We were confused. It didn't take much to figure out that whatever had been stolen from the castle had been important. We just didn't know how important.

As we combed through the other rooms in search of Gulliver and his friend, we found out pretty quickly that the only treasure that had been stolen was what Gulliver had referred to as the 'Elements'. Maybe it was intentional, maybe it was because they weren't expecting six mares and a baby dragon to bust their heist? Point is, the only thing they got away with was those gemstones and after spending what I'm pretty sure was an hour or two searching the castle we started to see that they were probably long gone.

So we gave up. Twilight and Spike decided to head straight back to the library to see if they could find anything about the thing that jerk and Gulliver stole. Meanwhile Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy and I went to Ponyville General to get ourselves checked out while Pinkie rushed back to help the Cakes with the late afternoon rush.

"I just don't get it Spike!" Twilight groaned in frustration as she dropped yet another book into a growing pile of failed discovieries. "There's nothing here! Nothing! How can there be nothing about these magic crystals called 'the Elements'? There's more history about Princess Celestia, and when she was still around, Princess Luna, that couldn't even fit one volume and there's not a single thing on anything like 'elements' outside of Bode Well's periodic table, mentioned once in any of the history books I have or magical theory documentations I can find anywhere!"

"Maybe that's cause no one knew about them?" the young baby dragon tried helpfully, though with a hint of sarcasm laced in the suggestion as he grunted in closing one of the tombs he'd been hunched over.

Another hair joined the rest of its kind in the mess that was Twilight's frazzled mane.

"Don't be silly, Spike" the unicorn snapped back. "How could the Princess or Princess Luna hide something when it was accessible to the Castellan? Constable Heartful Effort was still alive during and after the Invasion of Everfree. He led the defense against the Shrouded Legion, and he later published his son published his journal entries on the events of the attack on the castle: the disappearance of Princess Luna and had detailed listings of everything the treasury had were all there! There's no way he wouldn't have known or at least mentioned it!"

"Okay! Okay! I get it. Take it easy, I'm just as frustrated."

Ears pinned back and the straight posture, glare and scowl faded away with exhaustion as she slumped over the coffee table. Twilight let out a tired sigh. "I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that Spike. I'm just so frustrated we can't find anything, and I'm scared of what the Princess might say to us. Forgive me?"

Claws drummed at the wood of a desk and for a few seconds that stretched into a minute, Spike's silence started to cause her vision to blur. Somehow, he must have sensed it because when she felt like she was going to break, he let out that understanding sigh, walked over, and gave her a hug that smoothed over tense nerves. "You're not the only one who's worried you know?" he said morosely. "I'm worried to and I'm sure the others are at least a little concerned also."

She sniffed and leaned in. "I know...I'm sorry." The hug tightened and she returned it with her own. "Thanks."

"Anytime...so, what now?"

Twilight let out a long exasperated sigh as she looked around her, books, scrolls, scholarly articles, and binders of everything related to magical artifacts or historic mentioned items surrounded them in heaps, stacks and piles. After a minute of frowning and staring in silence she shook her head slowly then tightened her embrace on the baby dragon next to her.

"Take a letter Spike, we need to message the Princess."

So I sent the message and in less than half an hour the Princess responded. She told me to gather my friends and that she would be meeting us personally at the library.

In truth, I wasn't sure what she'd say when she found out. I was worried she'd be upset or angry. None of us really knew how she'd react.

Pacing.

Applejack went in a straight line, up and down across the library. She went from the social science section all the way down, came back up to the main hall where the librarian's desk was located, and then went straight to the literature section across from it, disappearing from view as she went down that path then popped back up just to glance at the time.

Whenever a minute went by she would nicker her frustration with a series of tongue clicks, a single tail whip to show just how frustrated she was getting then she would continue pacing without saying a single word.

The minutes became longer and the unspoken tension settled more.

Twilight forced herself to stay busy by reading or trying to, then every few minutes would take a nervous glance at the clock just to bite her bottom lip, shift her sitting position then shift it back to the way it was before in a repeated cycle of anxiety.

