Shining Armor yawned as he stepped out of Sugarcube Corner and straightened his uniform one final time. Sleep had been hard coming the night before. Even unconsciousness had offered no escape from the unnatural thoughts that filled had filled his mind since his arrival in the village. His dreams had been filled by a mare with a coat of pink that at times resembled his beloved Cadance and at others appeared to be the beguiling daughter of his host.

More than once he had been awakened in the night by strangely quiet and breathy noises on the other side of the wall. He’d reasoned that it was simply the wind and rolled over to attempt again to sleep through the night.

“Good morning, Sergeant.”

Shining Armor looked up to see the cyan mare from yesterday floating overhead. He wracked his brain for her name. “Good morning, Miss… Blitz, wasn't it?”

“Dash.” The mare giggled, apparently not terribly offended. “Rainbow Dash.”

“Right. Sorry.” He looked around. “Could you perhaps direct me to the school-house?”

“Going to see Miss Cheerilee? What about?”

“Official business.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Oh yeah; the phantom filly.”

Shining Armor glared at her. “Miss Dash…”

“Sorry. Gotta run. Take a left on Summerisle Avenue. You can’t miss it. Good luck on your...” She flapped her hooves to create quotation marks in the air. “’Investigation.’”

Shining Armor watched as she blasted off at top speed, a rainbow trail created in the air behind her. He shook his head, unsure of how to deal with such callous disrespect. Did these ponies truly care so little that one of their own might be missing? Were their pagan rights that much more important than the life of an innocent filly?

A new possibility reared its ugly head; what if he and his sister were on a wild goose chase? What if Princess Celestia had invented the filly whole cloth and was instead using this as a way to test he and Twilight's faith? Or what if She’d only wanted to send Twilight to convert the populace and had sent him along just as a cover?

He shook his head to clear the ridiculous notion. Why would the God-Princess invent such a needless ruse?

But then what if She was the one who had been fooled? What if…

He struck himself in the face to punish himself for the sacrilegious thought. What a ridiculous notion; Princess Celestia wrong about something. He was amazed She hadn’t reached across the land from Canterlot and struck him dead at the thought.

He followed Rainbow Dash’s directions and before too long found himself approaching a modest school-house made of cherry-wood. His attention was drawn from the simple red building to the play-yard next to it. In the center of an impressive number of playground pieces, a large wooden pole had been erected. The pole appeared to be around twenty feet tall and had a number of long cloth ribbons in many colors tied at the top. At the other end of the ribbons, reaching all the way to the ground, were a number of colts. Shining Armor reckoned there had to be between a dozen to fifteen. They ranged in age from the barely crawling to those just on the cusp of stallion-hood. The colts laughed and joked with each other as a grown stallion tended to the ribbons. It took Shining Armor a moment to realize that it was the same stallion who had started the bawdy bar song the night before. The chestnut pony made sure each ribbon was securely tied before adjusting his green neck-tie and nodding towards an older colt seated at the base of the huge pole. The grey colt, a pegasus, looked exhausted. Still, he dutifully lifted a fiddle to his shoulder and drew his bow across the strings.

The stallion reared up and began clapping his hooves to build a rhythm. The assembled colts all fell into an excited silence. Once all attention was on him, the stallion landed on his hooves and sang;

“In the woods there grew a tree.

And a fine, fine tree was he.”

As though signaled, the colts began to sing as well. Their bodies moved in tune with the music in a bizarre and jerky dance. Their haunches pistoned in a manner that could almost be considered lewd. Shining Armor perked up his ears in order to hear their strange little song;

“And on that tree there was a limb.

And on that limb there was a branch.

And on that branch there was a nest.

And in that nest there was an egg.

And in that egg there was a bird.

And from that bird a feather came.

And of that feather was… a bed.”

The pegasus colt played a small flourish before the song continued;

“And on that bed there was a mare.

And on that mare there was a colt.

And from that colt there was a seed.

And from that seed there was a foal.

And from that foal there was a colt.

And for that colt there was a grave.

And from that grave there grew… a tree.”

Again the song paused so the colt could play a flourish of music. Then the song began to repeat, starting once again with the tree.

