Uneasy Lies the Head

Celestia's head drooped as she lie in bed. She was on her back and had been for the past couple days. Her primary caregiver had been Luna, though when that wasn't an option, she had a few ponies designated to taking care of her. Nobody was entirely sure what was wrong with her, and any medical examinations had turned up nothing.

In fact, at this point, many were starting to assume it was an act. Was it so surprising that such a busy pony would have a breakdown like this? Perhaps the stress of her daily life had just become too much to bear. She needed a break, and pretending to be ill was the only escape, even if a little childish.

Of course, Luna had her doubts. Clearly, she was becoming mentally distressed over the loss of her crown, and yet it was hard to imagine why it was so important. She marveled briefly at the idea that the crown had some sort of magical powers imbued in it that had not been relayed to her. It was distressing to imagine that her father had told Celestia of the great potential of such an item and cut her completely out of the picture.

In fact, now that she had risen back to her former state of glory, why had nopony warned or told her of this item's potential? Did they not trust her? Perhaps they feared that part of her still had the intention to retrieve the crown and use it to further a personal cause.

She snorted. That was probably it. They didn't trust her.

She was on her way down into Canterlot to mingle with the citizens as had become a part of her daily routine. In the wake of Celestia's departure from standard duty, the citizens were becoming somewhat restless. Everypony was filled with fears that without a ruling princess in the throne, evil might strike at any minute. And of course, one wailing pony is worth three or four more, as soon as they hear the first. Fear spreads ever faster than content, and Luna refused to let fear pull apart the city she and her sister ruled.

And yet, as Luna glided over one of the lanes that made up the intricate structure of Canterlot's streets, she spied a downtrodden group of six making their way solemnly up to the castle. It was Twilight Sparkle and her friends. She swooped down to meet them.

"Hail, Twilight Sparkle!" she loudly declared as she dropped in-front of them. "Where are you and your friends headed? The castle has already been thoroughly checked, I assure you."

Twilight looked at her for a moment and then back to her friends, "Luna, we can't do it. We can't find it. We've been looking for five days, and nopony knows anything! We've all but given up."

Luna laughed briefly as she looked over the group of friends. "I have never known your group to give up, Twilight. Surely, you can't have looked everywhere in Equestria. You know that this is one of the most important assignments you've ever been given. As long as that crown is missing, Celestia is in danger. The entirety of Equestria may be in danger; it is hard to say. Suffice it to say, giving up is not an option."

Applejack spoke up next, "If I may offer a suggestion, princess," at this, Luna nodded and Applejack continued, "We need a suggestion. We've all but checked every settlement, city and town from here to the edge of the world and back, and we've come up nothing but plum tuckered."

Next it was Rainbow Dash, "We just don't know what to do! Help us figure out where that crown is, and we'll zip in there and come back with it faster than you can say 'Equestria is saved.' It's just finding it that's the hard part."

"-and I'm stumped!" The words fell to the ground like bricks. "I'm all out of ideas. There are no riddles or puzzles to analyze and solve, Luna. The crown is simply gone! It got up, and it walked away, and we can't find anything about it, anywhere!"

At this, the whole group dropped their head again. They all knew, somewhere in the back of their mind, that if Twilight Sparkle herself couldn't figure out what the pattern was, there simply wasn't any pattern. The crown was gone. Their only hope of finding it was pure luck. It wasn't a hopeful thought.

Luna chuckled again. "And I'm telling you and your friends again that giving up is not an option, Twilight Sparkle. I understand that it can be frustrating not having any direction, but this is where your combined intuition and friendship is supposed to help. Celestia entrusted the task to you because all of you are more valuable to her than anypony when it comes to matters of importance. I refuse to hear that that is for no reason at all, and futhermore, I refuse to hear that it cannot be done. You and your friends will find that crown! You will!"

Luna's passionate speech fell almost as loudly as Twilight's original statement. A heavy silence sat in the air. After a few moments, Luna quickly finished, "Now, go!"

Twilight turned to her friends and commanded them back out. They left at a gallop, either afraid of Luna or emboldened by her speech. She was not sure which, but the important fact was that they were moving once again. Truthfully, Luna had almost as much faith in the group as Celestia did. They had proven themselves time and time again, and she could hardly believe this was a problem they could not solve. In fact, Luna had barely believed it was a problem at all.

And yet, the more she reflected on it, the more she felt like she was missing something. There was an underlying importance she didn't yet see. Perhaps there was something to it that she could not find. The idea annoyed her, and she trotted along saying hi to this stallion or that mare as she wracked her mind internally.

She couldn't help but feel as if somehow, this entire problem was rooted somewhere very near.

_________________________________________________________________

As all this was happening, Sunny was still where we had left her. She stood silent in Ms. Ride's bedroom, hunched over her dresser, her precious jewel in hand. How had this happened? What did this mean?

Her mind spun at the realization that Ms. Ride had lied to her from the moment they met. She was upset to her core in that very moment, and then she realized that Ms. Ride hadn't actually lied; she never claimed she hadn't found the jewel.

And yet, she had found it! Where? It couldn't have been far, and she must have known it belonged to Sunny! The thought must have at least crossed her mind. Maybe she was in denial over its belonging to Sunny, or maybe she just hoped it was coincidental. Maybe she was just keeping safe!

No. No, Ms. Ride intended to keep that jewel. She knew it deep in her heart.

She stopped herself again. But why should she even care? Ms. Ride had taken her into her home. Ms. Ride had given her a bed and food and companionship. Ms. Ride was like a sister to her, a big sister that would always take care of her.

But it might not last forever! She might turn her out at some point, that wasn't something that had been discussed. Maybe Ms. Ride didn't see her as the sister that she wanted to be.

It was all too confusing, and Sunny realized that she had frozen in place in front of the drawer. She didn't know what to think, but she needed to do something quick and get out of this room. She didn't want to be caught, because if Ms. Ride had hidden the jewel from her knowing it was hers, then finding it might be enough of a reason to kick her out before she caused trouble. She had to either take the jewel and run or leave it there. She had to act, and she had to do it now. She knew this was the defining moment, and yet she lingered, but then-

Sunny grabbed the jewel in her mouth.