Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship, sat on her throne still as a stone. Folding her wings back behind her, she took in a deep breath, holding her hoof to her chest. Letting the breath out, she moved her hoof away.
“Does that really work?” Starfall Blitz asked, standing just beside her.
Giving her royal guard a troubled look, she said, “It does for the little things, but as for a stress like this, I’ll need more than a breathing technique to calm down.”
“Was the news from Princess Celestia truly that disturbing?” the dark-gray pegasus asked, leaning his head forward.
“She and Luna will be arriving tomorrow, hopefully to tell me I’m worried over nothing.” Twilight replied, standing from her throne and looking at the Cutie Map. “But based on how urgently she made this visitation seem, I somewhat doubt the news will be uplifting.”
Starfall walked up beside her, both of their gazes lingering over Baltimare and Fillydelphia. Lying on the edge of the Celestial Sea, the two cities glistened on the Cutie Map.
“So you think the rumors are true?” he asked her. “Dragons raiding Equestria?”
The princess kept her eyes on the map, not looking away as she answered. “I hope they are false. Dragon Lord Ember would never allow such a thing.”
Starfall’s eyes drifted over to her, who remained focused on the map, her own eyes scanning the Dragon Lands. It had been over a month since the Hearth’s Warming Eve party when Ember came to Ponyville for the first time. Starfall didn’t need to ask to see that Twilight had faith in the Dragon Lord, he could see it in her eyes; that friendship held true through the lies. The initial thought was that Ember had ordered the raids, but this alicorn simply refused to believe it.
A massive pulse shot through the throne room, making the two ponies flinch. The sound was all too familiar to the both of them. Wubs.
Out in the grand foyer of the castle, a peppy pink pony and her silent, yet loud white unicorn friend were setting up loud speakers. The hall had already been filled with bright decorations, obviously the work of the party-master herself.
“A little to the leeeft!” Pinkie Pie yelled out, waving her hooves.
Vinyl Scratch, with her headphones half-on, listened and used her magic accordingly, centering the speaker on the column as she stood above on the next floor. Once fitted in its spot, Vinyl gave it a beat and maxed out the volume, sending another massive pulse throughout the castle.
Catching full-wind of the wub, Pinkie smiled wide, yelling out, “PERFECT!!!”
Twilight and Starfall emerged out from the throne room in a slight rush, looking around at the colorful foyer.
“Pinkie!” Twilight exclaimed.
Turning her head all the way around with the rest of her body moving, Pinkie gasped in excitement. “Hey Twilight! I thought you were in town getting some supplies for the party tomorrow! DJ-Pon3 and I were just setting up the loudspeakers!” Facing forward again, Pinkie yelled up to her unicorn friend, “We’re good! Let’s move down to the next spot!”
Trotting up beside her friend, Twilight restrained herself from scolding the hyperactive earth pony. “I thought I stressed the importance of the princesses’ visit tomorrow.”
“No, no, no, you did!” Pinkie said excitedly. “That’s why I’m getting the castle ready for the party!”
Twilight shook her head. “It isn’t a party Pinkie, this visit from Celestia and Luna is very serious, and it will be no partying matter!”
Pinkie’s ears leveled to her head. “Awww….but that’s no fun.”
“It’s not meant to be fun.” Twilight said back, looking up at the decorations. “Now take all of this down, I have a lot to do before they arrive.”
As the princess trotted away up the stairs with her royal guard, Pinkie’s jaw dropped. “I have to put all of this away!?” She sighed, looking back up at Vinyl with sad, puppy eyes. The white unicorn shrugged her shoulders in reply.
Standing in front of his mirror, a pitch-black pony took a few deep breaths. He had tried Twilight’s breathing technique, but it didn’t seem to be working this time around. He shook his head wildly, the black fur becoming rough and uneven.
“Princess Celestia, I have become a better pony.” He said with a stern face, his chest puffed out. “No, no, no, that’s not it….”
