Royal Equestrian Naval Yard

Entrance Area

"I'm impressed." Gibbs noted, as he, his team, Princesses Luna and Twilight, and four Lunar Guards exited the train and took in the monumental sight before them. "I didn't think this place would be this big."

"We'll take that as a compliment." Princess Luna replied. "It took five years to build this naval yard. I was not present for the opening ceremony, however. My sister told me of the festivities that occurred when I returned from exile."

"Exile?" Abby asked. "What do you mean by that?"

"I was sent to the Moon for over 1000 years, and I only returned four years ago." Princess Luna replied. "It's a long story, and I owe Princess Twilight and the other Elements of Harmony for my return, but…I suppose now is not the best time to regale you with it."

"I would certainly like to hear it when you have the chance." Dr. Mallard smiled. "It sounds fascinating!"

Princess Luna gave Ducky a grateful smile, and as they entered the Naval Yard, three Equestrian sailors, one of which was in an admiral's uniform, approached the group.

"Admiral Fairgale, Lt. Blue Steel, Ensign Bright Sky, this is Agent GIbbs and his team." Princess Luna said. "They've come from the Human realm to aid in the investigation of the attack on Lance Corporal Simmons."

"It's a pleasure to meet you all." Fairgale said, shaking Gibbs's hand. Fairgale was moderately built, with a gray coat and a bright blue mane, which was kept in a ponytail. "Would you prefer to see the scene of the attack or the medical wing first?

"Both." Gibbs replied. "Tony, take Ziva and see if our Lance Corporal is up to answer any questions. McGee, help Ducky and Palmer process the scene."

"Very well." Fairgale said. "Blue steel, please show them to the medical wing, and Bright Sky, to the scene. I ordered that the entire section be cordoned off with a magical shield, so everything should be exactly as it was the night of the attack."

"Good." Gibbs said. "Let's get to work."

====

As Ducky, Palmer, McGee, and Bright Sky, alongside Princess Twilight, approached the shielded section of the wall, the Princess of Friendship used her own magic to take the barrier down.

"May I ask what exactly the shield was needed for?" McGee asked.

"It's a temporal dome spell." Twilight replied. "It locks everything inside the field into a state outside of time. Essentially, everything was flash-frozen the way it was when the attack happened."

"Impressive!" Dr. Mallard complimented. "Well, so far, I know that a bladed weapon was used, one with a rather long blade. These gashes in the stone wouldn't be present if the injury didn't penetrate the body. Adding to that, there's also blood inside the gashes."

"Huh…" Palmer said, taking a look at a strange scorch mark in the ground, which was shaped like four small imprints. "Someone was playing with fire here."

"Not exactly." Princess Twilight replied. "That's a spell-scorch, a sort of burn mark that's left behind when powerful magic is used improperly. Think of it like a glass of water being jostled, and some of the liquid splashes out."

"So our attackers were Equestrians." McGee noted. "That does beg the question as to how many of the sailors and command staff here knew about human Marines being here?"

"As far as I know…" Bright Sky spoke up. "It was only Princess Luna, the admirals in charge, and a few select lieutenants that knew of what was happening. I was told this by Blue Steel shortly before we found Lance Corporal Simmons. It was top-secret, and I'm certain Princess Celestia kept it quiet, even in a place like Canterlot."

"Why would that be the case?" Ducky raised an eyebrow.

"Let's just say that gossip, rumors, and unfounded information tends to spread quickly among the citizens of the capital, even more so when nobles are involved." Bright Sky said. "I would know."

"You're a noble?" Princess Twilight asked, surprised.

"Yeah, my dad, Horizon Line, is in the nobility." Bright Sky shrugged. "He's one of those types that doesn't particularly like big social events and formal gatherings. Although, he was actually impressed to hear that I wanted to join the Equestrian navy. Said it was a good way to see the world."

