//------------------------------//
// Chapter 19: "Goodbye, Abacus." 
// Story: A Pop Star, a Princess, and a Prisoner 
// by Raptormon132 
//------------------------------//

Meanwhile, back at Sweet Apple Acres, Apple Bloom, Applejack, Big Mac, Granny Smith, Rarity, and Scootaloo were still enjoying Sapphire Shores singing and performing in Apple Bloom's bedroom. With Rad Ballad playing the next song on his keyboard.



The last song Sapphire Shores sings to Apple Bloom. Please play and listen to the whole video below before continue on reading.





Everyone began to clap and cheer as the last song Sapphire Shores performed ends.

"Thank you, darlings." Sapphire Shores said to them as she turned to Rad Ballad. "Wonderful playing, Rad, as usual."

"Anytime, Sapphire." Rad Ballad winked. "Radical yourself too, baby."

Applejack brought out the family camera. "Time fer a picture, everypony!"

Sapphire Shores, Ocean Blue, and Rad Ballad gathered with Big Mac, Granny Smith, Rarity, and Scootaloo to Apple Bloom's bed to get into the picture about to be taken. Applejack set the camera up, until she got it ready to take the picture. "Alright, everypony. Smile."

They stayed still and smiled as Applejack set the timer on, and came into position with the others. A few moments later, the camera flashed, and took the picture. 

Apple Bloom turned to Sapphire Shores. "Can ah tell everypony about this?"

"Of course you can, darling." Sapphire Shores said.

All of a sudden, they were all interrupted by a horrible noise coming from outside. "What in tarnation!" Applejack went over to Apple Bloom's bedroom window. The noise was the sound of music from Sapphire Shores's "I tune in to you" album, accompanied by two horribly out of tune, young male singing voices singing along on what sounded like a speaker. Applejack looked down out the window to see what the noise was.

"What in the world..." Applejack said.

Granny Smith came over to the window with Applejack. "What in the hayseed is that awful racket?" She looked out the window and started shouting out as if she was shouting at someone. "Quit that racket, y'little whippersnappers!"

Apple Bloom tilted her head. "What's goin' on?"

Applejack turned to Apple Bloom. "It's those two colts, Snips an' Snails." She turn around and irritably walked towards the door. "Ah'll go sort them out."

Rarity planted her hoof in her face in frustration. "Oh, no! Those two colts are going to ruin everything!" She thought.

Sapphire Shores tilted her head. "Snips and Snails?"

"Yeah," Apple Bloom said. "They're two boys we know at our schoolhouse class."

Scootaloo rubbed the back of her head with her hoof awkwardly. "They're...kinda known for getting up to stupid things."

Ocean Blue turned to Sapphire Shores. "Sapphire, I hate to say this, but I think we should go now."

Back outside, Snips and Snails were outside the barn with a boombox, playing one of Sapphire Shores's songs. They sang horribly out of tune through two microphones plugged into the boombox, and were dancing terribly. Applejack came storming outside towards the two colts. When she reached the loud boombox, she turned it off before Snips and Snails were about to hit a high, loud note that would have possibly broken anything made of glass within a mile radius.

"Hey, who shut it off?!" Snips asked as he and Snails turned around to notice Applejack standing in front of them.

Applejack looked down on them with an annoyed glare. "What in the Apple family's name do y'two think y'doin'?!"

Snips chuckled nervously. "Uh...hey, Applejack."

"Did Sapphire Shores hear us?" Snails asked.

Applejack raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "Oh, she did hear ya." 

Just then, Sapphire Shores came out of the front door of the barn house, with Ocean Blue, and Rad Ballad. Snips and Snails saw them, and sped right past Applejack before she could react. 

"Sapphire Shores!" Snips shouted.

Sapphire Shores turned around to Snips and Snails coming towards her, carrying a copy of her "I tune in to you" album. They stopped in front of her, and presented them to her.

Snips jumped up and down with excitement. "Oh, Sapphire Shores! We're big fans of yours."

