dink," I said. "You go to the library; I'll look into this."

Dinky frowned. "No.  Not this time," she said sternly. "This time, I'm coming with you."

"Dink, you really don't want to do that," I said.

"I think I do," said Dinky. "Amethyst, I'm glad that you want to protect me.  But I'm not just some little kid.  I'm your sister, and I want to support you in your time of need."

Oh sweet Celesita above, why does Dinky insist on making this guilt trip worse and worse?

"Dink, listen," I said. "Something very, very bad happened at the Pie Rock Farm.  It's something that I hope you never have to deal with.  Now, I know you don't like being treated like a little kid, but it doesn't change the fact that you are one.  So, if you really want to help me, you'll go to the library and investigate where it's safer.  Okay?"

Dinky cast her eyes downward and bit her lip. "I-if I asked Mama for permission, would you take me then?"

Ouch.  Now I know she means business.  Dinky almost never plays the Mom Card to get something she wants.  I sighed.

"I, suppose," I said. "But only if she tells you it's okay.  And don't lie to me and say that she did."

Dinky nodded. "Okay, Amethyst.  I'll go ask her."

With that, she dashed off.  Well, that's out of my hooves.  I guess having Dinky tag along wouldn't be too bad, since the rock farm isn't dangerous, but kidnapping is a pretty heavy concept that I don't know if Dinky is ready for.  Of course, Derpy would know better than I would, so I guess it's her call.  With a heavy heart and a cloud of confusion hanging over my head, I made my way to the rock farm.
> Forensics Meets Geomancy
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 13, 8:34 AM
Pie Rock Farm
Farmhouse
***


I should probably take this opportunity to explain what a rock farm is.  See, when most ponies hear the term, they get very confused, and for good reason.  After all, when you think of stuff that grows on a farm, rocks aren't the first thing that come to mind.  Unless, of course, you have the patience to wait around for millions of years looking at sedimentary deposits or whatever.  So, I'm gonna clear up all the ambiguity right here.  A rock farm is a glorified quarry.

And, that's it.  That's all there is to it.  It's just a place where ponies dig up rocks and process them for use in construction and the like.  Why is it called a farm?  I haven't the slightest clue.  Some ponies are just weird.

Speaking of weird ponies, that's actually a pretty apt way to describe the Pie family.  I've already told you about Pinkie Pie and how weird she is, and well, the apple doesn't fall that far from the tree.  Again, it's kinda hard to describe, but let me just say this.  You know how they say if you talk to your plants, they'll grow better?  Apparently, the Pie family thinks the same logic applies to rocks.  And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Now, like I said, Karat is actually a business partner of the Pies.  For reasons that I don't fully understand, the Pie family has no use for gemstones.  So, whenever they stumble upon a gem deposit, they sell 'em to Karat.  I'm usually the one who has to pick them up, and as such, I've gotten to know the Pies pretty well.  Despite their, eccentric tendencies, they're a very nice bunch.  Which is why I'm pretty upset that they were somehow roped into my mess.

I approached the farmhouse in the center of the field and gave the door a small tap.

"Wh-what is the p-password~?" came a sad singsong voice from the other side of the door.

I raised an eyebrow.  I thought I was familiar with all of the Pie family's quirks.  This was, certainly a new one on me.

"Marble, it's me.  Sparkler," I said.

The door opened with a creak, and a dark grey pony about my age poked her head out.  Indeed, it was Marble Pie; one of Pinkie's sisters.  Her eyes met mine, and she tilted her head.

"Well, you look like Sparkler.  And you sound like Sparkler, too," she said, stroking her chin. "But there's just one thing."

"And that is?"

"Only Sparkler would know the password."

I groaned. "Look, I'm a bit out of the loop here, Marble.  What is the password?"

"That's it."

I blinked. "What's it?"

"The password.  You just said it twice."

"I did?"

"Yes."

"Well, what was it?"

"You just said it again."

"What?"

"That's four now."

"So, what's the password."

"What're you asking me for?  You've already said it five times now."

I rubbed the bridge of my nose with my hoof. "Um, can I just come in, please?"

"Oh, sure.  Just a minute," said Marble, turning her head for a moment. "Father, it's alright!  It's just Sparkler!"

"Did she say the password?!"

"She sure did!  Five times, in fact!"

There was a pause, and the door opened wide.  I was greeted by the top pony of the Pie Rock Farm: An old stallion named Igneous Rock Pie.  He didn't look all that pleased to see me, but then again, Igneous isn't exactly a cheery pony.  Sure, he's just as odd as the rest of the family, but he's always stone-faced and serious about it.  I honestly don't remember the last time I saw him smile (although I'm sure he does, seeing as one of his daughters is Pinkie Pie).  Of course, he didn't really have any reason to smile this time around.

"This isn't the best time for you to visit, Amethyst," he grumbled. "We've fallen on some hard times."

"I know.  I heard about it from my mom," I said, brushing the back of my foreleg. "I thought maybe I could help you out."

Igneous stroked his chin in thought. "Well, that's mighty kind of ya, Amethyst.  But, how exactly would you help?"

"However I can," I said with a shrug.

Igneous nodded. "Hmm.  Good answer.  Alright, come on in."

"Thank you," I said as I made my way inside the farmhouse, ignoring the creaks and squeaks from the floorboards as I walked.  That's just one of the things you come to expect after being over to the Pie family's farmhouse a couple of times.  I suppose it has sort of a rustic charm to it, but they seem more concerned with the upkeep of their fields than they are with maintaining their house.  That's not to say it's terrible or anything, but it could use a bit more TLC.  Seriously, I can't tell if the walls are actually that shade of grey, or if they just forgot to dust the place.

Marble and Igneous led me into the parlor, where we all took a seat.

"Can we get you anything, Sparkler?" asked Marble meekly.

"No, thank you.  I just had breakfast," I said. "Let's just cut to the chase.  As I've mentioned before, I heard about what happened from my mom.  However, I didn't get all the details."

Igneous breathed a deep sigh and pressed his hooves together. "There aren't that many other details, Amethyst.  That's the problem."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Marble flattened her ears and sighed. "This morning, we were supposed to get up nice and early to rotate the rocks from the East Field to the South Field.  But when I woke up, Limestone's bed was— *sniff* It was..."

"Empty," said Igneous, completing Marble's thought. "At first, we figured she just got an early start.  But then, we found this nailed to the front door."

He reached under the tall black hat he wore and took out a small notice.  I took it with my magic and read it over.


Igneous Rock Pie, Cloudy Quartz, and Marble Inkamena Pie:

You will notice that somepony is missing from your happy little group.  One Limestone Blinkamena Pie, if I'm not mistaken.  Well, I can't be mistaken.  After all, I have her.

Don't worry, she's safe.  How long she stays that way, however, is up to you.  Pay me a simple little gem tribute, and she'll return to you in one piece.  Fail to meet the deadline, and I'll mail her back to you in pieces.  I suppose you'll be getting her back either way, so it's your call.

~Anonymous


As soon as I finished reading the letter, I couldn't help but feel a bit nauseous.  I mean, wow.  That, is pretty messed up.  In fact, this note is actually a bit similar to the first one I got when the jewelry store was turned inside-out.  It's certainly just as cryptic and menacing.  Whoever this jerk is, he's pretty sick in the head.

"Are you sure you're alright, Sparkler?" inquired Marble. "You look a bit green."

"I-I'm alright," I said. "It's just that, I'm a bit at a loss for words."

"I don't blame ya," said Igneous. "That was our reaction, too.  I mean, it just doesn't add up.  We've got no use for gems, anyway, so why did they have to ponynap poor Limestone?"

I honestly think that's the least of his worries, but it's still a good point.  Still, I had to know more.

"So, this letter is your only clue to the kidnapping?" I asked.

"Oh, ayuh," said Igneous. "That's another thing that has us stumped.  There aren't even any signs that our house was broken into.  It's like Limestone just up and vanished."

So just like with the jewelry store and the hogtying of Opal, nopony was there to witness the crime because they didn't see it until it was too late.  I'm still not sure how the culprit would pull that off, but it might have to do with those mystical gems that the Redvest pack mentioned.

"And there are no other clues besides this one," I said.

"Well, not yet," said Marble. "Mother and Pinkamena have been looking around the farm for clues."

I raised an eyebrow. "Wait, Pinkie's here?  How did she find out about this so early?"

"Simple," said Marble. "She was woken up by her coat bristling, her hooves shuffling, and her scalp itching.  That was her Pinkie Sense telling her that there was a family emergency."

Oh, right.  The Pinkie Sense.  Silly me.  Anypony who has lived in Ponyville long enough should know what that is.  Basically, Pinkie Pie has these nervous ticks that help her predict the future.  Don't, try to figure it out.  I heard the last pony who did got herself into a world of hurt.

"Do you mind if I go talk to them?" I asked.

Igneous placed a hoof to his muzzle and furrowed his brow. "I dunno, Amethyst.  I know you wanna help and all, but you know how my Cloudy-pie gets when she's talking to the rocks."

"Wait, she's interrogating the rocks?"

"Well, we sure didn't hear anything, so maybe they did."

See what I mean about the Pie family being weird?  To their way of thinking, talking to a bunch of rocks is a good solution to this problem.

"Well, regardless, I still want to talk to them," I said. "See, I've been having some problems of my own with some thug trying to extort gems out of me.  He's already attacked my mom and destroyed the jewelry store.  In fact, he sent me this letter today, and I think he was talking about you."

I took out the letter I got from Carrot Top this morning and gave it to Igneous.  Igneous read it over and snorted.

"And you think this here scalawag is the same one who made off with Limestone?" he asked.

"I'm sure of it," I said with a nod.

Igneous tapped his chin for a moment, and then shrugged. "Eh, why not?  I suppose Cloudy-pie will understand once she knows we're in the same boat."

"Thank you very much," I said with a bow. "So, where can I find them?"

"I believe they should be in the East Field by now," said Marble. "Come, I'll show you."

We then got up and headed for the door.  But before I left, Igneous cleared his throat.

"Just one last thing before you head out, Marble," he said. "We still need to rotate those rocks to the South Field after Cloudy-pie is done talking to 'em.  Just let her know that, y'hear?"

"I will, Father," said Marble. "Come along, Sparkler."

Part of me questioned how the Pie family could go through their normal routine knowing that one of their own has been kidnapped, but then again, the world doesn't stop just because tragedy strikes.  Besides, if there's one thing I know about Igneous Rock Pie, it's that he's always dedicated to his work (perhaps a bit too dedicated, but I won't get into that).  With a shrug, I followed Marble over to the East Field.


***
July 13, 9:14 AM
Pie Rock Farm
East Field
***


"Now, I'm not accusing you of anything, good sir.  Just tell me what you saw."

"Why would the rock think you're accusing it, Mom?  We've got no reason to suspect it."

"Shh!  Quiet, Pinkamena!  You're scaring him!"

It's very rare to see Pinkie Pie being the rational pony in any given scenario, and this just so happened to be one of those occasions.  Just as Igneous said, Cloudy Quartz was talking to a rock while Pinkie Pie looked on.  It seemed like she took the time to snag herself a detective kit, too, because she was wearing the same brown hat, holding a magnifying glass, and blowing bubbles out of a bubble pipe.  Marble cleared her throat.

"Um, I'm sorry to interrupt, Mother," she said. "But there's somepony here to help us."

Cloudy Quartz didn't even look up. "Not now, Marble.  Can't you see I'm busy?" she said curtly.

"Aw, don't be like that, Mom," said Pinkie. "The more the merrier, I say!"

"Pinkamena, stop scaring the rocks!" Cloudy Quartz hissed. "They won't talk if you keep gabbing like that!"

"Oops.  Sorry, Mom," said Pinkie sheepishly. "I'll just investigate over here with Sparkler."

Cloudy Quartz looked up and adjusted her spectacles. "Sparkler?  What are you doing here?"

"Like Marble said, I'm here to help," I said. "I heard about what happened to Limestone, and I just so happen to be in the middle of an investigation myself.  Someone is trying to fleece me for gems, too, and I think this is the same guy."

Cloudy Quartz pursed her lips and stroked her chin for a moment. "Well, alright.  But don't you go scaring any of these here rocks, y'hear?  They're vital witnesses to Limestone's kidnapping."

"Sure, fine.  I won't," I said, although I'm not sure how one could actually scare a rock.

"Oh, before you investigate with me, you're gonna need this," said Pinkie.  She took out a bowler hat from nowhere and placed it on my head. "There!  Now you're my Faithful Assistant!"

"Um, thanks," I said. "So, what have you found so far, Pinkie?"

"Up bup bup!  That's Detective Pinkie to you, Faithful Assistant Sparkler," said Pinkie, blowing some bubbles out of her bubble pipe.

"Uh, right.  Sorry," I said, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. "So, what have you found so far, Detective Pinkie?"

"I'm glad you asked, Faithful Assistant Sparkler," said Pinkie. "So far, we've found Jack, Diddly, and Squat."

"So, nothing so far?"

"No, those are the names of the three rocks we've talked to," said Pinkie. "None of them seem to know all that much, but Squat thinks that Jack is hiding something.  At least, that's what Mom says; I don't speak Rock."

I think we need to get off the subject of talking to rocks before I start slamming my head against the wall. "Did you happen to find any other clues?" I asked.

"Well, I've been looking for footprints, but I haven't found any yet," said Pinkie, looking at the ground through her magnifying glass. "That right there leads to a big clue."

"What's that?"

"Consider this, Faithful Assistant Sparkler.  There are no footprints, and the culprit managed to kidnap Key Lime without anypony noticing.  What does that tell you?"

I hope she's not going where I think she's going. "I don't know, what?"

"Well, it should tell you that the culprit might be using magic to make himself semi-intangible."

Okay, credit where credit is due.  That actually makes some sense.  For a minute there, I thought she was gonna say something silly, like the culprit is a phantom or something.  I guess she turned down her goofiness for the sake of the investigation.

"What do you mean by semi-intangible, Detective Pinkie?" I inquired.

"Well, if he was completely intangible, he wouldn't have been able to kidnap Key Lime," said Pinkie. "His arms would've just gone right through her."

"I see," said I. "But, if he did grab her, wouldn't she have screamed?"

"Hmm.  That's a very good point, Faithful Assistant Sparkler," mused Pinkie.

"Please stop calling me that," I said with an exasperated sigh.

"Okay.  Sorry," said Pinkie. "Anywhoodle, there are still some holes in this case, and any help would be..."

Suddenly, her eyes widened. "Eureka!"

"Pinkamena Diane Pie!  What did I just get through telling you about scaring the rocks?!" Cloudy Quartz scolded.

"Sorry, Mom.  But look at this!" she said, pointing with her hoof. "I found a clue!"

I looked at where she was pointing, and well, I'm not sure how anypony missed that.  It was a big, honking pawprint embedded in the earth.  I'd say it was a Diamond Dog, but I've yet to see one grow to be that big.  Seriously, my hoof could easily fit into one of its toes.

"I-it sure is large," said Marble. "Wh-what do you think it is, Pinkamena?"

"Dunno," said Pinkie with a shrug. "I'd have to get Flutters in on this and ask her.  You know how good she is with animals."

"Wait!" said Cloudy Quartz, shuffling over to the print. "I'm getting some vibes from this trail in the earth.  It might be a vision.  Scoot over, Pinkamena."

Oh, yeah.  I forgot to mention.  Cloudy Quartz is a geomancer.  She can apparently predict the future from reading the textures in the ground.  She usually uses this skill to find out what rocks need to go where, and if the rocks need special things such as an aerobics class or a bedtime story.  I'm not questioning it; why should you?

"Hmm.  Oh, I see," said Cloudy Quartz, looking over the pawprint with a critical eye. "This is indeed interesting."

"What?  What does it say?" asked Pinkie.

Cloudy Quartz's face darkened. "This trail tells of a powerful creature as sturdy as steel," she said. "He is close by, searching for something."

"And, that's what made this print?" I asked.

"Either that or a close facsimile," said Cloudy Quartz. "The trail doesn't go into any details.  All it knows is that this creature will be upon us."

"Wh-when?" whimpered Marble.

"Right about, now."

As soon as she said that, a large white tiger bounded in from seemingly nowhere.  Marble shrieked and hid behind me.  Pinkie, however, narrowed her eyes.

"Hmm," she said, looking at the tiger's paw and then at the pawprint.  She went back and forth between the two a few times while we all just stood there in stunned silence.  She then started rubbing the side of her head.

"Um, excuse me, Mr. Tiger, but would you mind submitting to a pawprint test?" asked Pinkie.

"Yes, I would mind," said the tiger indignantly. "The Great Kohryu didn't send me out here to be accused by the likes of you."

Pinkie's eyes nearly popped out of her skull. "Whoa!  You can talk?!  That's funny!"

By this time, I figured that this was the last of Kohryu's acolytes: Byakko the White Tiger.  However, what was he doing out here?

"I fail to see how the act of speaking is humorous, equine," Byakko growled.

"Because tigers aren't supposed to talk, silly," said Pinkie. "Well, except to Fluttershy, but she speaks Tiger.  I think.  Actually, I don't know if she's ever seen a tiger before.  Come to think of it, do tigers live in the Everfree Forest?  I've never seen one.  I mean, I've seen manticores and cragodiles and parasprites and..."

Byakko pinched the bridge of his nose. "I haven't the time for this.  I'll have to continue my search elsewhere.  Good day."

With that, he bounded off in the opposite direction.

"Wait!  We didn't even do the pawprint test!" Pinkie called out.

I frowned.  Something screwy's going on around here.  Why would Kohryu send one of his acolytes out to the Pie Rock Farm?  And furthermore, was Byakko the one who kidnapped Limestone Pie?  I suppose there's only one way to find out.  It might not seem that smart, but I've got no other options at this point.

"Excuse me for a minute, Detective Pinkie.  I think I need to apprehend this suspect," I said.

Before anypony could say anything, I took off after Byakko.  I know Derpy's note told me not to do anything reckless, but I couldn't just let this important lead slip through my hooves.  Besides, Byakko is one of Kohryu's acolytes.  He's not gonna hurt me.

...

I hope.
> Confrontation: Byakko
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 13, 9:29 AM
Everfree Forest
Southern Timberline
***


Here's a little bit of advice from me to you.  The next time you want to try and chase down a magical talking tiger, do yourself a big favor and suppress that impulse (unless you're a super-athletic pony like Rainbow Dash, in which case by all means, go right ahead).  I mean, hot damn.  Those things can really book.  I'm lucky I managed to make it from the rock farm to the Everfree Forest without passing out!  And by this time, Byakko realized that he was being followed and turned to face me.

"I already told you, equine.  I have no interest in dealing with you right now," he snarled.

"Well *huff* too bad," I said breathlessly. "Because I *puff* have a few questions *gasp* for you."

Byakko's eyes narrowed. "Do you realize whom you are addressing, equine?  I am Byakko, the White Tiger as sturdy as steel.  I answer to none but the Great Kohryu and his hierophant."

"Okay, then riddle me this," I said, finally catching my breath. "Why did the Great Kohryu send you all the way out to the Pie Rock Farm?  It's a bit out of your jurisdiction, isn't it?"

"Jurisdiction?" parroted Byakko, raising an eyebrow. "The Great Kohryu is not bound by such trivial things."

"But, he's after the Silvervest pack, isn't he?" I asked. "And as far as I know, they don't operate out here.  If they did, I would've heard about them ages ago."

"Need I remind you that I don't have to answer to you?" said Byakko. "I didn't come all the way out here to get pestered by a nosy equine."

"Maybe I've got a reason for being nosy," I retorted. "For instance, the disappearance of one Limestone Pie.  You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"

Byakko's growled, and I could actually see his muscles rippling with tension. "I didn't come here to get accused, either.  Through this line of questioning, you are insulting my honor as an acolyte to the Great Kohryu!"

It just hit me.  I'm trying to interrogate a talking tiger.  A talking tiger who's twice my size and is apparently as sturdy as steel.  How did I get it in my head that this was a good idea?!  I know he's Kohryu's acolyte and was probably instructed not to hurt anyone who isn't "marked," but that doesn't make him any less scary!  Nevertheless, I tried desperately to play it cool.

"W-well, there is one way to defend your honor," I said with a swallow. "Y-you could e-explain yourself."

Byakko snorted. "If I do this, will you leave me be?"

"Yeah, sure!  Whatever!" I said hastily.

Byakko relaxed a bit. "Very well, equine.  Since you are persistent, I shall explain.  But be forewarned that I have important work to do.  Delay me any longer than necessary, and the consequences will be dire.  Is that clear?"

"Crystal!" I squeaked.

Byakko smirked, seeing right through my transparent poker face. "Good.  Now then, what shall I answer first?"

I took a moment to compose myself before responding. "F-first, the pawprint.  It was stated quite clearly that it belonged to you, and as of right now, it's our only clue to the ponynapping of Limestone Pie."

Byakko nodded. "Interesting, interesting.  But I'm afraid your logic is woefully flawed, equine.  Allow me to explain..."


***
Argument: Byakko's Alibi
***


"The first obvious flaw is simple," said Byakko. "How do you know the pawprint was left by me?  I am not the only creature with paws.  Plus, the Great Kohryu has no interest in this Limestone Pie you keep bringing up.  Why, then, would I kidnap her?  Furthermore, if that pawprint did belong to me, how does that connect me to the crime?  As you can plainly see, you don't have much of a case."

Had I been a more cowardly pony, I would've just dropped the matter and let him be on his way.  But there was too much at stake for me to back down.  Besides, I couldn't help but think that he was hiding something from me.  It's hard to place my hoof on what, though.  Well, only one way to find out.

"Let's go back to the pawprint," I said. "You said that there's no way to prove that you made it, right?"

"Well, you certainly don't have that proof on you, do you?" said Byakko with a toothy grin that sent shivers up my spine.

"W-well, no," I said. "But, there's just one thing."

"And what's that?"

"How many creatures in Equestria have paws that are as big as yours?"

Byakko shrugged. "I wouldn't know.  But I'm sure there are a few."

"Yes, but on a rock farm?" I asked. "The only life that grows out there is moss.  Whoever left that pawprint was not native to the area."

"It still doesn't prove that it was me," said Byakko.

Crud, that's a good point.  I need to find some way to link Byakko to the pawprint.  That ought to put him on the defensive.

"Actually, there's one thing about this particular pawprint that I haven't brought up yet," I said.

"Oh, and what's that?"

"Well, tell me, Mr. Byakko.  Are you familiar with geomancy?"

Byakko tilted his head. "The art of divination through reading the earth?"

"Yeah, that's the one," I said. "Well, as it just so happens, one of the ponies I was with just happens to be an expert geomancer.  And you know what she said when she read your pawprint?"

"I haven't the faintest idea."

"She said it predicted the arrival of a creature as sturdy as steel, and that this creature was on an errand," I said, brushing the underside of my nose. "Sound familiar?"

Byakko's fur bristled something fierce. "Th-that still doesn't mean anything, equine.  The earth predicted my arrival.  What of it?  It doesn't mean I left that pawprint!"

"Oh really?  I think it would be an impressive coincidence if that pawprint wasn't left by you," I said. "And besides, why are you getting all worked up about this, anyway?  Didn't you say that there's no way for me to connect the pawprint to the crime?"

"Grrrrraough!"

Byakko's only response was a powerful roar that caused my mane and tail to stand up on end for a moment.  Methinks I hit a nerve.

"You still cannot prove anything, equine!" he bellowed. "I am an acolyte of the Great Kohryu!  I cannot and will not tolerate this besmirching of my good name!"

"Well, what other conclusion am I supposed to draw from this?" I said with a shrug. "If there's another reason you were prowling around the Pie Rock Farm, please, by all means.  Enlighten me as to what that reason was.  'Cause as far as I know, Kohryu has no reason to be out here unless he's responsible for the kidnapping of..."

"You finish that sentence, and I'll tear you asunder!"

Byakko got right in my face as he said that, causing my heart to shoot into my throat.  Man, I really hope Mare-Do-Well is somewhere nearby right now.  I don't think I can keep tempting fate by ticking this guy off any more than I already have.

"A-alright, l-let's just calm down here," I said. "I-if you're truly innocent, then surely you've got a good explanation for why you were on the rock farm, right?"

Byakko snorted. "Your persistence knows no bounds, equine.  I am still uncertain as to how your business is also that of the Great Kohryu."

"Oh, it is," I said. "You can ask your precious hierophant yourself, if you want."

Byakko furrowed his brow. "So be it, equine.  If you truly wish for me to reveal my business here, then reveal it I shall.  But the Great Kohryu will know of this, and he will deal with you.  I'll make sure of that."

"I'm looking forward to it," I said.  Yeah, I'm still not buying all the hype about this Kohryu fellow.  I mean, sure, a giant dragon with a bunch of magical talking animals that serve his every whim is nothing to sneeze at.  But like with Sykes Silvervest, I get the feeling that a lot of his power is exaggerated by those who praise and/or fear him.  Now granted, in Sykes's case, he was able to back up those claims.  But until I see it with my own eyes, I don't know if the same can be said for Kohryu.


***
Testimony: Kohryu's Errand
***


"As you have probably gathered, the Great Kohryu has sent me out here in search of something," said Byakko. "I am, not at liberty to reveal what that something is, but I can say this much.  That pawprint was not left by me, even though I was in that desolate wasteland last night.  Alas, I did not witness any crime, so I am of no help to you there."

Hmm, not as much information as I hoped for.  How am I supposed to trust Byakko's alibi if he won't tell me explicitly what he was doing?  There has to be more to this.

"You claim that the pawprint we found was not your own," I said. "Do you have any proof to that effect?"

"Well, of course," said Byakko. "The pawprint you found was in the east.  However, my search was restricted solely to the west.  I couldn't have left any pawprints in the east."

I deadpanned. "You know, it would've been a lot more helpful if you gave me that information earlier."

"If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, equine.  I don't have to answer to you," Byakko growled. "The only reason I'm indulging you right now is to regain my honor as the Great Kohryu's acolyte."

"Yeah, yeah.  Sure," I said, rolling my eyes. "Anyway, you said you were in the West Field the whole time, correct?"

Byakko raised an eyebrow. "You call that wasteland of stone a 'field?'"

Boy, he's lucky the Pies aren't here to hear that.  They would've gotten so mad.  Rock farmers are very picky about their terminology, and the Pies are no exception.  It doesn't matter if their fields are barren of all life; to them, they're still fields.

"Let's not argue semantics here, Mr. Byakko," I said. "You were in the West Field the entire time last night, yes or no?"

"Yes, I was," said Byakko. "Meaning I didn't leave that pawprint in the east."

"So, if I was to go to the West Field right now, I would find your pawprints all over the place, correct?"

"Indeed," said Byakko with a nod. "And I'm sure you'd find more than one."

Wait, that was another good point.  According to Pinkie, it took her forever to find that one pawprint.  As in one singular pawprint.  Why weren't there more?  I didn't think Byakko could answer that one, so I just put that question on the back burner.

"Let's change the subject," I said. "I take it that you haven't found what you're looking for yet."

"You would be correct," huffed Byakko. "I'm beginning to suspect that it's not even out here."

"Well, maybe I could help you find it," I said.

Byakko gave me a look. "You are quite strange, equine.  First, you slander the Great Kohryu, and now you wish to help him?"

"It ties into this investigation I'm working on," I said with a shrug.

Byakko's eyes suddenly went wide. "An investigation, you say?  Equine, by any chance, is your name Amethyst 'Sparkler' Star?"

"It is," I said.

Byakko nodded. "I see.  It all makes sense now.  The Great Kohryu has spoken of you, Amethyst 'Sparkler' Star.  I apologize for being so short with you."

Well, this is a surprise.  One minute this tiger wants nothing to do with me, and now he's as polite as a Canterlot noble.  Not that I'm complaining or anything, but what exactly warranted this change in attitude?

"Um, yeah.  Sure," I said, rubbing the side of my head. "Uh, what did Kohryu say about me?"

"He said that you are on a noble quest," said Byakko. "One filled with great peril.  In fact, he would like to speak to you personally."

I blinked. "H-he would?  Why?"

"Your quest interests the Great Kohryu very much," said Byakko. "If you want, I can take you to him right now."

I then remembered the note Derpy left me and sighed.

"Um, that's very nice of you.  But, could I possibly meet him later, like this afternoon?" I asked. "See, I'd feel a lot more comfortable if I had my mom around."

Byakko placed a paw to his lips and nodded sagely. "Hmm.  I see now why the Great Kohryu's hierophant refers to you as 'Momma's Girl,'" said he. "Very well.  I shall inform the Great Kohryu of this."

"Yeah, you go do that," I said. "Oh, and one more thing."

"Yes?"

"Tell your hierophant to stop calling me that."

Byakko shrugged. "I apologize, Amethyst 'Sparkler' Star, but I cannot make demands of the hierophant.  Well, I must be off.  Fare well."

Before I could say anything else, he bounded off into the forest.  Well, it looks like Kohryu actually wants to meet me face-to-face.  I'm still not entirely sure why, but at least now I can see what all the hype is about.  That'll have to wait for when Derpy is done with her route, though.  Right now, I should probably go see what the Pie family is up to.  Maybe they found some more clues in my absence.  At least that would mean one or two things are going my way in this whole catastrophe.
> Smoking Shards
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 13, 10:06 AM
Pie Rock Farm
East Field
***


"Mother, I don't mean to interrupt, but Father says we still have to move these rocks to the South Field."

"I understand, Marble, and so do they.  Which is why it would go a lot faster if you three were more cooperative."

It seems that Cloudy Quartz hasn't given up on the rocks being key witnesses.  She was still interrogating them when I got back from interrogating Byakko, and from the sound of things, it wasn't going all that well (I can't say I'm all that surprised).  Pinkie, meanwhile, was still looking at the pawprint through her magnifying glass.

"Mom, are you sure you got all the readings from this trail?" she asked.

Cloudy Quartz sighed. "Yes, I'm sure, Pinkamena.  That trail ran cold as soon as that tiger showed up.  I can't get any more visions from it."

"Hmm," said Pinkie, knitting her brow. "I dunno.  There's something about this pawprint that's awfully strange, but I can't quite put my hoof on it.  If only that tiger would come back so that we can do the ink pad test."

"That won't be necessary, Detective Pinkie," I said, making my way into the conversation.

Pinkie looked up and smiled. "Oh, hiya Sparkler!  Welcome back," she said.  She then tilted her head. "Where's the tiger?  I thought you said you were gonna apprehend him."

"Oh, we had a little chat," I said. "Turns out he has an alibi."

"An alibi?" parroted Pinkie. "What did he say?"

"He was actually in the West Field while the crime was being committed," I said.

"What was he doing over there?"

"He was looking for something.  In fact, the reason he came back here is because he hasn't found it yet."

"Did he tell you what he was looking for?"

"Nope.  Apparently, it's supposed to be a secret."