Fluttershy sipped tea in silence, glancing at her companions with a single eye peeking out behind pink mane. Her frown visible but as usual, silent.

Rarity sat on a cushion, busying herself with designs that existed only in her mind. Edits and altercation, touch-ups and changes were made or in some cases entire dresses were scrapped. While in the background, above her, sitting in an open window and leaning on the frame was Rainbow Dash who had been keeping an eye out but after a time, grew tired of that so was now just 'trying to relax till the Princess arrived'.

It was now settling into night in Ponyville, the last rays of sun fading over the horizon and as everyone waited, Spike brought out a tray of tea for Rarity as had been kindly requested when it became apparent waiting would imply 'a while.'

"I don't get it." Applejack mumbled as she looked at the time for the sixteenth time. "Why isn't the Princess here yet? I thought she'd be here immediately after you sent that letter Twilight."

The unicorn in question spared a glance at Applejack before she turned her attention back to the clock hanging on the wall. "We just need to be patient." Twilight simply replied. "There's nothing we can do if the Princess is busy."

Grumbling, the farmer nodded her agreement. Even if she did have a gut instinct feeling that something about this whole thing wasn't right she wasn't about to complain on the monarch of their nation being late when there were probably a hundred other things to take care of.

"Why don't you take a seat, hm Applejack? Surely you don't intend to walk around the library till the Princess arrives do you?"

"I'm fine", came the reply. "Just don't see how the rest of y'all 'cept for Twilight over there can act so calm."

"Baking is always a good way to ease nerves!" came Pinkie's reply from the kitchen. "Besides", she stated as she exited and took a cushion across Twilight and chomped into three cupcakes in one go, "I'm starving! I missed lunch after all that running we did."

"Sorry about that", Twilight smiled weakly. "I...if I'd known things would have gone the way they did I wouldn't have--"

"Up-bup-bup!" the party planner silenced with a hoof pressing Twilight's lips together. "No apologies!"

"Bmh--" she jerked her head back and continued, "it's my fault Rainbow Dash and Applejack got hurt in the first--"

"No apologies!" Pinkie repeated louder, then with a critical eye at Twilight she opened her mouth to repeat the chant as soon as the unicorn across from her opened hers. This repeated till finally Twilight just gave in.

"Fine", Twilight huffed with a pout. "Be that way."

"Gladly!" was the chipper reply.

"Ain't the first time I suffered a few cuts or scrapes myself, sugarcube." Applejack chimmed in with a grin as Pinkie dug back into her meal. "Sides, we're all alright, Nurse Redheart took care of Dash and I real quick. Nothing but a few cuts and a bruise or two."

"But that's the problem!" a quick glance and a glow of her horn hit Pinkie with a quiet spell, just as the other young mare opened her mouth. "If it weren't for me asking you all to join and help none of this would have happened! You wouldn't have had to put yourselves in danger like this and--"

"You would have been the only one in danger, right Twilight?"

The room went silent at Fluttershy's proclamation. Frowning with a glow of her horn the spell on the party planner faded. "I don't think things would have gone any better if you had gone alone...and I'd rather not think about what",Fluttershy paused, breathed in deeply then let it out, "Brutus would have done if it was just one pony."

"I doubt he would've done anything."

The whole group looked towards the windowsill at the pegasus who yawned and scratched the bandage on her cheek. Wincing as she pulled her hoof away she shrugged, "I get the sense that Gulliver guy would've fought him personally to avoid any of us getting seriously hurt."

"And what makes you say that?" Spike asked with as raised a brow a dragon could possess.

"He knew Twilight."

That got everyone's attention in Pinkie Pie's direction. The party planner had stopped eating and was now staring at her hooves with a small smile. "He knew who you were Twilight, and he wasn't willing to hurt us anyway."

Frustratingly Twilight rubbed a temple. "I know. I was there, what I don't get is how did he know?"

"Wellll, it's not exactly a well kept secret."

