Author's Notes:

I'm back!

These next two chapters are mostly build up that I didn't really want to cut, the third chapter that I'm getting betaed, 'Trust is a Fragile Thing. Part 2.' will be up shortly (ET: Dec 8/9, 2018) and has the big talk between the alicorns.

Happy Reading everybeing!

****

The outskirts of Ponyville, Equestria

Twilight Sparkle

My legs traveled of their own accord around the library, trying to expel some of the swirling energy going that was going around and around my head. Around, around and…No, I would not have a complete meltdown. Those times were behind me.

“Huwoo,” I blew out into the room.

It still doesn’t make sense though…

Earthquakes don’t happen in Equestria, didn’t happen anyway. Perhaps they did in the geologically unstable volcanic straits on the other side of Saddle Arabia, a small maybe then, but not in Equestria. Historically there was no evidence, not a note or hoof scribbled recording any such geological event. At least, none in the sister’s era, and that was the extent of my library’s history section. The Arceuteus Era might have seen some, maybe even during the Great War’s relatively short era, but I didn’t have access to those scrolls, fragile and few as they were. They were locked up in the Royal Canterlot library or lost to time in the sister’s old castle in Everfree forest. Both of which were a ways away.

They wouldn’t help me though.

It was beyond odd geological activity at that point.

Princess Celestia wasn’t taking mail. No, I don’t mean not responding. I mean that when Spike had flamed the letter it just dropped down to the floor of the library, humming with magic but otherwise the same. Not even attempting to transfer to her location, to even halfway follow her magical signature.

And that meant one of two things. One, that she was dead…I didn’t like lingering on that option in particular. Spike didn’t like it either; she was his other mother figure of sorts, although he would never say so out loud. So, we both were leaning to the more likely and almost equally as troubling reality, which was that she had cut off the connection on purpose. And closing off the instantaneous form of communication could only spell trouble, trouble that had to surely be related to the earthquake.

Discord? Maybe…

But, she wouldn’t just close it down, that just wasn’t her, Princess Celestia wouldn’t…I know she wouldn’t.

‘-Anytime, you may send a letter to me anytime Twilight. I always look forward to your stories and questions.’

She had said that, explicitly, even when I was worried about interrupting Day court, or a meeting with ambassadors. I didn’t want to cause her trouble or have her apologise on my behalf. But she had smiled and said that, her honesty had shined through.

Deep breathe in. Then that left me with the harder questions. What could stop her from responding? Why wouldn’t she take it? Wouldn’t communication be critical in a crisis?

No answer came to me as I stilled, facing her sun once again, as if it would tell me what was happening in the capital. The warmth bathed me as it crept slowly down the sky, setting. It made my eyes squint but I breathed deeply, picturing Celestia, trying to hear what she would say in such a situation. The sun continued to remain silent.

It wasn’t all bad…The sun was still working, therefore she definitely wasn’t…Dea-Defeated.

As I shook my head from that train of thought Spike approached my flank. I could see his claws had the letter gripped tightly, our proof to this state of unrest.

“Twilight?” I turned an ear down to him. “I don’t suppose you should try Luna? I mean, maybe something is happening in Canterlot or maybe…” He trailed off as I let a long breath go, his ridges wilting as I met his gaze.

Of course I had thought of Luna and had come to the same conclusion, after the wedding she had started preparing a system…So she wouldn’t be unconscious for any future invasions. The lunar princess would know and probably be in the same state.

“Spike, how does that make any of this better? If Celestia is unreachable then Princess Luna would be the same. And what of the unexplained earthquake?” I calmed my racing thoughts with yet another deep breath in and out. It wasn’t his fault. “The princesses aren’t responding, the books have nothing, and I am this close to-.”

The sound of trumpets filled the air with a brisk ‘triptt’, catching us both by surprise.

Coming down from my startle I shared a wide eyed gasp with Spike. “Princess Celestia!” I gathered Spike and my humming letter in my magic and broke for the door, heart racing as I watched her chariot soar overhead. The tall sun emblazoned sides shrouding her from view as her sun crept lower behind the mountains, practically motionless, slower than normal to my eyes as I raced forward.

Why had she slowed the sunset?

But I soon realized she wasn’t alone in the visit.

A choreographed symphony of spears clinging and clanging against armor was ringing out in the background as I entered my front yard. Guards, the day guard, the night guard, and even Equestria’s Special Forces were coming in with a marked precision that I couldn’t recall ever seeing; the final force’s tricks of near unmatchable athletic ability were forgotten as they circled the royal sun chariot, scanning the horizon for something.

I could even see what I swear was Captain Spitfire’s trademark flame styled mane whipping about from the movement of air they had disturbed in their speed. All the way from the library’s sign I saw this odd sight and I paused to take it in. Just what was going on? The Wonderbolts paused as well, their heads moving to look towards us, or perhaps the town, it was hard to say at that distance. Either way their circling ended, they instead were banking around her to form a half diamond formation to flank the chariot’s guards. Which were layer upon layer thick, more so than any social call. But I knew this couldn’t be a social call; it had to be related to the earthquake.