Shining Armor shook his head in wonderment as he made his way towards the school-house proper. What could these ponies be thinking, teaching such… loaded lyrics to colts so young? With their minds full of such impure thoughts at an early age… he shuddered at the thought. He prayed under his breath that Twilight would be successful in guiding these ponies to Her Loving Light and that no lasting damage would be inflicted on those youngest in the village.

His hooves carried him up the wooden steps to the school-house’s entrance. The door was standing open, probably to let in the sweet, cooling winds of the summer. Shining Armor did not enter. Instead, he peeked inside.

He spotted a fuchsia mare and a small group of fillies looking out the window at the singing and dancing colts in the schoolyard. After a moment, the mare pulled away and smiled gently at her charges. “Alright girls, that’s enough. We need to get back to our studies.”

The fillies whined a little but obediently left the window and returned to their desks. Shining Armor counted eleven fillies in all, their desks spaced out so there was an empty desk between each of them. He figured those empty desks belonged to the colts currently engaged in the heathen ritual outside.

He noticed, in one case, that there were three empty desks in a row.

“Girls. Attention on me please.” The fuchsia mare took her place at the front of the class and gestured at the window. “Silver Spoon? Will you tell us, please, what the Maypole represents?”

“Uh…” A silver filly in rimmed glasses stared blankly at her teacher.

“Oh, come on. Didn't we just go over it yesterday while we watched the doctor erect it?” Her tone was not condescending, but kind and nurturing. Her cutie mark of three smiling flowers seemed perfectly matched with her. “Diamond Tiara? Why are the colts the only ones allowed to participate in the Maypole dance?”

The silver filly looked over at a pink filly with a shiny crown on her head. The pink filly shrugged in disinterest.

“Oh, Mith Cheerilee!” A cream colored filly with a frizzy red mane and thick glasses waved her hoof in the air. “Mith Cheerilee!”

“Yes, Twist?”

“I know what the Maypole reprethenths.”

“And what is it?”

The filly grinned triumphantly at the glowering twosome across the room. “Ith a phallic thymbol.”

“Very good, Twist!” Cheerilee beamed at her pupil. “Yes, the phallic symbol.” She again gestured out the window. “It is the image of the stallion’s penis that is venerated in religions like ours because it symbolizes the generative forces of nature.”

Shining Armor's jaw dropped in shock.

“But I still don’t understand why we can’t dance around the Maypole like the colts do.” Diamond Tiara whined.

“It’s because the colts come of age much earlier than we do. It’s important that they receive the blessing of the Maypole as early as possible so that they’re ready to breed when the time comes. Besides, we mares have a ceremony all our own, don’t we?”

Silver Spoon perked up. “I actually know this one... I think. Isn't it the Fire Leap?”

“Very good, Silver Spoon!” Cheerilee clapped her hooves. “On the eve of your first heat, you all will take part in the Fire Leap. Some of your older sisters are there now. The purpose of this ceremony is…”

Shining Armor couldn’t handle anymore. “Ahem.”

All eyes turned to him. Cheerilee’s smile sagged slightly. “Oh, it appears we have a visitor.”

Shining Armor nodded curtly. “Ma’am. May I speak to you?” He cut his eyes to the right. “Outside?”

Cheerilee nodded slowly and looked at the class. “You girls work on your algebra. I’ll be back shortly.” The older earth pony trotted out the door and stood beside the unicorn. “And what can I do for you..." She glanced at his rank insignia. "...Sergeant?”

Shining Armor took a deep, calming breath. “Ma’am, I must tell you that I’ve a good mind to report this… heinousness to Her Majesty at once.”

Cheerilee raised an eyebrow, but her smile didn’t slip even a bit. “I was unaware that the goings on in this village were under the jurisdiction of Canterlot.”

“All of Equestria is under Her jurisdiction!” Shining Armor snapped.

Cheerilee finally frowned. “Is something bothering you, Sergeant?”

“Bothering me? Is something bothering me?!” He struggled to keep his voice low as he gestured at the classroom. “What are you thinking teaching foals this young about things like reproduction? Have you no decency?”

Cheerilee’s frown deepened. “I’m not used to a stranger calling me indecent at my own school, sir.”

“Well then maybe that’s the issue.” Shining Armor snorted. “Since I’ve arrived in this town, it’s been one bit of degeneracy after another. And now it seems I’ve found the source; it all starts at the filth presented in what should be hallowed halls of education.”

