Chapter 3: Actions

I felt an extreme amount of cold air flowing around my hooves. It was really uncomfortable. It nipped lightly at my hooves and it only seemed to get colder as my friends did not say a word. I couldn't take it anymore, I was the first to speak up.

"What is going on? Is there something I need to know about...?" I said carefully. I was not exactly happy to hear what Twilight said to me.

"It's nothing you need to worry about Silver. It's nothing really."

"Nothing really?!" Rainbow said with an a mocking tone. "What do you mean it's nothing really? The sun has been in the same place for the last couple hours! I think that's something really Twilight.."

I reeled back at this thought. The sun not setting? What kind of effects might this have here in Ponyville? We have been in Sugarcube Corner for hours. Surely the sun should of set long ago and the moon should of taken it place in the sky.

I slowly looked at the glass spheres that represented my friends, each indistinguishable from one another. They were all a very watered down version of there original colors. Was it that bad...?

"Do you know what this could do to our ecosystem? Not to mention our sleeping patterns this changes everything!" Twilight blurted out.

I faced Twilight, she must of been pulling her mane out because I could feel the cold air rushing from her like and arctic blast had just hit Ponyville. The rest of the gang must of noticed because one by one they began to speak trying to comfort the unicorn.

"Now don't fret darling, I'm sure the Princess will know what to do."

"Yeah, I bet the Princesses will find a way to fix this!" Rainbow Dash said with her normal amount of enthusiasm. "Right Scan?" I turned to face Rainbow Dash. I think she wanted to put my two bits into the situation.

"Yeah Twilight. Try not to think of the glass as half full or half empty." I began. "Sometimes the glass is to small and you shouldn't worry about it." This seemed to cheer up the mare as the color seeped back into each of the mares.

"Wow Scan, that was some really deep stuff you said there."

Suddenly I noticed a bright white dot materialize about us. It was small at first but it quickly grew in size as I could feel the powerful magic emanate from it. its appearance was quickly followed by a soft feminine voice that spoke to all of us.