Was she coming to get us herself? Was it the changelings or Discord? A new threat?! More and scenarios swam in my head. But none fit in the earthquake. Discord didn’t know subtlety.

“I thought that stallion was coming any day now…” Spike said out of the blue from on my back, his claws gripping my neck tightly as he ended in an almost conspiratorially whisper. The noise felt almost too loud as we watched the guards go on and on behind the chariot.

He should be here any day now too…But that was neither here nor there now. It doesn’t explain the earthquake…Or where Princess Luna is…It could explain the force.

Blinking I started forward again, “Yes, but…Maybe something attacked him? Maybe he sent word for help?” The rest of the events didn’t fit, however neither did his existence. All the herds had died, either in the war or shortly after.

“I don’t know Twilight…”

My reply escaped as a whisper, the atmosphere stealing my voice, “Me neither…”

Looking around I could hardly understand what I was seeing, the magnitude of force present. Everypony with wings or access to a chariot was apparently here. Some had already landed ahead of Princess Celestia and were setting something up, moving rustling packages about, and propping up what looked like tents in some corners of the empty field before the forest. Not the smartest thing if you asked me but I didn’t think to warn them, they were familiar with idiosyncrasies of the forest as well. This had to have a good reason for this…Yet I couldn’t find one that made the most sense. The set up they were building looked closest to a…No that was silly.

I guess I would have to find out.

Before I could get anywhere, the clip clopping of hooves grew in volume, catching my hoof mid lift with the sudden increase in volume. Most of the guards were landing ahead of the princess and it was seemingly all around me as my head pounded with thoughts. Shaking my head clear I noticed that her chariot drivers were starting to look for a place to land, slowly circling the far back of the guard outfit that had landed before her.

As Spike and I shared a look the forest seemed to grow darker behind them, the suns rays not reaching past the first layer of bushes anymore, more ominous than ever before. All of that started to create a thick weight on my legs. Could I even help? A new tenseness seemed to hover over the whole affair now. It filled the air actually, carried with every taut guard that descended. New ponies, civilians, they carried it especially as they trailed on behind the royal procession. There were many, many pegasi and all were fixed with a serious expression.

Something was very wrong.

I could try to-.

“Twilight! Twilight!” I turned and saw Pinkie Pie bounding up the path from Ponyville, her pink tail alternating between twitching and buzzing in every arch. It looks like I wasn’t too far off.

“Ye-“

“Oh, it’s a dozy! A really, illy, big one!” She announced while coming to a hopping halt before me.

I waited for a second, feeling Spike shift on my back as we waited for more, his own growing tail starting to wave over my rump as we watched her vibrate in place with an unseen energy. The Pinkie sense was still one that I had yet to properly document. It didn’t make any sense yet, but it wasn’t wrong.

She still didn’t elaborate, “I don’t know Pinkie, Princess Celestia just arrived-.”

“Hours ago,” she exclaimed, looking from the forest to me, or perhaps looking from the procession to me, either way there was a new energy to her wide eyes as she saw the chariot.

“No, she just arrived.” I corrected with a frown and looked back to the princess’s chariot as it descended in front of the Everfree forest, half of Equestria’s army flanking her. With the quick set up of the tent and amount of guards it was easy to assume she had been here for awhile. The urgency they were giving off wasn’t abating as she hopped in place. “Pinkie we need to go, something is definitely wrong there.”

If she said anything else I didn’t hear it. I was already taking off down the road, my tail held still with the tension. And judging by Spike’s new grip on my mane he wasn’t any better off.

Pinkie wasn’t always right anyway…The sense was vague really.

As we trotted forward Pinkie Pie joined us as best as she could, hopping along with a frown on her muzzle.

“…But, she didn’t…” My friend whispered, mostly to herself I think. I didn’t reply, soon I would see the princess and all would be explained.

Before we had gotten too far down the road a heavy flapping reached our ears, growing closer as we closed in on the crowd.

“Guys,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she hovered before us. “Did you see them?!” At the lack of enthusiastic response she blustered on, “Spitfire is here! The Wonderbolts are in Ponyville!” Her forelegs pointed dramatically to the group in question.

“Yes,” my tone caught her smile, “And Princess Celestia brought the entire pegasis division of her Day guard, all of Luna’s guard, and won’t take my letters.” Rainbow slowed her flaps, rubbing her chin as she looked down at us. “I don’t think that is a good sign Rainbow, the Wonderbolts are the special Air forces, if they-.”

“I know!” We slowed our trot to look up, “Look, I get it. What happened at the market today was odd and I…Look, I just was excited. You know I want to be a Wonderbolt?” A sigh escaped her as her ears splayed. I just nodded, unable to really form a sentence at the moment. “Did you find anything on that planet shaky thing that happened?”

