Finding Scootaloo

About fifteen minutes later, the Elements of Harmony were gathered in the Golden Oaks Library.

Rarity glared at Rainbow Dash. "Could you please close your wings? The implications of your wings being spread like that are quite rude and I'd rather not be in the presence of something so dirty." She sniffed, turning her nose in the air.

Rainbow glared right back. "I was drugged by the good for nothing nurse you-"

Twilight quickly stepped between them. "Now's not the time for fighting girls, can we please just sit down nicely?" She asked.

Rarity and Rainbow turned away from each other and sat as far away from each other as possible.

Twilight looked at all of them, sighing as Rainbow looked away from everypony to glare at the ground. "Alright, everypony's heard of what happened last night, correct?" Fluttershy and Pinkie nodded while Applejack and Rarity shivered a bit, "Well for some reason, almost everypony seems to think that Rainbow is the kidnapper. We need to prove her innocent!" She declared, stomping her hoof firmly on the ground.

Rarity jumped to her hooves. "WE DON'T THINK, WE KNOW!" She shrieked, surprising everypony in the room.

Before even Rainbow Dash could react, Twilight was on her hooves and her horn was blazing with magenta light. "SIT DOWN RARITY!" She barked harshly, baring her teeth and flaring her wings threateningly.

Clearly startled by her friend's reaction, Rarity sat back down and stared at her with wide, still slightly angry eyes.

Twilight drew herself back down and ceased the magical flow, taking deep breaths to calm herself down. "Rarity, I don't see how you can accuse Rainbow of kidnapping Scootaloo. She was in your house, in the same room as you. You would've heard her." She stated in a low voice filled with barely suppressed anger.

It was Applejack who cut in this time, "Well RD ain't exactly loud when she don't want ta be. If she really wanted ta be quiet, she coulda." She reasoned.

Rainbow gave her a disbelieving look. "Applejack, I was the one who dragged you out of bed when Sweetie Belle started screaming! When would I have had time to take Scootaloo, fly off with her, then come back to bed?" She demanded.

Rarity glared at Rainbow. "You always boast about how you can do tasks in, as you say, 'ten seconds flat', do you not?" She asked.

Fluttershy peeked out from behind her rosette mane, teal eyes more nervous than normal. "T-That is true..." She agreed softly.

Twilight stared at the shy Pegasus, eyes wide with disbelief and hurt. "Fluttershy, not you too!" She exclaimed.

Pinkie glared at Twilight. "Twilight, you really need to look at the facts. A blue Pegasus with a rainbow mane? It's gotta be Dashie!" She exclaimed.

Rarity stood up. "How could you? Your own sister! And after all she's been through to!" She shouted.

"How the buck can you seriously think I'd kidnap her? We were in your house Rarity, you would've heard me get up!" Rainbow retorted, getting to her hooves as well.

Applejack sighed. "Well Sweetie did say she saw a rainbow-maned Pegasus... And yer the only rainbow-maned Pegasus ah know... It all seems a might suspicious if ya ask me." She admitted, getting up.

"She's my little sister! Why would I kidnap her?"

"Um... It does seem a bit strange to just be a coincidence... If you don't mind me saying..." Fluttershy added quietly, slowly standing up.

"Fluttershy! Come on! After all these years you think I'd kidnap a defenceless filly?"

"My knee's all pinchy, and that means something scary is happening. And if Sweetie Belle really did see a Pegasus with a rainbow mane, well..." Pinkie murmured nervously as she stood up.

"Pinkie! Not you too!"

Twilight shook her head and got to her hooves along with everypony else. "Girls, you can't honestly believe that Rainbow would seriously kidnap Scootaloo?" She demanded, her voice slightly panicky.

"Rainbow Dash, I am truly sorry for what I am about to say, but until you are proven innocent I cannot allow myself or Sweetie Belle to associate with you. It is nothing personal, it is merely for safety." Rarity stated, turning her nose in the air and sounding anything but sincere when she said it was nothing personal.

"Same here RD. Ah just can't let ya come to the barn until everything's cleared up. Ah'm sorry." Applejack agreed. She at least sounded sincere, but the fright in her eyes said that she was scared of angering the spectrum haired Pegasus and was apologizing in case she'd offended her rather than the fact that she was, for lack of a better term, abandoning her.

