Gem Hunt

Chapters

Chapter 1 The hunted one
Chapter 2 broken heart
Chapter 3 Broken hearted
Chapter 4 The Forgiving
Chapter 5 The Arrival
Chapter 6 The Found
Chapter 7 The reveal
Chapter 8 The worried
Chapter 9 The Past
Chapter 10 The End

Chapter 1 The hunted one

Its late afternoon, on the outskirts of Ponyville, a good-looking yellow-orange earth pony morph mare with a pale, light golden blond mane and tail waits impatiently with a small bag. Her 5ft 10in, physically fit, equine figure was encased in a red checkered, short-sleeve work shirt and medium blue relaxed fit carpenter jeans. On her size nine barefeet were dark brown work boots and on her head, a brown cowboy hat. This earth pony mare was Miss Applejack Apple, co-owner of Sweet Apple Acres near Ponyville.

“Where is that low down snake? Doesn’t she know I’m a very busy pony? Can’t be standing doing nothing.” Applejack said annoyed in a southern accent as she angrily shakes the contents of the bag she’s holding.

A moment later, coming down the path was a good-looking, light blue unicorn morph mare with a midnight black mane and tail. Her 5ft 7in, physically fit, equine figure was encased in an orange red, short-sleeve blouse and medium blue jeans. On her size nine barefeet were black wedge heels. This unicorn pony mare was, as far as Applejack knew, was Miss Kidnapper.

Two weeks ago, Applejack’s little sister, Apple Bloom failed to return to Sweet Apple Acres after being sent on a quick errand into town to deliver a small bale of freshly picked apples to the Sugarcube Corner. At first, Applejack didn’t think anything of it, as her little sister Apple Bloom is known to stop and talk to her two friends who also live in Ponyville. As it was getting close to dinner, Applejack got worried and went out in search of Apple Bloom.

She ran into both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, her sister’s two friends along the way. She asks both of them if they had seen Apple Bloom today. Sweetie Belle told Applejack she’s been with her sister Rarity all day at the Carousel boutique and Scootaloo told her she’s been in Cloudsdale for most of the day. After learning that they had not seen her sister today, Applejack got even more worried. As fast as her two legs could carry her, she runs back to Sweet Apple Acres.

That’s when she discovered a written message tied with her sister’s red bow, hanging from a small nail on one of the wooden poles that make up the main entrance into Sweet Apple Acres. The written message read:

To: Applejack
For the safe return of your sister
You must pay 200 bits
Kidnapper

“Where’s my little sister Apple Bloom? You low down snake in the grass!” Applejack said testily.

“She’s around; do you have what I want?” The kidnapper inquires as Applejack tosses the bag over to the kidnapper.

“Here’s your money, 200 bits on the nose! Now give me back my little sister!” Applejack said sharply as the kidnapper knows she’s telling the truth.

“Oh, you are so honest Miss Applejack, I know you will be telling me the truth when, I ask you this.” The kidnapper comments tossing the bag up in the air and catching it in her hand again.

“If I release your sister, will you come after me?” The Kidnapper inquires as she watches Applejack trying her best to keep her honesty in check, but couldn’t.

“Darn right! I’ll go after you when you free my little sister. I’ll teach you what happens when you tangle with an Apple.” Applejack said fiercely as the Kidnapper just laughs and tosses the bag back to her.

“Then the deal is off, Miss Applejack. It will be better for my health to keep that little sister of yours. Besides, I can find some back breaking labor for that little pony. Can you hear that little pony calling for her sister? ‘Sister help me please, it hurts’.” The kidnapper said coldly and wickedly as Applejack sinks to her knees dropping her head and begins to weep.

“Please don’t take my little sister from me. This is the honest truth. You can go free and keep the money. All I want is Apple Bloom back.” Applejack said her voice cracking as she tosses back the bag with the money and watches the kidnapper walk off.

At a safe distance, the kidnapper snaps her fingers and the spell she casted expires. Tied to a nearby tree was a good looking very light yellow unconscious earth pony filly with a vivid crimson colored mane and tail. Her 4ft 8in fit, equine figure was encased in a red checkered short-sleeve denim western shirt and medium blue regular fit 6-pocket denim shorts. Her yellow-orange barefeet were covered by fine layers of dust. This earth pony filly was Apple Bloom, Applejack’s kidnapped little sister.

“Dang it!” Applejack exclaimed angerly, tossing her hat on the ground as she walks over to the tree and begins to untie her and shakes her awake.

“Huh? Sister? How did I get here?” Apple Bloom inquiry looking around a bit confused.

“Yawl right Sugarcube? She didn’t hurt you?” Applejack inquiry as Apple Bloom has no idea what her sister is talking about.

“Who tried to hurt me? Last thing I remember is me walking back home from Sugarcube Corner after dropping off that small bale of freshly picked apples. Next thing I recall is you when I opened my eyes.” Apple Bloom explains as Applejack retrieved her cowboy hat from off the ground.

“Come on, Sugarcube. Let’s go home. There are some ponies worried about y’all.” Applejack said as the two earth ponies head back to Sweet Apple Acres together.

It’s an hour before nightfall, that same unicorn is standing just outside the Everfree Forest waiting for someone to arrive. A moment later, a light blue good-looking pegasi pony morph mare with a Rainbow colored mane and tail lands in front of the unicorn with a small bag. Her 5ft 3in physically fit equine figure was encased in a red performance tee and black straight-leg jeans. On her size 8 1/2 barefeet were white sneakers. This pegasi pony mare was Miss Rainbow Dash.

“Here’s your money, as agreed, 200 bits. Now hand over Scootaloo.” Rainbow Dash said brazenly tossing the small bag over to the Kidnapper.

“Oh, how loyal you are to a filly that’s not even related to you, Miss Rainbow Dash.” The kidnapper comments as Rainbow Dash kicks a small stone on the ground.

“Drop it! And tell me where Scootaloo is, Right now!” Rainbow Dash said hotly as the Kidnapper just laughed at her.

“What’s so funny?” Rainbow Dash said sourly.

“You, Miss Rainbow Dash.” The kidnapper said as three boxes appeared in front of Rainbow Dash.

“What’s this?” Rainbow Dash inquiry puzzled.

“A little game. You see, in one of these boxes is the location of that filly you are looking for, Miss Rainbow Dash. Pick wisely, you see the other boxes will burn up destroying whatever is in it. Plus, it will be quite messy for that filly if you pick the wrong box.” The Kidnapper explains as Rainbow dash quickly picks the box on the right and watches the other boxes burn up.

“Yes, yes, yes! I have it.” Rainbow Dash excited as she held a map in her hand.

“Well, it looks like it’s not my day. You found the map.” The kidnapper said unfazed as Rainbow Dash unrolls the map.

“Hold on a minute, this place is on the other side of Ponyville!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she looked at the map.

“Oh, that’s right, Miss Rainbow Dash. If you were thinking of getting that filly first and coming back to get me, using your speed, forget it. I’ll be long gone before you are back here. Plus, that filly will go splat, if you wait too long.”The kidnapper explains as she walks off into the forest. Once the Kidnapper disappears into the forest, Rainbow Dash muscles tighten as she lifts off and flies to the location of Scootaloo.

The next morning, in Ponyville city hall, in the office of Mayor Mare, both Applejack and Rainbow Dash air their gripes to the Mayor about them being forced to pay a ransom for the return of their family member and close friend. Looking out the office window was a purple Alicorn mare with dark sapphire blue, moderate purple and brilliant rose streak mane and tail. Her 5ft 5in, physically fit, equine figure was encased in a green-yellow mid knee length dress. On her average sized purple, barefeet were gold high heel pumps. This Alicorn mare was Princess Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship.

Mayor Mare asked her to send a report to Princess Celestia requesting her to send someone from Canterlot to investigate this terrible kidnapping case of two prominent citizens of Ponyville.

“Kin you do something, Miss Mayor, or you going to wait for someone else’s family member to be taking by the Kidnapper.”Applejack said in a huff as Mayor Mare placed her hands on the side of her head.

“You must understand Miss Applejack, Ponyville doesn’t have an established police force to investigate crimes of this nature. We never needed one. But in the light of these incidents, it might be in due course to establish such a group for the safety of all the ponies’ citizens. But that means appealing to the House of Lords in Canterlot. In that house, they are good at one thing, not agreeing on anything. If we send an appeal to the House of Lords, there’s no guarantee that the Lords and Ladies will even take it under consideration and the kidnapping will continue, forcing more ponies to pay to get their loved ones back. In other words my hands are tied.” Mayor Mare explains followed by a long sigh.

“So we just give up and let that Kidnapper snatch other ponies’ family member and friends for money?” Applejack said sourly as Mayor Mare shook her head.

“Miss?” Applejack said stopping in mid sentence as Twilight interrupted her.

“Applejack! Leave Mayor Mare alone. She’s right, her hands are tied. But before I arrived, I did a little bit of research at the Castle Library into Equestria Law and found another way, to get a police force in Ponyville and right away. We can get a Royal Decree from Princess Celestia. With the Royal Decree that means that the House of Lords don’t have to vote on it. It’s all up to the Princess to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to our request.” Twilight explains hesitantly as her wings fold and unfold on her back.

“Well that’s the best news I’ve heard, Twilight. But there’s more, Right.” Applejack comment as Twilight shakes her head.

“Yes, if the princess says ‘yes’ to the request, we have no say in who the Princess will send down here to Investigate and the Police force will be made up of Solar Guards, Lunar guards and Royal Guards forces. All who are under the command of the Princess?” Twilight said doubting her choice.

“I don’t know why you are worried, Twilight. Have you suddenly lost faith in Princess Celestia’s judgment, Twilight?” Applejack inquiry looking at the Alicorn.

“No, never. I know Princess Celestia is a wise leader. She will send us the best pony for the job.” Twilight comment as the group continues to talk about the Royal Decrees.

Later that same day, in Canterlot, in the Grand Royal Palace at the center of the city, Princess Celestia works in her private office located in the private living area of the Palace. A piece of paper and file floats around in the air landing in Celestia’s hand.

The file was the report by Princess Twilight Sparkle detailing the two kidnappings of Apple Bloom and Scootaloo by an unknown unicorn mare. It explains what Applejack and Rainbow Dash had to do to get them back. The piece of paper was a total surprise to Princess Celestia because it’s been a very long time since someone requested a Royal Decree from her.

‘Very clever, Twilight. Bypassing the House of Lords completely. No voting needed. It’s all up to me to decide to fulfill the request to establish a Royal Police Force in Ponyville. Of course I’ll do it. The only problem I have is none of my current Royal guard units’ members are trained in investigating techniques that Ponyville would need to find this unicorn kidnapper.’ Princess Celestia thought as her stomach knotted, realizing she might not be able to fulfill the request.

“If only this request came a few years earlier. I would have the best pony for the job and his heart (tears begin to roll down her cheeks). He was a magnificent royal investigator, best of all (tears begin roll down her cheek more frequent). Because he was honest, loyal and honorable. Plus, the best protector this Princess ever had. But now, he can’t stand looking at me. I don’t blame him for what I did to him. It broke my heart. I was such a fool and that foolishness cost me dearly.” Princess Celestia said as she dissolves into tears over losing the love of her life over her foolishness.

Chapter 2 broken heart

Its several years earlier Princess Celestia stands on her balcony just outside her grand bedroom, wearing mauve-colored, slightly below the knee-length dress. On her fairly large white bare feet were golden leather platform sandals. Her white snout showed a bit of worry on it. She just recently received a message from King Enrique Shroud, the leader of a small tribe of Jaguar morph living in the Forbidden Jungle. As of recent events, several small war bands of Jaguar warriors from the Shroud tribe have attacked several Equestria outposts along the northern border of the Forbidden Jungle just outside of Caracows. This forced Princess Celestia to dispatch a small company of her elite Solar Guard troopers to reinforce the Royal Army troop station at the Equestria outposts.

A moment later, a majestic dark blue unicorn morph stallion with a crimson red mane and tail walk into the bedroom right up behind Princess Celestia and he wraps his arms around her. His 6ft 5in athletic equine figure was encased in the white uniform of the commander of the Princess' elite guard unit, the Solar Guard. On his bare feet were black dress boots. This Unicorn stallion was Solar Guard Commander Justice Silverlight and Princess Celestia's secret boyfriend.

"You're usual, my beloved Sun Princess," Justice said loving kissing Celestia on her cheek.

"As wonderful as that would be to let you rub my feet, my beloved, it not why I called you." Princess Celestia said affectionately as she floated the message from King Enrique Shroud off her desk right into Justice's hand.

"What’s this tia?" Justice said a bit confused as he catches the message in his hand.

"Just read it, Justice," Celestia asked, her voice edged with tension as Justice walks over to her large bed and sits on the edge of it to read the message. A moment later, Celestia sat down next to Justice.

"You don't actually think he's serious about this Peace treaty with Equestria, right Celestia? I mean this condition for a meeting. (Tapping back of his hand on the message) You must arrive alone with no guards and no escorts. That will leave you vulnerable and at his mercy. As the Princess's protector and head of Royal Security, I won’t approve a condition like that for any reason. No matter what the intention is, your safety is paramount, your highness." Justice said bluntly as Celestia blinked with surprise.

"Huh? Please, Justice reconsiders your position in this. (A tear comes to her eye) I need your support in this if we have any hope of brokering a peace treaty with the Shroud tribe and ending this war with them." Celestia said negotiating as she held Justice's hand in hers, hoping to change his mind.

"I am sorry Your Highness, but the job you assigned to me is to protect you and, if need be, give my life. For your survival (Celestia's face pales)." Justice said honorable as he was able to get his hand free from Celestia.

He stood up and turned toward her bedroom door to leave as he had a few more meetings this day to attend. Suddenly Justice felt a strong grip on his tail; he slowly turned around to see Celestia kneeling on the ground, tears running down her cheeks soaking the floor beneath her.

"Justice, you know how terribly ticklish my feet are and you also know I hate a pony that uses my ticklishness against me to weaken me and break me. If you reconsider your position, you may break my will. I will become your willing pawn and do what you want." Celestia said pretending to be defeated as Justice yanks his tail out of Celestia's hands angerly and his lips curled with disgust with his girlfriend's suggestion.

"I can't believe the mare I love would suggest such a thing like that to me. You know how much I love you and would never do something like that to you." Justice said bitterly turning his back toward Celestia as her muscles tensing and she shoots to her feet with her face hardening.

"If you love me, you would reconsider your position in this, Lord Silverlight. You would allow me to fulfill this condition and bring about a Peace treaty with the Shroud tribe for the good of Equestria. But you are not." Celestia said pretending to be angry as the last of her negotiation strategies to make Justice reconsider his position.

Suddenly, Celestia's eyes widen with alarm and she quickly covers her snout with her hands because she just did something she promised she would never do. She questioned if Justice loves her.

"Justice! I am sorry." Celestia said trying to apologize as a despairing look appeared on Justice's face that was quickly replaced with a stony expression of anger.

"Now I see your highness! My love means little to you! Fine, farewell your Highness!" Justice said indignantly slamming her bedroom door shut as he storms out of the room.

"Justice! I didn't mean any of that! Your love means everything to me! I just want you to reconsider your position! Not this?" Celestia said heartbroken as she dissolves into tears.

'It was that one failed negotiation strategy that allowed Justice's rival to convince me of his betrayal. I was so depressed about hurting Justice. It was so easy to convince me that he would betray me. My heart was so broken from what I did, to the stallion that loved me unconditionally.' The present Celestia thought to open a drawer on her desk and retrieving a tarnish gold-framed picture of Justice as her tears continuously splash on the glass.

