*Emily*

The room is dark and somewhat cold. I'm alone in here, and God knows how long it'll be before I see the sun again, if I ever see it. They took Star away a while ago, and they haven't returned since then. I'm starving, but that isn't really my biggest problem right now. My wrists are on fire from rubbing against the rope holding me to the chair.

I don't know who this Jack guy is, but I've heard Matt talking about him before, and from what I remember, he isn't really a nice guy.

I watch a pipe on the ceiling as water droplets drip down to the floor below. I wonder if this really is that old bank downtown. It may be some warehouse... Wait, warehouse!? Didn't Matt get taken to a warehouse about a year or so ago when those guys kidnapped him? Oh no, this isn't good. If I remember correctly, he said he was taken to Georgia, which means... Oh Matt, I'm so sorry I couldn't stop them. I tried I really did.

Please forgive me... Please save me...

*Rainbow*

I sigh as I close my eyes, trying to fight back the tears. The wind does help calm me down a little, but I can't help but worry. My little Star is missing, and I have no idea where she is. All I know if that the gang that attacked Matt multiple times, is responsible. Why did this have to happen? She didn't do anything, and neither did Emily. They should have taken me instead! Why Star!?

"Rainbow Dash?" A quiet voice squeaks out from beside me. I shake my head and look over at Fluttershy flying next to me.

"Oh, sorry... I was just thinking about stuff."

"Oh, okay..." She says timidly. "Are you okay Rainbow? You seem even worse today than you did yesterday."

"N-No, I'm not" I choke out as I feel the tears starting to flow. I stop flying forward and begin to hover in place, a good thousand or so feet above the city. "I'm so scared Fluttershy, I don't know what to do."

"Oh, Rainbow, don't cry! You'll make me-" I cut her off as I wrap my legs around her chest. She squeaks in surprise, but returns the gesture.

"I'm... sorry." I manage to squeak out before another wave of tears overtakes me.

"Its okay to cry Rainbow. You have nothing to be sorry for."

"P-Please, promise me we'll find them..." I say as I sniff and wipe my eyes. Fluttershy's eyes are glossed over, showing she is about to start sobbing too.

"We will Rainbow, I know we will..."

*Matt*

"Do you have any leads on the kidnappers?" Twilight asks from the passenger seat of my truck. I take my eyes off the highway for half a second to look at her before looking back at the road.

"Not really. The only thing I know right now is who did it, but I can't exactly track them down because I don't know any of their names... Except for one guy."

"Oh? What was his name? Maybe we can use it to track him down, then he'll lead us to the rest of them!"

"I wish it were that easy Twilight. No, the only guy I know who is affiliated with that gang is a guy named Jack Harris. A real piece of shit who only cares about himself. He won't be much help though, he's behind bars for attempted murder." I say as I sigh and shake my head slightly. The one time I actually need Jack, and he's nowhere to be found.

"Oh, well then I guess you're right, we really don't know anything then." Twilight says as she leans back against the seat.

"Okay, lets get out and walk, I'm sick of driving." I say as I pull into a parking lot. We have the south side of town to search through, but I can't do all of that from the highway. Time to do some exploring on foot. I help Twilight out of the car, and we begin to walk down the sidewalk. This part of town isn't as large and populated as the downtown area, but it is a really nice area.

"So, while we walk, lets talk about some stuff, catch up as friends." Twilight says, obviously trying to lighten the mood.

"Alright, shoot." I say as I snap my fingers. I place my hands in my pockets as we continue to walk, drawing in a ton of stares. Nobody has seen Twilight before, but given the fact that Rainbow is pretty much a celebrity by now, I have no idea why people would be freaking out over a new pony. Its not like you haven't seen one of these before guys, c'mon.

"Is Rainbow... doing okay? I mean, before the whole foalnapping thing. Has she been happy here?"

"Well, I think so. If not, then she is an extremely good actress. Honestly, I can't even express how happy I've been myself, before all the rift and kidnapping stuff, and I know she felt the same way. Shes just under a lot of stress lately, so I don't blame you for thinking she wasn't happy here. But believe me when I say, she was the happiest girl... or pony, I've ever met until this all went down."

"Glad to hear it. I was worried she might eventually get uncomfortable here and come back to Equestria. I'm glad that hasn't happened, because that would mean she left you, and I just can't imagine you and her being apart." Twilight says with a smile as I look down at her. I return the gesture, glad to see Twilight is alright with Rainbow staying here on Earth.

"So, Twilight, how has Equestria been without Rainbow? Any big battles, or epic adventures that she has missed out on?"

"Hmm... Not really, now that you mention it. There has been the occasional monster or two that sneaked into town, but we were able to handle it, no problem. The weather team got kinda wonky without her, but they're managing none the less."