"I see," said Pinkie thoughtfully, blowing a few bubbles out of her bubble pipe. "Marble, do you know what the tiger might be looking for in the West Field?"

Marble stroked her chin in thought. "Well, we have some granite over there.  And a gold deposit in the underground tunnels.  Oh, and some beautiful geodes that are just about ripe for harvesting.  That's about it."

None of that sounds like anything Byakko would be remotely interested in.  So maybe he was looking for something that the Pie family wasn't aware of.  However, that could be pretty much anything.  Seeing as this wasn't going anywhere, I decided to ask Pinkie about her progress.

"How are things on your end, Detective Pinkie?" I asked.

Pinkie frowned. "Not so hot, Sparkler.  Mom hasn't been able to figure out anything from Jack, Diddly, or Squat.  I don't know why; they have no reason to hold out on us."

"You have to understand, Pinkamena.  Rocks can be quite stubborn," said Cloudy Quartz. "If we're gonna get anything useful out of 'em, it's gonna take some time."

I'm not gonna comment on the whole "interrogating rocks" thing anymore.  Really, I've just run out of stuff to say about it.

"Well, what about you, Detective Pinkie?" I inquired. "Did you find anything else while I was gone?"

"Yes and no," said Pinkie, looking at the pawprint through her magnifying glass again. "This pawprint here is the only one in this area, and as I said, I've been looking for something like this ever since we got started in the North Field.  There should be a lot more of these, especially if they were left by the same animal.  But there isn't.  It's just this."

That's exactly what Byakko mentioned when I pressed him on the issue.  He also mentioned something else that's pretty important.

"Actually, there's something you should know about that, Detective Pinkie," I said. "The tiger claims that this pawprint over here isn't his."

Pinkie raised an eyebrow. "Well, how are we supposed to know that for sure if we don't submit him to an ink pad test?"

Marble's face suddenly lit up. "Wait, I think I have an idea," she said. "Sparkler said that the tiger was in the West Field, meaning there should be some pawprints over there.  If we make a cast of this print and compare it to those, we can find out if he's telling the truth or not."

"Good thinking, Marble!" said Pinkie. "Luckily, I have some plaster in my saddlebags.  Excuse me for just a minute; I'll be right back."

With that, she darted off towards the house.  Part of me wants to question why Pinkie would be carrying plaster around, but then I remind myself that it's Pinkie Pie.  She apparently has to be prepared for anything.  Maybe it's a side effect from her Pinkie Sense; maybe it's because she's just weird.  Whatever it is, I've stopped questioning it long ago.

"Hey, Marble?  While we're waiting for Pinkie to come back, I've got a quick question," I said.

"Yes?" said Marble.

"Do you guys get any Diamond Dogs around here?"

Marble's brow furrowed. "Not really.  We might get an infestation once in a while, but once they realize that it's not worth the trouble to attack our farm, they're quick to leave.  Why do you ask?"

"One of the suspects in my case just so happens to be a very influential Diamond Dog," I said. "And another suspect is a member of his pack who's rebelling against him."

Marble rubbed the side of her head. "And, how exactly does a talking tiger fit into all this?"

"That's, actually a bit of a long story," I said. "You see..."

"Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?  Thank you for finally deciding to be straight with me, gentlemen."

Before I could explain everything, I was interrupted by Cloudy Quartz wrapping up her interrogation of the rocks.  Oh, this I gotta hear.

"So, what's the verdict, Mrs. Quartz?" I asked.

"Well, it's quite queer, Sparkler," said Cloudy Quartz, pursing her lips and placing a hoof to her muzzle. "After I had gotten the rocks to stop squabbling amongst themselves, they all confessed that all they remembered was the sound of shattering glass.  After that, all was quiet until morning."

That wasn't a whole lot to go on, but it was a lot more than I expected to hear.  Then again, I'm not sure how valid a rock's testimony really is (sorry, I know I said I'd stop talking about that.  This is the last time I'll bring it up, I swear).  Deciding to humor Cloudy Quartz, I took a quick look around.

"Well, I'm not sure where they heard that," I said. "I don't see any glass here."

"Perhaps the culprit cleaned it up?" suggested Marble.

"No, I'm sure the rocks would've seen that," said Cloudy Quartz. "What we need right now is some real evidence."

"Okay, I'm back!"

As if on cue, Pinkie Pie returned with a bucket full of plaster and a portable hairdryer she held in her tail.

"Um, Pinkamena?  Are you sure you know how to use that?" asked Marble.

"Of course I do, silly!  There are instructions on the tin," said Pinkie, pointing to the bucket of plaster. "Now, let's get to work!"

And get to work she did.  With expert precision, Pinkie poured the contents of the bucket into the pawprint and used the hairdryer to blow it dry.  Once the plaster was good and hard, she took out a hammer and chisel from her mane and carefully carved it out.

"There we go.  That should do it," said Pinkie, wiping some sweat from her brow. "Now, all we gotta do is compare this cast to the prints in the West Field.  Then we'll know if that talking tiger is telling the truth."

We were about to head off and do just that when something in the plaster caught my eye.  It was a faint glimmer at first, but in the span of a few seconds, something started to glow brighter and brighter.  Eventually, that something became plainly visible to the naked eye.

"Hang on a sec," I said. "Detective Pinkie, I think you should take another look at that cast."

"Um, okay," said Pinkie with a shrug.  She then took her magnifying glass and looked over every inch of the bit of plaster.  When she saw what I was seeing, her eyes went wide.

"Whoa!  Where did this come from?!" she exclaimed.

"Wh-what is it, Pinkamena?" inquired Marble.

"I, uh, I'm not sure.  But it sure is something!" said Pinkie.

I rolled my eyes. "Let me take a look at it, Detective Pinkie."

"Huh?  Oh, okay.  Here ya go."

Pinkie carefully held out the plaster to me, and I used my magic to snatch it from her grip.  Looking at the underside of the cast, I could see that bits of some sort of gemstone were sticking out of it.  It was a deep green hue; emerald if I had to guess.  Now this was odd.  If there were emeralds inside the pawprint, why didn't we see 'em until now?  Not only that, but it appears that these emeralds were somehow broken.  There were a lot of jagged edges sticking out of the cast, most of them very small.  And the really big chunks had this sort of wedge shape to them; not what I'd expect from a shattered gemstone.  It's almost like it was peeled off of a pearl of some...

Wait a minute.  Something about that shape is causing the gears in my head to go into overdrive.

"Detective Pinkie, come take a closer look at this," I said, pointing at the wedge-shaped shard with my hoof.

Pinkie complied. "Ooh~.  It's kinda pretty," she said. "It almost looks like a piece of something you'd make, Sparkler."

"Save the flattery for later, Detective Pinkie," I said sternly. "But, could you be a bit more specific?"

"Well sometimes, you carve these gemstones into nifty little pearl shapes for necklaces," said Pinkie. "It looks like this shard came from one of those pearls.  Do you think the culprit was wearing some of your work?"

That's it.  I know what this is.

"I, don't think so," I said. "However, I want to know something.  Do any of you know about mystical gemstones?"

"You mean like Fire Rubies?" asked Cloudy Quartz.

"Exactly," I said.

Cloudy Quartz knitted her brow. "Well, I don't claim to be an expert, but I know of them.  They don't really have much use out here on a rock farm, though.  Why do you ask?"

"Because I think that's what this is," I said, pointing to the shards embedded in the cast. "All of the crimes committed so far, from the attack on the jewelry store to the kidnapping of Limestone Pie, were done without anypony noticing.  I firmly believe that some sort of magic was involved, and that magic must've come from a mystical gemstone like this one."

"Well, that's all fine and good, Sparkler," said Marble. "But which mystical gemstone is it?"

"I, don't know yet," I confessed. "But I do know how to find out."

"Ooh, ooh!  I do, too!" said Pinkie, hopping up and down. "Twilight probably has a book on this!  She has a book on everything!"

My thoughts exactly, even though I think Pinkie might've been exaggerating.  While Princess Twilight does have a lot of books, I highly doubt her library has a copy of every tome ever written.  Even so, that's probably gonna be my next stop.

"Do you guys mind if I borrow this?" I asked.

"Go ahead and keep it!" said Pinkie, looking into her bucket of plaster. "We've got enough to make another cast.  You going to the library?"

"Excellent deduction there, Detective Pinkie," I said with a smirk. "I'll be sure to let you guys know what I find."

"Okey-dokey-lokey!  Best of luck!" said Pinkie. "We'll keep you posted, too!"

"Thank you for all your help, Sparkler," said Marble with a bow. "It really means a lot to us."

"It's no trouble, Marble," I said. "After all, we're all after the same thing.  Give Mr. Pie my regards."

With that, I took off back for Ponyville as fast as my legs could carry me.  Heh, about time something went in my favor.  Now all I need to do is find out what mystical gemstone this is, and find a way to counter it just in case the prick gets any more bright ideas.  It might not bring me that much closer to the culprit, but every little bit counts.  And who knows?  Maybe this will be the clue that busts this case wide open.

...

Nah, I think that's getting my hopes a bit too high.  When it comes to a mystery like this where a lot is on the line, I believe it's important to have realistic expectations.
> Stepping Stones
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 13, 11:07 AM
Ponyville
Golden Oak Library
***


When you think of famous landmarks in Ponyville, a lot of different places come to mind.  Carousel Boutique (as I've mentioned before), Sugarcube Corner, Sweet Apple Acres, Ghastly Gorge, and of course, the Everfree Forest.  But there's one landmark that's almost never even called by name, and that landmark is Golden Oak Library.  It's actually pretty strange when you think about it.  Why, you ask?  Oh, no reason.  Just the minor factoid that it's run by the Princess of Friendship and her helper dragon.  I mean, there's nothing noteworthy about that, amiright?

I kid, but actually, there is a reason for this.  And that reason is that Princess Twilight Sparkle is perhaps the most humble princess Equestria has ever known.  Yeah, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna aren't exactly stuffy nobles themselves; far from it as a matter of fact.  But Princess Twilight somehow manages to take it a step further by insisting on being treated like everypony else.  In fact, the only royal decree we've ever gotten from her was not to give her any special treatment just because she's a princess.  A lot of ponies say that she's still getting used to her new title, and I can certainly buy that.  But I dunno, I just find it strange that a princess would opt to live in a public library rather than a castle.  Then again, Princess Twilight has always been known for her love of books, even before her coronation.  So I guess it kinda makes sense.

And speaking of books, I mentioned before that Golden Oak Library has a pretty impressive collection.  It might not look as big as the Canterlot Archives or the Manehattan Public Library, but it certainly feels as big when you walk in.  I'm actually surprised that Princess Twilight actually managed to make room for her living space in this treasure trove of information.  It's quite overwhelming at first, but it also means that it's very likely that you'll find what you're looking for.  Okay, there's no guarantee, but your chances are still pretty good.  Especially if you're looking for a book on obscure magic.  Princess Twilight loves those.

I walked into the library with the emerald-ridden chunk of plaster in tow and found that Princess Twilight was simply going through her shelves and sorting her books.  I had to remind myself not to bow before her when she looked at me (she doesn't like that).  She gave me a friendly smile and nodded.

"Good morning, Sparkler," she said pleasantly.

"'Morning, Your Highness," I said. "Say, have you seen Dinky anywhere?  She told me that she was coming here today to look something up."

"Oh, she's upstairs," said Princess Twilight. "Actually, she says that she's investigating some of these strange incidents that have been occurring in town as of late.  You know what I'm talking about, right?"

"You mean like the jewelry store being destroyed without anypony noticing?" I asked.

"That and Rarity's cat being tied to a tree without anypony noticing," said Princess Twilight. "I'd look into it myself, but I've been informed that it's already being taken care of."

I raised an eyebrow. "Who told you that?" I inquired.

"Just an old friend of mine.  You probably wouldn't know her," said Princess Twilight with a shrug.  She then sighed. "However, this is pretty hard to ignore.  I just hope it's resolved before things really get out of hoof.  Otherwise, I'll have no choice but to take action."

Oh, man.  She is not going to be happy when she hears about the ponynapping of Limestone Pie.  That might just be the straw that breaks the camel's back, and then we've got an international crisis on our hooves.  Come to think of it, I wonder if she knows that, and if that's the reason she's not investigating right now.  If she does, well, your guess is as good as mine how she became privy to that information.  She couldn't have gotten it from Rarity or Spike; I already told them not to tell her.  And Dinky has no idea what's really going on, so I doubt she heard about it from her.  Maybe it's the mysterious friend she mentioned, whoever that is.

Wait a minute.  Could that mysterious friend be Mare-Do-Well?  I mean, she told me from the beginning that involving a newly-crowned princess in interspecies politics was a recipe for disaster.  Does that mean she knows Mare-Do-Well personally?  How does that work?

"Amethyst?  I thought you were investigating the rock farm.  What are you doing here?"

A familiar voice from upstairs derailed my train of thought and snapped me back to reality.  I looked up, and there was Dinky, holding a small tome with her magic.  From her tone of voice, I think she was still bummed that she didn't get to accompany me to the rock farm.  Not that I really feel guilty about that (I had a pretty good reason for not letting her tag along), but I think figuring out this new clue with her will make up for it.  I gave her a smile.

"I've pretty much finished up my investigation over there," I said. "In fact, I managed to come across a pretty vital clue.  I'm not quite sure what it is yet, but maybe we can find out together."

Dinky's face lit up like a Hearth's Warming tree, just as I thought it would. "That's terrific, Amethyst.  I actually found some interesting stuff, too.  Come on up, and we can compare notes.  You don't mind, do you, Your Highness?"

"Not at all," said Princess Twilight. "Just let me know if you need anything."

"Sure, no problem." I said as I made my way upstairs.  I'm starting to think that Princess Twilight knows more than she lets on, because she somehow doesn't find this odd in the slightest.  Then again, she has her mysterious informant coupled with Dinky blatantly telling her what she's up to, so a bright pony like her could easily connect the dots.  Whatever the case may be, she said she wasn't gonna get involved unless push came to shove, so hopefully, there's nothing to worry about on that end.  At least, not right now.


***


"So, what did you find out, Dink?" I asked as we situated ourselves in the upstairs study.

"Well, it didn't take long for Princess Twilight Sparkle to find what we needed," said Dinky, holding the tome aloft.  The title read: Mystical Gemstones and Jewels: A Reference Guide. "This lists every type of mystical gemstone known to Equestria.  If some kind of magic was used to make it so that the culprit pulled off his crimes without being detected, we're sure to find it here."

"Sounds like exactly what we need," I said. "So, have you found anything yet?"

Dinky shook her head. "Not quite.  I'm still not entirely sure what exactly what kind of magic we're looking for, and none of the gemstones I've found so far seem to be powerful enough to house such advanced magic.  All I've seen are spells that correspond to different parts of nature, such as fire or ice.  There's also a chapter on absorbing those natural elements with the gemstones, but it looks pretty complicated."

I nodded. "Well, I think I know how we can narrow down our search a bit," I said, showing her the cast Pinkie made. "This is a bit of evidence we gathered from the rock farm.  It's a replica of a pawprint we found in the East Field.  But that's not what got my attention."

"It isn't?" inquired Dinky, raising an eyebrow. "Why not?  I would think that such evidence would confirm that the culprit is a Diamond Dog."

"That might be so, but look at this," I said, pointing to the emerald shards embedded in the cast. "From what I understand, mystical gems don't work unless they are treated a certain way.  You have to whittle it down to the point where it doesn't have any sharp edges."

"That's what the book said, too," said Dinky, stroking her chin and looking over the shards carefully. "So, you think that this is a mystical gemstone?"

"I'm pretty sure it is," I said. "See this big wedge over here?  That had to have broken off from a spherical shape, and that means the gemstone had to be treated.  Plus, we didn't see these shards at all before we made the cast.  That has to be some kind of magic.  Now, all we need to do is look up emeralds in this book and do a cross-reference."

"I'm on it," said Dinky, flipping through the pages of the book. "Let's see.  Emeralds, emeralds...  Ah, here we go!  'Shroud Emeralds.'"

Just from that name alone, I think it's safe to say that we're on the right track. "That could be it," I said. "Let's see what it says."

"Right," said Dinky, clearing her throat. "'Shroud Emeralds are by far the rarest and most unstable of all the mystical gemstones known to Equestria.  When used, the wielder and all of his or her activities cannot be perceived in any way, shape, or form for up to three hours.'"

"Wait, 'all of his or her activities?'" I parroted, raising an eyebrow. "What does that mean?"

"It says that if someone under the influence of a Shroud Emerald interacts with anything, no one would notice that interaction at first," said Dinky. "Everything would just appear to be normal until the spell wore off."

After those words sank in, I felt like the heavy mist around my mind was starting to clear up.  We really hit the jackpot with this one.

"I do believe this is what we're looking for, Dink," I said with a smile. "Finally, things are starting to make sense!"

"I believe so, too," said Dinky with a smile of her own. "Now we know how the culprit managed to commit his crimes undetected."

"Yeah, but I feel like we're still missing a few things," I mused. "Keep reading."

"Sure," said Dinky, skimming the entry. "Hmm.  It says here that because Shroud Emeralds are so unstable, they shatter after one use, and the shards become unable to be perceived."

"And yet I found them right here," I said, pointing to the shards embedded in the plaster. "What's up with that?"

"Huh.  The book doesn't seem to say," said Dinky, turning the page. "Oh, wait!  Here we go. *ahem* 'It should be noted that the Shroud Emerald has no effect on substances that are a combination of liquid water and earth.  This includes mud, clay, cement, quicksand...'"

"And plaster," I said. "Of course!  That's why the plaster caused the shards to appear when we didn't see them in the pawprint before!"

"That seems to be the case," said Dinky. "But we still don't know who the culprit is."

"Maybe not, but we've certainly narrowed it down," I said with a smirk. "The books says that Shroud Emeralds are incredibly rare, right?  So whoever has ready access to those things has to be the culprit.  It's just a matter of finding out who that someone is."

"I don't think it's going to be that easy," said Dinky. "I know that you're excited about this progress we've made here; I am too.  But overconfidence is just as bad as doubt."

And once again, the Zen of Dinky demonstrates just how insightful my little sister can be.  I swear, she's gonna have a philosopher's Cutie Mark or something when she grows up.

"You're right.  It's just that this is the first thing about this dumb mystery that actually makes sense," I said.  I then smiled and mussed up Dinky's mane. "Thanks for helping me out, Dink.  You really came through for me."

Dinky smiled back. "I'm happy that I was able to support you, Amethyst.  Is there anything else you'd like me to do?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact," I said. "I want you to tell Carrot Top about these Shroud Emeralds.  She might need to know about them."

Dinky raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"With all of these weird attacks going on in town, we can't be too careful," I said with a shrug.

"Are you sure that's the reason?" asked Dinky.

I gulped.  The stern look Dinky was giving me reminded me of the Pinkie Promise that was still hanging over my head.  I-I still couldn't bring myself to tell her, but I didn't want to lie, either.  How the heck am I gonna get out of this one?

"Th-that is a reason, yes," I said.

"But not the only reason," said Dinky.

"N-not really, no.  I-I'll tell you later, I promise."

Dinky paused for a moment, and then nodded. "Okay, but I'm holding you to that, Amethyst.  I really want to help you, but I can't do that if you're not open with me."

Oh, thank Celestia.  She's letting me off the hook.  For now.

"I know, Dink," I said, giving her a hug. "And trust me, if you let Carrot Top know about this, it'll help me lots."

"Okay," said Dinky, although she didn't sound all that convinced.  I think she's starting to catch on. "I take it you'll be going to see the Diamond Dogs in the meantime."

"Yeah," I said. "Don't worry, Dink.  I'll be careful."

Dinky looked up at me and smiled. "I know you will, Amethyst.  After all, Mama will be looking after you."

Yeah, that's right.  I'm supposed to meet with Derpy so that we can go see Sykes Silvervest and Dodger Dragonvest.  She should be done with her route by now.

"Right," I said. "And I'll be looking after her, too."

"Of course," said Dinky. "Good luck, Amethyst."

"Thanks," I said.  With that, I gave my regards to Princess Twilight and made my way to the northern timberline to meet Derpy.  Now, you're probably wondering why I told Dinky to let Carrot Top know about the Shroud Emeralds.  Well, it wasn't just to get her out of the way.  It's because I have a feeling in my gut that this bastard is gonna strike my home next, and while Carrot Top is prepared for that, she needs to be even more prepared.  I'm not taking any chances with this guy, whoever he is.  If he thinks he can attack my family and get away with it, he's got another thing coming.
> Jade Blockade
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 13, 12:02 PM
Everfree Forest
Northern Timberline
***


As I trotted up the grassy knoll that overlooked the northern timberline, I couldn't help but feel a sense of uneasiness.  As cliché as it sounds, things were quiet.  Too quiet.  No whining from the Redvest pack; no argument between the teenage dragons and Kohryu's acolytes; no nothing.  Everything was perfectly still.  And that caused warning bells to go off in my head.  There had to be a reason for this, and whatever that reason was wasn't good.

"Ammy~!"

The silence was broken by Derpy Hooves calling out to me.  I looked up and waved.

"Hi, Mom," I said. "I was about to wait for you here.  You all done with your route?"

"I sure am," said Derpy. "And look, I made us some peanut butter and Zap Apple jam sandwiches for lunch."

She reached into her mailbag and pulled out two sandwiches.  How she managed to get away with carrying them in her mailbag, I'll never know.  I just hope nopony got incredibly mad at her for giving them sticky mail (which probably happened, knowing Derpy).

"Uh, thanks," I said, taking my sandwich with my magic. "Anyway, you'll be happy to know that I made quite a bit of progress in the investigation."

Derpy beamed. "That's wonderful news, Ammy.  What did you find out?"

"Well, where do I start?" I said. "First..."

"Ah-hem!"

Before I could give Derpy a recap, I heard an unfamiliar voice behind me.  I turned around to see a Diamond Dog I did not recognize.  He was wearing a black tuxedo with matching top hat, a frilly white cravat, a pair of white gloves, and a monocle over his left eye.  He had large, floppy jowls which and a single fang poking out of his mouth, which sort of undermined the whole aura of elegance he had going on.

"Um, yes?  May I help you?" I asked.

"I'm terribly sorry, madam, but this area is restricted," said the dapper Diamond Dog. "I am under strict instructions not to let anyone traverse these plains."

Well, that would explain why the place is quiet.  Doesn't make me any less confused, though.

"Strict instructions from whom?" I inquired.

"My mistress," said the dapper Diamond Dog. "If you wish to complain, you may take it up with her.  Again, I apologize for the inconvenience."

"Hang on, I'm getting really confuzzled here," said Derpy. "I thought the leader of the Redvest pack was a boy dog."

The dapper Diamond Dog raised an eyebrow. "You're getting what?"

"Confuzzled," repeated Derpy.

The dapper Diamond Dog stared down at Derpy with a dumbfounded look. "I beg your pardon, madam, but that is not a word," said he.

"She means confused," I said. "Listen, I don't know if you know this, but I'm supposed to be meeting with the Redvest pack today.  So, if you don't mind..."

"I'm afraid I do, madam," interrupted the Diamond Dog. "I wasn't given prior notice of this.  As such, I must ask you to leave."

"Well, go check with them!" I said, starting to lose my patience. "They know me!"

"Please, madam.  Do not raise your voice," said the dapper Diamond Dog. "There's no need for it."

I sighed.  This was going nowhere fast.  I need to know what this is about.

"Look, I've been here plenty of times before, and I've never had any trouble," I said. "What's going on?"

"That information is strictly on a need-to-know basis, I'm afraid," said the Diamond Dog.

"Well, I need to know," I said with a shrug.

"My apologies, but I'm not sure you do," said the Diamond Dog.

"Ife?  What's going on over here?"

The argument was interrupted by a sharp voice from behind the dapper Diamond Dog.  He turned around to see a very fancy-looking Diamond Dog that looked very much like a Prench poodle.  She wore a dark green sweater vest, a golden collar decorated with all sorts of gems, and even a pair of fancy earrings.  She held some sort of scepter in her paw which had a piece of jade at the head and two wires sticking out of the neck that formed a heart shape around it.  Everything down to the way she strode up to us just reeked of high class, which is not something I'd expect from a Diamond Dog.

"It's nothing, mistress," said the dapper Diamond Dog. "Just a pair of interlopers claiming they have business here."

The poodle approached us and raised an eyebrow. "Ife, these are ponies," she said. "We are not defending this area from the likes of them.  They're our friends."

Ife blinked. "Oh, I-I see.  My apologies, mistress," he said with a bow.

"It's alright, no harm done," said the poodle, turning to us. "I do hope Ife here wasn't rough with you.  He was just doing as I asked."

"Um, it's alright," I said, very much bewildered. "So, uh, who are you?"

"Oh, that's right.  Forgive my manners," said the poodle, holding out her paw. "Georgette Jadevest, alpha of the Jadevest pack.  A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Something clicked in my mind.  Sykes Silvervest mentioned that he was meeting with the Jadevest pack yesterday, and that he'd have them handle Dodger Dragonvest for the Redvest pack.  I guess they work pretty fast.

"Pleasure is all mine," I said, allowing her to take my hoof in her paw. "I'm Amethyst Star, and this is my mom, Derpy Hooves."

Georgette looked at Derpy, and then back at me. "I don't really see the family resemblance," she said. "Then again, it's always hard to discern that kind of thing with ponies."

"I, get that a lot, actually," I said sheepishly. "So, what's the deal?  Your goon here said that this area is off-limits."

"I prefer the term 'servant,' if you don't mind," said Ife.

"Oh, okay.  Sorry," I said.

"No need to apologize, Ms. Star.  It's nothing to get excited over," said Georgette. "Anyway, before I answer that, I wish to ask you something first.  Ife says you have business here.  What business might that be?"

I, suppose that's fair. "I'm actually meeting with the Redvest pack," I said.

Georgette pursed her lips and fiddled with the scepter in her paw. "Strange.  I was under the impression that Rover Redvest was trying to avoid all contact with ponies after a certain, embarrassing incident."

"Well, he was," I said with a shrug. "But that's changed.  He's actually helping me in an investigation."

Georgette knitted her brow. "Hmm, an investigation.  I remember hearing something about that," she mused. "Ife, bring me Paw-Paw."

"Yes, mistress," said Ife with a bow.  He then rushed off.  I blinked.

"Paw-Paw?" I asked.

"What?  Don't you name your diary?" said Georgette with a shrug. "I myself find that I can never bear my soul to something that doesn't have a name."

"Um, I never really thought of it that way," I said.

"Mmm.  Well, whatever floats your boat, I suppose," said Georgette. "So, pleasant weather we're having, hmm?"

"I, guess," I said. "I haven't really noticed, actually.  I've been pretty busy all morning."

"Oh, right.  The investigation you mentioned," said Georgette, tapping her lips with her scepter. "Again, I know I've heard about this before, but I can't quite put my paw on it.  Oh, where is that Ife?"

No sooner had she said that then Ife returned, brandishing a silver platter with a small book on it.  Was that really necessary?  I don't think I've met anyone so prissy and uptight that they need their journal delivered to them on a platter.  That is, if Georgette really is that uptight; it's honestly hard to tell.  She's actually the most pleasant Diamond Dog I've come across thus far.

"Thank you, Ife," said Georgette, scooping up the diary and flipping it open. "Let's see here...  Ah, here we are.  Sy mentioned you during our dinner date last night."

I raised an eyebrow. "You mean Sykes Silvervest?"

"Who else would I mean?" said Georgette with a smirk. "Sy and I go way back.  He's quite the gentleman once you get to know him.  His bodyguards, not so much."

So, she happens to know Sykes Silvervest personally.  Interesting.  Maybe I could get some dirt on him out of Georgette.

"What did he say about me?" I asked.

"Only that you're on this fool's errand trying to tear down a protection racket," said Georgette. "He didn't give me any details."

It seems that Sykes Silvervest doesn't have a high opinion of me.  Can't say I'm all that surprised.

"Well, if you must know, I'm actually chasing down this prick who's trying to fleece me for gems," I said.

Georgette sighed and shook her head. "Tsk tsk tsk.  What is the world coming to?" she bemoaned. "You have my deepest condolences, Ms. Star."

"Uh, thanks," I said, rubbing the back of my head sheepishly. "Anyway, I'm meeting with the Redvest pack so that they can take me to Sykes Silvervest.  He's, actually one of my suspects."

"Is he really?" said Georgette in a sympathetic tone. "Oh, you poor dear.  I really hope that's not the case.  Whatever Sy wants, Sy gets."

"Yeah, well.  I'm gonna be the exception that proves the rule," I said firmly. "I don't care who he is; he's not walking all over me."

"Famous last words, Ms. Star," said Georgette darkly. "I'd tread carefully if I were you."

"I know, I know.  Trust me, I'm not an idiot," I said. "I realize that he has a lot of power.  And yet for some reason, he doesn't have the guts to tell me who he is in his ransom notes"

Georgette shrugged. "I'm not sure what to tell you there, Ms. Star.  Sy never told me about a new protection racket, especially not one that he's conducting anonymously."

"Would he really tell you something like that?" asked Derpy.

"Like I said, we go a ways back," said Georgette. "He's actually an old flame of mine, if you can believe it."

"Really?  What happened?" said Derpy.

"Society," said Georgette, a hint of disdain slipping into her voice. "It's taboo for Diamond Dogs to marry outside of their packs.  I'm a Jadevest; he's a Silvervest.  It just wouldn't have worked out.  That's life, I suppose.  We're still on good terms, though."

"So, he knew you would take this job and help defend the Redvest pack from Dodger Dragonvest?" I asked.

"Well, of course," said Georgette. "After all, he is paying me quite handsomely for this mundane task."

Derpy blinked. "I thought you said he was your friend."

"He is."

"Then, why aren't you doing it for free?"

"That's the kind of Diamond Dog Sy is," said Georgette. "He's always about just compensation.  If you're doing something for him, he's gonna make it worth your while."

"You mean like if I give him gems, he's going to not hurt my family and make my life miserable?" I said dryly.

"I never said it was a perfect system," said Georgette simply.

That's an understatement if I've ever heard one.  I decided to change the subject.

"Well, did Silvervest tell you about Dodger Dragonvest?" I asked.

"Bits and pieces," said Georgette. "It's all quite surreal, actually.  Dragons don't usually work well with Diamond Dogs."

"They don't?"

"Of course not.  It's a conflict of interest," said Georgette. "Diamond Dogs hoard gems in order to gain status amongst the other packs, and they can't do that if dragons are eating them all."

So much for my theory that Sykes Silvervest hired a dragon to attack my mom.  Unless...

"You said they don't usually work well with dragons," I said. "But Dodger Dragonvest has organized an entire clan to serve under him.  They don't like it, but he managed to pull it off."

