Day Four Twilight
Twilight galloped as fast as she could. She had to find him in time. She had gone to Zecora's but had found it empty. She was in a hurry and so had taken what she needed. She would apologize later. She didn't want Spike and Rarity to go through one more second of agony. She turned a corner and increased speed. She turned again and saw her library. She flew to the door, opened it, and bolted it. She looked through her bag she had slung over her back. Yes everything was in there. She turned to her pedestal and flipped through the book.
"Hey Twilight!"
"Hey Pinkie Pie." Twilight turned a few more pages then paused.
"Wait… Pinkie Pie?" Twilight turned around. No one was there. She turned back.
I must be over stressed.
She flipped one more page and found what she was looking for. A entry on how to capture a Vexation Imp.
How To Capture A Vexation Imp
The first thing one who is hunting a Vexation Imp needs to know is how to stop them. They hate the touch of bamboo. If hit, prodded, poked, or rubbed with bamboo they with shriek with pain. Another test is that they are utterly powerless if trapped in a net soaked in peach juice. The next step to know is how to undo their magic. If they have ensnared a victim he or she can be brought out of their trance if they come in contact with bamboo. If multiple victims are made then only if the first is hit with bamboo will they all come back to normal.(see bottom for additional ways to cure Vexation Magic). Be warned, if the Imp is particularly strong than he will have to be captured before the victims are cured. Once the hunter has found the right tools and has his facts straight it's time to hunt. The first thing to deduce is what does your Imp look like. It is most likely near by. If the victims live on a farm or other isolated countryside, than look in any gathering of plants. Forests, shrubs, or gardens are a good guess. If the victims live in a city, town, or kingdom then the Imp has most likely taken an inconspicuous form and nested itself amongst the residents. But know this. A Vexation Imp can't create. It can only distort and twist. If the hunter sees a creature they do not recognize that bears similarities to another resident of the town, city, or kingdom then proceed with caution! A telltale sign is to check residents for bites. If he or she was bitten there is a good chance that the Vexation Imp is using their body as a template. As stated previously Vexation Imps can't create. They will suck the idea out of the being with a bite, usually so delicately it is often mistaken for an insect, and uses their image to move about unnoticed. There are some things however that they can not copy of twist.
They can not steal or copy memories
They can not steal or copy personalities eg. Athleticism, intelligence, enthusiasm
They can not steal or copy cutiemarks, flaming signs or other sacred markings
They can not steal or copy magical abilities, eg. Hovering, teleportation, multiplication
They can not steal or copy feelings from the heart eg. Caring for things, loving family, friends
If a hunter can correctly identify the Vexation Imp than there is only one thing left. Capturing it! Using a net soaked in peach juice will get the job done. If not available than bamboo will work as well. A jar with an anti-shatter charm on it will also work in a pinch. If all else fails than water will cause it to change shape and revert back to its original form. At all costs DON'T CONVERSE WITH THE SUSPECT. A VEXATION IMP WILL LIE OR SAY ANYTHING TO AVOID BEING CAUGHT! So be careful and good luck! You're going to need it!
As Twilight finished reading the last sentences of the entry she shuddered. The more she learned about these creatures the more she felt that they were all in trouble. She had refrained from telling her friends about the imp. She didn't want to worry them.
They couldn't handle this. Especially Fluttershy!
"Bye Twilight!"
"Bye Pinkie Pie," Twilight said over her shoulder. "Wait… Pinkie Pie!"
Pinkie had almost gone through the door when she stopped.
"Yes Twilight?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Oh I was… I was… here to see Spike about something? Yeah that's it, definitely!" She said, suddenly looking nervous. She was shifting from one hoof to the other.
"What about?" Twilight asked interestedly.
"Oh I…" Pinkie Pie looked around the room. Her eyes landed on a statue of an old wizard pony. She quickly turned her back to Twilight and shoved her hoof into the pony's mouth. She turned around and showed Twilight the dark, purple, bruise on her hoof.