"Can we get your autograph?" Snails asked.

"Oh, of course you can, Snips and Snails." Sapphire Shores said.

Snips eyes widened. "Wha? You know our names?"

"Of course I do, honey." Sapphire Shores took the albums from Snips and Snails. "Apple Bloom and Scootaloo told me about you two." She took a pen in her mouth and signed the two records, and then gave them back to Snips and Snails. "Here you are, darlings."

Snips and Snails looked at the front cover of their records with amazement. "Sweet!"

"Come on, Snails," Snips said. "We've got to go and tell everypony at Sugarcube Corner. Come on!"

"Now wait a min-"

Before Applejack could finish saying anything, Snips and Snails ran off excitedly out of the gates, and down the road towards town. Applejack face-palmed herself in frustration as she thought inside her head.

"Twilight! Where are ya? Y'all should've been here with Abacus by now! Now those two colts are gonna ruin everythin'!"

Rarity came out through the front door towards Ocean Blue. "But, Ocean, you just got to stay for a few minutes more until our friend, Twilight gets here."

"We can't, Rarity," Ocean Blue said. "Those two colts are going to be telling others we're here, and it won't be long before this whole farm gets crowded with ponies from the whole town."

Applejack came over. "What's goin' on here?"

Ocean Blue turned to Applejack. "Applejack. I'm afraid we have to go now."

Applejack's eyes widened. "Huh? Y'all goin'? But what about Twilight? Couldn't y'all stay for just a few more minutes?"

"I'm afraid not. Those two colts are going to tell the town that Sapphire is right here." Ocean Blue looked at her watch. "Besides, we have a tight schedule, and need to get to Canterlot. The last thing we need is a large crowd blocking and delaying us."

"I'm sorry to leave so soon," Sapphire Shores said. "I wish I could stay a bit longer though. I was having a really nice, relaxing time with all of you."

Rad Ballad shrugged. "Oh well... That's showbiz, as they all say."

Sapphire Shores sighed as she was about to get into her personal limo carriage. "Well, good bye, Applejack, Rarity. I had a really good time with the little darling."

"But, Sapph-" Before Rarity and Applejack could say anything, the pony of pop entered into her carriage, as one of the ponies pulling the carriage closes the door.

At the same time, Twilight and the others were heading towards Sweet Apple Acres with Abacus. They saw Sapphire Shores, Ocean Blue, and Rad Ballad getting into the limo carriage in the distance as they approached the farm gates. Seeing this, Twilight and Rainbow Dash rushed ahead to stop them from leaving. Just when Ocean Blue and Rad Ballad were about to get into the limo carriage themselves, Twilight and Rainbow Dash got to them just in time, and halted them.

"Wait!" Rainbow Dash landed in front of Ocean Blue and raised a hoof out to halt her. "Stop! You can't go yet."

Applejack scowled at Rainbow Dash, and Twilight, looking rather irritated. "Well, it's about time y'all showed up!"

Rainbow Dash turned to Applejack with a nervous chuckle. "Uh...yeah. Sorry about that, Applejack. We got a bit delayed."

"But it's alright," Twilight said. "We're here now."

"What in Equestria's name is going on here?" Ocean Blue asked.

Twilight turned to Ocean Blue. "Ocean Blue? I'm Twilight Sparkle, and I need to speak to Sapphire Shores please. It's very important."

Ocean Blue shook her head. "I'm afraid not. We have a very tight schedule, and we can't change it at a last minute notice."

"Well, you'll have to make an exception," Twilight said. "Please, just this once?"

Ocean Blue shook her head. "No, ma'am. I'm really sorry, but we-"

"She is not asking you." Luna walked forward behind and past Twilight, until she stopped in front of Ocean Blue. "I am."

Ocean Blue gasped quietly, and bowed down respectfully. "Your highness."







