//------------------------------// // 8: A Piece of the Puzzle // Story: Shadowrunner: Equestria // by law abiding pony //------------------------------// The next morning, Celestia sighed contently from an excellent breakfast. She was currently walking through the back door into the throne room. If she was honest, this was her favorite part of the day. Here, the lines between her citizens, be they tribe, wealth, or distance from the capital, were removed. She would see to all of their concerns to the best of her abilities, stretched as they were by intruding politics and tiresome lobbyists. At least I’m cape of getting things done unlike the republics of the world, she mused with quite the satisfaction. To the outside observer, the throne room looked unchanged since the palace was first constructed.  A vast marble chamber with a high arched ceiling was framed by stained glass windows. A single narrow red carpet led up from the main oak doors to the single throne on a raised dais. Celestia emerged from a tall, narrow door behind the throne and started making her way to her seat of office.  Her entry sparked a flurry of activity as holograms started manifesting across the chamber. So far, all of them were ponies of various tribes, yet they remained mostly transparent.  Buffering symbols danced around their formless heads, which would only be filled with the images of actual citizens when Celestia gave the word. However, Celestia barely made it halfway to her throne before she realized the royal guards were not at their posts.  Quickly, she scanned the marble pillars between the floor-to-ceiling windows and found no one until she turned her gaze towards the only other person there. Standing in the middle of the chamber was Flintlock, who was in front of a large object that was concealed by a white sheet.  The leather-winged stallion was still wearing the combat uniform from the night prior, and he wore an exhausted, yet proud expression.  There was a hooded robe on the floor, undoubtably the one he used to walk freely about the palace. He had a phone in his hoof, but put it away once he realized Celestia had arrived.  “Your majesty! I was just about to call you about this,” he waved at the concealed object. “I ordered the guards to step out for matters of, well—me.” Celestia nodded a bit.  Strange. The guards know about the Nightborne, even if the general staff don’t.  Why would he feel the need to excuse them? Celestia decided to play things by ear, and kept her calm composure.  “Naturally. So what brings you here at this hour?” “I wanted to give you a few gifts, courtesy of Section Eleven.”  Flintlock opened a satchel and withdrew a stone sphere and presented it to Celestia who was now walking past the dais to approach him.  “My section and I liberated the Element of Loyalty last night.” Shock ran through Celestia’s core.  Rainbow Dash was supposed to raid the manor last night.  Celestia forced herself to show a much reserved, yet pleased demeanor.  “Truly?” She finished closing the distance between them and claimed the offered artifact in her magic.  The relic may have been out of her possession for centuries, but there was no mistaking an Element. Not to her.  “I trust you took care of Denim Pants while you were there.” “Naturally.”  Flintlock bowed respectfully before looking Celestia in the eye.  “I must admit, that detective we took on from the technology park was instrumental on that account.  She arrested the traitor with limited support. I needed everypony else in the strike team to secure Loyalty.” Celestia turned away from Flintlock under the pretense of inspecting the Element a bit closer with her magic.  The act gave her some time to purge any concern from her reserved, yet pleased emotional mask. Rainbow never said if she was bringing Twilight on that run.  If she was seen or taken… “I take it Denim had top-of-the-line security in place. The Element was the only thing protecting him after all. However, don’t tell me you infiltrated his manor just to show up Director Claptrap.  If I’m going to have him filing a grievance, I’d like to know why you overstepped your bounds.” “I can put the details in my report later, but to give you the bullet points, Pinkie Pie had a vision of-a-sort which convinced me to begin a stakeout of the manor.  From there we detected Rainbow Dash was on the premises.” Celestia had been expecting this, and so she was able to feign surprise after taking a second to act as if she was remembering the name.  “Her? So the black mark on the Nightborne decides to show her face within a traitor’s home? One which also housed Loyalty?” “The irony was not lost on me either.”  Flintlock’s short-lived smirk was replied by a downcast frown.  “I’m afraid she eluded capture in the end, but I managed to put a few new holes in her, for what it’s worth.  I’d say she probably bled out in the end, but Shadowrunners always seem to pop back up from being presumed dead.” “I see.” Play your part, ol’ girl.  “Was she working for Denim? A pony like him would have taken sick joy in employing her.” “No,” Flintlock stated with a firm head shake. “She was apparently there to steal Loyalty with only one accomplice, a unicorn mare that loosely matches the description of the decker from the first heist.” Good, not Twilight then. He could have recognized her.. “They might have possibly had some other objectives we haven’t uncovered yet,” Flintlock continued. “Detective Pinkie Pie and I are in agreement that Rainbow Dash played a part in the theft of Generosity as well.  Denim can be ruled out as the money backing the heist.” Perhaps I should have waited until after the Summer Sun Celebration to hire Miss Pie.  There was nothing for it now. Celestia adopted the posture and positive demeanor of a satisfied monarch. “You have my gratitude for rescuing the Element out from under our traitorous thief. And be sure to extend my accolades towards Miss Pie as well for a job well done.” A sideways grin crossed Flintlock’s face. “Something tells me our little prophet already knows, but I will relay your gratitude all the same.” His good humor evaporated as he shuffled uncomfortably. “I would be remiss if I didn’t mention this.” His sudden change in demeanor made Celestia uncomfortable. “During the incident, one of my subordinates, Vapor Trail, was incapacitated. A security robot was threatening her life, and neither myself nor Sky Stinger were close enough to aid her. Rather than using the opportunity to make her escape, Rainbow Dash used a stolen IFF card to make the security robot ignore Vapor Trail and instead turn its attention upon herself.  The act gave me time to catch up to her for a bit.” “She did..?” Celestia felt stunned, utterly lost for words. She had to search her memory back to those terrible days when Rainbow shamed the Nightborne. “Vapor Trail… wasn’t she the one Winter Glen overpowered to free his marefriend?” Flintlock winced, barely perceivable by the old mare. He was hoping I wouldn’t remember that part. Curious.  “Perhaps Rainbow felt like she owed Vapor a favor. At least that’s how it sounds if you heed the rumors that circulate your tower.” Flintlock hastily knelt before Celestia. “Your highness, nopony has worked harder to prove herself than Vapor Trail. She personally confronted the fugitive to bring her in. “…She was not found wanting.” While Celestia couldn’t show it, his defense of his night-sister eased Celestia’s troubled heart. “Very well, I’ll consider the matter closed. As for Rainbow Dash and our missing Element, make finding her your top priority. When you do, you’ll likely find out where her employer spirited away with Generosity.”   Flintlock bowed deeply to the point where his forehead nearly touched the floor. “As always, your will be done.” Just this once I wish you were not so diligent in your work.  But telling you to leave her alone would be too suspicious. “Expect to hear further instructions from me once I have a chance to read your full report.  Have it ready for me by the end of the Solar Court.” “As you wish, your grace.”  Flintlock ended his bow to reveal the smile of a happy servant.  He stepped to the side and waved a hoof over the covered object. “I’m sure by now you’re wanting to know what I brought.”   A coy eyebrow-lift was her only answer for a long moment.  “I’ll admit to being rather curious. Something else of value Denim was hoarding, I take it?” “Quite right. Allow me to present to you what was stolen a century ago.”  Flintlock turned around and gripped the sheet with his teeth and walked back to pull it off the irregular object.  The statue of a black alicorn set upon a lonely slab of stone looked back at Celestia with sad, forlorn eyes. Lulu. Celestia gasped and hid her mouth behind a hoof. Her eyes went wide as tears threatened to form. “You - you found her?” “Denim had it in full display in his entry hall,” Flintlock spat scornfully. “I couldn’t let a statue of Mother Moon’s true self wallow in some evidence warehouse waiting for you.  Well, that, and Claptrap’s raid would have probably destroyed it out of ignorance.” The ageless alicorn felt her heart shatter. Oh, how terribly she had missed that face. With the last vestiges of her self control, Celestia was able to speak with an even tone. She was glad the guards were absent. “Thank you for returning this to me. Please, leave.” With an understanding nod, Flintlock hastily donned his robe and covered himself. “Until next time, my Princess.”  Without another word, Flintlock made his way to the main doors and left. The instant the doors were closed behind him, Celestia wept openly before the statue of her lost sister. A bleary mind crawled towards the waking world as slowly as frozen molasses going uphill. Stabbing light hurt her eyes, but she was too stubborn to let this drowsiness keep her down. My babies, I - I have to make sure they’re safe. Sleep was begging her, pulling at her eyes to make her succumb, but her maternal fear gave her the strength to wake up. Once her eyes stopping protesting and came into focus, she was finally able to barely feel two large, warm, furry lumps were curled up next to her belly. Every limb felt like lead, but Rainbow Dash was bound and determined to find out where she was. Her sluggish brain took a while to