"Twilight, you brought a map, correct?" Luna asked the princess of friendship.

"Yes. Why do you ask, Princess Luna?" Twilight tilted her head at Luna.

"Well, I was wondering in case we get lost."

"Guys, are we taking the train or not?" Rainbow Dash complained. She was bugging the group about taking the train for a while, and it was starting to annoy Rarity.

"I want to take the train too, but I doubt that will get us any closer to where we need to be. Why take the train when you can run straight to your destination?" Rarity responded as she galloped with the rest of the group.

"Rarity, are you alright?" Apple Jack asked the unicorn. She didn't exactly favor roughing it, but clearly, she didn't mind right now.

"Yes, Apple Jack, I am perfectly fine!" Rarity said. She knew her words were harsh, though it was the only way she’d be able to close the mouths of her friends. As she stated, she did feel fine. She felt fine physically. But mentally, she was disgusted having to run through the middle of muck. She felt the dirt in her fur, which sent chills down her spine like nails on a chalkboard. The white mare also was very concerned for the Princess.

“Well, it doesn't look like it to me,” the orange earth pony replied. She was sure that Rarity was going through something serious in her head. Rarity rested her eyes on Apple Jack. She could see the fear in her friend’s expression. “I'm sure the princess is alright,” she began, “she is an alicorn, after all.” The earth pony smiled at Rarity to comfort her. She smiled back.

“Are you done being cheesy yet?” Rainbow interrupted, her voice unusually harsh. “Because there’s somepony you’re missing right now.” She pointed to a tail sticking out of a bush. It was purple and pink and looked very familiar. Rarity gasped.

“Sweetie Belle!” The mare galloped past the group, and pulled her little sister out of the bush with her magic. “What are you doing out here? You could’ve been caught!” The unicorn let her sister fall into her arms. She pulled Sweetie Belle into a hug, refusing to let go.

“I was looking for Scootaloo and Applebloom!” The young unicorn replied in her squeaky voice. She struggled to save herself from the hug Rarity was giving her.

“When did you last see them?” Apple Jack inquired as she watched Pinkie Pie look under every rock she could find. The mare rolled her eyes at the pink pony.

“Yesterday,” Sweetie began, “it was really late when they went to use the bathroom. I heard somepony yelling and then it got really quiet. I ran out as soon as I could to look for them, but…” She trailed off, wanting to cry.

“But what, darling?” Asked Rarity. She felt tears creep up on her as well. She knew her sister just loved to be with her friends. The filly suddenly began to cry. Rarity and Apple Jack were taken aback a bit by the sudden emotions. Rarity simply pet her sister’s back comfortingly. Sweetie rested her head on her older sister’s shoulder, and sobbed.

“I'm so sorry, sugarcube, I wish could do something to make this awful pain of yours disappear,” Apple Jack said, sadness filling her eyes as she watched the poor filly weep. Luna made her appearance and walked up to Twilight.

“We should send her to be with Cadence and Fluttershy,” the princess firmly suggested, “I'm willing to fly her there if necessary,” she looked up to Rainbow Dash. “Unless you want to take her there, since you’re much faster than me.”

“No, no. I gotta stay here and protect my friends if any evil creature shows its face!” She got into a boxing stance and punched the air with her hooves to demonstrate her skill.

“I guess that means I'll have to fly her,” Princess Luna gave Sweetie Belle a reassuring happy expression as she walked in front of the filly. “Sweetie Belle, I know you’re sad. I'm going to take you to Canterlot to be with Fluttershy and Princess Cadence,” the mare said. She wasn't sure how to deal with woebegone ponies, let alone fillies. She only got reformed a few years ago, and she still had yet to deal with something like this. But alas, here the situation was. Her heart felt an unbearable sadness as if it were shedding tears of its own like the pitiful filly in front of her.

“Just,” Rarity had started to cry with the filly. “Just give me a few moments. I can't stand to see her cry,” she let a few tears slide down her face before finally handing Sweetie Belle to Luna. “Please, keep her safe.”

“I will. Don't worry, Rarity,” Luna set the pony on her back. She looked at her before unfolding her wings and jumping into flight. Luna felt glum as the filly let out silent cries for her friends. She sighed and looked up at Canterlot. The beautiful lights lit up the sky above it, and she could already see how busy it was by just looking at it. She wondered what Cadence could be up to, and what Fluttershy was doing. The princess of the night hastened her pace.