"I had a nasty bite mark and I was wondering if Spike would look at it," she said, now nodding.
"Why Spike?" Twilight asked. "Wouldn't Nurse Redheart be a better choice?"
"Well I thought that since Spike is a dragon he might know more about bites."
"Okay" said Twilight slowly. "If you say so."
"Well see you lat–" but before she could even finish her sentence, Pinkie had run out of the room.
"Okay then," said Twilight as she turned away.
I shouldn't be worrying about Pinkie Pie and her silly bite anyway. I need to find Spike–
Her thoughts were cut short when Spike burst through a door and ran for the entrance.
I've got to stop him!
Quickly Twilight jumped in front of him.
"Hold on Spike!" She proclaimed.
"I'm here to save you!"
"Yeah whatever," he said.
"Look I'm in kind of a hurry here so if you would just move I can still––"
"Hold on Spike." She rummaged in her bag and pulled out her bamboo stick.
"What are you doing? I'm going to be late anyway and–Ow!" Twilight hit him with the stick. Nothing happened. She started whacking him over and over.
"What are you– stop doing– STOP STOP!"
Twilight stopped, looking disappointed.
He must of attacked Rarity first!
"What was that for?" Spike said angrily.
"I guess he didn't start with you. I need to find her then and fast!"
"What are you talking about?"
Twilight checked the clock.
"I need to go see her now!" she said and without any explanation she left.
I need to find Rarity.
She looked and looked. But couldn't find her. She did however cause a thirteen cart pileup, knock over three fruit baskets, ruin a cake, break a ladder, and cause a filly to smash into a tree with her scooter. As the filly dragged her mangled scooter away muttering, Twilight thought where Rarity might be. She wasn't at Sweet Apple Acres, SugarCube Corner, the boutique, or the library.
Maybe she is at the cafe. She likes tea.
She galloped over to the cafe as fast as she could.
Twilight looked around and spotted Rarity sitting at a table.
Ah! There she is.
She took a moment to register the situation.
Is that Spike?
Thats weird. I never would guess that they would want to be in the same room together. Unless–
She looked again. Rarity was making big flamboyant gestures in the air. She looked as if she was trying to make a big body shaped image.
She must be getting worse.
Twilight turned to Spike. He was mashing his teeth together. What's more he was glaring at somepony.
He must be getting worse too!
She then looked at the pony that Spike was glaring at. Twilight's mouth dropped open. Standing there was a hideous creature. It had a brown, misshapen mane, and when Twilight looked at the creature's side, she saw nothing but a drawing of a cup. But there was something familiar about the face. The tail too. It took Twilight a couple of seconds to realize that the creature looked a little like Pinkie Pie. And the truth came rushing towards Twilight in one awful moment. The anger, the gestures, the fact that Spike and Rarity were sitting together, the creature, and Pinkie's bite.
That… that thing pretending to be a waitress, is the Imp! I have to capture it!
The creature was turning to leave. As it clawed it's way towards the cafe, Twilight followed it. She saw it duck behind the store and head down a dark and mysterious alley. She snuck up and peered around the bend. She saw that it had stolen a tray of tea and was picking it up and turning to go.
It must have taken the tea so it could look like it worked there! It's good alright!
The Imp was turning now, about to come up the alley. Twilight quickly pulled her head back and waited for the creature to come closer.
I hope it didn't see me!
It was coming closer and closer now, it didn't quicken its pace so it hopefully hadn't seen Twilight.
But, Twilight shuddered, it could be trying to trick me.
From what she had seen it was very clever. The creature was very close now. Twilight could hear its foul, ragged breath. The creature came to the front of the alley with the tray, turned, and thinking that no one was there, it began to walk to the front of the store. At that moment Twilight pounced on the creature! There was a scuffle and after a few minutes, Twilight had the fiend in a net, soaked of course, in peach juice.
"Hey! What happened? Who's got me? Lemme go!" Said the creature. But, not listening to the creature, Twilight hoisted it over her back and started the long walk home.