realize the shine on the ceiling from the window meant it was midday, and that she was in bed. The covers felt like massive weights as she tried to shift from her side to her back. It was only after several attempts that she finally thought to check on the warm lumps. Her growing fear bled away once she realized they were her children. The twins were curled up together, keeping her warm. Her fear abated, and with a happy smile at seeing them safe and sound, Rainbow drifted off once more. It was late into the night when Rainbow roused again. She felt just as sluggish as before, but the fatigue wasn’t quite as powerful. She was still in bed, but this time Winter Glen, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Twilight were surrounding the bed. Winter had a heat pad pressed against Rainbow’s forehead. Fluttershy had a bowl of steaming soup. Rainbow’s nose had to have been lying to her because she thought she could smell liver and spinach. Both were costly in a mostly vegetarian-leaning-omnivore society. Rarity had been fussing over the thestral’s dress that was draped on a ponyquin until she heard Rainbow wake with a groan. As for Twilight, she was hanging up a fresh IV bag close to Rainbow’s head. “Eeeasy there, Rainbow Crash, you lost a lot of blood back there.” Rainbow had enough wits about her to pout and glare at her husband. She tried to shake her hoof menacingly at him, but only managed to lift it a few inches off the bed. “I still have enough blood to waste you, you prick.” Fluttershy was a timid creature, if anything, but not when it came to offering medical help. Upon hearing Rainbow was awake, she gently, in the loosest definition of the word, shoved Winter aside so she could all but shove a spoonful of broth into Rainbow’s muzzle. “Here, eat up. This has lots of iron and vitamins. It’ll help you remake blood faster.” Rainbow couldn’t smell any seasoning beyond salt and pepper, but her nose easily picked up on the liver. A meat she hadn’t had since fleeing the castle. She gladly took the bite her childhood friend was offering, and melted into the succulent taste of expensive food. The others waited for Rainbow to eat half of the broth before Twilight walked around everyone else so she could talk to Rainbow without getting in Fluttershy’s way. “How are you feeling?” Rainbow groaned after swallowing the latest bits of spinach. “Like complete drek. Where are the kids?” It was Rarity to answered as she leaned over Winter with a placating smile. “They’re with the Crusaders down stairs. Apple Bloom is teaching them some simple cooking recipes.  I expressly forbade Sweetie Belle from going near the stove.” Twilight Sparkle’s ears fell flat. “Is it really safe to have foals that young cook unsupervised?” Fluttershy nodded, her mane completely covering her face for a few moments, causing her to slide the spoon a bit too much from Rainbow’s mouth.  “Oh yes, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo are very familiar with how to use a fire extinguisher.” Twilight recoiled a bit in fright.  “I… don’t want to know why. Do I?” “What happened after I passed out?” Rainbow croaked as bits of broth drooled down her cheek. Winter had been ready with a wet cloth and cleaned her up as Rarity spoke. “Chop Shop found you bleeding out in Green Park. He says he used some razors edge medicine to close your wounds so you’d stop bleeding. Quite the bill he forwarded me about that, but seeing you alive makes it worth it.” Rarity gave the thestral mare a troubled face. “He at least brought you to the pickup point so Twilight and Fluttershy could bring you the rest of the way home.” Rainbow Dash tried to pull herself up into a sitting posture, but dizziness washed over her. She would have collapsed back into bed if Fluttershy’s and Twilight’s magic had not caught her. They laid her down gently while Fluttershy presented another bite to eat. “Sorry Rainbow, but you shouldn’t move much. You’ve lost a lot of blood. I’d rather put you in a hospital, but well - you know.” “I knew it was bad,” Rainbow said raspier than usual. She tried to put on a brave grin, but even that felt draining. “I feel like drek.” Rarity’s face was marred by a frown. “I must apologize. After making some payments on my own debts, I couldn’t afford any synth-blood from Chop Shop, and I don’t trust any other doctor with knowing your tribe.” Winter Glen squirmed at not being able to do more to ease his wife’s pains. “At least Celestia can’t say you failed, right?” With the grumpiest scowl that ever existed on this Earth or any other, Rainbow aimed this soul shrinking glare at the only stallion that could resist it. “And how do you figure that?” “Flintlock is still police right? He either has to return the Element to Celestia or he’s part of the conspiracy against the crown. Either way, it’s still a win right?” He added with a charming grin. “He has a fair point,” Twilight added in, unasked. “But I—” even thinking was getting Rainbow lightheaded. “Flutters, how long am I going to be out?” “Well um, unless thestrals have some regenerative powers I’m not aware of, for the amount you lost… three weeks to a month or so.  