"Why, indeed it was Rainbow Dash."

~~~~~

I was thinking about what Silver had said. Maybe he was right, we shouldn't be worrying about the little things. I remember the Princess saying something about a crisis in Canterlot. I shook the thought from my head. I took Silver's words to heart. I knew he meant it and I knew he only wanted to comfort me. He could probably tell by the tone of my friend's voices that I was freaking out and tried his best to make me feel better.

"Wow Scan, that was some really deep stuff you said there." Rainbow Dash said.

Following Rainbow's comment was a bright flash of white light that was coming from the center of us. I covered my eyes with my hoof as the flash of light only intensified.

"Yes indeed it was Rainbow Dash." Said the light. I brought my hoof down from my eyes as the light died down. I knew I have heard that voice from somewhere before.

"Princess Celestia!" Pinkie Pie said as she jumped into the air with a great big smile on her face.

"Hello my little ponies. I see you have noticed the sun." Celestia said now facing towards the sun. We all looked in that direction hoping to spot whatever the Princess might of been looking at. It was silent for a long time, but Silver spoke up and broke the silence.

"If is so dare as speak to you Princess..." He started. "Why haven't you lowered the sun yet...?"

We all turned out attention back to the Princess. She stood there, proud and tall for a moment. Her mane flowing in the nonexistent breeze.  The alabaster alicorn's face was emotionless as she collected her thoughts and began to speak.

"Let us go inside my ponies. We have much to discuss." She said slowly. I walked back into Sugarcube corner and waited for the rest of my friends to follow in suit. One by one we all made out way into the bakery. We all took a seat down onto the floor. All but Princess Celestia and Silver were sitting with us. Silver was having trouble finding his way into the room stumbling around and almost walking into the walls of the bakery.

"Come on Silver, follow the sound of voice." Rainbow said with a mocking tone.

"It's kind of hard not to." Silver replied. With that comment Rainbow blew a raspberry and then laughed at Silver.

"Now now Rainbow Dash, that is not how we treat friends." Celestia said slowly guiding Silver into the room with one of her wings. They looked like a mother and child with the way that the Princess has guiding Silver, how she shielded and protected him. They made there way into the room and sat down onto the floor next to us.

I took a good look at the Princess. She still appeared strong, bold, and as beautiful as ever but something seemed off about her... Rarity was the first to notice.

"Oh dear me Princess! Why are the gems that adorn your crown and necklace missing?"

The Princess just let out a sigh as she began to explain what exactly going on.

"Ah so I see you have noticed. Well that is what I have come to inform you about. A terrible crime has befallen apon Equestria." The Princess said.

I recalled the note that she had sent me earlier.

I would have come sooner but my visit might be delayed for a terrible crisis has come up in Canterlot.

"Is this the crisis that has come up in Canterlot?" I said.

"Yes my Faithful Student. Somepony has stolen the gems that adorn both Princess Luna's crown and necklace as well as my own.

I turned to look at her crown and necklace, and like she said, where there once was a shining gem was replaced with an empty nothingness.

I turned back to the Princess with a question in mind.

"What does this have to do with anything?"

The Princess gestured Silver to sit next to her as she sat down next to him. Her wing still around him.

"Well you see Twilight, those crystals help both me and my sisters radiate our magic over a larger area. They don't make us more powerful in anyway, but they are essential when raising and lowering the sun and moon. We need those crystals so we can spread our magic out and move the sun and moon."

Whoa so that's how it works... I wanted to hear more.

"Really? Tell me more..! Please..."

The Princess lightly laughed as she answered me.

"Oh yes of course Twilight, but only because you are so eager to listen to what I have to say." This was met with half laughs from everyone around me. Everyone except Silver who was listening attentively.

"You see when you channel magic to the crystal it disperses all of the magic applied to it without wasting a single drop. The crystal, you see, can only spread out the magic that is applied, not keep it. So therefore the gem cannot be directly changed by magic in any way, shape, or form." The Princess said as she nodded her head. It sounded like she had practiced this many times.

I started piecing together the parts in my mind; Gems of the two Princesses... Can't be affected by magic... Disperses magic over a larger area... Silver's cutie mark... Silver not teleporting... Apples teleporting...

Then it hit me.

"Oh no..." I said out loud.

The Princess raised a brow as she looked at me.

"What is the matter Twilight?"

I needed to talk to the Princess privately...

"Uh Princess... Can I speak to you privately...?" I nervously said.

The Princess must of seen my expression because she just nodded her head and gestured the rest of the ponies out of the room. Once they were all outside she carefully closed the door with her magic and turned to face me.

"What seems to be the problem Twilight?" She asked me.

I swallowed hard as I was not going to like this conversation, I could tell.

"I think I know where your crystals might of gone... You might want to do something about the room. I have a feeling that somepony is listening to us." I said knowing full well that Silver was probably outside listening to our conversation.

"No need to worry dear." Princess Celestia said as her horn glowed. I looked around and saw that the doors and windows of the bakery were faintly glowing with the same white light that emanated from the Princesses horn.

She looked at me and smiled.

"Now what did you want to tell me?"

~~~~~

"Do ya hear anythin' sugarcube?" Applejack said.

'What seems to be the problem Twilight?'

"Twilight wanted to speak to the Princess privately and discuss an issue."

"Anything else Scan? Dude you hearing is amazing. I can't even hear them, and I have my ear up against the door." Rainbow Dash said. I was standing just a bit behind her focusing on the sound coming from the closed door.

'I think I know where your crystals might of gone...'

"Twilight thinks she knows where the crystals have gone..." I strained to listen to the rest of what Twilight had to say but it was drowned out by the concerned mares behind me. They must of been confused for all I heard were 'gasps' and questions coming from them.

"Oh my..."

"Twilight know's where they are?"

"Why didn' Twi tell us?"

"Yeah! Why does she have to be alone with the Princess?!"

"Oh my Celestia! I left a balloon outside!"