One month later in that same year, in the empty throne room of the Grand Royal Palace Princess Celestia stands at the foot of a two level platform. She’s wearing a Sapphire blue, slightly below the knee length dress with golden straightforward slide platform sandals on her fairly large feet. Her ears droop on top of her head as Justice paces back and forth in front of her, his eyes seething. After being released from the palace dungeon and being charged falsely of treason, Justice confronts his beloved Sun Princess about her decision.

"How could you Celestia! In good consciousness believe that I would ever think of betraying my Princess or Equestria! I pledge to defend her and you with my dying breath! But it looks like my pledge meant nothing to you! You strip me of my title of Princess' Protector and toss me into the dungeon without even looking into the charge to see if any of it is true! It was all phony!" Justice said fiercely as his ears droop and his muscles tighten.

"Justice please tell me what can I do to fix this? I love you so much. Do I have to admit that I was a foolish pony? If that’s what you want me to do, my beloved? Here it is, I was a foolish pony to have believed that evil stallion and not my beloved." Princess Celestia said heartbroken as tears begin streaming down her cheek soaking her feet.

"I am sorry your highness, there’s nothing you can do to fix this. Your decision was perfectly clear to me. My love and my loyalty were misplaced in you. (A tear ran down his cheek) I hate you, your highness, and will never forgive you. So farewell your highness." Justice dispirited as he turns and walks out of the throne room.

"No! Justice! Please give me another chance! I truly do love you! I have always loved you! Don't do this to me! I am so very sorry for betraying you! Justice! Please come back!" Celestia's voice explodes out of her in agony as the throne room door slams shut and she collapses on all fours whimpering.

~Returning to the Present~

'Ever since Justice left my service and pledged his loyalty to Luna as a Lunar Guard, I have tried everything to get him to come and talk to me. So we can put this terrible past mistake to rest and hope to rekindle that love he had for me. But he always finds a way to get out of it. He endangered his career as a Royal Guard, by refusing an order from his Princess. Did I hurt him that much? If that’s so, there’s no real hope he would ever forgive me and this pain I carry in my heart will never heal.' Princess Celestia thought as she caresses the tarnished gold-framed picture of Justice she was holding.

"Stop this Celestia! You believe in unconditional love. How can I so easily forget that? Deep down I know Justice truly loves me and will forgive what this imperfect mare did to him. It will just take a little bit more time. Then, I will be able to once, again, hold that stallion in my arms and my wings and show him just how much I truly love him. I must keep that spark alive in my heart because it’s the only thing I have left." Princess Celestia said encouraging herself as she paced back and forth in front of her desk.

'I know Justice is the perfect investigator for this job. The only problem I have is that he will not follow a royal dispatch from Princess Celestia.' Princess Celestia thought agitated slamming her fist on her desk with a thud.

'There must be a way to get Justice to Ponyville. His skills would be perfect for this investigation into this unicorn kidnapper and stop her.' Princess Celestia thought more agitated as she thought of something.

'Huh? Wait! Who says that a royal dispatch has to come from Princess Celestia? There’s two Princesses here in Canterlot and Justice can't turn down the other Princess. He is loyal to her. So, dear sister you must dispatch Justice to Ponyville. I know you’ve been monitoring this incident during Night Watch hoping to discover who’s behind it.' Princess Celestia thought as she ran out of her office toward the private living area of the Grand Royal Palace, the location of their bedrooms.

Once in the private living area of the Grand Royal Palace, Princess Celestia runs down the finely tiled hallways of the area with the heels of her golden platform sandals clicking loudly. She runs past her own bedroom marked with a carved sun motif on the door. A few feet down the hallway she stops in front of a door marked with a carved moon motif. She begins to knock on the door frantically trying to wake up the owner of the bedroom.

Inside the darken bedroom, sleeping comfortably under her nice warm blankets was Princess Luna, Celestia's little sister. She barely lifts her head in response to the loud knocking on her bedroom door. As the knocking persists, she reaches over and grabs one of her pillows to cover her ears with it. When that didn't work, a very annoyed Luna rolls out of bed. Her mane tied in a ponytail for convenience and her moderate cyan eyes heavy with sleep. Her fairly larger bare feet pap plops over the marble tiles floor to her bedroom door.

"Leave me alone! I was sleeping! What do you need! Must wait till night watch! Go away!" Luna yells at the pony behind the door trying to chase them away, so she can return to her sleep. But when the knocking didn't stop, she walks up to the door and throws it open.

"Is there something wrong with your hearing?!" Luna yells displeased as she finds Celestia standing in the hallway outside her bedroom.

"Oh, sister. What do you want? You know I sleep during the day." Luna said tiredly as she yawns at her. In the light, Luna is wearing a light pink lace trim nightgown that shows off her physically fit Alicorn figure.

"I am sorry Luna but I need you to do me a favor. I need you to write a Royal Dispatch so I can send it to a certain pony I want to send to Ponyville." Celestia explains as Luna yawns once again at her.

"What, a Royal Dispatch? Why can’t you write it yourself, Celestia? This is hardly a good reason to wake me up during the day to do your job and anyway who is this certain pony you want me to send to Ponyville? Why do you want me to write it?" Luna inquiry leaning against the door jam of her bedroom door.

"The certain pony I want to send to Ponyville is Justice. He’s is the best pony for the job to find this unicorn kidnapper before she strikes again," Celestia explains as Luna lifts her dark blue right barefoot in the air and wiggles her toes a few times.

"And why do you want me to write it, sister?" Luna inquiries as Celestia speaks in a very low voice embarrassed to admit her mistake to Luna.

"I didn't quite get that, sister. Why?" Luna asked again as Celestia spoke in an even lower voice not willing to admit her mistake to Luna.

"Still can’t hear you Big Sister. Why?" Luna asked for a third time enjoying making her big sister Celestia admit she was wrong to question Justice loyalty.

"All right fine! Justice doesn't like me all that much on the count that I threw him in the dungeon without knowing all the facts. (A tear come to her light magenta eye) I took the word of a vile stallion over my beloved. (More tears come to her eyes) A mistake I still regret and carry with me. Justice was not just my protector, he was my lover. That decision I made cost me dearly, Sister." Celestia said her voice cracking as tears begin to stream down her cheeks.

"Yes, it did, sister. But don't worry I sent Justice a few months ago to the Crystal Empire and he talked to Cadence for a long time. She reports that he has to let go of his anger toward you but you still broke his heart. Cadence tells me she gave him her personal cell phone number and he can call her anytime to talk to her." Luna explains as she reenters into her bedroom to quickly write the Royal Dispatch for Celestia to send to the Silverlight stable.

'Thank you, sister and niece Cadence. It shouldn't take as long as I thought to heal that wound in my heart and try to patch up my relationship with my beloved. He deserves that much, for what I did.' Celestia thought as Luna reopened her bedroom door and hands Celestia the Royal dispatch.

"Here’s the Royal Dispatch you asked for sister with my mark on it. Plus I added something to it." Luna explains as Celestia takes the royal dispatch from her hand.

"What did you add Luna?" Celestia inquiry quickly gesturing one of the nearby elite solar guard pegasi scouts to deliver the royal dispatch to the Silverlight stable.

"As of receiving this dispatch. Lunar Guard Commander Justice Silverlight shall be transferred from the Princess Luna's Lunar Guard unit back to Princess Celestia's Solar Guard unit. He will be dispatched to Ponyville as the Royal Investigator for Equestria. He is to report directly to Princess Celestia during the investigation of these kidnapping cases and any other crimes that happen in Ponyville. Princess Celestia shall be his commander and his contact." Luna explains as she closed her door and went back to bed till Night Watch.

"Thank you, little sister," Celestia comments as she's watching the pegasi scout fly out the window of the Palace to the Silverlight stable.

Meanwhile, back in Ponyville a set of undetectable magic purple colored eyes float about in the air watching the interior of the Castle of Friendship learning everything about Princess Twilight Sparkle’s daily routine from when she gets up, her daily errands and her Royal court. Slowly the eyes begin to close out of boredom.

"By Celestia light. This Princess Twilight is so boring. Does she do anything?" A bored and anxious female voice exclaims as we find the unicorn kidnapper in a small room somewhere.

"At lease that light yellow Pegasus mare that fears everything is more exciting than this Princess Twilight Sparkle. I'll even watch that hyperactive pink earth pony. Calm down, Gem Cutter. If you didn't think all this out before hand you would have gone nuts by now. Huh?" Gem cutter exclaims as she spotted her real target the light purple color dragon walking into the throne room carrying several rolled-up parchments in his arms.

'More correspondences? Mmmm, I wonder who sends this Princess Twilight so many parchments. Since I have been watching her, I have counted about ten parchments she has received from that other sender. So it seems that this small dragon might be the only means of correspondence with who is sending these parchments to Princess Twilight. So I might have to rethink my whole plan to acquire that small dragon of her's. Who is sending correspondence that might be able to track the whereabouts of the small dragon which will be troublesome.' Gem Cutter thought as a parchment fell off the pile the small dragon was carrying and rolled under her undetectable magic eyes. The rolled-up parchment had the waxed seal of the sun Princess' mark on it.

"Huh? That’s the royal seal of Princess Celestia. So this Princess Twilight Sparkle is far more exciting than I first realized. If I can get that small dragon. I can hurt Celestia by turning this Princess Twilight into a gem statue." Gem Cutter said with malice as she formed a small gem statue in her hand.

"If not for that Princess Celestia, that stallion would have given up the chase. But that Princess kept him going till I was forced to fake my death and lose everything. Now, from a brilliant jeweler to a petit thief. Going from the elite of the elite in Canterlot to the streets of Canterlot. You shall pay for this Celestia." Gem Cutter said venomously crushing the delicate gem statue in her hand.

Chapter 3 Broken hearted

~its early evening~

An exhausted Justice drives onto his family estate after his latest go- around with the House of Lords in Canterlot where he works as an investigator during the day while Princess Luna sleeps. The Silverlight stable is the second largest estate in the Capital City of Canterlot and run by Viscountess Ophelia Silverlight (Lord Justice Silverlight’s Grandmother) and Baroness Shimmering Diamond Silverlight (Justice's mother).

'How much I hate nobility politics! You stabbed me in the back and I will stab you in the back, over and over. At least with royal politics, you knew who your ally was, and if they stabbed you in the back, you better have a very good reason to do so because it meant war. Princess Celestia was one of the best when dealing with Royal Politics.' Justice thought as he paused long enough to glance at the white round towers of the Grand Royal Palace waving in the distance were the banners of the two regal sisters. This was once his military post when he was the Princess' Protector.

"Bah! All her talk about loving me was a lie. Where was the love when Celestia betrayed me and tossed me into the dungeon on nothing but lies?" Justice said sarcastically as he drove through the main gate of the Silverlight Stable.

"But that's all over," Justice said, sourly pulling his cell phone out of his pocket on instinct and opening it to contacts. He quickly stops his finger from pressing the contact button for Princess Cadence, his self-appointed counselor.

Suddenly, his cell phone rings and Justice answers it. On the other end of the phone was Princess Cadence asking how he is doing. After parking his car in his parking space, he spoke to Cadence for a while but she had to stop because her meeting was about to start. She promised she would call him back when she got some free time from her Royal duties and talks for a little longer.

"Commander!" Justice calls as an earth pony mare commander approached wearing the gunmetal gray combat body armor of the Silverlight stable guard. Attached to the center of the breastplate was a small white diamond jewel, the mark of the Silverlight stable troops.

"Yes, Lord Silverlight?" the mare commander inquired as she bows to Justice.

"Any trouble at the stable, while the boss mare is gone, Commander?" Justice inquiry.

"No trouble, My Lord. It has been pretty quiet." The mare commander answers

"What about my sisters and Aunt, where are they?" Justice inquiry as the mare commander thought for a little while.

"Lady Jamila Nebula left in her car a few hours ago wearing a cocktail dress and dress sandals. She was scheduled to attend a Canterlot social event this evening and will not return till late tonight. As for Lady Serena Silverlight, she has yet to return to the family stable. As for Lady Seer Silverlight, one of the guards reported that she finish a meeting with one of her business associates. So she should be somewhere in the main manor house." The mare commander explains as Justice shook his head.

"Excellent, Commander. Return to your normal duty schedule. The boss mare phones me on route, and we don't expect any guests this evening. So go ahead and shut the main gate. Only let guests onto the stable through the small door and the large door for the outstanding family members." Justice orders gesturing his hand toward the main gate.

"Yes, my lord, it will be done." The mare commander answers, gesturing two stallion guards at the gatehouse to push the massive wooden gate shut and lock it.

Justice continues through the courtyard, up a short set of stairs to the main entrance into the main manor house. The moment he walked through the door, coming down the stairs from the second floor of the manor house was a 6ft 6in angelic-looking dark blue unicorn mare with a Venetian red mane and tail. Her athletic equine figure was encased in a white color top of the knee-length dress; she smiled the moment she spotted Justice walking into the house. On her dark blue, size 15 bare feet were black straps sandals. This unicorn mare was Lady Seer Silverlight and Justice's younger sister.

"Welcome home, big brother. How did it go at the House of Lords today?" Seer inquiry in her gentle voice as she walked up to Justice and kissed him on his cheek.

"About normal, Seer. Look into this and investigate that. Find out what this Lord or Lady is planning. Sometimes I wonder how anything gets done in Canterlot and what would happen if the Princess was not the overall ruler of Equestria." Justice explains as Seer politely laughs, and Justice unbuttons the top button of his jacket.

"So it seems from what the guard mare told me outside, we are the only ones from the family left this evening." Justice comment as Seer shook her head.

"It seems so, Big Brother. I don't mind it a bit. It had been sometime since the two of us were together at the same time.

So, shall we start with dinner, big brother? Then see how the rest of the evening unfolds." Seer suggests as the two siblings make their way to the dining room to begin dinner.

"Oh, before I forget, did anything arrive at the estate, Seer?" Justice inquiry as Seer remembered the document that arrives that afternoon with Luna's royal mark on it.

"Oh, yes! A document arrived this afternoon from Princess Luna. I left it on the table at the front door." Seer explains as Justice ran back to the front door to get the document. Justice had barely broken the wax seal with Luna’s mark on it and started to read the paper when there was a knock on the front door of the main manor house.

"I'll get it," Seer called as she walks over to answer it.

"Good evening. Your Highness?" Seer said, her face glazed with shock. She quickly bowed to Princess Celestia, standing outside the door on the landing with a single Solar Guard Trooper.

When Justice failed to arrive at the time, Princess Luna specified in the message to meet Celestia. She decided to visit the Silverlight stable in the Noble ward to find out why he didn't arrive. It was bittersweet when she set foot on the grounds; all her most cherished memories with her beloved Justice were here.

"Good evening Lady Silverlight. Where is your brother?" Celestia's inquiry in a very friendly manner as she dismissed the guard with her and told him to take the limo back to the palace. A moment later, Justice comes running down the hallway at full speed, passing both Seer and Princess Celestia standing to one side of the hall.

"I am sorry, Seer! But I am late for a meeting at the palace! Start dinner without me!" Justice called, grabbing his keys off the table and leaping into his car. He turns his car toward the main gate, and guards quickly open it.

"But!" Seer exclaim.

"Ok, fine, big brother!" Seer said bluntly, turning toward her guest Princess Celestia.

