TS&F: S1, Ep5: A Sunset to Remember

When this unexpected dilemma had occurred yesterday evening, as well as the disturbing disappearances of Princess Twilight Sparkle, her friends, and her first Friendship student, none were able to know how best to handle it all. All any of them could ever do was to sit tight and hold down the proverbial fort that was Twilight's Tree Palace. Once they had been informed at mid-morning where they all were, and what happened, there was more than great relief to know they were fine. Given how everything transpired the way they had, the Crusaders were more than glad to have this chance to go on another adventure. So, with Spider Bite taking the day to fully recover from his little sick spell, while he and Gabby looked after the place for Twilight, Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle went exploring the numerous chambers before them.

"Ah heard Miss Lyra's comin' to help Gabby and Spidey out."

"I can't wait to show her the gigantic piano I found in that enormous ballroom!"

"Are you kidding," scoffed the orange filly to her Unicorn friend, "Everything here's so huge!"

"Plus," the yellow Earth Pony added, "Bon-Bon's gonna come here, after she's done working."

"Cool," Scoots said, her wings now buzzing, "Then it'll be an even bigger sleepover!"

"With how big the inside of this castle is," Sweetie offered, "I think nothing could ever be too big for in here, ever!"

At that, they all laughed and whinnied in agreement, as they continued down the gemlike corridor of countless doorways. PONG.

"It's too bad we never done finished our playdate with Spidey, though." At Applebloom's sullen remark, in response to the familiar sound and scarlet wave that just engulfed the place, all three turned downcast for a brief period.

"Yeah," said Scootaloo somberly, "Man, I so want to try those web shooter things again."

"Us, too," both Sweetie Belle and her bow-donned friend replied.

"Can't wait to try them some more, when he gets better. Maybe we can get them ready for when he does!"

At her sudden remark, Scootaloo heard Sweetie say, "You think he wouldn't mind?"

"Why would he," she answered, "We've got Gabby to help and watch us. Plus, Miss Lyra's coming too, remember? So, it shouldn't be too big of a deal." At that, her fellow Crusaders cheered with rejuvenated enthusiasm.

"We gotta find Babs," said Applebloom, "See what she thinks 'bout havin' Gabby with us, and work on making more webs!"

"Yeah," exclaimed Scoots, "And maybe I can take some time with Mrs. Parker in doing those wing exercises she promised to show me too!"

"Then come on," the Unicorn filly shouted, "What're we waiting for?"

At that, the three young foals made for a mad gallop down the long, never-ending hallway, striving to make it to their destination with great haste. The clibbity-clop of their tiny hooves echoing throughout the crystal halls matched the beating of their excited hearts.

"I sure hope Doctor Bromwell and Zecora think Spidey's better tomorrow," Scootaloo huffed, wings outstretched as she ran along.

"Fluttershy. Yellow Pegasus. Pink mane and tale. Butterflies Cutie Mark. Have you seen her?"

"Sorry, Starlight," said Double Diamond, "No idea where she is."

"What about Pinkie Pie? Pink Earth Pony, and I mean really pink. Can't miss her."

"I was planning to meet with her later," answered Party Favor, "But she never showed up."

"Believe us, Starlight," said Night Glider, resting her hoof onto the Unicorn's withers, "We know to keep an eye out. You'll be the first we tell, when we spot either of them."

"Okay," Starlight Glimmer sighed, now staring the ground beneath her hooves. Then she looked back up towards her village friends and said, "Thanks."

"Um, Starlight," the purple Unicorn then asked as she began to move on, "Before we forget, we were wondering if you were thinking about coming back to Our Town again."

"Yeah," the blue Earth Pony stallion said, "After that baking contest, and bringing your whole bunch of friends to the party too, we thought it'd be more fun that you'd hang around often."

"Maybe even move back here," the night blue Pegasus added.

"Sure missed having you around," the white stallion offered. Speechless and dumbstruck by that invitation, Starlight Glimmer cleared her cracking throat, and shook her crystallizing eyes back into focus. "I'll…um, I'll be sure to consider that offer. Thank you, very much."

After a wide array of nods and acknowledgements, she took matters one step at time, reminding herself of the present situation, and added, "Just be sure to be ready if we need a search-and-rescue party."

"You got it, Starlight," nodded Sugar Belle with fervor, as did the others.