Pacing about in his room, the shadow pony remained deep in thought. Having gone through dozens of ways to speak to the princess, his anxiety was becoming more and more difficult to get a grip over. He had not met Celestia since her decision to allow him to stay in Ponyville, and at the time, she definitely did not trust him. He had to change her mind, he just had to find a way to prove to her that he was a good pony now.
Thinking up another one, he trotted back to the mirror and cleared his throat. “Princess, I….” he paused, looked up slightly for a moment, and then shook his head. “No that can’t be it either!” Now frustrated, Shadow gave his reflection a grim expression. “Why is this so difficult? I know I’ve changed, so why is this so hard?”
“Shadow?” asked Fluttershy, peeking her head into the room. Shadow turned to the pegasus, and the situation told her everything. “Are you still nervous about seeing Princess Celestia again?”
His ears folded back on his head and he returned his gaze to his reflection, nodding. Fluttershy walked into the room and stood beside him, both of them now looking into the mirror.
“I keep trying to imagine what I’ll say,” Shadow said quietly. “But every time I try, I lock up.”
“It’s perfectly normal to be nervous, Shadow.” She assured him. “That’s nothing to be ashamed or afraid of.”
Keeping his golden eyes locked on his own reflection, Shadow stayed silent. His black fur quivered at the thought of the princesses not believing him. What would happen to him if they refused to believe he had changed? Would they lock him up somewhere far away? Somewhere dark and alone? Somewhere like…..
“What do you see when you look in the mirror Shadow?” Fluttershy asked. The question puzzled him, and he looked at her, confused. “Do you see someone without empathy, or someone who cares for others?” Shadow hesitated, but then looked back at his reflection. “Do you see someone who rejects the world around them, or someone who wishes to shape it themselves? Do you see someone alone, or someone with friends?”
The questions echoed in Shadow’s mind, dispelling his anxiety the longer they remained.
“Do you want to know what I see?” the pegasus asked, peering over at him. His eyes shifted over to her as she looked upon his reflection again. “I see a good pony.”
Like feeling the rising sun after a cold night, the wave of warmth swept through Shadow’s body, starting deep in his chest. So many times this amazing mare pulled him out from his doubts and fears, and so many times now he felt a different power; one much stronger. He finally gave her the smile she was looking for.
“I was about to walk back to my cottage, would you care to join me?” she asked.
“I’d be happy to.” He replied, following her to the door.
The Café Hay was one of the more popular restaurants in Ponyville. Just the right blend of good food and fashion to keep the attentions of two mares in particular.
“Will you hurry up and order already Rarity?” Rainbow Dash asked the unicorn, her heading resting on the table-top. “The longer it takes you to decide, the longer it takes for my hay burger to come out!”
Rarity eyed her rainbow-maned friend and sighed, looking back to the waiter. “I’ll have your delectable daffodil sandwich.” Nodding his head, the waiter walked off to the next few tables where customers sat in wait. “Honestly Rainbow Dash, you are the most impatient pegasus in all of Equestria.”
“I’m also the hungriest.” Rainbow snapped, lifting her head and leaning back in her chair.
With a slight shake of her head, Rarity used her magic to put the menu away. “I wonder what’s taking Spikey so long?”
With a slight grunt, Rainbow lifted her head enough to look at her companion. “Can’t you just call him Spike? What’s with the pet name?”
“Hmph.” Rarity chided, closing her eyes and lifting her chin. “Spikey-Wikey is not a pet name. It is simply more adorable.”
“Riiiight,” the pegasus scoffed. “The dragon wants to be more adorable.”
A short, purple dragon came sprinting over the hill with a basket to the two mares at the table. When he came to a halt, he gave himself a moment to catch his breath. “Sorry I’m late, I had baked some cookies for the three of us to eat with our lunch!”
Rainbow eyed Rarity, who was smirking over her way. “Why thank you Spikey-Wikey! Whatever would we do without our favorite dragon?”