Meanwhile at Sugarcube Corner, the party continued as planned. It was now one o'clock, and everyone there at the party was anticipating Sapphire Shores to arrive and meet Apple Bloom. Cup Cake and Carrot Cake brought out more treats for the guests, and began to worry about whether or not they had enough ingredients in stock to cook the treats needed to keep the party going.

"Hey, I think I hear somepony coming." A pony in the crowd said.

Everyone gathered into a large group inside the bakery, facing the door with cameras ready to flash, and records ready to sign. Time felt like it slowed down as they waited in position for the pony of pop to enter. The bakery door began to open, with the crowd beginning to cheer and cameras flashing, until the door opened fully. The cheering of the ponies quickly turned into disappointed groans, for there were two ponies at the door. Only they were none other than Snips and Snails, instead of a sick filly and a famous pop star pony.

Snails tilted his head. "Uh...was I makin' a funny face for the pictures?"

Numerous ponies began to moan with disappointment at how they got all excited and wasted taking a few pictures for nothing.

"Aw, I was saving those pictures."

"And here we thought it was Sapphire Shores, and it turned out that it was just you two!"

Snips blinked in realizations. "Oh, yeah. That's what we came to tell you. Sapphire Shores is at Sweet Apple Acres!"

The whole crowd gasped at what Snips and Snails had just said. Pinkie Pie, and the Cakes looked at each other with concern, realizing that their little deception was over.

"What?" Caramel asked. "Are you sure?"

Snips and Snails nodded. "Yeah. We saw her with our very own eyes."

Snails showed their signed records. "She signed our records and everything."







At the same time back at Sweet Apple Acres, everyone was gathered back inside Apple Bloom's bedroom. Applejack and Twilight got the camera ready, as Sapphire Shores and Princess Luna got in position with Abacus for the picture to be taken.

"Alright," Applejack said. "Y'all ready? One, two, three."

Sapphire Shores, Princess Luna, and Abacus stayed still as Applejack flashed the camera a few times, taking the pictures of the three ponies to give to the local newspaper. Luna then turned to Sapphire Shores.

"Sapphire Shores," Luna said. "I am sorry for making you a little late for your concert for doing this."

Sapphire Shores waved her hoof reassuringly at Luna. "Now don't you worry, your highness. After hearing this pony's name, there's no way in the world I'd pass this, royalty request or no."

Twilight tilted her head. "You know about Abacus?"

"Sort of, darling." Sapphire Shores said while glancing at Abacus. "Rad Ballad and I remember reading about him somewhere in the papers about two weeks ago when we were in Las Pegasus during my concert tour."

Rarity smiled. "This is lovely. A pop star and a princess getting involved with a prisoner."

"Hey," Spike said. "A pop star, a princess, and a prisoner. That's a good pattern...maybe a good title too."

Rarity blinked. "Oh my stars, Spike! You're right! I've got to remember to give that phrase to the local newspaper." She patted Spike's head. "You're so clever, Spikey-wikey."

Spike giggled and blushed at Rarity's compliment. "Aww, shucks."

Sapphire Shores turned to Abacus. "Well, Mr Sum. I never thought I would get to see you face to face."

Abacus winced and turned his face away from Sapphire Shores, making her tilt her head in confusion. Lawful Eye came over to Sapphire Shores. "Miss Shores. Abacus doesn't like it when ponies mention about his face. He was mauled by a savage guard dog while in prison."

"Really?" Sapphire Shores turned to Abacus, and began to pat his shoulder with sympathy. "Aw, you poor, poor thing."

"I plan to find a surgeon to help fix it." Lawful Eye said.

Sapphire Shores thought for a moment, while looking at Abacus's scarred face. "Well, I happen to know somepony back in Canterlot who's a really good plastic surgeon. She's a very dear friend of mine, and I think she could help."

Lawful Eye blinked. "Really?"

"Mm-hm." Sapphire Shores turned to Ocean Blue. "Ocean, honey? Do you have a copy of my friend's business card with you?"

"Oh, yes." Ocean Blue reached into the pocket of her waistcoat, and pulled out a business card. She then offered it to Lawful Eye. "Here's her friend's card."