Once she and the Pegasus Captain trotted onward, Starlight smiled at the prospect of returning to this other set of friends she had once taken for granted. It was more than inviting. It was most invigorating. The idea that she could return to start rebuilding her bonds with these ponies here, to truly have a refreshing start, sent a glimmer of joy into her heart, knowing that such was well within her reach. After all, Princess Twilight exchanged letters with Princess Celestia while still being her student, and moving to Ponyville. She could most definitely follow that same route. However, the fact that she truly began to bond with her most recent friends there, starting with Twilight, then Applejack, made for a rather difficult conundrum. Would it be right to leave the others behind without making proper arrangements to learn more about them? Although, she could certainly write letters to Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and the others while away. But that might not be the same as actually bonding with them in pony. She knew this might be a difficult decision to make, but there was something that needed to be addressed first.

At that, she and Flash Sentry decided to walk through town to see what else could be done to help in their enquiry. Throughout the entire village, the light violet Unicorn and orange Pegasus scoured for any kind of answers concerning Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy's whereabouts. However, in determining if they had ever been seen, the pair was draught of any good fortune.

It was then Starlight chose to take full reins of this situation, as much as possible. She believed, now, that enough was enough. She then pulled Flash aside, placing them both into the building at the furthest end of town that was once her quarters. Then she magically barricaded the house, sending her own ponging sound wave to check for unwanted company, as well as a field to keep all sounds from escaping.

"Alright, look," she said firmly, and with slight exasperation, "I know you're not some local that decided to help me out. Even if you're a newcomer I've never met before. But that's just it. I recognized you from the Crystal Empire, when Thorax first showed up. And don't give me any of that dumb excuse nonsense! Kind of hard to ignore somepony that wears golden armor around Shining and Cadence. Though, admittedly in retrospect, that's been taken for granted before. But anyway, given that you're here, and not acting as Captain of the Joint Guard, as Cadence told me about you, and the fact that two of my friends are now missing, I can't help but wonder what you know about all of this."

It took the Pegasus stallion to recollect himself from the shocked stupor that she ignited, and stiffly turned his head to review his surroundings. His ears rose back from their flattened, uncomforting position, and his blue irises regained their normal size, as he loosened his tense muscles. Seeing that his cover is completely safe from undesired eyes and ears, he fessed up.

"I was sent by Prince Shining Armor to watch over Princesses Cadence, Flurry and the rest, as well as help wherever I can. The Prince had already checked me out, in case I was another imposter, before sending me. Since then, I've just been casually blending in with the ponies here, and kept an eye on everything, especially around my charge. But I'm afraid I know nothing about what's going on now, nor did I see anything suspicious, or out of the ordinary. And believe me, my awareness is at its Pegasus peak. Those Changelings were very lucky to escape my notice as long as they did. At least, I thought so."

"Mind elaborating on that for me," Starlight said with a sneer.

"I don't know how," he huffed in bereavement, "Especially under my watch. All I know is that the one posing as Princess Cadence failed to give the countersign specially made between us and Prince Shining Armor. None of the other soldiers disappeared, or were even out of sight without the proper clearance and passkey. Not even casually stepping out of some shadow in the corner of a room, or a closet. Anyway, I still started to doubt my own senses and memory of the day's events. Even my own fellow officers and subordinates. But I still had to act quickly, and decided to turn to the only pony I knew I could trust. Ironically, it was Thorax. A Changeling showing himself to a wide array of ponies, despite some still fearing him and doubting his good intentions. He gave the correct phrases I personally established with him, and he even allowed me to be extra thorough in confirming it, before I sent him to fetch for Princess Twilight and her friends."

"How else did he confirm who he was?"

"Some mark that he and his brother knew about," he answered, "But only he had the exact details of it. And that's as far as I'll go."

Sensing that she may have struck a private matter, Starlight Glimmer conceded with a nod, allowing for Captain Sentry to continue.

"So, that Changeling must've known I became suspicious, and alerted the other one. The one seen as the Prince had me arrested under suspicion of being an unfriendly Changeling, myself. I had been sitting there, in the prison, hoping that I at least did something right in performing my duty for both the Empire and Equestria. It turned out I was too late to even warn the others. It was my duty to protect them. My responsibility. My task to be fully prepared for something like that. And I failed. Just as I failed your friends, right now. In fact, I...I was thinking of possibly sending my resignation."

The Unicorn mare then saw how downtrodden the Captain looked and felt, his half-opened eyes ashamedly looking down at the wooden floor. Recognizing that same self-doubt and discouragement, Starlight then walked up to him, offering a slide of her hoof onto his for attention.

"Hey," she said, "Did you ever find out how everypony was rescued?"

"Prince Shining never told me," Flash shook his head, "There wasn't time for that. But I wondered what had actually happened. Was planning on viewing the report he would make later."

"Well, long story short," she tilted her head and shrugged, "I was placed in an uncomfortable position to take the initiative, and lead a show mare, Discord, and a run-away Changeling into that infested hive to save my friends. Like you, I doubted myself, and thought I couldn't be a good leader, not without turning back to my more...unfriendly frame of mind. But with their help and comfort, I got the confidence I needed to work my way through it, and take charge. I know what it's like to think you're not able to do a good job anymore. But that shouldn't ever get you down like that. Not even for a second. But that's not my point."