"I-I think the same thing goes for me... This is all too scary, and it's not that I don't trust you, it's just that I want my animals to be safe... P-Please don't be mad..." Fluttershy told her softly. She felt her twist in her chest at Rainbow's heartbreaking look, guilt washing over her as she looked away.

"Me too! I can't let anything happen to the twins!" Pinkie exclaimed, giving Rainbow a heated and suspicious glare.

Rainbow stared at all the scared and angry looks with wide, hurt and broken eyes. "G-Guys, come on! I thought we were friends! You know, I wouldn't kidnap her! I-I Pinkie Promise, I had nothing to do with this!" She begged.

Pinkie swivelled around and locked a pair of blazing blue orbs. "Oh yeah? And can you live up to that Pinkie Promise?" She demanded challengingly.

"She's my bucking sister!" Rainbow shouted.

Pinkie snorted. "Well until you can show me that she's safe, I'm not gonna believe you! Who wants to be friends with a liar liar pants on fire kidnapper!?" She screamed, turning and cracking her tail across Rainbow's face as she did.

"How can you guys think that? I'm not a kidnapper! WHAT THE BUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU PONIES!? I MISS SCOOTALOO MORE THAN ALL OF YOU COMBINED! SHE'S MY SISTER!" Rainbow screamed after them as they started to walk away.

Rarity looked over her shoulder. "WELL YOU DON'T DESERVE HER!" She snapped back.

Before Twilight could even say one word, Rainbow let out a wild screech and dove forwards like a rainbow projectile, tackling Rarity to the ground.

The back of Rainbow's hoof came down across Rarity's face as the fashionista screamed wildly. She continued to pummel Rarity with her hooves as the familiar red mask covered her eyes. "TAKE IT BACK! TAKE IT BACK YOU DAMN MULE!" She screeched.

Rarity's horn ignited as she tried to slap Rainbow's hooves away. "GET OFF! GET OFF OF ME YOU BRUTE!" She shrieked, trying to blast her off with magic but the flurry of blue hooves threw her aim off and she couldn't get a clear shot.

Applejack grabbed Rainbow and tried to pull her off, only to be met with a buck to the gut. The blow sent her skidding back and knocked the wind out of her.

Twilight started forwards, horn lighting up as she prepared to separate them.

Rainbow continued to beat the Unicorn with her hooves, screaming insults at her as she did. "TAKE IT BACK YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING SNOB! TAKE IT BACK BEFORE I RIP YOUR HIDEOUS DRESSES TO BITS AND BEAT YOU TILL YOUR SIX FEET UNDER!" She screamed ferociously.

Rarity's horn was nearly blinding at this point. "TAKE! THAT! BACK!" She roared. The jet of magic shot off without her meaning to, and connected sharply with the Pegasus' chest.

Boom!

Rainbow was blasted through the air by the magical explosion. She slammed into the stairs with a sickening crunch before howling in agony, her right wing slumping from its drugged state at a sickening angle.

Rarity got to her hooves, blood spilling from her muzzle as she breathed heavily. "I WISH YOU'D NEVER ADOPTED SCOOTALOO! SHE WOULDN'T BE MISSING IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU!" She shrieked. A sleeping spell by Twilight silenced her, and she was dragged away by Applejack.

Slam!

Pinkie slammed the door behind them, and the two mares were alone.

Twilight hurried over to Rainbow's side as the Pegasus sobbed. She helped her to her hooves, and gasped at the sight of her wing. It was bent at the shoulder joint, clearly broken. The shoulder joint remained in its upright position, while the rest of the wing was drooping at a sickening angle.

Rainbow looked at Twilight with pained eyes, her breath hitching as she tried to desperately fight down the pain. "T-Twi..." She whimpered.

The Alicorn nodded and flared her horn. A roll of gauze levitated over and she went to work, placing her hooves on the injured wing and as gently as possible realigning the bone.

Rainbow stopped one of her forehooves and groaned loudly as she tried to suppress her scream of agony. She felt the bandages going around her wing, and then Twilight pulled away. She let out a huge gasp of a breath before collapsing as she began to sob once more. "I-I need to go home... Thanks for everything Twi, but I need to just... Go." She told her as she opened the door.

"THERE SHE IS!"

