//------------------------------//
// The Trace 
// Story: The True Dark Daughter of the Crystal Empire 
// by Silver Shadows 
//------------------------------//

Twilight's POV
I know that I'm waiting for the train to arrive to travel to the Crystal Empire! I can't now wait to see Flurry Heart once more. I even bought presents for her and other stuffed animals that reminded myself of her. The train finally arrives and I step into it, finding a seat before staring out the window. I just hope that I'll  be able to recognize her once more. I look at a Spike, who as usual, travels with me. Spike is busy trying out wigs and different costumes, as if he is going to be mobbed, which he probably will be. Last time, even under the threat of Thorax, the crowd still lifted him up and threw him up and down in the air.

The train finally arrives at its destination. Spike and I walks out of the train and we both see guards stationed everywhere. At first, they point their spears at us before recognizing one of us. They grab Spike and began to shout out his name once more. I stifle my chuckle before looking at all the guards.

I ask, "What's going on?"

One of the guards looks nervous before replying, "Well-"

Another guard nudges him, "Stop. We don't know what magic he or she many contain. Keep everything to yourself." Something is definitely going on here for sure.

I say, "Where's Cadence and my brother?" Then I see the palace and mentally slap myself on the forehead. I grab Spike before teleporting into the castle easily. I walk around, looking for them before seeing them in the throne room. Flurry is sleeping, on her blue bed and her little head is on a soft, green pillow. I almost didn't want to disturb them but I need to know about what is going on. I walk in and my brother looks up. I can tell that he is tired by his bloodshot eyes and how frazzled his mane looks like. Candence didn't look too much better. 

She sees me and trots across the room, "Sunshine, sunshine."

I smile and say it with her, "Ladybugs awake. Clap your hooves and do a little shake." We both fall down and laugh our heads off before Flurry wakes up from the noise. Flurry stands up and flies out of her crib, flying into my hands. I kiss her before showing one of the presents. She opens the plain orange box to see two monkeys in there, one pink and one red. She does some hand motion before I laugh and levitate the red monkey. I made the monkey do some acrobats while Candence and Shining looks at us, smiling.

Shining sighs, "Twily, I know that you want to know about what is happening outside." I nod, signaling him to go on.

He continues, "Before Spike took the Crystal Heart to banish King Sombra somewhere, or vaporize him, honestly I don't care, there were traces of dark magic. It's been recently found by one of our subjects that was made a day before it happened."

Cadence says, "That's why there are extra guards. None of us want a repeat and the creature with the dark magic is against us and probably with King Sombra. In fact, he or she is probably related to King Sombra."

I begin to put the pieces together, "Is that the real reason I'm here?"

My brother sighs, "I'm sorry Twily, but after, you could spend days with Flurry. Also, this threat is really big and we need to solve it. If intercepted, it wouldn't tell too much to the creature."

"Are you sure that the pony or creature won't talk?"

"Anypony who is related to the King can't be good. Sombra can't be a good influence. Besides, we don't even know who the pony or creature is."

I nod, "Maybe the pony or creature would be willing to talk. Thorax wasn't that scary."

My brother replies, "Sombra was a lot worse than a rogue changeling. Do you remember what he did?" I nod, of course I remembered. 

I say, "I'll get the other six here."

"Six?"

"Fluttershy, Rainbow, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie, and Starlight."

Candence nods, "We will need all the help we could get. Get them here immediately please." I nod before focusing on a teleportation spell. Usually, I would let them arrive on the train, but seeing how dire this is, I need to tell them about this. 

Rainbow immediately crashes into a wall, "Twilight! I was at Wonderbolt's practice. You can't just teleport me here."

Rarity nods, "Darling, I'm sorry to say this but my sewing machine is still on and Sassy is waiting for an answer to her question."

Fluttershy says shyly, "I was... I was um... Reading a story to Angel. I'll have to start all over again."

Pinkie glared at me, "And I was planning a super duper fantastic party for Apple Bloom for her birthday or almost birthday."

Applejack rubs her legs, "And Ah was about to buck a tree. Why did you teleport us like that?"

I sigh, "I'm sorry girls. Candence, do you mind sending letters to the ponies?" 

Candence nods, yawning, "Of course Twilight." She trots out of the room.

I look at the others, "Girls, I have some bad news..."

Rainbow's POV
Shoot. They know about my small feat in magic when I was trying to get to Applejack quickly. I had shadow traveled to the flag, grabbed it, and placed it on the statue. I look at the others who has disbelief, horror, and other ranges of emotion. I pretend to have disbelief.

Twilight continues, "And that's why we must hunt the pony down."

I ask, "How do we even know that the pony is in the Crystal Empire? For all we know, she could've fled."

"Perhaps so, but we still should look around and at least talk to the pony. We don't want any risks in this, especially since the Crystal ponies are still sore with King Sombra." If only they know that I am actually the daughter of King Sombra and that it's actually a Pegasus.

Twilight sighs, "We need a secret code to just make sure that the pony won't shapeshifter into us and discover all of our plots." I don't even need to shapeshift right now, but I nod to make her happy.