“Earthquake,” she just shrugged at my correction of her diction, “And no.” The air seemed to grow colder as I spoke the truth out loud. A glance showed that the sun was immobile, at least to my eyes; it should have crossed the mountains already. The orange tint bathing the armor clad soldiers ahead of us didn’t help me one bit. Deep breathe in, “At least, I haven’t learned anything from my library. The princess should know though,” and deep breathe out. “I know they should have some idea at least.” I added as an afterthought.

After that we couldn’t manage more than a nod, all of our ears splayed as we considered the scene coming closer.

First were the lower ranks of guards, trotting around with a mission in their eyes, and after them were…volunteers? There were so many pegasi with no armor on, not nearly as much the armored ones, but still enough to raise a brow at.

What did they know? Judging by the looks on their faces they knew something, more than us.

The more I looked at the busy camp before me the more I noticed. City guards were here as well, small country teams made up of neighbors, and…My eyes were glued to several packages, bundles of spears, swords, and the rarer jeweled magic spheres that hadn’t left Canterlot R&D department yet, supposedly anyway. I had only heard rumor of them in the National Discoverer!

But…Then…Was it war then?

I could see the measures for a war. From the programmable enchanted orbs to the many bundles of spears carried between many squads. Mainly the Thestral guards with the latter. They were almost unbelievable with their silence with only their large tufted ears pivoting in their code.

So, yes, it could be war…Although with whom I hadn’t a clue.

As I watched at the edge of the crowd of guard I noticed that they were separating those bundles of spears to different squadrons, even to some of the pushier volunteers. Anypony got one it seemed.

“This is pretty serious, huh?” Rainbow asked.

“Yup!” Pinkie chimed in while I nodded.

Rainbow gulped at that, flying lower and closer as we forged our way into the rapidly forming camp. At the front of this…War…Camp…Was Princess Celestia’s chariot, seemly empty from our distance, of course her high walled model would make that easy to assume. But I knew she was there, I didn’t see an Alicorn with flowing mane and tail walking around after all.

Creaking stole our attention.

A crude stand was being erected in front of the forest.

Voices were reaching us then as more of the town’s folk were coming up the path behind us, and a look back showed that their ears were perked up in interest. Some had there eyes on papers in their hooves but most were watching the soilders.
That was when the guards seemed to pay us attention.

I steeled my shoulders and nodded to the soldiers as I passed them. I am the element of magic, Celestia’s student…I belong here.

Some splayed their ears at us in return; an uneasy look rising in their eyes, others just turned away, while still more frowned at our presence. This went on, hammering at my nerves as we drew nearer, close enough to allow me to call out anyway. I had to break this hush.

“Princess Celestia!”

“Twilight…” Pinkie started, looking at me slowly as her tail went wild with a vibration of Pinkie sense.

“Princess Celestia!” I tried again, calling louder as I trotted faster, and missing the shuffle of Rainbow’s wings.

Her chariot was empty. The light golden hued seat was clearly missing a princess, although the impression of a rump was still partially visible from my spot before it.

Had she entered the forest already? Did this have to do with her old castle?

“Miss Sparkle-,” a solar guard started, wings twitching as he stepped towards me.

“Good evening,” another voice interjected, Canterlot accent exuding from each word. “I believe we only had the chance to meet a hoof full of times, Miss Sparkle was it?” I looked to my left, past the podium that was being placed on the stand, and towards the familiar source of Canterlot pride. I was speechless to say the least. “I apologize if I confused you, but it was the only one to be prepared on such short notice.”

Prince Blueblood?

“Uh-,” I started, but my muzzle was frozen at the implications.

“I told you Twilight! Princess Celestia-.”

A loud clearing of the throat caught our attention, causing what I swore was a scowl to start on Pinkie Pie’s muzzle. “Pardon me, but I do I have a speech to give. I trust that it will answer any worries you have over the princesses.”

Worries? Worries?! Wo-

My expression must have said it all because the next thing I heard was, “Officer Eagle Eye, escort miss Sparkle and her friends to the front row.”

He was having a guard ‘escort’ us to a front row area before the stand and podium?!

We were element bearers! We should be-.

Blinking away from my thoughts I found Pinkie and Spike prodding me along as I couldn’t take my eyes off the empty chariot. The guard simply gave us the instructions ‘wait here’ in front of the stage, as if that answered anything and left to whisper something in the Prince’s ear.

What else should I be worried about? Is it why she slowed the sunset? Is there a threat in Everfree forest? An ancient magic that requires all of her focus to combat?

“Meany, sourpuss, dilly head-,” Pinkie was muttering to herself as I blinked my shock away.

“Rainbow,” Rainbow Dash descended, choosing to sit beside me, “Pinkie,” and the muttering stopped, “We need to focus. Something is very wrong.” Pinkie pressed in, “The prince never makes speeches outside of charity galas and something tells me he isn’t interested in supporting Fluttershy’s Cockatrice rehabilitation efforts.”

