Chapter 5

They arrived at the outpost a short time later; the woods surrounding it were forlorn and eerily quiet. The afternoon sun still shone brightly above but all there could feel a sense of gloom pressing down over the place. Many wary and worried glances were shared as they entered through the ruined remains of the wall. True to the sparrows words the outpost was deserted, all around was evidence of a battle; the blasted wall being chief among them. There was no sign of the Equestrian Guard or the changelings; though the hardened remains of their binding goo was all around the outpost, they themselves were not to be seen. The royal guard fanned out to investigate the outpost by command of Princess Luna while Twilight and her friends searched around the courtyard.

Twilight herself was investigating a point in the court yard, where a strange indention in the ground was evident and she puzzled over why it was there when she had not seen others of it's like around elsewhere outside the outpost.

"What do ya think happened here Twi?" Applejack asked as Twilight looked over the deepest depression.

"I'm not sure. It certainly looks like it was the changelings, but there is no sign of their feeding anywhere. The damage done to the wall could have been done by Chrysalis, but why destroy the wall when they can fly over it?" She glanced downward. "And these depressions, it looks like something heavy landed here."

"Ya think it was Tyranny then?"

Twilight did not look certain; she continued to survey the area. "I don't know." Was all she said.

Her friends joined her then, each of them looking nervous save for Pinkie, who never seemed to let much at all bother her.

"Rarity, Fluttershy, did you see anything?" Twilight asked the two.

"Not a thing dear." Rarity said, with Fluttershy only nodding in agreement.

"Pinkie?"

"I saw more of the green goo but nothing else. I did find barely cakes in the kitchen and they're still good. Want some?" She asked as she presented the offered cakes.

"No Pinkie." Twilight said dryly. Pinkie's levity was surprising at times.

"More for us." She said, and made the offer to the others, with only Rainbow Dash being the only taker.

"What? No sense wasting them." Rainbow Dash said as she finished hers quickly.

"Did you see anything Rainbow?" Twilight asked.

The pegasus swallowed the last of the barely cake. "I didn't see any sign of the changelings or fighting outside of the wall."

"Not outside the wall." She echoed. She then noticed two more depressions; one against a building, the other against the wall. She again went thoughtfully quiet as she worked over the information in her head.

"What are you thinking Twilight Sparkle?" Luna asked as she landed softly near them.

Twilight did not immediately respond. "I think that this was not just the changelings alone. The barracks, and the green goo here was no doubt them, but these depressions were not caused by them. The changeling queen could have blasted out the wall, but she would not have used that much power against the guards here. She might have if she was battling you, princess, or princess Celestia; but not against ponies like us."

"You should not belittle yourself Twilight." Luna said.

"I'm not princess, I was making a point is all. The point would be she would have to be facing someone strong. Since it was not you or princess Celestia, or Discord; I can only think of one other who it would have been."

"Tyranny." Luna answered, to which Twilight nodded.

"You don't think he was the one who released the changelings in the first place do you?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"He would have had to been the one, unless Discord had something to do with it."

"He didn't" Fluttershy said with conviction.

Twilight did not argue. "That leaves Tyranny; he would have the power to destroy the costume I enchanted."

"He destroyed my costume?!" Pinkie shrieked.

They all winced at her volume; even a few guards looked over at the outburst.

"It is the only way the changelings could have escaped." Twilight said as the ringing in her ears faded.

The pink earth mare pouted, sitting down with her fore hooves crossed. "Hmph, I'll have to give him an earful when I see him about that."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "If I know Chrysalis at all, she likely used him to free herself and her changelings; and then tried to betray him." She looked then to the indentions in the ground and walls pointedly. "Which did not turn out in her favor."

Luna nodded. "I had come to much the same conclusion. Now it begs the question. Where have the changeling queen and her minions gone after the betrayal, and where has the Equestrian Guard gone to? There have been no sign of anypony leaving the barracks. Finally, where has Tyranny gone from here?"

"All good questions Princess." Applejack said to her.

One of the earth pony guards walked up to them, bowing low before the princesses.

"What did you find?" Luna asked him.

"I've come from the armory princess; all of the Equestrian armor is missing. Yet strangely, all of the weapons remain."

"Strange."

"Now why take the armor and not the weapons?" Rarity asked.

"Would the changelings have taken it?" Rainbow asked.

