The Rise of Passion

Starlight and Trixie had spent all of Monday doing clerical work; signing documents, scheduling meetings, making copies and sending memorandums. This wasn't something that would happen with a lot of their days, but it took longer today because nothing was actually done on Sunday due to the incident and moving in, and they had to learn the system in place at the Crystal Palace in order to integrate themselves and prepare for what was coming. Twilight certainly would have known better, but she was out searching for Cozy Glow.

It wasn't until Tuesday afternoon that they finally had time to go into the bedrooms and look around. The detectives assigned to the case had already done their part, and there wasn't much left to discover, especially since they already knew the truth. Still, they had to look it over, and Sunburst was invited to be present when they checked Flurry's room.

"Have you ever been in here before?" asked Starlight, looking at the collection of photographs.

"All the time," Sunburst answered, sitting on the bed and running his hoof over the pillow. "She's a very friendly, very smart filly. She had me come in here all the time when she needed me to look something over. Always working on something to show how she understood that the knowledge I gave could be applied. "

"Then you'll be instrumental," nodded Trixie. "What looks out of place to you?"

He looked around. "That's just it. Almost everything is the same. The only bit of evidence that there was any struggle is that her bedspread was in disarray." He stroked his beard. "That tells us that whoever did this wasn't after anything in particular, but Flurry herself. This was no burglary, but a straight-up kidnapping."

Starlight nodded slowly. "Any thoughts on what might be going through the kidnapper's mind?"

"Minds," scowled Sunburst. "Flurry wouldn't let herself be taken by a single assailant. There'd have to be at least a dozen. And they'd have needed to wear cloth hoof covers to make it into this room without being heard by the guards. And also, without being seen. Ninjas?"

Starlight scrunched her nose. "I don't think it was ninjas. One of the guards, perhaps? A former guard?"

"We can look at who was recently added to the guard rotation," suggested Trixie. "Transfers, new recruits, disgruntled dissenters..."

"Good idea," nodded Sunburst. "That Gallus Griffin has been causing me all sorts of trouble, and he's definitely new."

"He also has an alibi for the night in question, and has been a well-respected security student for years. You know this; you taught him how to do some of it. Formation training, proper lock design... Hell, you taught him how to use a partisan!"

"And therefore, it would be easy for him to come in and stab her."

"Sta-- There's no blood! You're having a lot of trouble staying objective, here."

He sighed. "I'm just really worried about her." There was a brief pause as his head drooped. "I guess it's easier just to find somepony to blame than it is to come up with a reasonable solution."

Starlight put a hoof on his shoulder. "I know. But just because it's easy doesn't make it right. Sometimes, the hardest decisions to make will tear us apart, but we have to choose wisely. There will come a time when you won't know which path to take, when both options will seem the correct choice, and it is at times like those when you have to decide between following your duty and remaining true to your friends that your true self comes out. I wonder whose side you will take?"

Tears were falling silently down his cheeks as he nodded. "Don't worry," he said, wiping them away. "Nothing like that is ever going to happen. My duty is to protect my friends. I won't let anything happen to you."

Trixie and Starlight smiled and nodded at each other before each of them wrapped a hoof around either side of his waist. "Come on," nuzzled Trixie. "We should take a moment to clear our mind, and I know Cadance has a sauna in the basement."

He nodded and the three of them made their way downstairs. On the way, Starlight took note of the various locked rooms down here. "You two go on ahead," she frowned, looking around. "I have to find a guard and ask them some questions."

As Trixie escorted Sunburst into the steam room to build a physical aspect to their relationship, Starlight found a guard and scholar to take her on a tour of the locked rooms to find out what they were. Many were filled with magical artefacts, mostly powerful pieces that were too strong for the public to make use of. Others were cursed. It was strange to see that the Alicorn Amulet, something Trixie had thought locked in the vault under Canterlot, was locked in here, instead.

One room in particular was empty and very tall, and at the top had a slot that was the exact shape and size of the Crystal Heart. "This is the room where Sombra hid the Crystal Heart at first," explained the scholar. "Records show that the crystal ponies were brought down here and tortured. This poured their pain and anguish into the heart, in an attempt to break it. Rumour says that he managed to crack it, but could not do much else."

Starlight looked on the slot in awe. "If we moved the Crystal Heart down here, would it still be able to exert its protective capabilities?"

The scholar pushed his glasses up his nose. "I suppose so, but it may discourage the crystal ponies, and without their love, it won't work. Why?"

Starlight turned to him. "I have this hunch that Cadance and Flurry were removed from their beds because they were standing in the way of something. Shining Armor, by that same logic, would have actively pursued them to save his wife and daughter. What if their next target is the Crystal Heart?"

The scholar and guard looked at each other. "Are you sure?"

Starlight shook her head. "It's just a hunch, and I'd rather it was wrong. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the three of them just showed up at the edge of town, unharmed? Unfortunately, that's not the reality we're living in. Until we're sure, let's work on putting up a facsimile, yeah? If we can't, I'd rather just know that the heart was safe."