The sun shone down to the world below, radiating its intense heat, as though in spite of the five traveling ponies. Their pace was slow and their hooves dragged, their heads hanging low as sweat dripped down their faces. They panted, licking their lips for any drop of saliva, their mouths as dry as the desert they were in.

Zephyrina Storm, princess of Zephyr Heights, unfurled her wings, holding one above herself, desperate for some kind of shield against the scorching sun, and held the other one above her future step-sister, Misty Brightdawn, who gave her a grateful smile in return. Sparky laid his head down on Hitch's mane in exhaustion, yawning before closing his eyes.

Slowly, the five ponies continued on, determined, refusing to give up so easily, despite the tortuous heat. They had an important mission, one that they thought they'd never be able to go. But despite all thoughts to the contrary, they were able to figure out where the mysterious changeling kingdom was, and they had worked too hard over the past six months to find it on a map to not go, and, at this point, they had traveled for far too long to turn back now, lest the last two weeks be for naught.

Originally, they considered taking the Marestream. Even without magic, the vehicle could be fitted for an actual engine, and run on fuel. But, that would've taken too long. They wanted to leave as soon as possible for they didn't know how much longer Pipp would last. Besides, building the engine in a hurry like that would raise too much suspicion, and unless they wanted to bring the entire Zephyr Heights army along with them, they had to be discreet. Plus, they didn't know how long they'd be gone and they didn't want to run out of fuel and have to abandon it somewhere and lose it forever.

But, those were all excuses the five of them made after they left without the Marestream. In reality, they had jumped in with all four hooves before thinking things through, just leaving before they could talk themselves out of it. By the time using the Marestream had crossed their minds, they were already miles outside Maretime Bay and since it was already the next day, they couldn't go back to retrieve it, without raising too much suspicion. So, they came up with excuses as to why they thought bringing the Marestream was a bad idea to make themselves feel less like idiots.

Izzy Moonbow stumbled over her own hooves and before anypony could react, she fell flat on her face, accidentally getting a mouthful of dry sand. Misty rushed to her side, grabbing Izzy's hoof and helping up a spluttering Izzy. Izzy spat and sputtered, trying to get all the dry sand out of her mouth, but some still stubbornly remained.

"Eww!" Izzy whined, her tongue hanging out. "Do not eath the thand, gyth. It doeth not tathe good."

Hitch Trailblazer, Sheriff of Maretime Bay, handed Izzy a small canteen of water. "Here. To rinse out your mouth. Just don't use very much."

Izzy took the canteen with her hoof and drank some, giving it to Hitch when she was done. She swished the water around before spitting it out on the sand, making Sunny, Zipp, and Hitch gasp.

"Izzy!" Hitch scolded. "You were supposed to swallow it, not spit it out!"

Izzy looked confused. "Why would I swallow sand?" She asked with her tongue back in her mouth.

Zipp groaned. "Because, Iz, that was valuable water you just wasted and we don't have very much of it left," Zipp explained, groaning again.

"Oh. Oops. But, it's not like I want to swallow a bunch of sand. That's just nasty!"

"Izzy, it's called picking the better of the two evils. Swallowing sand? Or wasting valuable water?" Hitch argued.

"Not swallowing sand. Definitely the lesser of the two evils," Izzy replied, causing Hitch and Zipp to groan.

"Alright guys," Sunny Starscout said, getting between them before it got out of hoof. "We're all tired, thirsty, and hot. Not to mention hungry. We're all just grating on each other's nerves. Let's just move on and keep going, alright?"

Hitch, Izzy, and Zipp all grumble incoherent responses. In the past two weeks, Sunny and Misty had been acting as the mediators of the group, stopping any potential fight before it escalated, terrified they'd have another repeat of that horrible day, but this time, resulting in losing their friends forever.

Six months ago, Pipp, their best friend, Zipp's little sister, and a Guardian of Unity, was fillynapped by changelings in the middle of the night and replaced with one of their own. The changeling–who they discovered were shapeshifting creatures who used to be allies of Equestria, though, clearly, they weren't anymore–had led them into a trap that resulted in the five of them on the roof of the Crystal Brighthouse, the changeling demanding that they trade Sunny for Pipp.

