Applejack (with her hat back in place) sat at the front of the air chariot that was flying back to Canterlot. Leadership had always been something she had been good at, and herding ponies wasn't all that different from herding high-maintenance farm animals. As capable as she was, she really wished Twilight could be there. She missed her outsider's perspective, her ability to ask the important questions nopony else was asking, and her genius for planning. Above all, Applejack appreciated Twilight's amazing ability to bring out the best in all of them and keep them working together as a unified group. It was only now that Applejack really understood how much Twilight meant to her, to all of them, and she wondered sadly if they would ever have her back again.
Pinkie Pie had taken the hardest blow. She had tried so hard to keep Twilight safe, to keep a happy face when the world around her was falling apart, but none of her efforts had done any good. Pinkie hadn't said a word since Twilight and Derpy had vanished. She sat next to Applejack, oddly emotionless, with the color almost completely gone from her coat and mane.
Rarity sat on the other side of Pinkie on the far left, hugging her and whispering whatever comforting words she could think of into her ear. She was trying to give of herself to help heal the wounds and repair the damage done, yet she was finding that she had little to give.
Rainbow Dash had joined them now, and was flying beside the chariot on the left side. Her head was heavily bandaged, and every once in awhile she would mutter "Stupid Derpy" or "You owe me a new guitar...". Applejack could see though, from the look in her eyes, that she had a lot more than a broken guitar on her mind.
What good were any of them now? How could they be honest when none of them knew what the truth was? How could they be generous if they had nothing to give? How could they be loyal when the ponies they cared about the most were on opposing teams? What good was laughter when your friendship, and the whole world, was crumbling before your eyes and you were powerless to do anything about it?
Then there was Fluttershy. She flew on the right side, looking thoughtful and very grave. Fluttershy had always been a little bit enigmatic, and Applejack wished that she could rely on her more. She knew that Fluttershy was a vast wellspring of talent and intelligence, but her wide range of phobias tend to manifest themselves at all the critical times when she was needed most.
Applejack began again to think about Twilight. What was going on with her, anyway? Why was she trying to protect the pony who was trying to assassinate Princess Celestia? What had really happened over the past two and a half weeks when she was gone? Whatever the answers were, Twilight had been very determined.
She thought about the meeting with Nightmare Moon. Shining Armor had sent out an urgent message to all of Twilight's and Derpy's friends to come to Canterlot Castle immediately. The main hall with the grand staircase was filled with ponies. Nightmare Moon stood at the top of the staircase, looking as frightening as when she appeared in Equestria after her thousand year absence. She spoke of how Princess Celestia was in hiding until the threats against her life from the traitor Prometheus were quelled. She had also said that both Twilight and Derpy had been kidnapped by Prometheus and Erebus and that undoubtedly their minds would be altered, making them enemies of the state that should be imprisoned on sight. There was an outcry, with dozens of ponies all attesting to the loyalty of both ponies. That was when Applejack had promised that she would personally see to it that they would stay out of trouble. Now that she thought about it again, Applejack realized that it was a little strange how Nightmare Moon had agreed so quickly to this arrangement.
What happened next was also strange. Princess Cadence had said "Your Majesty, I wish to formally request that you allow me to see Princess Celestia."
"Your request is denied!" shouted Nightmare Moon.
"I'm her niece, I am entitled to- "
"You have my last word on the subject! Any further attempts to circumvent my orders will be considered an act of treason!"
Applejack had been shocked at this exchange. Princess Luna had worked so hard to mend the damage done when she had returned and cultivate good will with the citizens of Equestria. Yet, now she was back in the same form that caused the damage in the first place.
What if Twilight was right? Was there more going on than what Nightmare Moon was telling them? Applejack had always been loyal to Princess Celestia, but she usually shrugged off court gossip and intrigue by saying "Well, whoever they are, they're gonna need my apples." Was the situation different now? Was it much bigger than a small scale insurrection?
Applejack suddenly felt strange. Earth ponies don’t need mage-sight to sense the flow of mana, they can feel it, and she knew something was very wrong. She looked down at the mountains below them. The trees on one mountain, about halfway between Ponyville and Canterlot, had almost completely died off. Plants on the lower slopes of adjacent mountains looked sickly and were losing their leaves and green color. She wasn’t sure, but she thought she caught a glint of red at the summit...
No pony’s gonna care about dead trees A.J, she said to herself. We gotta focus on savin' Twilight.
Some time later, the air chariot landed in the courtyard of Canterlot Castle. Guards were everywhere, lining the walls, filling the skies, and moving in every direction. Any pony trying to get to the Princess would have to pass through the courtyard, so it would be the ideal place to intercept Twilight.
Shining Armor and Princess Cadence were visible on one of the upper levels, although Applejack had a hard time recognizing them in their full combat armor. They were both talking with the numerous guards surrounding them, and looked too preoccupied to see them. Applejack hoped to talk to them personally about what had happened in Ponyville, but this was not meant to be.
Standing before them was the largest unicorn stallion Applejack had ever seen, he was even bigger than Macintosh. The enormous, razor sharp halberd he expertly wielded with a levitation spell complimented his frighteningly serious expression and made him look especially intimidating.
"You better have a good reason for bringing these civilians here, Lieutenant." said the giant pony, who the five friends already knew was Commander Thunder Chaser, the second in command under Shining Armor.
The guard being addressed replied "Sir! We regret to inform you that the two prisoners have escaped and are believed to be heading this way."
