The balloon carrying the siblings left Canterlot just before ten in the morning, but it was still late afternoon when they touched down in the village called Ponyville.

While her brother tended to the tying down of their transport, Twilight Sparkle jumped down from the basket and took in her surroundings. The village was... nothing spectacular. The architecture was standard old world Equestrian. Looking down the way between the buildings, she could see several shops and restaurants. A large building in the town’s center appeared to be a town hall of some sort. A modest fountain bubbled merrily in the already waning sunlight. She was almost disappointed. This was a village of heretics? She'd been expecting bonfires and vermin on every surface while ponies squabbled for food and wallowed in misery...

“Hey there.”

Twilight started slightly and looked up to find a cyan Pegasus floating overhead. The mare waved and landed just in front of her. She brushed a strand of rainbow mane from her eyes and offered a welcoming hoof. Twilight considered the gesture briefly before carefully touching her own hoof to the offered one. “Hello. My name is Twilight Sparkle. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss…”

“Rainbow Dash.” The mare looked around Twilight at the balloon. “You two come from Canterlot? That looks like a Canterlot balloon.”

Twilight nodded. She heard her brother step up beside her and gestured at him. “This is my brother, Sergeant Shining Armor of the Royal Guard.”

Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened. A small crowd of ponies began to approach, drawn by the sight of the violet balloon. “Wow. An actual member of the Royal Guard, huh? So… what brings you two all the way to Ponyville?” Her wings buzzed in excitement. “Come to join in the Summer Sun Celebration with us?”

Twilight shook her head and reached into her saddlebag with her magic. She raised her voice so that everypony gathered could hear her as she displayed the photograph of Sweetie Belle. “My brother and I have been tasked by her Majesty, Princess Celestia of Equestria Herself, to ascertain the location of this filly, one Sweetie Belle by name.” She began to pass the photo through the air so that everypony had a chance to see it. “It is the fondest wish of Her Majesty that every one of her subjects be safe and sound, especially on the eve of our greatest celebration. Now tell me; does anypony here have any information of the whereabouts of this filly?”

As the picture passed each face, a look of confusion came over each stallion and mare. Some gave small shakes of their head. Others began to mutter to one other.

Rainbow Dash peered at the photo and shook her head. “I think there’s been a mistake. I’ve never seen that filly before in my life.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “And how long have you lived here, Miss Dash?”

“All my life. I know everypony in this town.” She pushed the picture back towards Twilight and shrugged her shoulders. “Like I said; there must’ve been some mistake.”

“Well,” Shining Armor started. “If you know everypony in this town, then could you tell us where to find one Miss..." He checked the case file. "...Rarity?”

Dash’s confused face broke into a wide grin. “Sure I know Rarity. Hay, we all do.” The small crowd voiced their agreement. The pegasus pointed her hoof down a side street. “Carousel Boutique is just down there. You can’t miss it.” The smile faded as the confused look returned. “But what does Rarity have to do with this?”

Twilight returned the photo to her bag and looked down the path Rainbow Dash had pointed out. “According to the letter we received, she’s this filly’s older sister.”

Rainbow Dash laughed. “Okay, then you definitely have the wrong village. Rarity’s an only foal.”

“Be that as it may,” Twilight gritted her teeth. Something about the mare, perhaps her high-pitched and somewhat irritating voice, was putting her on edge. “As we have been tasked by Her Majesty to conduct a proper investigation, we should go have a word with her.”

Shining Armor floated his own saddlebag from the balloon’s basket and placed it across his back, sliding the case file inside. “In any case, we’ll probably need to stay the night. Is there an inn nearby?”

Rainbow Dash nodded but frowned. “Yeah, but the Ponyville Inn is closed for refurbishments right now.” Something occurred to her and she perked up. “Oh, but you could try Sugarcube Corner.”

“Sugarcube Corner?” Twilight repeated apprehensively.

“Yeah. It’s the town bakery."

"We should check the bakery... for lodgings." Twilight raised an eyebrow.

"Sure. Mr. Cake usually has a spare room or two available upstairs.”