Rainbow's ears dropped as she looked at the gathered ponies. Each and every one of them were glaring at her with hateful eyes, holding rocks and other things in their wings, hooves and magical auras.

"YOU FILTHY CRIMINAL!" Came Bon Bon's voice.

"HOW COULD YA TAKE SCOOTALOO FROM US!?" Apple Bloom cried.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY STUDENT!?" Demanded Cheerilee.

"I HOPE YOU BURN IN TARTARUS!" Screamed Lyra.

"WE SHOULD KILL YOU!" Hissed Thunderlane.

A rock suddenly binged across Rainbow's shoulder, and she saw that Sweetie Belle had thrown it. More things started to pelt her body painfully, and she ducked back into the library and slammed the door behind her, chest heaving. Her heavy breaths melted into sobs as she slid down the the door, banging her head against it as she cried.

Twilight hurried to her side and wrapped her forelegs around her in a hug, careful to avoid her injured wing. "Shhh... We'll solve this Rainbow, don't worry..." She soothed, pulling the distraught Pegasus away from the door.

Rainbow sniffled and looked up at the Princess with watery eyes. "S-She's really gone Twi... And everypony thinks I did it! I'm so worried about Scoots Twi, what if she's been killed?" She asked nervously, voice shaking.

Twilight placed her chin on Rainbow's shoulder, holding her close as she sighed. "I know that these are troubling times Rainbow Dash, and everypony's blaming you because they have nopony else to blame. We'll find her, together. I promise." She vowed.

Another sob tore itself from the Element of Loyalty's throat. "I can't even go outside without them throwing things at me! They broke my bucking wing, Twi! What are we gonna do? I-I need to know that she's safe! I c-can't fail her!" She cried desperately.

Twilight went silent for a moment. "...I'll go. I'll find her. I promise Rainbow, I'll find Scootaloo." She told her, pulling away a bit to look her seriously in the eyes. Purple to magenta.

Rainbow shook her head. "No! You could get hurt, you could be killed! I can't go with this wing, but I can't let you go! Let Sherlock and John handle it, please!" She begged.

Twilight sighed. "No Rainbow, I need to make sure for myself that Scootaloo is safe. If something happens to her and I'm not the one to find her, I'll never forgive myself. I'd rather be there firsthand than be told by a detective I barely know." She told her honestly.

Rainbow's forelegs pulled Twilight in and she hugged her friend tightly. "Thank you..." She whispered. In a world she didn't know anymore, Twilight was her only friend.

Twilight smiled softly. "I'd do anything for you Rainbow, especially in your time of need. I can't notify the Princesses right now, Spike has been summoned to Canterlot by Princess Luna for something regarding other Dragons, so we're on our own with this. I promise you Rainbow, I'll find her. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a-" She was cut off by Rainbow's bitter snort.

Rainbow looked away. "You don't need to do that. Pinkie promises mean nothing anymore, Pinkie isn't my friend. None of them are." She spat bitterly.

Twilight sighed softly and hung her head. Just as she feared would happen before she gathered all of their "friends", their friendship was coming apart at the seams. "Alright." She agreed.

Rainbow nodded. "Thanks Twi. C-Can I... Ya know... Stay here?" She asked cautiously, giving her friend a shy look.

Twilight nodded. "Of course! If you can't get home, then of course you stay here. I insist." She agreed.

Rainbow gave Twilight a watery smile. "You're too good to me Twi." She complimented tearfully.

Twilight smiled. "It's what friends are for. If you could excuse me for a minute, I'll be right back." She told her, trotting past her and opening the door with her magic. She closed it behind her and faced the crowd of angry ponies, a glare of her own on her face.

Cheerilee stepped forwards. "With all due respect your highness, we demand you give us Rainbow Dash so that we can punish her!" She demanded, stopping her hoof for emphasis.

Thunderlane strode forwards as well. "There's no need to worry yourself about her Princess, we'll handle her and get Scootaloo back." He assured her.

Twilight glared at him. "Rainbow Dash will not be punished unless she is proven guilty." She stated.

Apple Bloom came up to her. "HOW DARE YA!? GIVE US THAT TRAITOR OR WE'LL TAKE HER!" She screamed.

Big McIntosh joined her. "Eeyup. No offence yer highness, but Rainbow is the obvious suspect." He agreed.