"Yes, Sy did mention that," said Georgette with a sigh. "A few times, actually.  Apparently, poor Dodger has gone off the deep end, talking about Kohryu marking Sy for crimes against, something or other.  Quite ridiculous, if you ask me."

"You know about Kohryu, too?" asked Derpy.

"Of course.  I happen to subscribe to his teachings," said Georgette with a warm smile. "That's why I'm so friendly with ponies such as yourselves.  My pack is actually quite welcome back in Baltimare.  They're even creating a petition to make me the Diamond Dog's ambassador to Equestria.  Me!  Oh, they are too kind, indeed."

Derpy raised an eyebrow. "Huh.  That's weird.  I've been all over Equestria, and this is my first time hearing about something like this."

"Ditto," I concurred.

"Well, we Diamond Dogs don't like to make a big fuss over things like this," said Georgette with a laugh. "I mean, what would the other packs think?  They need to ease into this sort of thing, know what I mean?"

"I, guess," I said.  Honestly, I'm not that politically savvy, so I should just take her word for it.  Besides, I feel like we kinda got off-track.

"Anyway, back to my original point," I said, clearing my throat. "Dodger has certainly proven that it's possible for a Diamond Dog to work with a dragon."

Georgette tapped her chin with her scepter. "Well, I suppose some of the more well-off packs could hire dragons as watchmen for the hoard.  They'd have to have a lot of gems to burn, though."

"Like Sykes Silvervest?" I asked.

"Conceivably," said Georgette with a shrug. "And before you ask, Sy hasn't told me anything about hiring dragons.  I honestly don't think he needs them, anyway."

"Does he usually tell you everything?" inquired Derpy.

"Well, not everything, I suppose," said Georgette. "After all, we're still in separate packs.  It would be quite scandalous if I was made privy to all of his dealings."

So, the best way to find out the truth behind Sykes Silvervest was to talk to Sykes Silvervest himself.  And here I thought this mystery was getting easier.  Silly me.

"Just one last question," I said.

"Ask away," said Georgette.

"How do you know about Kohryu and his teachings?  Sykes Silvervest says he's just a myth."

"Oh.  Well, that's easy enough to answer," said Georgette. "Magic happens to be a bit of a hobby of mine.  I'm interested in all things arcane.  Why, I actually created this Leash Wand using alchemy."

"Leash Wand?" parroted Derpy.

"Just something to discipline anyone in my pack who gets out of line," said Georgette. "I never use it that much, of course.  Maybe I should lend it to Sy."

"Um, mistress?  You're rambling again," said Ife.

Georgette blushed. "Oh.  I am, aren't I?  How embarrassing," she said, clearing her throat. "Anyway, Kohryu is one of the few dragons who has truly mastered magic.  As such, I'd be daft not to study him and his teachings.  Although Dodger is truly mad if he believes a pacifist like Kohryu is telling him to declare war."

"Mistress!"

The conversation was interrupted by a Diamond Dog soldier running up to us and saluting.

"Report," said Georgette.

"We've sighted some dragons on the outskirts of the timberline," said the soldier. "They might be with Dragonvest."

Georgette sighed. "A woman's work is never done," she said. "I'm sorry to cut this short, Ms. Star, but duty calls.  Good luck with your investigation.  Oh, and I'll let Rover know that you're here.  Ta-ta~."

With that, she and Ife followed the solider to the other side of the timberline.

"Well, she was nice," said Derpy. "I wish all of the Diamond Dogs were as nice as her."

"You're preaching to the choir, Mom," I said, taking a bite out of my sandwich. "Still, it's kinda weird, isn't it?"

"What, you mean the whole thing about Baltimare being accepting of Diamond Dogs all of a sudden?" said Derpy.

"Well, yeah.  But also, she seems too, I don't know, clean," I said. "Diamond Dogs usually spend their time digging around in dirt, so why does she have a servant bring her a diary on a silver platter?"

"I dunno, I'm not her," said Derpy with a shrug. "If I was, that would be super weird.  But if it was bugging you so much, why didn't you ask her about it?"

"Because to be honest, I'm not sure what she has to do with this mystery, if she's involved at all," I said. "My beef's with the Silvervest pack, and she's not even aware of half of Sykes's activities."

"That's Mr. Silvervest to you, po— I mean, Ms. Star."

I had to do a double take as Rover Redvest and his two buddies made their way into the conversation.  Boy, that was fast.

"Right, right.  I keep forgetting about that, on account of the fact that I can't stand him," I said. "So, what did he say?"

"Well, how do I put this?" said Rover, rubbing the back of his head. "I don't think he likes you very much."

"Yes, I've gathered that," I said, rolling my eyes. "Can I meet with him, though?"

"Yes, but on one condition."

"What might that be?"

"He wants to see you alone."

Derpy's pupils dilated. "What?!  No!  Nonononononono!  We are not doing that!" she yelled.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Hooves, but this is out of my paws," said Rover sadly. "He'll only see Ms. Star."

I saw Derpy's lip begin to quiver as tears formed in her eyes. "B-but she's my daughter.  I-I have to protect her.  I..."

"Yeah, about that," said Fido. "He, actually has his doubts about your relationship as mother and daughter."

That was a slap to the face.  I snorted angrily.

"Well, you just go tell him to mind his own damn business!" I snapped. "Derpy's my mom, whether he thinks so or not!  And I don't give a flying feather what he thinks; she's coming with me!  If he has a problem with it, he can tell me about it to my face!"

"O-okay, okay!" whimpered Fido. "Sheesh, don't kill the messenger."

I took a moment to let my rage dissipate and sighed. "Sorry, guys.  I-I'm just really sensitive about this, and I made it clear to him that I was sensitive about this.  So, it just pisses me off that he has no respect for me."

"It's okay, Ammy," said Derpy, draping a wing over me and nuzzling my cheek. "It doesn't matter what meanies like him think.  You're my daughter, and nothing will ever change that."

I couldn't help but smile like a dope. "Thanks, Mom.  I really needed to hear that," I said. "Now, let's get going, shall we?"

"S-sure," said Spot with a sniffle as he wiped a tear from his eye. "L-like last time, we ask that you wear blindfolds."

"That I can agree with," I said. "Oh, and one more thing."

"Y-yes?"

I hefted up the plaster cast with my magic. "Could one of you please carry this for me?  It's important evidence."

Rover shrugged. "I, suppose we could do that.  Fido."

After taking a moment to compose himself, Fido took the cast in his paws and hefted it up.

"Good.  Thank you," I said with a nod. "Alright, lead the way."

With that, the Redvest pack blindfolded me and Derpy and lead us off.  Part of me is kinda apprehensive about this meeting.  After all, I've seen Sykes Silvervest demonstrate his power, and it is quite impressive.  But more than that, I am absolutely livid.  Sykes seems to have this idea that I'm just a helpless pony who's in over her head, and he finds this amusing.  Not only that, but he seems to have no problem claiming that Derpy's not my mother, as if he knows anything about me.  For the record, he doesn't.  And I think it's time I gave him a bit of a crash course...
> Confrontation: Sykes Silvervest
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 13, 1:44 PM
Underground Network
Silvervest Territory
***


"What is the meaning of this, Redvest?  I thought I told you to bring me Amethyst Star and Amethyst Star alone."

Even before the blindfolds came off, I could hear Sykes Silvervest's distaste with my altered arrangements.  However, he didn't seem all that fazed by it.  I mean, he didn't even raise his voice.  It's almost as if he expected this to happen.

"S-so, sorry, sir," whimpered Rover as the other Diamond Dogs removed our blindfolds. "It's just that Ms. Star wouldn't see you without Mrs. Hooves by her side.  She refused to budge on the issue."

Sykes sighed and shook his head, leaning back in his mine cart. "If you keep letting yourself get pushed around by ponies, you'll never rise through the ranks, Redvest," he scolded.

"Hey, you don't know what it's like!" Spot blurted out. "Have you ever heard a pony whine?!  It's the most annoying sound in the world!"

"Is that backtalk we hear?" snarled Rosco, pounding his fist into his palm. "'Cause the Top Dog doesn't like that."

Spot blanched. "Uh, no!  Just, thinking aloud.  Heh heh..."

Sykes snorted, but didn't comment any further on Spot's outburst.  Instead, he turned to me. "You seem to have a hard time following directions, Amethyst Star.  I give you some friendly advice, and you decide not to follow it.  Then I say I want to see you alone, and you bring this other pony, anyway."

"This 'other pony' happens to be my mom," I said, narrowing my eyes. "And I don't take orders from you."

"Nor I from you," Sykes retorted. "I didn't have to meet with you today, Amethyst Star.  But I decided to put aside my more pressing business and hear you out, anyway.  The least you could do is indulge me in some privacy."

"Anything you say to Ammy, you can say to me," Derpy growled. "And no matter what you say, she's still my daughter."

"If you say so," said Sykes with a shrug. "Regardless, I don't think my request was out of line."

"Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be," I said, standing my ground. "But I don't see any reason to trust you.  And because I don't trust you, I'm not gonna let you push me around."

Sykes leaned over the side of his mine cart and stared down at me with hungry eyes. "Is that so?" he said coldly.

I gulped.  As angry as I am at Sykes Silvervest, there's still a voice in my head telling me that this is a terrible idea.  It's like he keeps alternating between scaring the crap out of me and royally ticking me off.  And sometimes, it's both.  This interrogation is not going to be fun.

"Y-yeah.  That's so," I said, trying my best not to show any weakness. "And on that note, I've got some questions for you."

Sykes sighed and leaned back in his mine cart. "I refuse to answer any such questions unless we're alone."

"Why, so that your goons can slaughter me without any witnesses if I get too close to the truth?" I said.

Sykes snickered. "Now, why would I do that?  After all, I have nothing to fear from you."

"Then why do you want to see me alone, huh?" I shot back. "And while I'm at it, why the blindfolds?  I couldn't find my way through these stupid catacombs with a map!"

"It never hurts to take precautions, Amethyst Star," said Sykes.

"Sound advice.  Which is why I'm taking a few of my own," I said, gesturing to Derpy.

Sykes stroked his chin for a moment. "Hmm.  You're quite shrewd, Amethyst Star.  Shrewd, tenacious, and most of all, annoying," he said. "I suppose the only way to get rid of you is prove once and for all that I'm not this culprit you seek.  Although I still believe that all of your efforts are for naught."

"We'll just see about that," I said.  Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Rosco giving me a dirty look while Desoto was drooling something fierce.  They both looked like they were ready to tear me limb from limb, albeit for different reasons.  It's a good thing Mare-Do-Well has pledged to protect me from that kind of thing.  Otherwise, interrogating the most influential Diamond Dog in the land would be really, really stupid.


***
Argument: Silvervest's Alibi
***


"As I believe you are aware, I haven't had the time to gather any new clients," said Sykes. "All of my resources have been poured into preparing for that rascal Dodger.  Plus, I don't know who you are, where you live, or anything about you.  I don't pursue clients I don't know, especially not anonymously.  And while we're on the subject, a protection racket cannot be conducted anonymously.  If I truly was trying to extort gems from you, I would've had the common courtesy to tell you how to deliver the gems to me, at the very least.  I don't see how your racketeer here is planning on making a profit."

I can't say I disagree with him entirely.  Heck, he even managed to point out some problems with this situation that I just kinda glossed over.  Nevertheless, that doesn't make him innocent.  I can't put my hoof on it, but I feel like he's hiding something from me.  And I'm gonna find out what.

"If you don't know who I am, why are you making these assumptions about me?" I inquired. "Like that Derpy isn't my mom, for instance."

"That's just the impression I got, Amethyst Star," said Sykes with a shrug. "It doesn't mean anything."

"It means something to me," I said bitterly. "And I thought I made that abundantly clear when we first met."

"And what of it?" said Sykes, raising an eyebrow. "Is this really the only reason you suspect me?  Because I hurt your feelings?  That's rather pathetic."

"Of course it's not the only reason I suspect you," I growled through gritted teeth. "I've also got some evidence."

"What kind of evidence?" asked Sykes.

"Well, let me ask you this," I said, brushing the underside of my nose. "You said you only go after clients you know, is that correct?"

"It is," said Sykes.

"Do you happen to know Rarity, by any chance?"

Sykes drummed his fingers on the edge of his mine cart. "Rarity, Rarity...  Ah, are you referring to the infamous whining pony that turned the Redvest pack into a laughingstock?  Because every Diamond Dog knows who that is."

I could see the Redvest pack shuffle around uncomfortably as he said that.  I get the feeling that Sykes doesn't have any respect for anyone who's not him.  It would certainly explain his tactless nature.  Time to take him down a peg.

"Well then, you'd be interested to know about this," I said, showing him the ransom note Rarity got. "Turns out someone is trying to extort gems out of Rarity, too.  Not only that, but this culprit tried and failed to pin it on the Redvest pack."

"What does this have to do with anything, Amethyst Star?" asked Sykes.

"I'll tell you what," I said. "By bailing out the Redvest pack, you have a direct line to my hometown of Ponyville.  You know that Rarity lives there.  What's more, the guy going after her is the same guy who's going after me.  Therefore, you have the means to set all this up.  Am I right?"

Sykes's shoulders got tense, and he snapped his fingers. "Rosco."

Without an acknowledgement, Rosco ran up to me, snapped his jaws right in front of my face, and walked back.  I think I might've hit a nerve, but I'm not sure how.

"Your claims are still baseless, Amethyst Star," Sykes snarled. "Having the means is one thing; having a motive is something else.  And as I've demonstrated, I don't have one.  I'm too busy with Dodger to mess around with protection rackets."

That's, a good point.  I don't have any evidence to suggest that he's lying about that.  But he's not getting off the hook that easily.  After all, there's more evidence that ties him to these crimes.

"Well, how about this, then?" I said, showing him Dodger's collar. "As I mentioned, when the jewelry store I worked in was ransacked, this collar was found at the scene of the crime.  You probably placed it there so that I'd go after Dodger Dragonvest and get him off your back."

"That's nothing but circumstantial evidence, Amethyst Star," Sykes said with a snort. "Dodger discarded his collar after leaving the Silvervest pack.  It could've been picked up by anyone."

"That includes you, buster," I said.

Sykes snapped his fingers again. "Rosco."

Once again, Rosco ran up to me and snapped his jaws in front of my face.  I must be getting closer to something big if Sykes keeps reacting like this.  I can't back down now.

"You are trying my patience, Amethyst Star," Sykes growled. "If you continue to push me, the consequences will be dire."

"Well, suck it up, buddy," I said. "Because I've got one more piece of evidence."

I then took the plaster cast from Fido. "As it just so happens, the Pie family have also been targeted by this racketeer.  And while snooping around their rock farm, we found this pawprint.  Look familiar?"

Sykes adjusted his reading glasses and leaned over the side of his mine cart. "Well, it certainly looks like a Diamond Dog paw, but you can't prove that it's from my pa—"

He trailed off as something seemed to catch his eye. "Um, what is that?"

I looked at where he was pointing. "What?  Don't you recognize 'em?"

"What do you mean?"

"These are shards of a Shroud Emerald.  The culprit used this to sneak around Ponyville and commit his crimes undetected."

Sykes nodded and leaned back in his cart. "Well then, it couldn't have been me."

I tilted my head. "What?"

"The hoard of the Silvervest pack doesn't have any Shroud Emeralds."

"Gah!"

I recoiled from that revelation.  This is not good.  I hate to say it, but Sykes Silvervest might very well be innocent.  After all, if he doesn't have any Shroud Emeralds, then there's no way that his pack is to blame for any of this.  Not to mention that I still can't prove that he has a motive.

"Don't give up yet, Ammy," said Derpy. "There's still a way that he can be the culprit."

I blinked. "What?  How's that?"

"He could've gotten the shroud thingies from somewhere else."

Sykes snapped his fingers. "Rosco."

Rosco ran up to Derpy and snapped his jaws right in front of her face.  This was enough to startle Derpy and cause her to flip over onto her back.

"Hey, what's the big idea?!" I snapped.

"You insist on indicting me for a crime I didn't commit," said Sykes. "How am I supposed to react?"

I don't know, actually have a reaction instead of making your bodyguard do it for you?  Seriously, I don't think Sykes has even raised his voice throughout this entire conversation.  It must take a lot to make this guy lose his composure.

"I'm still not convinced of that," I said. "After all, you're the most powerful Diamond Dog down here, aren't you?  You probably have some connections that could lead you to a whole deposit of Shroud Emeralds."

Sykes pinched the bridge of his nose. "Amethyst Star, if I had connections like those, why would I waste such valuable recourses going after a bunch of ponies in the middle of nowhere?  The cost far outweighs the benefit from such a venture."

"So, wait.  You don't know anyone who has access to the shroud thingies?" asked Derpy, getting back to her feet.

"No, that's not what I'm saying," said Sykes. "There are plenty of packs that have a Shroud Emerald or two in their hoards.  But despite what you might think, I can't just walk up to those hoards and take them for myself.  It's forbidden."

"Forbidden?" I parroted.

"Yes, forbidden," said Sykes. "It appears that I have to give you a bit of a lecture on a Diamond Dog's code of ethics."


***
Testimony: Code of Ethics
***


"For us Diamond Dogs, raiding another pack's hoard is considered an act of war," said Sykes Silvervest. "It is not something condoned by any of the packs, least of all me.  Now, arrangements can be made, such as my own with Redvest, but those are very rare.  And besides, packs that have valuable recourses such as mystical gems or watch-dragons tend to hold onto them rather than give them away.  Even I would be hard-pressed to find a pack willing to part with such items, especially something as rare and volatile as a Shroud Emerald."

So, stealing gems from another pack leads to war, but kidnapping ponies just makes you a laughingstock.  I, don't get how that works.  You can figure it out on your own if you want; I've got more important things to focus on.  For example, there's a certain term that's confusing me.

"Um, what's this about watch-dragons?" I inquired. "I was under the impression that dragons and Diamond Dogs don't work well together."

"Normally, you'd be correct," said Sykes. "But if a pack has enough gems, they could hire a dragon to watch over their hoard if they so chose.  They're quite expensive, but it's worth it."

"I see," said I. "So, do you have one?"

"That's, actually an interesting question," said Sykes, drumming his fingers on the edge of his mine cart.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I have hired a dragon to guard my hoard, yes.  But something's a bit, off about her.  She keeps wandering away from her post.  In fact, she's even wandered into different territories doing who knows what.  I've considered letting her go, but like I said, watch-dragons are a big investment.  It would be a shame to let those resources go to waste."

"Wait a minute," said Derpy, stroking her chin. "When did you hire this dragon?"

"I believe it was a few weeks ago, right before Dodger went mad," said Sykes.

"And was this dragon a goofy cross-eyed weirdo?"

"I, suppose that's one way to describe her..."

"Ah-ha!"

Sykes's eyes went wide. "Ah-ha what?"

"Yeah, I'm with him, Mom.  What're you talking about?" I asked.

"Remember, Ammy?  The mean dragon said that there was a goofy dragon named Crackle who ran away before Dodger Dragonvest started recruiting dragons for his army," said Derpy.

"So?"

"Soooooo, that means she was picked up by Mr. Silvervest here!" said Derpy, pointing at Sykes. "And if that's the case, then he's responsible for attacking me three days ago when this whole mess got started!"

I smacked my forehead. "Mom, that's all just speculation.  It doesn't mean anything unless we can prove it."

"Well, I know how we can go about doing that," said Derpy. "We just have to interrogate Crackle herself!"

"That won't work, I'm afraid," said Rosco. "That dragon's not much of a conversationalist.  All she does is squawk."

Derpy blinked. "Wait, dragons squawk?"

"This one does," said Rosco with a shrug. "Look, I dunno what to tell ya.  But you'd better stop trying to pin this on the Top Dog.  He doesn't have to take this from you."

"Allow me to speak for myself, Rosco, thank you," said Sykes sternly.  Rosco quickly clammed up, and Sykes cleared his throat. "That being said, that connection is incredibly flimsy.  And what's more, you have no proof to back it up."

"Aw, muffins," Derpy sighed. "And I thought that was a good clue, too.  I mean, only wealthy Diamond Dogs have dragons, right?"

"That's what Mr. Silvervest said," I said. "But it doesn't mean it was his dragon that attacked you.  After all, he already said that she wanders off a lot.  Would you trust someone like that to carry out a mission far away from your territory and come ba—?"

Wait a second.  That's it!

"Mr. Silvervest, I think I know what's going on," I said. "And, well, I don't think you're gonna like it."

"I haven't liked anything you've said so far, Amethyst Star," said Sykes. "This probably won't be any different."

"I think it will be," I said. "Because that dragon you hired might be getting used by other packs!"

Sykes's eyes became as wide as dinner plates. "Wh-what did you say?"

"You said she wandered into other territories a lot, didn't you?" I said. "Well, what's keeping those other packs from hiring her?"

"The fact that she's mine, for starters," growled Sykes, gripping the edge of his mine cart tightly.  I could see angry veins bulging on his head.  It seems like this is what it took to really get him riled up.

"Well, sure.  But do they know that?" I said. "Heck, maybe they're using her to frame you."

"Th-that's impossible," Sykes sputtered. "I'm the one who hired her.  She should know that."

"Yet she keeps wandering off," I said.

"Well, that's not because she's intentionally breaching contract," said Rosco. "It's because she's not right in the head.  Honestly, I'm surprised she can even walk straight with those eyes of hers."

Derpy scowled. "What's that supposed to mean, huh?"

"Mom, easy," I said. "Listen, maybe we should get the story straight from her."

"Yeah, good luck with that," said Rosco, rolling his eyes. "I already told ya, she doesn't talk.  At all.  Plus, we don't even know where she is right now."

"You mean she's not at her post?" I asked.

"She could be, I dunno," said Rosco with a shrug.

Sykes heaved a great sigh and went back to finger drumming. "Whatever the case may be, it's something that must be dealt with immediately.  Rosco, Desoto.  We're checking the hoard for our dragon friend.  If she's not there, I want you to find her."

"Understood, Top Dog," said Rosco.  Desoto, however, was giving me odd looks.

"I don't trust her, Top Dog," he said, licking his chops. "She's lying to get under your skin; I know it.  Let me teach her some manners."

"That won't be necessary, Desoto," said Sykes. "She is of no threat to us.  Yet.  And if she does become a threat, I'd like to deal with her myself.  Now come along."

"Y-yessir," said Desoto, still giving me the evil eye as he hopped into the mine cart with his brother.  Sykes then gave me one last look.

"You managed to get lucky with some fancy logic, Amethyst Star.  But luck can only last so long," he said. "And by the by, you'd better not try and summon me like this again.  If you do, I'll make you regret it."

"N-no promises," I said with a swallow.

Sykes merely snorted and sped off on his way.

"So, what now, Ammy?" asked Derpy.

"Well, that depends," I said, turning to the Redvest pack. "Did you guys see any dragons walking around underground three days ago?"

Rover scratched his head. "Hmm.  I don't think so.  But then again, I'm not sure how I would have."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, I don't know how far a dragon's flame can go," said Rover with a shrug. "If this Crackle attacked your mother like you say, then she'd have to be close to the surface.  Three days ago, the prissy pony was hunting for gems, so we hid in the tunnels."

That's a good point.  From what I understand, these caves run pretty deep.  It would be quite difficult for a dragon to breathe fire at a pony from such a depth.  She had to be closer to the surface.  The problem is that three days have passed since that attack.  It might be too late to search that area for clues.  Unless...

"Mom, do you remember the exact location where you were attacked?" I asked.

Derpy placed a hoof to her muzzle and pondered for a moment. "I think so.  Why?"

"Just a hunch," I said. "I'll admit, it's a bit of a long shot.  But if I'm right, then we might have some more solid evidence.  Let's head back to the Everfree Forest and see."

"Sounds like a plan," said Derpy. "Alright, Ammy.  I'm right behind you."

With that, the Diamond Dogs reapplied our blindfolds and off we went.  Hopefully, this won't turn out to be a dead end.  But if it is, it's probably my fault for not thinking about this sooner.  And hey, if nothing else, it'll kill some time while we wait for Kohryu to pick us up.

...

Oh, yeah.  That's right.  Kohryu wants to see me for some reason.  I just hope that whole pacifist thing Georgette Jadevest mentioned isn't just a rumor.  I'm tired of interrogating suspects who can easily overpower me.
> Scorched Earth
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 13, 3:01 PM
Everfree Forest
Northern Timberline
***


"There you are, Sparkler!  I've been looking everywhere for you!"

As soon as Derpy and I returned to the surface, Pinkie Pie was there to greet us.  Strangely enough, Ife was right by her side.  Pinkie seemed to be in a pretty good mood (as she normally is).  Ife, not so much.

"Madam, I do wish that you would inform me of things like this," Ife said sternly. "This area could become a war zone at any moment.  I can't in good conscience let you ponies waltz through the territory like this."

"Hey, don't look at me.  I'm just as surprised as you are," I said with a shrug.  Actually, that was only partially true.  I had a feeling that Pinkie would seek me out once she found something important, but I didn't know she'd go as far as the northern timberline.  Ife snorted indignantly.

"Well, whatever the case, I expect you all to leave if things become too dangerous," said he. "I hope you understand."

"Don't worry, we do," I said with a nod.

Ife returned my nod and went on his way.  While I see his point, I think he might be overly cautious.  There actually wasn't an sign of trouble as far as I could see, meaning the Jadevest pack was certainly doing a good job of defending the place.  Still, I'm probably gonna take his advice if things do heat up.

"I like him.  He's the most polite Diamond Dog I've ever met," said Pinkie. "Well, actually, I haven't met that many Diamond Dogs, so that might not be saying much.  Still, I don't really know what he was talking about.  He kept saying he was defending this place from Dodger Dragonvest, but I have no idea who that is.  It's a weird name, though.  Seriously, a vest made out of dragons?  Who does that?  I mean..."

"Alright, Pinkie.  Calm down," I said, interrupting her bizarre tangent. "You came to see me for a reason, right?"

"Mmm?  Oh, yes!  Thanks for reminding me," said Pinkie, clearing her throat. "Well, after some thorough investigation of the rock farm, I think I've reached a definitive conclusion."

"Oh?  And what's that?"

"Turns out the tiger was telling the truth!"

Derpy blinked. "Tiger?  Ammy, what's this about a tiger?"

I blushed. "Sorry, Mom.  I meant to catch you up, but I kept getting distracted," I said sheepishly. "And I suppose I should explain some things to Pinkie, too.  Alright, here's the thing..."

I then took some time bringing Pinkie and Derpy up to speed, summarizing the best I could so that we didn't waste any time.  Pinkie rubbed the side of her head.

"Wow.  That's some pretty weird stuff," she said (which is ironic, coming from her). "I wonder if Twilight knows anything about this."

"As far as I know, she's been kept apprised," I said. "Still, I wouldn't get her involved until we know exactly what we're dealing with."

"Aren't we dealing with Diamond Dogs, dragons, and talking tigers?" said Pinkie.

"Yes, but those are just suspects," I said. "We still don't know the identity of the culprit."

"Well, we can cross the tiger off the list, because his alibi checks out," said Pinkie. "Here, take a look."

She then reached into her saddlebag and pulled out two chunks of plaster.  They were both casts of pawprints, and they both looked vastly different.

"After you left, we checked the West Field and found that there were a lot of pawprints," she said. "So we took a cast of the pawprint in the East Field and made a comparison."

"And?"

"It's not a match," said Pinkie. "They're not even close.  I even went to Fluttershy for a more detailed comparison, and she agrees."

So, Byakko was telling the truth.  There was another intruder on the Pie Rock Farm last night, and he was simply there looking for, something.  I still don't know what that something is, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

"What did Fluttershy say about the prints?" asked Derpy.

"Well, this one we found in the West Field is feline in nature," said Pinkie, hefting up the plaster in her left hoof. "The one from the East Field, however, is clearly from a canine.  At least that what Flutters says, and I'm taking her word for it.  When it comes to animals, she usually knows her stuff."

Now we're getting somewhere.  Limestone Pie's kidnapper must've been a Diamond Dog using Shroud Emeralds.  However, that brings us to a problem.  The pawprint in the East Field wasn't all that close to the house.  Plus, it was the only one in the East Field.  I can understand the culprit leaving a few pawprints before the Shroud Emerald took effect, but only one?  How is that possible?

"Pinkie, you didn't happen to find any other pawprints in the East Field, did you?" I inquired.

"Nope," said Pinkie with a shake of her head. "Just the one.  Trust me, I don't get it, either."

"Well, what about the West Field?" I said. "Did you find anything the talking tiger would be interested in?"

"No, but we're still looking," said Pinkie with a pout. "Although it would help if we knew what we were looking for."

"Yeah, I wish I could help you there, Pinkie," I said with a sigh. "But like I said, he wouldn't tell me.  I even offered to help him look for whatever it was, and he just brushed me off."

"Huh.  Interesting.  Very interesting indeed," mused Pinkie, stroking her chin in thought. "His alibi is airtight, but he's still hiding something.  If he comes by again, I'm probably gonna as him a few questions.  I'll let you know if anything comes of it."

"Thanks, Pinkie," I said. "Actually, since you're here, would you mind helping us with something?"

"Are you kidding?  Of course I wouldn't mind," said Pinkie with a warm smile. "What do you need?"

"Well, remember how I said that my mom was attacked by a dragon three days ago?"

"Uh, duh!  You said that like five minutes ago when you were bringing me and Derpy up to speed.  What about it?"

"I have a theory that the dragon that attacked her was underground at the time," I said. "If we can prove that, we'll have more evidence."

"Hmm.  Tricky," said Pinkie, furrowing her brow. "Three days is a long time to leave a clue like that just sitting there.  It could be gone by now."

"I realize that," I said. "But, you know what they say.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

"True, very true," said Pinkie with a nod. "Alright, I'll do what I can."

"Thanks," I said. "Mom, you remember where you were attacked, right?"

"I, think so," said Derpy, rubbing the side of her head. "A lot of it was blurry, but I might have a rough idea.  And I'll try extra hard to know where I'm going this time."

"I suppose that's the best we can do," I said with a shrug. "Lead the way, then."

Derpy nodded and took off into the sky while Pinkie and I followed.


***


Much to my surprise, it didn't take long for Derpy to lead us to the spot.  In fact, it was only a matter of minutes before she stopped at what appeared to be a tall molehill sticking out of the ground.  And you know what else?  Not once did she stop and change direction, or get confused about where she was going.  So you see?  Derpy can be a competent flyer sometimes.

"Well, this is the place.  At least from what I remember," said Derpy.

Pinkie got right to work, looking over the molehill with her magnifying glass. "Hmm.  I've seen this before." she said. "When Rarity was ponynapped by Diamond Dogs, they filled the tunnels up so that we couldn't follow them.  The mounds of dirt looked a lot like this."