"Please forgive me, your highness. This is not the behavior of a proper noble mare of Canterlot and a Hostess. Would you join me for dinner and dessert of tea and biscuits in the sitting room? My brother should be back when he figures out you are not at the palace." Seer spoke in her well-bred, polite, gentle voice as Princess Celestia follows her to the dining room of the manor house.

After a very excellent meal made by the stable's head chef, both Lady Seer Silverlight, and Princess Celestia retire to a small sitting room in the main manor home for a friendly social visit. A moment later, two crystal unicorn ponies wearing a black top of the knee lengths dress and black pumps, walks into the room carrying two trays with them.

The first tray had a pot of hot tea on it with two ceramic cups and saucers. The second tray had a small selection of freshly baked apple tea biscuits. Once the maids set the two trays on the table, Seer dismissed the two ponies and told them to come back and pick up the dishes a little later. They shook their heads and bowed before leaving the room.

Seer reaches over and sets the ceramic cup and saucer down in front of Princess Celestia along with a small ceramic plate so she could float an apple tea biscuit on to it. She filled the Princess' teacup with the hot tea before serving herself. She watches as an apple tea biscuit surrounded by a light gold magic aura lands on the plate. Princess Celestia lifts the hot teacup between her hands and brings it toward her mouth to blow on it to cool it down.

"Did you love him, your highness?" Seer inquiry as she stirs a small amount of milk into her cup of tea.

Tears run down Celestia's cheeks and fall into her cup. A moment later, Celestia watches a dark blue, magic aura form around her right gold platform sandal. The sandal easily slides off her foot and floats to the ground gently. Celestia set her teacup back down on the saucer as two magical hands formed near her bare right foot. She raised her hand and dispelled the magical hands forming before reaching down and slipping her sandal back on her foot.

"Please, Lady Silverlight, don't do that again. It just reminds me of what your brother does for me and how much I do miss him." Celestia said heartbroken as she once again picks-up the cup between her hands and took a sip from it.

"But to answer your question Lady Silverlight, I loved him with all my heart," Celestia said, her voice wooden and distant as she took a small bite from her apple tea biscuit floating away from her mouth back onto the plate.

"Then, why?" Seer asked, taking a second sip of tea from her cup.

"A dreadful misjudgment on my part for all the stallions and one draconequus who said they loved me. Your brother was the only one that loved me with all his heart genuinely. He was not looking to use my position to further his agenda or just because he gave me a bouquet in front of every pony. He saw the goddess, gorgeous, normal mare I am and fell in love with her." Celestia explained, setting her empty cup on top of the saucer and finishing her apple tea biscuit.

"It is getting late, Lady Silverlight; I don't think your brother is coming back anytime soon. I have a feeling Luna got hold of him. It has been a delightful evening with your company, Lady Silverlight. I hope to do it again, but I must get back to the palace and go to bed. Oh, before I leave, tell your brother to come to the palace in the morning so that we can speak then. Good night Lady Silverlight." Celestia said politely as Seer bowed to her as she flew back to the palace.

Meanwhile, back at the Grand Royal Palace in the empty, lightly illuminated, Throne room, Justice speaks to Princess Luna about the royal dispatch she sent to him ordering his transfer back to her sister's Solar Guard Unit.

"Your highness? Why did you transfer me back to Celestia's Solar Guard Unit? Have I not performed my duties as Lunar Guard member, your highness?" Justice inquiry as Luna sighed slowly and unbuckled the bands of her silver adjustable strap, flat sandals from her large plush and smooth bare feet so that she may remove them. She preferred to be barefooted when she's in the throne room during her night watch.

"Lord Silverlight, you have done everything I asked of you. There's no doubt in my mind that you have performed your duties in my name as a Lunar Guard Commander, but my sister needs you and your skills." Luna explains as a wounded look appears in his eyes.

"But Luna? She tossed my loyal service aside and put me in the dungeon on lies. How can I forget that?" Justice said hurt as Luna struts her way down from the top platforms as the balls of her bare feet plop-plopped as it made contact with the finely made marble tiles of the throne room floor.

"Believe me, Justice, we both felt Celestia's brand of law, but in my case, I deserved it. Trying to bring the eternal night to Equestria as Nightmare Moon because I was jealous of Celestia's day." Luna comments as she rests her hand on his shoulder.

"Are?" Justice said, stopping in mid-sentence as Luna did an intentional clearing of her throat to stop him from responding.

"No Princess Protector or lover deserves their loyalty and duty questioned. Not after receiving the right from both Princesses allowing him to wear both marks on his sleeve. You gained the loyalty and trust of both Princesses of Equestria to not only protects her but us as well. Unfortunately, Celestia forgot about that and tossed you unjustly into the dungeon. There no changing what happens in the past, Lord Silverlight. All you can do is learn from it and put aside your dislike toward Celestia and help her find that kidnapper." Luna said diplomatically as she removed her hand from Justice's shoulder.

"Yes, My Princess. I will help Celestia stop that kidnapper. Thank you, Luna." Justice said she reassured as Luna's face glazed with a shock when he grabbed her hand and kissed it, causing her to unleash a peal of nervous laughter with the gesture.

Watching the whole scene unfolds from beginning to end; from just outside the throne room was Celestia. A moment later, the clicking of heel of her Gold platform sandals echoes into the room, drawing Luna's attention toward the opening, surprising her.

"Celestia! How long have you been out there?" Luna's inquiry surprised as butterflies form in her stomach.

"Not long, sister. I just got back from a delightful evening at the Silverlight stable. Justice's little sister, Seer, is what a Canterlot noble mare should be like when you visit their home. Unlike most of our nobility who thrive at being phony. (Yawn) if you would excuse me, sister, I must turn in now. Good night Luna." Celestia comments wearily as she leaves the throne room and heads to the second floor of the Palace where her bedroom is located.

"Celestia!" a familiar stallion voice called to her from the foot of the grand staircase leading to the second floor of the Grand Royal Palace. Coming up the stairs to meet her at the halfway point was Justice.

"Justice! Yes?" Celestia said surprised as she yawned once again.

"Oh! I am sorry, your highness. I didn't know you were heading to your bedroom. So it can wait. Good night Tia." Justice said politely as he turned around and started to walk back down the staircase to the ground floor.

"Justice wait! You called me Tia." Celestia said, surprised as a single tear formed in her light magenta eye.

"It is your nickname, or have you changed it since I last served you as your Princess' Protector, my Princess," Justice said respectfully as Celestia had a huge grin on her snout.

"Of course not, it's been a long time since you last called me by my nickname, but anyway, is there something you wanted?" Celestia inquiry as Justice shook his head.

"I was hoping you have time to talk. I want to clear the air before I start investigating the Ponyville kidnapping case file." Justice comments as Celestia slowly shook her head, and her tiredness vanished.

"Oh? Of course, Justice. Let's go talk in the sitting room, neutral ground for both of us." Celestia suggests as Justice follows her to a small sitting room on the second floor.

In the room, both Justice and Celestia take a seat on a large sofa. Before starting, Justice gestures toward Celestia's feet. She instantly knows what Justice is asking her to do. She reaches down and begins to slip her sandals off her feet. When they are bare, she brings them up onto the sofa and onto Justice's lap. He wants to rub her feet for her, so she can speak more freely to him as a way to clear the air between them.

In the room, Justice, and Celestia continue to reconcile their differences and rekindle the love between them. By the time Celestia had to raise the sun for a new day to begin, an engagement ring decorated the fourth finger of her left hand.

"Now, with that engagement ring on your finger, Celestia. You promise that you will marry me when the time is right and become Mrs. Silverlight, correct?" Justice comment as Celestia regards with an open fondness toward her Princess' Protector and new fiancé.

"Oh, of course, I will marry you, Justice, when the time is right. It will be my honor to bear the name of Silverlight as my last name." Celestia said as her exhaustion finally caught up to her, and she fell fast asleep in the arms of her beloved.

Chapter 4 The Forgiving

It 10:30 hrs passenger boarding platform to all trains, Canterlot Train Station, Public ward, City of Canterlot, and Capital of Equestria.

As Royal Investigator Justice Silverlight waits to board the Ponyville express train to Ponyville, a slight commotion toward the main entrance of the train station draws his attention toward it. Making her way through the bowing crowd of multi-colored equine morphs of various breeds and social levels was Princess Celestia wearing a Malibu blue top of the knee-length dress with gold suede retro platform sandals on her fairly large white bare feet. Right after raising the sun, she quickly finishes up all of her early morning royal correspondences in her private office at the Grand Royal Palace.

She wanted to make it to the Canterlot train station to see her fiancé off to Ponyville and show off the gorgeous pure gold engagement ring that she proudly wears.

"Hello beloved (kissing him on his lips)," Celestia said tenderly as the gathered crowd gasps with the show of affection from the leader of Equestria toward this majestic looking unicorn stallion her height a good 6ft 5in.

"You are enjoying this Tia (return her kiss on her lips)," Justice said, knowing as the gathered crowd gape in stunned silence. Went Justice gave the demigoddess leader of Equestria a very passionate kiss.

"You are enjoying this too, beloved," Celestia comments as Justice gently takes hold of Celestia's hand and strolls off toward the private VIP section of the Canterlot train station.

"You are a terrible influence on me, Tia," Justice comments jokingly as the royal couple walks through the double doors into the section.

This section is typically reserved for the numerous celebrities that come and go from Canterlot or those influential ponies that want to leave unnoticed from the Capital City. But this day, the section is devoid of any pony leaving the royal couple alone in the section. The royal couple walks over to a long wooden bench to sit down on as Celestia and Justice unleash playful laughter at what just transpired. As the Royal Couple regains their breath, Celestia once again kisses Justice on his lips, and he returns the kiss.

"I thought I was going to miss seeing you off Justice, what happened?" Celestia asked as she intentionally crossing her long leg over the other, allowing a view of her foot and ankle.

"There's a traffic jam on the mainline. The Conductor said it should clear up soon. I figure I should reach Ponyville at about 11:00." Justice explains as he saw two gold pieces of Jewelry decorating his fiancée toe and ankle.

"You know my beloved; I should really look into fixing the complex train schedules with more trains coming into Canterlot every day. It bound to happen more often, slowing commerce into Canterlot." Celestia explains diplomatic as she covers the sly smile on her snout with her hand.

She begins to move her foot more vigorously, trying to draw her fiancé's attention to the new Jewelry that decorates her foot. Justice remains straight-faced with his fiancée behavior toward him. He no rookie Royal Investigator, he knows that it was Celestia doing that caused the mainline traffic jam. So she can see him off. Because she doesn't know how long the investigation will take to be completed, and she will miss him terribly. And he also knows she wants him to comment about the gold toe ring on her second toe and anklet around the ankle. As Celestia's mouth begins to quirk in annoyance with Justice, his straight face cracks, and he starts laughing.

"Oh, Justice, you are so horrible. I am?" Celestia said sourly as she couldn't pull her arm away to leave. She turns back around to see Justice with a tight grip on her wrist.

"Now, Celestia, you came all this way. Just to leave without letting me have a closer look at your new beautiful Jewelry. That you probably put on just for me, I am flattered my beloved Sun Princess." Justice said charming as it caused Celestia to blush and giggle likes a school ages filly talking to her first crush.

"Do you really like them, Justice? (A giddy smile form on her snout) I had them at the bottom of the jewelry box for many years. My noble never like me to wear any kind of Jewelry, other than my royal regalia." Celestia explains sadden as she sits back down on the bench, she offers her leg and foot to Justice so he could take a closer look at the Jewelry.

For the next few minutes after removing his fiancée platform sandal from her quite large foot. The Royal couple has a long conversation together as Justice played with Celestia's barefoot. As the rapport between them was very fluid and affectionate demonstrating just how much these ponies loved each other.

"All passengers heading down the mountain via the Ponyville express train. Please begin boarding. The express will be leave shortly the jam on main track has cleared. Passengers begin boarding." The loudspeaker sounds in the section as Celestia become long-faced knowing that it will be sometime before her fiancé Justice returns to the Capital City of Canterlot.

She knows the first few weeks of not seeing him at the Palace will be hard on her; she has never developed these kinds of feeling toward any stallion before. Celestia suddenly stumbles as she was about to leave the VIP section, remembering that Justice removed one of her sandals. With simple unicorn spell Celestia magically removed her other sandal and floated the pair into her hand. Her fairly large white bare feet pip-plop across the smooth wooden boards of Canterlot Train Station floor. Due to her sheer height (being taller than any given pony), even in her bare feet, she could easily look over the gathered crowd of other ponies waving goodbye to the other train passengers.

"Huh?" Celestia exclaimed she spotted Justice through the train car window looking at a familiar gold ring being held between his fourth finger and thumb.

She quickly looks at her left hand; her engagement ring was still in place on her finger. Then it hit her she stepped back from the crowd and moved into a sunbeam to have looked at the toes of her own feet. The toe ring she had on her right foot was missing; she very unsure went Justice was able to remove the toe ring without her know it. Celestia is giddy with joy as she quickly moves back into her position as the train begins to leave the Canterlot Train Station.

"Justice! I want you to return that toe ring to me went you get back to Canterlot! Till then, please keep it safe for me, my beloved! Safe travel to you!" Celestia shouts in her own loud Canterlot voice, starling the gathered crowd in front of her as they turn around, causing her to blush and chuckle nervously.

Meanwhile, in the private coach car of the train, Justice draws the shades closed on the windows, and using a simple unicorn spell, he shuts the sliding door. A moment later, his horn glows. It flashes once causes silver bio-mechanical metal bird wings to form on his back. An incredibly powerful version of a Terran Alicorn whose magic abilities can affect the whole universe and not just a localized area. As the transformation is complete, he grabs his chest with his hand as he clamps his teeth.

Seemly out of nowhere, an extraordinary beautiful dark blue Celestial Alicorn mare with a crimson red mane and tail. Suddenly appears in the private coach car with Justice; her face shows a mix of worry and concern for this other Celestial Alicorn. Her slender equine figure was encased in mint green colored slightly below the knee length dress. On her dark blue larger pristine feet were blue quarter-strap sandals. This second Celestial Alicorn is Baroness Shimmering Diamond Silverlight, Royal Investigator Justice Silverlight own mother.

"Justice? What have I told you about using your Eternal Magic? You are abnormally burning through your fuel. It partially my fault the star I chose to make you was more vigorous then I thought. If we were back in our home star sector, I could put you into Regeneration tube for a few weeks, to permanently stabilize your fuel. But allow me to stabilize your fuel, baby." Shimmer said in a motherly but lecturing tone of voice as her hand starts to glow, and she touches Justice on his chest, stabilizing his fuel.

"Thank you, mother, I feel better now," Justice comments as he transforms back into his unicorn form.

"You are very welcome, baby. Now tell me why did you transform into your Celestial Alicorn form? This private coach car is hardly the place for that, baby." Shimmer asks as she transforms into her unicorn mare form and sits across from him.

"I wanted to create a gold chain for this mother," Justice said, holding the gold ring between his fourth finger and thumb. Shimmer reaches out with her open palm, and Justice drops the gold ring into her hand. She holds the gold ring between her fourth finger and thumb, and then she sniffs it.

"You got this toe ring from your fiancée Princess Celestia, baby," Shimmer comments as she made a delicate gold chain placing the gold ring to it. Before she hand it back to Justice and he put it around his neck and hid it in his jacket.

"How did you know, mother?" Justice inquiry as Shimmer chuckled and she crossed her long legs over the other.