"Good to see her leaving didn't have too much of a negative effect on you guys. I'd hate to be the reason Equestria went to shit because Rainbow refused to go back."

"Same here. I still miss her, we all do, but we realized that this is her home now, and by the looks of it, it always will be."

"I wouldn't say that Twilight. The future is still unwritten for both of us. Our lives from hereon out are blank slates. I always say that home is where the heart is, and I still stick to that. Wherever Rainbow is, that is my home, and I'm sure that she feels the same way." I say as I smile to myself.

"That's really sweet Matt. I didn't expect something so deep and romantic coming from you Mr. Tough Guy." Twilight says with a chuckle.

"Hey, I can be the most romantic guy ever!" I say proudly as I point a thumb at my chest.

"You can also be really stubborn." Twilight retorts with yet another laugh.

"What? Who told you that? I'm not... stubborn." I say as I blush and run the back of my head.

"Rainbow tells me all about you whenever we actually see each other, Matt. You're the only thing she ever talks about. You know that, right?"

"I... didn't think she really cared enough to spend all of her time with her friends, who she rarely sees, just talking about me. Why would she do that when you guys almost never see each other?"

"Because, Matt, she loves you more than you realize. Sure, I bet it started out as a simple crush, but I can tell now that she has a burning passion for you. You should have seen her before she ever met you, she was... different to say the least."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean... Well, she never really talked about her past much, but when she did, it would always bring her to tears. Has she ever told you about her past Matt?"

"There was this one time... Yeah, I remember now. She told me she was an orphan, and that the other kids would make fun of her because of it, not to mention the bullying about her mane and voice."

"Orphan!? She never told me that much! I can't believe she wouldn't tell me! I thought we were best friends..." Twilight's ears droop against the side of her head as our walking slows down slightly.

"Well, to be fair, she didn't even want to tell me that much. I kinda forced it out of her. She had a full mental breakdown on my chest just thinking about her past. Did she ever tell you that she was told she'd never find love?"

"Yeah, I think she mentioned that, Matt. It is just sick to think that somebody would even say that to her. Rainbow is just too innocent, and friendly, and kind, and-"

"I get the point Twilight." I say as I smile and hold a hand out to her. "I can't stand to even think about somebody hurting Rainbow like that, and it sickens me to know it actually happened to her, and as a filly no less!

"I know... Well, we should probably get back to looking for clues." Twilight says as we quicken our pace some more.

"Yeah, lets go!" I say as we begin to run into our section of the city.

*Alex*

"Are you sure that this will actually help at all?" Applejack says as she looks up at me from the passenger's seat.

"Oh of course it will! If anybody has and kind of records on this guy, it'll be the police."

"You never really said what we were even trying to do, Alex. Why are we going to the prison again? It seems pretty out of the way."

"Because, Mrs. Applejack, I know the gang that kidnapped Star and Emily, and I also happen to know a member of said gang who just so happens to be spending time behind bars as we speak."

"Oh really? What's this varmint's name?"

"Jack Harris, biggest douchebag in the world. Word has it that he tried to not only bully Rainbow and Matt, but even attempted to murder Matt at one point."

"What!? You're kiddin'!"

"Wish I was Applejack, wish I was. But according to Matt, this gang has made his life a living hell. They kidnapped him, put him in the hospital and I had to give him a blood transfusion, they tried to murder him twice, and then kidnapped his sister and daughter. I'd say he isn't very friendly with these guys."

"That sounds horrible! I can't imagine mah sister gettin' taken like that. He must be so angry and upset."

"You know it. When I first saw him after I told him the news, I could see a literal fire burning in his eyes. That guy is really protective of his family, and I don't blame him."

"I know how he feels. Ah'm pretty protective of mah family as well. Ain't no way I'd let anypony lay a hoof on any of them."

"Star and Emily are like family to me, so I can see where you're coming from... Hey, we're here." I say as I pull into a parking spot. Time to go talk to the police.

*Matt* *10 Minutes Later*

"Still nothing!" I say in frustration as I rub my hands down my face. "I don't even know what we're looking for Twilight, what is the point of this!"

"Relax already! We'll find something eventually, we have to."

"I don't know where to sta-" *RIIIING*

"What's that ringing noise?" Twilight says as her ears perk up and she spins around, looking for the source of the ringing.

"My phone, let me answer it... Oh, its Alex, I wonder is he found anything." I answer the call and hold the phone up the my ear. "Hello?"

"Matt? Got some news, and it is NOT good!" Alex says in a somewhat panicked voice.

"Holy shit Alex, whenever you call, it is bad news, you gotta stop... ugh, what is it this time?"

"Its about Jack."

"Yeah, what about him?" I say, my heart skipping a beat and my eyes widening.

"He's not in jail, he's been bailed out!"