"But it's not made public knowledge either." Twilight frowned at Pinkie. "The only reason you all knew was because you were all part of the festival's prep crew and were informed ahead of time by Mayor Mare that I would be arriving to manage the festival's progress and make sure everything went smoothly. If it weren't for that I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have known at all."

"That's...", the argument walked off and Rainbow Dash found she had nothing to say to that. "Huh...well when you put it that way that's..."

"Kind of disturbing", Spike supplied.

"But Twilight you can't possible be telling us that the Princess keeps it a secret of who her students are, are you?" Rarity asked. "If I recall correctly in fifth primary year, both Princesses Luna and Celestia's students participated in the siege of Everfree. Capella and Horizon Light were both present when Constable Effort took charge during the princesses absence. His son was there also."

"That was then though, this is now." Rainbow Dash interjected. "Things are way different from back then."

"She does have a point", Fluttershy quietly added.

"'Hiding her students' isn't the right way to put it--"

"Though it's true?" Applejack's brow quirked up.

"No", was the defensive response. "It's not about hiding us from the public. Every student that takes tutelage under the Crown has the freedom to choose how far its known they are being trained under the Princess. Sunset Shimmer and Starlight Glimmer--"

"Twins?" Pinkie perked up.

"No, but I thought so the first time don't worry. As I was saying, every student under the Princess has some say in how much of the public hears about them. It's not some secret the princess is desperately trying to keep. Sunset liked the attention, Starlight didn't really mind it, and well, I was okay with ponies knowing...I thought I might even make some friends just as long as it didn't turn into a big deal... " the dour expression said more than she could.

Welcoming the hoof rubbing circles on her back Twilight relaxed a little. "Thanks Fluttershy."

The pegasus smiled, "Anytime."

"I think I hear them", Rainbow Dash turned both ears and head to the sound of wings in the distance. "I think it's them!"

And just like that the tension was back. "What?!"

"O-Oh dear..."

There was a scramble to make everything tidy. Books, scrolls, pillows, chairs, cushions were all adjusted in a rush.

Though it was not enough time to fix the frazzled mane.

"Princess", the six said in unison, all of them dropping to bow as the guards opened the door and the princess ducked inside.

"My faithful student", the Princess smiled with a cursory eye over the others before her eyes returned to Twilight and Spike with a cheerful expression. "Rise my ponies," and as they did she continued, "I apologize for keeping you waiting. The Night Court had unexpected visitors before closing that I had to attend to before rushing over. Now, what is this urgent news relating to the castle you discovered?"

Which was when Applejack's jaw dropped, a sight that did not go unnoticed. "Um, is there something wrong Miss..."

"Applejack" Spike helpfully whispered.

"Miss Applejack, you seem, tense?"

Shaken from her stupor the farmer offered an apologetic smile that quickly turned into a glare shot Twilight's way. "Forgive me Princess", she responded with her manners demanding eye contact be made with the monarch, "it's just that. Twilight here said she'd informed you of the reason we needed an urgent summons to talk to you. I thought", she shot the fidgetting pony a glance that got as many confused looks from the others, "she had but it seems I was mistaken."

Multiple eyes looked to a fidgetting and gaze avoiding Twilight who suddenly found the floor more interesting to look at.

"Twilight", the Princess couldn't help but crack a frown briefly at the flinch she saw, "what is this about? Your letter said you found something that disturbed you greatly when you all investigated the archives but..." the pause widened. Twilight felt the lump rise in her throat. Her eyes looked up and with horror she saw her mentor, the savior, her hero studying them with careful eyes for the first time.

She took note of the bandage on the cyan pegasus, the wrapped gauze on the farmer's forelegs, the hastily patted down mane of Twilight's that had more than a few strands of hair sticking out of place; signs of stress and then her eyes fell on Spike.

Spike whose claws tapped away in a familiar tic at the scales of his tail.

"... Something happened...didn't it?" the chill that filled the room and the noticeable silence almost made her whimper with guilt.

"I- I'm sorry." Twilight whispered and huddled into herself, staring at the ground and tail tucked in as she desperately tried to make herself smaller. "It-- we weren't able to-- I tried--" the tears were building up again. Her vision was blurring, her throat felt to hot, everything felt too hot all of a sudden and the chill that travelled up her bones was suffocating.