That, didn't tell me anything.  At least nothing that pertains to the mystery.  Sure, it's possible that the tunnel Crackle attacked from was filled in as a coverup, but it could also just be something the Redvest pack left behind.  Man, I hate ambiguity like this.  I'm really not sure if this is a clue or not, and that irks me to no end.

"I think we needed to look for something a bit more definite," I said.

"Yeah, I hear you," said Pinkie, walking around and around the molehill. "But keep in mind that it's already been three days.  It's not very likely that we're gonna..."

She trailed off as she stopped pacing and sniffed the air a couple of times. "Huh.  Do you two smell something burning?"

Derpy took a few whiffs and shrugged. "Kinda, but not really."

I sniffed the air a few times myself.  There was something, off in the air.  But I couldn't quite put my hoof on it.

"It could just be the dragons fighting the Jadevest pack," I said with a shrug.

"I don't think so.  I don't hear any fighting," said Derpy.

Pinkie continued sniffing the air until she leaned down towards the base of the manhole and took a huge whiff.  Her eyes sparkled.

"Oh-ho~!  What have we here?" she said, a big grin on her face.

"The smell's coming from there?" I asked.

"Sure seems like it," said Pinkie. "Sparkler, you and Derpy give me a hoof.  We need to know for sure."

With that, she started digging.  Derpy and I quickly joined her.  As soon as the molehill was cleared away, an oppressive stench of charcoal mixed with sweat assaulted my nostrils.  The smell itself wasn't the worst, but there was a lot of it.  I groaned as I recovered from the experience.  After taking a few deep breaths, I took a peek down the hole we made, using my horn to illuminate the area.

As soon as I got a good look at the tunnel, I knew that this was what we were looking for.  The hole itself was rather shallow; no more than a meter or so deep.  And in the tunnel were tracks made by a large reptilian creature.  There's no doubt in my mind: This was Crackle's hiding place when she attacked my mom three days ago.

"I think we just bust this case wide open," I said with a grin. "All we gotta do is follow these tracks, and that'll lead us to the culprit."

Derpy blinked. "Just like that?  Are you sure, Ammy?  If those tracks do belong to that Crackle dragon Mr. Silvervest mentioned, they could lead anywhere."

"Hmm.  You're right," I said. "Hang on, I'm gonna take a closer look."

With that, I leapt down into the hole and knelt down over the dragon tracks.  Upon closer inspection, I noticed that there was some sort of footprint embedded within the dragon's footprints.  It looked kinda like a hoof.  Now, that's funny.  What would a pony be doing down here with a full-grown dragon?  These tracks were very suspicious.

"There a hoofprints down here, too," I hollered to Pinkie and Derpy. "I'm gonna follow them."

"Not alone, you're not!" Derpy proclaimed, swooping down into the hole. "I'm not letting you wander off like this, Ammy.  It's too dangerous."

"Hang on, I'm coming with you," said Pinkie. "Let me just..."

"Madam, what are you still doing here?!"

I heard a gruff voice echo from the surface, and recognized that it was Ife.

"What?  What do you mean?" asked Pinkie.

"The dragons are pushing us back!" barked Ife. "This area is too dangerous for you to remain here!  For your own safety, I must ask you to leave!"

"But what about...?"

"There's no time for debate!  Go!"

Pinkie kept trying to reason with Ife, but he was having none of it.  I couldn't see what was happening, but I could hear them bicker and argue as Ife shooed Pinkie away.  I sighed.  Pinkie would've been very helpful in this situation.  After all, she's the one with the magnifying glass.  I guess not everything can go my way.

"Looks like it's just the two of us, then," I said. "C'mon, Mom.  Let's see where this trail goes."

"Right behind you, Ammy," said Derpy.  And with that, off we went.


***


We trekked through the tunnel for Celestia knows how long, and there seemed to be no end in sight.  The smell was getting worse and worse by the minute, but my determination to solve this stupid mystery kept me going.  The strangest thing about all this was that there wasn't a single torch or lantern lighting the place up.  Had it not been for the illumination from my horn, everything would be pitch black.

"I wonder where we'll end up," Derpy said nervously, staying close to my side.

"I dunno, Mom.  But we have to be ready for anything and everything," I said. "Don't worry.  We'll protect each other."

Derpy smiled. "I know, Ammy," she said softly.

Just then, the tracks stopped dead at a wall of solid rock.  It appeared to be a dead end.  But then, I felt a warm light radiating from above.  Looking up, there was a hole just above us.  I smiled.

"I think this is where Crackle ended up," I said. "Give me a boost, Mom."

Derpy complied, hefting my up onto her shoulders so I could climb out of the hole.  When I poked my head above ground, I almost lost my grip and fell.  Standing before me (or floating, more accurately) was a large, golden dragon.  It was an eastern dragon, just like Seiryu.  Same short stubby claws; same mane; same whiskers; same long snake-like body.  But it was at least five times Seiryu's size, and it had glowing red eyes that looked like they could stare right into my soul.  I-I have no words.

"Ammy?  What's wrong?" asked Derpy, climbing up herself. "Did we find the...?  Great googly moogly!"

That got the dragon's attention.  His eyes narrowed as he stared at both of us.  I felt every hair in my coat bristle and my heart pound in my chest.

"Curiosity abounds," said the dragon in a loud, booming voice. "Answer these questions in order.  Who are you?  Where did you come from?  Why have you interrupted this meeting between myself and my hierophant?  And what business do you have with me?"

It didn't take long for me to put the pieces together, but when I did, I found that I simply couldn't speak.  Any words I wanted to say were just stuck in my throat.

"I suggest you answer those questions quickly, Momma's Girl," said the slick voice of Dodger Dragonvest as he emerged from the shadows. "The Great Kohryu doesn't like to be kept waiting."
> Respect Your Elders
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 13, 3:35 PM
Everfree Forest
Dragonvest Territory
***


Wow.  Just, just wow.  I, really can't think of anything to say.  I mean, I knew that I was gonna meet Kohryu, but I didn't think it would be quite like this.  The fact that Kohryu was larger than life didn't help matters.

"Your silence is deafening, Momma's Girl," said Dodger with a smug grin. "I realize that you're probably in awe of the Great Kohryu's presence, but you gotta speak up sometime.  'Sides, I'd like to know what you're doing here myself.  Can't you see that we're having a private meeting?"

"I-I'm sorry," I murmured, finally finding my voice. "I-I was just investigating something at the northern timberline, and I ended up here."

"That's ridiculous," said Dodger. "The only ones who know about this location answer to me.  There's no way you could've stumbled upon it by chance."

"That's what happened, though.  Honest," said Derpy meekly.

Dodger furrowed his brow. "Hmm.  I dunno.  What say you, Kohryu?  You think they're on the level?"

Kohryu gave me an odd look and stroked his chin. "Perhaps.  Then again, perhaps not.  I really can't say."

Just then, an idea hit me.  Maybe there's a way I can get out of this awkward situation.

"Hang on a minute," I said. "Didn't you want to speak to me?"

Kohryu tilted his head. "Did I?  Odd," he said. "I think I would remember something like that."

"You acolyte Byakko told me about it," I said. "He said you were interested in my plight."

"You don't say.  Well, it must've been pretty important if Byakko told you that," said Kohryu. "Alas, however, I seem to be drawing a blank at the moment.  Perhaps if I heard your name, it would jog my memory a bit."

"Amethyst.  Amethyst Star."

"Mmm.  Something about that name is familiar.  But I can't quite put my claw on it," mused Kohryu. "Hmm.  Where have I heard that name before?"

"Kohryu, we were just talking about this," said Dodger. "It's the name of..."

"Please, Dodger.  Let me think about this," interrupted Kohryu. "Hmm.  I could've sworn I heard that name before.  Confound it, when was that?"

I'm finding myself speechless again, but it's for a different reason.  I thought Kohryu was supposed to be wise and all-knowing.  Why was he struggling to remember our appointment?  Especially considering that he's the one who made it.  Say what you will about Sykes Silvervest; at least he lived up to his hype.  This is just embarrassing to watch.

"Ah, wait!  I think I remember now," said Kohryu. "You're that detective equine that my acolytes have told me about, yes?"

"Um, yes." I said.

Kohryu nodded. "I see.  Well, I'm glad you were able to keep our appointment then," said he. "Dodger, grant us some privacy.  We'll pick up our discussion later."

Dodger blinked. "Whoa, whoa.  Time out," he said, gesturing with his paws. "You didn't tell me anything about wanting to meet with Momma's Girl here."

"And I do apologize for that.  It simply slipped my mind," said Kohryu with a shrug. "However, my request still stands."

Dodger sighed. "As you wish," he said.  He then gave me a dirty look as he marched out of the room.

"Please forgive him, Star Amethyst," said Kohryu. "I'm sure he wouldn't have had as much of a problem if I had remembered to tell him about your arrival.  Now then, what did you want to see me about?"

Derpy blinked. "Huh?  Aren't you the one who summoned Ammy here?"

"Was I?" said Kohryu. "Oh, yes!  Right.  Sorry, I forgot."

"Wait, how is that possible?" I asked. "We established that no more than ten seconds ago."

"Forgive me, Star Amethyst.  I am very old, and my mind is not what it once was," said Kohryu.

"But I thought you were some kind of wise philosopher," I said.

"And I am," said Kohryu. "But that doesn't make me immune to the trappings of age, Star Amethyst."

I sighed and rubbed the bridge of my nose with my hoof. "Could you at least stop getting my name backwards?"

"I'm not," said Kohryu in a matter-of-fact tone. "Where I come from, the surname is said first when addressing another."

"Oh," I said, blushing slightly. "Sorry."

"It's quite alright," said Kohryu with a chuckle. "Trust me, my mind is still quite sharp, even if it has dulled a bit over the years."

"Um, out of curiosity, how old are you?" asked Derpy.

"Last I checked, around nine hundred years," said Kohryu.

Derpy whistled. "Wow.  That's a lotta candles to put on a cake."

Kohryu laughed. "I suppose it would be," he said. "So, what are you doing here?"

"Wait, you forgot already?" I said.

"I wasn't talking to you, Star Amethyst.  I was talking to your wall-eyed friend here," said Kohryu, pointing to Derpy.

"Oh.  I should probably introduce you," I said. "This here is Derpy Hooves, my mother.  She insisted that I came here with her."

"That explains Dodger's unflattering nickname for you," said Kohryu. "Anyway, let's get this meeting started properly before I forget again."

"Sounds like a good idea," I said. "So, why exactly did you want to see me?"

Kohryu knitted his brow and closed his eyes. "I've heard about your struggles from my hierophant and my acolytes," he said. "I must say that you're very brave.  Few would have the courage to embark on such a quest."

"Um, thanks," I said, brushing the back of my head. "But, why are you so interested?"

"The answer is simple, Star Amethyst," said Kohryu.  He then paused. "A pity I can't quite remember it."

I deadpanned. "Seriously?"

"Hang on, hang on!  It's on the tip of my tongue," said Kohryu, hemming and hawing for a moment. "Ah, yes!  Now I remember.  My interest in your quest is that you seem to be getting this false impression of me."

"Gee, I can't possibly imagine where you got that idea," I said dryly.

"You misunderstand, Star Amethyst.  I am not referring to my faculties," said Kohryu. "It's this concept that I go around 'marking' others.  Honestly, it's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard.  And when you live to be nine hundred years old, you hear your fair share of ridiculous things."

"Wait, but what about Sykes Silvervest?" asked Derpy. "Mr. Dragonvest said that you marked him, and that's why you're having him do all this."

Kohryu raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry, who?"

"Sykes Silvervest," Derpy repeated. "Doesn't Mr. Dragonvest talk about him all the time?"

Kohryu scratched his head. "I must confess that I have no idea what you're referring to, Hooves Derpy," he said.

"Don't you remember?" I said. "Mr. Dragonvest told us about how your acolytes came to him in a vision, and that they convinced him to force Sykes Silvervest to repent."

"Oh, that's what you mean," said Kohryu with a nod. "Yes, I remember that.  But I don't remember mentioning this Silvervest Sykes fellow specifically.  All the vision said was that one of his own kind was exploiting the misery of others and must be stopped."

"Right, and that's Sykes Silvervest."

"Is it?  Because I honestly don't remember the fellow's name," said Kohryu with a shrug. "I probably would've mentioned it if I did."

Well, that opens up a whole new door of possibilities.  Either Kohryu really did forget Sykes Silvervest, or Dodger misinterpreted the vision and decided to strike out against his former boss.  There's only one way to know for sure.

"When you said that there was a Diamond Dog exploiting the misery of others, what were you referring to?" I asked.

Kohryu hung his head and heaved a sigh. "That, Star Amethyst, is a story I won't be forgetting any time soon.  First, tell me what Dodger told you."

I blinked. "We, just went over this."

"I meant before he received the vision," said Kohryu, giving me a deadpan glare. "Come now, Star Amethyst.  My mind isn't that far gone."

"Right, sorry," I said sheepishly. "Well, he mentioned something about finding four mystical gemstones while mining one day, and he hid them from Sykes Silvervest."

Kohryu nodded. "Do you know what power those gemstones hold, Star Amethyst?" he inquired.

"Well, they channel different forms of magic when used correctly," I said.

"And what else do they do?"

"That's about all I know," I said with a shrug.

"I see," said Kohryu. "Well then, here's something you should know about them.  Mystical gemstones can also be used to absorb the element they expel.  Fire Rubies can absorb fire, for instance."

Oh, right.  Dinky mentioned something about that while we were looking up Shroud Emeralds. "That's interesting and all, but what does it have to do with anything?"

"To answer that question, I present a riddle to you, Star Amethyst," said Kohryu. "The gemstones my hierophant carries are an Iron Diamond, a piece of Frost Onyx, a Fire Ruby, and a Woodland Sapphire.  The elements my acolytes control are metal, ice, fire, and wood.  Do you think this is a coincidence?"

It didn't take me long to solve this riddle. "Wait, so you mean those mystical gemstones have absorbed your acolytes?  How is that possible?"

"Normally, it wouldn't be," said Kohryu. "But those gemstones are vastly different than the ones you're accustomed to."

"How so?"

"I wish I knew.  And it's not a case of me forgetting; I honestly don't know," said Kohryu with a sigh. "If I did, I would've countered this magic long ago, and we wouldn't be in this predicament."

"Um, sorry, Mr. Kohryu.  But I'm kinda lost," said Derpy.

"Yeah, so am I," I said. "What predicament are you talking about?  The acolytes never told us anything about that."

"It's a bit of a tale, but it's one you must hear," said Kohryu. "Please, look into my eyes and open your mind to me.  I can then show you my story without the use of words."

A little voice in my head told me that this wasn't a good idea.  However, Kohryu was actually being very straight with us (when he wasn't forgetting things), and I saw no reason to suspect him of foul play.  I nodded and looked into his glowing red eyes.  They widened for a moment and intensified.  From there, my mind was swept up in his story...


***


It all happened five moons ago (or perhaps seven; I disremember the exact date).  By this time, I was well-established amongst my fellow dragons as one of the greatest philosophers of our kind.  I spent my days advising those who needed guidance and honing my magical abilities.  My acolytes, known in my homeland as the Four Benevolent Animals, spread my message of balance and nonviolence.  Each held a fraction of my magical skill, and each showed how it could be used to aid others.  Of course, dragons have little need for ice or metal, but they were not the ones who visited me.  It was often other creatures, such as griffons, zebras, minotaurs, and the like.  The buffalo even had a tradition once where they made a sacred pilgrimage from their home in the west to mine in the east.

And five moons ago (or was it seven?  I still can't remember), I was approached by a Diamond Dog.  The fellow was seeking advice, as per usual.  He wanted me to tell him how to become the most powerful Diamond Dog in history.  I asked what he would do with this power.  He said he would rule the Diamond Dogs with an iron paw.  I told him that such selfish ambitions would ruin him, and that he should rethink his outlook on life.

This was not what he wanted to hear.  He tossed back his cloak, revealing several mystical gems.  He said that if I wouldn't give him the key to what he desired, I would become the key.  Then, without provocation, he laid a curse on me.  I tried to counter it, but my magic had waned over the years, and plus, I was caught off-guard.  My acolytes tried to assist, but their efforts were in vain.

The Diamond Dog used specially-crafted mystical gemstones to trap the Four Benevolent Animals, and then cast another incantation that bound them to me.  The curse was as follows: The acolytes follow the will of whoever wields the gemstones, and I must guide the wielder from the shadows.  From there, the next thing I remember is Dodger finding the gemstones.  How they were lost by the one who cursed us is a mystery to me.


***


At that moment, I was thrust back into reality.  I had to take a moment to let everything sink in.  And boy, there was a lot to wrap my head around.  It seems like Dodger's not the great hierophant the acolytes make him out to be.  In fact, it's very possible that he's lying through his teeth.  Not just to the teenage dragons that begrudgingly serve under him, but to Kohryu himself.  And the worst part is that because of that curse, there isn't a damn thing Kohryu can do about it.  However, that's all just speculation.  And I might be a tad biased because I'm not a big fan of Dodger Dragonvest.  But there's only one way to know for sure.

"Th-that's *sniff* that's so sad," Derpy sniveled, wiping tears from her eyes.

"Do not weep, Hooves Derpy," said Kohryu with a soft smile. "My hierophant informs me that all is going according to plan.  This curse will be lifted."

That's assuming that Dodger is being straight with Kohryu.  Still, I couldn't accuse him without some concrete evidence.  Which means I'll have to talk to Dodger himself.

"I'm afraid my time grows short, Star Amethyst," said Kohryu with a yawn. "Because of this curse, I must become ethereal for a time to conserve my strength.  Before I go, is there anything else you wish to ask me?"

"Not right now, no," I said with a bow. "Thank you very much for telling us this, Mr. Kohryu.  I think this'll be very helpful in my investigation."

"I hope it will, Star Amethyst," said Kohryu. "But be wary.  Only fools ask questions of a bowl of oatmeal."

I narrowed my eyes. "Did you just call me a fool?"

"No, a bowl of oatmeal."

The only way I could respond to that was to sputter incoherently before letting out a confused, "Huh?"

"It's an old eastern dragon proverb," said Kohryu. "However, I'm not sure if I said it correctly."

"Oh, great.  I'm gonna be up all night trying to figure that one out," Derpy groused.

I let out a sigh and shook my head.  The greatest dragon philosopher ever known, ladies and gentlemen.  He can't even remember his own proverbs.  No offense, but I'm sticking with the Zen of Dinky.

"Never it mind, Star Amethyst," said Kohryu. "I wish you the best of luck on your quest.  And, thank you for listening to my tale.  Until our paths cross again."

With that, Kohryu faded into nothingness.

"Huh.  He certainly wasn't anything like I expected him to be," said Derpy.

"Yeah, I feel that same way," I said. "Still, he gave us a lot of new information to work with, and I'm sure it's relevant to this mystery."

"Mmm," said Derpy with a nod. "So, what now?"

"Well, I hope you're happy, Momma's Girl.  Now I can't summon Kohryu for another six hours.  We were in the middle of some important stuff, y'know."

As if to answer Derpy's question, Dodger Dragonvest returned, looking more than a bit peeved.  I turned to him and smirked.

"I'm sure you were," I said. "Again, I'm sorry we barged in like we did.  But now that I'm done talking to your great master, I'd like to ask you a few questions..."
> Confrontation: Dodger Dragonvest
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dodger gave me a blank stare which slowly turned into a nasty scowl.

"You've got some nerve, Momma's Girl," he snarled. "You barge in uninvited, interrupt my meeting with Kohryu, and now you want to question me?  What makes you think that I want to talk to you right now, huh?"

"Well, there's this," I said, refusing to back down. "I don't trust you."

Dodger scoffed. "I find that utterly ridiculous, Momma's Girl.  How could you not trust me?  I'm doing Kohryu's work."

"Really now," I said. "Because I don't see why a pacifist like Kohryu would tell his hierophant to go to war."

"We've already covered this, Momma's Girl," said Dodger, fiddling with the mystical gemstones in his paw. "Sykes Silvervest is bad news, and he needs to be taken down.  That's Kohryu's decree, and I'm making sure it's carried out."

"Yeah, that doesn't exactly refute what I just said," I countered. "Maybe I'd have an easier time trusting you if you were a bit more straightforward with me."

"Who says I haven't been?" said Dodger with a shrug. "I've got no reason to lie to you, Momma's Girl."

"If that's the case, then you should have no problem answering my questions," I said with a smirk.

Dodger opened his mouth to form a rebuttal, but let out a sigh as he saw my point. "Alright, Momma's Girl.  You wanna play hardball?  Let's play hardball.  What do you wanna know?"

"Let's start with something basic," I said. "Tell me the story about how you became Kohryu's hierophant again."

Dodger nodded and shrugged. "Fair enough.  But I'm warning you right now, Momma's Girl.  You've got me in a really bad mood right now.  Make it worse, and you're outta here.  You got that?"

"Sure, whatever," I said half-heartedly.  Truth be told, I have no plans about leaving.  Not until I get the truth out of Dodger.  But of course, I didn't want him to know that.


***
Testimony: Becoming Kohryu's Hierophant
***


"So, a few weeks ago, I was mining for gems when I came across these babies," said Dodger, hefting up the gemstones. "I felt that Sykes shouldn't have 'em, so I kept them to myself.  That night, I had a vision from Kohryu's acolytes.  They told me about one of my own kind exploiting the misery of others, and that I had been chosen to stop him.  Of course, the rest is history."

Second verse, same as the first.  Nothing about Dodger's story changed from the first time I heard it.  But I was armed with some new knowledge, and I found that story to be lacking.  I knew he was hiding something from me.

"There's something I don't get," I said. "Why didn't you feel that Sykes should have the gems?"

Dodger gave me a toothy smile. "Easy, Momma's Girl.  I know mystical gemstones when I see 'em.  Some poor schmuck obviously lost them or something, and I just so happened to come across them."

"But didn't you think of returning them to whoever dropped them in the first place?" asked Derpy.

Dodger snickered. "Hey, finders keepers.  If they really wanted 'em back, they wouldn't have misplaced 'em in the first place."

While he does have a good point, I find myself getting more and more disgusted with his behavior.  Maybe it's a Diamond Dog thing; maybe he thought it was fate that he came across the gems; maybe he's a massive dock-hole.  I'm thinking the latter right now, and I'm gonna put that theory to the test.

"So, in that vision you mentioned, the acolytes said that a Diamond Dog was exploring the misery of others," I said.

"Yes," said Dodger.

"And you think that someone is Sykes Silvervest."

"Correct."

"Well, I find that very strange.  Because Kohryu says he never mentioned the Diamond Dog by name."

Dodger shrugged. "I don't see how that matters, Momma's Girl.  You've seen what Kohryu's like.  He probably just forgot.  He certainly has no objections with me going after Sykes now."

"Well, yeah.  That's true," I said. "But, how much are you telling him?"

Dodger glared at me. "What are you implying?"

"I still find it hard to believe that a pacifist like Kohryu would condone war," I said, brushing the underside of my nose for a moment. "As such, it doesn't make sense that he would approve of your actions.  And yet, it appears that he does.  I can only think of one explanation for this."

"And what's that?"

"I think you're lying to him."

"How dare you!"

Dodger recoiled from my accusation, nearly dropping the mystical gemstones.

"If there's another explanation, feel free to enlighten me, Dragonvest.  Because I'm not seeing it," I said with a shrug.

"You're delusional, Momma's Girl!  Completely delusional!" Dodger snapped. "Why would I lie to Kohryu; the one who convinced me to strike out against Sykes in the first place?!"

"Are you sure that's what he meant, though?" I inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"What else would he mean?!  He had to be talking about Sykes!  There's no one else he could've meant!"

"How do you know?" I said. "There are a lot of Diamond Dogs in the underground network.  Sykes Silvervest is just one of them.  To just assume that he's the one Kohryu has 'marked' is absurd.  Unless, of course, you have some sort of grudge against him."

Dodger shook his head. "Momma's Girl, have you met Sykes Silvervest?  It's impossible not to hold a grudge against him.  He only cares about himself and his own power.  Everything else is just a stepping stone to him.  He doesn't care who he hurts as long as he's turing a profit.  Doesn't that sound like it matches Kohryu's description?  Well, doesn't it?"

I hate to admit it, but it does.  And having met with Sykes Silvervest, I don't think Dodger is exaggerating all that much.  But no matter how many times he says that, it still doesn't make sense for a pacifist to orchestrate a war.  There has to be something missing to this puzzle.

"Well, I can't say you're wrong, Mr. Dragonvest," said I.

"Of course you can't.  Because I'm right," said Dodger smugly. "Kohryu has marked Sykes, and I'm making sure he gets what's coming to him.  End of story."

"Hold on.  I've still got some problems with this," I said. "Kohryu summoned me here because he thought I had a false impression of him.  See, he doesn't go around 'marking' people and trying to punish them.  You apparently made that up."

Dodger fiddled with the orbs in his paw nervously, sweat trickling down his face. "I, uh, I don't know what you're talking about, Momma's Girl.  I mean, that vision was pretty clear to me."

"Was it?  Or did you just think it was a convenient excuse to rebel against your boss?" I said.

"You can't prove that!" Dodger barked. "In fact, I'm appalled that you'd even consider that!  I'm no opportunist!  I'm just following Kohryu's will!  Sykes is the opportunist!  He's greedy, stubborn, manipulative, and all sorts of things besides!  How anyone could like that guy, especially Georgette, is beyond me!"

Derpy blinked. "Wait, Georgette?  You mean Georgette Jadevest?  What's she got to do with anything?"

Dodger's eyes shifted around the room and he swallowed. "Uh, nothing!" he said hastily, clearing his throat. "It was just a slip of the tongue.  No need to dwell on it."

I had to disagree.  The look on Dodger's face said it all.  He was trying to hide something, and it had to do with the Jadevest pack.

"No, I think my mom has a point," I said. "We never even mentioned Georgette Jadevest.  So, why'd you bring her up?"

"I-I...  GRAH!"

Dodger recoiled, nearly dropping the gemstones again.  It appears he has no rebuttal for that.

"L-look, it's personal, okay?!" Dodger sputtered. "Mind your own business!"

"It doesn't seem to be that simple, Dragonvest," I said. "You said you had no reason to hide stuff from me, yet here you are doing just that.  Do you see now why I don't trust you?"

Dodger took a moment to compose himself and then sighed. "Yeah, I see," he said. "But you have to understand, Momma's Girl.  I'm still the good guy here.  I might've told a few fibs, sure.  But it's for the greater good of the Diamond Dogs!"

"The greater good of the Diamond Dogs?" I parroted. "What're you talking about?  I thought you were on this mad crusade because Kohryu told you to."

"And that's true.  Ish," said Dodger ambiguously. "But there's a bigger part to this story.  Let me lay it down for ya..."


***
Testimony: Dodger's Crusade
***


"From the beginning, I always knew the Sykes Silvervest was a no-good scumbag," said Dodger. "I never told him to his face, of course; that would've been suicide.  But I saw everything he did, up to and including breaking the heart of Georgette Jadevest.  I knew he had to go, and I knew I couldn't do it alone.  Which is why I'm glad Kohryu and I are after the same thing, basically.  And don't try to say we're not, because we are."

It looks like Dodger is finally starting to show his true colors.  No wonder he's doing such a bad job representing Kohryu and his teachings.  However, there's a lot more to this story that he neglected to mention.  I'm gonna have to dig a bit deeper.

"You said that he broke the heart of Georgette Jadevest," I said. "Would you care to go into detail on that?"

"Certainly," said Dodger. "Sykes loved Georgette, and Georgette loved Sykes.  But they couldn't hook up because it's taboo for packs to intermingle.  So Sykes broke off the relationship and left her crushed."

Odd.  She didn't seem to be all that broken up about it when I talked to her.  She still considered Sykes a friend (why I don't know), so where was Dodger getting this impression?

"Wouldn't something like that be a private affair?" I asked. "How do you know about it?"

"Well, simple.  I had my eye on Georgette, too."

Well, that came out of nowhere. "You what?"

"Just as I said, Momma's Girl," said Dodger with a whimsical sigh. "She is the prettiest diamond in those caves, and she certainly deserves better than a scoundrel like Sykes."

"Someone like you, I take it?" I said.

"Bingo," said Dodger with a wink. "So when I heard that Sykes broke up with her, I tried to make my move.  I told her that we didn't have to follow some stupid rule; that we could do whatever we wanted.  Georgette seemed keen on the idea, and she even said so.  And we would've run away and gotten married right then and there had Rosco and Desoto not busted in and ruined everything."

I know this sounds hard to believe, but I'm still having trouble siding with Dodger here.  Yes, some traditions become antiquated and have to change.  Before Twilight Sparkle came to Ponyville, we always handled Winter Wrap Up the same way for generations, and we were always late.  She changed that by making us more organized.  However, there's a right reason for change and a wrong reason.  I mean, from the sound of it, Dodger doesn't even know Georgette all that well.  He just thinks that he's the one for her, and that it's meant to be.  Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure love almost never works like that.  And I really doubt that such a shallow attraction justifies a rewriting of an entire culture's structure.

"So, you believe that Georgette Jadevest would've run off with you if it wasn't considered taboo," I said.

"No doubt in my mind, Momma's Girl," said Dodger.

"Well, that's funny.  Because I managed to talk to her," I said. "It turns out she's still on good terms with Sykes Silvervest.  In fact, he asked her to help defend the Redvest pack's territory from you and your dragons.  And do you know what she did?"

"What?"

"She accepted."

Dodger sniggered. "Oh, Momma's Girl.  You are so naïve," he chided. "Of course she's gonna put on a song and dance for Sykes.  If he knew that she was secretly pining for me, he'd have her head."

Is it just me, or does Dodger seem to be a tad delusional?  You guys are seeing this too, right?  I mean, how far do you have to have your head shoved up your own rump to think that a girl you barely know has the hots for you?

"Well, that's all very interesting, Mr. Dragonvest," I said. "But I'm not sure if your worldview jives with reality."

"And just what do you mean by that?" Dodger growled.

"Let me ask you this." I said. "What do you know about Georgette Jadevest?"

"She's beautiful, she studies magic, she has a ton of mystical gems in her hoard, and she's beautiful," said Dodger with a shrug. "What else do I need to know?"

"Wait, you said that she's beautiful twice," said Derpy.

"I know.  That's because she's so beautiful that it has to be mentioned twice," said Dodger with a smirk.

Oh, brother.  It's as if the further I dig, the more reasons I find to hate this guy.  But, I have to persevere, because there's still something he has to answer for.

"So, all you know about Georgette Jadevest is what's in her hoard and that she's pretty," I said. "And you're willing to spearhead this revolution and change an entire culture just to win her heart."

"Geeze, when you put it that way, you make love sound like a bad thing," said Dodger. "Never thought you were a prude, Momma's Girl."

"I'm not a prude, Dragonvest.  I just know a load of old horse apples when I see 'em," I said. "But that aside, I wonder what Kohryu would say about this."

