"I-if that's true, how long do you think we have?" Lyra asked making Luna give a sigh.

"Hard to say, starting with him being placed on the suspect list most likely won't be enough. This group needs Sparks to flat out say he was the one who attacked her. With how things seem set up right now the evidence no matter how circumstantial it may be will support her claim. They will most likely wait for that to spread so when Brandon shows up dead no pony would even question it." Luna answered and a look of understanding passed over the group.

"Then we may only have a few weeks at most to find and clear his name. But I think we all can agree that Sparks attack was only part of their plan of course, but that isn't enough to hold over somepony. This group most likely lured Lemon Grabs to Las Pegasus to use him as leverage." Twilight said.

"Then that is where we will start our search, but there is another place we need to consider looking at as well," Luna said making them look at her. "While looking into the disappearance of Lemon is good, the rumors about this group also seems to come from Manehatten, where Brandon's attacker was found. So I suggest we split up into two teams just in case."

"Right, only makes sense," Applejack said.

"But first, there is something I must bring up about this group and why it seems they have such a long reach. I don't simply think this group simply popped out of nowhere when Brandon came into our world." Luna said.

Luna began telling them about their dinner with Tallia and her parents, and about the stories they told them. She could see as she talked that they were all coming to the same conclusion that she had. As she finished they all still had the same determined look, if not more determined than before.

"If that's true, and this group dates back before the three pony tribes even came here to Equestria and they always had this prejudice then why wait so long to do anything to him? Why target Sparks and not one of us?" Pinkie asked.

"Because they needed time to attack. But I would like to remind all of you of the three stallions who attacked him did mention a group. While they may not have been a part of the group, them having knowledge of them makes me think either they were at some point or somepony tried to recruit them." Luna answered.

"For why they didn't target us is because we would know he would never do that. Not to mention who we are, at least most of us. I mean the six of us represent the Elements of Harmony, and Luna is a Princess, Derpy and Lyra stay around her. So we are just too well known and would be hard for them to get to us." Twilight said.

"Alright, but can we just stop talking about the why's and just focus on finding Brandon? We don't have the time since Twilight said we have at least until tomorrow before they start looking at him as a suspect." Lyra jumped in making them go silent and nod.

"Okay, now that's settled Lyra and I will be going to Las Pegasus if anypony would like to join us speak up now," Luna said wrapping a hoof around the now disheveled unicorn.

"I'll go with y' all, after all, I did save him once and I'm not about to let him die on us now." Applejack said standing up giving the princess a steeled look of determination making Luna nod.

"Anypony else?" Luna asked again.

"I think we would be better with how it's split up right now. While Las Pegasus has a lot of attractions, Manehatten is a lot bigger so we need more ponies to cover more ground there." Twilight said making them give another nod.

"Then it's settled, we'll send updates to each other. Don't forget that we will be followed which we can use to our advantage. Because if we find anything they'll report it back to the other guards, but be careful because this could backfire on us since we do not know who is apart of this group. Just remember just because of who we are, it does not mean that this group will spare us for interfering." Luna warned and once again she looked around to see not one doubt.

"We are his friends, his family we do not abandon one of our own," Twilight said putting her hoof in the middle of the table. "Even if it's apart of some greater plan to not just get rid of Brandon, but to get rid of us as well I will take that chance."

"I'm in, no one hurts one of us and gets away scot-free," Rainbow said putting her hoof in, and the others followed.

"Lyra?" Luna asked looking at the mare who was barely holding herself together, though she herself felt the same she knew how to hide it.

"Let's find him and bring him home." Lyra finally said after taking a breath and steeling herself and as she put her hoof in they all looked at each other before going to get supplies for their journeys.

Luna and Lyra were walking back to the house to collect some of their things, momentarily stopping by Derpy's to give her an update. Though she understood that despite her wanting to go, she had to stay in order to keep an eye on the fillies. Once they were close to the house Luna finally spoke up.

"You know I'm just as worried and torn up about this as you are, after all, I'm worried about if they..." Luna couldn't finish finally letting her emotions go and tears started to well up.

"I know, but something you would say right now is that is don't focus on the what if's for it's those that'll tear you apart. Focus on what we know, and I'm sorry if I hadn't been able to hide my emotions as well as you and the others, but I know Brandon a bit better, no offense. I'm not worried about if he can handle himself, I'm worried that once we find him what they did to him, how it might change him." Lyra said finally voicing her concern.

