Sunset is keeping watch at the wall when Indigo returns. She is not alone.

Behind her trail three other horses. As they approach, Sunset calls out to Rainbow, who's closest to her. “Indigo's back, and she's brought others.”

She ties off a rope to the wall and slides down. As they come to a stop at the wall, Sunset takes the reins of Indigo's horse and the soldier dismounts. She throws Sunset a sloppy salute, “Commander, I've brought friends and information.”

The people who've been following Indigo draw back the hoods of their riding cloaks and Sunset blanches. Astride the horses, are Captain Bulwark, Twilight, and the healer Zecora from Ponyville. “Well,” she said with a muted grin. “this is a surprise.”

“Greetings, Commander,” said Bulwark. “Your messenger is the quickest I've ever seen.”

Sunset hummed, “and why do I get the feeling that this isn't a social call... Why have I heard nothing from our Princess?”

The Captain lowered his head. “She is missing.”

Sunset ushers the new comers into Thicket and marches them straight to the office. Her company is hot on their heels. There's no room for chairs, and so they stand. And once the door has snapped shut, Sunset can no longer contain herself.

“Indigo,” she levels a sharp look at the soldier. “Tell me everything that's happened since last I saw you.”

She swallows hard, “Right, when I left-”

Indigo mounted her horse, Shadow, and set off at a swift pace.

It took her two weeks and three days to reach Canterlot. As she entered the city, it became clear that much had changed in her absence. There were more guards than she had ever seen there before. A feeling of discomfort in the air.

She stopped briefly to ask for directions to the barracks. The guard she spoke to looked her over suspiciously.

“Who you looking for then?” He growled. “Where you coming from?”

“I'm looking for Captain Bulwark,” she replied evenly. “I've a message for him from a lady friend. In Ponyville.” The lie slid off her tongue smoothly.

The guard eyed her for a moment and then nodded, “take this road straight through to the fountain. From there take the left hand street and it'll take you toward the barracks. You can't miss em.”

With a sharp nod to him, she set off again. Letting her eyes wander, she watched the people of Canterlot with interest. The city wasn't deserted by any means but it seemed almost subdued. The call of merchants was lower than normal and there was a tension in the air. Something oppressive and cold settled over the whole city, like a wet blanket. It was smothering the normally cheerful air of the bustling metropolis.

She found no help at the barracks. The soldiers guarding them eyed her with the same distrust as the one from earlier. “He's not here,” snapped one.

“Out with the Night Princess, I'd wager,” said the other. “She's not the ruling type from what I've seen. Probably emptying the wine case at a pub somewhere. Wastin' Celestia's money, no doubt.”

Indigo bristled internally but clamped her jaw shut. “Right, forgive me for the intrusion. If you should see the Captain, tell him I'll be staying at the inn on Fleet Street.”

The guards said nothing else, and she turned away. She directed Shadow back toward the center of town. When she had obtained a room at the inn, and had Shadow stabled, she wandered. She stopped by a few shops where she knew people. She asked those she trusted about the Captain, but found nothing new. Out on the street though, she heard many rumors about the Princess of the Night. Whispers of her causing problems, complaints from nobles about her impeding commerce.

A picture began to piece itself together in her mind. Luna and her usual guards were nowhere to be found. And yet, rumors of her drinking, or causing trouble in court were rampant. As the sky grew dark, she turned back toward the inn.

As she entered her reserved room, she was grabbed and pulled into the darkness.

“It is here that I must take over our tale,” said Bulwark. Indigo shuffled out of his way and he stood in the center of the room. “I heard from a little birdy that a messenger came to the barracks looking for me.”

“Captain,” a child's voice hissed, “Captain Bulwark.” Bulwark stepped out of the street and into the alley. A boy, no older than ten slipped him a scrap of paper before scurrying off. The note contained a crude drawing of Indigo, and the name of the inn where she was staying.