Lawful Eye took the card with her magic, and looked at it closely. It was a marble white card with printed words written on it.


DR Cosmet Wonder
Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon
Canterlot Specialist Center
Floor 6
2981 Galloping Lane, Canterlot


"Thank you," Lawful Eye said. "I'll have a look at this surgeon friend of yours."

Sapphire Shores nodded and smiled at Lawful Eye. "You're welcome, honey. It's a good thing she gave me a few of her business cards."

Ocean Blue came over to Sapphire Shores. "Sorry to rush you, Sapphire, but I think we should go now."

"I guess you're right, Ocean." Sapphire Shores turned towards everyone else. "Well, I guess we should go now."

"Sapphire Shores?" Luna asked. "Would you mind if I come with you back to Canterlot?"

Sapphire Shores nodded. "Of course you can, your highness."

Luna turned to Twilight. "And I believe that Abacus Sum should come back with me to Canterlot too."

Twilight blinked. "What? Why?"

"To keep him safe," Luna said. "I believe those police ponies from Cloudsdale, Strike Law and Rogue Order will be back tomorrow. Plus I feel that the whole town of Ponyville will be quite angry after they see the picture of Abacus Sum in the newspaper, and will express their rage towards him when they come looking for him. Thus he will be much safer in the care of my beloved big sister and I. And it will be much safer for all of you too if he went with me."

Spike tilted his head. "So are you saying we shouldn't give these pictures to be put into the newspaper?"

Luna shook her head. "No, Spike. Those pictures need to be in the newspaper."

Twilight nodded and turned to Lawful Eye. "I think Princess Luna's right. Abacus should go with Princess Luna to Canterlot, for his safety, as well as ours."

Lawful Eye adjusted her glasses. "You make a very observing fact." She nodded. "Okay, your highness. Abacus can go with you. He will be safe there until we can fix things with the whole town?"

"Of course," Luna said. "You have my full assurance."

Lawful Eye turned to Abacus, and patted his shoulders. "Abi? Did you hear all that? You're going to go stay with Princess Luna for a while in Canterlot until this whole thing is settled. Okay?"

Abacus slowly, and sadly nodded. "...okay."

"Don't worry, Abi. I'll meet you there soon. I promise." Lawful Eye then slowly leaned in, and gently kissed Abacus on the lips.

"Well, lets go now." Luna said.

"Wait." Everyone turn their heads to Apple Bloom. She encouraged Abacus to come to her. "Come here, Abacus. Please."

Abacus came over towards Apple Bloom, and sat down beside the bed at Apple Bloom's side. Apple Bloom reached her hoof out, and Abacus took hold of it with his hoof.

"Abacus... Ah want ya ta know that ah'm not mad at ya anymore fer gettin' me sick with chickenpox."

Abacus sniffled. "...I'm so sorry for making you sick, Apple Bloom."

"It's alright, Abacus," Apple Bloom said. "Ya didn't mean ta. An' ah'm sorry too. Ah said some horrible things about ya because ah was just so upset that ah wasn't goin' ta Sapphire Shores's concert in Manehattan. An' ah'm glad ya weren't around ta hear all that when that happened."

Scootaloo came over, and stood next to Abacus. "But you know that if Abacus hadn't have made you sick, you wouldn't have Sapphire Shores here to see you personally."

Apple Bloom nodded. "Ah know. Which is heaps better than a concert. So ah... Ah should kinda be thankin' ya. So, no hard feelin's."

Abacus sniffled as Apple Bloom smiled at him. Apple Bloom then opened her hoofs up, welcoming Abacus into a hug. Abacus briefly hesitated to hug Apple Bloom, remembering how he was shocked in prison for trying to hug someone, and beaten up and ignorantly deemed a pedophile when hugging Scootaloo yesterday. He quickly found the courage to accept the hug, and the little filly and adult stallion began to embraced.

