The Next Day...
"I don't believe it!" Rainbow Dash said.
The Main Six, Lawful Eye, Warden Rehab, Lock Down, Scootaloo, and Spike gathered around, looking at the latest addition of local newspaper at the Golden Oak Library. The paper had the image of Abacus with Sapphire Shores and Princess Luna on the front page, along with the words "Ponies Scheme Pop Star With Dangerous Criminal". The look of disgust appeared on everyone's faces at the front page cover as Twilight reads the news story.
Local ponies in Ponyville revealed the truth late yesterday. They organised for Sapphire Shores, the pony of pop who came to Ponyville to pay a personal visit to local filly and winner of the Pop Pony magazine's contest, Apple Bloom at Sugarcube Corner. Only for them to deceived the whole town so that she could get into a photograph with the night princess, Princess Luna, and convicted murderer and fugitive, Abacus Sum, who had reportedly escaped from Ponyville hospital after being arrested for assaulting six ponies, including two young fillies, and two police ponies from Cloudsdale. While Sapphire Shores in the image was real, closer examination of the photograph have proved that Princess Luna in the picture was fake, and that it was a life-size cardboard image of the princess herself, for she was not sighted around the area.
No word yet on how Princess Luna has taken it. Due to the denials of Sapphire Shores's manager, Ocean Blue, when interviewed at last night's concert in Canterlot, there are speculations that the letter from Sapphire Shores's manager to the Apple Family of Sweet Apple Acres, as well as the whole party event at the Sugarcube Corner bakery was all a set up created on the accord of the following ponies in question. Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Lawful Eye of Fillydelphia. An investigation is currently underway into the following ponies listed on this matter, and on the whereabouts of the wanted fugitive, Abacus Sum, which is left in charge of Cloadsdale Police to apprehend him.
Rarity growled. "This is an outrage!"
"It was not fake," Spike said. "How could they say all that?!"
Applejack scowled. "Yeah! We were all there! An' callin' Abacus a wanted criminal?!"
Lock Down growled. "Even the press in this town doesn't have mercy on him."
Twilight looked at the front page of the newspaper with a worried frown, thinking of a part of the report that worried her. She turned to Lawful Eye, and could notice she had the very same feelings as her. "I know, Lawful Eye. If it's true Cloadsdale Police is going to be involved, then-"
"Yes, I know," Lawful Eye said. "It means Strike Law and Rogue Order will undoubtedly be involved in this. I guess this is what Princess Luna meant by they'd be back. And I think she was right."
"If only we knew what she was here plannin'." Applejack turned to Twilight. "What do ya think Princess Luna's plannin', Twilight?"
Twilight sighed. "I really don't know, Applejack. But I hope it comes soon."
"Hey, guys!" Everyone turned to Spike as he called out to them, looking out the window. "It better be coming sooner than the princess planned!" He pointed outside. "Look!"
Twilight, Lawful Eye, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Warden Rehab came over and peered through the same window Spike was looking out of. Their faces shifted to serious and concerned as they see something outside. Outside, there was a large crowd of angry ponies marching towards the Golden Oak Library, carrying anti-Abacus protest signs. Mayor Mare and Lady Justice were in the crowd too, with two familiar police ponies escorting them, Strike Law and Rogue Order. Seeing their looks, the others began to grow concerned.
"What is it?" Lock Down asked. "What's wrong?"
Spike turned to Lock Down. "There's a big crowd of angry ponies coming this way. It looks like it's virtually the whole town."
Applejack glared seriously with concern. "An' they sure don't look happy."
Lawful Eye growled. "And it looks like those two police ponies are back."
Twilight's eyes widened with shock as she saw the angry crowd outside gather round the library. Out of fear, Twilight lit her horn quickly, and conjured up a magical protective force field around the outside of the library. The crowd stopped some metres from the force field surrounding the library, and began shouting numerous things in anger.
"Phew!" Twilight wiped her brow. "That was too close."
"But it looks like they've got us surrounded." Spike said.
"Oh, no. They're probably looking for Abacus, and think he's here." Fluttershy fearfully moaned. "What are we going to do?"
