Chapter 6 - The Search

Four Earth Ponies Gone Missing – Who to Blame?
The Ponyville Times
Written by Ink Pot

The first was Sand Stone, the young son of one Solid Stone whom is a well respected Mine Coordinator in our community. Young Sand Stone has only just seen his thirteenth winter when he found himself walking back home late at night from a day of fun and entertainment with his friends. Only he would never make it home, morning would break and Sand Stone would still not be home. Our community would then come together as a search for the young colt would be conducted but to no avail, then feeling the great desperation of the prospect loosing his son forever, Mr Stone would seek the audience of Lady Twilight Sparkle, who's duty supposedly is to protect us and ensure our safety.

Yet three weeks have now passed since young Sand Stone disappeared and what has Our Lady given us as an answer? Nothing, worse, silence. Supposedly Her Majesties own guards have been conducting an in depth investigation into the matter and yet after three weeks they have turned up nothing. Indeed within those three week four more have been taken from our community, all Earth Ponies.

The second was Metal Maker, a blacksmith, he had been returning home from visiting family down south where he was last seen. His cart and travelling supplies were found abandoned not one kilometre outside of Ponyville. Then there was Ivory Marble, a miner who lived alone, when he failed to come into work his friends became worried, rightfully so as they would discover his home broken in and Ivory Marble no where to be found. And finally, just two days past now, one Timber Hoof, a lumberer, would stray farther into the orchard than normal and would not return.

No word from Her Ladyship, no sign of our friends and family, and as we pray for the lost many amongst us feel angry and begin to point blame. Some blame Lady Twilight for what they call lack of action and even lack of care for the lost Earth Ponies. Others blame the new influx of Unicorn resident's whom flood our community, attracted by the new noble lady, many of them bringing a sense of Unicorn arrogance and some say Earth Pony hate which some claim is proof enough that someone amongst them is the culprit. This journalist cannot blame them for their sentiment.

We as a community have faces hardship before, but not like this. The disappearances of our friend's and family hits home as we fear that our street's and home's may no longer be safe. Our thought's and prayer's go out to the friends and families of these four individuals and we wish them a safe return.

Ink Pot,

Your Source for Objective Journalism

Twilight sighed heavily as she slapped the paper down on the table. Groaning Twilight poured herself a fresh glass of whiskey, her fourth in a very short period of time. Justified in her mind by the frustration and anger this article was causing her.

“Objective journalism indeed,” Twilight spat bitterly as she retrieved her tobacco pipe, a habit she had picked up over the last three weeks. A very good stress reliever when combined in tandem with her favoured whiskey she found. Just as Twilight was taking her first puff when Honey Cream came into the room.

“Oh I wish you would not smoke mon petite dame, it cannot be good for you,” she said.

“I am most likely immortal, allow me these small pleasure's as they come for they plague me not as they do mortals,” Twilight said, puffing a few more times. “Get Rainbow Dash in here and send a letter to our dear friend at the Foal Free Press instructing him to write a counter article to the one in today's issue of the Ponyville Times, encouraging a less propogandous approach, preferably one that sticks to the facts of the disappearances, objective journalism.”

“Oui, ma dame,” Honey Cream bowed and promptly left.

Twilight leaned back in her chair, enjoying the mild warmth taste of the burning tobacco. It was Saddle Arabian grown and cut, quite expensive as tobacco went but it wasn't like she couldn't afford such things. Twilight considered the article before her, was there merit to these meanderings of the peasantry? That the new Unicorn arrivals were to blame? It wasn't outside the realm of possibility. Many amongst the upper Unicorn elite held very certain views towards Earth Ponies and their place in Equestrian society. But could those views drive some of them to kidnap or even kill four innocent people in a spout of quite random violence? Could she be allowed to trust even the coalition of Unicorn aristocrats whom had claimed to be her supporters? Yet, Rarity stood with them so surely they themselves could not be at fault here. Whom could she trust?

“Milady?” Rainbow Dash said, causing Twilight to start in surprise as she was taken quite suddenly from her internal thoughts.

“Captain,” Twilight said, placing her pipe down. “Your investigation into these disappearances has yet to bear fruit, this is no longer something I can tolerate.”

