Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie are gathered around a circular table, each of them feeling glum from a few moments earlier. Rainbow Dash lets out a huge sigh. "Grr, I don't get it!" she said.
"Get what, Dashie?" asked Pinkie Pie.
"What do you think!?" replied Rainbow Dash. "Nothing about what happened with Twilight adds up! Come on guys, we know Twilight. She always thinks about what's right!"
"Well," said Rarity, doughty, "She does have a tendency to OVERthink things just a tad."
"But look at all the good that's come from Twilight thinking things through!" Rainbow Dash protested.
"I don't know what else we can do, Rainbow Dash," said Applejack. "If only Celestia were here, she'd be able to help us."
"If she was here," said Spike, "We wouldn't have this problem."
"Spike, you saw Twilight. What exactly did you see?" Rainbow Dashed asked.
"I told you! I saw Twilight giving orders to move the guards to the castle."
"But there's gotta be more than just that!"
Aggravated, Spike slams his claw onto the table. "Well, there isn't! I've told you everything I know." He lets out a sign. "Sorry. I just… I still can't believe all of this happened."
"I'm not gonna give up. Twilight never gave up on us!" stated Rainbow Dash.
"But, Rainbow, what if it is true?" Fluttershy asked. "What then?"
Rainbow Dash looks at Fluttershy in silence before hanging her head low. She raises her head up in determination. "Well, until I see proof, this case is still wide open!"
"Oooh! Let me get my detective hat!" Pinkie Pie puts a Sherlock Holmes-esque hat atop her head. "Detective Pinkamena Diane Pie is on the case!"
Applejack stood on top of the table. "You know what? Pinkie's got the right idea. Count me in!"
"Well, what friend would I be if I didn't help too?" asked Rarity.
"I don't know how much help I'll be," said Fluttershy, timid but slightly loudly, "But I'll do anything to help Twilight." All of Twilight's friends were grouping together to help solve out this mess they're in like Twilight would do for them.
"Well, it's worth a shot I guess," Spike agreed. "Actually, yeah! Why not?"
"Alright! Where do we start?" asked Rainbow Dash.
Before anypony could answer, a Royal Guard runs into the room, interrupting the ponies' planning. "Twilight Sparkle has disappeared!"
"What!?" the ponies and Spike cried out.
"The plot thickens!" said Pinkie Pie, in a dramatic, detective tone.
"We searched the whole city for her, but it appears as though she's vanished," the guard continued.
"Twilight's… gone?" gasped Applejack.
"But where could she be?" asked Fluttershy, worryingly. "Why would she run away? Does she… does she think we're not her friends anymore?"
The girls look to each other, looks of worry all across their faces. Rainbow Dash looks to the window, noticing the rain pouring heavily outside.
"We'll find her," said Rainbow Dash, with confidence and great loyalty. "I know we will."
Deep within the storm, in castle gardens, at the palace labyrinth, Discord's stoned body cracks begin to form. As cracks converge toward the center of one of his eyes, a somewhat muffled, almost faraway evil laugh is heard.
A light chuckling is echoing inside the tower.
A beat echos. Suddenly, the cracks on the eye burst open and reveal a blinking, rolling bright yellow eye. Suddenly, a massive explosion fills the room, the power of which completely destroys the tower, sending glass, chunks of rubble, and smoke flying everywhere as evil laughter fills the sky. A great amount of laughter echoed in the exploded area. A shadowy appeared from out of the smoke.
Discord has returned.