Spike sat his basket of cookies up on the table and sat up on the chair. “You weren’t waiting long, were you?”
“Not at all.” Rarity replied. Using her magic, she lifted her own basket up onto the table, which had a few gemstones inside. “I brought your favorites, emeralds.”
“Awww, thanks Rarity!” Spike said excitedly, eyeing them with hunger.
Rainbow watched him drool at the sight of the gems and chuckled. “Aren’t you gonna go all dragon on them and stuff them in your mouth like you usually do?”
Restraining himself, Spike managed to tear his gaze away from the delicious stones. “Twilight’s been teaching me a thing or two about table manners. Rule number fourteen: always wait for the ladies’ meals before starting.”
Impressed with his improvement in dining etiquette, Rarity applauded her little dragon friend. “Oh how marvelous! You are such the little charmer, Spikey.”
Rainbow watched Rarity rub Spike’s head and the little dragon reply with his puppy-like gaze. It was almost sappy enough to make the pegasus throw up. “Oh knock it off you two before I lose my appetite; I’m practically starving over here.”
“Rainbow Dash!” Rarity said, disappointed in her friend’s lack of manners. “What is it with you today?”
Seeing that she crossed some line, Rainbow sighed. “I’m sorry; I just got a letter from Gilda that’s put me a bit on edge, that’s all.”
Spike tilted his head, curious. “Is something wrong over in Griffonstone?”
“Yeah,” Dash answered, sitting upright. “Supposedly some unicorn attacked the new king in the castle, and it’s caused a big uproar against us ponies.”
“How dreadful,” Rarity said, leaning forward. “And such a coincidence; I’ve heard from a few of my fashion friends in Baltimare that the coastlines have been being raided by droves of dragons!”
Rainbow scoffed, but Spike looked to be in disbelief. “Really?” he asked in a way that caught the mares’ attentions. “I just got a letter from Ember a few days ago saying that the griffons have begun expanding south into the Dragon Lands, trying to conquer them!”
The three sat in relative shock for a few moments.
“Whoa, seriously?” Rainbow gasped. “That’s just plain crazy!”
“This couldn’t possibly be a coincidence,” Rarity said, looking around at the two of them. “Could it?”
Spike all of a sudden looked very worried. “Do you think we should tell Twilight?”
“We really should,” Dash replied. “But she’s already so stressed about the princesses coming tomorrow, don’t you think telling her this would just make her feel worse?”
All three friends went silent with concerned expressions on their faces. Ponies, dragons, and griffons with such strong claims against one another couldn’t end well, especially claims like these. Ponies never attacked Griffonstone, dragons never raided populated areas of Equestria without the consent of the Dragon Lord, and the griffons hadn’t campaigned into the Dragon Lands since the Great Eastern War.
“Maybe we should wait until after the princesses come to tell her.” Spike offered.
A scary thought then snuck into Rainbow’s head. “What if that’s why the princesses are coming in the first place? What if they plan on telling Twilight!?”
Rarity gasped. “Then we simply must tell her! Twilight needs to have a perspective on the situation when Celestia and Luna arrive! I have an appointment with her at the boutique, I need to go prepare for-”
“One daffodil sandwich and one hay burger.” The waiter announced, sitting the food on the table. “Enjoy.”
As the stallion walked away, Rainbow eyed her meal. Her stomach grumbled and her gaze lifted to meet that of her friends’. “Maaaaybe we can eat first?”
Using her magic, Twilight brushed her mane while reading a book. Her wings shuffled about on her back in discomfort as she tried to concentrate. It used to be so easy for her to get lost in the pages of a book, but now it seemed nearly impossible. With a groan, Twilight flipped it shut and leaned back in her chair.
Starfall stood over by the door, occasionally glancing over at the princess as she failed to hide her emotions. She had tried her breathing technique more times than Starfall could count today, but it had no positive effect on her at all.
“Starfall?” Twilight asked, making the pegasus look over at her. Turning about, he walked over to her side. “Have you heard any news at all about the black dragon?”