“No excuse, milady,” Rainbow Dash said, not faltering in stance nor voice.

“No excuse indeed,” Twilight said with a frown. “You will begin investigating new Unicorn arrival's, on the rare occasion the sense of the citizenry has merit, so you will see if any of our new residents are suspect in this mystery of ours.”

“Yes, ma'am,” Rainbow Dash said, saluting. A gesture which Twilight fluidly returned without hesitation. Rainbow turned to leave but was topped by Twilight's voice.

"There's no room for failure anymore, Captain,” Twilight said curtly.

“Yes ma'am.”

Rainbow closed the door behind her and paused, she let out the breath that she had been holding in the entire time she was with Twilight. Her heart was pounding, whether from fear or excitement she could not very much tell. Twas always like this when she spoke to Twilight, breathlessness, her heart racing, especially when she looked at her with those eyes.

Shaking her head Rainbow cleared her mind of such thoughts as he walked forward. Her purpose was set as decreed by her liege lady, and Rainbow was fully committed to not seeing that level of disappointment in Twilight again. She walked into the main hall where three of her guardsmen were waiting.

“What's the holy word, cap'n?” Day Break asked, he was a Pegasus with a white coat and golden curls.

“Our Lady isn't pleased that the investigation has gone on thing long without anything to show for it,” Rainbow explained. “We must double our efforts, gather up some of the lads and start investigating local unicorn's whom arrived in Ponyville only after Lady Twilight did. Wind Rider and White Sand? You two are with me.”

“Where are we going, ma'am?” Wind Rider asked.

“If it is a Unicorn behind all this I know only one mare who would know about it,” Rainbow sighed. “I hope you two like dresses.”

Carousel Boutique

Three sharp knocks on the front door, firm and crisp. Rainbow Dash hadn't been here in years, and only a few times in her entire life. She never liked it, it was too stuffy, too full of perfume and other strong scents. Just then the door opened and Rarity stood before her, looking as stylized and as beautiful as ever.

“Rainbow, darling,” Rarity purred her greeting, looking all over Rainbow's form. “You look simply ravishing in that uniform, love.”

Rainbow was wearing her officers uniform, a dark blue tunic with stars on her shoulders and a red sash around her shoulders, complete with a cap and her sword at her side.

“Rarity,” Rainbow greeted curtly. “Can I have a moment of your time?”

“For you darling? Always? But shall your dashing companion's whom think I didn't notice them at the street corner be joining us?” Rarity said smoothly. Rainbow sighed and waved to Wind Rider and White Sand whom were indeed hiding at the street corner.

“No, they won't,” Rainbow sighed.

“Ah, not a bother, best not make a crowd, do come in deary,” Rarity said, stepping aside and Rainbow entered, removing her cap. The Carousel did indeed smell like perfume, enough to almost make Rainbow choke on it.

“Tea? Coffee, or perhaps something stronger?” Rarity asked, closing the door behind them and moving to the kitchen with Rainbow close behind.

“No, thank you,” Rainbow said. “Rarity, I just have a few questions.”

“Oh, no foreplay then, you're no fun,” Rarity said, pouting as she lounged on a kitchen chair. She sparked her magic and floated a cigarette to her mouth and lit it with her a magical spark. “Then to the main course then, you are here to talk about these disappearances.”

“Yes,” Rainbow said, sitting opposite of Rarity. “What do you know?”

“I read the papers as you do, thus our knowledge is equal in this matter,” Rarity said.

“Forgive me if I don't believe that,” Rainbow said. “You hear things, the whispers of tea parties and social gatherings, there's been a lot of Unicorn's moving into Ponyville lately haven't you noticed?”

“Indeed, ever since our dear Twilight became a noble lady this town has suddenly gone from backwater to a cheap new socialite's paradise,” Rarity grinned. “And you think that one amongst the newcomers may be responsible for all this tragedy?”

“That is what everyone seems to think,” Rainbow said.

“Well everyone is an imbecile then,” Rarity said, tapping her ashes into a nearby tray. “It isn't anyone within the city.”

“And how do you know that?”