Zipp, in a conversation to stall for time, had discovered pony kind was useless to the changelings without their magic. To keep Equestria safe, Zipp and Misty worked together to shatter the Unity Crystals, Equestria's sole source of magic, before Sunny could go with the changeling. However, that required not getting Pipp back, sacrificing her as collateral. Because of this, and because emotions were running high, Sunny, Izzy, and Hitch had all turned on Misty and Zipp, all of them saying things they regret and causing Zipp and Misty to leave the Crystal Brighthouse and stay with Queen Haven back in Zephyr Heights. It was there that they–more specifically Misty–were able to find where Pipp was, after working tirelessly, researching the entire Zephyr Heights royal library top to bottom for six months.

The five ponies continued on, dragging their hooves through the sand, counting down the miles it would take to reach the changeling kingdom, despite none of them even knowing what the starting number was.

Zipp sat in front of the campfire, nibbling on her small dinner of dried noodles, which tasted like paper seasoned with the dry sand they spent all day walking on. They would've cooked them in water, but they were low on it as it was. Zipp stared at the dancing flames of the fire, her mind blank, the cold night a sharp contrast to the scorching day.

Giving up on eating dinner, she put her remaining noodles back in one of the portioned-out sandwich bags, put it back in her saddlebag, and pulled the ends of her black coat closer together, sighing heavily as she pulled down her black beanie hat.

It was at this moment that Sunny and Hitch approached her, as though they were waiting for Zipp to be done eating. Zipp barely spared them a glance before staring back at the fire. Since the five of them set out on their journey two weeks ago, Zipp had barely spoken to Sunny and Hitch more than necessary. Zipp still hadn't forgiven them for the horrible things they said to her, despite Sunny's numerous attempts at apologizing, and even if she did, Zipp was still upset at them about the things they said to Misty, and the effects it had on her.

In the six months since that day, Zipp felt more protective over Misty than she did before. Maybe because Misty trusted Zipp so completely when she shattered the Unity Crystals, destroying all magic, and all she got in return was three of her friends turning on her and saying horrible things. Maybe it was because Misty didn't talk anymore, despite saying three sentences the day they left for their journey, when one of the changelings that had tried to stop them shapeshifted into Opaline, reopening half-healed wounds, making her seem that much more vulnerable and needing that much more protection. Maybe it was because Zipp saw Misty as a younger sister, her older sister's instincts playing a role, especially since she wasn't able to protect Pipp.

Whatever the reason, Zipp felt responsible for Misty's safety, wanting to protect her from those who wanted to do her harm. Zipp only forgave Izzy because she was so sorry the minute she saw them walk into the Brighthouse two weeks ago, and Misty was so quick to forgive her, and because despite delivering the final blow to Misty with her words six months ago, her intent and her words weren't aimed as blows, like Hitch and Sunny's words were. They weren't aimed to hurt. She was simply speaking what she had thought.

Even though Misty had already forgiven Sunny and Hitch, unbeknownst to them, Zipp refused to do so for both Misty and herself. When Zipp had asked why Misty forgave them so quickly, Misty had simply told her that life's too short to hold grudges. That she saw first–hoof the effect that holding a grudge could have on a pony in Opaline, and she refused to be like Opaline in any way. Opaline refused to forgive Princess Twilight or whoever hurt her, and it turned her into the evil, magic-stealing tyrant that raised Misty and tried to take over Equestria. Well...in so many words.

Still, though, Zipp felt as though Sunny and Hitch didn't deserve such quick forgiveness, and as such, she refused to give it to them.

"What do you two want?" Zipp asked with bitterness in her tone, not looking away from the campfire.

"Can we... talk?" Sunny asked hesitantly.

"If it's you attempting to apologize again, I don't want to hear it," Zipp answered, giving that response to Sunny not for the first time.