Twilight turned to Fluttershy. "Don't worry. The magical barrier I just put up will keep anypony and anything from entering."
"But we still need ta face them," Applejack said. "We can't stay inside this magic barrier thingy forever."
"Applejack's right." Lawful Eye adjusted her glasses. "We should go out to face them. If they ask for Abacus, don't tell them where he is." She sighed. "I just hope Princess Luna's plan comes soon."
"Do not worry. 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."
"What do you mean? How are you going to do that?"
"What are ya planin' there, Princess? Care ta fill us in?"
"Worry not, my little ponies. 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."
Lawful Eye closed her eyes with concern as she recalled what Luna had said the previous day. "Very soon."
"Come on, everypony," Twilight said. "Let's go out and face them."
Lawful Eye, Warden Rehab, Lock Down, Spike, Scootaloo, and the Main Six approached the front door with Twilight opening it with her magic. The angry crowd began shouting at them as they stepped outside while still remaining protected inside the force field.
"We caught on to your dirty trick!"
"You wasted our entire time at Sugarcube Corner just to have Sapphire Shores all to yourselves!"
"I took time off work because I promised my little girl we'd get her Sapphire Shores's autograph for her birthday, and now she's heartbroken!"
"And to have her with Abacus Scum! And with a fake cardboard image of Princess Luna!"
Mayor Mare and Lady Justice stepped forward with Officers Strike Law and Rogue Order at their side.
"Where is Abacus?" Officer Strike Law glared. "And we know you know where he is. Now hoof him over!"
"He's not here," Lock Down said. "And if he was, we'd never turn him in over to you. So why don't you go and get lost?!"
Officer Rogue Order glared. "We have a warrant for his arrest. Now where is he?!"
"He ain't here," Applejack said. "He's somewhere where y'all will never get him!"
"You see?!" A voice came out of the crowd, and a familiar stallion, Coco-Nut revealed himself, with his wife, Honey Blossom, and daughter, Buttercup. "I told you that they're hiding him! They're hiding a dangerous criminal! He assaulted and bit Storm Dasher, putting him in hospital! He nearly ripped a piece off him! He assaulted me too! He was going to kill one of us!"
"GOOD!" Scootaloo shouted. "And that's the least you bastards deserve!"
Rainbow Dash placed a hoof on Scootaloo. "Chill, little buddy."
Coco-Nut pointed at his daughter, Buttercup, who had scrapes still healing, and was standing next to her mother, Honey Blossom. "And he hurt my little girl in the park!"
Honey Blossom came up next to Coco-Nut. "Is that not proof enough of him being dangerous?!"
"Not so fast!"
Everyone turned their heads to where the voice came from. Walking their way to from the crowd and standing in front of them was a group of Ponyville locals. They were Granny Smith, Big McIntosh, Derpy, Cheerilee, Dr Stallion, Cup Cake and Carrot Cake with their twin babies, and the donkey, Matilda.
"I saw the events of what happened to little Buttercup on that day," Cheerilee said. "Abacus didn't hurt her, she fell off her scooter by simply tripping on a stick and hurting herself. And Abacus tried to help her."
Cup Cake and Carrot Cake came up. "We believe Cheerilee. We don't believe Abacus would ever hurt a child."
Cup Cake stroked Pumpkin Cake's head, making Pumpkin Cake coo. "We trusted him with the twins when he got to meet them the last time he came down to the bakery."
Derpy stepped forward. "And Abacus was crying when seeing Mr and Mrs Cake's twin babies, because it reminded him of how he was going to be a father of a child that he lost along with Tiger Lily."
"He's a true blue bloke, with a heart of gold," Dr Stallion said. "Which is more I can say about any of you mongrels!"
"We all know Abacus better than any of y'all." Granny Smith scowled. "Y'all can bet yer crab apples on that!"
Big Mac nodded. "Eeyup."
Matilda came forward. "And though I didn't have the chance to see Abacus when I had recently, and even though it was quite deceptive of these ponies to do what they did, I for one am glad that they did it, and even suspected it. I always believed he was innocent. Abacus needs good friends like us." She glanced at Twilight and the others in the force field. "...Like them."
