This Day Has Been Just Perfect

“Boy! Where is that silly filly?” Pinkie Pie asked with concern while bouncing in place in the plush train car. “Twilight! We’re coming! We’re really, really,  really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really,” she gasped for more air. “really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really–”

“Pinkie, Ah told ya, y’all look in Ponyville first. Then we look other places. And we git that yer sorry. You can save it ‘till we actually see her.” Applejack said. Pinkie stopped repeating herself and everyone sighed in relief.

“Oh... if I find out she has actually hidden Twilight, I will pound that queen!” Rainbow Dash said cracked her hooves in anticipation. “Gonna squash her like the bug she is!”

“Now calm down Rainbow. We made a mistake and now we are going to fix it.” Applejack said. Then she lowered her voice. “And those creepy bug things are everywhere now. Watch watcha say from now on, RD.”

“I will. But what if she is not there?” Rainbow Dash asked. She hated conflicting emotions. One of hers was concern and empathy for her friend and possibly the real Princess Cadance. The other was anger at herself for letting her friend down and fury at the Queen of the Changelings.

“Ah don’t know. Ah guess we look for her until we find her.” Applejack said with a sad face that was more than real. She didn’t know what they’d do if Twilight wasn’t there.

“But... but what if that’s too... late?” Rainbow Dash asked with an expression that clearly stated, ‘It may already be too late’.

“We can’t think that way. Twilight’s fine. She always is.” Applejack replied solemnly. How could she be so sure. Rainbow is right. she thought. What if we get there too late? What if we are already too late?

They just sat there. The princess in tears and the unicorn there trying to hide her own for the princess’ sake. They didn’t know how long they had been in that one spot. But even if they did move, they would never find their way out. The labyrinth spell placed on the Canterlot Caves made that impossible.

If her friends did come, they would need Princess Celestia to break the spell and to find the way out. By what Twilight and Cadence heard, that would be a long wait.  Maybe longer than they have. Twilight thought something that was more than likely possible. We could die from starvation to dehydration. What would happen then?

Twilight suddenly stopped hearing the sobbing so she lifted her hoof from the Princess’ back. She saw a dirty face look at her. Twilight gave a reassuring smile to the broken mare. She held out a hoof and helped Cadence to her hooves.

“We need to get out of here.” Cadence said. Determination was written across her face with hints of fear and deep sadness. She started trotting away, but stopped when another set of hooves didn’t join.

“Princess?” Twilight said slowly. Her face was masked by a worried expression.

“Yes, Twilight?” answered Cadence. Noticing the worry on Twilight’s face, she shivered in the coldness of the Caves.

“What if our best chance is to remain here for the time being. The spell will keep us from seeing the exit no matter what we do or where we go. Time being, there is no possible way to find the exit.” Twilight wasn’t always the one to give up, but maybe it was time to call it quits, at least for a little while.

“I can see what you mean. But, let’s say your friends do come, what will they do to find you? It is not like they can break the spell. The only one who can do that is Princess Celestia or her as far as I know.” Cadance said, shuddering at the mention of the Queen. She sat down, suddenly weary, concern etched upon her face. Even she had to admit, it seemed pointless to run. “But we can stay for a bit. We will need to very soon anyway.”

Princess Cadance sat down next to Twilight. Twilight put her head down to take a short nap. Really, a short one. As Twilight drifted off, Cadence put her wing over Twilight and went to sleep as well.

“Twilight!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed as they entered the Golden Oakes Library. “Twilight!”

No answer came from the house.

This was strange. Pinkie thought. If Twilight would come anywhere, it would be here. Never has she disappeared like this, never.

“What did I tell you! She’s not here!” Rainbow Dash clapped her hooves once to clear invisible dust from them. “I say now we go pound some Changeling a–”

“Ah say we check the locals before we make a complete conclusion.” Applejack said quickly as to cut the  tomboyish pegasus off. She was trying to channel her inner Twilight and failing miserably. Rainbow Dash snickered at her poor attempt.

“Wha-?” Applejack asked she was a bit annoyed.

“Oh, nothing.” Rainbow Dash said innocently.

“Can we please focus on the task at hoof? I mean if you don’t mind.” Fluttershy said in her quiet, little voice of hers, hiding behind a curtain of her mane.

“Yeah, yeah. Lets go ask the anypony else. Got it. But guys, I have a strong feeling that in order to save Twilight, we need the Princess as well.”