"We know..." Hitch answered, his voice a monotone devoid of emotion. "It's not about that."

Zipp glanced at Misty, who was sitting across from them with Izzy, who was currently teaching her how to shield herself from other ponies' emotions so that she didn't constantly get overwhelmed by them. Zipp's eyes lingered on the dark blue mane accessory Misty was wearing, with the dark blue bead in the middle that held a picture of all of them from Misty's Cutie Blossom Bash Izzy made for her two weeks ago. Zipp glanced at the one Izzy was wearing, which was purple with thin strands of blue and a dark purple bead. Zipp didn't know which picture was in Izzy's bead. All she knew was that it was a picture of all of them.

Zipp sighed and reluctantly stood up, following Hitch and Sunny a little ways from the campfire, out of earshot of Misty and Izzy. Once Sunny and Hitch turned to face Zipp, Sunny was biting her lower lip, as though unsure of how to word something.

Zipp sighed irritatedly. "Ugh, you wanted to talk to me about something, so talk. I have some very important fire staring to get to," Zipp said sarcastically, making it clear she'd rather be doing anything else than talk with them two.

Sunny sighed heavily, before finally talking. "Is...is Misty alright?"

Zipp blinked, not expecting that. But her surprise didn't last long before it boiled down to frustration. These two had no right to ask if Misty was okay when they hadn't even apologized to Misty themselves. It was as though they assumed Misty knew how sorry they were through their emotions with her being an emotional empath and all, so they didn't need to apologize, despite the tension being high. Perhaps they believed Misty also didn't want to hear it, so they didn't even try. Perhaps it was because they saw Zipp as Misty's keeper. That they couldn't approach Misty until Zipp gave them permission to, which was not the case. Despite Misty being glued to Zipp most of the time, Zipp did not even try to tell Misty what to do. Misty was her own mare who could make her own choices. Though, it made Zipp feel a tad bit better if that's what Sunny and Hitch thought.

Whatever the reason, the fact that they had yet to verbally try and apologize was not cool and yet another reason Zipp refused to forgive them.

"She's fine. Why?" Zipp responded shortly.

"It's just that...Misty hasn't said a word to any of us in the last two weeks. We just thought it was because she was still upset with us, but, she doesn't seem upset with Izzy yet she still hasn't said a word to her. We were just wondering..."

"Has Misty talked to you or anything?"

Zipp felt her blood boil with anger. Did these two morons seriously not put it together yet. Were they really that blind, that dense, to not be able to recognize the consequences of their own actions? Have they moved on so quickly that they didn't remember what they said? And they wonder why Zipp hadn't forgiven them yet.

"She doesn't talk to anypony anymore. Not since that day." Zipp said in an emotionless voice, trying her best to control her anger.

"But...why?" Sunny asked, still not putting it together.

Zipp clenched her whole body, trying to stop herself from doing something she'll regret later. "Why do you think?" Zipp asked through clenched teeth, before walking away from the campsite and into the darkness of the desert.

Posey waited until he was a good distance away before following him, making sure it wasn't obvious that she was following him. She rolled her eyes. What was she doing? Following a colt–filly across town every day for the past two weeks? For all she knew, somepony was playing a prank on her.

It all started with a note. On the morning of Maretime Bay Day, she woke up, her heart feeling heavy upon realizing that this would be their first Maretime Bay Day in three years without Pipp. She had gotten ready for the day, and opened her door to find an envelope on her porch from Sheriff Hitch, with the official Sheriff seal on it.

Posey, confused, had picked it up and had walked back into her house. She had opened it and read it to herself aloud:

"To Miss Posey Bloom,

This letter is top secret and should only be used as evidence when proving your case.

As you know, we found where Princess Pipp Petals may be located. A small team that includes myself and my deputy, Sparky Sparkoroni, has been dispatched on a top secret mission to rescue her. I repeat. Top. Secret. While I'm gone, despite his past error of judgment, I have put Sprout Cloverleaf in as acting Sheriff, for he knows all the ins and outs and protocol of being Sheriff, unlike anypony else. However, I do NOT trust him. I have reason to believe that he is working for the enemy. However, confronting him may interfere with the mission, and rescuing the Princess is our top priority.