The sight of those two hugging melted the hearts of everyone in the room. Tears of relief began to trickle down Abacus's cheeks, for this hug he was sharing with Apple Bloom was different. There was no shock collars to shock him, no enraged ponies, not even signs of any negativity, or any intentions to stop it either out of fear or anger. This hug was warm, safe, and secure. Something Abacus had not felt in a long time. He had almost forgotten what that feeling of warmth, safety, and security felt like. Apple Bloom and Abacus released each other, and Apple Bloom leaned in, and gave Abacus a peck kiss on the cheek.

"Well, bye Abacus," Apple Bloom said. "Ah'll see ya again when ya get back from Canterlot, an' when ah'm all better."

Abacus sniffled, and stroked the side of Apple Bloom's face with his hoof, before kissing her back on the forehead. "...I think I'm going to miss you most of all."

Abacus then got up from Apple Bloom's side, and came over to Luna. Apple Bloom began to wave at him, Luna, Sapphire Shores, Ocean Blue, and Rad Ballad as they all walked out of her bedroom.

"Bye, Sapphire Shores. Bye, Princess Luna. Bye, Rad Ballad. Bye, Ocean Blue. Ah'll never forget any of this." Apple Bloom glanced at Abacus with a sweet, friendly smile. "An' bye, Abacus. Ah'll miss ya until ya get back."

Everyone followed them out of Apple Bloom's bedroom, leaving Apple Bloom alone. They followed them down the stairs and out the front door. Twilight and the others turned to Abacus as Sapphire Shores, Ocean Blue, and Rad Ballad hopped into the limo carriage.

"Abacus," Twilight said. "We're confident that your problems with the ponies in Ponyville will be over soon."

Rainbow Dash nodded. "Yeah. And when they get it through their heads that you're not a murderer, everything will be cool again."

Fluttershy smiled. "We'll all be happy to have you back with us in Ponyville again."

Abacus turned to them slowly, and looked at them with heartbreaking tears forming in his eyes. "...I'm sorry...but I'm not coming back."

Twilight and the others blinked with shock at what Abacus had just said. Twilight came up to Abacus. "Abacus, please. I know almost the whole town has been bad to you-"

"No!" Abacus said. "You don't understand, Twilight. ...I'm not welcome here...I never was. Even before this."

Twilight tilted her head. "What do you mean "Before"?"

"I use to be respected and loved by everypony in town." Abacus dropped his head. "But I see now that the reason I was, was because of Lily. She was the one the town truly loved and respected, not me. Especially since there were two in town who secretly didn't like me, and they were responsible for my suffering." He winced angrily with tears in his eyes. "Mayor Mare and Lady Justice. They secretly hated and were suspicious of me. And when Lily died, they suspected me of killing her."

Twilight sighed. "Abacus. I'm sorry that happened. But you can't let that keep you away from Ponyville. I mean, where would you go? You've at least got friends here."

"But not as many as enemies. I once had so many friends." Abacus sniffled. "But now...I have almost no friends, because they believe I would murder my own wife."

"But what if they apologized to you if they realized they were wrong?" Fluttershy asked. "Would you come back?"

Abacus shook his head. "After what they did to me? Never! I'm not welcome here. I should never have come to this town full of dumb townsfolk. They wanted me gone, and that's what they're going to get." Abacus sniffled. "As for where I will go...I'll most likely go back to Fillydelphia to start all over again. My mother left me her apartment back there, so that's where I'll go. I don't have friends there, but I don't have enemies either. Anywhere is better than here, as long as nopony knows me. Maybe I'll give you and some ponies in town the address so that you can visit me. There's nothing but pain and heartbreak for me here."

Tears began to form in Fluttershy's eyes. "Abacus. ...no."

Abacus began to slowly approach the opened limo carriage door with tears of sadness and heartbreak. He stopped and glanced at the others. "Goodbye...forever."

Abacus sadly entered the limo carriage, as tears began to form in the others' eyes. A look of sympathy fell upon Luna's face, before she then turned to the others with a reassuring look.