"I can agree with that point of view." McGee said, looking over to the street, as something shiny had caught his eye. As he slid on a pair of sterile gloves, he soon found it to be a polished silver cufflink.
"Looks like our attackers left something behind." he called out, and Princess Twilight came over to see what it was for herself. "Appears that it was cut off cleanly instead of torn from whatever it was sewn onto."

"That makes sense." Twilight said, examining the cufflink using a magically-conjured magnifying glass, then something snagged her attention. "There's some kind of engraving on it."

"What's it say?" McGee asked.

"Looks like an old Equish script, and unfortunately, I can't read it without a translation book." Twilight sighed. "Old Equish, back in the forming of Equestria, was the backbone of our modern language, but it was so complicated to write and speak that Princess Celestia personally had the entire language recomposed from the ground up. In fact, I've only ever seen it on things belonging to really old noble families."

"We'll need to hang onto this, then." McGee said, placing it in an evidence pouch. "How'd you know only old noble families use it, though?"

"A few weeks after I was crowned, I was invited to a party at a noble's estate outside of Canterlot." Twilight replied. "It wasn't a bad party, but eventually I needed a break, and I found myself in that estate's library, analyzing what artifacts they had present."

"Did you know anyone there?" McGee queried as Ducky and Palmer finished their analysis of the scene.

"No, it was all Canterlot nobles. There was a nice stallion about my age that I did share a dance with, but only because he seemed rather lonely." Twilight added. "He told me his name was Aether Trail. We talked in the library until it was time to go, since he's also a bookworm like me."

"He seems like quite a gentleman." Ducky commented.

"He certainly was, and I wouldn't mind meeting him again." Twilight blushed slightly, before composing herself. "Anyway, we should rejoin the others. I'll raise the shield I took down earlier."

After Twilight finished doing so, she, Bright Sky, and the three humans headed back towards the central plaza, where to their surprise, Gibbs, Ziva, and Tony were waiting for them.

"How's Lance Corporal Simmons?" Twilight asked.

"Well, for starters, he was able to answer all of our questions, and the doctors said he should be back on his feet in a day or two." Gibbs replied. "Thing is, whoever attacked him wasn't alone."

"He says he was blinded by something before it happened, but he could still hear and smell everything around him." Ziva added, consulting her notes. "He says that there were at least two other males based on the voices he heard, and one of them had a very distinct cologne or perfume applied. It apparently smelled like roses and fresh pine, according to Lance Corporal Simmons."

"So, we find the perfume, we find our attackers." Twilight reasoned. "I take it that's the good news, so what's the bad news?"

"The bad news is that every single Equestrian here has a confirmed alibi or uses that kind of perfume or cologne." Tony added. "So, back to square one?"

"I wouldn't say that just yet," said Admiral Fairgale as he approached. "I've just received word from Princess Celestia about a troubling development that happened right before the attack. Somepony managed to break into the Princess's office in Canterlot."

"Was anything taken?" Gibbs asked.

"Every single piece of correspondence from Earth and Equestria regarding the arrival of the Marines, the contract for the collaboration project, and the details for the public reveal." Fairgale reported. "There's no sign of who would be responsible, but there was a detail that stood out. A strange scent of…"

"Let me guess, rose and fresh pine?" Ziva finished, and the admiral nodded. "Whoever's behind this break-in is also involved in the attack on Lance Corporal Simmons."

"Then we're heading back to Canterlot." Gibbs said firmly. "Princess Luna, mind telling your sister that we're coming?"

"Of course." Princess Luna nodded. "Seeing as taking the train again would take too long, allow me to teleport us all there. Your friend Abby should also be waiting for us. Is everyone alright with that?"

There were several voices of approval, although DiNozzo seemed a little unsure, and McGee seemed a little too excited at the prospect. As Princess Luna and Princess Twilight charged up their horns, and the group vanished from sight in a flash of blue and lilac energy.

Author's Note

Update!

I got back into watching NCIS, and this came about as a result. Also, expect more Abby in the next chapter.