“I simply employed a tactics that has sadly very undervalued in our modern society,” Rarity said with a sly smile. “I used my mind. For you see my dear, people have been rather wound up by all these disappearances, particularly the Earth Ponies, they've become more paranoid around Unicorns. Now I ask you, why would any one person within the city kidnap four random people only for the result to be a heightened distrust between the tribes, that doesn't advantage anyone living in the city.”

“But it would advantage someone outside of it,” Rainbow concluded. “They could stir up tribal tensions while being removed from them as well, that way their movements wouldn't be affected.”

“But?” Rarity pressed.

“But whom would want to increase tribal tensions, who stands to gain, and to what end are they doing this?”

“Now we're asking the right questions,” Rarity said as she leaned back in satisfaction.

“And do you have answers to those questions?” Rainbow said, leaning forward.

“I'm afraid I am not as omnipotent as our Goddess-Queen is rumoured to be,” Rarity said. “But there are many little birds whom frequent my fountain, I shall let you know if any of them sings the answer you seek.”

“I suppose that's that best I can ask for,” Rainbow sighed.

“Chin up deary, somber doesn't suit that pretty face of yours,” Rarity teased.

“Thanks for your help, Rarity,” Rainbow said, as she retrieved her cap.

“And do try and pop by for a social call next time, gives me something to look at.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Any new leads, captain?” Wind Rider asked.

“Sort of,” Rainbow Dash said, replacing her cap. “Have you got a map on you?”

“I do,” White Sand said, he sparked his horn to light and produced a map which he unfurled and levitated it out flat in between them all.

“Rarity said that the culprit would be someone outside of Ponyville, possibly even outside of Our Lady's border of authority,” Rainbow explained. “So, who lives of the edge of Ponyville?”

“Well, to the west there's House Shine,” Wind Rider said, pointing at Las Pegasus, the seat of House Shine. “But you don't think Lady Shine, or any of the noble lord are behind this?”

“It's a possibility we haven't considered until now, and barring any other viable options we are force to consider it,” Rainbow said, considering the map. “Our Lady Twilight comes not of noble blood, though her parents were aristocrats, her appointment could very well be taken as an affront to the ancient families of the land.”

“Either way I doubt Lady Shine is involved,” White Sand said. “Though she is our neighbour to the west, Goldhearth and Las Pegasus is still whole leagues away with the White Tail Woods between us, her influence is limited.”

“To the north then,” Rainbow said, pointing at Trottingham which laid not that far to the north, just past Mount Equestria where Canterlot lay, seat of Imperial Power.

“Lord Forrest Green,” Wind Rider mused. “He's been involved in a number on controversies over the years, just three years ago he ordered the Everfree set on fire to drive the Diamond Dogs back, which as I recall broke the treaty the crown had made with the clans.”

“Hm, yes I remember,” Rainbow stared at the map for a moment, deep in thought. “I have an idea, come on.”

“Where now, ma'am?” White Sand asked, rolling up the map.

“The Everfree, I want to inspect where the first kidnapping occurred.”

The Edge of the Everfree

“According to mister Stone's account this is the trail that his son always takes to get home.”

The trail was rough dirt, more of a game trail made wider by semi-frequent use. It began leading from downtown Ponyville where it would dip quite a ways into the Everfree itself. Rainbow's hooves crunched against the ground as they walked slowly along the trail.

“No hoofprints? Signs of struggle?” Rainbow asked as her eyes scanned the treeline.

“No ma'am, not else but some wild dog prints,” White Sand said. “But nothing telling.”

“Yet the other victims, not all were claimed by the forest,” Rainbow mused. “Ivory Marble's home was broken into, yet besides that no sign of a kidnapper?”

“Nothing but some mud tracked indoors, which could have been from Ivory Marble,” White Sand said.

Rainbow stopped as she stared into the Everfree, that dark and all-consuming place. Ever the center of many a ghost story and folklore, could the culprit be hiding within? It seemed highly likely as at first the victims were first attacked near or within the forest, until they became more bold and broke into Ivory Marble's home. So clearly the culprit was feeling confident, enough to enter the city in an act of great boldness, and believed that they were safe within the Everfree as they were protected by the sense of fear that surrounded the forest. So it was highly likely they were not hiding, rather they had a camp of some sort where they were living and holding their prisoners. Not expecting anyone to find them.