Shining Armor gave an appreciative nod. He looked at his sister. “Ready?”

Twilight nodded and looked at the crowd. “If anypony remembers anything, even the smallest detail, please come and find us at once.” The two unicorns gave a final look at their balloon and started down the path to Carousel Boutique. After a few moments, Twilight had the sudden urge to look back to see if the crowd had dispersed.

They had not. All of them, Rainbow Dash included, were still standing there and watching them as they walked away.

There were all smiling.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The white unicorn with the elegantly coiffed mane of purple passed steaming cups of tea to her visitors. “I’m terribly afraid to confirm what Rainbow Dash has already told you; you two have been lured here under false pretenses.”

Twilight and Shining Armor took the tea in their own magic and examined the cups carefully. Twilight’s nose wrinkled at the strange aroma. “You mean your sister isn't missing?”

Rarity settled herself down on her large red couch and smiled gently. Her eyes gave a final once over of the boutique’s main room to ensure the elegantly designed space was free of any embarrassing clutter. “Well, how can she be missing? She doesn’t exist.”

The siblings shared a look before sipping their tea at the same time. “Miss Rarity,” Shining Armor began, “With all due respect, I highly doubt her Majesty would send us all the way here on some wild goose chase.”

“And with all due respect to you, Sergeant,” Rarity’s smile faltered a bit and a sliver of ice entered her tone. “If I had a sister, I believe I would know about her.”

Twilight cleared her throat and took another sip of tea. Strange aroma or no, it had a rather sweet taste that she found herself enjoying. “Have you been in contact with your parents lately?”

Rarity laughed airily. “Oh goodness, no! They’ve been gone some... twelve years now, by my count.”

Following the lead, Twilight continued. “So it’s not entirely outside the realm of possibility that they had a daughter you would know nothing about?”

Rarity snorted into her tea but recovered quickly, wiping her muzzle with a summoned handkerchief. “Quite outside the realm of possibility, actually.”

“And why is that?” Shining Armor forced a bit of his commanding tone into the question.

Rarity eyed him coolly. “Because being taken in the night by timberwolves tends to chill the loins somewhat, darling.”

Both siblings looked away in embarrassment. “...My apologies.” Shining Armor muttered.

If the line of questioning bothered Rarity, she hid it well. “Now, just because you had a small bit of bad information doesn’t change the fact that this adorable little filly is probably still missing, correct?”

Twilight nodded, finishing the last swallow of tea. “Have you seen her before?”

Rarity touched a hoof to her chin, thought about the picture she’d been shown briefly, and shook her head. “I can’t say that I have. But unlike Rainbow Dash, I can’t claim to know everypony in the village. I only just moved here a few years ago. Perhaps…”

“Any lead would be helpful at this point, Miss Rarity.” Shining Armor polished off his own tea.

“Well, I moved here around the same time as an old classmate of mine, one Miss Cheerilee. She’s taken up the post of running our little school here in town. If this filly lives here, then Cheerilee surely knows her.”

Twilight smiled and nodded gratefully. “Thank you for talking with us, Miss…”

“Just Rarity, darling.” The unicorn winked.

“Okay. Thank you for the talk.” She made the cup bounce in the air. “And for the tea.”

“Of course. These may be dire circumstances for that filly, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a touch jealous of you two. I do love a good mystery, you know.” She directed her attention to Shining Armor. “And will you be visiting Cheerilee this evening, Sergeant?”

Shining Armor shook his head, peeking out the nearby window. “It's getting late. It might be best until we waited until tomorrow.”

“Staying the night in town then, are we?”

“Yes. We heard there might be rooms available at Sugarcube Corner.”

Rarity rolled her eyes good-naturedly. “Oh, I’m sure at least one room will definitely be available. That is, unless, somepony else has reserved a spot in that bed for the evening.” She pulled their cups away and stood to walk them out before they could ask any further questions. “I hope you enjoy your stay. And do try the crumb cake if you can.” She winked once again. “It’s simply to die for.”

