After having breakfast, Sakura, Baked Apple, Apple Eden, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Soarin are at the beginning of the race hoping to find Storm, Diamond Tiara's cousin, since according to her testimony Storm should be practicing somewhere.
Just then Twilight accidentally bumps into someone. When she comes around she can see a griffon and this griffon is someone she hasn't seen in years.
"Gilda is that you?" Twilight asks surprisingly.
"Twilight Sparkle is that you?" Gilda asks surprised.
"Yes," Twilight answers a little shocked by this encounter.
Just then Rainbow and the others go to where they both are and Rainbow made an excited expression on her face.
"Hey Gilda, see that you saw Twilight," Rainbow replies happily.
"Wow when Rainbow told me you returned in her letter she wasn't kidding," Gilda replies in a big surprise to see Twilight even though she only meet her once.
"Yes after 20 years it's... nice to see you again," Twilight replies really nervously.
"Don't worry Gilda and I are pals again," Rainbow replies giving Gilda a hoof bump.
"So I assume You and Gilda made amends?" Twilight asks curiously.
"Yeah when I visited Griffonstone one day and we became good friends again," Rainbow replies.
"Oh, this is my daughter Gia and she is going to represent Griffonstone in the race," Gilda says introducing them to their daughter. Gia is a griffon with silver feathers and the same color fur as her mother. She also has bright red eyes, and she is wearing a light green scarf on her neck.
"Hello," The others say.
"Hey guys, it's nice to meet you," Gia replies.
"So what can we do for you?" Gilda asks curiously.
"Well, we're investigating a crime that occurred last night and we would like to know where you were at the time of the crime," Sakura confirms to them.
"Oh, we were in the garden nothing more than getting some fresh air," Gia answers happily.
"So what's the crime?" Gilda asks in concern.
"One of the racers is missing and one of my friends has been accused of a crime that he didn't commit," Sakura explain to the others in a serious tone.
"Wait you don't mean Aerial Ace do you?" Gia asks worried.
"I'm afraid so," Eden answers sadly.
"Oh dear," Gilda replies very worried.
"So Gia just out of curiosity did you entering other races besides the Equestrian 5000?" Sakura ask still holding her note book.
"Yes, I competed in other races like Manehattan, Vanhoover, and the Crystal Empire. Oh, and this is my second year competing in the Equestrian 5000 as well" Gia explains to Sakura about herself.
"Are you any good?" Eden asks shyly.
"Of course I am. I won second place last year," Gia replies with pride.
"That impressive and I guess Fast Swift came in first, right," Sakura replies in a cheerful tone.
That's when Gia makes a upset and yet angry face. That catches everyone's attention especially Sakura's.
"Is it just me or not many ponies or griffins like him very much," Sakura replies in a suspicious way in her thoughts.
"Can we not talk to him?" Gia replies in an angry tone.
Sakura understands that Gia made the same expression like Storm did last night. Then she decides to change the subject, "Don't worry we can change the subject, maybe we can talk about another racer named Storm."
Gia gets surprised like she is very eager when she hears his name, "Strom, I'll gladly talk about him."
"What do you know?" Baked Apple asks.
"I know a lot of different racers I competed in, but Storm is very good at his local races," Gia answers.
"Do you know why he does bad in the Equestria 5000. He told me he comes in last place?" Sakura asks in concern.
"He been acting like that ever since Diamond Tiara had a big break 3 years ago," Gia replies.
"Her big break?" Sakura asks questionably writing in her notebook.
"Yes her family opened a sporting company 3 years ago and their equipments are very good. Fast Swift has also been given the job to be a spokes model and give review and publicity for the company. Which is strange," Gia explain and being questionable about the details.
"What's strange?" Eden asks curiously.
"What she means is, when Fast Swift started working with the family was around the same time Storm started having this losing streak and all the streak happen at the races Fast Swift was competing in," Gilda says.
"Very interesting," Sakra says curiously to herself writing in her notebook.
"I wish there more we can tell you," Gilda replies sadly.
"Don't worry, I'm also beginning to understand what's going on here," Sakura says with a little more confident about this case.
"Really!" The other says surprisingly.
"Yes, but I think I need to talk to Storm first," Sakura suggests.
"Okay see you later," Gilda says.
"Bye," Everyone in Sakura's group replies in a smile.
Then Gia and Gilda left to practice some more before the big race.
"So Sakura do you have any idea what's going on?" Baked Apple asks curiously.
"Not yet, but I have a suspicion that there is more than just a missing pony we need to worry about," Sakura replies seriously thinking.
"Hey Sakura," The voice comes out and Sakura recognizes it right way. So she turns to see Storm the pony she's been looking for.
"Hello Storm it's nice to meet you again," Sakura says happily.
"Hey Sakura. I'm sorry about what happen to your friend," Storm says with a sad look.
"How do you know that?" Applejack asks suspiciously.