Twilight shook her head. "A changeling's anatomy would make wearing armor meant for ponies impractical at best."

"Curious." Which was echoed by the others.

Then a pegasus scout flew overhead. "Your majesties, I found a set of tracks heading north."

"How many?" Luna asked him.

"One that I could tell. It might have been made by a large stallion."

"Tyranny." Was the collective thought.

It was a few days later when they stumbled upon an overturned wagon. It was a small enough wagon for it to be pulled by a single pony, and as they got closer to it, it became increasingly familiar to the ponies from Ponyville.

"Is that?" Applejack asked, squinting.

"Trixie's wagon?" Twilight finished looking on curiously.

The two rushed ahead of their caravan, joined quickly by their friends, to find the blue unicorn sitting next to her overturned wagon. She appeared worn and haggard, but stood up quickly as she heard running hooves.

"Back! I warn you! The Great and Powerful…Twilight!" She yelled as she recognized the approaching alicorn. "What are you doing out here?" She demanded.

"Trixie, what happened to you and your wagon?" Twilight asked.

"Who did you anger this time around?" Rainbow Dash growled at her.

"Rainbow!" Twilight admonished. "Go ahead Trixie."

Trixie glared at the offending pegasus before looking to Twilight. "It was awful. A large stallion was on the road heading the opposite way of The Great and Powerful Trixie and would not step aside for her. Despite that he walked alone and she was pulling her wagon. When she demanded that he show manners and move aside, he…." She choked a bit. "He used magic Twilight, he looked like an earth pony but he wielded magic more powerful than Trixie had ever seen. His eyes, they glowed for an instant, and Trixie and her wagon were thrown aside like some sort of refuse. Trixie has not been able to get her wagon upright again." She said forlornly.

Twilight looked over the fallen wagon, she could likely get it back up right herself but it would take some effort. Applejack followed Twilight's gaze and could see where her train of thought was heading.

"We can get it upright Twi, ya don't need to use ya magic when we can do the same with a little muscle work."

"You want to help –her- out?" Rainbow asked crossly.

"Oh come on Rainbow Dash, would you just turn away from somepony who genuinely needs help?" Rarity asked. "Even if it is Trixie." Her tone to the final words clearly indicating she had not forgotten the show mare's previous actions either.

Rainbow huffed. "Fine."

Applejack retrieved a few coils of rope from one of their wagons and tied them to the opposing side of the wagon. With all of their combined help, they managed to get Trixie's wagon back on its wheels.

"Trixie thanks you all." The blue unicorn said grudgingly.

"You're welcome." Rainbow said tartly.

"So where is your hat and cape Trixie?" Pinkie Pie asked out of the blue.

It was then Twilight noticed that the show mare was not wearing her favored star covered hat and cape combo.

"Trixie…does not know. She has yet to find them." She said.

Twilight frowned briefly but that was when Princess Luna stood next to her to address the blue unicorn.

"The stallion that did this was he tall and dark coated, and carried a gold scepter?"

The unicorn nodded. "He was indeed princess."

"I see, thank you." Luna said before returning to her caravan. "Twilight, we should continue on."

Twilight turned to Trixie. "Will you be alright then?"

The show mare nodded. "The Great and Powerful Trixie can look after herself." She said extravagantly.

"But can't seem to right her own wagon." Rainbow Dash said sarcastically from above then flew off.

Twilight rolled her eyes and joined her caravan, taking the path northward.

The blue unicorn watched them go until they were out of sight, then in a puff of black smoke, the visage of the show mare faded away; in her place was one of Tyranny's shadow beasts. It quietly relayed all it saw and heard to its master before disappearing in another puff of black smoke.

Not far away from it, the cap and cloak of the show mare sat forlornly in the tall grass, their owner not long ago sharing the same fate as those from the outpost.

In Canterlot castle, Princess Celestia walked calmly down a walkway towards the guest rooms of her castle. A light rain fell this morning, but she was unbothered by the falling water. The weather pegasi had done another wonderful job in putting together the rain storm today. While she did prefer the nice, clear, sunny days; she did realize that the rain was just as necessary as her sunlight.

She made her way into the wing of the castle set aside for visitors and found the rooms that she had given Tourmaline and her brother. She knocked politely on Tourmaline's door.