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The sun had almost fully set by the time the siblings arrived at Sugarcube Corner. The bakery’s main parlor was boisterous and loud, filled to the brim with ponies. Almost every single pony in the place cradled a mug of foamy cider and gleefully took long pulls of the sweet liquid. Cupcakes and pastries of every sort passed freely between the villagers and were devoured with hasty abandon. Laughter and small songs floated through the air.

The smell of the place, sugar and the thickness of alcohol, made Twilight sick to her stomach. She wrinkled her muzzle at the offending odor and scanned the crowd. There was Rainbow Dash, the first mare to welcome them. She seemed heavily in the cups already and was talking animatedly with an older, grey-maned mare in glasses.

She spied two mares, one a mint-green unicorn and the other a cream-colored earth pony, making out with reckless abandon. She shuddered at the sight. “Disgusting.” She muttered.

Shining Armor tried not to stare at the pair, ashamed of the tug he began to feel between his legs. “Yes. Disgusting.” He shook his head quickly and turned to the thin stallion behind the bar. “Are you the landlord here?”

“Sure am, stranger.” The orange earth pony extended a hoof. “Carrot Cake’s the name. I take it you two are our visitors from up north?” He winked at the sibling’s surprised faces. “Small town. Word spreads fast.”

Shining Armor briefly touched his hoof to the other stallion’s and gestured at the bawdy crowd. “What’s the occasion?”

Carrot laughed lightly. “It’s kind of a pre-Summer Sun Celebration thing for us here in town. Before the preparations go on tomorrow, we tend to live it up a little so we can focus on the work more.” He tapped his own mug of cider. “That, and we have to drain the kegs of last year’s stores.”

Shining Armor leaned close and sniffed the cup. “This cider’s gone bad.”

“Nah." The baker lifted the mug and took a long pull. He exhaled in satisfaction. "Perfectly fermented.”

Shining Armor frowned in disapproval but held his tongue. “My sister and I find ourselves in need of accommodations. We were told that you might have some spare rooms available.”

Carrot’s smile faded somewhat. “Well, sort of. After my wife passed away, I had the room we were saving for a nursery converted into a guest room. That's the only room available. I don’t suppose you two would have a problem sharing?”

Shining Armor and Twilight froze and cast nervous looks at each other.

“Something wrong?”

“Uh…” Twilight stepped close to the bar and lowered her voice. “You do know the True Faith forbids stallions and mares from sharing sleeping quarters until they’re married, don’t you?”

Carrot raised an eyebrow. “But… I thought you were brother and sister?”

“We are.”

“So… what’s the problem then?”

Before Twilight could continue trying to awkwardly explain the situation, a new voice joined in. “I believe I might have a solution, Mr. Cake.” The older mare with grey mane Twilight had spotted stepped up to the counter and smiled. “Good evening. I’m Mayor Mare.”

Twilight’s face broke into a wide smile and she eagerly touched her hoof to the mare’s when offered. “Madame Mayor, I’m so pleased to finally find you. I’m Twilight Sparkle, and this is my brother Sergeant Shining Armor.”

The mayor tilted her head at the stallion. “Pleasure.”

“Likewise. But one wonders why you weren’t there to greet us when we arrived.” Shining Armor’s eyes narrowed at the sleight.

“Well, we had no idea you were coming. I suppose we didn't warrant a proper notice of your visit.” The mare brushed off the subtext of the stallion’s statement and adjusted her glasses. “I was actually out of the town proper, visiting with Applejack at Sweet Apple Acres. We had some important Summer Sun Celebration business to discuss. Now, as to your accommodations, might I suggest the town library?”

“The library?” Twilight asked, sure she had misheard the name of the location. First offered accommodations in a bakery, and now this? “As in books?”

“Yes. Many books. Also a small living space that plays host to whoever the town librarian is at the time. We happen to be in between librarians at the moment.”

The prospect of a place where she could read and rest in solitude, far from the boisterous band of blasphemers around her, almost made Twilight’s heart skip a beat. “That sounds lovely.”

“Then am I to assume that you’ll be staying with us, Sergeant?” Carrot asked, taking another draw of his cider.

Shining Armor nodded.