"And that is?"

With a smile Starlight answered him, "Thorax. He was the one that warned me about Shining, Cadence and Flurry being taken. And he also gave us the lowdown of how the hive works, and their hive mind. He guided us through that labyrinth, and was the one that took down Chrysalis, when I realized how he could. From him telling me how he wasn't hungry anymore by sharing love with the Crystal Ponies, I knew how he could stop Chrysalis, and save the others. And you're the one who took that initiative in sending him to Ponyville, in the first place. If anything, you did exactly the right thing you needed to do. Who knows? If you hadn't, Thorax would've been locked up with you, or taken back to Chrysalis even. So, we all had a part to play in that. We all did our best. And look how that turned out."

It was then that she remembered Spider Bite, his poor health, and how that prevented him from aiding her, Trixie, and the rest. She was aware of how adept, powerful and smart he was, how determined he could be, as well as how he relied little on magic still. But knowing he was there at the Castle now, looking after the place, she knew her statement was even more substantially true. She also recognized how much she had picked up on a few of those traits. Those of keen observance and wit, from his giving of his Love willingly to Chrysalis, and throwing her off balance. It was not simply Thorax, and what he told her, that gave her that idea of sharing Love.

"And about right now," she added, "You've been doing your job watching Cadence and Flurry Heart, more than anything else, while also talking to Rainbow Dash. So don't feel too bad about what's going on here."

"I suppose so," Flash nodded. With that, he smiled at Starlight and offered his own brush of hoof in return. "Thanks for that."

"Don't mention it," she said, waving that same hoof passively, "Just be sure not to get yourself down about that anymore. Just try to learn what you can from it, and carry on. Besides, like you said, I bet those Changelings were pretty, darn lucky to slip past you like that. I mean, why would Shining send you here, and that Cadence still trusts you? I mean, I may not know you well enough. But for what it's worth, I think you're a great Captain."

"And I can see why Princess Twilight chose you for her first student in Friendship."

A flattered blush was shared between the mare and stallion that had arisen from their cheeks. But then it dissipated as quickly as it appeared, for both then regained their focus on their current task. Firmly, Captain Sentry asked, "So, what did you and Miss Applejack find?"

Nothing. There was nothing there. It was gone. Nowhere to be found. Vanished. She made a quick glance about her surroundings once more, making absolutely sure she was right where she and the light purple Unicorn spotted it. Judging by the distance they quickly were from the town, as well as the rock formations close by, she could adamantly say that this was the exact, same spot. No mistake, or doubt about it.

"Dag-nab it! Just where in tarnation did it run off to!?" Applejack became so distraught, throwing her Studson right, slam-smack onto the parched soil the missing object last occupied.

"Obviously it's been moved to another location," the lavender Alicorn said stiffly, "Somewhere that its owner knew it couldn't be found again."

"But what was it, AJ," Rainbow Dash hoarsely inquired, "What was so special about it to try and show us to explain it, then find out it's just as lost and Flutters and Pinkie?"

"I fear that's just it, Rainbow Dash," the white Unicorn evenly stated, "Applejack and Starlight both suspected its significance after hearing of Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie's disappearance. Which was probably why it's been taken as well."

"What did you two see," Cadence asked, "What did it look like?"

"Well," the orange farm pony pondered, "It was round, and oval shaped. Like a giant ostrich egg. About the size of a pony, Ah recon. It had a bunch o'green, slimy muck inside and around it, like it all spilled out from a smashed melon."

"Like one of those cocoons Chrysalis used," Twilight gasped.

"But it looked like the shell was busted from the inside too," Applejack continued, "All the pieces scattered all over the place, like the chicks on the farm hatchin'."

"Maybe it was one of our friends," the pink Alicorn surmised, "who somehow managed to escape from it, but was captured again."

"Well, then I imagine there's no more time to waste," Rarity obstinately proclaimed, but then hesitantly asked, "Um, just how exactly do we carry on from here?"

"Hey, girls! Look!" Upon hearing the blue Pegasus' outcry, they all trotted to see where her foreleg was pointing. There, before their narrowed irises, rested the disturbed patches of dirt and sand on the untouched, dessert ground. They were numerous, leaving a small trail further into the wilderness, and closer to the rocky hills that was the edge of the mountains.

"Hoofprints," Rainbow muttered with excitement. "And I think that set right there's Fluttershy's!"

"Got to be," said the orange Earth Pony, recognizing the same, unique set of tracks as well, "Very short in 'er step. And not too firm on the ground, like Pinkie's."