Dodger lowered his shades. "Come again?"

"Well, you've already made it clear to me that you're hiding your true intentions from him," I said. "Not only that, but I would think that a pacifist like him would advocate social change without using violence.  For his supposed 'hierophant,' you seem to suck at your job."

"You have no idea what you're talking about!" Dodger boomed. "So we're not exactly on the same wavelength.  Big deal!  We're still after the same thing: The downfall of Sykes Silvervest!"

"See, I'm not sure about that," I said. "Because I happened to run into one of your acolytes prowling around the Pie Rock Farm.  As I recall, Sykes Silvervest has no influence there.  So, what was he there for, pray tell?"

"That's none of your business!" Dodger yelled.

"I think it is," I said. "I don't know if you heard this, but a pony was kidnapped from that area last night.  Now, your acolyte seems to have an alibi, but I'm not sure I trust it."

"I'm warning you right now, Momma's Girl.  You don't know what kind of trouble you're getting into," Dodger snarled. "You stop right now and get out."

"Before I do, there's one last thing," I said. "You remember how I came in, right?  Through that hole in the ground."

"What about it?"

"Well, that hole leads to a tunnel.  A tunnel where a certain dragon was hiding in.  And it's from that tunnel that my mom was attacked three days ago!"

"I-I don't know anything about that!" Dodger roared. "I'm not the one you're after!  I couldn't give two flying figs about you and your stupid predicament!  My only goal is Sykes Silvervest!  That's it!"

"No, your goal is to win the heart of a girl you don't even know," I said. "And to do that, you dupe a great philosopher trapped by a curse, strong-arm a bunch of dragons who have no idea what's going on, and forcibly rewrite the rules of your society.  The ends don't justify the means, Dodger Dragonvest!  And when Kohryu finds out about this, I doubt he'll be happy!"

All was quiet for a moment as Dodger clenched his fist and trembled.  The silence was broken by him chuckling nefariously.

"Oh, Kohryu's not gonna know about this, Momma's Girl," he said. "Because you're not gonna tell him."

"And why shouldn't I?" I said. "He deserves to know.  He put his trust in you, and all you've done is take advantage of him."

"You'll get no argument from me, Momma's Girl," said Dodger, fiddling with the mystical gemstones. "However, if you think that I'm gonna let you ruin this for me, then you're in for a disappointment."

I get the feeling that perhaps I went a bit too far with my questioning.  I'm still not sure if Dodger's the prick who's trying to extort gems out of me, but I still managed to expose something truly disgusting about him.  And it's something that he probably wants to keep buried.  This does not bode well.

"W-well, maybe I was a bit too hasty," I said, trying to backpedal. "This, doesn't really have anything to do with my mystery after all, so I've got no reason to mention anything to Kohryu.  Now, if you'd just let us leave..."

"Oh, you're not going anywhere," said Dodger with an evil gleam in his eye. "I'm gonna make sure you keep that trap of yours shut, and there's nothing Kohryu can do about it."

He then lifted up the mystical gemstones and rotated them around in his palm.  They started to glow brighter and brighter, indicating that he was getting ready to summon the acolytes.  Any moment Mare-Do-Well wanted to come out of her hiding place and save the day, it would be just fine with me.

"Consider yourself 'marked,' Momma's Girl," said Dodger. "In the name of Kohryu, you shall be..."

"Excuse me."

I saw a cloaked hoof tap Dodger on the shoulder (well, that was quick).  He spun around to see none other than Mare-Do-Well, flapping her wings and giving him the evil eye.

"Wh-who the heck are you?!" he exclaimed.

"Somepony you don't want to mess with right now," said Mare-Do-Well sternly. "And if you want to hurt Ms. Sparkler, you'll have to go through me."
> The Four Benevolent Animals
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dodger stared at Mare-Do-Well for a moment before tilting his head. "Wait, let me get this straight.  You think that you can stand a chance against me?"

"If you want to do this the hard way, we can find out," said Mare-Do-Well.

Dodger laughed. "A-are you being serious right now?  This has to be some kind of joke," he said, turning to me. "You set this up, didn't ya, Momma's Girl?  You thought I was gonna be scared away by this thing?  Come on!"

"As far as I can tell, Ms. Sparkler stumbled into your hideout quite by accident," said Mare-Do-Well. "I came here of my own accord to defend her."

"Well, aren't we special," said Dodger, his voice slick with venom. "Listen, you flying costumed freak.  I don't know who you are, and I don't care.  But there's no way you can stand up to the might of Kohryu!  No one can!"

"Not even his false prophet?" said Mare-Do-Well coyly.

Ooh!  That one had to hurt.  Dodger let out an angry snort.

"You heard that too, did ya?" he snarled. "Well, I guess I'll just have to mark you, too!  And since you insist on protecting Momma's Girl over here, you get to die first!"

"Don't count me out so quickly, Dodger Dragonvest," said Mare-Do-Well, adopting a battle position. "I have no plans on dying here.  Not while you threaten the lives of innocent ponies."

Dodger sneered. "You have no idea who you're messing with."

He then hefted up the mystical gemstones and fiddled with them in his paw.  As soon as they reached a certain level of luminosity, he thrust his arm forward.

"Sturdy as steel!"

In a flash of white light, Byakko lunged forth with a mighty roar.  Mare-Do-Well did a loop over the charge and dove towards Dodger.

"Gotcha," said Dodger. "Bright as the flame!"

In a burst of red light, Suzaku emerged and sideswiped Mare-Do-Well before she could swerve out of the way.  As Mare-Do-Well assessed herself, Suzaku towered over all of us.

"Time for this game to end!" said Dodger. "Suzaku, make it rain!"

With a screech, Suzaku spread his wings and unleashed a barrage of fireballs.  That was our cue to skidoo.

"Quick, Mom!  To the tunnel!" I exclaimed, making a break for the hole we came out of.  Derpy was quick to follow my example, but my idea to escape came a bit too late.  Before we reached the hole, Byakko leapt out in front of us and snarled.

"The hierophant has marked you," Byakko growled. "Accept your punishment."

"Open your eyes, fuzzball!" I yelled. "Dodger Dragonvest is duping you!"

"Nice try, Momma's Girl!" said Dodger with a laugh. "But the acolytes only respond to my orders!  Byakko, rip 'em to shreds!"

Crap, I forgot about the curse!  The acolytes are bound to whoever wields them.  Of course they weren't going to listen to me!

"Get down!"

Just as Byakko pounced, Mare-Do-Well pushed me and Derpy to the ground.  Byakko soared over us as Suzaku's fire continued to rain down from above.  Suddenly, I heard a roar of pain from behind, and just like magic, the fireballs stopped coming down.

"Byakko!" Suzaku screeched (at least I think it was Suzaku; I don't have a good view of the situation right now). "Are you alright?  I'm terribly sorry."

"It's alright, friend.  No one is at fault," said Byakko.

"Do you need anything, friend?" asked Suzaku. "Perhaps Genbu could sooth that nasty burn."

"It's not as bad as it looks," said Byakko with a chuckle. "I'm as sturdy as steel, remember?"

Wait, what the heck is going on right now?  Weren't we in the middle of a fight?  I got to my feet and turned around to see Suzaku looking over Byakko's wounded paw.  They had orders from Dodger Dragonvest to kill us, and they called a time-out because of friendly fire.  I'm not complaining or anything, but I am very confused.  And apparently, I'm not the only one.

"What in the world are you mooks doing?!" Dodger bellowed. "I gave you an order!"

"The Great Kohryu says that hurting your friends, even inadvertently, strains your bond with them," said Suzaku plainly. "We must have this sorted out."

"You dare question your master, the Dragon's Hierophant?!" Dodger barked, holding the gemstones aloft. "Get them, now!"

The white and red gemstones both glowed for a moment, and in turn, Byakko and Suzaku's eyes glowed.  Byakko then advanced towards us while Suzaku flew back to his vantage point.  So much for the reprieve.

"The exit is clear now," said Mare-Do-Well. "Ms. Sparkler, I ask that you and Ms. Hooves make haste.  I'll hold them off."

Without waiting for my acknowledgement, she flew towards Suzaku in an attempt to draw his fire.  For a moment, I felt kinda bad about leaving her behind.  Even if she is a hero, I doubt she can take on four powerful creatures by herself.  I shook the doubt from my mind and prepared to leave, convincing myself that she'd be okay.  But just my luck, that moment of hesitation cost me.

"Cold as the frost!"

Right before my eyes, a sheet of ice materialized over the hole leading to the tunnel where we came from.  I was hoping to see Derpy on the other side, but of course, she didn't want to go anywhere without me.  With a swallow, I looked up to see Genbu staring at us with blank black pupils.

"There is no escape from being marked, equine," he said. "It is as the Great Kohryu decrees."

I suddenly felt a sudden chill in my hooves.  Looking down, I was horrified to see my body freezing over inch by inch.  I squirmed and struggled, but the ice held me fast.

"Ammy!" Derpy cried.  She then threw her forelegs around my frozen haunches and pulled, flapping her wings with all her might. "Don't worry, Ammy!  I've got you!  You're gonna *mmph* be okay!"

"It is too late to save those who are marked," said Genbu coldly. "Do not interfere."

"Don't tell me what to do, you big meanie!" Derpy snapped. "I'm not *errgh* letting any of you *nngh* hurt my daughter!"

"Then you shall feel the cold frost as well," said Genbu. "It will be the last thing you feel before you die."

Dodger laughed as he watched me and Derpy struggle. "No use fighting it, Momma's Girl!  This is what you get for defying Kohryu's will!  And by Kohryu, I mean me!  Byakko!  Shatter her into a thousand pieces!  Ignore that costumed freak!"

I turned my head to see Byakko swiping at Mare-Do-Well, who was flying just out of reach.  When he heard Dodger's order, he dashed towards me and Derpy.  I scrunched my eyes shut, bracing myself for the impact.

"Hold, Byakko!  I see you have been wounded!"

The impact didn't come, and the ice slowly encasing my body suddenly stopped spreading.  I opened one eye, only to see Byakko looking at the paw Suzaku burned earlier.

"Oh, this?" he said. "'Tis nothing.  I can still fight."

"There is a fine line between courage and recklessness, Byakko," said Genbu. "I suggest you let me treat that burn before continuing."

Byakko stroked his chin for a moment and then shrugged. "Well, if you insist."

"That I do, old friend," said Genbu. "Now, this might sting a bit..."

Genbu then focused his magic on Byakko's paw, and a thin layer of ice formed around the burn.  I'm actually beginning to see why Kohryu called his acolytes the Four Benevolent Animals.  When they're not trying to kill you or following the words of a false prophet, they're actually very nice fellows.  Heck, if they suddenly moved to Ponyville, they'd fit right in.

"Cut that out!" Dodger roared. "The one marked by Kohryu is helpless, Genbu!  Finish the job!"

"Patience, hierophant.  Can you not see that I am busy?" said Genbu irritably.

"Don't you talk back to me!" Dodger boomed, holding the gemstones aloft. "I command you to— yeow!"

Before he could do anything, one of Suzaku's fireballs came close to grazing him.  He snarled and looked up at Mare-Do-Well, who was still drawing Suzaku's fire.

"Grr.  I've had enough of you!" he yelled. "Genbu, change of plans!  The costumed freak dies first!"

The black gemstone flashed, and so did Genbu's eyes.  Genbu then focused his attention on Mare-Do-Well, freezing her legs and causing her flight to become wobbly.

"Now I've got you, you pest," said Dodger. "Sharp as the timber!"

Seiryu made his appearance in a flash of blue light.  There was suddenly a rumbling in the ground, which was accompanied by several roots shooting forth and wrapping around Mare-Do-Well's body.  Dodger roared with laughter.

"You're not so tough now, are you?" he mocked. "Now you'll feel the might of the Great Kohryu!"

The acolytes began to surround Mare-Do-Well, leering at her with hungry eyes.  Mare-Do-Well growled and groaned as she struggled against her bonds.

"Nngh!  Ms. Sparkler, go!" she grunted. "I-I'll be okay!"

I, somehow doubt that.  And again, I don't think it's right to leave her like this.  I admire her sacrifice and all, but this mystery is far from solved.  And as long as that's the case, she still has a job to do.

"You said before that you needed my help, Ms. Mare-Do-Well," I said.

"I said that I might need your help!" Mare-Do-Well spat.

"Yeah, well.  You also said you didn't plan on dying here," I said with a smirk. "So I'm not gonna let you!"

I then fired a narrow beam from my horn that shot over Genbu's head and right at Mare-Do-Well's bonds of ice and tree roots (probably should've used this earlier, but it's hard to think straight when you're in imminent danger, y'know?).  Seeing as I usually use this spell to cut gemstones, the beam cut through the bonds like a hot knife through butter.  Once Mare-Do-Well had broken free, I focused on the ice covering my hooves.

"One *oof* last *omph* pull!"

Just when I remembered that Derpy was trying to pull me free, part of my icy prison has shattered.  With less resistance holding me in place, Derpy yanked me out of the ice and accidentally hurled me across the room.  Shouts of confusion bombarded me from all sides before I crashed into something soft.  When I recovered from the experience, I saw that the soft thing I crashed into was Dodger Dragonvest, who was out cold.  The four gemstones lay scattered on the floor, and the acolytes had disappeared from the room; supposedly because Dodger wasn't controlling them.

"Oops.  Sorry, Ammy," said Derpy with a guilty look on her face. "I guess I don't know my own strength."

"Nngh.  It's okay, Mom," I said, rubbing my head and getting my bearings. "You alright, Ms. Mare-Do-Well?"

"I've, been better," Mare-Do-Well grunted, clutching at her chest. "Quick, we should leave before he comes to."

"Agreed," I said.  I started making my way to the hole when I noticed Mare-Do-Well scooping up the discarded gemstones. "Um, what are you doing?"

"It would not be wise to *mmph* leave these in his possession," said Mare-Do-Well weakly, not even turning around to acknowledge me. "I happen to know somepony who specializes in magic.  She might know how to free them."

"You mean the acolytes?" I asked. "Well, that's very noble of you, but didn't you say two seconds ago that we had to get a move-on?"

"You saw it yourself, Ms. Sparkler," Mare-Do-Well rasped. "The Benevolent Animals are not completely bound to the curse.  If there's a chance to save them, then I mu— Nngh!"

Mare-Do-Well stumbled forward, clutching her chest and dropping the gemstones.  Derpy sighed.

"Maybe you should think about saving yourself first," she said, putting the gemstones in her mailbag. "Here, we'll help you get to a doctor."

"N-no need.  I-I'm fine," said Mare-Do-Well.

"You don't sound 'fine' to me," I said. "Here, let me help you up."

"Y-you don't need to do that.  I can walk just fine," said Mare-Do-Well, still clutching her chest.

"After the beating you took?  I don't think so," I said, grabbing one of Mare-Do-Well's forelegs.

"I-it's alright, Ms. Sparkler.  M-my wounds are not that bad," said Mare-Do-Well nervously.

"Stop being such a silly-filly and let us help you," said Derpy. "You shouldn't try to do everything yourself."

"Please, you really don't have to do this," said Mare-Do-Well. "I'll be okay."

"Well, we're gonna just gonna make extra sure of that," said Derpy with a smile as she gripped Mare-Do-Well's other foreleg. "Now c'mon.  Up and at 'em!"

"No, wait!  You shouldn't—"

When Derpy and I hefted Mare-Do-Well's forelegs over our shoulders, a bright flash came from her chest.  Part of her costume was ripped, and hidden underneath was some sort of vial hanging off of a necklace.  Whatever was in it, it was letting off a powerful illumination.  Through the glare, I could see quite a few cracks.

"Ooh, pretty~," said Derpy, staring at the necklace. "Who made that for you?"

Mare-Do-Well sighed. "Well, this is awkward."

"Awkward?" parroted Derpy. "What's so awkward about a necklace?"

Mare-Do-Well sighed again. "I, have a bit of explaining to do.  But not here.  We should probably get moving before Dragonvest wakes up."

"Right, sure," I said, cutting through the ice Genbu created with my magic.  With that, Derpy and I led Mare-Do-Well down towards the tunnel we came out of.  Before we left Dodger's den completely, Mare-Do-Well gave me a sideways glance.

"One last thing, before I forget," she said.

"What's that?"

"Thank you, Ms. Sparkler.  For, saving my life."

I chuckled. "Same to you, and more of it," I said.
> Illuminated Shadows
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 13, 4:14 PM
Everfree Forest
Access Tunnel
***


We walked through the tunnel in silence for a time.  The only sounds that could be heard were the clip-clop of our hooves, the magic from my horn, and Mare-Do-Well's heavy breathing.  Every once in a while, Derpy looked over her shoulder to see if anyone was behind us.  I don't really blame her for that.  After all, there really isn't anything stopping Dodger from following us down here.  Nevertheless, we appeared to be alone for the time being.  Good.  I think I've had my fill of action for one day.

We were about halfway through the tunnel (to my best estimate) when Mare-Do-Well spoke up.

"Hold on.  L-let's rest for a moment," she said. "We'll be safe here."

"Are you sure?" said Derpy, still looking over her shoulder. "That Dragonvest meanie is gonna be pretty ticked at us when he realizes his gems are gone."

"We won't have to worry about him here," said Mare-Do-Well. "Trust me."

Derpy looked at me, and we exchanged shrugs.

"Okay, if you say so," said Derpy, setting Mare-Do-Well down.  I did the same.

"Thank you," said Mare-Do-Well, taking a few breaths. "Now then, I think this is a good a time as any for me to explain myself."

"Yeah, about that," I said. "What exactly brought this on?  Your necklace?"

"Well, yes," said Mare-Do-Well sheepishly. "Ms. Sparkler, do you know what a ponunculus is?"

"A po-nun-what-now?" asked Derpy.

"Yeah, I'm with Mom on this one," I said.

Mare-Do-Well sighed. "Right.  Well, a ponunculus is an artificial pony created by magic, and that is what I am.  This vial here is my core; in layman's terms, my heart.  I cannot survive without it."

She pointed to the vial that hung around her neck.  From the cracks in the vial, I think I understand why she appears to be so weak right now.

"Well, that's all fine and dandy," I said. "But, who created you?  And why did you disappear for so long?"

Mare-Do-Well obscured her eyes with her hat. "First of all, my creator is not a subject I wish to discuss.  It's a long story that, reopens some old wounds.  Secondly, I'm not the same Mare-Do-Well you remember from many moons ago.  That was just an act performed by a group of friends in order to teach one Rainbow Dash a lesson in humility."

I, guess that makes sense.  No wonder she disappeared after Rainbow Dash chased her off; she probably found out the truth.  Though I find it strange that somepony would create a pony based on this isolated phenomenon.

"So, wait.  You're not an alicorn?" asked Derpy, tilting her head. "Because the old Mare-Do-Well was strong, fast, could use magic, and could fly."

"That's because she was played by several different ponies," said Mare-Do-Well. "My framework, however, is solely based on a pegasus."

"Huh," said Derpy. "Well, you learn something new every day, I guess."

"Mmm," I said, furrowing my brow. "Um, do you mind if I ask you some questions?"

"Of course.  Just, don't ask me about my creator."

"What were you doing in Ponyville?  You kinda dodged the question when I first asked you about it."

Mare-Do-Well sighed. "Well, here's the thing.  As a pony who is dedicated to protecting others, I get into a lot of fights; much like the one we just experienced.  As such, my core gets damaged.  There's only one pony I trust to repair it, and she happens to live in Ponyville."

Something clicked in my mind. "This pony.  I'm just going out on a limb here, but does she happen to be Princess Twilight Sparkle?"

Mare-Do-Well nodded. "Impressive, Ms. Sparkler.  How did you guess?"

"Well, she's the only pony I can think of who would know what the heck a ponunculus is," I said with a shrug. "I take it she's also the friend you plan on giving the gemstones to."

"Correct," said Mare-Do-Well. "She's actually one of the few ponies I trust with my identity.  Oh, speaking of which, I have something to give you."

Mare-Do-Well reached into her cloak and pulled out a scroll.  When I opened it up, there was a little note taped to it.  I read as follows:


Sparkler:

The spell on this scroll lets you see through illusions.  My friend says that you might need it.  Let me know if things get too heavy for you, and I'll do everything in my power to help.

Signed,
Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship; Former Bearer of the Element of Magic


Ah, now it all makes sense.  Princess Twilight's mysterious informant was Mare-Do-Well.  That's why she knows what's going on.  It also explains why she isn't investigating herself.  Mare-Do-Well probably warned her against it because of the threat of an international incident, just like she told me.  I think I'm starting to get a clear picture of Mare-Do-Well's involvement in this mess.

"So, let me see if I've got this right," I said. "You were just on your way to Princess Twilight's house when you noticed my mom getting attacked, so you went to save her.  And from there, you decided to try and solve this mystery."

"That pretty much sums it up," said Mare-Do-Well with a dry chuckle. "I know it sounds like quite a big coincidence, but that's why the word exists."

"Well, why didn't you tell me?"

Mare-Do-Well sighed. "Again, I'm not comfortable with sharing my identity with others.  I was actually hoping that it would remain a secret this time around."

"This time around?" I parroted. "You mean you've been in this situation before?"

"Once or twice," said Mare-Do-Well. "That is to say I've worked with ponies to solve mysteries such as this one."

"You don't say," I said. "Tell me, do you always act so wishy-washy around your partner, whoever that may be?"

Mare-Do-Well tilted her head. "I, don't understand the question, Ms. Sparkler."

"Ever since I met you, you've kept giving me mixed signals," I said. "You say you need my help, but then two seconds later you say I don't have to get involved if I don't want to.  So which is it?"

Mare-Do-Well twiddled her hooves. "Well, how do I put this?  In the past, I haven't worked well with other ponies.  I either come across as a pest by forcing ponies into situations they're not comfortable with, or I underestimate a pony's resolve and try to handle everything by myself when I clearly cannot.  So, with you, I decided to take the middle ground and abide by your choices."

I nodded. "Well, that was kinda stupid of you."

Mare-Do-Well did a double take. "Pardon me?"

"Don't get me wrong; it's very nice of you to take my feelings into consideration," I said. "But, try thinking about your own needs every once in a while.  It's absolutely okay.  If you think I can help, just ask me for help.  Don't take this wishy-washy approach and say I can help 'if I want to.'  Especially since you really did need my help back there."

"That's, true," said Mare-Do-Well. "But I don't want to put you into danger you can't handle."

"Well, I'll be honest with you.  There have been a few times where I felt like I was in over my head," I said, brushing the back of my mane. "But if you really needed my help, which you did, then you should've been more assertive about it.  Half the reason I've kept going is that I knew in the back of my mind that you were in the shadows protecting me.  And while that was nice and all, a little verbal encouragement wouldn't hurt, either."

"But, is that what you want?" asked Mare-Do-Well.

I sighed. "Ms. Mare-Do-Well, this isn't about what I want.  It's never been about what I want.  I've dedicated myself to solving this mystery because I feel that it's something I have to do."

Mare-Do-Well grew quiet for a moment, and then nodded. "I see.  You've certainly given me a lot to think about, Ms. Sparkler," she said. "Thank you."

"Eh, don't mention it," I said. "So, all rested up?  'Cause I think it's about time we..."

I trailed off when I heard another set of footsteps echoing through the tunnels.  From behind, I noticed the light of a lantern flickering in the distance.

"Someone's coming!" Derpy squeaked, looking every which way for a way out. "What do we do?!"

"This," said Mare-Do-Well.

She then got up and tapped her hoof on the wall, revealing a small panel.  Suddenly, right before my eyes, the wall disappeared and revealed another tunnel.

"Quick, this way!" she said.

Too confused to argue, Derpy and I followed her through the new passageway.  Once we were all through, Mare-Do-Well tapped a panel on the wall, and a slab of rock covered up the entranceway.

"Um, you mind explaining that?" I asked.

"Shh, later," Mare-Do-Well hissed, placing her ear against the wall.  With a shrug, I did the same.

"Hey, did you hear that?" asked a grumbling voice I didn't recognize.

"Kinda," said another rough, scratchy voice. "Maybe we've got a few other guys in transit.  You know how it is."

"Yeah, I guess," said the first voice with a sigh. "I still can't believe we've got to do this."

"You and me both, buddy," said the second. "But we've got our orders."

"I know, I know," said the first. "I just wish she wasn't such an annoying brat."

Well, gee.  That doesn't sound suspicious or anything.  I can deduce that these guys are a couple of grunts sent down here to do someone's dirty work.  What that dirty work is or who they're working for, I haven't a clue.  After all, I can only hear what's going on.

"Look, I hear ya," said the second voice. "Just let me do the talking.  I'll set her straight."

There was then a rumbling sound, probably from another hidden passage opening.  It was then that I was treated to a third voice.  This one was clearly feminine, and also kinda, familiar.

"Ah, you guys must be with room service.  It's about time.  Do you know how long we've been waiting here?"

"Don't you start," snarled one of the grunts.

"Now is that any way to treat a guest?" said the female voice. "I'll have you know that we've been stuck here for Celestia knows how long without even one decent meal.  And no offense to my roommate here, but she's been giving me strange looks."

There was suddenly an odd sound that I couldn't quite place.  It was, kind of like a squawk, but not really.

"On the plus side, she makes a great conversationalist," said the female voice. "If it wasn't for her, I'd be bored out of my skull down here."

Ah-ha.  Now I recognize that voice.  I know that kind of snark from anywhere.  It was Limestone Pie, whom as I recall was abducted from the Pie Rock Farm last night.  And that squawk was probably Crackle; the wandering watch-dragon Sykes Silvervest hired.  What were they doing down here?

"Listen, we don't want any of your nonsense, pony," said one of the grunts. "Now c'mon.  We're relocating you."

"Oh, so you did get my request for better accommodations," said Limestone. "Goody.  I was hoping not to get your manager involved in this."

"Shaddup!" barked the other grunt.

"Okay.  I'll shut up," said Limestone. "Why should I keep talking if I'm told to shut up?  I mean, Pinkie's the one in our family who won't shut up.  Seriously, she's just like yap yap yap yap yap yap yap all day long.  But not me.  No, sir.  When I'm told to shut up, I shut up.  In fact..."

"Shaddup shutting up!" the first grunt barked.

Derpy stifled a giggle, but was quickly hushed by Mare-Do-Well.  I'll admit, hearing Limestone make light of her predicament was kinda funny.  In my experience, wisecracks are Limestone's greatest weapons against adversity.  She's probably one of the biggest smart alecks I know.  So it's nice to hear that she hasn't lost her edge.

"Okay, geeze.  Take a chill pill," said Limestone. "So, what can you tell me about the new room?  Does it at least have a bed?  'Cause if I wanted to sleep on rocks, I'd just stay home.  At least bedrocks are comfy."

"Just come with us," groaned one of the grunts.

"But what about her?" asked Limestone. "She's gonna be awfully lonely without her roommate."

There was a squawk from Crackle.

"She's not your concern, pony," growled one of the grunts. "Now c'mon."

"Hey hey hey!  Careful with the merchandise!" snapped Limestone. "You're mussing up my coat!"

The grunts paid her no heed as they assumedly carried her off (I say that because I didn't hear any hoofsteps).  When their voices completely faded, I breathed a quick sigh and turned to Mare-Do-Well.

"Okay, it's clear that those guys are working for the culprit, whoever they are," I said. "But, what's this all about?"

"You mean the passageways?" said Mare-Do-Well. "Well, that's simple.  I investigated this tunnel for a bit after I followed you.  Turns out there are, let's see, one, two, three, and the one we just heard makes four hidden passageways down here."

"Why would someone do that?" asked Derpy.

"I have a few hunches, but we won't know until we explore one of them," said Mare-Do-Well. "Come, let's go."

Without waiting for an acknowledgement, she started off down the passageway.  With a shrug, I followed at her heels while Derpy trailed behind.  I guess this makes sense.  After all, we can't go back the way we came.


***
July 13, 4:44 PM
Pie Rock Farm
East Field
***


When we emerged from the tunnel, I couldn't believe my eyes.  I immediately recognized the location to be the Pie Rock Farm, meaning we must've come out of one of their underground mines that they use when there's a surface shortage (ask a rock farmer what that means).  This was a big piece of evidence.  The culprit wasn't just using that tunnel as a vantage point for Crackle to attack Derpy.  He was using it to get around without arousing suspicion!  Well, that and the Shroud Emeralds, but still!  This is a pretty important clue, if I do say so myself.

"Just as I thought," mused Mare-Do-Well. "That network of tunnels was created by the culprit.  They probably used Shroud Emeralds to avoid detection while they were constructing it."

"Yeah, it looks like we know how the culprit managed to pull everything off," I said. "But, we still don't know who the culprit is yet.  Sykes Silvervest and Dodger Dragonvest could very well be lying to us."

"Well, I have a feeling that we'll find the truth tomorrow," said Mare-Do-Well. "For now, I should probably bring the Benevolent Animals to Princess Twilight and get my core repaired.  After that, I'm going to check out the rest of these tunnels and see where they lead.  From there, it should be obvious who our quarry is."

"You really think so?" asked Derpy, reaching into her mailbag and giving the gemstones to Mare-Do-Well.

"Indeed," said Mare-Do-Well with a nod. "Thank you both again for your help.  And for, giving me something to think about."

"Hey, thank us when it's over, alright?" I said with a snicker.

Mare-Do-Well snickered herself. "Fair enough, Ms. Sparkler."

"Sparkler!"

Just then, I heard Pinkie's voice coming from across the field.  I turned to see her running up to me with Marble by her side.

"It's good to see that you're alright," she said happily.  She then tilted her head. "Um, did you just come from the mines?  How?"

"It's a long story," I said. "Here's the short version.  Turns out the culprit has a system of tunnels leading to several different places.  I think this is how he's getting around without being noticed, along with the Shroud Emeralds."

"I see," said Pinkie, stroking her chin. "So, where does that tunnel go, exactly?"

"Again, long story," I said. "Listen, do you think you could take...?"

I gestured with my hoof and turned around.  I was going to ask Pinkie if she would take Mare-Do-Well to Princess Twilight, but just like every other time, she was gone.  I guess even with our bonding session, old habits die hard.  That or she's about as stubborn as a mule (no offense to any mules out there).

"Take what?" asked Pinkie.

"Never mind," I sighed. "Here, let me tell you what we found out..."


***


We spent the rest of the day recapping everything for Pinkie, omitting a few things about Mare-Do-Well that she probably wanted to keep private.  Pinkie and Marble were relieved to hear that Limestone was okay, and Marble said she'd get to work sealing off the tunnel so that the culprit couldn't strike the farm again.  She also said that she'd see her older sister Maud about setting up some mud pits to detect Shroud Emeralds.  Between the Pies and Carrot Top's up-to-date security system, I don't think this bastard is gonna get the drop on us again.  At least I hope not.