Unless we went to a hospital for synth-blood, because they won’t sell it to outpatients.” “Wonderful.” Twilight’s attention was pulled away by the sunstone shining from her saddlebag. “Uh oh.  I think the Princess wants to come over.” Without waiting for the others to acknowledge or even give permission, Twilight floated the sunstone over to a relatively open part of the bedroom and put a bit of golden magic into the stone. The others barely had time to shield their eyes before Celestia teleported over in a wash of burning light and heat. She looked over the gathered ponies, and Rainbow Dash in particular, with pensive eyes. Not that Twilight noticed as she was already bowing deeply. “Welcome back, Princess.” Celestia was only mildly aware of the other ponies bowing as well when Twilight shook her train of thoughts loose. “Thank you, Twilight. I wish to speak with my Captain.”   With the room being so cramped, the alicorn had no way of respectfully walking around Twilight. The purple unicorn squeaked out of sudden embarrassment and hastily shuffled out of the way. Celestia gave Twilight a brief, reassuring nod so her panicky student wouldn’t emotionally fall apart.  She then approached Rainbow Dash who tried to give a shaky, feeble salute. “I see you had an unwanted confrontation last night.” Rainbow scoffed, but at least managed to keep from rolling her eyes. “Glad to hear this wasn’t some extra test or whatever. I was just thinking that if you really wanted me dead, you’d have done it yourself.” Rarity and Fluttershy were a bit worried with how frank Rainbow was being. Winter silently praised his wife while Twilight was caught between utter shock and indignation towards Rainbow. As for Celestia, she took it with grace. “I fear Flintlock’s presence was my fault. The shaman you encountered at Clover Labs was wasting her talent as a security guard. I had her join Section Eleven… where she promptly had a vision that pointed Flintlock straight towards Denim’s manor.” Twilight was the first one to freak out and spoke up while Rainbow cursed her luck. “Wait, if they have a shaman with trusted visions, then she could lead Section Eleven straight here!” “Doubtful,” Winter replied with a sharp tone. “Spirits are fickle at the best of times.  If the Nightborne haven’t found us here in the last five years, I doubt this new seer can do any better.” Celestia nodded in agreement. “If Flintlock’s report was accurate, all of the negative chi in Denim’s estate had degraded his private wards. A pity Clap—the Section director in charge hadn’t considered that. In any event,” Celestia studied Rainbow’s body; noting how weak and sickly she looked. “It seems he was unaware of how badly you were injured.” “Just half my blood,” Rainbow croaked with a parched throat. “I’ve had worse,” Winter butted in with a wink at Rainbow. “Of that there is little doubt,” Celestia replied as her eyes drifted over his scars and limp. She looked back over to Rainbow. “Worry not about your own inability to personally deliver the Element. As I’m sure you’ve guessed, Flintlock surrendered it to me this morning.”   “Called it,” Winter whispered to Rainbow. “Well damn, and here I was hoping he’d keep it so you could fry his ass for me.” Celestia took Rainbow’s crass remark as a side effect of severe blood loss. As such, she kept her pensive expression. “I’ll admit this is hardly a desirable situation.  Nevertheless, our work must continue.” With that, Celestia’s horn lit up. Moments later, a machine roughly the size of a teenage pony was teleported onto the floor. It had a clearly medical sterility about it with the stark white paint covering the left side of the machine.  That side had a touchscreen along with several small tube attachments. The right side had plastic canisters that had refrigerated condensation. The whole room dropped a few degrees in temperature as small whiffs of cooling gases escaped. “Twilight, dear, I trust you know how to operate this.” “An autodoc?”  Twilight nosed her way over to get between Rainbow and the machine.  “Can’t say I ever really expected to use one for real, but this is about as plug-and-play as you can get with meditech.” Rainbow Dash pulled back when Twilight took both a blunt sensor probe and a needle tipped hose and tried to sweep the latter over the thestral’s foreleg.  “Whoa, whoa, since when did you have a medical degree?!” “You don’t need one,” Rarity commented as she tactfully circled the bed so she could better inspect the machine.  She spoke as her gaze went all over the canisters and hosing. “This one has all of the proper accoutrements it seems. I’ve - ah -” Rarity’s eyes flicked at Celestia for a moment, and coughed uncomfortably.  “Moved a few of these before. There’s still a patent pending last I heard.” Celestia watched Rainbow hesitantly surrender a foreleg so Twilight could get to work.  Her student left the needle housing part in the air so she could focus on using the sensor probe first. “Redheart Pharmaceuticals gifted my royal infirmary with the first production model off the line.  