“We're heading in,” Rainbow said.

“Ma'am?” Wind Rider asked incredulously.

“We're going into the forest,” Rainbow said, already taking steps into the brush.

“Captain, are you sure that's the best idea?” Wind Rider asked, following yet sounding most concerned.

“I do, the last thing our quarrel expects is us to delve right into his lair,” Rainbow explained. “He's overconfident, enough to break into a home, that means he's most likely not hiding bar from operating from the forest.”

“But ma'am, the Everfree is massive, we could search for weeks and not find this culprit,” White Sand said.

“Ah but he can't be far from Ponyville, he has to be close enough to slip into the city and back to his base swiftly for the level of efficiency he has demonstrated, and as we just left the site of the first incident I deduce that it is the closest to his lair,” Rainbow said, the ground leveled out, the trees were tall and spaced evenly from one another with a canopy of green blocking the sun and shrouding them in cool shadow.

“Should we not send for reinforcements, ma'am?” White Sand asked.

“No I think not, we will move faster as just three and be more successful in remaining undetected.”

The Everfree certainly has an unnatural aura that hung bout it, it was almost suffocating, it confused the mind and muddled the senses. Yet Rainbow maintained her focus, such was the benefit of single-mindedness. She scanned the ground in search of any sign that would lead them to their quarrel, much like a predator stalks his prey. In her mind Rainbow was reminded of the campaign in the swamps of Prance, where Gryphon guerrilla fighters had-

“Ma'am! Look here!” White Sand exclaimed, breaking Rainbow out of her thoughts. He gestured to a nearby brush where a splattering of red specks could be seen across several of the leafs.

“Blood,” Rainbow said. “One of the missing, maybe they resisted and it turned violent, we're close.”

“Look ma'am, it's faint but there's a trail of it leading that way,” White Sand pointed out and indeed the specks of blood led in an easterly direction.

“Follow me, and stay low,” Rainbow said as she slipped into the brush, following the bloody trail.

They moved deeper into the woods, the landscape becoming ever more dark with thicker branches and leaves, the ground became soft and more marsh-like. Muck splattered up Rainbow's hooves and legs as she tried to maintain quiet movement. The blood was becoming more consistent now, going from small specks to a steady trail, whomever had been injured was bleeding quite badly and would no doubt need medical attention. Rainbow hoped and prayed that she would not came too late for them.

“Did you hear that?”

Rainbow stopped at listened, there were no birds, no wind, it was eerily silent except... yes there it was, it was faint but she could just barely hear it. Voices, deep and muffled by the thick foliage but present none the less, it was coming from somewhere in front of them.

“Draw weapons,” Rainbow commended softly, drawing her own longsword. “Move slowly.”

They inched ever closer with Rainbow in the lead, she gently parted the curtain of branches before her until she was able to peer through and reveal a rather large clearing. It sat in a small valley-like depression in the ground filled with flat grass and a stream running through it. There were no less than three large steel cages there which contained the four missing Earth Ponies, Rainbow recognized each from their descriptions and they all seemed unharmed bar the clear signs of malnourished and lack of sleep. Rainbow felt a spark of anger as she recognized the young Sand Stone who's ribs could be seen clearly, he had barely eaten and was obviously terrified. He huddled in the corner of his cage that he shared with Ivory Marble. Metal Maker and Timber Hoof sat alone in the other two cages, Timber had a worrying cut along his forehead which was coated in crusted blood. He didn't appear to be conscience.

There was a functional campsite set up in the clearing with a small campfire which cleverly has a thick canvas canapoy over it to keep the smoke from revealing camps position. No less than four large tents surrounded the fire pit and the kidnappers now sat round eating what appeared to be some wild rabbit which they had found.

“Diamond Dogs,” White Sand whispered. “Fucking mongrels.”