Starlight says, "How about if you say Crystal, then you say-"

Pinkie interrupts, "Cupcake!" 

Starlight raises a hoof, "I was going to say-"

"Cupcake!"

"As I was saying-"

"Cupcake!"

Twilight chuckles, "Okay Pinkie. Crystal cupcake it is. Anyways, I will make up a small plan. For now, we should travel in pairs or trios. I will be with Applejack. Rarity will be with Pinkie. Fluttershy will be with Starlight and Rainbow. Spike, you could stay here and eat gems." I notice that there is at least one unicorn in each group but I didn't say anything about it. 

Twilight opens a map and points to different areas, "Rainbow, Starlight, and Fluttershy will head East." I zone out the rest as Starlight leads Fluttershy and I East.

I sigh, "What's the plan?"

Starlight replies, "Well... I was thinking that we should act casual and draw him or her out that way." 

Fluttershy nods, "I wouldn't mind casual." I put on my sunglasses and nod before flying towards a cafe with the others.

Starlight raises an eyebrow, "I honestly don't think that he or she will be in there."

I smirk, "You won't know unless you try. Besides, I'm starving!" Fluttershy and Starlight sighs before following me to a table. One of the Crystal ponies levitated a menu to us.

I say, "I would like a coffee with a lot of sugar as well as a donut with sprinkles on them. I would also like a chocolate cupcake with sprinkles." I look outside to see other Crystal ponies being tense around the street but acting normal since it isn't a too well known fact with all the details provided. Meanwhile, I am nervous that they are hunting me down, intentionally or not. The others ordered something and we all eat our food. The coffee is delicious but the cupcake is the best by so far. I sip my coffee as I listen to the others.

Starlight sighs, "We should lay a trap for her."

Fluttershy looked at her food, "That doesn't sound nice."

"You're right. She could just teleport away or disband the trap. Maybe we need to study her style by luring her to use some magic."

"Umm.... Doesn't she have dark magic?"

"True, but there are other signs with a signature like that. Also, we should set up cameras to catch her." I didn't even want to tell them that I could blend in with the shadows and avoid the cameras. 

Fluttershy looks at me, "Rainbow, is everything alright? You've been really quiet."

I smile, "Nah, it's cool." It is not cool of how they are unintentionally talking about me without knowing it. Also, how they are hunting me down, thinking and being certain that it's a bad pony.

Starlight asks, "Are you sure Rainbow? You look a little glum." Before I can make another excuse, the cafe bell rang and another pony walks into the cafe. The pony lights up when he sees Starlight and trots to the seat next to her.

Sunburst says, "Hi. What are you all doing here?"

Starlight smiles, "Sunburst! I can't believe you're here."

"Actually, I can't believe that you're here since you live in Ponyville. I just came here for a small drink." Sunburst levitates one of the free samples on the counter over while two bits float to the table. He sips the drink, relaxing.

Starlight looks at Sunburst, "Did you hear about the magic issue?"

He looks around before whispering, "Yes, I'm was the one to detect it. I suppose that you were sent here."

"Yes."

"Then let's all trot together since I'm also doing that."

Fluttershy looks at her drink, "Are you sure? Twilight did her best to make pairs and four ponies could definitely split up."

Starlight barely notices her, "Well, you could come with us." I sigh, Starlight is clearly in love with Sunburst while Sunburst is completely ignorant. I look outside before finishing my food.

Sunburst looks around, "We can't really do anything besides walking around unless the pony leaves another trace of magic behind. Until then, we will have to keep looking. Hey, maybe when we finish the task and I go to Ponyville for a visit, we could do one of my favorite activities. Looking and buying antiques. Did you know that Ponyville is antique central?" I yawn before looking at Fluttershy. The mare is still eating her food slowly. Basically, we are going to continue searching until the pony gets discovered. I'm still afraid of what will happen if they would discover that I had performed the magic. They will be likely rob bombard me with uncomfortable questions. 

Fluttershy whispers to me, "Rainbow, is everything actually alright? You look a little sad." Sad is one way to describe it but I shake my head, not wanting to let her know who I really am.

She pats my back, "Don't worry, we will find the pony and you will go back to train with the Wonderbolts." That is exactly what I am afraid of. If they discover that it is me, will I need to give up my position and face some consequences? When I was a filly, I thought that there was magic in the show instead of special effects of going through storm cloud so and what's not. If ponies find out I have magic, I can be accused of using it during shows. Also, my reputation can be tarnished. I realize that they are all staring at me.

I look at them, "What?"

Starlight replies, "You were staring off into space."

I give them a fake smile,  "I just missing being a Wonderbolt's and becoming 20% cooler again."

Fluttershy gives me a small stare, "I don't think that is why. I know you Rainbow and I just want to help you."

I snap at Fluttershy, "I don't need help." 

Fluttershy stands up in her and spills her drink a little, "Rainbow, for your on good, just tell us." I know that Fluttershy barely gets like this but I can't tell her. I just can't!

I reply, also standing up, "I'm sorry for snapping at you but I just really don't need help. Now, I thinks that's we should go and continue scouting or something."

Starlight sighs, "You know what? She really does have a point. Let's go."