I felt like it was my fault. Sometimes, I still do.

Twilight--

No. We should have turned back the moment we found the second room destroyed and evidence of trespassing. There was no reason we should have continued no matter how many times we tell ourselves otherwise. Sure, everything turned out fine in the end...but still...if it weren't for Gulliver...

Maybe I could have teleported back in time, gotten a letter out faster and alerted the Solar Guard sooner. Maybe we might've been able to catch them in time...but...I hesitated. I was scared. So I asked Spike to omit things--

No, you don't get it Nightmare Moon. You probably never could with what the legends say about Princess Luna and Princess Celestia facing off against monsters from the Everfree and all sorts of obstacles...and um, you, if you'll excuse me saying, by extension: you. This was...different. Not fright from the situation, not scared about the previous events, it was feeling like I failed the Princess. I don't like to feel I've let somepony-- someone down when I could have been able to help it if possible. It's like eating something sour and having the taste cling to your mouth.

With the Princess, I... I was terrified of failing her. It was a nightmare that haunted my dreams after the first week of school in the Gifted, and it didn't help I got a lot more attention when a former friend I thought I could trust let it slip to her friends that I was taking extensive tutelage under royalty.

Maybe a thousand years ago it wasn't as big a deal because of the number of nobles back then, but the nobility aren't as large as they are like they were before. Especially since some sided with...with him even after he... I just... I was scared Empress. I thought confronting her face to face would be easier but, I was wrong. Because a lesson I would learn much later, is that the Princess-- and even you, you both have this...atmosphere about you. Princess Luna most likely had it also. I'm willing to bet even Queen Chrysalis has it with how dedicated her changelings are to her.

It's not something a normal sapient with a normal magic system can sense. But it's there and it does two basic things.

It can either make you wary; like how we all slighted you by bringing the Elements, or it can blind you or those around you; my friends weren't affected by it nor was my family when I Changed, but most ponies...well, after the change I got a lot more hggattention than I ever did as either the Princess' student or a regular unicorn. It's like a magnet based off attention but that's as far as I can understand about it.

It's one of the theories I have on why so many were able to follow Overcast when he attempted to seize power. It wasn't just herd instinct taking over when the Princess was gone and the various figures started bickering bitterly over the throne. It was more than that.

And it's one of the reasons I was so scared of the nicest, most patient mentor I'd ever had in that moment.

She was shivering, shaking. She was enveloped in white.

"You have nothing to apologize for Twilight. You could not have known," the warm voice whispered softly. "It was my mistake to have not sent guards with you and your friends when I felt old spells breaking and could not trace the source. I should never have assumed. I..." she couldn't see it with how tight she was up against the Princess with the massive wing enveloping her, but she could envision the pained frown. "I made a mistake", disappointment clear in those words "and for that", the Princess looked up and met each eye, "I am sorry."

The silence that followed was humbling. Each and every individual with their own thoughts on the situation and matter. Finally, Pinkie broke through.

"So what do we do now?"

The next pause to follow it was almost as long as the last. The princess said not a word. Her eyes looked between the six mares and baby dragon, rolling thoughts through her head and to the rest it was clear she was formulating a solution; as she always had done.

"You said", the words were slow coming, "Gulliver, was the one who called the artifacts stolen from the treasury the 'Elements'?"

"Yes" was the reply.

Ears sagged for the first time and a wave of nervousness passed over the others upon seeing it.

"I-Is there something wrong Princess?" Fluttershy politely asked.

There was another pause, this one almost just as bad. As the seconds ticked and the obvious answer became clear in each passing tick, Twilight slipped free of her hiding spot beside the Princess and with familiar motion drew Spike close as they all waited to see what was on her mind.

"No", she finally answered with an accompanied heavy sigh. "It was only a matter of time I suppose. And after risking your lives to stop them, the least you deserve is to know what you all risked yourselves for."