"Coming!" Princess Celestia heard the startled voice of the pegasus from within, as well has a thump, followed by an annoyed "Ow!"

The princess smiled in humor, but waited for the door to open; once it did she could see Tourmaline peeking out. Her eyes widen and she quickly opened the door as she saw who her visitor was.

"Princess Celestia, I'm sorry, you caught me sleeping." She said, for it was apparent that the pegasus had just gotten out of bed. Her mane was tussled and had yet to be combed and a quick glance inward Celestia could see the blankets of her bed on the ground; tossed there in her rush to answer the door.

"It is alright, I had thought to invite you to have breakfast with me."

"I would princess Celestia, I just need a moment to freshen up. I'd never live it down if I showed up a mess for a meal with the princess." She smiled wanly.

Celestia chuckled softly. "Alright, I will see you down momentarily then. I will check with your brother while I am here."

"Alright, I won't be long." Tourmaline quickly closed the door, muttering to herself as she quickly found her brush and began sorting through the tangles of her teal colored mane.

Celestia made her way to the next room and found that it was slightly ajar, she pushed it open and found the rust colored unicorn at a desk writing away in a tome; a number of maps were scattered around him.

"May I come in?" She asked from the doorway.

He turned at the sound of her voice and nodded easily. "Yes, princess, please do." He sat down his quill and bowed before her; being more mindful of proper etiquette than his sister.

"I am glad to see that your return from stone has not been so hard on you."

He winced a bit at the mention of his time being made a statue. "It was difficult princess, but I am well on my way to a full recovery thanks to you and Princess Luna. I truly thank you for your help."

"I am glad to have helped, though I cannot take full credit either. It was with Discord's help, that we were finally able to purify you." She glanced past him to the window that was streaked with rain water. "Would you and your sister care to join me for breakfast this morning?"

"Of course, I would not turn down such an offer." They both looked towards Tourmaline's room as there was a surprised shout of "Horse feathers!" as Tourmaline's shower water was colder than anticipated.

"As tactful as a troll..." Tormod sighed, and then looked to the princess. "I apologize for my sister, she can be…willful at times."

She smiled to him. "It is alright, I have heard far worse in my time. I will see you both down for breakfast soon."

"Of course Princess." He said and bowed low again.

Celestia sat at the head of the table as the waiters cleaned up after a pleasant breakfast with the siblings. The two shared many tales of their adventures they have had, together with their friend Wanderer. The three apparently had known each other since fillyhood and have been together ever since. They had all found their cutie marks shortly after the other; Wanderer had been the first to gain his, as he was constantly wandering in many places he was not intended to go. Tourmaline earned hers from finding missing valuables from their hometown that had been lost to thieves. Finally Tormod had earned his when he found that his love of studying maps and working with navigation equipment was his special talent. Their combined special talents had made them the adventuring troupe that had been known as. From their own words, it was usually Wanderer who discovered leads for hidden discoveries and treasures. They spoke of him often and to Celestia, it sounded as if they really respected him.

"It sounds to me as if you all are great friends." She said to them.

"We are princess; we'd do almost anything for each other. We've faced monsters, difficult adventurers and faced harsh weather; but this last one. None of us were prepared for what happened." Tormod said.

"How could you have been Tormod? What you found, I had hoped none would have ever been able to find. I had let the jungle grow wild so that it would hide the temple away forever." She sighed. "But his influence seemed to expand to even keep that from hiding him."

"Is there any way to save Wanderer, princess?" Tourmaline asked.

The princess looked to her, her expression showed that the answer was important to her. "We will certainly try, Tourmaline. But first, Tyranny must be found before we can try to save Wanderer."

The pegasus nodded, accepting the answer.

The princess stood from the table. "You both are allowed to remain here as my guests until we find your friend, but you need not remain just within the castle. Please see Canterlot while you are here, the city has much to offer that ponies like yourself will be pleased to see."

"We will princess; again we thank you for your generosity." Tormod said, to which Tourmaline agreed with quickly.

A guard pony approached and offered the princess a letter.

"From my sister?" She asked.

"Yes princess, it is a report on their venture." He said.

She nodded and scanned over the letter, she then gasped softly. The two siblings looked to her concerned.

"What is wrong princess?" Tourmaline asked concern in her tone.

"They might have found a lead on your friend." She said softly, her tone leaving them with the feeling that the news is not likely good.