Forever

    "Are you sure that you all want to come with me?" Twilight questioned as the five mares stood at the train station. "I know that you all have your responsibilities here, and we don't even know if Celestia will even have any answers to where Pinkie might be."

    "I don't have any responsibi-" Rainbow Dash's sentence was cut off by Applejack hoof being shoved in her mouth.

    "What Rainbow is trying to say is, we're coming with you." Applejack replied.

    "If there is even a chance that this could help us find her, it will be worth missing out on a few days of dressmaking at the shop." Rarity added. "I could use a break anyway."

    Fluttershy then chimed in with, "I taught Angel how to take care of all of my animals in case I ever had to leave for something like this, so I'll be fine for a few days."

    "Well I guess that settles it!" Twilight shouted definitively. "We're all going to Canterlot."

    After a few minutes of waiting by the ticket booth, they heard the loud whistle of the friendship express. Then with some screeching from the metal wheels grinding against the tracks, the train came to a halt. The close friends hopped on right as the door opened, and found five seats right next to each other. There was much to be discussed before finally confronting such a large figure of authority about a missing pony.

    It took several hours for the train to reach Canterlot. Once they arrived, Twilight insisted that they head immediately for the castle, in hopes that Celestia would be able to tell them about the rock farm right away, and they might have enough time left in the day to go and investigate.

    The group arrived at the gates of the castle. It was heavily guarded and the gates were closed. Usually, the gates would be left open, only to be guarded by four or five stallions. This was not the case today. Twilight was worried that something bad was happening. Maybe someone was threatening to attack Canterlot. She approached the head guard and began to speak. "Uh. Excuse me? I really need to speak to princess Celestia right now. It's urgent."

    "I'm sorry Twilight." The guard replied. "But princess Celestia is away at the moment on official business."

    "What's with all of the security?" Twilight questioned. "If the princess isn't even here to be protected, then why do you need to guard the castle this well?"

    "The princess just demanded that the castle be cleared of any visitors until after she has returned and taken care of her business." The guard was speaking in a very worried tone. It was as if he was just as concerned about what was going on as Twilight was. "We don't ask questions, so that's all I know. It's nothing against you Twilight, We're just doing our jobs."

    "I understand." Twilight hung her head as the words came out. "Do you have any idea when she'll be back?"

    "Today." Said the guard. He was happy to share whatever information he could. "Though I don't know much else. Now it would probably be best if you just wandered around town until she gets back. Just check back here every hour or so."

    Twilight looked down at the ground as if she had been defeated. "OK. We will do that then. Thanks for your help sir." Twilight turned around to walk into town to waste away a few hours until the princess arrived. "Come on girls we'll come back later."

    "Wait twilight!" Applejack shouted as she pointed up at the sky. "I think that's her!" There were three ponies flying towards the castle from the Everfree forest. One of them was noticeably larger than the others. As they got closer, the five mares could clearly distinguish Celestia as the larger pony that was leading the pack. The two ponies that were accompanying her could then be clearly made out as royal guards. Though each one had a large mysterious lump on their backs. It was about the size of a young filly or colt.

    Twilight and her friends watched as they all landed in the castle courtyard and proceeded to enter through the main door. They could now see that the lumps on the guards' backs we large bags. Perhaps they were carrying all of Celestia’s supplies for whatever it was that she was out doing. After the guards were inside, Celestia closed the door behind them and made her way to the front gate. "Thank you all for keeping the area secured." Celestia's voice was mild and soothing. "You didn't have too many visitors did you?" She asked jokingly before looking down and seeing Twilight and her friends waiting patiently outside the castle grounds. "Oh. Twilight. Please come in. I wasn't really expecting you. So sorry to keep you waiting." Now Celestia's tone was much more frantic and nervous.

    "Thank you Princess." The group said simultaneously.

    "It's no worry at all." Celestia replied. "But we will have to stay in the courtyard for now until my guards are done putting my um... things... um... away?"

    "Are you OK Celestia?" Twilight asked. "You seem a little bit on edge today."

    "Of course I'm alright, Twilight." Celestia quickly regained her composure. "It's just been a long day. That's all. So what possessed my protege to come all the way out here to Canterlot to see me?"

    "Well Princess, it's kind of a long story. Maybe we should wait until we can go inside, then we can sit down and it will be much easier to explain." Twilight showed sadness in her voice.

    Celestia was seeming even more nervous now. She knew what was going on. She knew exactly what Twilight wanted to talk about. But she did not plan for it. She never thought of how she would respond when it inevitably came up. This was not a good subject for quick thinking. Something like this needed to be handled with care. She needed more time to plan for how she was going to explain the situation to her star pupil. So she did the only thing she could think of in that moment. "Twilight Sparkle. Please come inside. But your friends must remain out here." Celestia tried to sound as calming as possible. "I assure you it's for the best."