“You mean Stormclaw?” Starfall asked.
Twilight almost shuddered at the mention of his name, having hoped not to hear it. She replied with an uneasy nod.
“Not a word.” He answered, looking a bit grim. “Has his absence been bothering you too?”
Twilight sat upright in her seat. “Well, he spent the better part of three weeks gathering up those artifacts and then he just up and disappeared after we lost him at Neighagra.”
Starfall nodded. “It is concerning, not knowing anything else about his intentions. And then to not know what happened to Daring Do after she gave chase to him.”
Something Twilight didn’t want reminded to her. Nopony had seen Daring since she took off after Stormclaw, which bothered everypony, Rainbow most of all. The thought of missing ponies made Twilight remember Zecora.
“You don’t think he’s behind Zecora’s disappearance, do you?” she asked him.
“It is possible,” the royal guard replied. “But why would he have taken her now and not when they met before at the Castle of the Two Sisters? It just doesn’t seem to make sense.”
There was that. “I suppose you’re right.” The alicorn concluded, facing forward as she slumped back into the chair, letting out a long sigh. “Why can’t my friends and I ever just have a year without troubles like this?”
Starfall chuckled, saying, “If only, princess.”
Peering over at him, Twilight asked, “I don’t suppose you have any clue why Stormclaw stole those artifacts in the first place?”
“Can’t say I do.” The pegasus said with a huff. “But he’ll slip up at some point, the criminals always do, and when he does, we’ll be waiting.”
It wasn’t that Twilight had lost hope for foiling the black dragon’s plans; she knew that Starfall was right and that eventually he would make a mistake. The prevailing worry, in her mind, was not knowing when it would happen, but like all things she had to wait for, she needed to have patience.
Starfall looked over at the door, and then up at the ceiling, believing he had heard something. He then remembered the princess’ schedule.
“Oh, right.” He said to himself. “You’re appointment with Rarity at her boutique is in ten minutes.”
“Whoa, I had almost forgotten!” Twilight blurted out, standing from her seat. “Thank you for reminding me.”
The purple alicorn took off towards the door, and so Starfall took a step forward. “Would you like me to accompany you?”
“I’ll be alright!” Twilight replied, looking back at him. “Go out and take a break, you’ve been a great help all day!” Without another word, she teleported in a flash of light.
Looking around at the room, Starfall shrugged his shoulders. “Guess I really could use a nap.”
While his room in Twilight’s Castle was very large and cozy, Shadow felt most at home when he was at Fluttershy’s cottage. The vibrant presence of countless animals, the peaceful scenery, and the calming feeling that Fluttershy herself gave off made the little cottage Shadow’s favorite place in all of Ponyville.
“Would you like some more tea?” Fluttershy asked.
“Yes, please.” Shadow replied, smiling as he held out his cup.
He visited her cottage most every day now, and they talked for hours, often losing track of the time. They talked about Ponyville, Cloudsdale, and Canterlot. About critters, the weather, and other pony friends. The range of their conversations was wide, almost all-encompassing. Shadow just loved listening to her; to every word as if they were musical notes.
“Rarity told me that she’s making you an outfit for the Grand Galloping Gala.” She continued, sipping from her cup.
Shadow nodded. “It was very generous of her; I know she’s kept busy this time of the year.”
“Well, she is the Element of Generosity after all.” Fluttershy giggled.
There it was again. Shadow had heard it several times before, but never asked further about it. Elements of Harmony. How strange it sounded to him, in a good way of course. He had been tempted to research the title in the castle library, but always thought it was outside of his realm of business. Even then….there was something about how it sounded. Thankfully, Shadow hadn’t had any memories returning to him since he overcame his other side, but the phrase, “Elements of Harmony” felt like it was connected to some part of his memories. Faded, very faint….but there.
“A title very befitting of her.” He concluded, ignoring his own curiosity. He didn’t care about what it meant, all he knew was that it was true, and he didn’t need to know anything else.