Indeed they did appear to all be Diamond Dogs, there was six of them that Rainbow could see. All large and dangerous looking with big under bites holding large sharp fangs. They all wore thick steel chestplates and Rainbow could see a couple swords and spears that lay by their owners. Rainbow's mind was racing, why? Diamond Dogs had been known to kidnap people for slave labour in the past yet this clearly was not the same thing. There was no mines in the Everfree and they clearly were set up to stay here long term as evidenced by the large burlap sacks no doubt full of provisions and the tall pile of firewood that sat off to the side of the campsite. So if not for labour then why would they take these four Earth Ponies and risk the Crown's wrath? Ten years ago it may have made sense but after Celestia had cracked down on the Dog Clans and their slave operations the practice had all but been halted. It was a fiasco as Rainbow recalled, almost resulting int a full on conflict with not only the Clans but the Dog Kingdoms which inhabited the north-eastern Equestrian border and had guaranteed the protection of their cousins which inhabited Equestria. The end result had been a treaty allowing the Equestrian Clans to exist outside of direct Imperial rule as long as they respected Canterlot's authority and halted the practice of slavery and kidnapping. Apparently at least these six were in direct violation of that agreement. But why?

“Orders, ma'am?” Wind Rider asked softly, drawing Rainbow out of her thoughts.

“White Sand, you move around the back of them, Wind you go to the east side of the camp, once you're in position White give a signal by whistling like a bird and then start bombarding them with every spell you know, they'll no doubt panic and try and rush you. Once they're committed me and Wind will fly in behind them and engage, when we do you advance and join us. With luck they'll be too confused to mount a defence, any questions?”

“No ma'am,” White Sand confirmed.

“Lets do this,” Wind Rider said.

“Move.”

Wind Rider and White Sand went in opposite directions as rainbow Dash mentally prepared herself. She could feel her heart beating faster, her blood rushing as a shiver of exciting anticipation went through her body. It had been too long since she had done this, she missed the action, the danger, the excitement. Yes, this was her element. And suddenly Rainbow's mind was flooded with the sound of eagle cries and lion roars, with the small of blood flooding her nostrils as it rained from the sky. The feeling of her blade slicking through flesh and bone, felling foe after foe as the earth and sky burned around her. The Second Gryphon War had left no one unchanged, not even her.

The whistle softly echoed across the clearing, sounding just like a bird so much that the Dogs showed no viable reaction. None until a bolt of white lightning cracked through the air and struck the northernmost Dog, electricity sparked through his entire body causing him to shake violently and scream, his fur became singed and charred all over as one of his eyes exploded in a bloody burst. As the Dog fell down dead his companions reacted in a panic, shouting and yelling as they stumbled for their weapons. A magical blast struck one in the back and knocked him down to the ground, winded but still alive.

Rainbow took her chance, with a powerful flap of her wings she sped forward like a bolt of lighting as she flew low to the ground and used her momentum to slice her sword clean through the Dogs neck, severing his head as she skid across the ground and came to a halt. The remaining five Dogs stared at her in a stunned paralysis before Wind Rider rushed forward from the east and buried his sword in the nearest Dog's eye. This galvanized the others into action as the nearest to Rainbow rushed her with a spear thrust which Rainbow knocked to the side with the flat end of her blade. She knocked the Dog off balance with a solid shoulder check as he raised her blade to block the overhead slash of another. Rainbow slipped to the side and slashed open his thigh causing the Dog to scream in agony before Rainbow swift ended him with a slick thrust to the eye.

Rainbow turned just in side to dodge the spear thrust of the other Dog. She countered with an upward slash which severed his jaw and sent the Dog the ground. Rainbow found respite as he viewed her comrades. There was only one Dog left which had laid his weapon down and fell to his knees, seemingly begging for mercy. Rainbow approached him.

“You two care for the prisoners,” Rainbow said. “I've got this one.”

“Are you sure, ma'am?” White Sand asked.

“Yes, go.” The two sheathed their weapon as Rainbow stared down the cowering Diamond Dog.

“P-lease! Milady! Don't kill Dog! Dog surrender! Mercy! Mercy!” The Dog begging with a raspy voice, Rainbow struck him hard with a hard back hoof.

“Shit up you fucking degenerate,” Rainbow said, keeping her blade level with the Dogs throat. “Speak only when spoken too, now hear me and listen, whom do you serve? Who's your Alpha? Why did you kidnap these Ponies?”