"Sentiments will get you nowhere," Officer Strike Law said. "He is a wanted pony under charges of six counts of assault and battery, one count of grievous bodily harm, resisting arrest, child molestation, and destruction of property!"
Rainbow Dash growled. "That's a lie! Those charges are false, and it was you who assaulted him, and you know it!"
"Abacus didn't do anything wrong," Fluttershy said. "He'd never hurt a fly!"
Officer Rogue Order glared. "We told you before: It's our word against yours!"
"Enough!" Mayor Mare stepped forward with Lady Justice. "You deceived us with that letter, and fooled the whole town. And have Sapphire Shores pose with Abacus in the picture with a fake cut out of Princess Luna is-"
"It was NOT fake!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "Princess Luna did come to us yesterday!"
Twilight stepped forward. "It's true, Mayor. The princess did arrive to see us with Abacus."
Lady Justice scowled. "You lied to us before with that letter yesterday! How can we believe any word you say now?"
"Because they are good ponies," Lawful Eye said. "They went through all this, risked everything, and it was all for him!"
Lady Justice turned to Lawful Eye with that same scowl. "And you! Investigator detective Lawful Eye of Fillydelphia! I've always had a bad feeling about you, that same feeling the mayor and I had with Abacus Sum! Getting that dangerous, murderous pony out, and bringing him back here! And after all the work I put into bringing that stallion to justice for killing dear Tiger Lily, and her unborn child!"
Twilight looked at Lady Justice as she thought inside her head. "So it looks like what Abacus said about Mayor Mare and Lady Justice not liking him was true."
Lawful Eye glared darkly at Lady Justice with gritting teeth. "How dare you! The only thing you, and the mayor did was put an innocent pony in prison, and caused all his horrible suffering! I proved his innocence!"
Officer Strike Law growled. "Enough of this! Where is Abacus?! We have a federal court order for his arrest!"
Mayor Mare glared. "As the mayor of Ponyville, I demand you to tell us where he is and turn him over!"
"Now hoof him over, or else," Officer Rogue Order said. "This is your last warning!"
Lawful Eye, Spike, Warden Rehab, Lock Down, Scootaloo, Twilight, and the rest of the Main Six all looked at each other. They knew that they were safe as long as Twilight's magical force field was up, but they knew that they could not stay inside it forever, and the town would soon find out about Abacus not being here. They each hoped that they could hold out until Luna's part of the plan came into action soon.
They nodded at each other, and turned back with brave, and unintimidated looks on their faces as they said in unison, "Never!"
Lady Justice looked at the ground with silent anger. "Then you leave us no choice, but to-"
Suddenly, there was a loud sound that virtually echoed throughout the whole town behind the whole crowd. Everyone turned their attention to it, for it was the sound of royal trumpet fanfare. There, they saw a large group of royal guards, some blowing on horns, as they marched towards the crowd. The guards stopped in front of the crowd, as the fanfare stopped, and the lead royal guard stepped forward.
"Announcing her Royal Highness, Princess Celestia! And her Royal Highness, Princess Luna!"
The lead guard moved away, and the rest moved away partly to make a path in the center for a pair of light fuchsiaish gray colored hooves wearing goldern shoes, followed by a pair of dark blue hooves with blueish-silver shoes walking down. Everyone gasped when they saw that the hooves belonged to the alicorn princesses. They bowed down in respect, with the two alicorns walking through the path of guards and came towards the force field protected library. Twilight smiled with delight, as she brought her force field down, and she and the rest of the main six came towards the alicorn rulers.
"Princess Celestia," Twilight said. "You're here."
Celestia smiled. "Twilight Sparkle. My most faithful student. And hello to your friends too."
"It looks like we arrived just in time." Luna turned to the others. "My apologies if we did not get here sooner."
"Are you kidding," Rainbow Dash said. "Your timing couldn't be better."
Mayor Mare rose up, and approached the two alicorn princesses. "Your highnesses. What a surprise. What brings you both here to Ponyville?"
