Chapter Five: Interrogation

"I was raised as if any other princess. I was taught countless lessons of history, sciences, magic, and other educations. " Silver Lining sat at the end of the circular table a distance from the other three who listened carefully to their visitor. Her mane and tail were cleaned and made into some delicate curls, with a braid that showed over clearly that was swept over her forehead to her opposite ear, and followed around her head to make a halo. She continued. "I had a friend that I rarely saw... She always spoke of rebellion and certain politics and issues that would help her arguments... She gained knowledge of particular relics that would modify her abilities; and such relics proved to do much, much more.... " She shook her head and looked down in sorrow. "She appeared fine, at first... She spoke to me often when I wasn't busy with other things, however she eventually came less and less during the day, and instead woke me at night. She brought up our usual discussions, arguments, and daily lives but that changed to be more focused on her plans...." Tears began running down her cheeks at this point. "She told me exactly what she would do... And I let it happen..."

"What did she do." Princess Celestia had then asked, her face unchanged as she watched her closely.

"Myself among many other foals at the time experienced bad dreams some time after she suddenly vanished... They involved some of our most feared enemies, and then within those dreams she'd lead us to believe she could take us to some place safe, but when we'd get to that place our parents would be gone... We would proclaim her the leader, as she knew just what to do, or so we believed... I remember little of what happened next, but when I opened my eyes everything was in ruins, and no pony was left but me. I found myself some years older, my horn broken in half, and I fear that she's come to do the same here, but leave nothing behind..." She bowed her head, out of breath of what to say, not to mention unsure of what else she could say.

Peeking through the window was a dark mist that suddenly dispersed as Silver ended her story, and Twilight turned her head at the sudden movement to find nothing there. "Can you... " She paused and turned her head back to Silver. "Maybe think of any possible weaknesses? This isn't anything I've read about... "

She shook her head, but suddenly paused. "Well.... No adults or teens have vanished... Have they?"

They looked to each other, confused.

"So... She's limited only to controlling foals? " Twilight then broke the sudden silence. "So that's one thing... Can you think of anything else?"

"No... But I'm afraid I've grown tired...."

With that, the discussion ended and within the crystal castle Silver was led to a guest room that contained a bed, a dresser, desk, and a closet. Both the dresser and closet being empty. When the door closed and good nights were said, Silver went to the window and opened it, letting in a cool breeze. After that she went to bed, and rested.

Silver slept peacefully, although she did sleep until just past noon. She had made herself more presentable when in the guest room, managing to make a necklace of her final reminder of her home. It was a deep red gemstone that had gold around the back, previously the most valuable piece of her crown. It had signatures upon it, of whom had inherited it before herself, imprinted on the gold. She found some string, and managed to make it into a necklace, and put it round her neck. She then walked out of the room, and shortly after found herself at the table once more, questioned by the other princesses.

"How did you find Equestria in the first place?" Twilight had asked.

"Word of popular countries travel vastly. I traveled a long way in search of the one whom had destroyed my own, and it appears my travels have thusly ended, as I doubt she'd wish to keep me alive if I try stopping her, and that's just what I seek to do... " Silver replied.

"Just what can you do that would help us?" It was Celestia this time. "Without your horn, certainly you can't use magic..."

"I can not. However, I have an idea to how we may retrieve the children safely to their homes." she said

"And what would that plan be?"

"We make traps... Surely she's planning on attacking, so we can make traps to contain them. We can get wise students or unicorns to figure out a spell that disrupts their 'dreaming.' While we do that we can search for the invader, and capture her. " With that she gave herself an approving nod.

"That could work, actually... But how do we get this to follow through?" Twilight had asked

"We make it appear unintentional... Netting traps, box traps... Anything possible that does little to no harm."

And with that they made their agreements, and proceeded with calling forth ponies whom could do such things, and of course, avoided the word 'trap' as much as possible