With a sad smile and horn glowing- the Princess's horn ignited and in a glow of light the six gems they'd seen appeared. Orbiting around them all the six gems moved in slow orbits around each of them as the Princess began her explanation.

"We called them the Elements of Harmony. Magical artifacts we discovered a long time ago during Discord's reign. They are powerful artifacts, with magic not even we can begin to understand and they are-- were, the only way we could end his reign. No magic we used could touch him, no spell we casted could harm him, no rune created could be assigned to subdue him. For all his boasting, for all his taunting... Discord was a being of great power. And when angered, genuinely angered", the shiver alone that went through her caused the same shiver to go through all of them. "Words do not begin to describe just how truly lucky we all were to be spared his power for destruction."

"Princess", she turned to look at the young dragon she'd taken as her own, "you said 'we', do you mean perhaps--"

"Yes", came the gentle whisper, so gentle yet so strong with emotion no matter how hushed it was. "I mean my sister", she smiled sadly, "Princess Luna."

"The Elements of Harmony are how we defeated Discord and brought peace to the world. Though the world was not truly at peace after his reign came to an end, it would take us centuries, millenia to fix the problems that had been brought to the surface under his control."

"I don't understand", Twilight stated. "How come we've never heard of them? There should have been records, paintings, drawings, art or tapestries- something about the Elements! But there's nothing, Princess, why? Why would you and Princess Luna hide something so important?"

The etheral mane billowed slowly in non-existent wind and as the Princess looked at each passing gem, she was lost in thought for a time of seconds before she closed her eyes and responded "because Equestria was not ready to know." she said quietly.

"The world was not ready to know at such the frail state it was in at the time. Back then it was our only option. In those times of civilizations falling, unrest settling, disharmony rising--

"--led to the appearance of alicorns emerging to help to those that needed it, when all seemed hopelessly lost." Applejack, Pinkie and the Princess said together as one.

"The legends were true", the farmer said in a aghast whisper as her eyes widened. "All those foal tales of alicorns appearing out of nowhere to aid the lost, broken or desperate in the darkest hour were telling the truth."

"You really did come to save Equestria", Pinkie stared with a wide eyes and awe.

The princess only smiled and said nothing more. That is till--

"But that still doesn't make sense." Twilight's frustrated voice broke the mystic stupor. "Why would you hide the Elements if they were so important?"

The Princess sighed, and Twilight couldn't help but feel a pinch of guilt at having caused that smile to fade.

"In those times Luna and I feared what would happen if the world knew the truth. Equestria was given it's peace for a period of time because we were the ones who stopped the Fallen Prince, not because of our power to lift sun and moon. In ancient times wars were still fought between the three tribes despite the propagated belief unicorns were the only ones that ensured the cycle of life continued. Whether that was true or not, matters little now. The reason Equestria was left in peace for a time was because of the sheer distability that effected the globe even after Discord's reign ended, and as such it was our fear in those desperate times that others would hunt after them Elements if they knew the truth. We had to hide them, keep them a secret. For fear of desperation bringing something just as bad as the Age of Chaos."

"Wait--" Fluttershy's voice cut in as her ears splayed and fear kicked in, "d-d-does that mean those two have--"

"Oh buck!" Rainbow Dash shouted, "they just stole the most powerful artifacts in Equestria!"

A small chuckle cut through the growing panic before it boiled over into a full freak out.

"P-Princess?" Rarity asked in stammered nervousness, "may I ask what is so funny?"

"While I am concerned of the loss of the Elements, I am certain our thieves will have no way to use them. At least...at least till they reach the one who hired them."

"And why's that?" Pinkie asked.

"The Elements will not work for just anyone. They have..." she paused as if searching for the right word to phrase this, "limits on who may weild their power. Alone, they cannot do much. Together however, when all six are active, that is where their true power shines. And..." she smiled as her eyes fell on the designer and party planner. "I believe you have already found two of the owners to them already."

"We have?"

Smiling at the baker the Princess gave a confirming nod. When her only reaction was worried silence the smile widened just a little and she leaned in and whispered, "I believe it's you."