“Splendid. I’ll get your things upstairs and… oh! You two must be hungry.”

The sibling’s stomachs growled almost instantaneously at the mention of food.

“Well, the Mayor and I will see you settled in and then I’ll get you two a bit of supper. Let me just get my daughter to mind the counter. Pinkie!”

“Coming!” A pink blur raced into the room and settled itself beside the orange stallion at the counter. The mare’s smile was matched only by her beauty. Her body was just slightly more plump, slightly curvier, than any other pony in the room. She seemed to almost vibrate with some inner joy. Her poufy pink mane bounced slightly with every subtle move she made.

For the second time, Shining Armor caught himself staring.

“This is Pinkie Pie, my adopted daughter.” Carrot kissed her cheek and tilted his head at the unicorns. “Pinkie, this is Twilight Sparkle and Sergeant Shining Armor. They’re visiting from Canterlot.”

Pinkie’s eyes grew wider. “Wow! I’ve always wanted to go to Canterlot!” She leaned towards Shining Armor. “Is it is as big and wonderful as they say it is?”

Shining Armor realized his mouth was hanging open. He shut it quickly. “Even bigger.”

“Well, then I’ll just show Miss Twilight to the library and get her set up for the night. We won't be long.” Mayor Mare started for the door and motioned for Twilight to follow.

Twilight looked at her brother, smiled awkwardly, and quickly trotted along behind her out the door.

“I’ll get this upstairs for you, Sergeant.” Carrot easily lifted Shining Armor’s saddle-bag onto his own back and vanished up the stairs.

Shining Armor looked at Pinkie Pie. “Aren’t you a little old to be living with your father?”

Pinkie Pie shrugged, her smile not fading one bit. “I dunno. There’s no place I’d rather live than here.”

“But don’t you get tired of…” He waved a hoof at the surrounding debauchery.

“Are you kidding? These ponies are the best! Nopony parties like they do.”

Ponies around the room were starting to notice Pinkie’s arrival. From the back of the room came a voice filled with good humor and better cider. Shining Armor turned away from the mare and looked over to find a brown earth pony with a green tie swinging his mug in tune with the song he was just beginning to sing;

“Much has been said

of the strumpets of yore.

Of wenches and bawdy-house queens

by the score.

But I sing of a baggage

that we all adore…”

Shining Armor actually took a step backward as every pony in attendance joined their voices to the song;

“The landlord's daughter!

You'll never love another…”

A great red stallion with a yoke about his neck stood on unsteady hooves and sang in a deep baritone;

“…Although she's not the kind of girl

to take home to your mother!”

The room erupted in laughter and cheers as one pony, yellow with a blue mane, produced a fiddle and began to play a lively tune to accompany the song. The green unicorn pulled away from the mare she had been smashing her face against to take a tremendous chug of cider and add her own bit to the song;

“Her ale, it is lively

and strong to the taste!”

Not missing a beat, her paramour snatched the cup in her own hooves. Before taking a drink, she added her own verse;

“It is brewed with discretion,

never with haste.”

The two mares wrapped their hooves about one another and sang the next bit together, almost in perfect harmony;

“You can have all you like

if you swear not to waste…”

Again the bar erupted in noise as everypony joined in the chorus;

“The landlord's daughter!

And when her name is mentioned…”

Shining Armor decided that he had had just about enough of this disrespect. Just as he made ready to silence the drunken revelers with his loudest command voice, a new voice joined in the song. The voice was cheery, sugary sweet, and positively not offended in the slightest;

“…The parts of every stal-li-on

do stand up

at attention!”

The crowd erupted in cheers and laughter as Pinkie Pie effortlessly sprang into the air, somersaulted over Shining Armor’s head, and came crashing down into a waiting sea of hooves. They passed her around the room as the fiddler continued to play and the song continued with even filthier lyrics. Pinkie’s smile only grew wider as she landed on her hooves and began dancing with the stallion that had started the whole thing.

Shining Armor stared in complete bewilderment.

What sort of faithless, heathen place had Princess Celestia sent him to?

Author's Note