Their pressing into my barrel intensified as we tried to still our hearts and shared a nod. I could feel theirs racing through their fur even as we shared our breath a little.

A more welcome and familiar voice reached me then.

“Howdy Twilight!” Applejack stepped through the crowd, looking around at the new ponies and observing the Canterlot guards with a growing frown, “Ya’ll wouldn’t happen to know why the Princess has this whole set up going on?” A pause as she looked at the podium, “And here of all places. Doesn’t she make them speeches at her castle usually?”

I didn’t know what to say, my muzzle was not working as I tried to come to terms of what this could mean, what worries the Prince assumed I had. I had way too many to count. What did I tell her?

As if Faust knew how compound my problem, Rarity choose this moment to arrive.

“Darlings! Did you see the flyers?!” Her almost hysterical tone had us in an instant.

“Flyers?” Everyone echoed, looking back to our friend as she tossed her mane and presented the simple paper.

“Yes, it says that-,” I tuned her out as I read it; reread it, and triple checked that it was of royal grade parchment.

Sweet Celestia, it was a national emergency.

****

Canterlot Castle

????? ??????

Princess Luna and Princess Celestia were missing…To who knows where…And the current reigning Prince was alright with that…He even had friends that would…Kill them, her.

I could hardly keep my breath from shaking as I glided along the ceiling, armorless, silent, and none the less scared.

But surely not everypony was like that?

The key was gripped in my hooves, almost cutting into my frog as I had forgone with my shoes as well. I had to be silent, invisible, and get the Tartarus out of the Castle, a mission that was growing increasingly harder.

You would think, ‘yah, but didn’t most of the guards take off after that stallion’. And you wouldn’t be wrong. But the unicorns were still here, the nobles. All while my squad mates were halfway across Equestria helping the Prince with his farce. That didn’t sound like a joke.

Did they know?

I turned a corner and held my breath. A maid was stationary below me, low tones coming up as she caught the ear of another that had been elsewhere when the disaster had happened.

“-Prince Blueblood-.” The name reached me up here, sending a shudder through me as I perched on a nearby arch to listen in.

"-Will he attack-," I tried to focus on their speculation but my mind wouldn't focus.

He was a unicorn...They were unicorns. My mind kept drawing more and more conclusions as every new shadow joining the gossip circle in the hall stood out.

Was it everypony? Only the nobles? Were my squad mates in on it?!

“-Can’t believe that he would do that?” The other nodded as I perked up. “You would think he would be eager, I mean you know what would happen?”

“What?”

“Well, it’s obvious really! He is the only one Alicorn stallion!”

The other maid frowned, “But didn’t the Hoof Setter say that he might be a changeling?” That only garnered a sigh as they entered into the legitimacy of one of the hundreds of theories that had been floating around.

That one was gaining more merit though…

Soon enough they parted, the setting sun triggering their need to appear busy. A slow breath escaped me as they walked slowly down the hall. I was on my own for this…escape…Wasn’t I?

My destination was still unclear. And to be blunter than a Minotaur, I wasn’t sure how to think of things anymore. If Prince Blueblood was more than okay with leaving his rulers, the ponies that for all magical purposes kept us safe…Wait…No…There was the elements of harmony. They stepped up when the princesses couldn’t. But if he was going to them…Their direction, I didn’t like the sound of that. He was all for getting rid of them from the sounds of it, or at least leaving them to die.

“-Why would he-.” The maids continued below me.

The elements of harmony…The thought wouldn’t escape me, the temptation rising to seek them out.

Were the elements enough to take down an Alicorn stallion? Better yet, could they be trusted? And did I risk flying in the direction the Prince had gone?

The hall grew quiet once more as I gave a silent flap, slowly swallowing my fear.

My princess was that way too…

Shaking my head I listened for any new voices, the hum of magic, and when none sounded I re-examined what had happened. I had escaped the room, ditched my over armor and weapons…And all to go where? Better yet, why had it been so easy? Perhaps it had been sheer luck, perhaps they were really naïve like my squad mates had joked about, or perhaps they had only pretended to fall for my trick…

Was it a trap?

I scanned the halls again and saw no pony. The sky beckoned me…Hmm…Looking down the hall again I frowned. Either way, the guards had burst into the room and left soon after, not even checking the cupboard that I had acquiesced in my haste. They supported the Prince; at least I had to suppose they did. They had heard his plan after all and made no complaint.

Did everypony feel that way? I hadn’t heard anything in my barracks of this nature, or even from the other workers in the castle. The maids hadn’t heard.

There were too many unknowns.

Resting on a ledge I looked out across the courtyard before me. It was empty, the sun was nearly set, and…I wasn’t as eager to set off after the other guards. The Prince was there. Looking away from that I looked to the east.

Our allies might not help...And is it wise to alert them to this disaster? Especially so soon after the changeling invasion-. My thoughts froze and I looked from the south to the north. It was possible, genius if it was true. She had fooled everypony after all. That invasion failure was a ruse…Wasn’t it? This was the true invasion…And she had the most experience with that.