Celestia and Luna smiles faded as they turned to the mayor, revealing a look on each of their faces of anger and disappointment. Mayor Mare was somewhat startled, for she had never seen Princess Celestia with a look like that before. Soon their angry, disappointed faces gazed upon almost everyone in town, with the town looking confused and concerned at why the alicorn princess's were so angry and disappointed. Lawful Eye, Warden Rehab, Lock Down, Spike, and the Main Six however were not surprised. Granny Smith, Big McIntosh, Derpy, Cheerilee, Dr Stallion, Cup Cake and Carrot Cake, and Matilda shared the same feelings.
Celestia glared at Mayor Mare. "Bring everypony in town to the town hall within the hour."
"Every stallion, mare, and child," Luna said. "That is not a request."
Mayor Mare nodded nervously. "Y-yes, your highnesses. Of course." She turned around to the crowd. "Attention everypony! By royal command, everypony in Ponyville is to attend at the town hall within one hour! And anypony who is working is to stop what they are doing, and come as well! Spread the word!"
The whole crowd went away in different directions around town to spread the word at the mayor's instruction, and the mayor walked away towards the town hall. Twilight thought for a moment, wondering what Celestia and Luna were planning. When everyone in the crowd left and were out of hearing range, Celestia and Luna turned to Twilight and the others.
"I believe you know why we're here, Twilight." Celestia said.
Lawful Eye came up towards Princess Luna. "Princess. How is Abacus? Is he alright?"
Luna raised a reassuring hoof at Lawful Eye. "He is alright, Lawful Eye. Abacus Sum is safe and sound in our care in Canterlot's palace."
"Princess Luna has been keeping me informed of everything that has been happening," Celestia said. "And we are going to reveal the truth about Abacus Sum to the whole town."
Twilight tilted her head. "How are you going to do that, Princess? What are you and Princess Luna planning?"
"By showing everypony his memories." Luna said.
Celestia and Luna turned, and walked away in the same direction where the town hall was in town, leaving Twilight and the others alone wondering what they said. A few moments later, Twilight turned to the others. "Come on, guys. Lets get to the town hall."
"Well! Hello, Rarity!" A male voice shouted.
Everyone turned their heads to were the male voice called out. They see three unicorns in tropical holiday get-ups, and carrying luggage walking towards them as a close by taxi carriage leaves. The first was a very light gray stallion with dark grayish brown mane and tail. The second was a pale fuchsia mare with grayish indigo and grayish persian blue patterned mane and tail. And the third was a little very light gray filly with a grayish mulberry mane and tail with pale, light grayish rose colored streaks. Rarity gasped with good surprise for the three unicorn ponies were ponies she knew all too well. It was her parents, Hondo Flanks and Cookie Crumbles, and her little sister, Sweetie Belle.
Rarity blinked for she had almost forgotten that her parents and little sister were due home today. "Mother, Father, you're home."
Sweetie Belle rushed towards Rarity. "Rarity!"
"Sweetie Belle!" Rarity smiled as she opened her front hooves up, and embraced Sweetie Belle in a hug. "Ooh, it's so good to see you." She released Sweetie Belle from the hug. "How was Hawhinny?"
"Oh, it was amazing! The sandy beaches, the shopping malls, and the resort!" Sweetie Belle's voice made an adorable squeak as she said, "It was so much fun!"
"And guess what?" Hondo Flanks and Cookie Crumbles levitated numerous Hawhinny styled souvenirs with their magic. "We brought home gifts."
"So, did anything exciting happen while we were gone?" Cookie Crumbles asked.
"Oh, there were a lot of things alright." Rainbow Dash said.
Pinkie Pie bounced. "In fact, we're heading to the town hall right now. The princesses have called for everypony in the whole town to go there within an hour, and I mean everypony. They're going to reveal the truth about Abacus Sum."
Hondo Flanks and Cookie Crumbles blinked. "Abacus Sum?"
"Isn't that the accountant in town who was convicted of murder a couple of years ago?" Hondo Flanks asked.
Rarity nodded. "The very same."