"Technically, I am an Imperator Alicorn Communication Engineer on this planet. But back in our home star sector I am an Imperator Alicorn Military Police Detective. Plus, that gold ring is just covered with the scent of lilac. The type of soap that your fiancée Princess Celestia uses to bathe." Shimmer explains as Justice pulls the ring out of his jacket and sniffs it. But pick up nothing.

"I don't smell anything at all, mother?" Justice comments as Shimmer unbuckles her sandal and tosses it to Justice.

"Sniff it, baby; tell me what you pick up." Shimmer said as Justice sniffs his mother's sandal a moment later; he picks up the slight hint of honey on it.

"I smell, honey?" Justice said a bit dumbfounded with the smell of honey on his mother's sandal.

"Perfect Justice, Now sniff my foot. See if you pick up honey on it?" Shimmer asks as Justice grabs hold of his mother's foot to sniff it.

Nervous laughter escapes Shimmer lips went she realizes if some pony walked in right now. She would have a hard time trying to explain why a stallion is smelled the pristine barefoot of an older mare. But Shimmer thought at this very moment it the only way to teach him to use all his senses.

"Huh? I do smell honey on your foot, mother." Justice comment as Shimmer yelp went her son's intentionally tickled the arch of her foot. She figures he realizes the same thing she did earlier and was showing his displeasure about it being his own mother's foot.

"I am sorry, Justice, for doing that. But it was the only way to teach you to use all your senses." Shimmer said apologetically as she hugs and kissed her son on the cheek. Before putting her sandal back on.

"I know, mother. But still, you are my mother. Doing something like that to you just feels weird." Justice said a bit embarrassed as she thought for a little while.

"Well, Justice, I can teach you so much about investigating. I do have billions of years of experience. Will you let your mother assist you?" Shimmer inquiry as she floats the case file over to herself, so she can quickly read it over.

"Of course, mother, I don't have as much experience as you do." Justice said pleased as the sliding door is opened by the train conductor. Surprised to find a stallion hugging this older mare.

"My foal, Mr. Conductor." Shimmer comments in her well-breed powerful voice.

"Yes, your lady ship. I just wanted to inform the passengers we will be arriving in Ponyville shortly." The Conductor said as he nodded his head.

"Thank you, Mr. Conductor. No need to send a baggage handler for this Canterlot noble mare. I packed light for this trip." Shimmer explained as a small fabric bag appeared above her head on the shelf behind her.

"Yes, your lady ship." The Conductor said, sliding the door shut as he left

Chapter 5 The Arrival

Its 11:00 hrs passenger boarding platform to all train, Ponyville train station, ponyville, Friendship kingdom.

The ponyville train station is a large rectangle wooden building located at the edge of Ponyville next to the train track. Trains from Canterlot and other cities in Equestria come and go from this depot on a regular schedule. Once off the trains watching ponies walk about the station some buying tickets from various windows to travel to the other cities or picking up or drop off passengers to board the train. Were Justice and his mother, his contact in ponyville, was the Princess of Friendship Twilight Sparkle, the trigger for this Royal investigation has failed to meet him.

"Princess Celestia reassured me mother, that Princess Twilight Sparkle would meet me here at the station. But she late some Princess of Friendship, she the trigger for this Royal Investigate and she didn't show up." Justice said, annoyed as his mother looks around the station looking for a beautiful purple alicorn mare.

"First lesson Justice. If your contact fails to show up observe your surroundings. You can learn much about this town this way." Shimmer explains as she directs her son to look around the station.

"Like what mother?" Justice inquires, looking around the station as ponies give them a second look.

"Have you failed to notice that ever ponies give us a second glance and moving on?" Shimmer comments as Justice nod his head.

"Why, mother?" Justice inquires.

"Other than us being the height of Alicorns, Ponyville is a quiet small town; it seems that every pony around here seems to know each other. I give off the air of nobility, and you wear your white Solar Guard uniform give off the air of a soldier. We are the odd ponies out because we come from Canterlot. So now think about this Justice, what that tells us about the kidnapper?" Shimmer said poses the question to her son, who thought for a little while.

"Well, that means the kidnapper is not from here!" Justice exclaimed as Shimmer kisses him on his cheek.

"You are right, Justice. It most likely the kidnapper is not from around here. But their flip side to Ponyville is a small town with me being a noble mare from Canterlot, and you being a Solar Guard commander. We will not go unnoticed for long. That fact means that our investigation here is going to be that much harder to wrap up and you should know why?" Shimmer comment as Justice shook his head.

"Well, mother, we should be ready for helpful ponies and not so helpful ponies here in Ponyville." Justice comment as Shimmer kissed him on his cheek again.

"Welcome to Ponyville!" a pink earth pony with light cerulean colored eyes and dark pink curly mane and tail exclaim loudly. Causing Justice to leap all most out of his skin as his heart pumps spastically in his chest. Why his mother remains unfazed from the pink earth pony mare.

"Who in Celestia light are you?!" Justice inquires, clutching his chest with his hand trying to regaining control of his breath as Shimmer assist him in trying to slow his breathing.

"I am Pinkie Pie, silly." Pinkie pie comments as the purple Alicorn mare arrives a moment later, following right behind Pinkie Pie.

"Pinkie! I ask you to find them? Not scare him to death." Twilight comments as she stands next to Pinkie and shakes her head a few times.

"Well, here they are, Twilight." Pinkie comments as she goes off to greet the other passengers getting off the trains.

"Your Highness is your name, Princess Twilight Sparkle. The Princess of Friendships and ruling Princess of Ponyville?" Shimmer inquires as Twilight shakes her head.

"Yes, quick question?" Twilight ask

"Yes." Justice answer.

"Why did? The Princess sent a Noble mare from Canterlot and an Elite Guard to Ponyville. All I asked for was some pony to look into this case and solve it?" Twilight comment with a puzzled look in her face.

"I am hardly just an elite guard. I am Princess Protector and Commander of Celestia's Elite Solar Guard unit. I am Solar Guard Commander Justice Silverlight." Justice said full of pride as Twilight smile spastically, and his mother kicked him in his back end.

"Mother! What is that for?" Justice said, grumbling as he rubs his back end after his mother kicked him.

"None of my foals ever thinks themselves better than some pony else." Shimmer said, scolding as Twilight face glazes with shock.

"Mother?" Twilight said shocked

"Did the Solar Guard Commander, Just call you, mother?" Twilight asked a bit shocked.

"That is right, your Highness, my name is Countess Shimmering Diamond Silverlight. Co-head of the Silverlight Unicorn family of Canterlot." Shimmer said in her very well-bred, polite voice.

"The-the P-P-Princess P-P-Protector and Solar Guard Commander. Along with the co-head of the most prominent family in Canterlot. The Silverlight Unicorn Family- Countess Shimmering Diamond Silverlight. But-But, that means." Twilight voice edged with tension as Shimmer realizes she just made Twilight more nervous.

"Your Highness please forgive me. I had no intention of getting you more nervous. I can reassure you I am just here to assist my son in this investigation." Shimmer said in a soothing motherly voice that reassuring Twilight.

"Thank you, your lady ship.I will help if I can." Twilight said reassured

"You are welcome your highness and your assists will be greatly appreciated." Shimmer thankful as the group walked through the center of Ponyville on their way to Sweet apple acres to talk with the first target of the kidnapper.

Along the way, the group stopped several times by the ponies' citizens. It was giving some useful and not so helpful information about Ponyville and the residence. Some of this information was rumors and unfounded gossip. Due to the great volume and frequency of information from the residence of Ponyville, this allows the group to get a better grasp of the situation.

"What is going on here?" Twilight exclaimed, puzzled as the group finely got out of town and headed toward Sweet apple acres.

"I have never been stopped so much, even as an Alicorn Princess," Twilight said, annoyed as Justice and Shimmer just look at each other.

"It what we thought was going to happen is' that right mother." Justice comment as his mother shook her head a few times.

"Is there something you two are not telling me?" Twilight inquires as the two tall unicorns sighed a few time.

"My mother and I were discussing this at the train station went we first arrived and why we were waiting for you, your highness." Justice comment as the group continued down the dirt path toward Sweet Apple Acres.

"What does that mean, you two?" Twilight said a bit puzzled.

"It what we call helpfulness sickness. Helpful ponies and not so helpful ponies come out of the woodwork to give us information about everything. As my son is not too experienced, at shifting through a great number of rumors and gossip from every pony. I was able to glean some important information about this case for us." Shimmer explains as the group stop to get a bite to eat at a restaurant.

Before continuing , on their way to the Sweet Apple Acre, the group quickly stopped at a nearby clothing shop. So Shimmer could buy a quick change of more comfortable clothes then this dress she wearing. Shimmer quickly decides on a white solid colored pique polo shirt and gray relaxed fit jeans. She decides to continue wearing the blue quarter-strap sandals she had on with her dress.

As the group arrives at Sweet Apple Acre Shimmer suggest that the group splits up. Justice and Twilight will go talk to the sister of the first victim of the kidnapper. why she goes look around were the juvenile filly was returned for clues.

Its 13:00 hrs Sweet apple acre, outskirts Ponyville, Friendship kingdom.

Sweet Apple Acre is a typical ranch-style property with lots of lands; a small two-story red farmhouse sits at about the center of the property. The rest of the property is dominated primarily by numerous Apple Orchards of various ages. A heavy scent of apple permeates the area around it.

Lying under the shade of a tree chewing on stalk of wheat after finishing his day chores was tall vivid crimson red earth pony stallion morph with brilliant orange mane and tail. His powerful equine figure was encased in blue hickory striped bid overalls. His reasonably large feet were bare covered with grime. Sitting on the porch in the old rocking chair was old mare morph wearing a floral print dress most likely asleep. No were to be found was the first victim of the kidnapper Applejack's little sister Apple Bloom.

Sitting at a wooden picnic table under the shade of the second tree, drinking freshly made apple juice was Commander Justice Silverlight, Princess Twilight, and Applejack. Since arriving in Sweet Apple Acre, both Commander Justice Silverlight and Miss Applejack had a long conversation together, feeling each other out.

"Well, Miss Applejack. You are a welcome relief after dealing with Canterlot's nobles for most of my career who think lying is an art form to find an honest mare like yourself." Justice said complementing as it causes Applejack to blush a bit.

"I thank you Mr. Justice, but you didn't come all this way to shoot the breeze with me. Did yawl." Applejack said in her southern drawl.

"You are right Miss Applejack, the Princess sent me to look into the kidnapping of that little sister of yours. Her name is Apple Bloom, I believe. So what can you tell me about it Miss Applejack?" Justice asks as Applejack ears droop on top of her head, and she became downcast.

"First off, Mr. Justice. It’s something I don't want to remember. It was the worst day in my lahf went the kidnapper took Apple Bloom. I never felt so helpless in all my lahf. I am her big sister, is my job to protect her and couldn't." Applejack said her eyes widening innocently as a tear comes to her moderate, sap green eyes.

"Miss Applejack, I know how you feel. Back in Canterlot, I have my own little sister. She not as young as your sister is. But still, as her big brother likes you it my job to protect her. It would break my heart if I couldn't protect her. But at the same time, my sister would want me to tell everything I know about what happened, to make sure it never happens again to some else sister."Justice said sympathetically as Applejack lifts her head and looks at Justice reassured.

"You are right, Mr. Justice, my sister, would want me to tell you everything I know. So I am ready tail." Applejack said renewed and reassured as Applejack relay everything that happens during and after Apple Bloom returned to her.

Meanwhile, at the site of the return Baroness Shimmering Diamond Silverlight examined a tree with the visible marking of something being tied to it. It reinforces her conclusion that this is the place the victim, Apple Bloom, was returned. In front of the tree were the foot impressions of a teenage mare with size seven barefoot. She sniffs the foot impressions a few times and picks up the strong scent of apples on them. Plus, a very musty odor as if Apple Bloom was held for something in an old building. Long enough to get the musty smell on the soles of her feet.

"You don't look like a dawg. So why are yawl sniff around that tree? Like a dawg." A teenage mare said in a southern drawl as she approaches shimmer surprise to see another pony around here.

Shimmer studied the new arrival for a little while. The very light yellow teenage mare stood a good 5ft 4in the average height for 15 years old young earth pony mare with vivid crimson red mane and tail. Her robust equine figure was attired in a desert khaki-colored short-sleeve work shirt and diesel gray-colored relaxed fit cotton cargo shorts. Her very light yellow feet were bare covered with a dense layer of grime, through the grime Shimmer could make out red-orange nail polish on her toes. A red bow held her unruly mane in an improvised ponytail for convenience.

"I take it; your name is Apple Bloom." Shimmer commented, catching the teenage mare completely by surprise.

"How do you know who I am? Caint remembers tail a ferner my name." Apple Bloom said as her face grows chalky, fearing their after her again.

"My name is Countess Shimmering Diamond Silverlight; I am assisting my son with investigating your kidnapping, Miss Apple Bloom." Shimmer said in a soothing voice that relieves some of Apple Bloom's fear.

"Please to meet you, your ladyship." Apple Bloom said in a polite country manner as she walks up to the taller, unicorn mare that towers over her by several inches. The 1 ¾ inch heel on her sandals adds a few more inches to her overall height.

"Please to meet you too, Miss Apple Bloom." Shimmer reply as she for a few moments floated the idea in her head to remove her sandals and stand barefooted so she willn't tower over Apple Bloom.

But quickly dismiss the notion as her feet are far more sensitive to the roughness of this apple orchard terrain. It wouldn't take too long for the rough terrain to become unbearable on soles of her feet. Besides, her overall height would still tower over this teenage earth pony mare even barefooted.

"Miss Apple Bloom, do you remember anything during you're kidnapping before you returned to your sister?" Shimmer inquiry as Apple Bloom sat on a hay bale in the apple orchard.

"Caint remember anything, your ladyship. I was unconscious through the whole ordeal." Apple Bloom said truthfully as Shimmer sighed a few times. She suddenly snaps her fingers with an idea.

"Miss Apple Bloom, May I examine your feet?" Shimmer inquiry as it caused Apple Bloom to blush with the request from this noble mare.

"Why?" Apple Bloom asked

"You were wondering why I was sniffing around that tree like a dog." Shimmer comments as Apple Bloom shook her head.

"I was sniffing your prints in the dirt; I pick up a noticeable musty odor in your prints, Miss Apple Bloom. I want to check your feet for anything that might have got stuck to bottom of your feet." Shimmer explains as Apple Bloom reluctantly allows Shimmer to look at her feet.

The bottom of Apple Bloom's size seven feet were caked with ever more grime it was somewhat hard to distinguish her real bare feet from all layers of filth that covered the soles of her feet. Suddenly Shimmer discovers something that was stuck to bottom of Apple Bloom's right foot. It was a green ferns stems, she carefully removed the stems from her foot and created a small plastic bag to bag it.

Chapter 6 The Found

~Back at Sweet Apple Acres~

"Miss Applejack, you said the unicorn seems to know your element, and that element is?" Justice asks as he looked over his notes in his small notebook of the recent interview with Miss Applejack.

"Honesty is my element, Mr. Justice." Applejack answered as he wrote the information into his notebook.

"What makes you think that Miss Applejack?" Justice asked, getting ready to write down more information into his notebook.

"As I said before, the unicorn threat to keep Apple Bloom from me and hurt her. I couldn't let that happen; she's my little sister. So I promise to let her go free and let her keep the money. All I wanted back was Apple Bloom. But she knew I would do that. If she didn't know that my element was honesty. Do you think Mr. Justice she would risk that." Applejack posing the question to Justice as he was fanning the ransom note Applejack gave him unintentionally near his snout.