"Do not worry," Luna said. "My sister and I will accommodate him, and try to talk with him. But tomorrow we are going to reveal the truth to the citizens of Ponyville."

Spike and Applejack tilted their heads. "What do you mean? How are you going to do that?"

"What are ya planin' there, Princess?" Applejack asked. "Care ta fill us in?"

"Worry not, my little ponies." Luna turned around and began to approach the opened limo carriage door. "Just release those pictures of Abacus Sum, Sapphire Shores, and myself for the town's newspaper to publish as you originally planned. And leave the rest to my sister and I."

The others watched as Luna entered the limo carriage, and one of the ponies pulling the carriage closed the door. Twilight, Lawful Eye, and the others wondered what Luna meant, and thought about what she was planning. Just as the pony of pop's limo carriage was about to leave, the others turned their heads to the sound of a growing noise coming up from the road outside the farm. They grew concerned for the noise was non other than the hooves of almost the entire town coming towards the farm, with Pinkie Pie and the Cakes running with them. Everyone figured that Snips and Snails had told everyone at Sugarcube Corner that Sapphire Shores was there.

Twilight waved a hoof at the ponies pulling the limo carriage. "They're coming. You better leave now. Quick!"

"Right." The earth pony stallion turned to his partner. "Let's move."

The two earth pony stallions began to pull the limo carriage, and make their way towards the gate. They exited the gate just before the crowd of ponies nearly reached it, and went right past them. The crowd stopped and watched as the limo carriage containing Sapphire Shores, and unknowingly to them, Princess Luna and Abacus Sum, inside leave, and traveled down the road. Inside the limo carriage, Sapphire Shores, Ocean Blue, and Rad Ballad turned their attention to Abacus and Luna.

"So, your highness?" Sapphire Shores asked. "What's the story with Abacus Sum here, if you don't mind me asking?"

Luna nodded. "Very well. I will tell you this information, but I must have your word that each of you will keep this classified, until it is released to the public."

Ocean Blue nodded. "You have our word, your highness."

The limo carriage got smaller and smaller in the distance down the road, as Luna began to tell Abacus's story to the pony of pop herself. Back outside, the crowd groaned with disappointment that they had missed Sapphire Shores by a matter of seconds.

"Damn it, we just missed her!" Lucky Clover said.

A little filly in the crowd began to cry. "But I wanted to get Sapphire Shores's autograph."

The crowd then quickly turned to Pinkie Pie and the Cakes, glaring at them with angry scowls.

"What's the big idea?!"

"You said Sapphire Shores was coming to Sugarcube Corner?"

"You lied to us!!"

"Hold on, everypony!" The crowd turned to Applejack who spoke out from behind them. "They're not ta blame. And it was not a lie."

"That letter you got told us that Sapphire Shores was coming to Sugarcube Corner to meet Apple Bloom!"

"It was a lie!"

Applejack presented the letter. "This here's the letter!" She turned to Twilight. "Twilight. Would ya mind?"

Twilight took the letter with her magic, and began to read it out loud to the crowd.

"To the Apple family of Sweet Apple Acres. Due to the information of Sapphire Shores's planned visit to Apple Bloom in person being unfortunately leaked to the residents of the town of Ponyville, we are thinking of making different arrangements. We did research on the town, and we found that you have a very popular bakery in your area. Therefore we were wondering if whether or not we could change the location to the Sugarcube Corner bakery at one o'clock. If Apple Bloom is not too infectious with her recent illness, then this will do nicely. Yours sincerely, Ocean Blue, manager of Sapphire Shores."

"Ya see?!" Applejack said. "It was not a lie!"

Rainbow Dash came up beside Applejack. "She didn't actually say she would be at Sugarcube Corner, it was more of a suggestion, really."

The crowd began to grumble and moan with disappointment and frustration at what was just told to them.

"Oh, sweet Celestia!"

"That means we've waited for nothing!"