Therefore, I need backup. I already have my animal deputies on the case, but they will not be enough. I need your help. I am putting you as true acting Sheriff, though nopony else can know, until a specific time. You are to tell only one pony, a pony you trust with your life, a pony who can keep this secret. They are to be your undercover deputy. I need you and your deputy to trail Mr. Cloverleaf discreetly. Make sure he intends no harm on Equestria or its current and fragile state of unity. If he attempts to manipulate Maretime Bay again like before, I need you and your undercover detective to restrain him and show this letter to the citizens of Maretime Bay so they know that I, Sheriff Hitch Trailblazer, appoint you as true acting Sheriff of Maretime Bay until I return.

I wish you luck.

Sincerely,
Sheriff Hitch Trailblaizer

Posey had rolled her eyes upon reading the letter. At least nopony could say Sheriff Hitch was unprofessional. He could have just said 'Posey, I've gone with my friends to save my marefriend and I don't trust the pony I put in charge to run the whole town, so I need you to pick a deputy and trail him. Oh, and I'm secretly putting you in charge. Nopony else can know about this.' Well, Hitch has been known for being dramatic. At least that hasn't changed.

Posey had originally believed that somepony had pranked her, or that this was another Operation Glitterbomb situation. Originally. Then she had walked out to go about the rest of her day when she heard Sprout's announcement. That Hitch had a last-minute call to help his ill grandmother so he would be out of town for the time being and he put Sprout as acting Sheriff. Considering everything that happened, she decided to follow the letter's instructions. The first step was to pick a deputy, then she had to follow the colt-filly around town until he did something suspicious.

Posey glanced at Windy on the other side of the street, who glanced back at her and winked, before continuing to follow Sprout. Posey sighed and sat back downing her seat at the Cafe. Who knew trailing somepony would be so much work?

She had been sitting there for ten minutes, sipping her latte and reading her favorite book in peace and quiet when her phone dinged from a text message. When she checked it, she found it was a text from Windy, with coordinates. Posey rolled her eyes. Sometimes Windy got a little too caught up in the things she did.

Posey sent back a text with a bunch of question marks before Windy sent a "Share My Location" to her. Posey got up, paid for her latte, and walked as normally as she could to Windy's location.

When she got there, she found a pale Windy, holding her phone.

Posey rushed over to Windy. "Windy? What's wrong? Did something happen with Sprout?"

Windy nodded, wide-eyed. "He knows. They know. And they're waiting for them. Hitch and his team are walking into an ambush and they don't even know it."

Posey took a deep breath. "Okay. Well, then, let's tell them."

Posey took out her phone and called Hitch, but it went straight to voicemail. So, she sent a code red message, but just as she sent it, she heard Windy scream and everything went black.

"Ugh!" Hitch groaned as he held his phone above him in the air as the four of them sat around the campfire after another long day of rough travel. According to the map, they were just a couple of miles from the edge of the desert. So close, yet so far. "There's no service out here!"

"Well, we are outside of Equestria," Izzy commented.

"Yeah, I doubt Z ▪︎ Heights considered you wanting to post Ponygram pictures 100 miles outside the Equestrian border when they set you up with the long distance plan," Zipp added sarcastically.

"For your information, Zipp," Hitch purposefully over-enunciated with a glare. "I am not posting Ponygram pics, I am checking in on Posey about Maretime Bay. Or, I would be if I had any service!" Hitch whacked his phone with his hoof before raising it above him again.

"Right. Why did you put Posey as an undercover Sheriff again? Seems kind of...counteractive, don't you think?" Zipp asked, narrowing her eyes at Hitch.

"What do you mean? Posey's the perfect pony. Besides having no qualms about telling ponies what to do, she's the only one brave enough to tell Sprout off when he's being an idiot." Hitch said, too busy trying to find a signal to be affected the way Zipp was hoping he would be.