I spared the setting sun one last frown before I alighted from my ledge. They had saved Equestria before…But they would be where he was. Instead, I needed somepony that was familiar with changelings, which actually made the most sense. Prince Blueblood wasn’t that ruthless after all, he was a colt, which was why he only handled minor crimes. That wasn’t the prince; no way would he know anypony stronger than the princesses.

My heart was already calming.

So slipping out the window and up to the roof I began my journey. Sneaking along the remains of the polished dome with a careful step and active ear, it appeared clear still. Any murmurs were just far off echoes, low, and conspiratorial in the face of such events of this afternoon.

But the orange glow of the sun had me pausing in the shade of a tower. I looked at the sun again, eyes squinting at the subtle, minuet movement.

How was it moving still?

****

Equestria-Minotaria border

Ari

The Everfree forest seemed to go on forever, darkness ever reaching as I puffed along. A fact that my impromptu guide looked increasing confused by, I was almost tempted to ask her to try carrying double her weight for hours while dodging spears and magic blasts.

But silence seemed the smarter option…It also let me have the most oxygen, which I wasn’t going to waste at that point.

A glow pervaded the area, bright in the dim setting. The moss was lighting up as we approach and fading as we passed by, funny how it was courteous all of a sudden. No vines dared to whip me now either.

Were they her doing?

One look at the unsuspecting potion laden mare dashed it. Not only did she seem too much in a hurry trying to follow the sudden changes in the trees before her but the books I had been read hadn’t mentioned earth ponies controlling nature to this degree, even the ones with ‘cutie marks’ related to it. I was obviously too tired for thoughts, thinking, ugh…

Pain persisted as we kept a fast trot through the forest, silent, and stiff. Those rustlings had grown louder and more frequent as we had left the initial path. They hadn’t popped up again but I swore I had heard some voices whispering out there, the snapping of twigs at least.

I hadn’t heard that in a while…

Hours seemed to pass before we saw a change in the forest, a big one, that is to say: it ended.

Trees closed in on our flanks as we paused at the edge, my limpy trot putting me behind her despite my taller stature.

Stars lit up the small clearing before us. It was dotted with sparse trees, different trees that caused me to give a small smile. They didn’t have any glowing moss growing off them or cheeky vines wrapped around the trunks.

A new forest appeared to be on the other side, slightly brighter under the canopy as the stars peeked through. Squinting in the low light, I could make out a little beyond that…what appeared to be the familiar tips of the small mountains that I had run into Bente at.

So close…

“Where to now?”

The quiet whisper caught my attention, breaking the otherwise silent night.

“Well…,” I shifted my cargo and looked at her, Zecora, “I presume you will go to your home, back there,” I gestured to the area we had come from, “And I will go to my home to educate these mares.” I knew where to go now, the land didn’t seem quite as hostile either.

She didn’t move from beside me, matching the hushed tone we had started. “Do you understand the situation we are in? I am in?” I just watched her, exhaling a deep breath as pain lanced up all my legs. “If I go back I won’t make it home.” Ears went back as she squared up to me, the air behind us giving me a eerie feeling, one that was unfortunately very familiar from my earlier travels in the woods without her.

Vines…

“But-.”

“I haven’t seen an ambassador in weeks! The whole country has been in a ghasia because of you! And this meek-,” Whisper yelling she jabbed a waving hoof into my scarred chest, “-Ma-.” My long snort at her prod caused her muzzle to fall, jaw growing tight before me as I reigned in my pain and instincts that had flared up at the unwelcome touch. “No, no…I mean, there is only two suspects for you managing to make it through the forest...This is the hardest entry and exit point of Equestria’s borders after all.”

And Moonlit Echo called it a training ground, a test of skill…An understatement clearly.

“When they don’t find you what happens to me?” Her sudden somber tone had me frowning, my eyes watching her intently. A new instinct was rising as I noticed the crinkling in her blue eyes, the splaying of her ebony tipped ears.

A question rose as I shoved the twitches in my wings down. Who else could have been familiar enough with the woods that they would be suspected in helping the ‘bad guy’? Or better yet, wouldn’t be suspected? It sounds like she is the only one…

At my lack of immediate reaction she continued, tone and head growing lower as she looked ahead, back and finally over my slumped appearance. “Seeing as you seem…Foreign,” I didn’t react as she watched my eyes, waiting, “You wouldn’t know that between the element of kindness and me, I would be-.”

“’It’s the zebra’s fault’,” I parroted out, pushing past the reference to an element and interrupting her speech. The situation had hit me full circle. She had thanked the vines and trees along the way as they opened up for her, quite familiar, and if only two suspects could be had I could assume she wasn’t living among the ponies. They suspected her at least. “I understand enough to know that those ‘bad’ ponies see you as inferior, labor, and…Food.” Bugs started chirping and cricking again. “But, I am tired, sore, and quite frankly eating myself inside out from this whole mission. I don’t have the time or energy to help you on your mission or foalsit you while I finish my own so-.”