"Huh?!" Justice exclaimed as his sensitive sense of smell, pick-up a musty odor coming off the note. He stopped and inhaled the unusual scent deeply as Applejack rubbed her chin with her hand, watching him smelling the note.

"Miss Applejack, you said you been carrying this note with you since you found it, correct," Justice asked as he looks around Sweet Apple Acres.

"That right, Mr. Justice. I have been carrying this note with me all the time, why?" Applejack inquiry as she was still a bit puzzled with the question.

"Are there any disused or disrepair structures that get wet a lot in Sweet Apple Acres, Miss Applejack?" Justice asked as Applejack thought for a little while before answering.

"Nah! We apples pretty much keep the homestead up. If something needs to be repaired, I get right on it." Applejack explains as Justice rubs his chin with his hand a few times.

"If that the case Miss Applejack. Have you been anywhere that is disused or disrepair that gets wet?" Justice asks as Applejack blink with surprise with the question from Justice.

"Nah, again, Mr. Justice. Since the return of Apple Bloom, I have been here at the homestead all this time." Applejack answers honestly as her answer just eliminate another possible scenario for the investigation.

"Hmmm, is there any place around here that get a lot of rain or is wet with structures?" Justice asked as Applejack thought once again.

"Not around here, Mr. Justice. I can't think of any place like that." Applejack answered as Justice feels that Applejack is not telling him the whole story, but he doesn't want to push his luck with her.

"Thank you for all your help, Miss Applejack. I hope to return under better circumstances to Sweet Apple Acres. You, Miss Applejack seem to be an honest mare I would love to start a long friendship with." Justice said honestly as Applejack started to chew on her lip as the feeling was mutual.

"You are welcome, Mr. Justice. It might be a pleasure to meet you too. You will always be welcomed here at Sweet Apple Acres. I will greatly enjoy allowing you to get to know this hard-working earth pony mare for a possible long term friendship." Applejack said politely, shaking his hand as she watches him head off back to town.

Applejack was not lying; there was no place like what Justice was looking for around Ponyville. But southeast of Ponyville was Hayseed Junction. It matches the criteria of someplace wet with structures. So Applejack hopped into her old truck and drove down to Hayseed Junction. Using the business contacts she made in Hayseed Junction, she learned from the Cajun ponies' residence that a unicorn mare that out of place in this swampy area of Equestria. Rented a Cajun cottage deep and far from town in the swamp.

Quickly Applejack went in search of the shack and found it before she could head back to Hayseed Junction to get some help; she was struck on the back of her head and knocked unconscious. She came to a few moments later and found herself magically bound to a wooden chair inside the single room shack. She knew it would be useless to struggle as the magic bindings are just as strong as the strongest rope she uses. Applejack's face glazed with shock approach; here was the unicorn mare that she had to let go, so she would give back Apple Bloom.

"I don't know how you found my hideout in this Hayseed Swamp, Miss Applejack? But it doesn't matter anyway. You will soon be telling me everything I want to know?" The unicorn kidnapper said, threatening as she pulled a second chair over in front of Miss Applejack.

The kidnapper stretched Applejack's legs out and cast a second holding spell on them. Binding them to the other chair, her feet protruded through the natural holes in the chair designed backing.

"Miss Kidnapper what make you thinks I'll tail you anything?" Applejack said in sarcastic southern accent as the unicorn mare began to untie Applejack's work boots.

"You see Miss Applejack, I watch you for months before I even kidnap your little sister. So I know your little secret." The unicorn mare said as she pulled off Applejack's work boots, exposing her yellow-orange bare feet with green, yellow nail polish. She intentionally brushed her nails against Applejack's toes, and she unleashed a small squeak and started to squirm.

"I know you have ticklish feet, Miss Applejack." The unicorn mare said as she runs her fingers across the soles of both her feet, Applejack's squeak was much louder this time. She lost it went she started to tickle her between all her toes.

"Pleeeheeaseee stop tickling between my toes. I can't take it. I'll talk." Applejack screamed with laughter as the unicorn mare stop tickling between her toes.

"I must say for a tough farm girl like you, Miss Applejack. I would never imagine your feet were that sensitive. I guess all those super-secret trips to the local Day spa in ponyville that you do regularly is paying off for me." The unicorn mare commented as she can tell by just looking at Applejack's bare feet. That they are very soft and supple the result of the lotion and massage cream, she rubs on her feet in her bedroom in secret at Sweet Apple Acres ever day.

"(Chuckles) I work all morning in the fields and kick trees to pay the bills. The work is rewarding, but it hard on my feet. But first and foremost, I am a mare. A tough farm girl I might be. But even a farm girl likes having her hard-working tootsies pampered once in a while. What of it, Miss Kidnapper?" Applejack said brazenly as Applejack composed herself.

"Oh, there nothing wrong with that, Miss Applejack. I too indulged in that treatment went I was living in Canterlot. It was one of the few guilty pleasures I partake in." Unicorn mare said as she crouches down in front of Applejack's bare soles, and she wiggled her toes nervously.

"So Miss Ticklish Applejack, how did you find my hideout?" The unicorn mare asked as she slowly drags a single finger from Applejack's toes straight down to her heel over the middle of her right foot. This caused Applejack to curl her toes and unleashed forced laughter as unicorn mare finger went back up towards her toes and back down again several times.

"I-it was not me who found your hideout. It was the Royal Investigator sent by the Princess to look into your kidnapping scheme. I just put two and two together; it led me to Hayseed Junctions." Applejack screamed with laughter as the unicorn mare ran her fingers across the bottom of her feet; this allowed more forced laughter out of her.

"Did this Royal Investigator have a name, Miss Ticklish Applejack?" The Unicorn mare inquiry as she insert several magically created feathers between all of Applejack's toes.

This caused Applejack to twitch, as she splayed and curled her toes as each feather was slotted in place. The unicorn mare simply snapped her fingers, setting off the spell. Applejack went wild with laughter, her feet shake as her toes squirmed and wiggled as each feather sawed in between her toes.

"Justice Silverlight!" Applejack screams through her laughter as she passes out from the tickle torture she just endured at the hands of the unicorn mare kidnapper. The blood drains from unicorn mare's face upon hearing the name that was spoken.

"Was the Princess with him?" the unicorn mare inquiry terrified as she grabs Applejack by the collars of her work shirt and roughly shook her.

But to no avail, Applejack was too far gone, totally unconscious but breathing steadily. Knowing she will get no answers from her ticklish guest anymore, the unicorn mare releases the grip on Applejack's work shirt and pushes her back up. Slowly her moderate sap green eyes open as she felt someone tapping a hand against her cheek. Slowly her vision clears, she finds herself sitting in the driver seat of her old truck. As Royal Investigator Justice Silverlight looks her over for any kind of injuries, went none are found. Justice asks her the most obvious thing about her.

"Miss Applejack, do you routinely drive this vehicle barefooted, or is there some other reason I don't know?" Justice asks to point down toward the naked yellow-orange feet with green, yellow nail polish sitting on the floor of the truck.

Applejack's face glazed with shock; she is indeed wearing no shoes on her feet. The sight of her naked yellow-orange feet sparks a memory in Applejack's head. She quickly leaps out of her old truck and insists that Justice follow her. A sudden spurt of adrenaline courses through Applejack's veins as she sinks to her knees the Cajun cottage she was tickle torture in is burning to the ground. Quickly Justice gestures several Cajun ponies to put out the fire before the whole swamp goes-up in flames.

Its sometime later back Applejack sits on the tailgate door of her old truck. Why letting Justice examine her soft and supple feet for any clue to back-up her account of what happened.

"Justice! Stop fondling Miss Applejack's feet right this instant! You may only fondle my feet! You belong to me!" Celestia shouts with some jealousy in her voice as it catches Applejack by surprise.

"I don't know, Princess why you are yelling, I told Mr. Justice to check my feet to see if he can find a clue stuck on my foot and nothing else." Applejack explains as Celestia's mouth crimps in annoyance.

"That not the point, Miss Applejack. He is promised to me. This way." Celestia comments showing Applejack the gold engagement ring on her finger. After seeing the engagement ring on Celestia's finger.

Applejack takes Justice side to talk with him in private, and alone this cause Celestia to begin to grind her teeth together. Applejack's pitter-patters over to her old truck and start it up to head back to ponyville. Celestia watches as Applejack leaves, Justice walks up to her and grabs her left hand. He pulls the engagement ring off her fourth finger and she begins to whimper watching Justice stick her ring into his jacket pocket.

"Justice! Please! Give me back my engagement ring! I am sorry!" Celestia said embarrassed feeling totally self-conscious with her naked fourth finger of her left hand.

"If you want your engagement ring back Celestia, you have to earn it. I will not give it to a jealous mare." Justice said sharply as Celestia's ears drooped down on top her head and she shook her head.

"All right Justice, what must I do to earn my engagement ring back from you?" Celestia asked as Justice quickly jots down a cell phone number and floated it over to Celestia.

"You should know who cell phone number that is," Justice said as Celestia look at the cell phone number on the paper. Her eyes blink with surprise; the number belongs to her adoptive niece, Cadence. She instantly knows what Justice wants her to do, and she's willing to do it.

"I understand, Justice; I will contact her and talk out my feeling with her. Do you still love me?" Celestia queries as Justice looks over his shoulder at Celestia.

"It hard to tell at this moment, Celestia. But if you look at your feet, that should ease some of that pain in your heart." Justice said as he climbs into his rented car and drives back to ponyville.

"Huh?" Celestia exclaimed as she looks at her feet and discovered on the second toe of her right foot was her gold toe ring that Justice took from her went he left Canterlot to investigate the kidnapping in Ponyville for her.

"Hehehe, he still loves me. Because of that, I'll try doubly as hard to keep my jealousy in check. No matter what, I will earn back my engagement ring and once again wear it proudly and really keep my promises to marry him and bear the name Ms Celestia Silverlight." Celestia said excitedly as she prances around before flying back to Canterlot to keep her promise to talk to Cadence about her feeling for Justice.

Chapter 7 The reveal

~Outskirts of Ponyville~

After chasing Rainbow Dash around ponyville for several hours, Shimmer used a rebounding spell to finally corral the fleeting pegasi mare. The spell causes a magical manacle to form on Rainbow Dash's ankle attached to a long silver chain. At the right moment, Shimmer using her godly Celestial Alicorn strength to yanks the pegasi mare out of the air. As she comes crashing down to the ground, she none too happy about it.

Even less so went she notices the manacle latched to her ankle attached to the chain begin held by the Alicorn size unicorn mare. The moment Shimmer senses that Rainbow Dash was going to retake flight, she yanked her toward her. She held the sulking pegasi mare upside down by the silver chain, wasting no time.

"Would you happen to be ticklish, Miss Rainbow Dash?" Shimmer asked with a knowing smile on her snout.

Rainbow Dash's moderate cerise eyes widen with alarm as the subtle threat from the unicorn mare quickly sunk in. It one of her best kept secrets and most embarrassing one; she is unbearably and hopelessly ticklish, especially on her feet.

"Eek! What would you like to talk about your ladyship?" Rainbow Dash said more compliant as she flies up to get a cloud to sits on and talk with Shimmer.

"The kidnapping of your friend." Shimmer said as Rainbow Dash was more than happy to tell her side of the story. Between complaining that she would have the unicorn mare if Scootaloo was not on the other side of Ponyville.

"I would have that unicorn! If Scootaloo was not on the other side of ponyville! I would have her! Do you hear me? I would have had her!" Rainbow Dash said, complaining as shimmer whistle loudly, interrupting Rainbow Dash complaining about the situation.

"What is your element, Miss Rainbow Dash?" Shimmer inquiry as Rainbow Dash had a puzzled look on her face about the question.

"Huh? My Element? Loyalty, of course! Why do you want to know about that, your ladyship?" Rainbow Dash Inquiry scratching her head with her hand.

"To help my son, Miss Rainbow Dash. Who knows this information might be vital? It best to add to the case file." Shimmer explains as Rainbow Dash shook her head.

"Be my guest, your ladyship. If you don't mine, I have to get back to work now. See you around your ladyship." Rainbow Dash said politely as she takes off again into the sky to get back to work.

"Why did you ask Rainbow about her element, your ladyship?" Twilight inquiry as two head back into town together.

"Why you were chasing around Miss Rainbow Dash, your highness. Justice phones me and informs me that Miss Applejack suspects that the unicorn mare kidnapper was using her element against her to make sure that she paid up." Shimmer explains as Twilight breathes catches in her throat.

"Their element against them," Twilight said in a little voice in dismay as Shimmer's sensitive hearing quickly picked up on it, not want to reveal her real species. Shimmer promptly thought of something.

"Do any of those books in your huge castle library mention anything about elements, your highness?" Shimmer inquiry as Twilight's eyes blinks with incredulity.

"I have not gone through all of them yet. So I can't say for sure, your ladyship." Twilight quickly answer as she spread her wings and flies back to the Castle of Friendship. With that Shimmer pulls her cell phone out of her purse and dials a number, it rings once and answers soon after.

"Hello, baby, it your mother." Shimmer said

"Hello mother, what is up?" Justice said

"I suspect that Princess Twilight Sparkle knows more then she is telling us about the elements." Shimmer explains

"I see mother, what did you learn?" Justice asked

"Absolutely nothing, baby. She flew off before I could question her further. She was heading to her castle." Shimmer explains

"I see mother, did your senses tell you anything that might help me, interview her, or interrogate her?" Justice asks

"Maybe you should go in as a friend first, to interview her. She seems very concerned about the elements being used against Miss Applejack and Miss Rainbow Dash. You might be able to get her to talk more freely with you if you go in as a friend. Plus, I sensed you are trying to form a long term friendship with her, that the best way." Shimmer explains

"Indeed, I am mother. If I am planning to wed Celestia one day. It best to try and befriend her close relationships. I have already formed a bond with Princess Luna and Princess Cadence. They no one closer to Celestia then Princess Twilight." Justice explains

"Good plan, baby. Oh, by the way, I am going to wormhole back to Canterlot. After you're earlier phone call. Your grandmother called me the House of Lords has a quick vote this evening that could negatively impact Canterlot as a whole. So I must shower and change into my formal gown and head over to House of Lords. To rally our allies to stop it, I'll be out of contact for several hours till maybe sometime tomorrow morning. Good luck, baby." Shimmer said as she's wormhole back to Canterlot and hangs up the phone.

17:00 hrs Castle of Friendship, Friendship Kingdom, Capital City of Ponyville, Private office of Princess Twilight Sparkle.

The private office in the Castle of Friendship of Princess Twilight Sparkle is an average size room with a large bay window situated behind her solid oak desk. The walls are painted in the blue-gray color scheme to give a calming effect. On the right side of the room was a small sitting area consisting of a cloudy blue colored sofa with two matching armchairs. In the center of the seating area sitting on a large gray area rug, was a cherry wood finished oval coffee table. This area is used for a private meeting with Princess Twilight. On the left side of the room are two small rows of a cherry wood finished bookcase, full of numerous books of various subjects. A solid oak double-door is the only entrance in or out of this room.

Standing with her back toward the double-door into the office, looking out the bay window was Princess Twilight Sparkle, her purple feathered bird wings folded and unfolded on her back periodically. She was attired in red slightly below the knee length dress on her average-sized purple bare feet with orange, red nail polish were a pair of black open-toed ankle strap pumps. Her gold tiara sat on her head behind her horn. Since she was told that the unicorn mare kidnapper might have been targeting her friend elements.