"Let me guess Diamond Tiara told you," Sakura suspects.
"She did I saw her this morning while we're having breakfast. She also told me that you're on the case," Storm answers.
"That's right," Baked Apple replies.
"Storm is there anything you can tell me more about the the victim?" Sakura asks turning the next page in her notebook.
"Well I don't know him that well all I know is that he is a great racer," Storm answers.
"Have you competed with him before?" Sakura asks.
"Yes," Storm simply answers.
"And how Fast Swift became a model for your cousin's company?" Sakura asks.
"Well it happen a few years ago one day he just showed and ask for the job," Storm answers.
"Very interesting your friend Gia also told me that you did well at your local races but hadn't won the Equestrian 5000. Mind you explain why?" Sakura asks sternly.
Storm hesitates for a bit he looks down on the ground with a frown look on his face and narrowing his eyes.
"That's… none of your business," Storm yells scaredly.
Sakura notice that Storm hesitate a bit and realizes Storm is hiding something from her and that something must have something to do about Fast Swift and his career.
"Okay Storm that will be all for the day," Sakura says ending their conversation.
"Thanks. Now I must go practice for the race," Storm replies then flies off to practice some more for the race.
Sakura is starting to suspect that Storm is more aware of Fast Swift than she thought. Now they decide to go back to the rooms to see how the others are doing and tell them what they found.
Later that day:
Sakura and the others return to the room to tell the others what they found. Sakura know that thing are going to get a little complicated when she tell the others about what the crime is about.
"So did you find something?" Ace asks frantically.
"I did find some things and during some of the conversation, I think Storm and Gia may know something about Fast Swift," Sakura answers diligently.
"Like what?" Ruby asks concern.
"Well, I notice that when we were talking to Storm, Gia and few of the other racers, they seem to gotten pretty upset when I brought up Fast Swift. The way they made that expression on their faces, I can tell that they have some kind of grudge against him," Sakura explains tapping her chin with her finger.
"But what will that be?" Gentle Wind asks.
"That my dear Gentle Wind is something I have some suspicions about," Sakura explains.
"But how?" Soarin asks.
"Well, I remember Ace and the others telling me that Fast Swift won every race he ever competed in, but because of it, ponies suspect that he is cheating using illegal methods," Sakura adds still think about the case.
"So maybe Storm and Gia might know Fast Swift secret to his success," Eden suggests.
"Exactly Eden," Sakura says.
"But there is one question, who would have a motive for trying to get rid of Fast Swift besides just wanting to win?" Rainbow asks curiously.
"Maybe our famous racer Fast Swift had something that someone else found out about," Sakura replies.
"But what can that be?" Ame asks curiously.
"That something we need to find out," Sakura answers.
Just then someone knocks on the door and Rainbow Dash decides to answer it.
When she opens the door, she see a female mail carrier named Heart Stamp one of the local mail carriers in Canterlot.
"I have a delivery for Sakura Hinata," Heart Stamp replies.
"A letter for me?" Sakura says questionably coming towards the door where the mail carrier is at.
"Yes," Heart Stamp replies then hands over the letter to Sakura.
"Have a nice day," Heart Stamp says happily then leave to deliver more mail to other ponies.
The others are curious to know who send the letter to Sakura and why. Without delay Sakura open the envelop and take the letter out of it and starts to read it out loud.
Dear Sakura,
I would like to apologize to you for how I acted earlier. I know it wasn't right of me to get scared for just answering a few questions, so I want to make it up to you. Also I found something that might be important to your case I need you to meet me in front of the gate of Canterlot immediately.
Sincerely,
Storm
P.S Make sure you come alone.
"Storm found something important?" Ace says questionably.
"But why does he want you to meet you alone?" Eden asks in concern.
"I don't know, but if Storm has important information about Fast Swift disappearance then he must think this is something he need to do in private," Sakura says unsure about this situation.
So she grab her jacket and starts making her way to the gate.
"Sakura," Twilight calls. That made Sakura turn to face her. When she did, she can see the worried look on her mother's face.
Twilight says, "Be careful."
Sakura smile know that her mother want her to be safe. Then she says, "I will."
With that Sakura closes the door after leaving the room then makes her way to the gate entrance of Canterlot,
The Canterlot Entrance:
Sakura made it to the gates. She can see that Storm isn't here yet so she decides to look at the flowers for a little bit before having a talk with Storm.
Sakura doesn't realize that somepony is sneaking behind her very slowly. The pony was so quiet that Sakura isn't aware that the mysterious pony is up to something malicious. When the pony got close to her, he turns around and uses his hind legs to kick Sakura on the head to knock her out.
Sakura feels so stung that she couldn't turn around to see who kick her and couldn't say a single word. Then the next she knew she is on the ground hitting her face on the grass and she is now unconscious.
The mysterious pony knows that she is out cold and glad that she is. So it grabs her with its fore legs and carry her somewhere where no one can find her.