"They got away from us." interjected Applejack, "But ah think we can still talk some sense inta them... "
Thunder Chaser interrupted her "I didn't ask for your input, and your assistance is not needed. We will handle the traitors when they arrive."
"But they ain't... "
"All civilians are to report to designated safe locations immediately. Palace orders."
Rarity whispered "I'll handle this Applejack," and started putting on the charm. "We won't be a bother, I'm sure that protecting a few ladies would be no trouble for a big, strong stallion such as yourself... "
"PALACE... ORDERS!" roared Thunder Chaser, "You have already wasted enough of my time! Proceed to the designated safe locations or I will have all of you thrown in the dungeon!"
Rainbow Dash was already getting in his face "Hey jerk! You don't have to get all... "
"That's enough R.D," said Applejack, "Come on girls, we better do what ’e says."
Thunder Chaser ordered the two guards away and strode off to handle matters he thought were more important. Rainbow Dash stormed off in a huff. Applejack and Rarity followed, leading the still silent Pinkie behind them. It took them a few seconds to realize that they were missing someone."
"I'm not going," a voice whispered.
The four ponies turned in alarm. Fluttershy was standing her ground, with a look of determination that both surprised her friends and countered the fear she felt herself. Though her words were spoken quietly, there was an icy edge to what she said.
"Come ON Fluttershy!" said Rainbow Dash, "We gotta do what the grumpy pony says."
"I'm still not going," repeated Fluttershy, "I'm tired of being a big meanie, and I want to be Twilight's friend."
"What're ya talkin’ about, Sugarcube?" said Applejack, "Course you're her friend- "
"We are NOT her friends!" she cried with greater force. "We treated Twilight and Derpy like liars and criminals before they could tell us anything about what they'd been through! We humiliated them in front of everyone in Ponyville! I know how that feels. A real friend would have stood by them when they needed us!"
"She BROKE my GUITAR on MY HEAD, Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash replied, pointing to her bandage to emphasize her point about Derpy, "You were there too, that isn't exactly how an innocent pony would act!"
Fluttershy was still unmoved "We didn't give her the chance to explain anything. They wouldn't do what they did unless they knew it was very important, and I know that both of them are telling the truth. You can do what you want, but I'm going to stay here and help Twilight and Derpy when they arrive."
"WhaaaaAAAAAT!" roared Thunder Chaser, punctuating his word by driving the pole of his halberd into the ground. "I told you that civilians... "
"We are not civilians!" replied Fluttershy defiantly, "We are the keepers of the Elements of Harmony, the most powerful weapons that Equestria has, and we are under commission from Princess Celestia herself! Are you implying that your pole axe can match them?"
Her friends were on the verge of a collective heart attack.
"Are you siding with the traitors?!" the Commander asked angrily.
"They are not traitors." Fluttershy replied with the calm determination from before.
"How would you know that?! Nightmare Moon herself said that Prometheus altered their minds."
"She was incorrect. I could tell when I looked in their eyes that their minds hadn't been altered."
Thunder Chaser scoffed, "So you take your own feelings over the word of Princess Luna herself? Why should I listen to you any further?"
"I have evidence that somepony is trying to make Twilight and Derpy look bad."
"And why would they do that?"
"Because someone wants to keep us from using the Elements of Harmony against them."
Fluttershy had locked on to him in one of her signature stares, and Thunder Chaser was beginning to falter, "What evidence do you have?"
"On the morning that Twilight was supposed to arrive back from Canterlot, I was waiting for her to bring a book that I asked for. I saw a pony leave her house and teleport away, but I don't think he saw me. I knocked on the door and Spike told me that Twilight wasn't back yet, but I could tell when I looked in his eyes that something had been done to him. I also knew that Twilight had been there, because I saw the book I asked for on a pile near the door."
"And who was the pony you saw?"
"The same pony in the wanted pictures. It was Prometheus. That is why I am staying here to help Twilight."
Rainbow Dash walked over and stood next to Fluttershy, facing Thunder Chaser.
He grew angry again "Are you siding with the traitors as well?!"
"Hey! We're loyal to Princess Celestia AND our friends!" she said defiantly "You got a PROBLEM with that, tough guy?!"
"I'm helping them too," said Pinkie, the bounce back in her mane and her step as she took her place beside her friends.
"And I will as well," announced Rarity, taking her place with them, "And might I add that you should be ashamed talking to a group of ladies like that!"
Thunder Chaser was never one for creative thinking, as he had always taken what he had been told by his commanding officers and the crown as absolute truth. Now, though, he was having doubts, and he was at a loss what to do.
"Ya know, Thunder Chaser," said Applejack as she walked up to stand next to her friends, "Ah think you and I both know that somethin’ mighty fishy's been goin on around here, and I reckon the best way we can show our loyalty ta Princess Celestia is to find out what's- "
Suddenly, Pinkie Pie began to shake violently. All of her friends knew that whatever was coming was a doozy.
Then everything began to shake. It was the worst earthquake that Equestria had ever had, but there was nothing natural about it. Somepony cried out and pointed towards the source. A mountain in the distance, the same mountain that Applejack had noticed, began to rise of its own accord. Head, body, arms, and legs were forming from the ground they were ripped from. Glowing red eyes blinked on and looked straight at them.
"BATTLESTATIONS!!" roared Shining Armor. He immediately cast a shield spell that engulfed all of Canterlot just as the golem began to open fire.