Considerable concern has plagued Princess Twilight Sparkle's worried mind over the safety of her friends and friendship assembly. Since receiving and then losing the Elements of Harmony, Twilight and her friends have faced many frightening dangers to protect the homeland from evil. But this current threat is at a whole new level, this evil is not trying to take over their home or steal the magic of Equestrian Royalty. This evil is doing it for nothing more than money, robbing them of their sense of safety.

~There a knock on her office door~

"Come in!" Twilight called as the double door into her office are opened by Royal Investigator Justice Silverlight, he walks into the room with confident steps. A stark contrast to hesitant steps of Princess Twilight Sparkle. The two ponies meet in the center of her office in front of the seating area.

"How may I help you, Lord Silverlight?" Twilight inquiry obligated waiting for Lord Silverlight to give her a snow job before getting to his real point what she known about her friends and their elements. But what happens next Twilight was so unprepared for and helped to form a lasting friendship between Twilight and Justice that lasted for years.

"I know you have critical information about these Elements things. I am not going to waste time beating around the bush, your highness. My plan is to bind you, take those shoes off your feet, and tickle you till you tell me everything you know. I have a feeling that the method will gain me the most desired results from you." Justice said boldly as Twilight gape in stunned silence no one has ever gone straight to a threat toward her.

"How dare you, Lord Silverlight! Threaten a Princess of Equestria! How dare you tell a Princess you are going to bind her and invade her personal space! Then tell her you will forcefully remove her shoes from her feet and tickle her till she talks! I will throw you in the castle dungeon, Lord Silverlight!" Twilight said testily as the threat of being thrown in the dungeon has no effect on him.

"I don't fear the dungeon, your highness! It will not stop me from getting the information out of you, your highness! It your choice your highness will it be willingly or unwillingly. It doesn't matter to me!" Justice said coldly as he moved toward the purple Alicorn mare with real intent, causing her to stare with fascinated horror of someone defying her royal command.

"Lord Silverlight stop! All right, I will talk willingly. Let sits down in the sitting area to talk." Twilight said, surrendering as the two sits down on the sofa.

"Lord?" Twilight said as Justice raised his hand to stop her.

"Justice will be fine, your highness," Justice said, correcting as Twilight smiled.

"All right, Justice, So just call me Twilight." Twilight said friendly as she relaxed.

"Before I start talking about the elements. I have something to confess to you, Justice." Twilight said truthfully as Justice's eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

"Targeting my feet, Justice would have got you the desired affects you wanted that for sure. Because I am unbearably ticklish on my feet, in fact, I keep from a certain light purple dragon assistant that works for me. If he should find out that embarrassing fact about me unlimited practical Jokes targeting my feet would ensure. So please, Justice keeps my embarrassing secret to yourself." Twilight asked, urging as Justice had a gracious smile on his snout and nodded his head.

Justice watches as an involuntary smile forms on the snout of this young purple Alicorn mare. A few moments later, the newest Equestrian Royalty reaches down to her shoes on her feet. With her hand, she nimbly and comfortably begins unbuckling the bands from her shoes and removes them from her feet. As Twilight draws her feet up onto the sofa from his position, Justice can tell that Twilight's feet are average size for a mare her age.

Twilight's feet are very well taking care of with regular pedicures that keep them soft and supple. The orange, red nail polish on her nails complements her purple-colored feet perfectly. Twilight couldn't help but polite laugh as she notices Justice watching her put her bare feet up onto the sofa. She might be the newest Alicorn Princess in Equestria. Still, she quickly learned that some ponies admire the feet of the Alicorn Princesses for their uniqueness.

"Shall we begin, Justice?" Twilight said politely as she leaves her bare feet partially exposed on the sofa. With that Justice thought this will not be your typical interrogation or interview with this purple Alicorn mare. This was going to be a conversation between two friends that trust each other.

"First question Twilight, What are these elements?" Justice inquiry as he brings out his notebook so he could have a detailed record of Twilight statements.

"You should be familiar with the legend of the mare on the moon, better known as Princess Luna (Justice shake his head). The elements are six mystical jewels that my friends and I used to heal Princess Luna from being Nightmare moon. Each one of my friends is a holder of one of those gems." Twilight explains playing with her bare toes allowing Justice to finish writing down his notes in his book.

"The six elements are Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Loyalty, Magic," Twilight explains as she stretching her legs out in front of her on the sofa within reach of Justice's hands crossing her ankles over each other.

"I have question for you Justice." Twilight inquiry as Justice gestures towards Twilight's feet in front of him. She kindly nodded her head 'yes' allowing Justice to pick up her foot so he could confirm his earlier hypothesis about her feet.

"Go ahead Twilight, ask me your question. So far you have been totally honest with me. I will do the same for you." Justice said as he carefully picks her foot up to thoroughly examine her foot to confirm his hypothesis about it.

"Justice do you really think the unicorn mare kidnapper use my friends elements against them?" Twilight asked a bit worried.

"That is most likely Twilight what the unicorn mare kidnapper did." Justice answers.

Justice's held an average size mare's purple colored foot in his hand, a closer examination of Twilight's foot revealed that her pedicure was even more remarkable then he first thought. He also pick-up the slight scent of lavender oil rubbed onto her foot and felt lotion rub about her foot making it more supple to the touch. He carefully set her foot back on top of her ankle again.

Justices' hands are cover with lavender oil and lotion from handing Twilight's well-taking care of foot. Twilights couldn't help but chuckle at Justice what does he expected went you handled the barefoot of an Alicorn Princess that must look her best all way down to her feet. Feeling sorry for him, she floated a make-up removing cloth out of one of the drawers in her desk and floated it over to him to clean the stuff off his hands. He thanks Twilight for the make-up removing cloth; she floats to him, and she smiles at him.

"But Justice, that brings up another question. How did the Kidnapper know what my friends' elements are? It not like we advertise the elements to every pony? The elements are sort of inside us." Twilight comments as Justice's plays with her average length toes just because they are just there.

"The Kidnapper might have had your friends under surveillance for some time, Twilight. Which is not unheard of because she is a unicorn?" Justice comments as he continues to play with her toes.

"You are talking about the unicorn spell called surveying. This spell allows the user to watch with unseen eyes anyone they have laid their eyes on once." Twilight comments as Justice stand up and walk over to the bay window to look outside.

The sudden rhythmic pap-pops of mare's bare feet on finish wooden floor of Twilight's office stops next to Justice at the bay window. Standing next to him was Twilight like him; her face showed distressed. Twilight knows with the unicorn spell surveying the Kidnapper could watch any of her friends with ease as her and her friendship assembly are always in public.

"I must say this one hay of a way to begin a friendship, Justice." Twilight comments as Justice chuckle with the statement from Twilight.

"That for sure Twilight, But it doesn't hurt to have another Alicorn Princess at my side. Especially a young one who trusts me so much to remain standing barefooted next to me, knowing I would bind her and tickle her to make her talk." Justice comment joking as Twilight unleashes great gales of laughter for a few moments.

"It not like I fully trust you because my shoes are all the way over in the sitting area, and I do want to go get them." Twilight comment joking as smile forms on Justice's snout, before being replaced with a stern look.

"Out of the remaining Element holders, Twilight. Who do you think the Kidnapper would target next?" Justice posed the question to his new friend Princess Twilight.

"That easy, Justice, she would either target me because of my little dragon assistant or my friend Rarity. She has a sister named Sweetie Belle," Twilight said, knowing as Justice asks her to call Rarity. Ask her to keep a close eye on her little sister Sweetie Belle till he can make it in the morning.

Chapter 8 The worried

2000 hrs Castle of Friendship, Friendship kingdom, Capital city of Ponyville, Private living area, the Guest room across from dragon Spike permanent room, Police stakeout to prevent a kidnapping.

Justice asked Princess Twilight to reposition her castle security forces in a specific pattern; this strategy would force the kidnapper to pass right in front of the guest room that he and Twilight are using as a stakeout position.

'It a little bit after 2000 hrs, the suspect has not showed up, yet.' Justice thought annoyed as he walked back over to the bed and sat on the floor beside the bed. Sitting on the bed was Princess Twilight, still wearing the red slightly below knee-length dress from before. But dangling over the edge were her legs and feet, on her average-sized bare feet were a pair of flip-flops that she ran to her room to get before the stakeout began.

"Is this going to work, Justice? I don't like to put my little dragon in danger. I raised him since he was an egg with the help of the Princess. So I am kind of his mother. Like any mother, I want to keep my colt safe." Twilight said frightened as Justice stroked the top of Twilight's foot with his hand trying to alleviate some of her fear.

"I put tripwire magic all over the place; it will warn us if the kidnapper enters the Castle of Friendship or get any were close to your little dragon's room. Plus, I would think something is wrong with you, Twilight, if you didn't worry about your little dragon." Justice said reassuringly as he slowly slid his hand down her forefoot, accidentally knocking her flip-flop off her foot.

"Tee-hee, I don't know why I feel so safe around you, Justice. But hearing your words calm all my fears. Plus, I know you intentionally knock my flip-flop off my foot with your hand." Twilight said, knowing as brilliant light raspberry-colored magic bubble form around the flip-flop, and she floated it back on her foot.

"I believe we are going to have a very long friendship, Justice. So I am going to make you wait to find out just how ticklish my feet are. Before that, it my turn to stand watch and let you take a quick catnap. Before you stand watch." Twilight said as she intentionally bends her toes, exposing the sole of her foot, causing Justice to chuckle as he closes his eyes to take a quick catnap.

Meanwhile, in the moonlit Castle of Friendship garden, a unicorn mare attired in form-fitting black ninja outfit moves with purpose and stealthily through the garden her midnight black mane and tail blends perfectly in with her outfit. To add more to her stealthiness, she traverses the soft garden soil upon a pair of size nine-light blue bare feet.

She easily evades the roaming castle security forces patrolling the garden with well-timed and precise unicorn teleporting maneuvers know as winking. At the threshold of the main entrance into Castle of Friendship that lay before her, she trips one of Justice's tripwire traps setting off an alarm that only Justice can hear. His eyes open, and he makes his way over to Twilight.

"The kidnapper is here; she just enters your castle Twilight." Justice comments as Twilight is a bit confused.

Justice gently touches Twilight's ears on top of her head with his hand, and Twilight blinks with surprise. A moment later, she can hear the very soft buzz as the kidnapper set off the tripwire traps Justice's set up about her castle.

"Twilight, may I take your flip-flops off your feet (A shocked look appears on her face). If we have to pursue this kidnapper, it will be easier for you to chase her in your bare feet." Justice explains as she agrees to let Justice remove her flip-flops; within seconds, Twilight is once again in her average size bare feet.

Time seems to move at a much slower pace as the kidnapper set off tripwire trap after the tripwire trap slowly makes her way to the private living area of the Castle of Friendship. Each alarm causes Twilight's anxiety to begin to build up; fearing that the planned Justice has in place to keep her little dragon safe is going to fail. The moment the second mare set foot on the landing, Twilight throw open the door, surprising Justice knock him on his butt. Justice shakes his head a few times to bring himself back to his senses.

With him fully aware, he gets to his feet and runs to the door of the room. On the landing, Justice watches as Twilight's fear response is controlling her fighting response. Each blow she throws is powerful, but they're no real intent behind it. Even though each furious assault has put the other mare on the defense, she calm, waiting for the right moment to strike.

The second Twilight missteps the other mare strike slamming Twilight against a solid wooden door in the hallway knock her unconscious. Quickly Justice takes a stunning shot striking the other mare in the upper leg. The other mare quickly turns toward the direction of the shot her face flushes with indignation went she spots the dark blue stallion with the crimson red mane standing in the doorway of the guest room with his fingers in a gun shape pointed at her.

The other mare rips the ninja mask off her head, revealing the face of beautiful light blue unicorn mare morph with a mane of midnight black hair. Justice's eyes transfixed with horror as he quickly ducks back into the room.

"Oh, I see Lord Silverlight; you still remember how my gem ability works." The unicorn mare said with menacing laughter.

"How can I forget Gem Cutter, you turn my partner Emerald Luster into a gem statue and shattered it, killing her instantly. But I thought you were dead!" Justice said hotly as Gem Cutter duck into a nearby room and readies her finger gun. To use her gem statue ability it takes her several hours to prepare the spell, it also cancels out her winking ability.

"No thanks to you, Royal Investigator, and that interfering Princess!" Gem Cutter said ruthlessly as she comes out of the room and fires few magical energy bolts toward Justice, impacting the wall gouging it.

"You are not welcome, Gem Cutter. But now I can take you in for the attempted murder of Princess Celestia and the assault of her Princess' Protector!" Justice said gruffly as he came out of the room and fires few magical energy bolts toward Gem Cutter, shattering a nearby vase and gouging the wall.

"That poison-tipped dagger would have finished off that Alicorn Princess, instantly. But no, you had to get in the way Lord Silverlight, was it painful?" Gem Cutter inquiry as the two unicorns continue to exchange magical energy bolts.

~several years earlier the day after the attempted assassination of Princess Celestia~

In the hospital rooms of Justice Silverlight at Canterlot City hospital, a distressed Princess Celestia holds an endless vigil hoping and praying that her lover Justice pulls through the poison-tipped dagger intended for her was magically created which means there no antidote to the poison.

"You stupid stallion! Why did you do it? Celestia helps you; if you pull through for the next one thousand years, my feet will not see the inside of my platform sandals. Because you will be massaging them as punishment to make me worry about you!" Celestia said bitterly as she slowly slid down the wall till she was sitting on the floor and broke into tears. Celestia knows it a hollow threat because if he pulls through, she will forgive him.

~Back to the present~

"It took me nearly two months for my body to finally push out that infernal poison you created, Gem Cutter! As I open my eyes, I found Celestia with her head on my chest! She hadn't slept for several weeks!" Justice said hotly as he takes several shots taking out chunks of marble from the balustrade behind Gem Cutter.

"That not my fault! I didn't tell that Princess Mare to stay at your bedside while you we're fighting off the poison!" Gem Cutter said frigidly as she hears the Castle Security Force beginning to arrive at the main entrance of the castle.

Thinking quickly, Gem Cutter made a dead run toward a glass window and dive through it. Through the broken window, Justice watches a ninja hang glider glides over the rooftops of the Ponyville cottages before disappearing into the distance. As Justice swallows a lump in his throat, he begins to shudder with the kidnapper being the wanted fugitive Gem Cutter Night. The one most wanted fugitive he wishes was dead.

O800 hrs Justice Silverlight rental house, Friendship kingdom, Capital city of Ponyville

The rental house in ponyville is standard timber-framed home with a thatched roof; on four walls along the outside are medium-sized windows. A single double-door on the front of the structure leads into a nice sized living room with a large stone fireplace. In front of the massive stone fireplace was a large oval table sitting at the table was distressed Royal Investigator Justice Silverlight. Sitting across from him at the table was a gorgeous looking light pink alicorn mare with moderate violet, moderate rose, and pale gold streaks mane and tail. Her graceful and curvy 5ft 9in equine figures were encased in the light blue top of the knee-length dress, and on light pink slender bare feet were finely made gold gladiator sandals. A gold tiara sat on her head behind her horn. This Alicorn mare was Princess Cadence Sparkle, the adoptive niece of Princess Celestia and ruler of the Crystal Empire in the north.

After several cell phone calls to Justice's personal cell phone number that remained unanswered, Princess Celestia got worried about her boyfriend Justice. It was not like him to not return her phone calls to her. Unable to break away from her busy court week in Canterlot to go check on him, she remembers that Cadence was heading to the Friendship Kingdom on Royal business with her sister-in-law Princess Twilight Sparkle.