So, with Mare-Do-Well indisposed and no other leads to follow up on at the moment, Derpy and I headed for home.  Good thing, too.  I'm completely exhausted for obvious reasons.  It'll be nice to take a breather and unwind.

...

I just realized something.  It's very hard to look forward to relaxing when you know in the back of your mind that someone's out to get you.  Ugh, I really hope Mare-Do-Well's right about tomorrow.  I don't know if I can take much more of this...
> Digression of Despair
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 13, 9:48 PM
Ponyville
Golden Harvest's House
***


As soon as I got home, I marched up to my room and crashed into bed.  I just didn't have the energy to do anything else.  But no matter how hard I tried, I simply couldn't relax.  I was still in the middle of processing everything that had happened and worrying about what was gonna happen next.  It was this weird paradox where I was completely exhausted, yet at the same time, I was too stressed out to recover my strength.  Yeah, Carrot Top's security system did give me some peace of mind, but it couldn't account for everything.

This continued right through dinner (which I had downstairs) and all the way into the night.  At this point, I had completely given up on getting any shuteye.  It's not that I didn't want to fall asleep; quite the contrary.  I just knew it wasn't gonna happen.  Not with all of these thoughts and fears keeping me awake.

I heard a soft tap on my door and sighed.  It was probably Dinky worrying about me.  Groggily, I got up from my bed and opened the door with my magic.  As it turned out, it wasn't Dinky standing in front of me.  Instead, it was Derpy, carrying a firefly lantern in her wing.

"Did I wake you, Ammy?" she asked.

I shook my head. "Nope.  Actually, I can't sleep."

"Oh, good," said Derpy.  She then sighed. "Actually, I can't sleep, either.  I keep thinking about that Dragonvest meanie, and how mad he must be that we got away from him."

That was actually a good thing to be worried about.  Since we left him out cold in his hideout, we haven't heard from him once.  I doubt anyone could stay knocked out for that long, and there's nothing stopping him from coming after us, is there?  The only thing I could think of that would prevent him from exacting his revenge would be the teenage dragons coming back and realizing that their boss no longer had any authority over them.  Unless, of course, he had access to Shroud Emeralds.  And that made me more worried.

"Tell you what, Mom," I said. "I still remember that spell Princess Twilight gave me.  If I use it and we see that nothing's wrong, we can go back to sleep.  Okay?"

Derpy stared at me for a moment (in the, loosest form of staring). "It's as if you read my mind," she said.

I chuckled. "What can I say?  I'm worried, too," I said.

"Mmm," said Derpy with a nod. "Alright.  Let's go check in on Dinky first."

"Sounds like a plan," I said.  We then tiptoed over to Dinky's room down the hall.  Derpy opened her door as quietly as she could.  At first glance, nothing seemed to be wrong.  Dinky was there, sleeping peacefully in her little bed, safe and sound.  But just because everything appeared to be okay didn't make it so.

Derpy quietly tiptoed up to Dinky and brushed her mane with her hoof. "Hmm.  She feels real enough," she said, keeping her voice low. "I don't think an illusion could fake that."

"Shroud Emeralds can," I said with a swallow. "While under their spell, nothing you do can be seen by anypony else until it's too late.  So, there's only one way to find out for sure."

Derpy sighed. "Right," she said, stepping back.  She then took a few deep breaths. "Okay, I'm ready, Ammy."

"I'm glad one of us is," I muttered to myself.  I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath.  As I exhaled, I spoke the incantation Princess Twilight taught me:


"I am not afraid of reality;
Show me the truth, whatever it may be!"


I felt a large burst of energy shoot through my horn.  When I opened my eyes, the entire room was bathed in a bright pink aura.  And as the aura faded, so did Dinky.

When the aura was completely gone, Derpy's lantern fell to the ground with a loud clang, sending fireflies everywhere.  I myself felt my heart freeze.  Dinky's bed was completely empty, and her covers were disheveled.  Not only that, but her window was broken.  Shards of glass lay strewn on the floor, and the room felt a lot colder.

"No.  No no no," Derpy whimpered, falling to the ground as tears welled up in her eyes. "I...  Muffin...  Why did...?  How...?"

"Is everything alright in here?" asked Carrot Top, making her way onto the scene. "I just heard a noise and— Sweet merciful carrots!  What the hay happened?!"

"I-I couldn't even begin to tell you," I said. "Hold on, I need to check something."

Before Derpy or Carrot Top could respond, I rushed out the door.  This is bad.  This is all kinds of bad.  Dammit, I tried so hard to protect Dinky from this exact thing, and it happens anyway.  I guess that's what I get for not keeping my Pinkie Promises.  I'm probably gonna regret saying this, but this can't possibly get any worse.


***


I went around back to Carrot Top's garden and cast the anti-illusion spell on everything I could find.  I was hoping that the culprit was stuck in one of Carrot Top's traps, but that simply wasn't the case.  Many of the traps were sprung, but there was no one to be found.  However, I did notice that the traps that were sprung had a coating of mud on them.  Looking around, I saw quite a few mud holes that were covered in now-broken tarp.  Carrot Top must've set those up after Dinky told her about the Shroud Emeralds and how they don't affect stuff like mud and plaster.  I also saw a large molehill at the edge of the carrot patch.  It was obviously the culprit trying to cover his tracks, and that meant that one of the passageways in the access tunnels led straight to Carrot Top's garden.  The very thought made me sick to my stomach.

Shaking myself, I scanned the ground carefully, noticing that a set of muddy tracks were leading out of the garden and around to the front of the house.  That, doesn't make sense.  If the culprit was leaving muddy footprints, then why didn't we notice them until now?  Curious, I followed the prints to the front of the house.

When I got there, I immediately found my answer.  The muddy tracks stopped at the welcome mat, which was stained dark brown.  There's no question about it: The culprit knew about the Shroud Emerald's weakness, so to get around it, he wiped his feet on the mat before coming in.  There were also splotches of mud that decorated the front of the house, probably from when he was shaking himself off or something.  Even though we were prepared, this guy wasn't missing a trick.

Just then, there was a loud thump from inside the house.  A split second later, I heard Derpy screaming and sobbing.

"L-let me go, Carrot Top!" she wailed, sounding very much like a foal throwing a temper tantrum. "M-my Muffin is in danger!  I have to save her!"

"I'm not letting you do anything reckless, Derpy!" Carrot Top barked. "It's too dangerous, even for you!"

"I don't care!" Derpy bawled. "I'm her Mama!  It's my duty to protect her!"

"Derpy, getting yourself killed isn't going to help her!"

"You don't understand!"

"I understand perfectly, Derpy!  Which is why I'm not letting you run off like this!"

"No!  No no no no no~!"

I could just picture Derpy flailing around on the ground like a child while Carrot Top tried to rein her in.  Just thinking about that made my heart sink.  Poor Derpy.  She's really broken up about this.  And honestly, right now, I'm not faring much better.

I then remembered that the culprit usually left a note nailed to the door.  Looking at it, there appeared to be nothing there, but I knew better.  I used the anti-illusion spell a third time, and sure enough, the note was revealed.  I removed the nail that pinned it to the door and read it over.


Amethyst "Sparkler" Star:

You are a naughty, naughty girl.

I don't say that lightly, mind you.  I mean, here I am, trying to be a nice guy.  Trying to give you a chance.  And what do you do to repay my kindness?  You try to play the master detective in the vain hope of taking me down.  It seems that I'm not getting through to you.  In light of this, I'm resorting to more, drastic measures.

So, here's my offer.  Take every gem in your possession and leave them at the northern timberline by midnight tonight.  If you don't, then I'm afraid you'll never see your little "sister" ever again.  And if you think I'm bluffing, try me.

You brought this upon yourself for thinking you could defy me, Ms. Star.  Don't say I didn't warn you.

~Anonymous


I-I think my world just shattered.  Just when I thought I hit rock bottom, this dock-hole had to throw me a shovel.  I mean, this guy's beyond sick; he's bucking demented!  I don't think he even wants the gems at this point!  I think his goal all along was to make my life a living nightmare!  Why do I think this?  Well, let's see: He knows who I am, where I live, where I work, who I'm close to, what I've been doing all this time, and what my past was like.  And he's using all that to hurt me in ways nobody has ever hurt me before!  I-I...  DAMMIT!

I-I can't take it anymore.  I-I just can't.  Th-this is simply too much for me to handle.  I-I need a moment to pull myself together.  And, I suppose while I do that, I might as well address the elephant in the room.  I was hoping that I wouldn't have to talk about this, but screw it.  I can't dodge the subject anymore.  Not after this.

For those who haven't figured it out yet, I have a bit of a confession to make.  Derpy Hooves isn't my real mother, and Dinky's not my real sister.  In fact, I don't even know who my real parents are.  I'm adopted.  I'm not ashamed of this in the slightest, but it is a bit of a sensitive subject for me.  Here, let me try to explain...


***


As far back as I can remember, I grew up at an orphanage in Baltimare.  It wasn't a bad place by any means, but it never really felt like "home."  Actually, it never really felt like anything.  It wasn't great; it wasn't terrible.  It just, was.  Maybe you were expecting something more than that, but that's really how I felt about it.  I don't know what to tell ya.

Anyway, after I got my Cutie Mark, I decided that I wanted to open my own jewelry store.  So, I did a few odd jobs around town to save up enough money to buy myself a shop.  I ended up renting a small shack downtown, and well, it didn't work out.  Pro tip: Knowing how to carve and refine gemstones doesn't mean you know how to sell 'em.  I ended up pricing myself out of the market, and as such, no one bought a single thing from me.  In hindsight, maybe I was a bit biased towards my handiwork.  That or I was a naïve kid who didn't know a thing about economics.  Either way, my jewelry business was a bust.

After that, I kept doing odd jobs around town, hoping to eventually get back on my hooves.  As I got older, I started taking on more and more foalsitting jobs.  I didn't really know why at the time; I just felt like I worked well with kids.  There is a deeper reason than that, but I'll get to that in a moment.

Anyway, I eventually got old enough to take care of myself, and I decided it was time for a change of scenery.  It's that I didn't like my hometown, but it just didn't feel like home to me.  So, after much scrimping and saving, I hopped on a train heading to Ponyville.

Now, most ponies who moved to Ponyville from somewhere else will tell you that Pinkie Pie is the first pony they run into.  As I mentioned before, this is because Pinkie's goal is to make friends with everypony she meets.  She's pretty much the town's unofficial welcome wagon.  However, that wasn't the case for me.  No, the first pony I met in Ponyville, was Derpy Hooves.


***


I had just gotten off the train, taking a moment to breath in the fresh country air.  Already, things were looking much better.  I couldn't quite describe it, but something in the air told me that this is where I belonged.  In retrospect, it might've been just the fact that this was something new and exciting.  That's probably the case, now that I think about it.  Eh, whatever.  It's irrelevant.

So, after that, I started walking towards the town.  As soon as I left the train station, a blur of grey barreled in out of nowhere and tackled me to the ground.

"Owie~," groaned the grey pegasus who rammed into me.  She got up and brushed herself off before realizing who she crashed into. "Omigosh, I am so sorry!  Are you alright?"

"Ugh.  Yeah, I'll live," I said, slowly getting to my feet.

"Here, let me help you," said the pegasus, reaching out her hoof.

"N-no, that's fine," I said. "It's okay."

"No, it's not," said the pegasus. "I had a hard time looking where I was going, and I didn't see you, and..."

"Alright, alright.  I forgive you," I said, getting a bit peeved. "Sheesh.  I'm not mad at you or anything."

The grey pegasus tilted her head, and I could see that her eyes were, well, odd. "You're not?  But lots of ponies get mad when I crash into stuff."

"Well, it was an accident, wasn't it?" I said with a shrug. "So, no harm done."

"I guess," said the pegasus. "Oh, wait!  I should probably introduce myself.  I'm Derpy Hooves.  What's your name?"

"Amethyst.  Amethyst Star," I said.

Derpy tilted her head again. "Huh.  I don't think I know anypony by that name," she mused, stroking her chin. "Are you new here?"

"Gee, I don't know where you got that idea," I said, rolling my eyes.

Derpy blinked. "Um, from the fact that I don't recognize your name," she said plainly.

I gave her a blank stare.  Did she seriously not understand the concept of sarcasm?

"Well, yeah.  I actually just moved here," I said.

"Oh.  That's neat," said Derpy. "What do you plan on doing?"

"Well, my big plan is to open up my own jewelry store," I said. "But first, I'm gonna need a house.  Do you know where I can rent a place cheap?  I don't have a lot of money."

"Hmm," said Derpy, rubbing her head. "Well, you can talk to the Mayor about buying a house.  They usually go for five hundred bits or so."

My eyes went wide. "Five hundred bits?!  Aw, man!  I can't afford that!"

"Really?  Oh, I'm sorry," said Derpy.  Suddenly, her face lit up. "Hey, I know!  Why don't you stay with me?"

I blinked. "What?"

"It's the least I can do for crashing into you like that," said Derpy. "Besides, it would be awful if you spent your first day in Ponyville without a roof over your head."

Normally I'd be skeptical about this, but she sounded so, sincere about it.  Not that ponies back in Baltimare were unfriendly or anything, but they were never this friendly.  Were all ponies in Ponyville like this?

"Um, well, I don't want to impose," I said.

"Oh, don't be silly!  You're not imposing at all!" said Derpy. "C'mon, this way!"

Without waiting for my response, she ran off.  Confused and curious, I shrugged and followed.


***


We ended up at a quaint little house next to a carrot patch.  Derpy scooped up the key from under the welcome mat and opened the door.

"I'm home!" she called out.

She was then greeted by a yellow Earth Pony mare with a wavy orange mane and a carrot Cutie Mark.

"Good to see you, Derpy," said the mare. "How was your day?"

"Great!" said Derpy. "Nothing like a nice dip in the clouds to take the edge off.  I really feel like I can take on that new route tomorrow."

"Good to hear," said the mare.  She then saw me and raised an eyebrow. "Um, Derpy?  Who's this?"

"Huh?  Oh!  Sorry, I forgot," said Derpy sheepishly. "This here is Amethyst Star.  She just moved here, and she needs a place to stay."

"And you thought to bring her here?" said the mare with a sigh. "Derpy, this isn't a boarding house.  I can't have you do this."

"Aw c'mon, Carrot Top!  It's the least we can do for her," said Derpy.

"That's alright," I said. "I don't want to impose or anything.  If you can just point me to an inn or something..."

"Hi, Mama!"

A cute voice rang out as a small greyish-purple filly walked in.

"Hello, Muffin," said Derpy sweetly. "How are you today?"

"I'm doing just fine," said the filly with an adorable smile.  She then noticed me and tilted her head. "Oh, hello there.  I've never seen you before.  My name is Dinky Doo.  What's yours?"

I had to do a double take.  Most kids that I worked with up to this point were usually afraid of strangers.  They would either hide from me or act out in front of their parents.  But this filly was, polite.  And she didn't seem to be afraid of me at all.

"Um, it's Amethyst.  Amethyst Star," I said.

"That's a pretty name," said Dinky.

"Amethyst is gonna be staying with us," said Derpy. "She just moved in."

"Actually, we haven't established that yet," I said.

"I insist," said Derpy. "Just one night; that's all I ask."

"Derpy, we don't have any room for her," said Carrot Top.

"Then I'll sleep on the couch," said Derpy with a shrug.

Carrot Top groaned. "Must you always be this stubborn, Derpy?"

"Look, I don't want to cause any trouble," I said. "This is very nice of you, Ms. Hooves, but..."

"It's alright, Ms. Star.  It's just the Circle of Niceness," said Dinky.

I gave her a blank stare. "The circle of what?"

"The Circle of Niceness," said Dinky. "If you do something nice for somepony, then good stuff will happen to you.  That's the Circle of Niceness."

A-am I dreaming?  Did that filly just describe the concept of karma?  Who is this kid?

"Well, that's all well and good, but I really shouldn't bother you," I said.

"It's no trouble at all," said Derpy. "Listen, if you're really uncomfortable about it, you just have to stay for dinner.  I'll take you to the inn right afterward, promise."

I sighed.  It seemed as though I couldn't get out of this situation.

"Alright, alright," I said. "But I feel like I should give you something for your trouble."

I then looked over at Dinky, and an idea popped into my head.

"Hey, do you by any chance need a foalsitter?" I asked. "I happen to be very good with kids."

Dinky looked at me and tilted her head. "Strange.  Your Cutie Mark doesn't seem to say that."

"What?  Oh," I said. "Well, I just look after kids to make ends meet.  My real special talent is carving and refining gemstones."

"Oh.  That's very interesting," said Dinky earnestly. "I'm sure your parents are very proud."

I flinched.  Up to this point, me being an orphan didn't really bother me all that much.  But that innocent little comment just felt, awkward to me.  Derpy seemed to notice.

"Is something wrong, Ms. Star?" she asked.

"Um, it's nothing," I said.

"It doesn't look like nothing to me," said Dinky, casting her gaze downward. "I'm sorry, Ms. Star.  I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

"N-no, not at all," I said. "I'm fine, really."

"Oh.  Okay," said Dinky. "Can I ask you something, though?"

"Uh, sure."

"If your special talent is carving gems, why do you like foalsitting?"

That was something I never really considered before.  But after giving it some thought, the answer was obvious.

"Well, I like kids," I said. "And, I like being part of a family, if only for a little while."

"Wait a minute.  What about your own family?" asked Carrot Top.

"Oh, um..." I said, blushing profusely. "I'm, not sure I wanna tell you.  It's a bit personal, and I just met you ponies, so..."

"It's alright.  You don't have to say anything more," said Derpy. "Well, don't you worry, Ms. Star.  Whatever the case, I want you to think of yourself as family whenever you're here."

"Me, too," Dinky chirped.

For the first time in my life, I felt as though there were some ponies that really cared about me.  I had friends back home, of course, and they were all very nice.  But, this was different.  This was a level of compassion I never felt before.

"Th-thanks," I said. "That, really means a lot to me.  Y'know, I think I'll stay for dinner after all."

"Yay!" Derpy cheered as she pulled me into a hug.  And at that moment, I had this warm feeling in my chest.  A warm feeling that told me that I was where I belonged.


***


After that first meeting, I became Derpy's go-to foalsitter on a permanent basis.  At least, until I was comfortable enough to tell them the truth.  As soon as she found out, Derpy flew all the way to Baltimare just to fill out the necessary paperwork to adopt me as her daughter.  The rest is history.

So, now you know why I'm so bent out of shape.  Derpy and Dinky are the most important ponies in my life, and the fact that someone is hurting them because of me makes me feel, well, guilty.  I know I shouldn't feel this way; it's not really my fault.  But, I can't help it.  They don't deserve this.  Whatever happened to the Circle of Niceness, huh?

And let's not forget the fact that the culprit somehow knows all this about me.  That is just so bucked up on so many levels.  And on top of all that, he now has Dinky in his clutches, even though I was trying my damnedest to protect her from this sort of thing.  Now she's probably gonna be scarred for life.  I-it's not fair.  It's just not fair.

"Sparkler?"

I perked up at Carrot Top's words as they brought me back to reality.

"Huh, what?" I said.

"Oh, good.  You're alright," said Carrot Top. "Listen, I just put Derpy to bed.  She's calmer now, but I don't trust her to stay put.  I'm going to tell Princess Twilight about this and ask her to organize a search party.  Do you mind looking after her while I'm gone?"

At that moment, an idea struck me.  I think Derpy had the right idea.  Carrot Top does, too, but organizing a search party would take too long, and that's time we don't have.  I know what I have to do.

"Sorry, Carrot Top," I said. "I gotta go."

"Wait, wha—?"

Before Carrot Top could complete her thought, I dashed off at full gallop.

"Oh, c'mon!  Not you, too!" she yelled after me.

I completely ignored her.  I know she means well, but that doesn't matter right now.  I've only got one thing on my mind: Rescue Dinky.  Man, I hope she's okay.  She'd better be okay.  Otherwise, I-I'll never forgive myself...
> A Dazzling Turnabout
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 13, 10:01 PM
Everfree Forest
Access Tunnel
***


When I got to the northern timberline, the area was completely deserted.  There was no epic battle going on, and Ife was nowhere to be seen.  That's a bit of a relief, because if he was planning to send me away as he was instructed to, I'd probably say some stuff that I'd regret later.  Thankfully, that wasn't the case, and I was free to make a beeline to the access tunnel I found this afternoon.

I used my magic to illuminate the dark cavern and ventured forth.  I didn't have to go far when I caught sight of a figure leaning against the wall.

"Well, well, well.  So nice of you to drop in, Momma's Girl," said the figure in a familiar, sleazy voice.

I narrowed my eyes. "Dragonvest."

The figure emerged from the shadows.  Just as I suspected, it was Dodger Dragonvest.  However, he looked like he had seen better days.  I noticed several burns marked his body, and his shades had all but shattered.  I'm just guessing here, but I think the teenage dragons realized that he has no control over them anymore.

"Honestly, you're pretty early," said Dodger. "I wasn't expecting you to come after me so soon.  And, oh.  What's this?  You're alone?  Color me surprised, Momma's Girl.  I thought you didn't go anywhere without your precious mother."

"You really don't want to piss me off right now, motherbucker," I snarled. "Where's Dinky?"

Dodger raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think I know?"

"Don't try to deny it," I spat. "You were waiting for me down here.  You knew I'd come after you.  How could that be unless you were the one who kidnapped Dinky?"

"Hmm.  I see no reason to refute that," said Dodger with a sneer.

"So, you admit it."

"I'm not interested in admitting anything, Momma's Girl.  All that concerns me is our deal," said Dodger. "You know what I want, right?"

"Supposedly," I said.

Dodger stared blankly at me. "What's that supposed to—?  Never mind, it doesn't matter," he said, clearing his throat. "So, let's cut to the chase, shall we?  You give me what I want, and I'll give you what you want.  That way, we can both go home happy.  How's that sound?"

I shook my head. "No deal."

Dodger blinked. "Y'mind repeating that?"

"I said I'm not giving you a single gem," I proclaimed. "You think just because you twist a knife in my heart that I'll just give up?  Think again, dock-hole.  Now, here's my offer.  You hand over Dinky, or I will beat you within an inch of your life.  Choke on that, you son of a bitch."

Dodger snickered. "Y'know, that's not really an insult to a Diamond Dog, Momma's Girl," he said. "It's just stating the obvious."

I felt my shoulders get tense.  How can he be so calm right now?  I've exposed him for who he really is, and he acts like it's no big deal.  Something's wrong.

"Wipe that smirk off of your face, you bastard," I spat. "I'm not joking about this.  I will tear you apart if you don't let Dinky go right this instant."

"I see no reason to, Momma's Girl," said Dodger. "Not unless I get what I want."

"Well, you're not getting it."

"Fine.  Then you leave me no choice."

In one swift motion, Dodger punched me, sending me falling to the ground.  When I looked up, he was cracking his fists and his neck.

"Thanks to you and your costumed friend, my dragons have turned against me," he said darkly. "They're eating my hoard as we speak, and they're probably gonna come after me when they're done.  Now, I think we both know why that is.  And you know what?  I was planning to let the whole thing with you exposing me slide.  When I control the Four Benevolent Animals, Kohryu only comes when I call him.  There's no way you could've told him about me.  So, I was willing to return what I stole from you, providing that you returned what you stole from me."

Huh?  What the hay is he talking about?  He sounds like he only wants the mystical gemstones Mare-Do-Well stole from him, but he practically confessed that he's the one who kidnapped Dinky.  So, is he the culprit, or isn't he?  If he is, why didn't he mention those gemstones specifically in the ransom note?  And if he isn't, why did he leave that ransom note to begin with?

Before I could ask him directly, Dodger pressed his foot against my side, forcing me to the ground.  He leered down at me with hungry eyes.

"However, since you're unwilling to give me what I want, I think I'll just have to silence you like I originally planned," he said. "Don't worry, I'll be sure to inform your precious mother about your gruesome fate.  Say good— huh?"

Before he could do anything, he was distracted by a bright light heading our way, followed by several shouts.  As the lights grew brighter, the shouts became clearer.

"You won't get away with this, you freak!  The Top Dog will have your head!"

"That pony thought she could pull a fast one on us.  I knew she couldn't be trusted!  I should've taken care of her when I got the chance!"

I perked up as I recognized the voices.  The light caused a familiar silhouette to appear on the wall.  Just as I was about to put two and two together, Mare-Do-Well came barreling in, shoving Dodger off of me before landing and turning towards the light.  The source of that light was revealed to be Rosco and Desoto, who were both wearing mining helmets.

"Oh-ho.  What have we here?" said Desoto, frothing at the mouth. "The annoying pony and the traitor Dodger.  It must be my birthday."

Dodger got to his feet, snorting indignantly when he caught sight of Rosco and Desoto. "Well, if it isn't Sykes's lapdogs," he said, brushing himself off. "You're a bit out of your territory, aren't ya?"

"Shut it, Dodger," growled Rosco. "You've got a lot to answer for.  But right now, we're after that costumed freak over there."

I slowly got to my feet and looked over at Mare-Do-Well, who seemed to be remarkably calm.

"I already told you fellows," said she. "What happened was not intentional."

"We're not buying that, you freak!" Desoto barked, licking his chops. "This tunnel has a direct line to our hoard!  You're probably smuggling jewels out, or you're pawning off our watch-dragon to the highest bidder!  Who're you working for?!"

"No one," said Mare-Do-Well with a shrug. "I was investigating these caverns when I stumbled upon a hidden passageway leading to your hoard.  That's all that happened."

"And how're we supposed to believe you, huh?" said Rosco. "We know our watch-dragon hasn't been at her post."

"Again, not my fault," said Mare-Do-Well. "Now, I'd love to continue this conversation, but my friend Ms. Sparkler seems to need my help right now, so if you don't mind..."

"Hang on a minute," snarled Dodger, getting in Mare-Do-Well's face. "I don't know what this is about, but I do know that you and your friend Momma's Girl made off with my gems.  Give 'em back."

"Stay out of this, Dodger," said Rosco. "You'll get your turn soon enough."

Dodger turned to Rosco and sniggered. "I don't take orders from you, Rosco.  And this here isn't your territory.  So beat it."

"Not until we find out what the heck's going on," said Rosco with a snort. "If you've been hiding out down here, maybe you're the one who's been stealing our watch-dragon.  After all, isn't that what your little army consists of?"

"First of all, this isn't my territory, either.  I was just waiting on Momma's Girl over here," said Dodger, jerking his thumb at me. "Second, if you two weren't a couple of brain-dead mutts, you'd see just what an spineless tyrant Sykes Silvervest really is."

Desoto bared his teeth. "You think you can talk about the Top Dog like that?" he growled.

"Of course.  After all, I've seen it myself," Dodger retorted. "If he had a backbone, he wouldn't have dumped Georgette."

Rosco raised an eyebrow. "Wait a minute.  That's what your little rebellion is all about?  Then why did the Jadevest pack repel your little army from Redvest territory, just like the Top Dog asked her to?"

Dodger laughed. "Are you really that stupid, Rosco?  Georgette's not on Sykes's side.  She never was on Sykes's side!  She supported me all this time because of my undying love for her!  She wants to see my vision become a reality!  No longer will packs be confined to their own!  I will bring about this revolution and make her dreams come true!"

Rosco blinked. "You're crazy."

Uh-oh.  He shouldn't have said that.  If there's one thing I learned from Carrot Top's gopher freakout, it's that you never want to call a crazy person crazy.  Y'know, because they're bucking crazy.

"Crazy?  You think that fighting for true love is 'crazy,' Rosco?" said Dodger, menace seeping into his voice. "You're beyond redemption.  You and the rest of the Silvervest pack.  If I have to see all of you dead to bring about change, then so be it!"

Rosco snapped his fingers. "Desoto.  Sic 'im."

Desoto didn't need to be told twice.  He pounced right for Dodger, tackling him to the ground.  Dodger snarled and shoved Desoto back.  As the two continued to duke it out, Rosco advanced towards me and Mare-Do-Well.

"Don't think we've forgotten about you ponies," said he. "I'm bringing you both to the Top Dog."

"And what good would that do?" asked Mare-Do-Well. "Ms. Sparkler and I are completely innocent.  In fact, if Sykes Silvervest isn't behind the protection racket, we should be on the same side."

"Well, we're not," said Rosco, pounding his fist into his palm.

Mare-Do-Well sighed. "I was hoping not to do this, but you leave me no choice."

With that, she ducked down and swept at Rosco's leg.  While Rosco was sent off-kilter, Mare-Do-Well tapped a panel on the wall and revealed a secret passage.

"Ms. Sparkler, this way!" she said.

Not wanting to stick around, I quickly followed her into the passageway as it closed behind us.  After a bit of running, we paused to catch our breaths.

"Phew.  Thanks," I said breathlessly.

"Just doing what I was meant to do," said Mare-Do-Well with a bow. "What exactly are you doing down here, anyway?"

I sighed. "Dinky's been ponynapped.  I came down here to rescue her."

"I, see," said Mare-Do-Well, obscuring her eyes with her hat. "I'm terribly sorry."

"Yeah, well.  I'm still planning on getting her back," I said. "Oh, by the way.  Dodger's the culprit.  I think."

Mare-Do-Well tilted her head. "You 'think?'" she parroted.

"I-I dunno, it's all very confusing," I said. "He practically confessed that he was the one who kidnapped Dinky, but all he's interested in is the gemstones you stole from him.  He didn't even mention the tribute."

"Hmm.  That is strange," Mare-Do-Well mused. "We might want to pay another visit to Silvervest territory, assuming that Rosco and Desoto managed to apprehend Dodger Dragonvest."

"Yeah, about that," I said. "You found that one of the passageways in this tunnel leads to the Silvervest hoard?  How did no one notice that until now?"

"To be fair, the passage was blocked by a large pile of jewels," said Mare-Do-Well. "Otherwise, we might have to chalk this up to the use of Shroud Emeralds.  Anyway, we can figure that part out later.  Right now, we should focus on rescuing your sister."

"Took the words right out of my mouth," I said. "I've still got that anti-illusion spell, so we can see where Dragonvest took her."

"That might not be necessary," said Mare-Do-Well, staring at the ground.

Confused, I looked down.  Muddy pawprints riddled the floor, starting from the passageway we just went through.  Dodger must've fallen into another mud trap while carrying Dinky off.  Talk about a lucky break.

"Right," I said, illuminating my horn. "Let's go see where this leads."

"Right behind you," said Mare-Do-Well.  And with that, off we went.


***
July 13, 10:20 PM
Underground Network
Redvest Territory
***


The trail seemed to stretch on forever.  It even got to the point where I had lost track of where we were going.  Even worse, the mud seemed to fade with every pawprint that was made.  It's possible that the trail could peter out before we reach Dinky.  And if that happens...

