Soarin led the stallions down to Ponyville, where it was oddly quiet. They landed in town and headed towards the Friendship Castle. Ever since Rainbow had introduced the Wonderbolts to her other friends, they'd mostly hung out at the Castle with Applejack, Spike, Rarity, Fluttershy, Discord, Pinkie Pie, and Starlight Glimmer. If Fashion Plate and Cheese Sandwich happened to be in town, they would also join the group.
Princess Twilight had used to hang out with them too, but as the time of her becoming the leader of Equestria grew closer, she spent more time in her office at the school, getting ready for the power transition. Soarin knocked on the great doors to the castle. They heard footsteps, then Spike opened the door.
"Oh, hey guys." Spike greeted, he was taller now, and was almost the same height as the stallions.
"Spike, have you seen the mares? They weren't at HQ." Soarin asked, an Spike scratched his head.
"That's funny, because I haven't seen Twilight or Starlight since last night. But they sometimes get up before me and leave quietly so I don't wake up." Spike replied as Big Macintosh raced up. He leaned down and whispered something to the purple dragon. "What? Apple Bloom and AJ are missing and you haven't seen them all day?" Spike repeated what the large stallion had murmured.
"So the girls aren't the only missing ponies." Sky Stinger said
"I'm going to try to contact Princess Celestia." Spike said, pulling out a scroll and quill, then began to write something.
"What if she and Princess Luna are gone too?" Fire Streak asked
"They can't be." Came a voice.
The group turned to see Prince Shining Armor. His best knight, Flash Sentry, and his Royal Crystaller, Sunburst, were with him. They trotted up to the stallions.
"Why can't they be gone?" Sky Stinger asked
"Their castle is surrounded with pieces of Ex-Queen Chrysalis' throne, it will detect and stop all attempts at teleportation in and out of the castle. I just wish I'd thought to put similar security measures on my sister and I's castles. Cadence and Flurry Heart are missing, I was coming here to tell Twilight." Shining explained
"Strange, I was going to have tea with Fluttershy today, but she's not at her cottage or her sanctuary." Came another, slightly haughty voice from above them. When they looked up they saw Discord had appeared there.
"Alright, let's do a head count, who's missing? I want to make sure I have a full list before I alert Celestia." Spike said, as Fashion Plate and Cheese Sandwich ran up.
"Oh, hey guys, what are you doing here?" Spike greeted
"We were both in Canterlot when we decided to come down here and surprise our girls. We thought they might be here because they aren't home." Cheese replied
"Okay, so Rarity and Pinkie have also disappeared." Spike made note of it, as the CMC's friends-Button Mash, Rumble, and Tender Taps-trotted up.
"Hey." Rumble said, looking worried.
"What's up little bro?" Thunderlane asked
"Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are gone!" Button Mash exclaimed, and Tender Taps nodded.
Spike muttered something, then wrote Sweetie and Scootaloo's names. He rolled up the scroll, breathing fire on it. They hung around for less than ten minutes before Spike belched, making a scroll appear in a burst of flames.
"What's it say? What's it say?" Cheese asked eagerly, pushing past Fashion Plate and scanning the letter.
"Celestia said she has gotten word from Starswirl the Bearded that Somnambula, Mage Meadowbrook, and Mistmane have also gone missing. She wants us all in Canterlot right away." Spike read
"Even us?" Fashion Plate asked, and Spike looked at the bottom of the scroll.
"Even you guys." Spike answered.
"Well I can't come." It was the first time Big Macintosh had spoken more then a few words in such a big group. But since Discord and Spike, his Ogres and Oubliettes buddies, were there, he was more at ease.
"Why not?" Discord asked "Not that disobeying Celestia's orders doesn't sound fun."
"I hafta do ma sis's chores on top of my own. It's gonna take all day, Granny Smith's real particular 'bout how the chores are s'posed to be done." Big Mac said
"Oh, and because he's got a date with Sugar Belle this afternoon." Discord added, oblivious at the embarrassment he was causing his friend. Though Big Macintosh had a red coat, the red fur around his cheeks turned darker as he blushed.
"Discord! what have we told you about secrets?" Spike asked
"Only tell them when the pony says you can tell others. What kind of stupid rule is that, it takes the fun out of knowing someone else's secret." Discord sighed
"Can you teleport us to the castle? You won't be able to send us straight in, but the guards will let us in if you get us to the bridge." Shining Armor asked Discord, who sighed and held up his hands.
"Whatever you say my Prince." he answered sarcastically, snapping his fingers. Everyone but Big Macintosh disappeared in a flash of light.
They appeared at the palace gates, where Shining Armor trotted forward and said something to the guards. A stallion that the Wonderbolts all recognized trotted up, wearing the armor of Luna's guards. He was a purple coated stallion with a white mane-though they could only see his tail. His eyes were a familiar almond shape with fuchsia pupils. Shining Armor trotted over to the gates with the guard, beckoning for them to follow. The stallions followed as directed, and the Wonderbolts all waved their wings at Luna's guard.
"Hey Dark Shooter." Rapidfire greeted casually.
"You know him?" Flash Sentry asked
"Yeah, he's Fleetfoot's older brother. He stops by HQ every now and then, usually once a month." Silver Zoom replied
"But it's been a while, we haven't seen him in five months." Soarin added, as the stallion removed his helmet to reveal his white mane, matted against his head with sweat.
"That's because after I reinforced the castle, I told Celestia that I wanted to head the guard in the Crystal Empire. I asked her to appoint another pony to take my place when I can't come to lead the Canterlot guard myself. She asked Luna for a recommendation, and she recommended Dark Shooter, he's her top guard. He's still her guard, but he does my duties as Captain of the Canterlot Guard when I'm gone." Shining Armor explained, leading them inside. Dark Shooter nodded.
"I meant to come visit and tell you, but the new duties on top of my usual ones are a lot of pressure." Dark Shooter explained, they were now walking down the hallway. Suddenly, Flash Magnus, who Rainbow had told them was the new Drill Sargent for the Royal Guard, trotted up to them.
"Captain Shooter, Princesses Celestia and Luna are waiting for you in the throne room. I must go escort in Starswirl and Rockhoof, but I will join you alongside them." Flash Magnus said, saluting Dark Shooter.
"Good, at ease Sargent Magnus." Dark Shooter responded, and Flash Magnus left.
"Time to enter, and see what Princess Celestia knows about this." Soarin whispered to the others, as Dark Shooter pushed open the door.