In route to the Friendship Kingdom, Celestia phoned Cadence and asked her to check up on Justice for her. Cadence told Celestia she was going to do it anyway because Justice left her incoherent voice message on her cell phone late last night talking about a pony name Gem Cutter Night. Upon hearing the name Gem Cutter Night, Celestia broke down in tears and urged Cadence to quickly conclude her royal business with Princess Twilight and get to Justice before it was too late.

After Celestia composed herself, she relayed the whole history between herself, Justice, and Gem Cutter Night to Cadence. As she listens to her adoptive aunt's story, Cadence's stomach contracted to a tight ball, and she hoped that her sister-in-law Princess Twilight will allow her to finish their business at a later date. Upon arrive at the Ponyville train station Cadence didn't waste time and told Twilight that they must finish their royal business at a later date; she has something vital to do right now.

She quickly explains that she had to find Royal Investigator Justice Silverlight because of some pony named Gem Cutter Night. Twilight immediately told her was his rental house was located and said to her that went he left her castle late last night. She's sensed something very off about him, but since she just met him less than a week ago. She didn't say anything about it. Cadence thank her sister-in-law and spread her wings, she flew straight to the rental house.

"Justice, please talk to me, you know I am here to help you and no pony else," Cadence said with a caring and compassionate voice as she held Justice's hands in hers.

"Aunt Celestia told me the whole story. I know Gem Cutter killed your first partner by turning her into a gem statue and shattered it in front of you. Before that, a poison-tipped dagger intended for Aunt Celestia was sunk into your flesh. It was two agonizing months for Aunt Celestia as you scream in unrelenting pain as the magic poison worked its way through your body, and she could do nothing to help." Cadence said her voice cracking as dark shadows form around her eyes.

"No love should ever be sad or painful for anyone," Justice comments as he hates seeing the embodiment of love so depressed because of him.

He slowly rose to his feet and walk around the table; he gently brought Cadence to her feet and hugs her. A moment later, she extended her two pink feathery wings and wraps them around him. In this very moment, a strong bond formed between Justice Silverlight and the Princess of Love Cadence Sparkle that would last for many years.

"I am sorry, Cadence. It was the sight of that mare Gem Cutter Night that cause all this." Justice said as his cell phone rings, he answers it and briefly speaks to the pony on the other end of the line.

"Was that Aunt Celestia? Justice?" Cadence inquiry as Justice finishing talking on his cell phone and set it on the table next to him.

"How did you know, Cadence?" Justice inquiry as Cadence chuckles softly.

A moment later, she reaches behind her calf and unsnaps a fastener releasing upper straps on her sandal below her knee. She follows that up by unsnapping a second fastener behind her other calf. Releasing the additional upper straps as the two straps slide down her smooth legs, they rest on top her feet. She reaches down toward her heels and unzips the zipper with that done she pulls her sandals off. With the sandals removed it revealing a pair of very elegant and slender looking light pink bare feet with brilliant gold nail polish on all her toenails.

"On my private royal train from the Crystal Empire. I say I would call Auntie Celestia went I finished talking to you, Justice. In my rush to get here, I left my purse on the train with my cell phone." Cadence explains as she stands up from the table.

Her bare feet pip plop across the finished wooden floor of the living room and increase in intensity as she walks across the tile floor of the kitchen toward the refrigerator. She opens the doors on the fridge on the top shelf were several bottles of the best soft apple cider from Equestria; she set one of the bottles on top of the drain board. Before she begins to open and closes cupboard doors in the kitchen, look for two drinking glasses went, she finds them. She grabs two glasses and returns to the living room with the items. She carefully sets glasses on the table, one in front of Justice and the other one in front of her. She pops the cork on the bottle and pours them a drink.

"Auntie Celestia didn't go into details went she told me the story of Gem Cutter Night. Can you fill in some of the detail, Justice?" Cadence inquiry as she rests her bare feet on a nearby chair in full view of Justice.

"All right Cadence what would like to know?" Justice asked as he balanced precariously on the two back legs of the wooden chair he was sitting on.

"First off how did you get involved with that pony Gem Cutter Night?" Cadence asked as she crossed her ankles over each other before taking a sip of her soft apple cider from her glass.

"Not by choice, Cadence. It was a favor for your Aunt Celestia went I was the Royal Investigator for her." Justice said as he takes a sip from his soft apple cider from his glass.

"A favor! For Auntie Celestia! Please begin explaining Justice?" Cadence insists as she whirls the soft apple cider in her glass a few times as Justice shook his head and spins his apple cider in his glass.

Chapter 9 The Past

~It four years earlier~

In the blackout bedroom of the private living area of the Grand Royal Palace sitting on her bed was Princess Celestia. She was attired in a fuchsia-colored top of the knee-length dress. Her long legs were stretched out on the bed in front of her; on her, relatively large white bare feet were black raffia retro platform sandals. All the nails of both her feet and hands were painted with hot pink nail polish. After a very successful Royal Court Session in which she accomplished all the goals, she set for herself.

Princess Celestia decided to let her mane down and have some fun to celebrate her success. The only pony she would allow to join in on her fun would be her Princess' Protector Justice Silverlight and her secret boyfriend. As the two left the Grand throne room of the Palace, Celestia took Justice aside and ask him to play their version of hide and seek with her. Justice kissed his girlfriend on her lips and said, 'sure.'

Their version of hide and seek is very different from the version that the fillies and colts play throughout Equestria. In their version, Celestia would choose one room in the whole palace to hide as Justice would seek. The difference was that the room was completely dark, and she couldn't move from the place she picked to hide. He couldn't use any unicorn light spell to find her.

He must feel around for was Celestia was hiding; this condition has led to some comedic situation between them as Justice would accidentally grope. Latch on to his girlfriend supple large breasts. After few awkward blinks of her light magenta eyes, she would kiss him and said 'you found me.'

~Back in Celestia's bedroom~

In the room, Princess Celestia's large white-feathered bird wings lightly fluttered on her back in anticipation of being found soon. She can hear the heavy footfalls of her Princess' Protector getting closer and closer to her position on her bed. The sudden jolt at the foot of her bed and few choice expletives from Justice went he bangs his shins on the bed frame of her bed, alerted Celestia that Justice was nearby. But in the pitch blackness of her bedroom, Celestia couldn't anticipate which direction Justice would appear from to end the game. Her heart pounded in her chest as her breath catches in her throat, waiting for Justice to appear.

"Got you, Celestia," Justice exclaims as Celestia's spiral horn glowed in her very light gold magic aura opening all closed blackout curtains in the room bathing her grand sized beige-colored bedroom in the bright mid-day sun. Holding onto her perfectly shaped white arm was Justice. She playfully chuckled as Justice released her arm.

"You got me and now your prize, Justice," Celestia said very lovingly as she placed her large hands on either side of Justice's face and planted a loving kiss on his lips.

She sighs contently as she lay down on her bed, resting her head on one of her many soft pillows as Justice sat down on the edge of her bed. He started to caress her cheek with the back of his hand a few times before look down toward her black raffle retro platform sandals still on her perfectly shaped pristine white feet. She flushed a knowing smile toward Justice.

"I am in such a good mood, Justice. My feet are fair game. Go ahead, take my platforms off, and release my feet. I will not mine, and after that, I have a favor to ask my Royal investigator." Celestia said with contentment as Justice moved down toward her feet.

Justice knew his girlfriend Celestia was' so contented at that very moment as she politely lifted her foot up one at a time to allow him to easily slide the retro platform sandals off her feet and drop them on the floor at the foot of her bed. She smiled at Justice and gestured with her head telling him to go ahead.

Justice gently set his girlfriend's foot on his lap; this was the first time Celestia allowed him to have free access to her sensitive foot. Sitting on his lap was a soft and supple perfectly shaped pristine fairly large bare white foot. Every inch of her reasonably large foot was perfect in shape, her heel was perfectly round. The deep set arches of her foot had a graceful and ideal curve that led into her perfectly shaped balls on her foot.

Even the five toes of her foot were the perfect length for her size of her foot. With that, Justice set his girlfriend's foot back on her bed before moving back up to her head. Before he asks her about the favor, she wants him to do for her. He kisses her on her lips to thank her for allowing him to get a good look at her foot.

"What is the favor you want me to do for you, Celestia?" Justice asks, brushing a strand of her blond mane hair out of her face with the back of his hand.

"This favor must be done through unofficial channels, my dear Justice. This favor can't be traced back to me until it is concluded. My nobles shouldn't know about this favor at all." Celestia said concerned as Justice scratched his chin with his hand.

"For an unofficial channel favor. You should be laughing hysterically, my dear Princess." Justice comment as Celestia recoil with horror with the price she must pay to keep this favor unofficial.

"It only fair, Justice. So I will pay that price to keep it unofficial." Celestia said, agreeing to the terms that Justice has for this favor for her and shakes his hand.

"With the payment terms agreed on, my gorgeous equine goddess. Now fill me in, Celestia." Justice said as Celestia's spiral horn glow once again in the very light gold magic aura.

Floating through the air in a very light gold magic bubble from off her dresser was a large, expensive square jewelry box. She carefully lands the jewelry box on her bed and opens it by touch the lock with her finger. Inside the box were individual compartments containing custom made pieces of jewelry. With Justice's expert appraising eyes, he can tell that every piece of jewelry inside Celestia's jewelry box is the real McCoy. They were no costume jewelry anywhere in the box. She pulls out four custom made pieces of jewelry and sets them down on the bed. Before closing the box and float it back onto her dresser.

"As you know, Justice I collect custom made pieces of jewelry from around Equestria, as you can testify to because you are normally my companion, that goes shopping with me for the pieces," Celestia explains sitting on her feet as she smiles at Justice know he the only stallion that would travel all over place with her to search for the right pieces for her collection.

"Actually, I enjoy going custom shoes shopping with you, Celestia. It was so very entertaining to watch the shoemaker try to take your shoes off. Know you have very sensitive large tootsies contained in those shoes." Justice said jokingly as Celestia's sticks her tongue out at him.

"Of course you would find that so entertaining, Justice. To me, it the most traumatic shopping experience ever. But it well worth it went we get back to palace you cuddle up with me for a good long time, to soothe my frayed nerves over the experience." Celestia said attentive as she kisses him on his lips once again.

Before she hands him a custom made gold brooch with pear cut diamond in the center. He carefully takes hold of the gold pin in his hand. He begins examining it closely; from his expert appraising eye, the gold that the pear cut diamond is set in is 100% pure gold. As for the pear cut diamond, he judges it superfine and would assign it a five-star rating (highest grade). He flips the brooch over and carefully looks for the jeweler's maker mark of the creator of this finely made piece of jewelry. Stamped toward the bottom of the piece was a diamond mark with the initials GC.

"This Gem Cutter design, one of the high-end Canterlot jewelry designers. One of her pieces commands a huge price in the Public Gem Market. Because she only uses the highest quality materials and limits the run of her unique designs, I would say a handful a year." Justice explains as he examines the other three pieces of jewelry lying on Celestia's bed. His eyebrow shoots up in surprise every single piece of jewelry is a Gem Cutter design.

"To have these many pieces of Gem Cutter designed Jewelry, you must be on the Very Special Elite Customer List and willing to pay up for the first crack at her new designs." Justice comment as Celestia's wraps her arms around her legs and her face become etched with sorrow.

"The Royal Reeve has cut my Royal allowance in half. I can no longer afford to pay up like before." Celestia said somberly as she buried her face into her knees and begin to weep.

"Do you know, Celestia? I get my salary from the Royal Treasury. If you squander away the Royal Treasury, I will be fired from my position." Justice explains as Celestia's facial muscles twitch nervously.

"No Justice, please don't joke like that, if they fire you. I'll be all alone again." Celestia said her voice quavering as Justice plants a kiss on her lips.

"Shall we get back on task what is this unofficial channel favor, you want me to do?" Justice asks as he begins playing with Celestia's toes. The sensation sends electrical pulses from her perfect length toes through her leg to her head, causing a smile to form on her snout.

"I know you don't keep up on the Canterlot rumor mill. So here what I need you to do some dreadful rumors and gossip has started to spread like wildfire in the elite of the elite in Canterlot. These rumors and gossip state that Miss Gem Cutter Night Company Exquisite Jeweler are using low-quality materials and charging exquisite prices for the junk." Celestia said harshly as Justice give her a dubious expression. He slowly moves towards her till he traps her against her headboard.

"Are you sure this not a personal favor, my Princess? I have feeling that this is a personal favor. If this is not so, would you stake your feet on it." Justice said as Celestia could not get away from him.

"Oh, I forgot how aggravating you are gone to be when you are doing a favor, Justice. Yes, this personal favor for me. I am not going to be told by the Royal Reeve that I wasted my bits on junk. My pride is at stake with this." Celestia said hotly as Justice stood up and walk toward her bedroom door to leave.

"Those large white feet of your better be super smooth went I come back to collect. I will not stop till you reach the insanity level, my dear Princess." Justice comments as Celestia gives a startled gasp as he reaches for her bedroom knob.

"I love you!" Celestia call as Justice gestures before closing her bedroom door on his way out.

~Return to the present~

"I investigated those rumors and gossip f-f-for," Justice exclaims as their thud on the other side of the table.

"Justice!" Cadence exclaims as she runs around the table to the other side and finds Justice lying on the ground as he lost his balance on the two back legs of the chair he was sitting on.

"You know your highness; you're very elegant and slender looking light pink bare feet with brilliant gold nail polish look even better up close." Justice complement, as Cadence knew he was perfectly fine.

"I thank you, Lord Silverlight," Cadence said politely as she touches his snout with balls of her foot before helping him up.

"Thank you, Cadence (She smiles at him). Anyway, I investigated those rumor and gossip for a solid two months; I turn over my finding to Celestia." Justice explains as the two ponies reconvene in the rental house living room to be more comfortable and have Cadence's stellar pedicure on full display.

"What did your finding say, Justice?" Cadence inquiry as she sat down on the sofa in a way that allowed her stellar pedicure to outshine the pedicure that her adoptive aunt Celestia has regularly.

~Return to the past~

It the day that Justice turns his finding over to Princess Celestia in her private office in Grand Royal Palace. Standing with her back toward Justice, look through a large bay window wearing a green below knee-length dress with gold sporty looking stacked cork sandals on her relatively large white bare feet was Celestia. Her large white feathery wings unfolded and folded on her back periodically as she breathe. Floating in a light gold magic bubble nearby was a comprehensive report filed by Royal Investigator Justice Silverlight for her. She floats the report into her hand and sets it on her desk. Before slowly turning around to face Justice, who was standing in the office with her.

"All right, Justice, you kept this investigation through unofficial channels as I asked. You may take payment from me this afternoon. I have no meeting scheduled for this day. I'll be working in my bedroom at that time on some paperwork. And as you wish, my feet are super smooth." Celestia said her voice quavering.

"Plus, the sandals I am wearing right now have elastic bands, making them easier to remove. Also went I complete my business with you, Justice, I'll head to my bedroom and use my magic to soundproof it from the outside. You many privately push me to what every insanity level you like." Celestia said her voice a lifeless monotone as she problematically walked toward her office door on her way to set-up for full payment to Justice.

"Celestia, stop!" Justice called concerned as Celestia stops he walked up to his depressed Alicorn girlfriend and caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.

