Part 17 – Lost
The next morning, Dazzleglow was up with the birds, pacing the length of the living room. She paced up and down, left and right. As per, Starglow was the first up, and she caught Dazzleglow mid-pace, directing her to a chair. From there, Starglow made tea.
"Any idea when Sparkler's due back?" Starglow asked, handing Dazzleglow a steaming mug of tea.
Dazzleglow shook her head, holding the cup between her hooves. "I'm guessing she'll make her way back here."
"I'm sure she'll be fine."
There came a knock to the door, Dazzleglow rushing to her feet and over to the door. She threw it open, expecting to find Sparkler, however, was surprised to find it was the Flutter Pony, Peach Blossom instead. Nonetheless, Dazzleglow greeted her with a smile and ushered her in.
"Peach Blossom!" Starglow exclaimed. She put her cup down and rushed over to the Flutter Pony. She gathered her up into a hug.
Peach Blossom laughed and returned it. "I did not realise my presence would be so well received."
Starglow let her go. "You're always welcome here."
Dazzleglow sat down once more, while Starglow wandered off to the kitchen.
"This is a lovely home," Peach Blossom remarked, "You've decorated it so accordingly."
"I thought you were still in Flutter Valley," Dazzleglow said.
Peach Blossom shook her head. "I came here after we noticed ponies lie Applejack. I decided to conduct an investigation and observe other vicinities of Pony Land."
"Did you find anything?"
Peach Blossom sighed. "Regrettably, no. Nothing we don't already know about dealing with Applejack."
"What about Princess Aquamarine?"
"I did pay a visit to Royal Paradise, to see what advice they could offer. They are aware of it, and are observing it."
Starglow returned with more tea, having heard Happyglow and Brightglow moving around. She set their cups next to their chairs, and handed a cup to Peach Blossom.
Happyglow and Brightglow came into the room, Happyglow's gaze falling to Peach Blossom. For a moment, she held an unreadable expression, one that was not missed by Starglow or Dazzleglow. Neither said a word, and they watched as Happyglow schooled her features into a smile.
"How have things been here?" Peach Blossom asked.
The glowing magical ponies exchanged a look.
"Has something occurred?"
"No doubt you sensed that I have wards put around outside," Dazzleglow began.
Peach Blossom nodded. "Around the perimeter, yes. Quite powerful ones at that. Princess Aquamarine was not exaggerating your gasp in the element of magic."
"It wasn't enough. Something got in last night, and now we think the baby ponies here are being taken by the pale ponies."
Peach Blossom frowned. " What do you mean it wasn't enough?"
"Brightglow heard the same things Dazzleglow did at Paradise Estate," Happyglow interjected. "Then a shadow got in. This was after something stood at Dazzleglow's window for a few nights." There was an accusatory tone to her voice that did not go past either Starglow or Dazzleglow.
Starglow stood up, grabbed Happyglow and all but dragged her from the room. Dazzleglow clenched her jaw, determined she would not let this upset her. She couldn't help but feel this rift, Happyglow's frayed temper and nerves were down to her.
Brightglow noticed her upset, despite her attempts to hide it. She moved closer to Dazzleglow, nuzzled her neck and sat next to the chair.
"I fear my arrival has caused a rift among you," Peach Blossom remarked.
Brightglow shook her head. "No, don't worry about it. Happyglow has always been a bit of a hothead."
Peach Blossom heaved a sigh, finished her tea and stood up. "I'm sure I can meet with you later." She left the room, pausing to nod to Happyglow and Starglow, before she left the house.
Starglow came through to the living area. "There, now look what you've done."
Happyglow returned also, looking every bit the scolded baby pony. "Excuse me for being worried about Dazzleglow."
Starglow rounded on her. "That's no excuse to be rude and drive a guest out of our home!"
"Starglow, Happyglow. Please," Dazzleglow said, holding her hooves up. "There's plenty of time for worry and arguments later. We still need to meet up with Sparkler and find out what happened at the Berrytown house."
Starglow and Happyglow glanced to one another. Happyglow mouthed an apology, leaning into Starglow. Starglow held her for a moment, then ruffled her mane.
They returned to the living area, finished their tea, and began to get ready to leave. Dazzleglow was finished first, and immediately went outside, wandering around the edge of their house. She lit up her horn, checked each one of her wards, then, once satisfied, she moved onto the next. By the time she was finished, the rest of her friends were ready to leave and they headed into town.
When they reached the town centre, Mr Berrytown and Sparkler were waiting for them on the bench. Sparkler waved to them, then stood up, trotting over.
"Are you all right?" Dazzleglow asked, hugging Sparkler briefly.