Angel, Fluttershy’s pet bunny, hopped up onto Shadow’s lap, rubbing his head against the shadow pony. He chuckled, scratching the white critter under his chin.
Fluttershy chuckled at the sight. “That’s the third time already; he must really like you.”
Shadow looked down at his little, outgoing friend and patted him on his head. Surprisingly enough, none of the animals he had come in contact with had ever responded to his presence with fear or mistrust. They were all immediate to welcoming him, something that Fluttershy had never seen before. They all just came up to the shadow pony and were as friendly as could be.
Looking down at him, Shadow was reminded of his position. His smile faded a bit, which caught Fluttershy’s eye. “Fluttershy?” he asked, the bunny hopping off from his lap. “Do you think I’m useless?”
Such a question was completely unexpected. The pegasus immediately flew over and landed beside him. “Shadow, why would you ask me that? You know you’re not useless.”
Keeping a downed gaze, Shadow replied, “I’ve been in Ponyville for over two months now, but I’m not doing anything. I help you and the girls whenever I can, but even then I don’t do much. Twilight is a princess, Rainbow is a Wonderbolt, AJ works her farm, Pinkie organizes parties, Rarity designs beautiful clothing, and you take care of all the woodland creatures. And I’m just….here.”
Fluttershy opened her mouth to speak, but something out the window caught her eye that changed her mind. A smile curved its way onto her face as she focused back on her depressed friend.
“I think you may be forgetting about something, Shadow.” She told him, earning a look from the shadow pony. “Something I know you are pretty good at.”
Shadow wasn’t given all that long to answer her before the door to the cottage swung open, revealing three small fillies with identical cutie marks. An earth pony, unicorn, and pegasus that just about everypony in town knew well.
“There ya are Shadow!” Apple Bloom called out, the three of them trotting over to him. “We’ve been look’n all over for ya!”
The sight of his three, energetic little friends pulled Shadow out from his slump in a heartbeat. “What do you need girls?” he asked them.
“We’re gonna go help search for Zecora.” Scootaloo said proudly.
“Yeah, we figured we could start by investigating her hut.” Sweetie Belle added. “But Rarity and Applejack don’t want us going there without an adult.”
“So, could you two come with us?” Scootaloo asked.
“Oh?” Fluttershy said, sounding a little skeptical. “And you’re sure that’s what your sisters said?”
“Absolutely.” Sweetie replied.
“Yeah, we swear!” Apple Bloom added for reassurance.
Shadow looked over at Fluttershy, saying, “I’d like to give it a shot, but I’ve never been in the Everfree Forest before, so this one is up to you.”
The pegasus looked from him, over to the three fillies, with the halos over their heads and eyes pleading her to say yes. She glanced outside; they had a while until it started getting dark.
“Alright.” Fluttershy told them, smiling. “Lead the way you three.”
“CUTIE MARK CRUSADER INVESTIGATORS!!!” the three fillies shouted out.
“Just about there aaaand….” Rarity said, using her magic to put on the final touches. “Done! Twilight, darling, I present to you, our gowns for the Grand Galloping Gala!” The curtain was flung aside and the dresses finally revealed.
Twilight’s eyes sparkled upon seeing the result of her friend’s hard work. “Oh my…” she said, in awe of them. “Rarity, these dresses are beautiful!”
“I know!” Rarity screeched, full of joy. “They may just be my finest works yet! Won’t the girls just love them!?”
“Without a doubt.” Twilight assured her, making the unicorn as giddy as could be.
Turning to close the curtain, Rarity asked, “Has Princess Celestia sent the invitations yet?”
The mention of her mentor flashed all the stress back into Twilight, but she hid it well. “No, but, I’m almost positive she will give them to us personally tomorrow.”
And upon Twilight mentioning the princesses’ visit, Rarity remembered what news she had to tell her alicorn friend. “Ah, yes, about that….” she said, turning back around. “Twilight, dearest, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but….”