I had to be… creative with my excuse for borrowing it. Medical staff can be so gossip prone for a profession that champions confidentiality.” With enough written labels on everything, and a few dozen trial runs from her time in the palace, Twilight deftly moved the probe slowly up and down along Rainbow’s body and limbs.  It didn’t take long for the machine to speak in a calming, masculine voice. “Diagnosis: severe exsanguination. Blood sample required for synthesis.” “I coulda told it that.” Rainbow laid the mockery on as thick as her cotton-addled brain could bestow.  “Also, couldn’t you have just done that in the first place?” Twilight’s cheeks reddened as she put the sensor back to focus on the needle attachment.   “According the manual, it’s standard procedure.” The needle part of the attachment was housed in a cube-like thing that Twilight placed on Rainbow’s left foreleg.  Everyone else watched in mild-to-truly-intrigued fascination as the machine picked the best place for the needle to go in. Once it had extracted a small sample, the blood was fed into the machine. Twilight left it to go about its work.  “If memory serves, it’ll start figuring out your particular blood type and protein content before synthesising an exact match.  This is as close to getting infused with your own blood as one can get.” “That’s… cool,” Rainbow admitted with begrudging admission. “How long will it take?” Winter asked both Twilight and Celestia. Celestia remained a bit passive while Twilight looked over the readings on the autodoc.  “About a day.” “Good to hear,” Celestia said first while the others in the room gave various levels of nods or sighs of relief.  “Alas, time is still not on our side. I would like to discuss things moving forward, that is, if you have the strength to stay awake for a while yet.” A tiny bit of the fog was lifting from Rainbow’s mind.  Just enough for her forbearance of Celestia to reassert itself.  “I ah, I may need somepony to write things down, but I can try, Princess.” Celestia simply nodded before using her magic to open a saddlebag.  “Gathering the Elements is only half of the plan.” The alicorn pulled out a trio of stone spheres and presented them to her audience.  “For my purposes, the Elements require a bear - er…” Out of the three presented spheres, two of them started glowing faintly: Loyalty and Generosity.  The other ponies, save Twilight, were unfazed by the glow. When it came to the Princess, such things were practically expected. Twilight was rendered silent for a few moments while two of the white stars on her cutie mark began to glow.  Even as her teacher stood there in mute shock. “Two of you are bearers?! Princess, I can hardly believe our luck!” “Nor - can I.”  Celestia recovered her wits, and focused on the Element of Loyalty.  She moved it around, finding the glow intensified anytime it got close to Rainbow Dash.  Celestia’s mind went racing. “And in a time of need, they shall reveal themselves,” she quoted to herself before absently placed the glowing sphere on top of Rainbow’s chest. “Uhh, Princess?” Rainbow asked worriedly as she shielded her eyes from the increasing light.   Rarity faced much the same when Generosity was levitated in front of her, the glow started to become uncomfortably bright.  “Oh my, as much as I like shiny things, this is a bit much for even me.” With a sudden shake of her head, Celestia stopped running on autopilot and pulled the glowing Elements back into her saddlebag where they went dark once more.  “It seems this gamble of trusting you was well founded.” Between the two of them, Winter Glen and Fluttershy were rubbing the spots from their eyes, and had to content themselves with just listening in. Rainbow Dash was still blinking to recover, and had missed Celestia’s last comment.  “So - uh - Princess, was that thing supposed to do more, or was it just a big fancy GPS towards the most awesome pony on the planet?” Her husband cracked a smirk and ribbed Rainbow Dash just hard enough to get a yelp out of her.  “Your humility is on full display, Sugarbun.” “I have my moments,” Rainbow replied with a smack right back. Celestia had been delayed in responding as she couldn’t come up with an answer.  That pause gave Twilight Sparkle the sense that her teacher wanted her to present a theory.  But in Twilight’s mind, what she was about to say was absolute fact. “The Elements can’t fully awaken yet,” she announced, bringing all attention towards her.  “Until all six Elements and their chosen bearers are brought together, they will remain in their current passive state.” The feathered unicorn blinked a bit as the glow faded from her cutie mark, and with it the certainty of her claim, in her mind at least. For Celestia however, her mind was set, and her face took on a stern mask.  “I see. Captain,” she announced sharply to cut through any more sass. The call had the desired effect, and made Rainbow Dash and Winter reflexively sit or stand up straight.  She even had Fluttershy’s and Rarity’s undivided attention. “The Element of Loyalty choosing you speaks volumes. Whether you have always held that virtue within your heart or the crucible of your… exile has molded you into a better pony doesn’t matter, for the results are the same.  