"Then you are not worried about, you know?" Luna said trying to hold back the tears still.

"I'm worried about it, but I have to believe he's okay in that matter. I-I don't think I could handle it if he is..." Lyra took a breath closing her eyes. "Even if he's alive and doesn't want anything to do with us because of what this group put him through, that's all I need."

They didn't talk after that and instead, once they got to the empty house they sat down and comforted each other. Letting all the tears and worry out and trying to steel themselves in what they knew could be a long search that might not end how they want it. After a little while, they heard a knock on the door making Luna clean herself up before answering.

"Hello?" Luna asked as she opened the door only to find a decently large package outside making her give a gulp as it was from Las Pegasus.

"What is it?" Lyra asked looking at the square package with the same concern.

"Only one way to find out," Luna said bringing the package inside.

The two of them went to the table and looked at each other fearing what was inside but they knew they had to open it. But before they did Luna jolted down the return address on the box before grabbing a knife to cut the tape. Looking at Lyra after she saw the unicorn holding her breath and then she opened the package.

------------------------

He woke up disoriented and in pain as it felt like he had been hit with a taser multiple times, though a small part of him wondered how he knew what being tased felt like. But as he gained his senses and looked around the room the memories started to come back. There was a couple of ponies chasing him, he tried to fly but he remembered being hit and his wings went numb.

"That creature is awake sir," He heard what sounded like a mare outside the only door called.

Looking around he saw he was in a decently lit room with just the one door for an exit and no windows. He himself was in a chair strapped down tightly to where he couldn't move his arms or legs, and some kind of harness was put on his wings. Though his sight went to the door as he heard it unlock and start to open.

"Hope you don't mind the accommodations if you hadn't beaten up one of my men like you did I wouldn't have to of had you restrained like this. But here we are and I'm sure you have so many questions, and we'll get to that. Though there is something we need to take care of first." An earth pony said coming into the room.

He just glared at the stallion as he already knew what was happening and as to why they were the group the tried to kill him and killed one of their own after their failed attempt. Though he did wonder why kidnap him in such a way, not to mention why they would kidnap him in the first place? But he knew he wasn't going to get any answers soon as a hoof connected with his jaw making him give a grunt.

---------------------------------

"Are you sure that we can trust them with the box? I mean how can we be sure..." Applejack started before Luna interrupted.

"As far as the package we have no choice, as for this feather, it is completely different than most creatures who fly. Not to mention it has been enchanted with a lifeline spell." This made Applejack give a confused look as Luna tried to explain.

"Applejack, there are a few different kinds of lifeline spells, with the most basic one being the one cast on the feather. It basically works like a heart monitor, meaning as long as he's alive the feather will remain unharmed. With some luck and Luna's magic, we might be able to use it to track Brandon down as well, but it can take time even for a powerful magic user." Lyra explained.

"I understand that, but how do we know it's connected to Brandon? I mean it might be his feather but whose not to say they didn't cast it on somepony else?" Applejack asked.

"Because the more personal the object the easier it is to cast the spell on that particular pony or creature, and makes it harder to cast on a random stranger. Since it was attached to Brandon, well I don't think I need to explain much further than that." Luna said levitating the green feather into her bag.

"Okay, I understand now but why won't either one of you tell me what was in the box?" Applejack asked looking between the two mares who were avoiding making eye contact. "Was it really that bad?"

"Not necessarily, in the long run, it'll help us out if it gets to the right ponies. Also thanks to the return address we now have a place to start," Luna said after a minute. "But for right now, the fewer who knows what we found the better. I hope you can understand that we don't want to hide the information..."

"But like you just said the fewer the better, that and I guess we all don't need to be distracted by it. Makes sure we have at least one of us focused on the task at hoof." Applejack said.

"Thanks for the understanding, and it's not that we aren't focused on finding Brandon. We just have a new way to look at it is all." Lyra said, though out of all three of them she still looked the most worried.

"If ya say so, but still whatever got sent to you two seemed to really scare you two something good." Applejack said before stretching out on her bed as the train chugged its way before falling asleep pretty fast.

"You should sleep to you know? After all, you are not looking too good there." Luna said looking at the unicorn.

"Fine, but um, c-can you make sure I don't you know..." Lyra started before Luna gave a nod. "Y-you know if we keep nodding like this we'll get neck issues...."