“D-Dog doesn't know!” he croaked through a fearful sobbed.

“Don't lie to me!” Rainbow snapped, striking his cheek with the flat side of her blade.

“Dog tells the truth! Please!” he shouted. “Hooded Pony! Hooded Pony! Came in the night to small Clan, talked of gold, take the Ponies, take Ponies he said! No see face! Dog doesn't know! Please spare! Please!”

“Stop grovelling you pathetic piece of garbage,” Rainbow growled, pressing. her hoof on the side of the Dog's knee hard. “Count yourself blessed, you're lucky you'll be useful to me else I'd cripple you and leave you for the Timber Wolves.”

Rainbow Dash landed a solid punch to the Dog's temple, knocking him out cold. She spat in his face before sheathing her sword she took a deep breath as she realized her heart was still racing. Rainbow turned around as saw her guardsmen tending to the prisoners, with White Sand doing what he could for Timber Hoof's injury. Rainbow approached.

“He'll need medical attention soon,” White Sand said as he flooded Timber with another blast of healing magic. “He's lost a lot of blood.”

“Get ready to move him, and the scum over there, see if you can't find something to tie him up with,” Rainbow said.

“Yes ma'am.”

Rainbow moved over to where the other three were huddled, they seemed unharmed apart from lack of food and sleep, and the obvious metal toll. Rainbow was most concerned with Sand Stone whom sat next to Ivory Marble, he stared at the ground with a thousand-yard stare. Rainbow knelt down to his level.

“It's okay, you're safe now,” Rainbow said softly, Sand Stone looked up at her but offered to real reply, just that empty stare.

“He hasn't talked the entire time,” Ivory Marble said, he sounded shaken. “He's been here the longest, Celestia knows what they out him through.”

“It's over now,” Rainbow said. “I'm taking you home.”

Ponyville

Rainbow had the victims taken directly to the hospital while she dragged the Dog straight to Oathtree herself. Once there she had him taken to the dungeon before she sought out Twilight to deliver the news, according to her guardsmen she had been hold up in her room nearly the entire day.

Rainbow knocked on the door before entering, inside was dark and smelt of booze and tobacco. Twilight was no where to be seen. Rainbow was about to call out for her before the washroom door opened flooding the room with light. Twilight stepped out and Rainbow's heart ached for she looked no herself, her mane was messy and he eyes were red, it looked like she had been crying and that thought hurt Rainbow more than any blade could. They stared at each other with no words exchanged as Rainbow stepped forward and pulled Twilight into a hug, protocol be damned.

“Did something happen?” Rainbow asked softly.

“Nothing of import,” Twilight said firmly, though she didn't pull away. “Don't think on it, I trust you have more important matters to discuss with me.”

“We found the them, all four,” Rainbow said. “Diamond Dogs, we captured one for questioning.”

“Good,” Twilight said, slipping out of the hug to return to the washroom where she began washing her face, wiping away the hurt. “Are they all unharmed?”

“Timber Hoof had a cut on his head, lost some blood, but I think he'll recover,” Rainbow said, her brow creased as she watched Twilight, she was hiding something from her. “You'll want to make a statement?”

“Yes, this evening, for now have guards on them at all times, let no one see them but family,” Twilight said as she straightened her mane.

“Yes ma'am,” Rainbow said softly, she paused. It hurt her to see Twilight in pain, even if that pain was hidden, though she could not place why it tormented her so. “Twilight... you know I can be trusted.”

“Yes, you can, more than anyone I know,” Twilight said softly. “But some things I need to handle myself.”

“It doesn't have to be... this,” Rainbow said, trying not to have her voice break. It wouldn't do to show weakness when Twilight was struggling so.

“Your concern is noted, now go carry out my orders, Captain,” Twilight said coolly. Still not looking at Rainbow.

“Yes ma'am,” Rainbow said, and as she left trying and failing to shake the burning in her heart.

Author's Note

Sorry for the long wait. I've had to move into a new place and get another job. Things have been hectic and I find myself with less time on my hands. But with enough beer and more than a few hours with my pipe I managed to get this done. Hope you enjoy.

Don't forget to comment. Like. Etc.