By royal edict, I declare your crimes both past and present forgiven.” Winter went wide eyed right alongside her husband.  “Just like that? We haven’t found out who these conspirators are yet.” “True, but I need no further proof that you,” she gestured at the married couple, “are loyal to both Equestria and the crown.  A more suitable reward will have to be thought of, should you wish to continue your work.” “So I guess I’m still formally guilty of the big crime back then?” Rainbow fumed, only to get ribbed even harder by Winter. “Can you shut up about that until she makes the edict public one day? Please?!” “Okay, fine.”  Rainbow Dash breathed deeply, a bit more of her strength had returned, but sitting up this long was leaving her lightheaded.  “You bet your tail I’m not going to just buzz off somewhere. What’s next?” Celestia bore a slight grin.  “Our next course of action is clear.  I will use last night’s events as an excuse to recall the remaining two Elements from public service.  For now, I want you to rest and recover, Captain. This move will undoubtedly cause the conspirators to make a move, and I will be waiting for it.  I want you back up to strength for when I have some reliable intelligence for you to act upon.” “Yes, Princess,” the two thestrals replied in unison. Sensing Celestia might be ready to leave, Twilight stepped around so the alicorn would see her.  “Princess, I can’t seem to find any news reports on my family. Can you tell me anything before you go, please?” A knowing, sad, face fell upon Celestia as she rose to stand.  “Your parents are starting to recover from mourning. Night Light returned to the Royal Observatory just last week, and your mother has become somewhat active again on Hoof Square.  As for your brother, publicly, he is still working, but I gave him an extended leave of absence in private so he could grieve away from the paparazzi.” Twilight sighed.  She closed her eyes, trying not to imagine their crying faces of grief and betrayal.  “Could. Could you at least let my brother know I’m alive? That the clone wasn’t really me?” Celestia hummed and rubbed her chin with a hoof.  The gears churned with what such a request might cost against how much she could see Twilight was desperate.  “It’s a risk to be sure. But perhaps I can do you one better. Write a letter to Shining Armor. I care not how much you divulge to him.  After all, a Captain of the Guard has to know how to keep a secret. But I’m afraid your parents will have to remain ignorant.” A massive grin spread along Twilight’s muzzle.  “Thank you, Princess! I’ll write a physical letter, no traceable files, promise!”   Celestia watched her student all but break down the bedroom door trying to race towards Fluttershy’s machine shop.  The pegasus guessed what Twilight would be after, eeped at the damage a manic Twilight could do looking for paper and pen, and ran after her.  “Wait, you can use the draft paper, just please don’t—” anything else she said was lost when the door shut behind her. “Captain,” Celestia began with a much more casual tone, allowing the two thestrals to be more at ease.  “When you are able, include your side of events from last night in one of the data files I purchase.” “I can write it for her,” Wintered offered to both mares.  “Her typing skills are complete garbage anyway.” Rainbow shot him a scathing scowl, to which Winter purposely avoided eye contact, but had a smirk a mile long.  “I can dictate it, thank you very much.” “Then I will leave you to your rest.”   As Celestia stepped back, Rainbow Dash took a playful swipe at her husband. He dodged it, showing a massive smirk plastered on his face. “I am so going to suck so much of your blood, you’ll be the one strapped to the autodoc!” Celestia wrinkled her brow at the odd, yet common, thestral preoccupation with vampirism, but ultimately deemed it as harmless fun. She was about to summon her magic to teleport when Rarity made her way forward and briefly bowed.  “Your Highness, may I share a word in private?” Celestia regarded the alabaster mare with a studious eye.  She had to admit, Celestia had passed off the story of Rarity buying Rainbow and Winter this house out of her business startup money as exaggeration at best.  However, as Generosity’s chosen, that tale, and the esteem such sacrifice warranted in Celestia’s eyes, made the ancient mare give the unicorn more regard. “Certainly, Miss Rarity.”  Celestia gestured, then moved as close to the wall furthest from the bed. Once both she and Rarity were in place, Celestia cast an opaque shield around them. “There we go. Speak your mind, Miss Rarity.” Rarity had to take a moment to compose herself under such isolating scrutiny of the most powerful being she knew.  Even so, she was a lady of class, and refused be cowed into speechlessness. “Um - yes - did that Flintlock fellow mention anything of the AI Denim Pants had?  Dreams was its name.” Celestia tilted her head a bit in thought.  “His report did, yes. There was a simplistic AI in the basement that was hostile and subsequently destroyed.  