“Doctor, what exactly are we looking for?” asked Ditzy Doo.
“Not a ‘what’, but a ‘who’. Just keep an eye out for anyone suspicious and perhaps even familiar. Someone not from this time is wandering the streets of Canterlot,” replied The Doctor. They had been scouring the streets for anyone suspicious for over an hour, with little success. Between the two of them, they could see in three different directions and no one in particular stood out.
“Canterlot doesn’t seem that much different, except for the alicorns.”
“I suppose. Focus Ditzy, just-“ The Doctor stopped when he saw Ditzy’s facial expression. “Oh no…”
The smell was too much for Ditzy Doo. “MUUUUUFFIIIIIIIINS!!!!!!!!!!!!” The grey pegasus sped off toward the smell. Somewhere in the market of an ancient Canterlot somepony was selling muffins.
“Blast. This happens too much.” The Doctor desperately tried to keep up with his assistant, but she was a pegasus after all. They are usually pretty fast. “Ditzy, come baaaack!” Even at full gallop, he just had to hope she didn’t fly off too far.
Within a minute, Ditzy had already located the muffin stand and purchased a dozen. “Sorry Doctor,” Ditzy said between bites, “I just can’t help myself when it comes to muffins.” Ditzy took another bite of muffin.
The doctor sighed lightly. “It’s fine, it’s fine. Let’s just get back to the mission.”
All around the market were various ponies of all kinds. Earth ponies, pegasi, unicorns, and even alicorns. Of course there were alicorns. They only lived in Canterlot. Some of their manes hadn’t turned to magic yet.
“Doc, why is it that some alicorns have manes like us and others have manes made of magic?” inquired Ditzy. It was a good question, not many people knew the answer but many want to know.
“Well Ditzy, no one really knows why, just that it happens. Most alicorns manes change into an ethereal form and take on that flowing magic shape we know. Usually the onset is when the alicorn’s magical capabilities reach a certain level. Alicorns have the greatest magical strength of all living species, and eventually it bleeds into their physical form. There isn’t really a true explanation at this point as to why, but that is what happens,” explained The Doctor.
“Oh…cool.” Ditzy looked to the left and right (at the same time). Somepony caught her attention, somepony that looked familiar. “Hey Doctor, is that…”
“Yeah, I see her too. Let’s go.” The two of them meandered toward the pony, carefully so as not to be noticed.
In the darkness of the cellar, the two fillies made sure that they would not be able to be seen. They had, of course, informed the queen of their location…more or less.
“Hey Luna, do you think we are in any danger?”
“I don’t know…maybe. That doctor person seemed pretty serious.”
“True…It’d probably be best if we just waited here for a while to see what happens.” At that, someone entered the cellar.
From where the princesses were, they could not see who it was, so they could only hide in fear, hoping that whoever it was had not come to end their lives.
Slowly the footsteps approached the princesses hiding spot. Barely a foot away, the pony stopped, gathered a few bottles and bags, and left. Without noticing the girls at all. Once the cellar doors closed, both let out a sigh of relief.
“That was scary ‘Tia. What if he was coming to get us??”
“Then we would run Luna. Just relax.” Relaxing was the last thing on Celestia’s mind.
Queen Solara’s court was empty. The last rays of sunlight cast through the windows. The queen had specifically ordered the guards to turn away any who might come. ‘An emergency that requires my full attention,’ was the reason she had told the guards to relay back to the people. Sure, the people might get a little upset, but they would get over it. Archaeus’ injuries required treating. Galaxius was missing. The draconequui might actually be returning. She could almost fell a war looming on the horizon.
“Solara!” Galaxius burst through the door to the court. The king looked worn and tired, his ethereal mane of the night sky barely flowing in the morning light. The dark alicorn’s expression showed a mix of confusion, hatred, and terror. “Where is Archaeus? The statue?”
“Where have you been, Galaxius? You have been missing for a day!” Solara was almost in tears.
“I…I don’t know. I was in the garden, two nights ago I suppose, and then next thing I know I’m being awoken in a field by some guards. But the statue, it was gone! I swear it!”
“Galaxius, the statue is in the same place it has been since you ran off; in the garden.”
That was twice in the same day that the king had been told that there was nothing wrong with the mysterious statue Archaeus spoke of only moments before passing out. “That…That simply cannot be.” Without another word the king headed off in the direction of the garden to see for himself.
Only moments later he learned the truth. The statue was exactly how it was when he got it.