"You better come with us to the town hall," Twilight said. "We'll explain everything along the way."
The hour came, and the whole population of the town of Ponyville had gathered into the town hall at the princess's command. Twilight and the others stayed close to the front as they waited. Twilight and the others were amazed on how full the town hall was after the whole town was now inside.
"Well, it looks like everypony in town is here." Twilight said.
Applejack noticed Granny Smith and approached her. "Hey, Granny. Where's Big Mac?"
"Oh, he went ta go get Apple Bloom." Granny Smith noticed Big Mac and Apple Bloom coming inside. "There they are, over there."
Big Mac and Apple Bloom entered into the town hall, with Big Mac carrying Apple Bloom on his back due to her still being sick with chickenpox. Sweetie Belle noticed Apple Bloom, and came over just as Big Mac placed Apple Bloom gently on the ground.
"Apple Bloom!" Sweetie Belle said.
Apple Bloom turned her head to see, to her delight, Sweetie Belle running up to her. "Sweetie Belle! Ya're back." The two fillies hugged, happy to see each other again. "How was yer vacation?"
"Oh, it was amazing. I wish you could've been there to see..." Sweetie Belle suddenly noticed Apple Bloom's chickenpox. "Hey. Why are you covered in red spots, Apple Bloom?"
"Oh, that," Apple Bloom said. "Ah've got chickenpox."
Sweetie Belle's eyes widened with shock. "Wait. Did you just say "chickenpox"? Uh-oh."
"Ya mean..." Apple Bloom put a hoof over her mouth as she realized what she had accidentally just done. "Whoops. Ah'm so sorry, Sweetie Belle. Ah didn't mean ta spread it ta ya."
Sweetie Belle placed a forgiving hoof on Apple Bloom. "It's okay, Apple Bloom. It can't be helped. I'm just glad that I got it after my vacation, and not during it."
"Hey, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom." Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom saw Scootaloo coming over to them. "It's good to have the three of us back together."
Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, Scootaloo caught sight of someone entering the town hall. She glared angrily for it was Coco-Nut, and, to her even greater anger, her father, Storm Dasher. Her father had a bandage on his right neck-shoulder area where Abacus had bit him, and had surgery on. He noticed Scootaloo, and began to approach her, relieved to see her.
"Scootaloo..." Storm Dasher said.
Scootaloo backed away from her father giving him a glare full of anger and hatred. "Don't you come near me!"
"Sweet heart, please here me-"
Before Storm Dasher could finish his sentence, Big Mac stood in front of him, to protect Scootaloo. "That's far enough, Storm Dasher."
Storm Dasher spoke to Big Mac. "But I'm not trying to-"
Big Mac leaned in uncomfortably close to Storm Dasher, giving him an angry glare while looking down on him. "Ah heard what ya did ta Scootaloo, an' Abacus the other day. Ya should be ashamed of yerself, hittin' an' hurtin' yer own daughter like that. Scootaloo don't wanna talk ta ya right now so take yer drunken rage and yer Abacus-hating vigilantism and back off!
Storm Dasher backed away at the angry tone in Big Mac's voice. Normally, Big Mac was not an aggressive stallion, and it was not common to see him angry. Many ponies in town would know better than to ague or pick a fight with a stallion as large as Big Mac if he was angry. The Main Six heard Big Mac's angry shout, and came over. Rainbow Dash came over to Scootaloo, while Applejack came over to Big Mac.
"You okay, little buddy?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Yeah." Scootaloo turned to Big Mac. "Thanks, Big Mac."
Big Mac smiled, and nodded at Scootaloo. Though he had said nothing, that simple body language said everything.
Just then, fanfare began to briefly play from a royal guard standing on the stage of the town hall playing on a horn, silencing everyone and getting their attention. The other royal guards closed the doors to the town hall and stood guard.
"Her Royal Highness, Princess Celestia! And her Royal Highness, Princess Luna!"
Princess Celestia and Princess Luna came out, and appeared on the town hall stage. But there was no applause or cheer, for there was still that same look of anger and disappointment on their faces. Almost everyone in the crowd was scared and confused to the princesses looks, as Celestia and Luna looked around at everyone in the town hall.
