An earth shaking crash rippled across the sky, thunder bashing against the clouds as if they were drums. Rain fell as if it had no purpose to fulfill, no misbegotten purpose or otherwise promised cause. It just fell. The sound of the rain loud upon the rafters of the high Canterlot Palace ceiling. Filling the minds of everypony with worry and despair, for their princesses were missing and many were blaming it on the Royal Guard. Claiming that they were not doing their job correctly. Silver Bolt smiled, he was glad that he was no longer a guard and was a Silverbrand.

The Silverbrands were the elite guard of the princesses, if one or both turned up missing then they would step in and take over temporarily. Seeing as recently he was appointed Captain of the Silverbrands, he was officially the head of state until the princesses returned. It was a large weight on his shoulders and he would not disappoint considering he was Prince Silver Bolt. Brother of Blueblood and cousin to Cadence. He cared for both of them equally, though he wished that he was born as Cadence's brother. They seemed to get along great, Blueblood was a whole other story. Just thinking about the stuck up prick made Silver Bolt's skin crawl, he does not deserve to call himself prince. Silver Bolt growled at the thought of Blueblood as he stared out the window that was dripping with water droplets.

He had seen much and told very little of the Silverbrands. They were elite trained units and not called to action very often, the only time they had been called to action recently was to assassinate King Mordred Blackclaw of the Griffon Empire. A successful endeavor, though it had cost the lives of a few Silverbrands. While elitely trained, they were not prepared by the sabotage from the inside. It was a dark time for the Silverbrands, a time for revolution. Silver Bolt himself took care of the traitor himself, despite it being his best friend. He had to make the proper sacrifices to become who they were. He had to kill one of Blueblood's suitors because he had told her about the secret caverns beneath the castle that stored magical artifacts and even powerful enemies. That was a secret that needed to stay a secret to only the royal family and the Silverbrands. Certain secrets needed to stay secret, not matter what.

But ever since Silver Bolt joined the Silverbrands he has had to sacrifice pieces of himself just to keep the whole order afloat. Making sure the Silverbrands knew their places, readying them for combat, keeping their goddess forsaken secrets. Was there anything to gain from keeping their secrets? Was there anything to feel from keeping their secrets? IF Silver Bolt could answer those questions he would have answered them already. He had sacrificed so much and he feared that he would sacrifice so much more.

Silver Bolt gathered his attention behind him and saw the door into the office room open and the one to step in was Firefly. She was a dark orange mare with a dark violet mane and tail. She had very slender curves and was not afraid to show it. Her bright yellow eyes stood out and were large on the mare. Their relationship was very complicated, they were neither lovers nor exactly friends. It was very odd but it was exactly what he needed. He needed somepony he trust to talk to, and he has known her since the beginning of his career as a Silverbrand. Silver Bolt asked, his voice deep and commanding like it belonged to somepony much bigger than him, "Any news on the Princesses?"

Firefly sauntered her way towards Silver Bolt and as she drew in closer she answered in a serene tone of voice, "The groups have not reported back. A few minutes and they should be back. Don't worry."

It was so light hearted and warmed him in the inside, maybe it had something to do with her special talent but he always felt more relaxed around her. More at home. Silver Bolt kept his hooves crossed over his chest and continued to look out the window. He offered no response as she moved in closer and wrapped her hooves around his waist and asked close to his ears, "What's wrong? You're not usually like this?"

Silver Bolt replied, "I've had a lot on my mind lately."

Firefly was really the only one he ever showed other emotions to, other than neutral tone or anger. He tried to keep his public image as consistent as possible. Much like what his aunt Celestia would do, as apposed to his weak minded brother who would gladly give away the family's darkest secrets just to get some flank. Goddesses he was so desperate.

Firefly rested her chin on his shoulder and said, "Don't worry, we'll find them."

"No it's not that," Silver returned leaving her warm embrace and stepping closer to the desk, "I mean...the life that I have lived so far...was it worth all those lives that I had taken?"

"Silver wha-"

"Was it worth risking a part of myself just to keep the secrets of my aunts buried?" Silver Bolt interrupted.

Silver Bolt never really thought about it until now. Was it all worth it? For him to sacrifice so much so that he might keep social order? So that he could keep his aunt's secrets. He was so torn, he could not decide the right course of action. He was filled with confusion, misjudgment, remorse, guilt. So many feelings at once that he could almost not take the headache anymore. It became clear that Firefly did not know the answer to his questions, judging from the look she gave him. Regardless it felt better that he shared it with somepony. Somepony to vent towards.

Just then the door opened once more and the pony to enter was Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Guard. the white stallion took off his helmet respectfully and bowed, his long blue mane moving slightly at the decline of his chest. Silver Bolt nodded at the young captain and said, "Captain Shining Armor, it is good to see you."