Sparkler nodded. "I'm fine."
"Did you find anything?" Starglow said.
"We did," Mr Berrytown answered. "Why don't you go ahead and tell them?"
"Turns out Logan can't sleep."
At the confused look the glowing ponies held, Mr Berrytown added, "My son."
"He's suffering the same things as what Baby Moondancer was. Knocking, cold, something rearranging the furniture in his room. He goes out, then comes back to his furniture in completely different places."
"How long has this been going on for?" Starglow asked.
Mr Berrytown sighed. "Since my daughter went missing."
Sparkler cleared her throat. "There was something else. Logan mentioned his friend, Corny, at the Meadowsweet farm, that his sister Daisy is missing too."
There was the familiar tinkle of Flutter Pony wings, and Sparkler's eyes widened. She looked up sharply, just in time to see Peach Blossom flying overhead. The Flutter Pony looked down, then swooped down to where they stood in the town square. She landed carefully, bowed her head to Happyglow, and promptly found herself engulfed in a hug from Sparkler.
She laughed, then disentangled Sparkler from her. "By that greeting, I should assume my presence has been missed."
Sparkler nodded, a wide smile on her face.
"Happyglow, my deepest, most sincere apologies for earlier. I did not mean to disrupt your day, nor do I intend to endanger Dazzleglow or any of you."
Happyglow sighed. "No, Peach Blossom, it should be me apologising. We thought it was over, now it turns out it's back, and even worse than before."
"There is no need for you to do so. I understand your worries, and indeed I share them. However, as before, I will do all within my power to help you contain whatever magic has befallen."
Happyglow smiled. "Thank you, Peach Blossom."
Starglow spent the time filling Peach Blossom in of the occurrences that happened since Sparkler's arrival. Peach Blossom listened, her expression growing grim when Starglow described the creature in their home.
"I believe I may have to conduct a thorough observation of these events, particularly when they have got past Dazzleglow's magic."
Happyglow nodded. "That makes sense. Perhaps we need Flutter Pony magic as well as Dazzleglow's."
After reassurances they would find Mr Berrytown's daughter, as well as speaking to the Meadowsweet family, the glowing ponies, followed by Peach Blossom and Sparkler, returned home.
When the house came into view, it was clear to them something was wrong. The stars in the roof did not shine as brightly, indeed, some did not shine at all. Dazzleglow galloped over to her wards, scuffed her hoof against the ground then lit her horn up. The ward did not appear.
Dazzleglow's chest tightened, her breathing coming in short gasps. This couldn't be happening.
With her horn still lit, and Peach Blossom by her side, she entered the house. At the very least, it was not in disarray, though this did nothing to ease her mind. She remembered the story from Baby Glory and Baby Moondancer about the toys in the nursery being placed so perfectly.
Something at the end of the corridor ran from one door to another, the slam of wood against the doorframe echoing. Dazzleglow took a breath, tried to calm her breathing and loosen the tightness.
They moved along the corridor to the room. It was in pitch darkness. The candles that had been lit before now gone, the smell of smoke hanging in the air. The white smoke drifted to the ceiling, some blowing out of the window.
Dazzleglow looked around the room for anything out of place, a particularly black corner or shape. There was nothing, only the white smoke from the candles.
She left the room and went to the next one. Once more, the same sights greeted her. Smoke, blown out candles, everything in its place. That seemed to unnerve her even more than if it had been thrown to the four winds.
Peach Blossom sensed her unease and crept into the room. She found the matches after rifling through drawer after drawer. She lit the candles then picked one up. She brought it with her when she followed Dazzleglow when the glowing unicorn was satisfied there was nothing in this room.
The next room was not so peaceful.
This room was in disarray. Drawers pulled out, tables out of place and stood diagonally from their place. Papers were strewn, tablecloths lay on the floor, the rug folded at the corner to reveal the floorboards.
Peach Blossom hovered above the floor, swinging the candle around to bounce the light off of each wall as much as possible. It was then they saw it. A creature hunched in the corner, covered in one of the tablecloths. When Peach Blossom flew toward it, candle held out in front of her, it stood up on shaky legs.
It was the height of Peach Blossom, long, spindly legs sticking out at awkward angles. Its head tilted to one side in a jerky movement, as if it weren't used to the form it inhabited. It took a step, then another, legs clicking and bones creaking.
Peach Blossom sat the candle down, flew into the air and used her Utter Flutter on it. When the wind and sparkling flecks of light touched it, it hissed and scrambled away. It kept moving, scurrying from piece of furniture to furniture, using each as a shield before it scampered out of the room and out of the front door.