The fallout from the previous day's events hit Ponyville hard. First, Rainbow and her friends tried to search for Astral. However, after an hour of searching, Twilight decided to go back and call the whole town together to form a search party. But, once they got back, a few things had to be sorted out.
"Now, tell me again how that poor colt got abused all these years under your nose?" Asked Applejack. Rainbow's only response was hanging her head in shame. The six of them had gathered into Twilight's throne room with Field and Varsity in tow.
"There was no abuse going on! How many times do I have to tell you ponies." Field exclaimed.
"You shut your mouth, you bully!" Fluttershy shouted.
"Yeah! You're just a big meanie! Hitting foals like that! Is that what they call being a stallion where you're from!" Yelled Pinkie.
"Field, you're in a lot of hot water. I hope you realize that. This is foal abuse, plain and simple." Twilight said.
"Now, princess Twilight, let's be reasonable..."
"NO! Not again! I'm not going to enable this kind of abuse! Not now, not ever again! Do you hear me!" Twilight was panting, and tears ran down her cheeks. She quickly turned to Rainbow.
"Rainbow, it's your call. What do you want to do?"
"Why are you asking me?" Rainbow asked, surprised.
"You're his mom. I think you should get the final say in what happens."
"Twilight... I'm pretty sure I lost that right a long time ago... in fact, I probably never earned it in the first place." Silence overtook the room for a moment before Rainbow stood up and faced Field.
"Field... Get out of Ponyville. Don't come back."
"Dashi... Why." Asked Field, not understanding that mercy was being given to him.
"BECAUSE SOME PART OF ME STILL LOVES YOU!"
Another silence. Everypony was shocked to hear this.
"Yeah, that's right! I still have feelings for you! You deserve to be punished. After everything you've done, you deserve to rot in the dungeon. But I can't bring myself to demand it... And I despise myself for that. And Varsity... In my heart, you're still my son, always and forever. But this can't go on. I want to be a family, but I can't let my little buddy get tormented, anymore."
"You're going to chose that... NOPONY!... Over us?!" As soon as he said this, Rainbow Dash got in Field's face.
"HE'S NOT A NOPONY! HE'S MY SON! HE'S THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE! HE'S EVERYTHING TO ME!.. And... You already forced me to choose..." Rainbow said, turning away.
"That settles it. Field, you're hereby banned from the town of Ponyville for life." Twilight announced.
"But... I, uh... But he...." Field looked around and saw that he had no support whatsoever. The only faces that weren't glaring at him was Rainbow Dash, who was still facing away from him.
"Come on, Varsity. Let's go." The two of them left. As they went out the door, Varsity looked back at Rainbow. She was still facing away from the two of them. After a moment of staring, he grabbed the gold pendant threw it toward Rainbow. He turned and galloped out the door.
Rinbow Dash turned and saw the pendant on the floor, next to her. She picked it up and looked at it. After a few moments her eyes widened. Her pupils were the size of pin pricks as a heavy realization hit her.
"YOU DON'T LOVE ME! YOU NEVER DID! THAT'S WHY YOU REPLACED ME!"
"No, no it's not... I... I'm so sorry."
"Sugarcube?" Asked Applejack.
"That's why he got sick." Rainbow said quietly. Sniffling could be heard.
"Rainbow... Are you okay?" Asked Pinkie.
The other ponies in the room were staring at Rainbow intently. She look back at them, tears flowing down her face as she held the pendant in her hooves.
"He hates me... And it's my fault." She looked back at the pendant. She began sobbing heavily.
"I'm so sorry, Astral! Please come back! I'll be better! Please." She felt a warm embrace has the other five ponies hugged her.
"Guys?"
"You're not the only one at fault here. I mistreated him as well. I cast him out without a second thought, and he did nothing to deserve it. Nothing whatsoever." Twilight said as she began crying herself.
"As did I, darling." Said Rarity.
"We'll find him, Rainbow. Just you wait." Applejack said.
"Even if we do, he won't come back. Not after everything that's happened."
"Sugarcube, I ain't gonna to lie. You made a whole bunch of really bad mistakes. Really, really bad mistakes. But that doesn't make you a bad pony, not if you're willing to make it right."
"He still isn't going to want to come back..."
"We just have to take it one step at a time. That's all." Said Fluttershy.
"That's right. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Right now, we got to make sure the little fella's safe." Said Applejack.
"Yeah, you're right. Can't leave my kiddo hangin'. I'm gonna find him, whatever it takes. Twilight?"
"I'm on it." Twilight said. She begin trotting toward the front door of the castle. As she made her way to the door, she saw a spike leaning against the wall, staring into space.
"Spike?" She asked
"Twilight?" She responded.
There was a bit of an awkward silence between the two. Quite a bit of tension had built up, and it was easy to see.
"I'm sorry." Twilight finally said.
"Huh?"
"I'm sorry. You were right... About everything. I'm sorry that I ignored you. You were trying to tell me something I was doing wasn't right, and all I did was browbeat you for it."
"Twilight..."
"Can you forgive me?"
"... Twilight... I already forgave you." Spike's head as he walked toward Twilight. Twilight ran up and and the two embraced each other. They held one another for a couple of minutes before letting go.
"So what now? Asked Spike
"We're going to summon the town, and form a search party." Twilight responded.
"Oh yes. The one kind of party Pinkie doesn't enjoy." Said Spike, following Twilight.
However, once the town was in one place, pieces started coming together. Time Turner and Ditzy admitted to giving Astral money for a train ticket. A mare who worked at the Ponyville train station revealed that she had sold him a ticket to the Crystal Empire.
"The Crystal Empire! Why would he go there of all places?!" Asked Pinkie.
"I have no idea, Pinkie. It's not like he knows anypony there." Said Twilight.
"Yeah, actually he does." Said Rainbow.
"He does?!" All her friends shouted at once
"Starlight and Sunburst, remember? I'm pretty sure he also knows your brother, and Princess Cadence." She explained.
"But he hasn't seen any of them in years. He was really little when he saw Starlight last." Said Twilight.
"Yeah, well. That's where he's gone, and that's who he knows. Besides, he's always wanted to learn magic and stuff. Makes sense that's where he'd go." She said in a depressing tone.
Her friends all looked at one another with concern. It was true that she had made a horrible series of mistakes. But she was also well aware of those mistakes, and remorseful as well.
"Any possible way you could get in touch with Cadence and Shining Armor?" Asked Applejack.
"Of course, it shouldn't be a problem. I can send a telegram. They should be able track him down, if he's there."
"Thanks, Twi." Said Rainbow.
"No, don't thank me. It's the least I can do... Especially after everything that's happened..." Twilight responded.
"Twilight..." Said Spike.
"I know, Spike. But it's the truth. I need to help fix this. Speaking of which, since will be taking a trip to the Crystal Empire, would you be willing to come with us? We... I... Could use all the help I could get." Twilight asked.
"Of course I will." Spike said.
"Thank you, spike. You really are the best assistant anyone could ask for."