“The elements of basic pony reproduction are hardly filth, Sergeant.” Cheerilee’s ears were flat against her head. “We here in Ponyville believe that the earlier these little ones understand how everything is supposed to work, they’ll be less likely to mess up down the line.”

“Mess up?”

“Are there no unwanted pregnancies in Canterlot?”

Shining Armor bit back his retort and forced himself to remember his purpose. “You know who I am?"

"I do."

"Then I imagine that you know why I’m here?”

Cheerilee relaxed a little. “The missing foal. Yes, I’ve heard. Poor filly.”

Shining Armor perked up. “So she’s one of yours?”

Cheerilee shook her head. “Sadly not. I wish there was more I could do for you.”

“Could I… may I speak to your students. Briefly.”

Cheerilee eyed him carefully. “If you promise to be on your best behavior.”

Shining Armor, feeling strangely like he’d been chastised by his own teacher, bowed his head. After everything he'd said to Twilight the night before... and here he was doing the exact same thing. “I... I was rude, ma’am. I apologize. I am a stranger in a strange land.”

Cheerilee smiled widely at once. “You'll find that a little open-mindedness will open many a door to you, Sergeant. Please do come in.” She re-entered the building, the stallion following close behind. “Girls, our very special visitor would like to speak with you all for a moment. This is Sergeant Shining Armor of the Canterlot Royal Guard.”

Shining Armor smiled at the fillies. “Hello there.”

“Good morning, Sergeant Armor.” The class intoned as one.

“Sergeant Armor is here for a special mission from the Princess herself.”

“That’s right.” Shining Armor floated the folded photo from his pocket and opened it so the class could see it. “Do any of you recognize this filly? A playmate of yours perhaps?”

One by one, the fillies shook their heads.

Cheerilee offered the stallion a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry, Sergeant, but there’s your answer. If she existed at all, we would know of her.” She perked up a bit. “But, so long as you’re here, would you mind answering a few questions for my girls? We so rarely get visitors all the way from Canterlot.”

Shining Armor, humoring her, smiled. “Of course I don’t mind.”

The filly called Silver Spoon raised a hoof. “Have you actually met Princess Celestia?”

Shining Armor nodded. “I have. She’s spectacular. There’s nothing like standing in Her presence.”

"Does she really have a horn and wings?" A green filly in the back asked.

"Yes, indeed. She's one of the only two alicorns in all of Equestria."

“But, like, what does she do?” Diamond Tiara didn’t bother raising her hoof. “What makes her a princess?”

Shining Armor eyed the rude little filly. “Her Majesty moves the sun and the moon. She helps the food to grow and the seasons to pass. She guides us and leads us and ushers us into the Reward Eternal.”

Diamond Tiara snorted. “That’s not what my Daddy says.”

“Diamond Tiara…” Cheerilee admonished. "Don't be rude."

“No, no. Let her speak.” Shining Armor focused all his attention on her. “Go ahead; what does your Daddy say?”

Diamond Tiara sat up straight and grinned. “My Daddy says that all Princess Celestia does is take credit for the work of the real gods and goddesses. That she’s a liar and a fraud and…”

“Diamond Tiara, that is enough!” Cheerilee openly glared at the filly. “That's no way to speak to our guest.”

“It’s alright, Miss Cheerilee.” Shining Armor smirked at the teacher. “A student’s behaviors are molded by her teacher, after all.”

Cheerilee glared at the stallion but shut her mouth.

Shining Armor looked back at the filly. “Let me ask you something, little miss.” He pointed at the one conspicuously empty desk. “Whose desk is that?”

All eyes turned to the desk.

Shining Armor crossed the room and flung open the desk’s top. Surely there would be graffiti, some note left behind by the missing filly…

The inside of the desk was bare. A single nail was pounded into the center of the empty space. A string connected the metal spike to a large purple scarab beetle. The insect was crawling in circles, every rotation bringing it closer to the center.

“The little old beetle goeth round and round, alwayth the thame way.” The filly called Twist smiled at Shining Armor’s confused face. “Until he endth up right up tight to the nail.” She shrugged. “Poor thing.”