No.  I shouldn't think like that.  We will find Dinky, no matter what.  I don't care if I have to run around through these stupid caves for the rest of my Celestia-damn life.  I'm not giving up.  Not now.

Just then, my ears perked up as I heard someone crying.  My heart stopped beating for a moment.

"D-Dinky?"

I rushed ahead of Mare-Do-Well and followed the sound to a small alcove sealed with a door you'd find in a jail cell.  I looked inside, and my heart became heavy.  Lying in the cell was Dinky, curled up into a little ball and sobbing.  I-I don't know how to feel.  I'm relieved that I found her, but seeing her in pain just tears me up inside.

"H-hang on, Dinky," I said in a hoarse whisper. "I'm getting you out of here."

I used my magic to cut the bars of the door.  The sound and glow from my spell got Dinky's attention.  When she saw me, her eyes sparkled.

"A-Amethyst?  I-is that you?" she whimpered.

I nodded.  As soon as the bars were cut, Dinky dashed out and tackled me into a big hug.

"Amethyst, I-I... *hic* I... *sniff* Bwaaaaaaaah~!"

Poor thing.  She can't even form a sentence.  She must be so frightened.  I started to cry along with her as I held her close.

"I'm sorry, Dink," I sobbed. "I-I'm so, so sorry.  I didn't want you to get caught up in all this.  I-I should've done a better job protecting you.  Th-this is all my fault.  I..."

I felt Dinky's hooves press up against my chest.  When I opened my eyes, I saw that she was staring right back at me.

"Amethyst, what're you talking about?" she asked. "None of this is your fault."

Ponyfeathers.  I-I didn't mean to say any of that.

"I-it's not important," I said. "I just..."

"You're worried about hurting me, aren't you?"

I blinked. "Wh-what?"

"I, kinda heard some things while I was here," said Dinky, a new batch of tears welling up in her eyes. "Th-that's why I was crying.  I was scared.  I'm still very scared.  B-but, now that you're here, everything's going to be okay, right?  And Mama's coming to save me, too, isn't she?"

I don't know whether Dinky's words are making my heart break or melt.  For all I know, it could be both.  Either way, I squeezed her tighter and rubbed her back.

"Yes, Dink.  Everything's gonna be okay," I cooed. "I'm right here, and Mom's probably on her way right now.  We won't let anything else hurt you.  I promise."

Dinky didn't say anything for a long time.  She just nuzzled up against my chest and sniveled, and I continued to hold her tight.  Eventually, my tears had dried up, and Dinky was done crying, too.

"Th-thanks, Amethyst," she said, brushing her nose. "I-I feel a little better now."

"Me too, Dink," I said. "C'mon, let's go home."

"Before we do, I wish to ask something," said Mare-Do-Well. "Dinky, was it?"

"Yes?"

"You said you heard some things while you were here," said Mare-Do-Well. "If it's not too much to ask, what sort of things?"

Dinky bit her lip. "It was, a lot of dark, scary things.  Stuff that Mama says she protects me from," she said. "Mama always says that bad things exist in the world, and ignoring them won't make them go away.  But as long as I'm with those I care about, I'll be safe."

So, the Zen of Dinky has a way to cope with traumatic events.  I kinda wish I knew that a few days ago.

"Where did you hear them from?" asked Mare-Do-Well.

"From a pony in the cell next to me," said Dinky. "She was arguing with a bunch of mean Diamond Dogs about it."

I looked over and saw that there was indeed another set of bars over an alcove.  Walking over to it, I found that it was pitch black.  I illuminated my horn, and was shocked to find an all-too-familiar pony lying on the ground and snoozing.

"Limestone?"

Limestone Pie awoke with a start.

"Who what when where why how?!" she exclaimed, looking every which way.  Her eyes then met mine. "Oh, you must be the rescue party.  Neat.  Dare I ask what took you so long?"
> Confrontation: Limestone Pie
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, I sure didn't see that coming.  I mean, what're the odds that I would bump into Limestone Pie along with Dinky?  Is this what those goons meant when they said they were relocating her?  Why did they relocate her here of all places?  I-I just have so many questions.

"So, are you content with standing there and staring at me all day, or can we get a move-on?" asked Limestone.

"Oh, right.  Sorry," I said, using my magic to cut a hole in the bars large enough for Limestone to slip through. "I just, didn't expect to see you here."

Limestone tilted her head. "I thought you came down here to rescue me.  Why wouldn't you expect to see me?"

"It's a long story," I said with a sigh. "Listen, we should focus on getting out of here."

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," said Limestone, slipping through the bars. "If those goons come back, I don't wanna be around to see what happens when they discover that their gem ticket is gone."

I gave Limestone a quizzical look. "Gem ticket?  What do you mean?"

"I think you know," said Limestone, nodding her head at Dinky.

Mare-Do-Well put a hoof to her muzzle. "So, you know that Dinky Doo is important to the culprit?  How?"

"Hey, when you work on a rock farm, you learn to listen to things," said Limestone.

"Listen to rocks, you mean," I said, rolling my eyes.

"You'd be surprised by how much a rock can say, Sparky," said Limestone with a snicker. "But that aside, it's not the rocks that I was listening to."

Wait a minute.  If Limestone was in contact with the culprit and his henchmen, than maybe she has a better idea of what's going on than I do.  I can't pass up this opportunity.

"Can you tell me about it?" I said. "We can talk on our way back to Ponyville."

Limestone raised an eyebrow. "Did I miss a memo or something?  When did you become a gumhoof, Sparky?"

"Again, long story," I said. "Although I'm surprised you don't know about it.  Weren't you keeping your ears open?"

"That doesn't mean I heard everything, Sparky," said Limestone. "These guys are pretty tricky.  And if you're planning on bringing them down, you need to bring your A game.  Oh, and I want in.  Anyone who kidnaps a sweet little filly needs to be taught a lesson."

"You'll get no argument from me, Ms. Pie," said Mare-Do-Well. "We'd be happy if you could help us in any way you can."

"Yeah, sure.  You got it, Ms. Mask," said Limestone. "By the way, nice of you to join us here in reality.  Honestly, I didn't know my Power Ponies comics could work in reverse."

"It's, Mare-Do-Well, actually," said Mare-Do-Well. "And I'm not from a comic book, although my attire would suggest otherwise."

Limestone blinked. "You mean you're that crazy vigilante from who knows how many moons ago?  When did you come back?  No, wait.  Let me guess.  Long story, right?"

"Indeed," said Mare-Do-Well.

Limestone sniggered. "Well, if and when we get out of this mess, you guys have to tell me all about it.  For now, I guess I'll tell you what I heard.  Feel free to fill in any gaps; I'm sure you'll find a few."

"Alright," I said.  This was actually an ideal arrangement.  If I could properly fill in the holes in Limestone's story with the evidence I had, we could unmask the true villain behind this mess.  I just hope that Limestone's testimony is enough to go on.


***
Testimony: What I Heard
***


"First important thing to mention is that the mastermind never spoke to me directly," said Limestone. "They always had their goons lead me around.  But from those goons, I learned about this whole plan to extort gems out of ponies living in Ponyville.  A lot of the plan was a bunch of convoluted nonsense that went way over my head.  From what I understand, they used Shroud Emeralds to carry out these systematic attacks without anyone noticing.  They would then build this environment of fear, which would force their victims to pay the ransom.  It's pretty sick stuff, if you ask me."

Not a lot of this was incredibly new information.  Since Limestone didn't deal with the culprit directly, she obviously doesn't know who he is.  But there was some information that she probably overlooked.  I had to dig a bit deeper.

"When you say 'convoluted nonsense,' what do you mean by that?" I inquired.

"Well, for one thing, they wouldn't shut up about you," said Limestone. "Seriously, it was all Amethyst Star this and Amethyst Star that.  It's as if they didn't know that you're just some jeweler's apprentice.  I mean, how many gems do you actually have?"

"Not a lot," I said with a shrug. "But yeah, I noticed that the culprit had a particular interest in me.  However, I'm not sure why."

"From what I heard, it's something about your past making you an easy mark," said Limestone. "I dunno how that works, but if it was enough to bring you down here, I think their strategy is working.  Or failing miserably."

"Hmm.  It appears my previous theory was correct," said Mare-Do-Well, obscuring her eyes with her hat. "Ms. Sparkler, do you happen to have the culprit's most recent ransom note?"

"Not on me, but I remember what it said," I sighed. "On top of knowing who I am, where I work, and who I'm close to, they also know what I've been up to and what my past was like."

"So, they somehow figured out that you were investigating," mused Mare-Do-Well.

"Sure sounds like it," I said. "And that in turn prompted them to kidnap Dinky."

"I see," said Mare-Do-Well. "If you don't mind me asking, Ms. Sparkler.  What aspect of your past is the culprit latching onto?"

I heaved another sigh.  There was no use hiding it anymore.

"The fact that I'm adopted," I said. "In the letter, they threatened that I wouldn't see my little sister ever again if I didn't meet their demands.  But they put air quotes around the word 'sister,' and that's what tipped me off."

"Wait, I don't get it," said Dinky. "How would the culprit know that about you?"

"I wish I knew, Dink," I said. "But they seem to be using this fact against me."

"Well, they're doing a lousy job of it," said Limestone. "After all, they didn't expect you to come down here, did they?"

Wait a minute.  That was a good point.

"Actually, you might be right, Limestone," I said. "I don't think they were expecting me to come after Dinky."

"Really?  'Cause I was," said Limestone. "Of course, they didn't listen to me."

"No, you don't get it," I said. "Remember that environment of fear you were talking about earlier?  I think that's what they were trying to do.  They were banking on the fact that I'd be too afraid of losing Dinky to refuse their demands."

"Well, good thing you weren't, then," Limestone giggled.

"Hold on, Ms. Sparkler," said Mare-Do-Well. "My theory was predicated on the fact that our quarry knew that you'd take matters into your own hooves instead of going to Princess Twilight.  How does this make sense?"

"Because they weren't counting on me to investigate," I said. "They expected me to lie down and roll over for them.  They might know a lot about me, but they certainly don't know everything."

Dinky furrowed her brow. "Ms. Limestone, can I ask you something?"

"You just did, so my permission is irrelevant," said Limestone with a shrug.

Dinky blinked. "What?"

Limestone deadpanned. "It's a joke.  I do that when I get scared."

"Oh.  Sorry," said Dinky, rubbing the side of her head. "Anyway, how did you know that Amethyst would come to save me?  I didn't know that."

"Hey, I might not know Sparky as well as you, but one thing I do know is that she doesn't take any nonsense from anypony," said Limestone. "I can easily picture her and your mother mounting a rescue mission like this."

That, is entirely true.  I don't like being pushed around.  Of course, you folks probably already knew that.

"Speaking of your mother, where is ole Bright Eyes, anyway?" inquired Limestone. "Did she get lost or something?"

"In this labyrinth?  I wouldn't be surprised," I said with a chuckle. "Actually, I kinda took off ahead of her.  Carrot Top was trying to get her to stay put and not do anything risky."

Limestone winced. "Yeesh.  I wouldn't want to be in her horseshoes right now.  Tartarus hath no fury like a mother separated from her child.  But, like I said, good luck telling that to the culprit's minions."

"You mean you actually tried to talk them out of it?" I asked.

"Kinda," said Limestone. "I was mainly just joking around to make myself feel better.  I guess they're more afraid of their boss than they are of you and Bright Eyes."

"Is that what you were arguing with those Diamond Dogs about, Ms. Limestone?" asked Dinky.

"Amongst other things," said Limestone.  She then paused for a moment before folding her ears back. "I, didn't scare you too badly, did I?  Bedside manner's not really my thing."

"It's okay.  I'm alright now," said Dinky, nuzzling up to me. "As long as Amethyst is here, I know everything's gonna be okay."

Limestone smirked. "Keep that optimism, kiddo.  I feel like we're gonna need it to get outta here in one piece."

"Agreed," I said. "Anyway, could you tell me about your argument with the guards?  I want to know what you discussed.  Maybe it'll help me pinpoint the mastermind."

Limestone shrugged. "I don't see how, but alright."

"Are you sure this'll help, Ms. Sparkler?" Mare-Do-Well whispered to me. "We heard Ms. Pie argue with the guards.  They didn't seem to be talking about anything of substance."

"Just trust me on this, Ms. Mare-Do-Well," I said. "I have a feeling that these arguments were more than just Limestone trying to be an annoyance."

Mare-Do-Well nodded. "I hope you're right," she said.

Yeah, well.  The feeling's mutual.


***
Testimony: Diamond Dog Debate
***


"Honestly, I've been telling these jerks that this whole plan was a bad idea ever since I ended up down here," said Limestone. "After all, the Pie family has no use for gems, so kidnapping me didn't have to be part of the equation.  But no, they just stuck me with this goofy squawking dragon until they decided to move me to that alcove where you found me.  When I saw this guy with a scaly vest bring Dinky in, I made a comment about these guys sinking to a new low.  For some reason, he got all indignant about it and started yelling at me.  There was all this nonsense about a mystical dragon and how he was gonna rule the Diamond Dogs, but all I heard was 'I'm an angry jerk and I like painting bull's eyes on my back and blah blah blah yakety shmaktey.'  The funny thing was I never saw him or even heard of him until that point."

A scaly vest.  So Dodger Dragonvest was the one who kidnapped Dinky.  But that still doesn't make any sense.  He only wants the gems that hold the Four Benevolent Animals, doesn't he?  And there's a lot more of this story that I simply don't get.  Well, only one way to solve that problem.

"So, you didn't know about Kohryu until this new Diamond Dog brought it up," I said.

"What, you mean the mystical dragon?  Actually, no," said Limestone.

I blinked. "You mean you heard about him before Dodger Dragonvest told you?"

"A little bit," said Limestone. "Sometimes the goons would mention it when they were passing by.  They didn't say anything all that useful about this Kohryu, though, so I can't help you there."

"And, these goons.  Were they Diamond Dogs or dragons?" I inquired.

"Diamond Dogs," said Limestone, raising an eyebrow. "Why would they be dragons?"

"Because Dodger Dragonvest doesn't work with other Diamond Dogs," I said. "His whole army consisted of dragons."

"Well, I dunno what to tell ya," said Limestone with a shrug. "The only dragon I saw was the one they locked me up with."

"They locked you up with a dragon?" said Dinky with a shudder. "That's horrible."

"Meh, it's not that bad," said Limestone. "She was a pretty good conversationalist.  In the same way that Pinkie's pet alligator is a good conversationalist, but a good conversationalist nonetheless."

I'd comment, but this is a pony who speaks to rocks in order to help them grow better.  It's not the weirdest thing I've seen from the Pie family; not by a long shot.

"Let's, get back on track," I said. "The fact of the matter is that Dodger Dragonvest doesn't have any Diamond Dog allies.  At least, none that I know of."

"I dunno.  He kept talking about the girl he had the hots for and how he was doing all this to impress her," said Limestone. "Personally, I think he's kinda pathetic."

"You'd be right to think that," I said. "I actually had the displeasure of talking to him several times for my investigation.  He's probably the most despicable Diamond Dog down here, and considering all the Diamond Dogs I've talked to, that's impressive."

"I'll take your word for it," said Limestone. "Anyway, I think this girl he's trying to woo might be considered an ally."

"No, that can't be," I said, shaking my head. "Georgette Jadevest has no interest in Dodger.  She even helped repel his army from Redvest territory.  Dodger's just delusional."

"We don't know that for sure," said Mare-Do-Well.

I turned to Mare-Do-Well and gave her an odd look. "What do you mean?"

"Remember when Dragonvest confronted Rosco?" said Mare-Do-Well. "He kept insisting that Georgette Jadevest was on his side."

"Yes, because he's delusional," I said.

"That may be true, but there has to be a reason for this delusion," said Mare-Do-Well.

"Are you sure?" asked Dinky. "Mama says that love can sometimes make you do crazy things."

"Yes, but what is he basing this love on?" said Mare-Do-Well. "If Georgette Jadevest wanted nothing to do with Dragonvest, she could've let him know that she wasn't interested."

"Um, yeah," said Limestone. "I hate to derail this train of thought, but in my experience, men are more likely to go after a woman who's playing hard to get.  And by contrast, they completely ignore a woman who throws themselves at their feet."

We all stared blankly at Limestone for a moment.

"What?  That's what my Nana Pinkie told me," said Limestone with a shrug. "Just because I live on a rock farm doesn't mean I don't know these things."

"Um, quite," said Mare-Do-Well, clearing her throat. "Still, there's something about this relationship with Georgette Jadevest that seems wrong note to me."

"I, don't see how," I said. "I mean, sure, she's a bit too clean to be a Diamond Dog, but that has nothing to do with this mystery."

"Think about it this way," said Mare-Do-Well. "Shroud Emeralds are quite rare, if I'm not mistaken.  So if Dodger Dragonvest is the culprit, where did he get them?"

"Heck, I dunno," I said with a shrug. "I never even heard about them until today."

"Meaning that they don't normally appear in the northern timberline of the Everfree Forest," said Mare-Do-Well. "And that in turn means that he probably got them from somewhere else.  Or perhaps someone."

Something just clicked in my mind.

"Wait a minute.  Of course!" I exclaimed.

"What is it, Amethyst?" asked Dinky.

"That's what Byakko was looking for on the Pie Rock Farm while Limestone was being kidnapped!" I said. "He was searching for Shroud Emeralds!"

"Well, he was looking in the wrong place," said Limestone. "We don't have Shroud Emeralds on the rock farm.  At least, I've never seen one."

"No, I actually think Ms. Sparkler is onto something," said Mare-Do-Well. "What if the abduction of Limestone Pie was a diversion from Dodger Dragonvest's real goal?"

"Well, then it was a lousy diversion," I said. "Byakko returned to the scene of the crime and bumped into us."

"Ah, but what if that was the intention?" said Mare-Do-Well.

I blinked. "What?"

"Call it mare's intuition, but I think there's a lot more to this mystery that we're missing," said Mare-Do-Well. "And it has to do with Dodger Dragonvest's involvement with the true culprit, whoever that may be."

"But, who else could it be?" I asked. "It can't be Sykes Silvervest because his watch-dragon is being used without his knowledge, and it can't be the Redvest pack because they're terrified of ponies.  I don't know where you're going with this."

"There's something else I discovered while investigating the access tunnels," said Mare-Do-Well. "All of the passageways led to a place relevant to the mystery.  There was the Pie Rock Farm, Silvervest's hoard, Dragonvest's hideout, and Redvest territory.  However, these were all branching paths.  And when I tried to track down the source, it was blocked off by a massive cave-in."

"So, you think whoever's on the other side of that cave-in is the culprit?" I asked.

"It's a large leap in logic, to be sure," said Mare-Do-Well. "But I can't shake the feeling that this is the case."

"Well, we can look into that tomorrow," I said. "Right now, I think it's best that we head for home."

"Seconded," said Limestone. "I'm worried that Marble's fallen to pieces without me."

I smirked.  Limestone might be a smart aleck, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have a heart.

"Right," I said. "C'mon, let's go."

We then galloped off towards the access tunnel, following the muddy footprints that brought us to Limestone and Dinky in the first place.


***
July 13, 11:11 PM
Everfree Forest
Access Tunnel
***


"Um, are you sure you want me to go first?"

"There's nothing to be afraid of, Ms. Hooves.  We'll be right behind you, I promise."

When we got to the access tunnel, I was greeted by an odd sight.  Derpy was there, looking into a dark tunnel.  And standing with her were Georgette Jadevest and Ife.  There was also a large dragon with them with green scales decorated with gems and, a goofy look on its face.

"Hey, it's my old roommate!" said Limestone. "Hi there!"

The dragon turned and let out a familiar squawk.  Georgette, Ife, and Derpy turned to face us, too.  Georgette's eyes went wide for a moment.

"Oh.  Wh-what a pleasant surprise," she said. "We were just looking for you, Ms. Star."

"Ammy!  You're okay!" Derpy cried, rushing up to me and giving me a hug. "How's Dinky?!  Is she alright?!"

"She's right here, safe and sound," I said, pointing to Dinky.

Derpy smiled and scooped Dinky up in her forelegs. "Oh, Muffin.  I was so worried about you," she said as she held Dinky to her chest, tears running down her cheeks.

"Ah, such a touching reunion," said Georgette whimsically. "Well, if you don't need us anymore, Ms. Hooves, we'll just be on our way."

Part of me felt relieved, but there's an old saying that I remember.  If something's too good to be true, it probably is.  And while I have no reason to think that Georgette Jadevest is involved in the mystery at all, this particular setup has "suspicious" written all over it.

"Just a moment, Ms. Jadevest," I said. "Before you go, I'd like to ask you a few questions..."
> The Circle of Benevolence
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Georgette gave me a weary sigh and shook her head.

"Ms. Star, I'm all for helping you in your investigation.  Really, I am," she said. "But at this hour?  It's a bit late for you to be sleuthing, don't you think?"

"Look, this'll only take a few minutes, tops," I said. "I'm just curious as to what you're still doing here.  Didn't you already repel Dodger Dragonvest's army?"

"Well, yes," said Georgette, twirling her wand. "But that doesn't mean the job is done.  I agreed to remain stationed here as long as Dodger was a threat to the Redvest pack."

That was a reasonable explanation, I suppose.  And she probably didn't get the memo about Dodger's dragons turning against him.  Still, something smelled incredibly fishy.

"So, what's with the dragon?" I asked, pointing to Crackle.

"Oh, her?" said Georgette with a shrug. "She's apparently Sy's watch-dragon.  At least according to Mrs. Hooves."

I looked over at Derpy, who was still busy cradling Dinky in her forelegs.  I sighed.

"Um, Mom?" I said. "I, know you're happy that Dinky's alright.  I am, too.  But, I need to ask you something important."

Derpy looked up. "Hmm?  Oh, sure.  Sorry," she said, setting Dinky down.

"It's alright.  Trust me, I know how you feel," I said. "Anyway, you told Ms. Jadevest that this dragon here is the same watch-dragon that Sykes Silvervest lost?"

"Well, yeah," said Derpy. "I mean, look at her, Ammy.  She matches the description we heard from that mean teenage dragon and Mr. Rosco, doesn't she?"

I took another look at Crackle, who squawked and scratched herself with her hind leg.  Derpy wasn't wrong there.  However, this still wasn't adding up.

"How did you manage to find Derpy and that dragon down here?" I inquired.

"Oh, it wasn't a matter of us finding them, madam," said Ife. "They found us.  If my mistress will allow it, I'd be happy to explain."

Georgette tapped her chin with her wand for a moment. "Ms. Star, can't this wait until tomorrow?"

"I'm afraid not," I said with a shake of my head.

"Hmm.  Alright then," said Georgette. "But I'm sure none of us want to be down here any longer than we have to be.  So don't go on any tangents, okay?"

"Fine," I said.

"Good," said Georgette with a nod. "Ife, you may satisfy our friend's curiosity."

"Very good, mistress," said Ife, clearing his throat.

To be honest, I kinda shared Georgette's sentiments.  I had no reason to be down here now that Dinky was safe.  But I knew that once she learned that Dodger wasn't a threat anymore, she wouldn't have a reason to stick around.  If I want to solve this stupid mystery, I can't let any chances slip by like that.


***
Testimony: Meeting Derpy and Crackle
***


"We were on patrol in the lower reaches of Redvest territory, looking for any signs of Dodger and his ilk," said Ife. "While on patrol, we found this dragon here.  She was wandering aimlessly, and clearly was no threat to anyone.  Before we knew what to do with her, Mrs. Hooves rushed in and told us of her missing daughter.  Of course, we decided to help her.  It was then that she told us about this dragon belonging to Mr. Silvervest, so we were planning on returning her once we found her daughter.  And now that we have, we should be free to go our separate ways."

So, all of my suspicions were easily explained.  I might be jumping to conclusions here.  Just to be safe, I decided to ask some more questions.

"When did all this happen?" I asked.

Ife took a pocket-watch out of his tuxedo and checked it. "If I were to guess, I'd say we came across this dragon here about, half an hour ago.  Mrs. Hooves met with us a few minutes later."

"I see," I said. "Mom?"

"Yes?"

"Where did you meet Ms. Jadevest and Mr. Ife?"

Derpy drew in a sharp breath through her teeth. "I, don't remember.  I kinda got lost."

I sighed.  Of course she got lost.  Why wouldn't she?

"I'm sorry, Ammy," said Derpy glumly. "I was just so focused on looking for Dinky that I didn't pay attention to where I was going."

"Nopony's blaming you, Mom," I said, turning back to Ife. "Mr. Ife, are you sure you met my mom in Redvest territory?"

"Indeed," said Ife. "And yes, she did seem to be quite lost."

And I suppose the rest is history.  Well, I'm glad that's cleared up.  Turns out Georgette's actions weren't suspicious at all.  It was just all in my head.

"Right.  I see no reason to continue this," I said with a bow. "I'm sorry for wasting your time, Ms. Jadevest.  I think we're done here.  Good—"

"You got that wrong!"

A sharp voice pipped up from behind me.  I turned to see Dinky with a look of determination in her eyes.

"Dink?  What is it?" I asked.

"There's still one thing that Ms. Jadevest has failed to explain," said Dinky.

"What do you mean, little one?" asked Ife.

"Amethyst, think back to when we found Mama and Ms. Jadevest," said Dinky. "What was going on?"

"Well, they were looking for you," I said with a shrug.

"Yes, but what specifically was happening?" said Dinky.

"Well, let's see," I said, putting a hoof to my muzzle. "Mom was looking into this cave, and she was asking Ms. Jadevest if she was sure that she should, go, first..."

I, feel kinda stupid now.  That setup should've been the first thing on my list!  Good thing Dinky was able to catch me.

"My sister has a point," I said, turning back to Georgette and Ife. "Why were you asking my mom to check out that tunnel first?  Couldn't you do it?"

Georgette fiddled with her wand. "Wh-what are you talking about?  We just had to know it was safe.  We don't know our way around these tunnels."

"Neither does my mom," I countered. "Besides, why not have Mr. Ife scout ahead?  He's your servant, isn't he?  I would think that making sure things are safe for you would be in his job description."

"Ife is not as expendable as you might think, Ms. Star," said Georgette.

"And my mom is?"

"I-I'm not saying that!"

"Then what are you saying?"

Georgette became tense for a moment, gritting her teeth and clenching her wand in her paws  She then took a deep breath and calmed herself.

"All I'm saying is that in this particular situation, it made sense for Mrs. Hooves to go first," she said. "That's it.  No need to look into it any further."

"Let me be the judge of that," said Limestone, stepping forward.  She walked up to the tunnel Derpy was looking in before and observed it carefully. "Hmm.  It's pretty dark in here.  Mind giving me a light, Sparky?"

"Sure," I said, illuminating my horn.  I then trotted over to Limestone and peered inside the entrance.  I was surprised to find that the tunnel was nothing but a dead end room.  Why would this be...?

It didn't take me long to answer my own question.  I narrowed my eyes and turned to the others.

"Mom, was this passageway open when you got here?" I asked.

"No," said Derpy, shaking her head. "But Mr. Ife found one of those switches and opened it."

"Uh-huh," I said. "And, did it take him long to find?"

"Not really," said Derpy, rubbing the side of her head.

"I see," I said, turning back to Georgette and Ife. "So, would either of you care to explain why you wanted my mom to go into a dead end room?"

"W-well, we didn't know it was a dead end, madam," said Ife, using a handkerchief to wipe some sweat from his brow.

"Oh really?  Then you must've known that there were secret passages in these tunnels," I said. "But wait!  That can't be right.  Didn't you just say not five minutes ago that you were completely unfamiliar with this area?"

"Madam, I assure you.  There is a reasonable explanation for this," said Ife nervously. "I-I could've just as easily stumbled upon the panel randomly."

"But the panel was on the wall," said Derpy, tilting her head. "Why were you touching the wall?"

"Touché!"

Ife recoiled, dropping his monocle in the process.  Maybe the Jadevest pack isn't as innocent as I thought.

"You guys have to admit, this is rather sketchy," I said, brushing the underside of my nose. "I mean, if I didn't know any better, I'd say that you were planning to trap my mom in there, and that you were only pretending to help her."

"It's a good thing you know better then," Georgette growled, fiddling with her wand. "Honestly, why would we do something like that?"

"You tell me; you're the ones who almost did it," I said. "How else would you explain this scenario?"

"I will not stand for such slander!" Georgette barked. "All you're doing is jumping to conclusions!  You can't accuse us of any wrongdoing!"

"Watch me," I said. "Because there's something special about these tunnels."

"And what's that?"

"Remember when I mentioned that jerk who was trying to extort gems out of me?" I said. "Well, I discovered that he's been using these tunnels to get around Ponyville undetected.  Now, wouldn't it stand to reason that only the culprit would know about these secret passages?"

Georgette's jaw dropped. "A-are you accusing me of this crime?!  Me?!  This is an outrage!  Where's your proof?!"

"Your butler knew where the secret panel for this passageway was, and you were insisting on Bright Eyes going in first," said Limestone. "What more proof do you need, lady?"

"That's not proof of anything!" Georgette snapped. "You've got nothing on me!  There are mountains of evidence for countless other suspects!  Go pester them!"

"Your attitude suggests otherwise, Ms. Jadevest," said Mare-Do-Well, obscuring her eyes with her hat.

"Shut up about my attitude!"

With that outburst, she slashed her wand at Mare-Do-Well, who quickly leapt out of its reach.  With a snort, Georgette took a moment to compose herself.

"I apologize for that," she said. "I just get a bit, edgy, when I'm falsely accused of a crime I didn't commit.  I'm sure any of you would feel the same way."

"Oh.  So, you can explain what happened between you and my mom before we got here?" I asked.

"You're misinterpreting things.  That's my explanation," said Georgette curtly. "And don't ask 'how,' because you shouldn't be wasting time with me.  I have no motive to speak of, unlike all of your other suspects."

I raised an eyebrow. "The only suspect I remember telling you about is Sykes Silvervest."

"I wasn't born yesterday, Ms. Star.  My critical thinking skills are just as good as yours," said Georgette. "Here, I'll even prove it."


***
Argument: It Could Be Anyone
***


"As it stand, I'm your least likely suspect," said Georgette. "Sy is powerful enough to pull this off, and I know he doesn't like you.  Dodger is even more suspicious.  He could be using you ponies to build up his hoard so that his ragtag group of nitwits would be recognized as a legitimate pack.  And what of the Redvest pack?  They've kidnapped ponies before, haven't they?  What's more, you just rescued these ponies from their clutches.  They should be the ones you're going after, not me."

I noticed that there was nothing in her argument defending her actions.  She was simply pointing her finger at everyone else and saying "They look shady, therefore I'm not the culprit."  Well, that's not gonna fly with me.  It's time for a little process of elimination.

"Let's start with your first accusation," I said. "First, I'm surprised that you'd be willing to throw your old boyfriend under the bus like this."