"Fillies and gentlecolts," Celestia said. "I assume that many of you have wondered why my sister and I have summoned you here. It has come to my attention that Ponyville is having great trouble because of a return of a certain citizen of your town. One that goes by the name of Abacus Sum."
Almost the whole town began to relax, and began to speak out angrily about Abacus, thinking the princesses were here the help bring Abacus to justice.
"Abacus assaulted and tried to kidnap my daughter! And he assaulted me! He assaulted and molested Storm Dasher's daughter too! And he assaulted him, and he bit him as well!"
"And he assaulted us as well, and resisted arrest!"
"And he destroyed the tombstone the whole town pitched in to place on Tiger Lily's grave! That tombstone was worth a fortune!"
"He faked a picture with Princess Luna in it!"
"That scum is dangerous!"
"He murdered his wife and unborn child!"
"He needs to be put back behind bars where he belongs!"
"Bring Abacus Scum to justice!"
The crowd began to boo and shout in agreement. Twilight and the others watched as they noticed Luna's face began to rise with anger at how the town was being towards one pony.
Luna growled, and in her booming, deafening, royal Canterlot voice, she yells to the crowd, "SILENCE!!!"
The deafening, booming sound of Luna's royal Canterlot voice made the town hall windows shake. The crowd covered their ears, and stopped in fear, for Luna held nothing back in that angry yell. Her voice was a shout of thunder.
"ABACUS SUM IS INNOCENT! YOU CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE KNOW NOTHING!"
Celestia placed a hoof on Luna's shoulder. "Calm down, Luna." She turned to the crowd. "Abacus did not commit any of these crimes you say he did."
Luna glared at the crowd. "And that picture was not fake! I secretly came to Ponyville to aid Twilight Sparkle and her friends with Abacus. And after the picture with him and Sapphire Shores, I left with her back to Canterlot, taking Abacus with me."
"As for the murder of his wife and unborn child," Celestia said. "Abacus never killed them. He was innocent. As investigator detective Lawful Eye of Fillydelphia had proved: It was a tragic accident."
The crowd began to blink in both shock and confusion at what the two princesses had said, but were unsure and disbelieving at it.
Luna scowled. "Do not believe us? Well then, we will just have to show you!"
Luna's horn began to glow, and from behind her, she revealed and levitated three sealed glass jars. Inside was a glowing mist like object floating around inside each of them.
"Princess Luna has been keeping me informed of everything that has been happening. And we are going to reveal the truth about Abacus Sum to the whole town."
"How are you going to do that, Princess? What are you and Princess Luna planning?"
"By showing everypony his memories."
Twilight's eyes widen as she recalled Celestia and Luna's words. She looked at the jars with a look of realization, for she now knew what it was that was floating inside each of those three jars.
"Ooh, what's in those jars?" Pinkie Pie said. "Is it candy?"
Twilight turned to Pinkie Pie. "No, Pinkie. Those are memories."
Rainbow Dash tilted her head. "Memories?"
Twilight nodded. "That's right. It makes sense what they meant now. The princesses have magically extracted Abacus's memories, and they're going to show his memory to everypony in town. I've read about memory extraction magic in one of my books. Apparently it's magic so powerful and advanced that only an alicorn can perform it. If performed correctly, they can show any memory of anypony in every detail, and can even show events of things in the past they didn't see." She looked puzzledly at the other two jars. "But I don't know who the memories in the other two jars belong to."
Celestia glanced at the jar while talking to the crowd. "What you are looking at are jars. Inside these jars are extracted memories involving Abacus Sum." She levitated one of the three jars and presented it to the crowd. "This one contains the memories extracted from Abacus himself."
"And with these memories, the truth shall be revealed." Luna said.
Luna aimed her horn at the levitating jar, and fired a lightning bolt like magic stream at it. The jar began to glow around the town hall, with the crowd watching in awe. Then, before anyone expected it, there was a bright flash of light that engulfed the whole room.
Continues on part 2...