The stoic young captain returned, "I wish the feeling was mutual."

"It was your guards that allowed them to leave on their own. I fail to see how you can put the blame of this on me." Silver Bolt finished, keeping a respectful and neutral tone in his voice. He could tell that Shining Armor held some sort of hatred for him, it rolled off of him like a stench he could not clean.

Shining Armor added, ignoring Silver's last comment, "My mages recently came back and it appears that Celestia had sent a letter to Twilight Sparkle before she and Luna disappeared."

"Were there any other magical signatures?"

"None that they knew of," Shining Armor leaned in closer to Silver, resting his hooves on the desk, "But I scanned myself and there was another magical signature...it was unlike anything I had ever felt before."

Silver Bolt sighed through clenched teeth and Silver Bolt dictated, "Pull back your search groups Captain Armor. I fear that the expertise of your guards have just ran out. Leave it to my ponies to find them."

Shining Armor growled, "What gives you the authority to-"

"As acting sovereign I believe that I can do whatever I very well please," Silver Bolt interrupted with a neutral tone, "And your guards are not fit for combat. If there is a dangerous magical signature than your ponies are not fit for such a threat. Your purpose it to keep public order, ours is to weed out magical threats. You are dismissed Captain."

"But-"

"You. Are. Dismissed." Silver Bolt growled out. His tone getting angered and defensive. Silver Bolt had a short temper for Shining Armor and his band of untrained fillies, Shining Armor no doubt could sense that in his tone as he just bowed and left the room without another word. Once the door shut behind the unicorn stallion Silver Bolt breathed controlled sighs and Firefly added, "So, I'm guessing that we are going to be going to this Twilight Sparkle?"

Silver Bolt nodded as he activated his magic and levitated over a few reports and began to scan over them with a critical eye, he replied, "Yes. If we are going to know where the princesses have gone then likely it will be from her or whatever information the princesses have given her."

"Who is Twilight Sparkle anyways?"

"Twilight Sparkle is the younger sister of Shining Armor and is Princess Celestia's student," Silver Bolt had a smile slightly tug at the corners of his lips, "I had to watch over her a few times. A sweet little filly. But not a filly anymore, now she is one of the most powerful unicorns Equestria has ever seen since Starswirl the Bearded. If there is anypony that is to be trusted with the Princesses location it's her."

Firefly nodded and she asked in a serious tone, "When will we be heading out and where will we be heading out?"

Silver Bolt looked up and in his deep voice he said, "We will be heading to Ponyville and we will be leaving immediately."

The town seemed a lot more grey than what Rarity remembered. Sure there were some grey days but for an entire week? It was not common for clouds to last this long over Ponyville. It has not even rained at all in more than a few weeks, which meant that they were running low on food since the most recent food purge. The ponies more sullen and despaired, and the buildings less colorful and bright. Rarity very slowly trotted through the streets, blinking back some of the sleepless nights she has had since that night she was attacked.

It was hard for Rarity to get over it. They showed absolutely no remorse or thought for their transactions, they looked as if they were straight out of a nightmare. It was horrifying. Alex just faced them as if he had faced them many times before. No fear. No remorse for his actions either, but he was much more humane than the...oh what did Alex call them?...Ghouls. She always thought that violence was horrible and that it was useless that only barbarians used. Yet Alex showed her that it could be used to protect the ones you care about. The thought was warm as she remembered some of the memories of her brother Virtuoso protecting her from bullies.

Oh how things had changed since then. Now Virtuoso was a national star and had no time for her little sisters. This made her think of bad thoughts about her brother. Her jaw clenching in slight anger that he could find time to find a marefriend but not spend time with his sisters. Rarity never really realized the significance he had or the effect it had on her when he had left. Quite a large hole had been in place, a hole that had not been filled until recently. A hole that was reserved for that somepony that would protect her no matter the cost or the price, that hole now had Alex in its place.

She smiled and slightly blushed at the thought of Alex, he was such a kind and generous soul. But not afraid to protect the ones he loves. Loyal. Honest. Generous. Kind. And occasionally is not afraid of sharing laughter with somepony. Her mind filled with the warm memories they had shared as friends. When they were walking back from Sweet Apple Acres that one day. And then she felt a shiver run through her as she remembered THAT night.

The night that she had almost ruined their entire relationship. She shook her head slightly at the thought of that night and tried to draw her attention elsewhere from her mind. The environment around her was not helping her, considering most of the houses were boarded up and locked up like a safe. Everything seemed to have a negative effect on the ponies that she lived with, so many locking themselves away waiting for everything to blow over. Rarity however had a sneaking suspicion that such things will not end well.

