Darkness Rising

“Thank you for your help.  If you remember anything else, you know where to find me.”

Twilight sighed as she left the cottage's front stoop and went out into the street where her brother was waiting.  She had visited over a dozen houses, conducted lengthy interviews, and spoken with any number of ponies in an effort to get answers.  An effort that seemed in vain.

“Anything,” Shining asked.

She shook her head. “They didn't seem to know anything.  Just like all the others, they wanted answers I don't have.  I wish I could tell them something, anything, that might help them.”

He nuzzled her. “I know, Twily.”

“How could this have happened?  Who's been doing this?  Why?  Why foals?”

“I don't know, but we're going to find out.”

A guardspony trotted up to them and saluted Shining. “Princess Celestia awaits the both of you at the Golden Oaks library.”

Twilight let out a second sigh.  She didn't know how she didn't expect it.  Celestia came, personally, for regular reports every Wednesday evening and Twilight always made a point of meeting her mentor and sovereign at the door, but, with all of the work she had been doing, she had forgotten.  Between the stress of the case and the lack of sleep, she had been forgetting a lot.

Shining followed her to the hollowed-out tree that served as Ponyville's Golden Oaks library.  Several guardsponies had set up a perimeter but only loitered about it, managing to look simultaneously attentive and bored.  There was no threat here in peaceful Ponyville.  Unless, of course, a pony was under the age of ten.

She pushed the door open and entered the main library.  The lower levels were public while the upper levels were her private apartments.  Her paced slowed to a shuffle as she neared the door to the private meeting room where she usually discussed the case with the Princess.  Hesitating, she opened the door and entered.  Celestia was not in her usual spot, at the table with a cup of tea.  A quick glance revealed the white Alicorn curled up in a corner.  The closed eyes, limp wings, and deep breaths indicated her deep sleep.

Curious, Twilight trotted over. “Princess?”

Celestia's right ear flicked as she mumbled.

Twilight gently poked the Alicorn. “Princess Celestia?”

Celestia snored deeply and shifted.

“Princess, wake up.”  Twilight placed both fore-hooves against the princess' withers and shoved.

With a snort, Celestia opened her eyes, “Oh, Twilight.”  She stood and yawned widely. “I must have dozed off.”

Twilight was shocked at Celestia's appearance.  The powerful Alicorn looked worn.  Her cheeks were sunken and there were dark circles around her eyes.  Her mane and tail, usually shimmering as they wafted in the magic that emanated from her, hung limply.  Her feathers, always neatly arrayed, were a mess.

“Princess, are you okay?  You don't look well.”

Celestia yawned again. “I'm fine.  I haven't been sleeping well.  Ponyville isn't the only place that foals have been disappearing from.  I've had to dispatch inspectors to Fillydelphia, Baltimare, Manehatten, and as far west as Appleloosa and have been running myself ragged collecting reports.

“Have you made any progress here?”

Twilight shook her head. “I'm sorry, princess.  Nopony around here has seen anything.  It's like the foals have just turned invisible.  You would think that somepony, anypony, would have seen something or heard something but...” she sighed and shook her head again “...nothing.”

Celestia lowered her head as her ears fell back. “That's exactly what I feared.  All of my investigators and inspectors are having the same problem while parents grow more frantic by the day.  It seems I'm going to have to call in outside help.”

“Outside help?  From where?  Griffonia?  Zebrafrica?”

Celestia shook her head. “I suspect that there's a lot more to this than there seems to be.”

“Princess, what are you talking about?”

Celestia turned to Twilight with a hard stare. “I need to know that, when I bring this special investigator in, he'll have your unwavering assistance.”

“Princess, am I being bumped?”

“It's nothing personal, Twilight.” Celestia was quick to reassure her. “It's been three months and you've made no progress.  I know you're trying your best but he's better.  I need to know if he'll have your support when he comes.”

There was no mistaking the disappointment in her voice. “Yes.  I'll help him if you need me to.”

Celestia sighed. “Do you want to do this?”

“Honestly?  No.  I can't help but feel a little betrayed, but, if it will go towards ending this nightmare, then I'll do whatever it takes.”

“Thank you...for being honest.  I can't tell you how many yes-mares bob their heads either because they fear me or because they want something.  You're the only one I can count on to tell me what's really going on inside your mind.”  She stretched again and started for the door. “I'll place the call tonight.  It will take him a few days to get here but I'll be here when he arrives to help you and he get acquainted and start working.  Until then, continue your work.  I'll be sending Shining Armor back to the Crystal Empire the day after tomorrow.  I want you to have all of the information you've collected ready for him when he arrives.”

“Yes, princess.”

Celestia turned and gave Twilight a smile. “Thank you.  I know this stings your pride a little bit.”

“It has nothing to do with my pride.  I can't help but feel like a failure.”

“You haven't failed, Twilight.  Remember what you wrote to me about Applejack learning to accept help from others?  I need you to accept my help.”

She frowned but nodded.

“Thank you, Twilight.  I appreciate you and everything you do for Equestria.”  Celestia opened the door and exited. “I'll be back in a few days.”

Twilight nodded and closed to door, resting her head against the doorframe.

Shining trotted up to her. “Everything okay?”

“I've been bumped.” She confessed. “Celestia's bringing in some sort of special investigator.”

“You don't sound happy about it.”

“Should I be?  I've always had the answers, I've always been the one to figure out the solution.  Now, Celestia needs to call in somepony because I've been stumped.  Excuse me for feeling a little put-out.”

Shining wrapped a fore-leg around his sister. “Hey, none of that.  You aren't a failure, you haven't made a mistake, but you do need help and Celestia has gotten it for you.”