"Taking payment for you right now, Celestia. It would be no fun if you didn't enjoy it as well. I want to push my beautiful Sun Princess to her highest insanity level she would enjoy. But right now, it would be excruciating for both of us. I never want to hurt my beautiful Sun Princess." Justice said genuinely as tears come to Celestia's pale magenta eyes.

"Thank you, Justice," Celestia said thankfully as Justice took hold of her hand and walk her over to the sofa. The two ponies sat down on the sofa.

A moment later, Justice gestured toward her fairly large white feet. She slowly shook her head as he lifts her feet and places them on his lap. He gentle slip Celestia's white feet out of her sandals as she says the elastic bands make it easier to remove her shoes. Before he started to massage her feet for her. Slowly Celestia started to relax; he is quite skilled at making her feet feel wonderful and causes her to relax. Celestia begins to softly neigh as each of Justice's precise movements across the soles of both her feet reinforced her relax state of mind.

"Did my report displease you, my beautiful Sun Princess?" Justice asked worried as it caused Celestia to react to his question.

"Huh? Of course not, your reports are always the truth, be it bad, or be it good. You write the most accurate accounts." Celestia said reassuring as she felt the hesitation of his precise movements across her feet begin to waver, her chest becomes heavy.

"Justice listen to me, It not you or your whole report. It's just your conclusion that you came to that is upsetting me (floating the report off her desk into her hand and open it to the last page). You wrote after an exhausting investigation you couldn't trace back the origin of these rumors or gossip to any pony. Most like reason, Miss Gem Cutter Night started the rumor mill herself. But you couldn't find any conclusive evidence to disprove or prove this theory. That what I am upset about, Justice and not you." Celestia said honestly as her airing her concerns to Justice broke her funk, and she smiled at him.

"Now come on, Justice. I promised you that you can make a payment for me this afternoon. Let get started. Because love, I want you to push me to my utmost insanity level and to help that I'll walk back to my bedroom barefooted. That should help make my feet more sensitive." Celestia playful as they headed to Celestia's bedroom so it could be more private for them, and she can soundproof her room.

Chapter 10 The End

~It a few hours later that same day~

Once again, Royal Investigator Justice Silverlight is visited at his rental house by yet another Alicorn Princess this time it was his girlfriend Princess Celestia attired in a yellow-orange mid-knee-length dress with golden sporty stacked cork sandals on her fairly large white bare feet. Upon having a long phone conversation with her boyfriend Justice over discovering that Gem Cutter Night was still alive. Princess Celestia quickly cleared her busy court week schedule in Canterlot to be with her boyfriend after her adoptive niece Princess Cadence Sparkle had to return to the Crystal Empire over an Empire-wide weather emergency.

"What do you think Gem Cutter master plan is this time, beloved?" Celestia asks, concerned as Justice walked up to her and wraps his arms around her.

"It hard to say, my beautiful Sun Princess. We both know Gem Cutter Night's mind doesn't work the same way as ours. She thinks at a higher level and is paranoid. To see me here in Ponyville trying to stop her again. Might have set back her master plan a few steps. But that makes her even more dangerous." Justice comments as Celestia's snorted very loudly with anger.

"AHaaa, dangerous? That put it kindly, my beloved. That unicorn mare morph is downright pure evil. You know I never put a word like that on any pony morph. But after she dragged me through Tartarus hoping and praying that I wouldn't lose you to that vile magical poison, she concocted for me. It the only word I can use on her to keep my own sanity." Celestia said coldly but worried and concerned as the return of Gem Cutter Night has brought back her living nightmare once again.

With that, Justice takes hold of Princess Celestia's hand and walks her into the living room of the rental house. She sits down on the sofa in front of him, and he reaches into the pocket of the uniform before kneeling on one knee in front of her. He retrieves the engagement ring that he took from her a few weeks ago as punishment for becoming jealous. He gently spreads her fingers apart on her left hand and slips the ring on her fourth finger once again.

"Will the Alicorn mare the ruler of all Equestria, allow this humble unicorn stallion who has to know her for many seasons. Give him her hand in marriage? I promise to remain at her side as her husband for as long as I can." Justice said humbly as real tears come to Celestia's pale magenta eyes.

"Yes-yes-yes. I will give this humble unicorn stallion my hand in marriage. I promise like him I'll remain at his side as his wife for as long as he can and beyond." Celestia said, very loving as she stares at the gold engagement ring on her finger.

"Eek!" Celestia exclaims as Justice ran his fingers down Celestia's exposed large white barefoot after secretly slipping her sandal off her fairly large barefoot went she was staring at the ring on her finger.

"Oh, Justice! You are the only stallion that can ruin a tender moment like this by tickling my foot. But I guess that's what I should expect went I become your wife. Oh well, if this worst's of you the unprovoked attacks on, my sensitive feet. I can live with that. It will make marriage life more interesting and more nerve-racking for me, at least." Celestia comments nervously and forgiving as she floats her removed sandal out of Justice's hand and lands it on the coffee table next to her.

Before reaching down and sliding her other sandal off her foot, leaving her perfectly shaped fairly large, susceptible white bare feet exposed to whatever mischief her fiancé has a plan for them.

~Gem Cutter Night Hideout somewhere in Ponyville~

"Damn it! How much I hate that stallion getting in my way! My plan was perfect! Snatch that small purple dragon have that Alicorn Princess Twilight Sparkle pay for his return and return him as gem statue! But no Royal Investigator Justice Silverlight had to show up and hinder my whole plan!" Gem Cutter said spitefully as every muscle in her equine frame tighten.

'But I didn't see that annoying Alicorn Princess anywhere! But that doesn't mean she's not too far away! The team of Justice and Princess Celestia is a formable team! With the skills of Justice and Royal resources of Princess Celestia! That team is nearly impossible to stop!' Gem Cutter thought obsessed as she pip plop over the wooden floor toward the far wall of her hideout.

On the far wall of her hideout thumbtack in a straight line were Polaroid pictures of the main six; beside each photo was a short description of them with what their elements were and how to exploit it. Starting from the far right of the line was Applejack right below her photo was her little sister Apple bloom with large red X over it. Next to her was a photo of Rainbow Dash below her picture was a photo of Scootaloo with large red X over it.

Next to her was a photo of Rarity right below her photo was a photo of her little sister Sweetie Belle a large red circle was around it. As we continue down the line of photos, pictures of Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie are next with nothing below them. As we reach the last photo, it was a picture of Princess Twilight Sparkle below her photo was ripping in half a photo of Spike, her little dragon. A few inches from Twilight picture were two photos stacked above each other one picture of Princess Protector Justice Silverlight, and the other picture was of Princess Celestia written on both pictures in red was formable team beware.

~The afternoon of that same day~

After spending the remainder of the morning at his rental house with his fiancée Princess Celestia, an activity both ponies needed so they can face the looming threat of Gem Cutter Night together as they always have. Princess Celestia flew back to Canterlot upbeat and, of course, barefooted. Before she left, she promised him that she would return to reclaim her sandals from him and test out being his wife for a day.

The Carousel Boutique is a carousel shaped large round wooden building on the outskirts of ponyville the small structure on the top of the building serves as Miss Rarity Radiance bedroom and private workshop. Above the main entrance signs with a picture of pony morph mare wearing a dress and hat welcoming her customers and clients to herself owned dress shop. The interior of the boutique looks like your typical dress shop with numerous small alcoves covered by red curtains.

Several small platforms are spread throughout the main room displaying various styles of dresses made in house. A finely made set of wooden stairs head up to the second floor of the dress shop, the private living area for Miss Rarity Radiance. Standing in front of a wall full of fabric bolts was a beautiful light gray unicorn mare morph with moderate indigo blue mane and tail. Her elegant and slender 5ft 7in equine figure was encased in a yellow, green short-sleeve polo shirt and blue relaxed fit jeans. On her light, bare gray feet were black round-toed slip-on shoes. This unicorn mare was Miss Rarity Radiance, the owner of this dress shop.

Her well-manicured fourth finger was tapping against the lower half of her snout, trying to figure out what fabric bolt she would use for her next creation. Also sitting on her muzzle was a pair of red-framed glasses. Along with a pencil tucked behind her ear, a measuring tape rest on her shoulders. The tiny gold bell above the door jingles, but Rarity doesn't react to it through the doorstep Royal Investigator Justice Silverlight.

Went Rarity didn't react to the bell, Justice decided to take the opportunity to do a long, appraising glance of this unicorn mare Fashion Designer. He begins by looking at the clothing she was wearing from head to foot; she didn't move a muscle during that time. Till he reaches her shoulders from over her shoulder appeared her well-manicured hand, her fingers spread apart deliberately. He walked over to the other shoulder, and the same thing happens with her other hand. Went he moved toward her feet, she sighed slowly and spoke to him.

"I am sorry, darling, but you have to get to know me better. Before I allow you to see them." Rarity comment politely as she walked over to him.

"How did you know I was looking you over Miss Radiance?" Justice asked as she stood in front of the taller unicorn stallion.

"It my business to know what my customers and clients are looking for. In your case Lord Silverlight I knew you would come to my Carousel Boutique, and the first thing you would do was give me the once over. So that why I remain in place, allowing you to do so, I only spoke up went I felt you staring at my feet. It one part of the body that I am self-conscious about, not because their ugly or something. It because they are hopelessly ticklish." Rarity explains as she gestured toward a small table with soft apple cider with two glasses on a tray.

With that, the two unicorns' ponies have a seat and begin a long conversation together, building a strong rapport with each other. From this first meeting, the friendship with Miss Rarity Radiance and the Silverlight Unicorn family begins. The friendship between these two ponies allowed Miss Rarity Radiance to seal a deep bond with main Royal Family, something she was unable to do with her once obsession with Prince Blueblood. Who turns out to be less than desirable the longer she spoke to him.

"I must say Miss Radiance; you are quite an interesting mare to talk to," Justice said, complementing as it caused Rarity to blush and chuckle nervously.

"I thank you, Lord Silverlight. You are a far cry from some of those Canterlot so-called Noble Ponies who are so snobby toward a pony from a small town like Ponyville. That I just want to retch went I meet them." Rarity comment annoyed as she takes a sip of her soft apple cider from her glass.

"Lord Silverlight, don't think me impolite, but are you related to Baroness Shimmering Diamond Silverlight. I only ask because your last name is Silverlight as well?" Rarity asked, taking another sip of apple cider from her glass.

"She is my Mother." Justice answers as Rarity spit the apple cider out of her mouth in shock with the answer.

"Your mother! What about Viscountess Ophelia Silverlight?" Rarity asked, drying her mouth with the napkin on her lap.

"She is my Grandmother." Justice answers as Rarity can't believe her luck sitting in her Carousel Boutique assign to protect her, and her little sister from the kidnapper is the son and grandson of the Boss mares of the Silverlight unicorn family.

"The high society pony I know in Canterlot speaks very highly of your noble family, he tells me out of all the noble family that governs the House of Lords in Canterlot. The Silverlight family is most respected because there are the most tolerant of the other social levels. Making them well-liked by the common pony." Rarity explains as Justice chuckle to himself.

"You must be speaking about Fancy Pants, the high society unicorn pony," Justice comments as Rarity shook her head.

"Do you know him?" Rarity inquiry

"No, my grandmother does. I only know him through Miss Fleur De Lis, his companion. That unicorn mare supermodel morph is smarter then she looks. I have found she quite intelligent went I speak to her away from the public eye. She tells me that ditzy and airhead persona she puts on is a show, most ponies think that how supermodel should be." Justice explains as Rarity gives Justice skeptical look.

Before she can say, something Justice brings out his cell phone and presses the contact button with Fleur De Lis's picture on it. The phone ring once and the voice that come over the speaker belong to the supermodel Fleur De Lis.

"Hello, Fleur De Lis, it Justice," Justice said

"Oh, hello Justice, what can I do for you?" Fleur De Lis answer

"Her ladyship asks me to give you a call and ask if you are attending the upcoming cocktail party at the stable." Justice inquiry

"Of course I am; I am not going to miss a chance to talk to you (yelling can be heard over the line). If you would excuse me, Justice, I am in the middle of a photo shoot in Las Pegasus. We can talk longer at the cocktail party. Fancy Pants is not attending." Fleur De Lis explains as she hangs up.

"You made your point Lord Silverlight. I will not doubt your contacts." Rarity comment as the two ponies begins to talk about how many of the Supermodel mares he knows. He tells her only Fleur De Lis, but she wants him to stop by one of the Photo shoot to meet more of them.

Meanwhile, in the backyard of Carousel Boutique, a good looking light gray teenage unicorn mare with grayish mulberry and pale light grayish rose color streaks mane and tail finishes hanging up the wet clothes on a clothesline as she hums to herself. Her toned 4ft 6in equine figure was attired in deep pink short-sleeve knit polo shirt and black relaxed fit jeans. On her light, bare gray feet were white sneakers. This teenage unicorn mare was Sweetie Belle Radiance, the little sister to Rarity. Snap! A dry twig sounds behind Sweetie Belle as she quickly turns around to see Gem Cutter Night sneaking up behind her to kidnap her.

"Help! Rarity! She is trying to take me! Help!" Sweetie Belle yells as her voice grows maniacal in the backyard as she randomly winks about the yard trying to stay ahead of Gem Cutter Night.

"Sweetie! Your sister is coming! Hold on, sweetie!" Rarity exclaims as she leaps to her feet and runs to the backyard. She arrives just as Sweetie Belle passes out from exhausting her unicorn magic energy from random winks to keep from being caught by Gem Cutter Night.

"Leave my sister alone! You hooligan!" Rarity calls knock Gem Cutter away from the unconscious Sweetie Belle with unladylike tackle.

"As uncouth and unladylike as fisticuffs are. I'll get down and dirty with a ruffian like you to protect my sister! Bring it on!" Rarity said testily as she brings her fist up to fight with Gem Cutter for her sister Sweetie Belle.

"Damn you the element of Generosity! Do you really want to get those well-manicured hands dirty! And Pedi all messy by fighting with a mare that was raised on the streets!" Gem Cutter said hotly as Justice arrives in the backyard and is greeted with the sight of the two mares going at it tooth and nail.

In the scuffle, Rarity is holding her own against Gem Cutter but is only hindered by her unconscious sister she is trying to protect from being hurt. Quickly Justice levitates Sweetie Belle into his arms, freeing up Rarity. Justice is about to set foot into the main workroom of the Carousel Boutique, their is unmistakable mare shriek of pain from outside. He quickly sets Sweetie Belle down on a nearby sofa and turns to see Rarity hobbling into the room.

~It a few hours later outside the Carousel Boutique~

"Ouch! Justice! Gentle, I am a mare! Not one of your burly stallions! Darling!" Rarity cries out as Princess Twilight walks into the Carousel Boutique to find. Sitting on a wooden chair was Rarity and Justice, who was kneeling in front of her treating her injuries with full Solar Guard Medical kit after the fight with Gem Cutter.

"Well, darling, you got your wish, Justice, now you can see my feet. I lost my shoes during the fight." Rarity comment as Justice looks down to see a pair of perfectly conditioned light gray bare feet beautifully maintained with a regular pedicure.

"So does that make us friends, Rarity? You say only friends could see your feet?" Justice asked as Rarity polite laugh and smiled friendly at him.

"Of course it does, Justice. Not to mention, you took the time to treat my injuries after the fight with that other mare. But I am sorry that she got away!" Rarity said, disappointed as she slams her fist into her open hand.

"It fine, Rarity, Gem Cutter is one slippery unicorn. But I don't think she will ever come back to Ponyville anytime soon or ever." Justice comment as Princess Twilight blows her top and screams at the top of her lungs what to know what happen here