Rarity stopped in her walk and pulled her hood tighter around her face. It had gotten dreadfully cold lately, something told Rarity that the weather ponies were no longer in control of the weather. The rain seemed to stop as she popped her hood closer to her. She pulled her hood down and set her gaze up and focused on her surroundings.

She stood in the middle of the town square, the entire space almost completely empty aside from the occasional pony that would walk by that was not afraid of the current circumstances. Or blatantly ignorant to current events. Rarity scanned the rather small passing of ponies and searched for a particular pony. Her gaze narrowed as she looked across the yard and eventually saw the pony she was looking for. Her brother Virtuoso.

He was wearing a dark black cloak with a hood to block the rain, he stopped and checked the time from his pocket watch that was safely tucked into his vest. Rarity briskly trotted over to Virtuoso and called out, "Virtuoso!"

He looked up and his face beamed with joy as he saw Rarity approaching him and said, "Rarity! It's so good to see you!"

"Likewise," Rarity said as friendly as possible trying to shove all of her previous hated thoughts aside, "I wanted to talk to you."

"What about?" His tone made him sound so genuine, it was almost adorable that he could think to trick Rarity. What was he trying to hide? Or what was he doing?

Rarity replied, "Well...about the fact that you never visited us after your...rise up so to speak."

"Rarity I-"

"You didn't call," Rarity interrupted raising a hoof in anger then letting it fall, "You didn't write. Not a single word. Why?"

Virtuoso rubbed the back of his head and shakenly replied, "Well...I was...busy."

"Too busy for family?" Rarity returned with poison in her voice. She almost growled and narrowed her already constricting gaze, what was he hiding!? Rarity stepped closer driving him back, "What are you trying to hide Virtu?"

"Nothing it's just-"

"You can tell me anything. We're family you know that." Rarity said as she noticed she was getting a little bit threatening. Virtuoso was not one for bravery of something he wanted to hide. It often took months for Rarity to get something out of him in their younger years. She gathered herself and allowed him room to explain.

Virtuoso gulped back a lump in his throat and replied, "Well...I was...suicidal...for lack of a better term..."

Rarity dropped her adamant stance and was filled with shock and sympathy as her eyes grew wide and said, "Virtu..."

Virtuoso breathed out a breath of release and continued, "I just...could not take the pressure anymore. Raising you and Sweetie Belle. Days went on that I often argued with dad and step mom about you two. The stress eventually got too much and I had to leave. I was just not happy for so long, I wandered Equestria trying to find a purpose again. But...I could not find it..."

Rarity could barely believe what she was hearing, it was almost too much for her. Her oldest brother suicidal, it was surreal is what it was. Rarity stepped back to gather her sense again. She had thought that he was avoiding her because he hated them, or that he thought he had better priorities other than seeing his sisters, or maybe he just up and left for no reason. But this...this was something else. She felt sick to her stomach she felt so guilty. She looked at her brother and mumbled, "Virtu...I...I'm so sorry...I...I always expected the worst with why you left...that you turned into some sort of..."

Rarity failed to find the rest of her words, she was a little flustered with the news. He finished for her, "Some egotistical prick?"

She would not have been so vulgar as to say that but it conveyed the right feeling so she nodded and said, "So...how did you get over it?"

Virtuoso offered for them to walk and as she followed next to her brother he explained, "I became the star I am now because I was lucky enough to have been discovered by a special talents agent in Manehattan. With my special talent I was able to have a manager and I started doing acts, playing music, and so many other things that I was a hit across Equestria. But even then I was not fully healed from my condition...not until I met Ditzy."

Rarity looked at Virtuoso as they continued their conversation, "I never cared about her condition. I always loved her for what was inside, cause that's all that really matters. She has a heart that is unlike any other. She actually reminds me a lot like you."

"Aw thanks." Rarity smiled. She focused back on the path ahead of them and she saw that they were now walking in the nearby park. Slightly damp and muddy considering the most recent rainstorm, on and off mostly. She decided not freak out even though she was getting her hooves all muddy.

Virtuoso asked with an off putting mischievous grin, "So do you have a special somepony?"

Rarity shot her head away from Virtuoso and said, "N...no not right now...but soon...hopefully."

Virtuoso edged on further, "What about that Alex guy? He seems pretty nice."

Rarity moved her face away out of Virtuoso's face and she muttered to herself, "Oh yes he is."

Author's Note

Finally an update! And I actually have a plan this time! Like I sat down and made an outline of the next few chapters. I normally don't do that usually just straight from my head to the computer. Still the case now but I am happy, the lineup I got ready for you guys if pretty sweet.