'No need to worry dear.'

"Shh the Princess is saying something..." I said.

"What is she saying?" Rainbow said.

I would of told them, but it all stopped. It was like I just suddenly went deaf.

"Well? Spit it out sugarcube! No need to worry! We can take it!"

My ears drooped as I noticed the outlines of the window and door surrounded by the same white light from earlier.

"Sorry gals." I said flatly. "The Princess doesn't want us to hear what Twilight has to say." This was meant by more gasps from the mares. Except Rainbow Dash.

"Ah come on! We won't get to hear any of the juicy stuff!" Rainbow said.

I didn't want to strain myself any longer than I needed to.

"Ugh, I guess we have to wait." I shivered as a familiar icy wind made its way down the street.

"Oh my... It is getting a little cold outside." Said Fluttershy.

"Good thing I brought a blanket! I knew we would need this!" Pinkie Pie said.

"Thank you Pinkie! I am absolutely freezing out here!"

"Hey sugarcube! Why don't you come over here with us? You look pretty cold out there!" Applejack said.

Before I could reply I felt a hoof drag me to the side of sugarcube corner and under the thick blanket.

"Come on Silly before you catch a cold or somthing!" Pinkie said.

"Thanks Pinkie." I said smiling in her direction. I regretted doing that because then Pinkie hugged me so tightly I could feel my lower ribs grind against each other.

"Don't mention it!" She said as she plopped down next to me.

It was warmer under the blanket. I could hear the sounds of at least 4 ponies lightly sleeping beside me. I was about to doze off myself when I felt a wing stretch out and over me, embracing me passionately. It was a little shocked. There were only two mares with wings... And Fluttershy was not even close to me...

"R-Rainbow Dash?" I whispered. My face was burning up, my heart was pounding within my chest.

"Yes Silver?" She said.

My heart was beating so fast at that moment. I was at a lost for words...

"I-..I-..."

My sentence was cut short when I felt her kiss me on the cheek.

"Shut up and just enjoy it Scan." She whispered to me.

My mind was a mess, I couldn't think straight. Thank Celestia there was no pony outside in the streets because I must of been making myself look like a foal. I didn't want to say anything. Slowly, ever so slowly, I placed my arm around Rainbow Dash.

And to my surprise, she did the same to me.

My world stopped right then and there.

~~~~~

"That's why I think Silver has the crystal." I finished saying.

The Princess just stood there, completely emotionless. It was silent for a long time before she spoke.

"Are you sure Twilight? Are absolutely sure?" The Princess said looking at me with genuine concern.

"Yes, everything adds up. How I didn't teleport him, how he radiated magic to things around him, his cutie mark that looks like the gems and has the sun and moon around it! I am positive." I finished saying.

"That is what I feared..." The Princess said slowly. "I felt the crystals presence when I teleported myself here."

"Does that mean Silver stole the crystal...?" I didn't want to believe it. Silver was so kind, so innocent, he wasn't capable of such things... Right?

"No, no, no Twilight. Silver did not steal the crystals. His heart is pure and true." The Princess said.

This calmed me down a bit, but something was still nagging at me in my thoughts.

"Then how can he do all these things?"

The Princess collected her thoughts and spoke to me.

"His body is infused with the crystals."

I didn't believe it...

"What does that mean... What does that mean, for Equestria..?"

The Princess walked over to the curtains and pulled them back with a wing. There lying under the covers were my friends huddled together with Rainbow Dash and Rustic Silver in a passionate embrace.

"If Equestria is to survive this crisis." She said as she turned to me with misty eyes.

"We have to kill Rustic Silver."

~~~~~

Author's Note: Cliffhangers awesomeness = doughnut holes awesomeness

Again comment, suggestions, and opinions are welcome! I am open to critique as per usual. Still looking for pre-readers so drop me a line either by a PM on the site or E-mail me at [email protected]

~Athanix,

Peace.

Also, I drew this up when I got writer's block in the middle of the story. Enjoy! <3