“You don’t need to say it Rarity, I already know.” Twilight replied, sounding a little defeated.
Rarity was a bit shocked. “Y-you do?”
“I figured you would be the first to know about it, being that you have so many friends in Baltimare.” Twilight continued. “I already know about the attacks, and that it is the reason behind the princesses’ visit.”
Feeling like she dodged lightning, Rarity let out a sigh of relief; not at her friend’s supposed knowledge of the attacks, but rather that she wouldn’t be the one to break the news.
“And if it’s alright with you,” Twilight asked, “Could we….not talk about it?”
“Oh, but of course darling!” Rarity said in swift response. “Come now, let me see you in this marvelous gown!”
Looking up at her beautiful dress, it did make Twilight feel a little better. She followed the unicorn behind the curtains.
Having found no evidence of any kind at the hut, Fluttershy, Shadow, and the CMCs decided to take a small detour back to Ponyville through the forest, hoping to pick up on any kind of trail. It was starting to get late, but Fluttershy knew exactly where they were, so she wasn’t worried.
Coming up upon a clearing, Apple Bloom recognized it and let out a sigh, knowing full well where they were.
“Well shoot!” the little earth pony said, kicking a rock. “No sign of a zebra high or low!”
“I know,” Sweetie scoffed. “It’s like she just disappeared!”
“We tried our best,” Fluttershy said, hoping to lift their spirits. “But I think we should return to Ponyville now.”
“Okay…” all three fillies said in unison.
Entering the clearing, Shadow took notice to a statue standing at its center, alone in the forest. “What’s that?” he asked, halting the group.
“Oh, that’s just the Nightmare Night statue of Nightmare Moon.” Apple Bloom answered him, all five of them now looking at the darkened figure of the tall alicorn.
“….Nightmare Moon….?” Shadow whispered, walking over towards it.
Standing before the statue, a slight breeze floated through the air, passing them by. His mane, pitch-black, flowed with it, passing just below his face. She seemed familiar, in more ways than just one.
“Is…?” he asked, skeptical at first. “Is that Princess Luna?”
Scootaloo looked up at Shadow, somewhat surprised. “Do you really not know?”
He looked down at the little pegasus, asking, “Know what?”
Fluttershy knew she would be best telling him, and so she began. “That doesn’t surprise me.” She walked up to Shadow’s side, the both of them looking up at the statue. “Princess Luna was not always like she is now. Over a thousand years ago, she began to grow resentful of her sister, Princess Celestia. Every night she would watch ponies sleep through her reign, even though they were awake and relished in Celestia’s day. Her resentment deepened until she decided to fight against Celestia, refusing to lower the moon. She changed into this….” Fluttershy paused, shaking her head at the sight of the statue. “And Celestia banished her to the moon.”
That didn’t sound like Luna; resenting Celestia so much as to fight her, her own sister. He had been aware of something that happened to Luna, but he never would have imagined it was something like this.
Looking upon the gaze of the statue, Shadow’s vision flickered, and then darkened.
Luna lie collapsed on the floor, crying into her hooves. She remained there, alone in the faint darkness of her room, weeping without end.
A shadow emerged up from the floor, shifting over and circling her ever-so slowly.
“Why do you cry, Luna?” a voice whispered out from the shadow.
Taking in a few sharp breaths, the princess lifted her head enough to see the figure moving around her. “Sadness and loneliness surround us….” She gasped, covering up her face once more. “Nopony appreciates our night; we are a princess of nothing….”
Swirling about, lifted slightly from the floor, the shadow moved closer to her, as if trying to comfort the alicorn. “I do. I have always seen the beauty your night has to offer, for it is the only time in which I may see you.”
“We know,” Luna managed, using what strength she had to sit up. “We truly are sorry, an offense was not meant-”
“Dear Luna….” The shadow whispered ever so slightly. “I will always be here for you. Unlike that faithless sister of yours.”