Georgette scoffed. "Just because I like him doesn't mean I'm blind to his flaws.  Besides, you wouldn't be able to take him down anyway, so why bother?"

"Oh, I have no interest in taking him down," I said. "Because I know that he's not the one I'm after."

Georgette blinked. "What are you talking about?"

"Well, it's true that his watch-dragon attacked my mother three days ago," I said. "However, he said that she did so without his knowledge."

"How do you know he's not lying to you?"

"Simple.  He got very indignant about it," I said. "In fact, his goons Rosco and Desoto were chasing my friend here because they thought she had something to do with it.  Isn't that right, Ms. Mare-Do-Well?"

"Indeed," said Mare-Do-Well with a nod. "And before you ask, that happened a couple of hours ago; well after Mr. Silvervest was made privy to Ms. Sparkler's theory."

Georgette laughed. "Are you honestly so easily duped?  That's probably just a cover.  He was trying to eliminate witnesses."

"How do you know?  You weren't there," I said. "Besides, there's something else you're forgetting."

"What's that?"

"He doesn't have any Shroud Emeralds in his hoard."

Georgette's face became pale. "Sh-shroud Emeralds?"

"You've heard of them, I take it," I said with a smirk. "After all, your interests lie in studying magic.  And I know for a fact that the culprit was using them so that his crimes would go unnoticed until it was too late.  Tell me, do you have any Shroud Emeralds in your hoard?"

"Th-that's private!" Georgette sputtered. "Who are you to ask what gems I have?!  And even if I did have Shroud Emeralds, that proves nothing!  I'm not the only Diamond Dog with Shroud Emeralds!"

"But you do have them, right?" said Limestone with a knowing grin.

Georgette blushed. "I-I was speaking hypothetically."

"Yeah, I'm not buying that," I said. "Moving on, do you know who else doesn't have Shroud Emeralds?  The Redvest pack.  Heck, they don't even have the tools to treat mystical gemstones properly.  They said so themselves."

"You must admit that they might not have been telling the truth, madam," said Ife. "After all, they have been known to kidnap ponies."

"Yeah, and they were made laughingstocks for it," I said. "I don't think they're stupid enough to try that again."

"B-but, what about the ponies you found in their dungeons?" asked Georgette.

"First of all, I wasn't in that dungeon to begin with," said Limestone. "A couple of goons led me there."

"And I think I know why," I said. "The real mastermind planted the victims in Redvest territory to make us think that the Redvest pack was to blame.  It's the same reason their attack on Rarity was so minimalistic and indirect."

Georgette gnashed her teeth and gripped her wand with both paws. "Alright, fine.  I'll grant you those two," she said, sounding very agitated. "But what about Dodger?"

"Now he's an interesting case," I said. "On the surface, he appears to be the culprit.  He even confessed that he was the one who kidnapped Dinky, and Limestone here can vouch for him.  However, there are two important things that discount him from being the true mastermind."

"Alright, I'll bite.  What are you talking about?" asked Georgette.

"One, Dodger Dragonvest's clan was only made up of dragons," I said. "However, Limestone said that the goons that led her to the Redvest pack's cells were Diamond Dogs.  That right there is a dead giveaway."

"There are probably several explanations for that," said Georgette dismissively. "But go on."

"The second thing is even more telling," I said. "When I confronted him about Dinky, there was only one thing he was interested in: The mystical gemstones housing the Four Benevolent Animals and his only line to his great 'leader,' Kohryu."

"Why would he be interested in that?" asked Ife.

"Simple.  Because Ms. Mare-Do-Well stole them," I said. "Of course, he thought that I did the deed, and he was planning on releasing Dinky if I forked them over.  Not once did he mention the tribute that was demanded in the ransom notes I got."

"Wait a minute," said Dinky, furrowing her brow. "That eliminates all of the other suspects.  So, it has to be..."

"It's not!" Georgette interrupted. "How could it have been me?!  You have no proof!"

Damn.  She's right.  She might be the only suspect without an alibi, but that doesn't mean anything if I can't prove it.  But, how do I go about doing that?  The only stuff I know about her is from Dodger Dragonvest, and that's because he was going completely gaga over her.  That's not exactly a trustworthy testimony.

"Well well.  It seems you're all out of ideas," Georgette gloated. "There's no shame in admitting that you're wrong, Ms. Star.  We all make mistakes.  Like I said, even the great Sykes Silvervest isn't without his flaws."

Right then and there, something clicked in my mind.  There might just be a way for me to salvage this.  It's a long shot, and quite a big one at that.  But, I don't have any other options right now.

"I want to give you a bit of a hypothetical scenario," I said. "Let's say that tomorrow, marrying outside your pack was officially not taboo.  Would you go back to Sykes Silvervest?"

Georgette tapped her chin with her wand. "What an odd question.  But, in the end, I'd have to say no."

"No?" I said. "Why not?"

"Well, he certainly didn't want me," huffed Georgette. "If he did, he would've fought the system."

"Which is exactly what Dodger Dragonvest is trying to accomplish."

Georgette did a double take. "Wh-what?"

"Oh, didn't you know?  That's what he was after all this time," I said. "He's also in love with you, and he's striking against his boss so that you and he can be together forever."

"Good for him," said Georgette dryly. "I don't see what that has to do with anything, though."

"Then allow me to enlighten you," I said, brushing the underside of my nose. "See, Dragonvest told me that you were rather broken up about Silvervest dumping you, despite your attitude not showing that.  Now, let's suppose that he's right.  Let's suppose that you had some bitterness towards Silvervest for what he did.  Would the thought of revenge cross your mind?"

Sweat poured down Georgette's face as she fiddled with her wand. "R-revenge?  Against Sy?  Even if I wanted that, it would've been suicide!"

"Not unless you played your cards right," I said. "Dodger Dragonvest went on to say that you fully supported his endeavor when he first proposed it to you.  And even now, he keeps on claiming that you're on his side.  Why would he think that unless you kept egging him on?"

"What?!  Now you're just being ridiculous!" Georgette shrieked. "He's probably just crazy!  Ever think of that?!"

"Yes, I have.  And I agree, he's absolutely insane," I said. "But he's not stupid.  After all, he managed to trick a great philosopher into serving him.  He could've easily gotten over you if you told him that you weren't interested.  But you didn't tell him that, did you?"

"Madam, I must warn you against proceeding any further," said Ife sternly. "You're going too far."

"Oh, I haven't even gotten started," I said. "By the way, have you heard about Kohryu's imprisonment?"

Georgette flinched. "Wh-what about it?"

"Kohryu and his Four Benevolent Animals were cursed by a Diamond Dog and imprisoned in four mystical gemstones," I said. "Those mystical gemstones are the same ones that Dodger wanted to get out of me when I confronted him, as I have mentioned before.  Now, he was given a vision that said that one of his own kind was exploiting the misfortune of others.  Sound familiar?"

Georgette narrowed her eyes. "This is your last chance, Ms. Star.  Take back these slanderous lies, or there will be consequences."

"Not until I give you my final proof," I said. "You told me before that your pack is in Baltimare, correct?"

"Y-yes."

"Well, as it just so happens, that's where I grew up," I said. "And according to the latest ransom note I got from the culprit, he knew that, too.  He knew I was adopted, and the only way he could've found out about it was through the orphanage where I was raised.  That brings me to one conclusion."

"Wh-what's that?"

I reared up on my hind legs and pointed an accusatory hoof at Georgette. "Georgette Jadevest, I accuse you of being the mastermind behind all of these attacks!  You manipulated Dodger Dragonvest into planting red herrings that pointed to everyone else while you remained in the clear!  I could even argue that you were the one who cursed Kohryu as part of your plan!  And you did all that just to get back at Sykes Silvervest for dumping you!  Well, Ms. Jadevest?!  What do you have to say to— ack!"

A sudden force wrapped around my neck and pulled me to the ground.  When I looked up, I saw that Georgette's wand was glowing, and that a tether made out of magic was coming out of it and leading straight to me.

"Oops.  Clumsy me," she said innocently. "What was that you were saying?"

"You don't really expect us to buy that, do you?" asked Limestone.

"Well, no," said Georgette. "But that doesn't matter.  Dragon, attack!"

Crackle simply squawked and scratched herself again.  Georgette groaned.

"Why must I do everything myself?" she said, raising her wand. "I said attack!"

She yanked the wand with all her might, and the tether that was around me strangled Crackle.  With a roar of pain, Crackle coughed out a plume of flame.  Luckily, everypony was given enough warning to get out of the way.  I saw Mare-Do-Well rush towards Georgette, only to be blocked by Ife.  With one blow from his paw, Ife sent Mare-Do-Well careening into the wall behind me.

"So sorry about this," said Ife, taking out a small black pearl and rolling it between his fingers. "It's nothing personal."

A blast of ice shot from the pearl, making me believe that it was a piece of Frost Onyx.  I heard Mare-Do-Well grunt as the blast hit her.

"Thank you, Ife," said Georgette, leering at me with hungry eyes. "Now then, where were we?"

"Stop it."

Georgette and I turned to see Derpy with a fierce look in her eyes.

"Stop it right now, you big bully," she said. "If you lay one paw on my daughter, you'll be sorry."

Georgette snickered. "Oh, is that so?  Well, I've got nothing to worry about then."

Derpy blinked. "What?"

"This isn't your daughter," said Georgette, strangling me with her wand again. "This is just a poor, pathetic wretch of a mare that you took pity on."

Okay, now I'm mad.  She is not getting away with that!

"Don't talk about Ammy that way!" Derpy cried, flying toward Georgette.

"Ife."

Once again, Ife stepped out to protect his mistress.  He drew his paw back, ready to strike Derpy as he did to Mare-Do-Well.  At that point, I lost it.

"NO!"

Without thinking, I tried to move Ife's paw back with my magic.  As he struggled against me, Derpy rammed into him at full force and tackled him to the ground.  Georgette glowered at me.

"What do you think you're doing?" she snarled.

"Protecting my family.  What does it look like?" I spat, struggling against the enchantment of the Leash Wand.

Georgette scoffed. "You really think putting on a brave face will make you brave?"

"Shut up," I rasped. "Y-you don't know a thing about me."

"How can you say that when I've successfully used your greatest fears to bend you to my will?" said Georgette with a smug grin.

"Because it's not working," I said. "You think that just because I'm an orphan that I have this big sob story that makes me an easy mark?  Well, here's a reality check for you.  My life wasn't perfect.  And yes, there was a part of me that desperately wanted a family to call my own.  But I was never a charity case.  I could take care of myself just fine.  Derpy flew all the way to Baltimare just so she could adopt me, and she didn't have to do that.  In fact, I never asked her to do that."

I felt my eyes begin to well up with tears as I stared at Georgette with all the contempt I could muster. "But she did it anyway.  And it wasn't out of pity; it was because she thought it was best for me.  We bonded in a way only a family could, and this was before she adopted me.  And Dinky helped put my life into perspective and always put a smile on my face.  I love them both with all my heart.  And if you think hurting them is going to make me your slave, you're out of your mind!"

"You tell her, Sparky!" cheered Limestone.

Georgette yanked her wand again, causing Crackle to cough up another plume of flame.

"Yeesh!  I wasn't aware you were in the mood for a roasted peanut gallery," said Limestone.

Another plume of flame was forced out of Crackle.

"Okay, seriously.  Stop doing that," said Limestone. "I'm trying to protect a kid over here."

I turned my head and saw that Limestone was shielding Dinky with her forelegs.  Well, that's a load off my mind.  Now how am I gonna get out of this?

"Ammy!"

Derpy had recovered from her collision with Ife and started running towards me.  However, Ife had recovered as well, and quickly grabbed Derpy by the tail.

"That, was uncalled for," he said, giving Derpy a disapproving glare.  He then raised his paw to strike her when I heard somepony clear her throat.

"I wouldn't be too hasty if I were you."

All eyes were now on Mare-Do-Well, who had just freed herself from her icy prison.

"Oh really?  Pray tell, why should I listen to you?" asked Ife.

"Because I have these," said Mare-Do-Well.

With that, she reached into her cloak and produced four mystical gemstones.  I'd say that they were the same four as the ones holding the Four Benevolent Animals, but they seemed to have lost their luster.  Georgette became as white as a sheet.

"G-give those to me.  Now," she said.

"Why should I?" asked Mare-Do-Well. "You don't deserve them.  In fact, I might just destroy them just so that no one else can abuse their power."

Georgette snickered. "You wouldn't dare.  If you do that, it'll kill them."

"How do I know you're not lying about that?"

"What do you mean, you freak?"

"Maybe destroying them will set them free."

"Impossible!  My curse was meant to bind them for life!"

"That's all I needed to hear," said Mare-Do-Well.  She then fiddled with the Iron Diamond and raised it aloft. "Sturdy as steel!"

There was a pregnant pause where nothing happened.  Mare-Do-Well sighed.

"Well, so much for the charade," she said, tossing the gemstones over her shoulder.

"What?!  No!" Georgette shrieked. "Don't—"

But it was too late.  The stones landed behind Mare-Do-Well with a crash and shattered into a thousand pieces.  Georgette clenched her paws into fists, as if trying to hold back a temper tantrum.

"Ife, summon the others!" she barked. "Have them lay waste to these ingrates!"

"A-at once, mistress!" said Ife, taking out a dog whistle.  After blowing on it once, a series of barks echoed all around us.  Georgette laughed manically.

"Now you will all see why I am destined to be the greatest Diamond Dog who ever lived!" she proclaimed.

"Power gained through malevolence cannot compare to a piece of broccoli."

The barks of the Jadevest pack was drowned out by a familiar, booming voice.  Mare-Do-Well snickered.

"He's late," she said. "Either that or I was early.  I suppose it's all academic now."

Before I could ask what was going on, Byakko crashed in through the ceiling, blocking one of the tunnels.  From another, I saw a sheet of ice materialize from thin air, and several Diamond Dogs slipped and fell in a heap.  Fire rained down on the group trying to get past Byakko, who was then accompanied by a pair of timberwolves controlled by Seiryu.  As this was going on, Kohryu himself appeared, staring down at Georgette.

"You have no one to blame but yourself for this outcome," said he. "Though I do find it amusing that a powerful mage such as yourself was bested by a jeweler's apprentice."

"This isn't over, you great worm!" Georgette barked, raising her wand. "I cursed you before, and I can do it a—"

Kohryu's eyes glowed bright red, and the wand in her paw shattered.  She stumbled and fell to the ground.  Ife dropped Derpy and rushed to her side.

"Mistress, I do believe we should retreat," he said. "We cannot win here."

"Oh, you're not going anywhere."

Just then, the place was surrounded by the Diamond Dogs of the Redvest pack.  Rover, Fido, and Spot emerged from the crowd and towered over Georgette and Ife.

"Our pal Kohryu here told us that the po— I mean, Ms. Star, was close to finding the one behind all our troubles," said Rover. "I didn't think it would be you."

"Th-this is all a misunderstanding," said Georgette. "I-it's Dodger you want, not me.  He..."

"Save it for Sykes Silvervest," said Rover. "Spot, go tell him the good news.  Fido, take these two to the dungeons and take the dragon to the main chamber.  Make sure she's treated with the utmost care."

"Right away, Boss," said Fido and Spot in unison.

"Wait, stop!  Don't do this!" Georgette screamed. "You can't do this to me!  You're nothing!  Sy will never believe you!  I'll have your vest for this, Rover!  You'll..."

"Oh, quit whining like a pony," said Rover. "Erm, no offense, Ms. Star."

"None taken," I said. "I want her to shut up, too."

As the Redvest pack carried Georgette, Ife, and Crackle away, Derpy and Dinky ran up to me and gave me a big hug.

"I-I'm so proud of you, Ammy," Derpy cooed.

I sighed as tears started rolling down my cheeks. "I-I dunno, Mom.  I-I don't think I was that great.  Half the time, I was just guessing.  A-and I lied to Dinky in order to protect her, and I kept risking my neck, and I felt so bad about you guys getting hurt because of me, and..."

"Your hooves are cold."

"And my hooves are...  What?"

I looked down at Dinky, who was prodding my hooves.  She looked up at me and smiled.

"The coldest hooves hide the warmest heart," she quipped. "You're not perfect, Amethyst.  Nopony is.  But you fought for what you believe in, even when things looked bad.  And that's why we're proud of you."

I-I couldn't hold it in anymore.  I burst into tears as I pulled Derpy and Dinky closer.

"Thank you," I said. "I-I love you both so, so much."

"We love you too, Ammy," said Derpy.

"We do indeed," Dinky chirped.

I smiled through my tears.  My thoughts drifted back to that first day I met Derpy Hooves and Dinky Doo.  I-I'm really lucky to have these two ponies in my life.  Even though we're not related by blood, they're still my family.  And nothing, but nothing, will ever change that.
> Heading Home
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


July 13: 11:55 PM
Everfree Forest
Northern Timberline
***


After having my moment with Derpy and Dinky, Kohryu was kind enough to bring us back to the surface.  As soon as we got there, we saw practically everypony in Ponyville waiting outside with Princess Twilight Sparkle at the head of the mob.  Before I could ask any questions, a familiar pink blur flew out from the crowd.

"Key Lime!"

Pinkie Pie rushed out and gave Limestone a big squeeze.  Limestone let out a strained chuckle.

"Oof~!  Easy there, Pink," she grunted. "Man, you really don't know your own strength sometimes."

"Oopsie.  Sorry," said Pinkie, releasing her sister. "It's just that it's so good to see you're alright!  Just wait until we get back to the rock farm!  Everypony's gonna be so happy, and we'll have a big party!"

Limestone blinked. "Really, Pinkie?  After everything I've been through today, the first thing you want to do is throw me a party?"

"Well, yeah," said Pinkie with a shrug. "Why not?"

"Well, let's see.  How about the fact that it's the middle of the night, and everypony on the rock farm is probably asleep?" said Limestone.

"Then we'll surprised them!"

"I, don't think Dad's gonna like that."

"What's not to like, Key Lime?  You've been rescued!"

"Yeah, but look at me, Pinkie.  I was dragged around by Diamond Dogs, I nearly got roasted by a dragon, who by the way was my only companion for the majority of this mess, I haven't had a bite to eat all day, and oh yeah, it's the middle of the flipping night!  Sorry, but I just don't have the energy for a party right now."

"Well, how about tomorrow then?  We can make it a breakfast party!"

Limestone paused for a minute, and then sighed. "Alright, fine.  But there had better be food.  And I mean real food, not just those special rocks ole Stick-in-the-Maud digs up."

Pinkie pouted. "I wish you wouldn't call her that," she huffed.

"Well, I wish you'd stop calling me Key Lime.  We can't all get what we want," said Limestone with a shrug. "Besides, she knows I don't mean it.  I love all you guys, and you know that."

Pinkie's pursed lips curled into a warm smile. "Yeah, I know," she said. "And by the way, Marble misses you something terrible.  She's trying to be strong for you, but I can tell that she's hurting inside.  She's gonna be so glad to see that you're okay."

Limestone became all misty-eyed. "Aw, darn it, Pink.  Wh-why'd you have to go and say that?  N-now I've got something in my eye."

Pinkie giggled. "It's alright, Key Lime.  Everything's okay now."

The two sisters then embraced again.  Honestly, it was hard not to feel all warm and fuzzy inside watching them reunite.  I'll bet you anything that by sunrise tomorrow, the Pies are gonna have one heck of a party.

"Derpy Hooves!  Sparkler!"

A sharp voice snapped me out of my daydream, and my warm fuzzy feeling was replaced with a sense of dread.  Turning around, I saw Carrot Top march out of the crowd and make a beeline for us.

"I was worried sick about you two!" she scolded. "Why did you both have to run off like that?!  You could've gotten yourselves killed!"

"Sorry, Carrot Top," said Derpy, hanging her head in shame. "B-but, we had to rescue Dinky.  We couldn't just leave her in the paws of those bullies."

Carrot Top sighed. "Look, I get it, Derpy.  I really do.  I was just as worried about Dinky as you were.  But if you took a moment to think this through rationally, you'd realize that Princess Twilight was already prepared for this."

I blinked. "Wait, she was?  But, how could that be?"

"I can explain that," said Princess Twilight, stepping forward. "I managed to find a spell that would free the Four Benevolent Animals and Kohryu from their curse.  From there, we shared some basic information and formed a plan in case the culprit struck again.  Isn't that right, Kohryu?"

"Indeed, that is correct," said Kohryu with a nod. "Of course, we didn't expect you and Hooves Derpy to run off like you did.  Still, I think everything turned out quite well, considering."

"It sure did," said Derpy, giving Dinky a hug. "We're all safe and sound, Carrot Top.  So there's nothing for you to get mad about."

Carrot Top sighed. "You're missing the point, Derpy.  You really could've gotten yourself hurt."

"But I didn't," said Derpy with a shrug. "Ammy was there to protect me, and I was there to protect her.  And we also had Ms. Mare-Do-Well, Mr. Kohryu, and Mr. Redvest on our side.  Even when things were at their worst, we all pulled through together."

"And I'm very happy for that, but what you did was still very stupid," said Carrot Top.

"So?  I'm always doing stupid stuff," said Derpy. "What makes this any different?"

Carrot Top let out an exasperated groan and smacked her forehead. "Why do I try?  Why do I bother?  Why do I bother to try; why do I try to bother?"

I chuckled.  I know from experience that it's almost impossible to argue with Derpy.  Part of it is because she's so stubborn, and the other part is that she's a kook who doesn't use the same logic other ponies do.  And yet she's not as weird as the Pies.  But, I still love her anyway.  And I know Carrot Top does, too.

"So, I take it the Diamond Dogs decided to deal with the culprits themselves," said Princess Twilight.

"Redvest Rover insisted on that, Sparkle Twilight.  I couldn't convince him otherwise," said Kohryu.

Princess Twilight frowned. "Well, their crimes are still punishable under Equestrian law.  I still would've preferred bringing them to trial."

"I wouldn't bother with it," I said. "Whatever punishment Sykes Silvervest is going to dole out to those jerks is more than enough.  Besides, I can understand where the Redvest pack is coming from.  They need to reclaim their standing with the other packs after a certain incident."

"Ah, I see," said Princess Twilight with a nod. "And, what about that Dodger Dragonvest fellow who took advantage of Kohryu?"

"Last I saw him, he was getting the tar beaten out of him by Silvervest's bodyguards," I said. "I think it's safe to say that he's not gonna be causing any trouble anytime soon.  Even if he did escape from Silvervest, those teenage dragons he tricked still want his hide."

Kohryu sighed and shook his head. "It's times like this that I wish I could educate my western cousins properly.  Instant gratification only lasts an instant, after all.  Unless you gain something else from it, in which case, it doesn't.  Hmm, did I say that right?"

I still find it amazing that a supposedly great philosopher could let himself go senile like this.  I mean, Princess Celestia's much older than he is, and her mind's still as sharp as ever.  She's still allowed to run the entire country, for pony's sake.  So what's Kohryu's excuse?

"Eh, it doesn't matter," said Kohryu with a dismissive wave of his claw. "I'll probably remember it later.  For now, I think it's time my acolytes and I depart.  My nest has remained empty for too many moons, and I'm sure my colleagues will be overjoyed to see me return."

"Before you go, may I ask you something?" asked Princess Twilight.

"You may," said Kohryu.

Princess Twilight cleared her throat. "Well, as one of the rulers of Equestria, part of my duties is establishing relationships with other nations and species.  I was wondering if you would be interested in becoming Equestria's official ambassador for eastern dragons.  I'm sure I can arrange something with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna."

Kohryu furrowed his brow. "I am quite flattered by your offer, Sparkle Twilight.  However, I feel that I'm much too old for such a responsibility," said he. "But if you will allow it, I'm sure my acolytes can act in my stead.  All of them uphold their noble title as the Four Benevolent Animals, and they are willing to share my knowledge with the world."

The Four Benevolent Animals nodded in agreement.  Princess Twilight put a hoof to her muzzle.

"Well, I suppose that could work," she said. "I think.  Again, I'm kinda new to this.  I'll send Princess Celestia a letter and get back to you."

"How will you do that when you don't know where I live?" asked Kohryu.

Princess Twilight blushed. "Oh.  Sorry."

"It's quite alright," said Kohryu with a laugh. "My home lies just beyond Equestria's southeastern border.  Feel free to visit if you have the time.  And with that, I must be off.  Oh, and one last thing before I forget."

"What's that?"

Kohryu then turned to me and smiled. "On behalf of myself and the Four Benevolent Animals, Star Amethyst, I thank you," he said with a bow. "Your desire for justice is truly what won the day."

I felt my cheeks get warm as he said that. "Oh, well...  Uh, thanks.  I guess," I said sheepishly. "Honestly, I don't want ponies or dragons or whatever singing my praises.  I just did what I thought was right."

Kohryu's smile broadened. "Wise words, Star Amethyst.  And I'm sure a shared acquaintance of ours will agree.  And with that, I bid you all fare well."

With that, he and the Four Benevolent Animals lifted off into the sky and disappeared over the horizon.  As we all watched in awe, I felt Dinky poke my leg.  Puzzled, I looked over at her.

"What is it, Dink?" I asked.

"I was wondering where Ms. Mare-Do-Well is," Dinky whispered. "She seemed to have disappeared before we could thank her properly."

Looking up, I saw that Dinky was right.  Mare-Do-Well apparently slipped away during the confusion when Kohryu busted in on the Jadevest pack.  I shrugged.

"Who knows?  That pony is quite a mystery," I said.

Dinky giggled. "Well of course.  After all, she is the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well."

I laughed along with her.  I might've said this before, but I am so glad she's alright.  And to think I was so worried about traumatizing her.  Ah well, you live; you learn.


***
July 14, 12:10 AM
Ponyville
Golden Harvest's House
***


As soon as I got home, I went right upstairs in the hopes that I would get a good night's sleep.  When I got to my room, I noticed that the door was ajar.  Curious, I opened it up to see Mare-Do-Well leaning against the wall.  I deadpanned.

"Really?  This is where you ran off to?" I asked. "Why did you run off, anyway?"

"I was never one for crowds and recognition, Ms. Sparkler," said Mare-Do-Well. "I prefer to let my actions speak for themselves."

Just like the old Mare-Do-Well.  I wonder if whoever created her did that intentionally.

"Well, right now, I don't know what your actions are saying," I said. "Why are you here?"

"I just wanted to thank you for your help," said Mare-Do-Well. "I know I'm not the easiest pony to work with, so I'm glad you bared with me."

"Yeah, well.  Next time you feel like you need help, just be more assertive about it," I said. "I'm sure ponies will appreciate the straightforward honesty."

"Right.  I'll, try to keep that in mind," said Mare-Do-Well, clearing her throat.  She then sighed. "But you must understand, Ms. Sparkler.  Even after all this time, I find that it's not that simple for me.  After all, my identity is supposed to be a secret."

"Says who?" I said with a shrug. "You know, just because you were modeled after the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well doesn't mean you have to be mysterious."

Mare-Do-Well obscured her eyes with her hat. "Again, it's not that simple.  I don't fully understand why, but it just isn't."

"Well, maybe you can talk about it with Princess Twilight," I said. "She is the Princess of Friendship, after all.  She could give you some pointers."

"Perhaps when I become more comfortable with this concept," said Mare-Do-Well. "For now, I must continue my quest to protect those in peril."

"Well, at least you're doing something noble and productive with your time," I said. "Does that mean you'll be leaving Ponyville?"

"For now.  After all, Princess Twilight Sparkle is still the only pony I trust to repair my core," said Mare-Do-Well. "But who knows when that will be."

"I see," I said. "Well, before you go, I wanted to ask you something."

"Yes?"

"That whole plan with Kohryu and Ponyville.  You didn't happen to have a hoof in that, did you?"

Mare-Do-Well snickered. "Nicely deduced, Ms. Sparkler.  Indeed, I did coordinate with Princess Twilight Sparkle and Kohryu.  We didn't know what exactly was going to happen, but we figured it best to be prepared."

I smirked. "Well, thank you for that," I said. "If it wasn't for you, I don't think we would've made it out of there alive.  Heck, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have mustered up the courage to do all this."

Mare-Do-Well tipped her hat at me. "No need to thank me, Ms. Sparkler.  I'm just doing what I think is right."

Just then, I heard a tap on my door.

"That must be Dinky," I said. "Come in."

The door opened, and sure enough, Derpy and Dinky were right there.

"We didn't wake you, did we, Ammy?" asked Derpy.

"No, you didn't," I said. "I was just talking to..."

I gestured with my hoof, only to find that Mare-Do-Well had vanished and that my window was open.  I still don't know why or how she does that.  I mean, doesn't she realize how annoying that is?

"Talking to whom?" asked Dinky.

"Mare-Do-Well," I said with a sigh. "Sorry, you just missed her.  She's probably off on another adventure or something."

"Oh," said Dinky, looking a bit disappointed. "I really wanted to thank her."

"I'm sure it's alright, Muffin," said Derpy, patting Dinky on the head. "I think to her, being able to help is thanks enough."

"Yeah, that's what she told me," I said. "Anyway, what's up?"

"We talked about it with Mr. Karat, and he says he's willing to give you the day off tomorrow after everything you've been through," said Dinky. "So, I was thinking we could celebrate by going to the Pie Rock Farm and join Pinkie's party to celebrate the rescue of Ms. Limestone."

I smiled and yawned. "That's, a nice thought, Dink.  But, I think we're all exhausted.  I dunno about you, but I'm planning to sleep in tomorrow."

Derpy and Dinky looked at each other, and then turned to me.

"Well, if that's how you feel, Ammy, I think you deserve it," said Derpy. "You really did a lot for us."

"You sure did," said Dinky, trotting up to me. "Just, one last thing."

"What is it?" I said, leaning down.

Dinky gave me a peck on the cheek. "We love you, Amethyst.  Just as much as you love us.  You're a great big sister."

I smiled and mussed up Dinky's mane. "Thanks, Dink.  I'm, glad you think that," I said. "Now, I think it's time we all got some sleep.  It's been a rough day."

"Mmm-hmm," said Derpy. "Sweet dreams, Ammy."

"Good night, Amethyst," said Dinky.

"Yeah, 'night," I said.

With that, Derpy and Dinky left.  As they did, I felt the guilt that I experienced throughout this entire ordeal just evaporate from my being.  They're safe and sound, and I managed to protect them.  I really do belong in this family.

Right then, I think it's time I wrapped this up.  Thank you for listening to me ramble on like this.  I hope you at least got something out of it.  As for me, I'm glad it's all over.  Now, I can get back to my normal life here in Pony—

Pffft~.  Okay, I can't say that with a straight face.  There's no such thing as a normal life in Ponyville.  Heh, man I love this town.  It may be crazy, but to me, it's home.  Alright, I'm gonna shut up now.  G'night.


***
The Gemstone Godfather
~
End