“Where to now,” Zecora’s question didn’t sound as relaxed as before. The understanding perhaps growing or maybe it was the only option in her mind, it made sense. Grunting low I watched her, feeling the pain rise again in a wave as she stared me down. Her blue eyes narrowed before going wide under my scrutiny.

Fuck this. She wouldn’t tell the ponies and she was only one being…My instincts still snorted internally, demanding I dominate the challenge from the mare but I couldn’t be bothered. Make lots of noise during the escape?

Nope.

Exactly.

“Hey!”

I pressed my ears back and trotted faster, wincing as my hooves pounded the ground nosily. “Ari!” I whipped my tail back, frowning as the pain ran through me, my wings prickling numb by then. Snorts followed as the warmth of a body made itself known beside me.

Sue me if I wanted food and sleep.

Trees, oddly shaped branches, and the accompanying moving shadows that danced across my wrapped hooves held my attention as we walked on. Our silence grew louder between us. My part in it mostly from my heavy breathing, hers from uncertainty, her eyes would flick over me every minute or so.

She was harmless…Curious…Brimming over with questions.

And she was. Glancing sideways, I could see her emotions flicker across her eyes more than her muzzle, although I didn’t recognize or acknowledge all of them I recognized the curiosity, it was very familiar to me. Sighing I started the inevitable, “What do you need to know?”

Pain answered from my body as she began.

“So you aren’t a changeling…,” I couldn’t help the groan that echoed out, “And are an adult Alicorn yet no being has ever heard of you…With no skill mark- Cutie mark…”

Fuck this was a getting old.

“This may surprise you-.”

****

Outside Everfree Forest, Equestria

Twilight Sparkle

“-But I witnessed it first hoof, as the ill reputed scoundrel ponynapped our princesses!” Blueblood’s words rang over the crowd, chilling me more than the loss of the sun had. “He got under their guards, sweet talking his way into their good graces! That changed stallion knocked them out-,” we exchanged wide eyed looks, Applejack scowling at the thought, implication, yet he continued, “-spouting lies and falsities at us even as he fled….” Trailing a hoof across the floor, the prince looked uncharacteristically saddened, before looking over the crowd once more, “If I hadn’t come back to confirm something with her majesty he might have escaped without a trace.” My heart started pounding out in a cantering rhythm, growing erratic even under my friend’s onslaught of nuzzles. The flyers weren’t a joke, this was real, and I didn’t have the slightest idea what I could do.

Murmurs grew as he paused, exhaling the weight of the event over the crowd.

She was gone…And another evil Alicorn was about. The why of this entire event still didn’t click into place. And I think he must have known, I mean, I wasn’t exactly subtle when I visited the castle. Everypony knew how much I loved to ask why.

He met my wide eyed stare, possibly even seeing the questions that were rising up like waves. I was drowning. “I-We, the day guard, night guard, and brave citizens of Equestria pursued him to this very forest, Everfree forest.” He gestured to the darkened edge behind the stage, ears pinning back with a determination in his eyes. “And we don’t intend on leaving it till we have tracked him down, returned our princesses, and delivered justice for this act of-,” he paused and looked around, a hush followed as I felt myself lean in, “-War!”

War? The part of my brain that wasn’t scrambling around the earthquake or royal ponynapping latched onto the odd diction. Isn’t that a misnomer? He did commit a crime, but nothing has pointed to war…anything that Blueblood has shared, anyway.

I watched the gesticulating stallion closely as he elaborated on the chase, replaying his words in my head. Ponynapped…Why? The logic of the preliminary questions helped me somewhat. The process of going through them was driving back the swirling cloud that was fogging up my thoughts.

Why did he come here? No pony knows. Wouldn’t removing the princesses, the two most powerful beings on the planet, leave the castle wide open to attacks? Mostly…Was the Crystal Empire okay? Their status was still unknown…

Nopony else seemed to come to that conclusion.

All around us ponies stomped the ground, guards and citizens alike cheering as the meaning hit us, but I couldn’t find my voice. A new word was replaying in my head, his diction being most peculiar.

Changed…As in changelings? The rare, nearly unheard of beings that tried to invade out of the blue four months ago…The beings that were hardly mentioned aside from where they were banished to after the Great war…Hundreds of years in isolation, seeming isolation anyway. Why?

Heart pounding I watched as the crowd crowed their support. I didn’t dare say anything. My friends didn’t cheer either. Instead, they covertly nudged me, growing more persistent as the cheering dimmed. What could we do? I blinked at Rainbow’s hard shove, Rarity shooting a hard look between me and the prince as I glanced her way.

And it hit me harder…Why? I didn’t know. Was this real? Possibly…Discord’s doing? No, too subtle, and no punch line in sight. As a final attempt I considered the infamous sisterly wars. Was this a prank by Luna?