Just like that Lyra was soon sleeping leaving Luna the only one awake in their private cabin, and soon she flared up her horn to enter into the dreamscape hoping to find even a trace of Brandon. Though she quickly had to give up her search to help other ponies who needed guidance or just simply a change of dream. She made sure to stop into Lyra's dreams to make sure everything was going okay.

Soon the morning rolled around and the breakfast cart came around to each cabin to see if they would like to order. After the three of them ate they knew their destination wasn't far off so they took the time they had to prepare themselves. It wasn't long before their train rolled into the Las Pegasus station making them grab their stuff and head out.

"We will go to a hotel first before we start our search, set up our own command space of sorts," Luna said looking around at all the flashing lights.

"Try not to be sucked in here Luna," Applejack said.

"I know, but this is the first time I actually got to visit this city in many years. It has changed a lot since that time, but still as the same feel to it." Luna said giving a kind smile at the memory but quickly switched to a more serious look. "Let's get going shall we?"

They walked around for a little while before picking a hotel that didn't seem to have a huge crowd of ponies in it. Managing to get a room, mostly thanks to Luna being a princess and all, they took the elevator up to the tenth floor. Once inside they put all their luggage down and relaxed for a moment.

"Notice anypony following us?" Lyra asked making Luna shake her head.

"With this much of a crowd, any undercover would nearly be impossible to spot. More so with members of the group since we don't know who exactly is in it. Nor do we know what kind of training they might have," Luna answered.

"Does it matter? Let's just get started with looking at that address." Applejack said making them agree.

"Let's see, it's located at 3400 East Rockhoof Drive," Luna said after pulling out the note with the address. "Ah, Rockhoof I remember how much of a good stallion he was."

"Nice of you to take another little trip but you are really letting yourself get distracted here." Applejack said.

"Sorry, but my mind wants to focus on anything other than being concerned. As rare as it is for me to do so, but this whole situation is weighing on me more than I thought." Luna said. "But let's go see what we can find at this address, I just hope it isn't a Volcano themed casino or anything thing."

At that, the three mares made their way out of their hotel and to avoid too much suspicion from whatever group they took their time. Trying to act like they were trying to sightsee and have a good time. But they did ask around for a bit as well to see if anypony had seen any unusual creatures.

Most of the ponies pointed them in the direction of some kind of zoo that was filled with exotic animals. Some say they heard a Minotaur by the name of Iron Will was giving seminars to improve one's self-confidence. Nothing about Brandon or any other Minotaur.

"We're getting close to the address, but all these ponies and no one seems to know anything," Lyra said as they meet up.

"They're all too involved in their own fun or too drunk to care," Luna said looking at Applejack who shook her head making her give a sigh. "Let's keep moving slowly for now and hopefully this address really does turn something up and just not some kind of dummy."

"I'm sure even if it's nothing, there'll be something there. Why else send us that package?" Lyra asked trying to keep the hope in her voice.

They once again set out and once again did some sightseeing with Luna telling the other two mares how the buildings changed since she had been there last. Though they also talked a little about the group but tried to keep it at a minimum. Applejack was the one who suggested that they stop and get something to eat.

"Let's go in here, looks like they have some good food." Applejack said pointing at a buffet which neither of the other mares put up an argument.

Getting a table and then after ordering their drinks they got up and went to the buffet line. Though each of them didn't get very much on their plates, nor did they really seem interested in actually eating. But they ate what they had before getting back into the search.

"According to this map, this upcoming street is the one we want," Luna said putting the map away in her bag as they came up on the corner.

"Which way?" Applejack asked.

"Let's see, I think it's this way if I'm reading things right." Lyra was the one who looked.

They turned right which Lyra pointed to and as they went down the street they knew they were headed in the right direction. As they looked at the address counting down they saw that they were definitely outside the normal tourist area of the strip. This part of town seemed filled with warehouses and offices.

"It's on the next block," Luna said as they passed another warehouse and soon they did find the building that had the address.

"At least it's not volcano themed," Lyra said as they looked at the warehouse that had seen better days, but it still seemed stable enough.

"Any idea of what we might need to look for?" Applejack asked.

"If we knew that we wouldn't need to search," Luna said before stepping forward to open the door.

Author's Notes:

Hope you all enjoyed, and remember to smile, smile, smile!