"’Poor thing?’” Shining Armor stared incredulously at the filly. “Then why in Celestia's name do you do it?” He rounded on Cheerilee. “I'd like to see the school register, please.”

Cheerilee shook her head. “I'm afraid you'll have to have Applejack’s authority.”

“Don’t you mean Mayor Mare’s?”

Cheerilee stared at him flatly. “I did not misspeak, Sergeant.”

Shining Armor advanced on her. “This is a police matter, ma’am, and you are impeding my investigation.”

“Be that as it may, I'm afraid you'll have to have either a search warrant from Canterlot or permission from Applejack herself...”

Shining Armor lit his horn and snatched the ledger from Cheerilee’s desk before she could grab it. "Sorry, I'm in a bit of a rush.” He floated the book over and opened it. There, on the first page, clear as a sunny day;

Sweetie Belle

Shining Armor closed the book with a snap and slowly looked around at the faces of the gathered fillies. “You're liars. You are all despicable little liars. Sweetie Belle is a schoolmate of yours, isn't she?” He pointed at the desk with the beetle. “And that is her desk, isn't it?” When nopony said anything, he stamped his hoof. The sound echoed on the wooden walls. Some of the fillies jumped. “Well? Isn't it?!”

Cheerilee reached out a hoof. “Sergeant, there’s something I think you ought to know…”

Shining Armor hurled the ledger where it slammed back onto Cheerilee’s desk. “And you! Youare the biggest liar of them all! I warn you, ma’am; one more lie out of you and I will charge you with obstruction. Believe me, Miss Cheerilee, that is a promise.” He looked back at the students. Twist looked close to tears. “Now, for the last time; where is Sweetie Belle?”

“Sergeant, I would like to speak with you outside.” Cheerilee’s voice was calm but still carried the familiar command of a teacher.

Shining Armor considered telling her off… but ultimately followed her back out the front door.

Cheerilee looked back to ensure the class had returned to their work before facing the stallion’s glaring face. “It appears that this failure to communicate is my own fault, Sergeant." She sighed. "Nopony was lying. I told you as plainly as I could; if Sweetie Belle existed, we would know of her.”

Finally, Shining Armor caught her meaning. “You mean... she doesn’t exist? She's… dead?”

Cheerilee sighed. “You would say so.”

Shining Armor felt his irritation come roaring back. “Oh, come on! She's either dead, or she's not dead! Which is it?”

“Here we do not use the word… dead.” She ran a hoof down the door frame. “We believe that when a pony’s life is over, the soul returns to the trees, to the air. To fire, to water, and to the other animals. So we believe that Sweetie Belle has simply returned to the life forces in another form.”

Shining Armor gaped at her. “Do you mean to say you teach the foals this… this… nonsense?”

Cheerilee bristled. “It isn’t nonsense. It’s what we believe.”

Shining Armor slumped, feeling totally defeated. “Do they never truly learn anything of the True Faith?”

Cheerilee shrugged. “Only as a comparative religion. The little ones find it far easier to picture reincarnation rather than resurrection. Those rotting bodies are a great stumbling block for the imagination.”

Shining Armor shook his head. “Then may I ask; where is the rotting body of Sweetie Belle?”

“Right where you'd expect it to be.” When he didn’t say anything, she rolled her eyes. “In the earth.”

Shining Armor raised an eyebrow. “You mean in the churchyard?”

“…In a manner of speaking.”

Shining Armor decided that he’d had enough of this conversation. “No. In plain speaking, if you wouldn’t mind.”

“The building attached to the ground in which the body lies is no longer used for the purposes of the True Faith. So whether or not it is still a churchyard is debatable.” She gave a slight bow, also deciding she’d had enough of the stallion for the time being. “Forgive me. I must get back to my girls. Good morning to you.”

Shining Armor watched her re-enter the building. He cast a final glance at the still continuing maypole dance before pivoting on his hooves and heading back into town at a brisk trot.

So Sweetie Belle was dead. One mystery was solved but now another had already begun; how had she died?

He needed to get a message to Twilight as quickly as he could.

He broke into a gallop, heading for the post office as fast as he was able.

High above him in the clouds, Rainbow Dash watched him run. She smiled and started flying for Sweet Apple Acres.

She had a message to give as well.

Author's Note