No.

The hum of the unsent letter reached me. This was too serious for that.

Looking to my right I saw Pinkie mouthing something, but I couldn’t hear her over the crowd or make sense of her muzzle with all the clutter in my head. She was trying to make me act most likely. I knew I had to. Nothing added up yet.

“In the meantime, I shall alleviate some of the administration duties that require attention. This measure is only temporary, I assure you. A trusted collection of board members and I shall persevere only as long as it is needed, and only as needed to ensure that our country remains standing until," He puffed his chest forward, "When, our princesses return.”

Applejack reached over and nudged me hard, pointing a hoof at the stage. But my hooves wouldn’t move, my mind racing again.

Why not ponynap all of the royalty if this was a real war or invasion? Why such…Was it on purpose? Did getting caught mess with whatever plan he had?

Silence followed, the night echoing it’s emptiness into my head. It was spinning, I was spinning. This couldn’t be true? It didn’t make any sense. An old question resurfaced as I tried to slow down. Why did the changelings, evil aligned beings, keep Cadence alive? Why would he not kill the princesses if he was one? Why wait three weeks?

Wait.

The sun, it was still moving…

Questions were being raised around the clearing as the soft orange glow gathered their attention; it was creeping down over the mountains.

“It shouldn’t be moving still, should it?” I heard Lyra Heartstrings whisper, Bon Bon’s response was lost as another pony piped up.

“Are the elements doing it?”

Everypony was shooting us glances then, looking between the setting sun and our shocked faces. My ears splayed. I couldn’t do that, I didn’t even know if Cadence could.

Another shove met my wither.

“No, but we will get her back,” I shot a look to the prince as I spoke; he had turned back from an officer just in time to smile widely at me, stomping a hoof in cheer before the sun was gone in a last shift of the orb over the mountains. Silence followed as we all blinked in the dim.

The sun had still set, she was alive.

And the crowd was coming to similar conclusion as I had. Mainly, the cycling of the sun and moon, the latter had stared back at me as I tried to form more specific words. I needed a plan, no, information.

“Exactly! We won’t stop till this Alicorn is found!” Prince Blueblood reiterated for the crowd, amplifying his voice to be heard over the shocked gasps that had taken route with the darkness. Talk of Nightmare Moon spreading as strange new star alignments grew apparent.

“T-Twilight?” Spike’s quiet whimper stole my attention.

A silver of a moon was absent from the arrangement; the entire moon was gone to be precise.

“S-shh, I-it’ll be fine darling, Twilight can figure this out.”

Sweet Celestia he must be just as worried! “I-I know Spike, I-,” “We,” my friends interjected, “-We will find Princess Celestia, no pony just strolls through Everfree forest.” Not even Fluttershy, it had an attitude for her sometimes, but, not always. Yes... I started breathing deeply, looking up at the dirty blonde mane of our resident prince as my resolve grew. We have beaten Nightmare Moon, Discord, and faced many challenges. The Elements could handle one evil Alicorn, we had before after all.

My muzzle opened as I stepped forward, Rainbow and Applejack mimicking me with a shared nod. Perhaps a mutter of ‘finally’ was spoken, it was hard to say in the crowd. Pinkie and Rarity were not far behind us. Fluttershy was absent, but we figured she was fast asleep given how early she rose.

Had she slept through this?

That thought didn’t last long.

“Ahem-,” Our approach slowed, the prince finished whispering to a assembly of officers that had grown behind him, and I focussed on him, “-I know this is a very challenging time for everypony but I must ask for some calmness as we go about this rescue operation.” He glanced back at the forest before catching my eye again, a crinkle forming at the corner. “Now,” the smile grew, unnerving for such a colt. We had heard about the grand galloping gala disaster from Rarity, a lot, trust me. He shouldn’t be so calm. “I know it is late, the news shocking, but does anypony wish to volunteer-.” He didn’t even get to finish, we didn’t even get a word in as the crowd surged forward, clamoring to be heard.

“Ahh! Twilight!” Spike exclaimed, clinging to me tighter as warm bodies pushed my hooves into the ground, my body held in place by barely constrained muscles.

My friends weren’t doing much better.

Rarity was almost run over, clinging to Pinkie Pie as she used her Earth pony strength to remain immobile. In fact, she was almost too still.

Narrowing my eyes I couldn’t come up with a coherent thought. None except that Pinkie was never that grim, her ears were back and everything.

Why-

“QUIET Y’ALL!” Applejack’s voice rang out over the procession, even catching the prince’s attention as I swear he narrowed his gaze at her. “I mean…Listen up to the prince…”

…

“Ahem-hem!” His loud clearing of his through broke the sudden silence, “As I was saying, if anypony wishes to volunteer their time we will be breaking up into different teams, rotations of teams as well. No pony is unwanted.” He had their rapt attention, ours as well. Although a glance at Rarity showed her confusion, surprise even. “Officer Eagle Eye,” A pegasus Day guard stepped forward, nodding to the prince then the crowd, “Will be in charge of-.”