Luna tilted her head, saying, “B-but Celestia is the only family we have…..she must appreciate my night like you do.”
“The same Celestia that tells you I am not real?” the shadow asked. “The same Celestia that lets you cry here in your room alone, with only a creature like me to comfort you? No Luna, she has betrayed you.”
“But she….I….” Luna said softly, unable to finish as she felt the tears start coming back.
The shadow inched closer, resting underneath her and rising further from the floor. “Stop resisting the truth Luna, I beg of you. Have I not always been there for you?”
Luna closed her eyes, feeling the shadows against her fur. “Yes…”
“Have I not always wanted what was best for you, to be the princess Equestria truly needs?” it continued, surrounding her almost entirely.
With a nod, Luna gasped slightly. “Yes…”
“Trust in me Luna.” It spoke softly. “Close your eyes and open your heart, I will show you what you can become.”
Shadow flinched as he felt the vision end. Fluttershy looked at him, slightly concerned.
“Are you alright?” she asked.
He quickly looked at her, and then at the little fillies beside him, all curious for his answer. Shadow looked back up upon the statue of Nightmare Moon, nodding slowly.
“Y-yeah, I’m fine.” He lied, blinking a few times. “Just got a headache is all.”
The sun had begun to set as the Cutie Mark Crusaders walked to their clubhouse together. Fluttershy and Shadow had gone off towards the castle once they had all cleared the forest and knew the CMCs would be alright on their own.
They had to brainstorm on how to better their search efforts for Zecora. Most everypony else was keeping an eye out for her, but there hadn’t been a peep from anyone, anywhere in all of town. They didn’t have long before dusk fell, which was how long they were supposed to stay out, so they wanted to get some quick thinking in before heading back to their homes.
“Do y’all think Shadow is alright?” Apple Bloom asked her friends as they rounded a turn on the dirt path. “He sure was act’n strange around that there statue.”
“He’s a tough pony, I’m sure he’ll be fine.” Scootaloo brushed the worry aside. “We need to stay focused if we’re gonna find Zecora.”
“Who are we kidding Scoots,” Sweetie sighed. “If all of Ponyville has been looking for Zecora for weeks and haven’t found a thing, what chance do we have?”
Apple Bloom shook off her concern for Shadow and lifted her head high. “We have to try, she could be in danger! This has to be our top priority!”
As the three fillies turned onto the straightaway to their clubhouse, they became more and more lost in their conversation.
“We’ve been at this for days,” Sweetie replied, shaking her head. “I just think we should consider that this is just a step higher than what we’re used to.”
“What? You mean just give up?” Scootaloo questioned the unicorn.
“No, of course not!” Sweetie snapped back. “But maybe we should take some time to see if others need our help, we can’t just focus on finding one pony all the time, can we?”
Apple Bloom sighed. “Ah see what your say’n, but this is Zecora we’re talkin’ about! Ah just can’t stand not knowing where she is or if she’s alright!”
Scootaloo looked up at the treehouse and froze mid-step. “Ummm….Apple Bloom….Sweetie Belle….?”
“I know you and Zecora are close Apple Bloom, but there are other ponies that may need our help too.” Sweetie retorted to her earth pony friend. The two stopped and turned to one another to argue their points.
“Girls….” Scootaloo tried again, sounding intimidated.
“It’s not just me Sweetie Belle!” Apple Bloom answered back. “Her being missin’ means a lot to Twilight and the rest of our friends too! We can’t just give up on ‘em!”
Scootaloo gave the both of them a sharp elbow in their sides, silencing the argument to look at their cautious friend. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle turned their gazes to the clubhouse, which had a visitor up on the balcony waiting for them.
Claws tapped on the wood to a patient rhythm. Black scales rejected the light from the setting sun. A mane of golden spikes flowed gently in the breeze. And two scarlet eyes stayed focused on the three ponies as they stood motionless below.
“Cutie Mark Crusaders, right?” he asked in a deep voice, leaning forward onto the railing. “I could really use your help.”