Cadence and Fluttershy were reading in the library when something suddenly came up. Fluttershy timidly walked up to her with an ancient looking scroll.

“What's this, Fluttershy?” Cadence questioned, taking the scroll with her magic. The age of the script showed as she unrolled the scroll.

I am sad to announce that the inhabitants of the undiscovered west refuse to become allies with us, and want to run their own kingdom. Queen Emerald said herself that she would be able to rule the throne on her own. Due to the violence of this alicorn, we've decided to hide something from her and everyone else on the planet. An artifact located far out in the mountains of the golden kingdoms.

This artifact has a magical spell hidden in its writing that tells you the spell of oblivion. This spell was made specifically for any ponies within the golden kingdoms that intends to cause harm to Equestrians. Mainly for Emerald herself, this spell will change the mind of anypony you wish. Please, Celestia, keep this item out of the hooves of any wrong-doers.

Your beloved assistant,

Polar Wind.

“Y-you don't think that the emerald that they found in Celestia’s room was… Her’s, do you?” Fluttershy asked nervously. The name of this pony, as well as the description, didn't make her feel comfortable in the slightest.

“Well, there's only one way to find out,” Cadence sighed. “We need Twilight Sparkle and her friends to go find this artifact if we want to help save the remaining ponies, and possibly the ones who've gone missing.”

“W-what if they get hurt?” the yellow Pegasus questioned the Princess.

“The captain of the royal Guard is with them. I doubt they'll get in too much trouble,” Cadence chuckled. “Now, we must send Twilight a letter about this,” the princess pulled out a scroll and a quill and began to write, when an echoing thud announcing Luna’s presence interrupted her writing, bringing the attention of both her and Fluttershy towards Luna.

“Cadence, we found her in a bush. Can you keep her safe?” Luna asked, taking Sweetie Belle in her magic and putting her on Cadence’s back.

“Princess Luna?” The pink alicorn looked at the princess of the moon in confusion. “What are you doing here? I thought you were with Twilight.”

“I'm here because of that filly,” Luna gestured to Sweetie Belle, who had fallen asleep.

“Luna, you know as well as I that I have my own foal to care for,” Cadence responded assertively as she pointed to her baby.

“So are you suggesting that I am supposed to take care of her?”

“Yes! I have more than enough to worry about right now,” Cadence replied. It was unlike herself to act so… unusually bitter. Luna felt concern creep up on her, and it wasn't good.

“I'll leave her here and I'll head back to my friends,” Luna said as she backed out of Cadence’s castle. She was sure something was happening to her. Luna was pondering on that thought until Cadence approached her.

“You wouldn't mind taking this to Twilight Sparkle, would you?” The mare questioned, pushing forth a letter that was engulfed in her magic.

“Not at all,” Luna replied, and looked at Fluttershy. “Wait,” she quickly picked up Sweetie Belle and gave her to Fluttershy, who was a bit surprised when she received the foal. “Will you take care of her?”

“Of course, your majesty,” Fluttershy opened her arms and hugged the sleeping filly. She wasn't sure how to put it, but something did feel off about the way she was sleeping.

Luna nervously placed the scroll within her saddle bag. She had no idea if she felt fright or joy for the pony that lost the chance to explore beyond Equestria. Luna noticed her odd behavior. She remembered the last time Cadence acted funny, and it was not pleasant in the slightest. That was when the changelings carried out their queen’s malicious intent..

Princess Luna wanted to mention Cadence’s strange behavior, but discarded the thought thinking that she was just paranoid.

"Thank you, m'lady," Luna smiled at Princess Cadence and turned to leave. She flew off, the sound of her wings beating barely audible within the hustle-bustle of Canterlot. “I'll send you a letter once we get to Los Pegasus,” Luna said as she exited the castle.

Cadence glared at Princess Luna, not daring to reply to her kind, valuable words. She had power now. She didn't need any former princess to watch over her now that she finally was able to control the inhabitants of Equestria’s many towns and cities. Power did nothing to her back in the Empire, but now… Now her influence was multiplied tenfold. It was driving her mad.

Rainbow Dash had been badgering Apple Jack about having a friendly race, when Pinkie Pie pointed out a stallion limping about; a shake taking over his limbs like branches in the wind.

“Sir, are you well?” Luna ran up to the injured guard once she landed with her friends. It was Polar Wind, the captain of the earth pony Royal Guard. She gasped. “What happened to you, my Lord?”