I tuned him out as a prodding was made apparent on my right hind leg, small and light.

“T-Twi-Twilight?” My ears perked up as I turned to look, Fluttershy. She had squeezed herself between Applejack, Rainbow Dash and me, had hid herself really. I blinked at the Pinkie like position she had wedged herself in.

Perhaps when the crowd had surged forward she had come to us? That couldn’t be comfortable.

Applejack’s muzzle scrunched up as she looked between her legs at our clearly freaked out friend. Crowds were not her ‘thing’ as Rarity put it. And Rainbow just frowned, concern leaking into her eyes and splayed ears.

Where had she come from?

“-And Captain Moonstruck,” I looked up in time to see a silvered Thestral step forward, fangs bared in a serious scowl that even now ponies cringed at, “He will lead the Northwest sky patrol, I believe I speak for him when I say he wants only the best-.”

Frowning at the speech I kept an ear turned to the prince as I looked to the cowering pegasi mare before me. Had she met the ‘changed’ stallion? It made the most sense; this had to be some twisted back up plan. However the entire goal of it was in that moment lost to me. Celestia was missing, Luna was missing, and Fluttershy might have seen the culprit!

“Flu-,” a yellow hoof met my muzzle and Spike looked shocked. I was.

Blueblood continued on though. “Anypony that knows first aid or any healing art is advised to stay behind in our medic tent.” He paused then, I did as well. Ivory ears flicked back at the Wonderbolts that flanked the stage, before he gulped slowly and continued. “A-although anypony is welcome, I say that with a warning that should you continue you take your life into your own hooves. He, Ari is a very dangerous stallion. While the full parameters of his plan are unknown we do know that he will use lethal force when confronted. He attempted to kill both Captain Soarin,” said stallion stepped up, looking away sheepishly as his teammates rushed forward to flank him in his tattered uniform, the edges singed, “And myself.” Gasps rang out and talking started amongst the ponies.

Deep breathes.

Prince Blueblood coughed and the voices dimmed again, “We need to enter the forest now, please think long and hard on this, if you choose to volunteer your services please find us within the half hour. No more than a dozen to a team.”

Ending on that somber tone he turned and started to talk with the officers and captains behind him. Soon after a map table flashed into existence, complete with little pony figures.

He was smiling as he directed the various group leaders, thrilled it seemed.

But the pressure on my snout wasn’t changing, forcing my eyes back down. Fluttershy wasn’t moving her hoof from my muzzle or getting out from under our friends.

His promises didn’t seem to quell her nerves in the slightest.

“P-please Twilight, we need to leave,” her wide eyes darted over to the prince at her slightly louder tone, closer to a normal whisper. I didn’t bother trying to tell her that no pony would hear her over the din that was rising from the crowd. The prince’s own ears were pulled back at the indecision that had risen in his speeches wake, but his hooves were soon waving over the table, “…n-now.”

With everything that was going on this was something I could latch onto.

She was afraid…Lived at the edge of Everfree forest…And…I blinked as it occurred to me. Fluttershy hadn’t been looking at the prince but rather past him, to the forest, where the stallion had last been seen entering. He was in there, hostile, and she was petrified of him.

Was he watching us even now? I looked at the crowd. Were any of these ponies changed as well?

“Okay,” I cleared my throat softly; my words still sounding a little faint to my own ears, “Let’s go.” I needed to hear her out, question her, the princesses were grown mares…Breathing out I steeled my heart. They should be able to handle themselves for an hour more, there was plenty of ponies getting ready anyway…

And there was, everywhere I looked was a different pony, so many that I didn’t recognize.

“T-thank you,” the relief very clear, I nodded to our friends. Applejack, Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity all nodded along in turn. Spike gave her a wan smile in my peripheral.

“How about my place, girls? I know Granny Smith and Big Mac will be eager to know just what has happened.” We all herded up wordlessly, the consent clear, and moved out. This needed planning if my hunch was correct and chances were if the Everfree forest didn’t scare the possible changeling that kidnapped the princesses then the search party wasn’t going to do much.

I had a concrete lead before me.

Fluttershy.

She had seen something. That was clear; even as we moved off she kept an ear towards the stage, the forest behind it. She was our best lead, save for Zecora; they were the only two to live so close to the unrestrained magic that flowed unfiltered there.

Zecora!

It hit me hard. “Zecora!” I whisper shouted, several ponies turning their ears and heads my way as the town’s, country’s only Zebrican citizen was mentioned. She was alone in there with-.

“She’s fine Twilight.” At Fluttershy’s uncharacteristically sure statement I turned away from the forest, a new question forming until I locked eyes with her.

A glance at Applejack provided me with a nod. She was being honest.

Curiosity and worry gnawed at my heart and I nodded slowly in return, already finding us mobile once more. The sound of guards assembling ringing in my ears, even with them pinned back.

Dear Celestia hang on.