"Right...whatever," Zipp responded with a roll of her eyes.

"Ugh, I'm going to try somewhere else." Hitch finally said, standing up and walking away.

"You can try, Sheriff, but I doubt ten hoofsteps closer to the border will change much!" Zipp called back sarcastically, earning an ice-cold glare from Misty, to which Zipp quickly looked away, blushing a bright red from shame. Misty was right. Being mad and refusing to forgive Hitch and Sunny was one thing, but purposefully agitating them was a whole other.

Hitch decided to ignore Zipp's unnecessary coment and decided to try anyway. As he walked, his eyes on his phone, he suddenly tripped over a very big something. Hitch rubbed his head, reaching out for the phone he dropped while also picking himself up from the ground.

Behind him, he heard somepony else groaning. He turned around to see Sunny slowly sitting up, rubbing her hear. Hitch rushed over to Sunny, reaching out a hoof to help her up. Sunny accepted, groaning a bit as she stood up.

"Oh my hoofness, Sunny! Are you okay? I am so sorry." Hitch asked, examining Sunny for any injuries.

"I'm fine. What are you doing?"

"Ugh, looking for a signal in this hellhole." Hitch raised his phone again. There was a wavering bar before it fell again. "I want to check in with Posey to see how everything is back in Maretime Bay, but with no service..." Hitch trailed off as he turned in a circle, his phone held high.

"How can you think about Maretime Bay after what Zipp said about Misty not talking. She made it sound like it was our fault and it was." Sunny put her face in her hooves. Hitch finally put his phone down upon hearing Sunny's panicking voice. He slowly sat himself down next to her as Sunny collapsed to the ground in a guilty mess. "I basically told her to stop stuttering or to not talk at all!"

Hitch sighed. "You think that's bad? I told her that she was in no position to talk about friendship when she sentenced our friend to a living hell. I just...how do we approach her with something like this? Are we just supposed to say, 'hey Misty, sorry about we said. We didn't mean it and we were being total jerks. We didn't actually mean for you to stop talking. So, you know, you can talk now and not be afraid of losing us?' I doubt that'll get her talking again."

Sunny groaned, staring at the ground. "I know, but we have to apologize in some way. That was horrible of us and I'd never forgive myself if Misty never talked again because of us." Sunny sighed. "What is wrong with us? Why did we say such horrible things?"

"Pipp."

Sunny looked at Hitch confused.

Hitch sighed before continuing, his emotional wall coming down for a moment. "Pipp was the one who always kept me in line. She was always the first one to tell me when my emotions were leading me rather than my common sense. She taught me how to stop, take a deep breath, and rethink the whole situation from a different angle. That's how she was able to come up with so many new songs. By looking at her old songs from a different angle." Hitch scoffed, shaking his head and staring out into the horizon. "I'm a mess without her. I don't know what I'll do if I have to spend the rest of my life without her."

Sunny put a hoof on Hitch's shoulder. "Don't worry. We'll find her and bring her home."

Hitch looked at Sunny with sad eyes. "And what if we don't?"

Sunny didn't say anything. She just stared at his fear–filled eyes. She hadn't seen Hitch this vulnerable in a long time. The last time she'd seen him like this was ten years ago, when he was fourteen and his dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer. When he realized it was a likely possibility that he was going to lose his dad.

Sunny wanted to tell him that they'd find her, that they weren't going to go home without her. But that was all pointless, because, the truth was, they might not make it home at all. They may not find her. And even if they did, they might not live long enough to bring her home.

So, Sunny didn't say anything. Instead, she just stayed silent, following Hitch's gaze into the dark horizon, wondering just how in Equestria things got so bad from just a simple, miscommunicated fight one morning in the bedroom of the Crystal Brighthouse six months ago

Author's Note

Alright, the finale to the Pitch Tiology is here. This chapter sort of works as a recap chapter since so much had happened in the second part, I figured it was important to give a quick sum up of the important things.

But, don't worry. The fun is just beginning