Pinkie Pie grinned at the crowd. "Well..." She presents a large tray of treats out of nowhere. "We still have plenty of cake, candy, pies, and ice cream left." 

The crowd continued to grumble and moan with disappointment and frustration, as they began to walk back into town. Pinkie Pie, and the Cakes came over to Twilight as Twilight whispered to them. "Thanks for keeping the ponies in town occupied while this was happening."

Cup Cake and Carrot Cake winked at Twilight. "No problem, dearie."

"Anytime." Carrot Cake said.

Cup Cake and Carrot Cake walked away, and followed the crowd of ponies back into town with Pinkie Pie staying behind with the others. Pinkie Pie then turned to the others.

"So how'd it go guys?" Pinkie Pie looked around. "Where's Abacus?"

Everyone dropped their heads sadly with equally sad expressions on each of their faces. Pinkie Pie tilted her head with a puzzled look, confused by their sadness. "Hmmm, what's wrong, guys? Was it a failure?"

Twilight looked up at Pinkie Pie and shook her head. "No. We managed to get the pictures of Abacus and Sapphire Shores."

"With Princess Luna as well." Spike said.

Pinkie Pie blinked. "Really? Princess Luna was here? But I thought she only comes out at night. Where is she now?"

Applejack sighed. "She left with Sapphire Shores in her limo carriage back ta Canterlot. An' she took Abacus with her."

"Oh. So he's gone on a vacation with out saying goodbye?" Pinkie Pie smiled and positively shrugged. "Oh, well. I guess we'll have to give him a big party for him when he gets back."

"Pinkie Pie," Lawful Eye said sadly. "There's something you need to know."

Pinkie Pie looked a bit confused. "Need to know what?"

Lawful Eye sighed. "Well, while you and the Cakes were busy, Abacus escaped from the hospital, and...he tried to take his life. Luckily Princess Luna came and we managed to stop him from doing it, but he was quite mentally disturbed from all that's happened to him. I guess it was all bottled up inside him. And after we brought him here to get the pictures, Princess Luna offered to take Abacus back with her back to Canterlot to keep him safe." She closed her eyes, and dropped her head. "And then, he vowed to move back to Fillydelphia, and to never return to Ponyville ever again."

Pinkie Pie's smiled faded. "Never?" Her eyes began to well up, with sad tears forming in her eyes. "Looks like we planned all this for nothing."

Fluttershy turned to Lawful Eye. "You don't think he really meant it, do you?"

Lawful Eye sighed. "Who knows?"

"What I want to know is why you didn't say anything when Abacus said all that?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Lawful Eye sighed, and adjusted her glasses. "I didn't want to say this...but I agreed with some of what he said. The townsfolk have treated him so badly."

"But not all in town treated him badly," Twilight said. "Mr and Mrs Cake, Big Mac, Granny Smith, Derpy, Cheerlie, Dr Stallion. They treated him so well. And even welcomed him."

Lawful Eye nodded. "That's true. But it doesn't change the fact that practically the rest of the town, who once loved and respected him, treated him so badly to the point where he tried and almost took his own life."

"You do make a point, Lawful Eye," Warden Rehab said. "What happened with him from the ponies in town has had a very understandable, bad impact on his life."

Lock Down sighed. "I just hope that poor guy's going to be okay after that."

Fluttershy sniffled. "Will Abacus...ever come back?"

"I don't know, Fluttershy." Lawful Eye dropped her eyes and sighed. "I just don't know."

"Well, let's get these pictures developed, and take them to the newspaper office, like Princess Luna instructed us to do," Twilight said. "And then we'll worry about that later. Okay?"

Lawful Eye nodded. "Okay."

Everyone began to walk down the road towards Ponyville. Throughout the journey, they all had thoughts on what Luna was planning to do to get the truth revealed to the whole town. Whatever she was planning, they each hoped it was going to work. All that mattered now was to get the pictures of Abacus with Sapphire Shores and Princess Luna to the newspaper as they planned, and on Luna's instructions.