Mayor Mare nodded as she walked right up to the front. "Give us Rainbow Dash or I'm going to have to use drastic measure to get her." She warned.

"WE WANT RAINBOW DASH!"

"SHE SHOULD DIE FOR WHAT SHE'S DONE!"

"GIVE HER TO US!"

"WE'LL PUNISH HER FOR WHAT SHE'S DONE TO SCOOTALOO!"

"SILENCE!"

Twilight had jumped into the air with a huge bellow, horn radiating powerful energy as her eyes glowed pure white. She faced the entire town, all of the ponies backing away with their ears pressed against their skulls as she used the Royal Canterlot voice. Luna's lessons had indeed payed off. "YOU WILL ALL LEAVE MY HOME THIS INSTANT, AND IF ANY OF YOU RETURN FOR RAINBOW DASH YOU WILL BE PLACED UNDER IMMEDIATE ARREST. IS THAT CLEAR!?" She demanded.

Silence.

"IS. THAT. CLEAR!?"

Everypony nodded, trembling as they beheld the furious Princess.

Twilight looked down at them. "GOOD. NOW BEGONE!" She shouted, watching as they hastily retreated. She landed back on the ground and walked back inside, her horn no longer glowing with the spell that had made her eyes glow. She only used that spell when she needed to assert her authority, which wasn't very often. She slammed the door behind her and looked at Rainbow with warm eyes. "They're gone." She notified her.

Rainbow gaped at her. "Remind me never to get you mad." She joked.

Twilight smiled softly. "Noted." She teased.

Just for a second, it seemed like everything was alright. On the outside.

Within Rainbow Dash, her emotions were swirling and tumbling around in a confused mess. Pain, sorrow, anger, betrayal and this cold feeling that spread across the back of her mind. She was smiling almost hopefully on the outside, but on the inside she was dying. All the hatred that bubbled and frothed around her was enough for two ponies, and containing it was painful. It hurt, but she had to hold it back.

And within Princess Twilight Sparkle, all she felt was fury. Behind her eyes was a blazing inferno that could set fire to a forest, so hot was her anger. Bubbling up in her belly and spreading through every fibre of being, covering her vision in a pale red fog. The anger at the other Elements who had betrayed not only her, but Rainbow Dash. Fury at the town who had dared to demand that she hand over Rainbow Dash so that she would certainly be killed. Rage at the mysterious mare who had taken Scootaloo in the first place, starting this whole mess.

But both mares masked their true emotions beneath false smiles. And they were quite good at it too.

It'd take Sherlock Hooves to figure them out.

John was relaxing in his chair as Sherlock examined the blue feather. "So how are you going to figure out who the kidnapper is with nothing but a feather?" He asked.

Sherlock looked up from his magnifying glass and looked over at John. "Rainbow Dash's feathers are the exact same shade as this one, but she kicked me before I could check the sizes. Now I don't know if this feather is the same size as hers or not. It's smaller than yours, and I can't see if it's her size anymore. I believe it's bigger, but I can't be sure. There's something off about it, but I can't figure it out!" He exclaimed in frustration, slamming his hoof down on the counter.

John sighed. "You did bite her." He reminded him.

"I had to see if the taste was the same!"

"You could've at least warned her."

"She wouldn't have let me."

"She also wouldn't have attacked you."

Sherlock sighed and looked away, deciding that John was not going to see reason. Dumb John. He continued inspecting the feather, knowing that something was odd but he just couldn't put his hoof on it. He narrowed his eyes as he looked at it at every angle possible, even levitating it close to his face to get an even closer look, grunting whenever he moved it.

John sighed as Sherlock continued to grunt whenever he did anything. "So did it taste the same?" He asked.

Sherlock raised an eyebrow. "She attacked me before I got the chance to actually taste her." He replied.

John rolled his eyes and went back to reading the Ponyville Express. Scootaloo's kidnapping was on the ground page, complete with a picture of Rainbow Dash and the blaring red headline;

RAINBOW DASH; KIDNAPPER?

The Pegasus shook his head out. "What do you think Sherlock? Is Rainbow the kidnapper?" He called.

Sherlock looked over. "Like you said earlier John..." He started, his mouth twitching slightly as he smiled a tiny smirk,

"You can't trust everypony."