"WHAT?!"

"You said it yourself in your retelling." Turning to Rarity she said, "you, Miss Rarity saw the Elements as perfect gems, the most beautiful gems you'd ever seen that could outshine the Sun itself, did you not?"

Dumbly she nodded.

"And you Miss Pie", now eyeing the bubblegum pink mare, "you saw the Elements in a similar light did you not? You said if put on a cake they'd be the brightest candle in the world?"

"Oh absolutely, Princess!"

"And the rest of you?"

Applejack rubbed the back of her neck, Spike said nothing, Fluttershy traced a circle with her hoof and Rainbow Dash frowned with a shake of her head.

"The Elements do not show themselves to anyone. They reveal themselves in their own unique ways to those that have the potential to weild their power. It is the same thing Luna and I experienced when we weilded them. While to others there may be sense of understanding they are powerful, only those who are truly worthy of using them will see them for what they are in their own unique way."

"I felt...something", all eyes turned to look at Twilight. She smiled sheepishly.

"Continue", the Princess insisted.

"Well", she sniffed to clear her throat and then smiled apologetically- the Princess either didn't care or notice as they all waited. "Well I um, I felt magic from them. Strong magic", she shivered at the memory. "It was so strong but so faint at the same time but just the feeling of it alone sent shivers through me. Is that...does that mean... Princess?"

Celestia had closed her eyes and the smile she'd been holding was now gone. In it's place a solemn expression. She didn't say a word, but it was clear hearing Twilight's answer and both the confirmation of the others had made the Princess weigh the situation in.

"If I ordered you all to follow the trail of these thieves and retrieve the Elements with the support of the Guard, would you refuse?"

Silence.

"I'm sorry Princess but could you uh, repeat that?"

"I believe you heard me quite clearly Miss Apple. If I requested you follow the lead to retrieve the Elements, would you?" she repeated. Then met several sets of surprised or stunned eyes. "Would you be willing to put yourselves in danger, this time with help, to retrieve the most powerful artifacts of our nation?"

I'll be honest here, I was scared for you girls when the Princess said that.

The seconds that ticked by were agonizing. No one said a word. Not at first, not immediately.

Till Pinkie broke the silence with: "So, like a roadtrip, right?"

Which based on the reaction from the Princess, just as easily as it threw everyone else out of the austere tension that settled with the question.

"I-- Pinkie this is serious!" Twilight yelled.

"I know." was the first serious tone (but not the last) Twilight had ever heard from the eccentric mare. "But", and she smiled, "we'll be together and I know we'll be able to handle anything. Even if the Princess says we don't have to, I know we can."

"But", and Fluttershy looked around, "how?"

"Yes, Pinkie, darling this is a very dangerous situation we'd be going into. Not just a one time thing. We'd be gone for...who knows how long to get the Elements back. What makes you so certain we or even you could handle something like this when we have no experience?"

The smile got bigger. "Because we handled a dangerous castle, a mean griffon mercenary, a thief, and two golems on our first ever mission. And we did that together", she touched the hoof of the shy mare then met every eye in the room before resting on the monarch's. "We came back with a litte scratches sure, but our friendship came back stronger than before. And for our first mission ever, even if it wasn't an official one," she grinned "I think we did AWESOME!" and as she jumped steamers and confetti flew into the air.

"So", the party planner turned to face Celestia and said "I'm going, but" she looked at the others and Pinkie's smile became hopeful "I can't do it alone, and I can't do it without my friends."

There was no movement. No agreement. Pinkie kept her smile hopeful the entire time though, even as expressions changed as final decisions were made.

And one-by-one we each came to our decision.

"We'll do it."

Princess Celestia smiled. "Thank you my little ponies."

And that's how our journey started on an air ship to chase down the Elements brought us all the way out to Southern Equestria.

Author's Note

Holy shit this took time.

Prep yoselves for part 3. That's where we end the first question's answer.

No idea if all of the questions will have three parts or not guess we'll see. If I can keep kicking my cell's ass who knows.

Anyway, stay tuned.