This Dreams AI was absent by the time the clean up crew’s deckers arrived. I’m assuming it is loose upon the matrix.  I’m having a whole division of military deckers hunting it down.” Rarity’s face became unreadable to all but Celestia’s vast experience.  The unicorn was strangely saddened. “I don’t think your hunters will have much trouble.  AIs require a quantum processor, and primarily the one they were created to use. Their runtimes will start to degrade if they migrate.” Celestia nodded, grateful of the news.  “I see. I admit to only having a cursory knowledge of such subjects, so I will yield to your expertise.  Is that all?” “N-no, your highness.  Dreams mentioned a think tank, Resolute Chorus, and said Rainbow Dash was, to quote, ‘a planned organism’.”  It was Rarity’s turn to now study Celestia’s reaction, yet the wizened mare betrayed nothing, if there was anything to betray at all. “Planned?”  Celestia blinked.  “All modern thestrals - well save the two children at least - are reengineered from adult pegasi.  Is that what it meant?” “No, your highness.  Dreams was quite adamant that Rainbow was, pardon the uncouth term, a test tube baby.” Celestia averted her eyes as she tried to think back.  She remembered looking over Rainbow’s old file after she formed the Shadowbolts, so it was still somewhat fresh in her mind.  “If I recall correctly, Rainbow’s parents were affluent enough to afford the standard battery of genetic disease corrections and splurged a bit on improving her natural flying talents, but that’s hardly anything of substance to worry about.  Besides, Resolute Chorus’ purpose was to pre-screen any pegasi joining the military for viability in joining the Nightborne. If compatible, they were approached with an offer.” Rarity inwardly cursed the fact that the data from her Tessan’s hard drive was proving difficult to pull considering the drive’s connections were fried.  As it stood, she only had what the AI had told her directly to go by. “Dreams was quite adamant that there was more to Resolute Chorus than simple monitoring.  If it pleases you, I’d like to investigate RC in person.” “There is more to the Chorus than simple monitoring,” Celestia admitted with a slightly gruff tone.  “But there is such a thing as compartmentalizing secrets of national security. I will need more than a potentially hostile, and dead AI’s concerns to authorize this.” To Rarity’s credit, she was already ahead of Celestia’s objection.  “Princess, allow me this tangent, but is Twilight an Element bearer, by chance?” Celestia’s demeanor would have become icy if that question had been asked by most ponies.  Rarity’s status as a bearer herself was the only thing keeping the alicorn from shutting this conversation down that instant.  “...She is. How does that relate?” “Doesn’t it seem odd to you that both Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle were both framed and publically killed or exiled?” Celestia gasped a small bit.  Dots were connecting in her mind that she dared hoped were wrong.  “Just what do you think you’re going to find?” “A think tank whose purpose is to locate ponies mentally compatible with joining the Nightborne could just as easily look for ponies who were compatible with the Elements.  And it just so happens that two such candidates were removed from the picture.” Rarity imagined herself in a slick suit and a matching fedora as she pulled the pieces together with an inward grin.  “I don’t know why you’re looking for us bearers, but you can’t be the only one. That other party clearly wants us removed from the board.” “But not killed,” Celestia muttered as her thoughts drifted towards her personal student.  “They’re doing this the hard way, but why?” Too many pieces were missing, she fumed at the lack of information.  “Very well. Take whoever you need, but make sure you pass any secrets you find by me before you sell any of it. If your suspicions are in any way correct, I - I’d rather not contemplate the implications.  Give me some time to gather some information for you to make infiltration easier. I know of at least one scientist there that I can trust to be discrete.” Early the following morning, after Celestia had already raised the sun, the alicorn stood before a helipad.  She stood in quiet repose, a stark contrast to the noisy aircraft that was spooling up its engines for takeoff.  Two ponies ran from the backwash and noise, towards Celestia. A tired, hopeful smile graced her face once the two arrivals got within speaking distance, and the helicopter had pulled far enough away for them to speak normally.  “Captain Shining Armor, Cadance, I trust your vacation was… recuperative.” The white stallion looked strong and sure-footed, but there was still a deep pain in his azure eyes that the old alicorn could see plain as day.  “Yes, your majesty. I can’t thank you enough for giving me such an extended leave of absence.” Cadance briefly nuzzled her fiancé.  “I hope Sunny hasn’t been overburdened with my duties.  I’d like to get back into things once we get resettled.” “Of course.  The palace hasn’t been the same without you.”  Celestia turned aside and swept a wing towards her personal balcony.    “But before I let you two run off, please, indulge an old mare with some gossip.  I fear all I hear about these days is business and politics.” A smile graced Cadance’s face while a forced one fell on Shining’s own.  “We’d be happy to, right Shining?” “Yeah, I’m sure Steel can handle an hour or two longer without me.” Celestia led the couple to a balcony that had a panoramic view of not just the city below, but the vast landscapes beyond.  At this early time of day, air traffic was largely limited to individual pegasi rather than any mass transit. Birdsong from the royal aviary tickled their ears as they sat down. An untouched breakfast sat on a table which kept each piece of pancake perfectly warm and the milk cool due to technologically guided magic fields. As such, the servant who had brought it was long gone, along with any other tenders Celestia usually kept around.  “Please, join me. I want to know all about your time at the Cloister.” Shining Armor was the first to notice the lack of servants.  His eyes swept over to the skies above and saw no guards or even security drones flying anywhere close.  “I could go for a bite to eat.” “I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed our little word games, Aunty Tia,” Cadance added with a wistful sigh. Celestia smiled again as she claimed her seat.  “Sometimes losing oneself in the past can help us bear the present.” As the three ponies started slowly eating, a barely perceptible wave of energy bubbled up from the ground around them and washed over the whole dining area until a firm, glassy dome surrounded them.  As far as the outside world was concerned, the resulting conversation would be of little interest to anyone except a gossip rag. Cadance ended up being the only one to start eating right away, and dug into the yogurt.  Shining Armor only watched Celestia in silent expectation of bad news, while the alabaster alicorn waited only long enough to be satisfied the privacy screen was set. When she finally did speak, it was with a hopeful, cautious voice.  “Shining Armor, Cadance, I want to preface what I’m about to say by saying I would have told you the news as soon as I found out myself, if it weren’t for… recent issues.”  Celestia paused a moment to let her concern sink in. “Twilight Sparkle is not only alive and well, but is not the traitor we were led to believe.” Shining Armor went numb.  His whole leave of absence was to emotionally recover from Twilight’s death.  His heart couldn’t risk this being some cruel joke. Cadance was caught between confusion and jubilation.  “Really? Wh - How?” “Apparently, the Twilight who was… shot by the Guard was a clone of some kind.  Since the body was cremated, I can’t go back and verify where it might have come from.  But I can tell you the real Twilight is safe.” Shining Armor released a heavy breath, his meal utterly forgotten as he leaned in towards Celestia.  “How did you find out? Where is she?” “A little under a week ago, a thestral found your sister entombed within a cryo stasis pod inside a blacksite.  As to whether this site was owned by a megacorp or the government, I can’t find out myself. I’m afraid I’m too high profile to investigate that particular matter without tipping my hoof. “As for where she is, Twilight is still under the protection of two thestrals.” Celestia knew what Shining’s next question would be, and mentally built herself up for it. Shining Armor still couldn’t bring himself to let his emotional walls down.  Until Twilight was safe in his protection, he had to remain hardened, focused.  “Why do you keep saying thestrals, and not the Nightborne?” Celestia was silent for a long moment.  Confusion of what she had learned warred on both her face and in her mind.  “She was found by Rainbow Dash and Winter Glen.” “I can’t say I’m familiar with the names.” Cadance started before looking at Shining for information.  “Should I?” Shining Armor shook his head.  “I always thought the incident surrounding her ‘crime’ was too far out of character for Rainbow Dash.  If you’ve left my sister in Rainbow’s care, I assume you finally realized that too, I hope.” Celestia sighed, her eyes downcast for a time.  “The Element of Loyalty has chosen her. If nothing else, I trust both her and her husband.  As far as her past is concerned, I don’t know what to make of it.” Shining Armor closed his eyes to squint away the tears that threatened to break through.  “If you waited until now to tell us this, instead of over the comms… and Twily isn’t waiting behind a door or something to join us in person… you think the castle staff can’t be trusted.” “A miserable state of affairs.”  Celestia steeled herself. Outside of Twilight Sparkle, Shining Armor and Cadance were the ponies she trusted the most.   If I can’t trust them, I truly am lost. “There is much to do before the Summer Sun Celebration, and the three of us have a lot of work ahead of us.  But before we start…” Celestia pulled out a rolled up piece of drafting paper out from under the table and levitated it over to Shining Armor with a thin smile.  “Your sister wrote a letter for her B.B.B.F.F.”