“Come on Twilight.” Spike was using his trademark ‘just one more gem’ voice. “You’ve been studying that spell for days. You should take a break.” Twilight looked up from the workbench. “Spike. Princess Celestia wouldn’t have sent it to me if she didn’t want me to figure it out.” “Well, yeah, but right now she’s busy with Luna and Cadance at the Princess Summit. Besides, it’s been unfinished for hundreds of years. I’m sure it can last another day or two.” “I know, I know, it’s just frustrating,” she said, pawing the floor. “Have you tried casting it?” “Cast an incomplete, unknown spell?” She looked at him like he’d just suggested unlimited ice cream day again. “That would be extremely irresponsible! No, I have to finish my analysis first.” “Well, you still need a break. What about Pinkie’s ‘it’s a nice day to have a party’ party?” he said, fixing her with a stare. “Even when you drag your hooves about going, you’re always happy about it later.” Twilight could only meet his gaze for a second before looking away. “Alright, Spike, you’re right,” she said, her magic sweeping everything into neat piles before she followed him to the door. Let’s go!” [hr] Twilight had a bounce to her step. “That was a really fun party.” “See? I told you you’d like it. I still don’t understand why you’re leaving so early, though. Celestia only set the sun an hour ago.” “Well, Rainbow's description of the wind in her latest stunt gave me an idea about the spell,” she said, pushing open the library door. Spike hopped off and trailed her to the workroom, but the moment she opened the door she froze, ears aquiver. She sniffed the air and her eyes roamed over at her note-strewn worktable. “What’s wrong, Twilight?” Spike followed her in. Twilight caught movement in the corner of her eye and lit her horn. A cloaked and hooded figure stared back for a split second before bolting. Barely a second later, Twilight was on their heels. “Hey, who are you? Come back! Thief!” Spike missed his grab as she rocketed past and out the front door, and she called over her shoulder. “Spike! I’ll chase after her – you go get the girls.” “Roger!” he said, dashing towards Sugarcube Corner. Twilight refocused on her quarry, gritting her teeth when she saw she’d almost missed them taking a corner. Their hoofbeats were loud in the night as Twilight panicked quietly. [i]This isn’t good. I don’t know who they are, what they look like, or even what they stole. I lose them now, I’ll have no way to identify them.[/i] Gathering her magic, she sent out bolts to snare or stun them, only to get a rude shock when each spell was expertly countered. [i]Okay, I know one thing. They’re a unicorn.[/i] Ponyville flashed by them as they wove among the buildings, but Twilight’s familiarity with it soon started to tell. Then, right when she thought she had them boxed in, they disappeared in a flash. She turned in a circle, her eyes widening as she took in an empty street. Her ears went flat. On a hunch she ran to the edge of town, towards Whitetail Woods. A dark form pelted across the field! Elation roared in her ears, but panic rose as well – they’d almost reached the treeline. Twilight pushed on, trying to summon up more speed. Just as the thief was about to reach the treeline, a blue blur knocked them to the ground. “Ha! You think you can outrun the fastest flier in Equestria?” The only response was a groan. Hoofbeats rumbled behind her, and Twilight glanced back to see the rest of her friends closing in from Ponyville, but they were still a ways off. Then she was at Rainbow’s side, her breath heaving and her eyes going wide as she saw her element of Magic spilling out of the thief's saddlebags. Rainbow’s eyes barely flickered over to her before she reached for the pony’s hood. “That’s enough of that, buster. Who are you, anyhow?” [hr] “Sunset Shimmer. I have her yearbook photo right here.” “Mmmhm.” The police officer took it from her, examining it closely. “We’re also missing the crown for the Fall Formal, but I can’t imagine how that would be connected.” “You never know, Principal. I’ll add it to the file. Don't worry, a case like this, we’ll find her if she's ran to the ends of the Earth.”