“M-m’Lady, we were ambushed…”

“By whom?” Luna’s concerned glare narrowed as he spoke. She certainly would not let this harmful deed go unnoticed. The last time she seeked vengeance was before her banishment. The guard said that a pony reported her child being raped.

“Blood was leaking from her cunt, my lady!” She begged. Luna regretted being so resentful.

“I shall believe it when I see it,” The princess replied harshly, her words baring no emotion.

“Y-you can't be serious?” The mare would ask, disgust upon her face. Luna recalled the look in her eyes too. It still frightened her, even though she’d done it before that one time, except she was much more reasonable then. The thought made her flinch. She suddenly was brought back to reality by Twilight Sparkle.

“Princess Luna, are you alright?” Luna heard the purple mare’s concern. She realized that she was suddenly weeping like a small foal.

“My… I'm sorry, Princess Twilight. I was just…” She racked her mind for any words, but she couldn't find anything. “I'm just… I'm worried about my sister, is all,” she smiled nervously, destroying all thought of her court duties a thousand years ago.

“It's alright, Luna. We will be sure to find her. We just need to make our way to Los Pegasus first,” Shining Armor reassured the princess of the moon with a reassuring smile.

Twilight racked her brain for a decent healing spell for the gruesome wounds he had obtained from battle. In that time Rarity managed to pull out one of the outfits she’d packed before they left on their miraculous journey. Sacrificing her precious designs with a loud rip, she tore off a thick part of the fabric as a bandage.

“That damn wound of yours is pretty dire without a bandage, my lord. Will this be alright?” She asked wrapping his hoof with the makeshift wrap.

“Yes, I'll be fine,” the guard began, wincing in pain as his leg was surrounded by cloth. “I was just heading to the castle,” he coughed, “to alarm Princess Luna about the ambush.”

“Well, I'm-” Princess Luna was interrupted as she remembered her duty. “Oh! I have a message from Princess Cadence,” she said, pulling out a stamped scroll. It had the imprint of her cutie mark in it. She opened it and began to read.

Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle, I am to alarm you of a mare - a queen - that might be the suspect for our loss of ponies. Queen Emerald, a mare of many names, but evil may suit her best in this case. She may have been the one who stole our princess for her own wrong deeds. After some hard reading, I've discovered that she has some beef with the griffons. She's always had a plan to get revenge for her grandparents. They apparently were killed by griffons in battle over coin. Pity. Anyway, her plan is to rule Equestria and use its citizens as slaves or soldiers to fight the griffons. But, there's word of an artifact that could change the Queen’s mind about using Equestrians as her army.

If you go and find this ancient item, you will be able to change the stubborn mind of Queen Emerald Evergreen. --Princess Cadence

“Well, that's interesting,” Rainbow Dash commented on the letter. “So we just continue what we’re doing but for a different reason?”

“I know it may sound crazy, but I think we are able to do it,” Shining Armor gave them his encouraging words. “You all have done so much to get this far, I'm sure you girls can do this with ease.”

Twilight was skimming over the letter thoroughly, her eyes moving swiftly across the page when she heard Polar Wind speak up.

Twilight gave the pony a confused look. “Would you mind if I join in on your exploits, my princess?” Solar looked at Twilight Sparkle, who looked over to him. Twilight gave the stallion a very confused stare.

“Aren't you injured?”

“Yes, my lady, but I can endure,” Solar said, bowing weekly. “I can guard you and your friends. I know what lurks in the Undiscovered West. I've seen things you shouldn't have to, princess. Please, let me join you.” Twilight took an authoritative stance.

“Alright, but if you get injured any further I will send you to Canterlot,” Princess Twilight ruled. “Rarity, could you send a letter to Cadence?”

“Of course, darling,” Rarity nodded and took out a scroll and quill. She began to write.

“We shall continue on. We can't afford to delay any longer,” Luna said, walking onwards towards their destination. Rarity scribbled the last few words before neatly placing a period at the end. She folded it up and poured a wax seal on it, and stamped it gently. As she pulled away the stamp, the wax stuck to it slightly, but then drew back as if it gave up. Rarity sent the letter to Princess Cadence, the sound of the letter disappearing sent a shiver of sound through the vast fields. With that, they galloped onward.

Author's Note

Big shoutout to Caelus Streak for editing this chapter for me!
I also want to thank all of those who commented on my story! You help a lot in so many ways! I really love to hear everyone's opinions.
Another shoutout to my awesome friend for making the cover photo of Queen Emerald Evergreen sitting in her glorious throne!
Check out his DeviantArt here!