He waited for the sun to begin setting before slipping into the room. When the door swung open, he pounced. He seized the soldier with all his strength, wrestling her into the room and letting the door close behind them.

“Heard you were looking for me,” he growled in her ear. When she made no sound, he shook her. “Who sent you? Where's my princess? What've you done with her?”

She sputtered something, but he could not hear it. Slowly, he released his grip over her mouth.

“Sunset Shimmer,” she breathed, “she sent me to find you. You're Captain Bulwark, aren't you?”

Bulwark lit the rooms candles, and read the letter Sunset had written. Indigo filled in the rest. Luna had promised new orders, orders that never came. Sunset had sent Indigo to find him, she suspected that Luna was indisposed in some way.

In return, he told her what he knew. Just over three days after her return from Thicket, Luna had vanished. She had never before gone anywhere without first informing him. And when Celestia had brushed off his concern, he had disappeared himself.

“When I realized I was the only one searching for answers. I knew they wouldn't pay me any mind, so I sent word to Twilight and made myself scarce.” Bulwark explained. “On our way back, I stopped and asked Zecora to join us.”

Zecora nodded, “the captain believes I might yet help you with your plight. I warn you my methods might give you a fright. You know me as a healer, this is true. But there is much, much more that I might do.”

Sunset hesitated, “I'll take any help we can get.”

“Even mine?” asked Twilight. She was standing near the corner, her expression unreadable. “I have some sway in the court, though it isn't much. My father has more, but I fear he may be one of the nobles that Luna was warning you about.”

“Any help, no matter how small,” said Sunset firmly. “We have to find Luna. If I'm right then we must assume that all of Canterlot is against us. I don't know what the hell this is all about, but we cannot trust anyone outside of this room. We must keep this as quiet as we can, until we can find Luna and put a stop to whatever this treachery is.”

Spitfire spoke up, “so what exactly can Zecora do that'll help?”

Bulwark hesitated, “Miss Zecora is a very good healer... but she's also what you might call a sorceress. She may be able to track the princess, provided the right ingredients.”

Eveyone's attention became fixed on Zecora. Sorcery was considered mostly fantasy these days. None of them would have ever considered 'magic' to be real, or helpful.

“Is that true?” Sunset asked her directly. “Can you find Luna?”

“The princess I might find,” Zecora hedged, “If you are of the right mind.”

Sunset's eyes narrowed, “and what mind is that?”

The healer flickered her eyes around the other faces in the room. “I must speak with you, alone. Only then can the truth be known.”

When Sunset hesitated, Bulwark spoke again. “I trust her, Commander. Zecora is a friend, to me and to the High Commander. She would not lead you astray.”

With a growl of frustration, Sunset waved the others out. The room emptied and she and Zecora sat down with the desk between them. “How do we find Luna?”

The healer smiled, “I can trace the one you seek through her heart. The finding though, that will be your part.”

With that, she drew a bowl from the bag at her waist. Sunset watched with interest as she began adding different ingredients. A sprig of something, a powder of some kind after that. Salt, a red berry that Sunset didn't recognize, and finally, the petal of a rose.

“Only one ingredient remains,” said Zecora, “though it does not come with out pains.”

Sunset raised a brow.

“The final thing the spell requires, is the blood of one whose love she desires.” When Sunset drew her dagger, Zecora held out a hand to stop her.

“Be warned, that which you seek may already be gone. If this is so, you will ache for her, and become withdrawn.”

Sunset gritted her teeth, and nodded. Slowly, she sliced through her forearm and let some of her blood drip into the bowl.

Zecora lit a match above it, staring carefully into it. With delicate movements, she lowered the flame to the container and dropped it in. It burst into flame for one, bright second. It died just as quickly, a cloud of smoke lifting from it, dancing in a non-existent breeze.

Author's Note

Some familiar faces back again, and our Princess is missing... I wonder what trouble is afoot. Will our hero find her? What is going on with Zecora?

Hope nothing crazy is going on in canterlot....