"Then what are we waiting for, girls," Twilight snapped them all to attention, as she tensely trotted onward. "Like you said, Rarity, no time to lose!"

"Man. Scoots' so going to love hearing about this, when we get back." Despite how enthusiastic and pumped up the chromatic Pegasus was, the Unicorn and Earth Pony shared a concerned expression between themselves, as they eyed their Alicorn friend's frigid movements. Seeing as how they progressed into a prance, and kept a steady eye on the tracks they followed, AJ thought this to be as good an opportunity to find out what ailed Twilight so.

As they moved on, the farm mare picked up her pace to stay beside Twilight, then asked, "There somethin' else aching yah, sugarcube?"

"Two of our friends are now missing," she rapidly answered back, "Along with the possibility that Chrysalis is behind all of this, and maybe even luring us into a trap. Something else wrong? What makes you think that something else is wrong? Because I don't see how else I should be bothered? Do you?"

"Well," AJ huffed in response, "It's like you're too up-tight about it. Yah keep yur eyes ahead, and not really looking around. Not even to look at us. It's almost like yur ignoring somepony, and not tryin' to think about that at all."

At that, Cadence stepped in to offer her reinforcing input, "It's about that Pegasus Rainbow Dash talked to earlier. Twilight recognizes him from the Crystal Joint Guard, and from that mirror world that she visited. Someone she had grown fond of while there. Which is why she's more pensive about everything that is happening."

"And the sooner we can stay focused on this issue rearing before us," Twilight snapped again, "The sooner I can have one less problem to deal with!"

"But that's just it, Twah," countered Applejack smoothly, "You're not all that focused on this here problem. Not in the right way, that is. You're just too wound up that you're actually keepin' yurself from seeing what's all going on 'round yah."

"She's right, Twilight," affirmed the rose Alicorn, as the mare between them became even more wooden in her movements. Her countenance more agitated than before. Nudging her sister-in-law with comforting support, Cadence added, "You're too distracted by everything that's happened, and you need to get it out of your chest."

"That way," AJ finished, "Yah can make pretty darn sure yur focused, and can help our friends."

Twilight then stopped, with a puff of air and a slight snort, then sent her farm pony friend a wavering look, and said, "I just don't...I can't seem to...what am I supposed to do? How can I even plan to handle that?"

Hearing this prompted Applejack to offer her own opinion about the matter.

"Listen, sugarcube. Ah don't rightly know what yah got goin' on with this, here Flash feller, but Ah think the best way tah deal with him is to let him know exactly what's goin' on. Let him know, from the get-go, why you act up whenever yah see 'im, so that he can understand. That way, yah both can figure on how to be good friends at least, and act 'cordingly. 'Cause that's the best way to start anything with anypony: being totally truthful with them."

"Yeah," sighed Twilight in response, "A firm establishment of trust with each other is the proper method to act. But that doesn't make it any easier."

"That's why we're here," her pink, fellow regent and special sister said, "Your friends and family."

"Yeah," beamed Rainbow Dash from behind, after she and Rarity had listened, "You bet you got us to back you up!"

"There is nothing we can't handle together," Rarity said warmly.

"You know," the lavender Princess remarked, "This kind of reminds me how Mary Jane helped me out, while on the train to Manehatten. She just helped me realize something was wrong, without hearing me say what it was first. Like she knew something was bothering me, just by looking at me. She's a lot like you in that way, Applejack. And she also reminds me of Sunset Shimmer in her demeanor and delivery. And she's the one that helped me open up to Cadence about Flash Sentry, to begin with."

"She certainly sounds like a very good friend," Cadence smiled in response.

"She sure does, don't she," nodded AJ in kind. It was then that she and Twilight shared a warm-hearted smile. Once she heaved a relieving sigh, Twilight turned to them all gratefully, and said, "Thank you. I actually feel much more relaxed. Now I'm positive that I can definitely make it through both ordeals. We can."

It was then Applejack looked down at the trail of hoof marks, now ending. She looked up, before she could express what she saw, to face what they all stumbled upon. It was a rather high, sloping pile of rocks, massive in size.

"Recon we ought'a to climb up there, and see what we can see."

Cautiously, they took each step of their hooves to reach the top of the rugged hill, ensuring none stepped on any patch of loose stones and slip. Once they eventually reached the top, they took note of a great pit surrounded by the mound they had just climbed. After taking a slight peak of what was down below, they swiftly ducked down from view, immediately recognizing what they found: Fluttershy, who was completely surrounded by Changelings.

"Er, Twilight, Cadence," lowly muttered the white Unicorn, "Pray tell, do either you have a clear idea of how we're going to handle this situation yet?"