The little town is now scared. Many ponies run and lock themselves in their houses, shops and other businesses put bars on their doors and windows, a young horse desperately searches for a hiding place, and ends up burying himself in a flower pot in a flower shop.
The only ones that remain still in their places are the ponies that serve as guards and lookouts for the town, but even they are intimidated by the presence of the royal guard in the town.
The guards clad in their black armor, surround a small cake shop, 'Sugar Cube Corner' ...
The army general appears from the sky, and all the guards make a salute pose when she comes down and stands in front of the door of the establishment. The mare in armor raises a hoof, and without regard, opens the door with a loud bang.
Such an act surprises and frightens the two ponies lying behind the counter, the mare and the steed in charge of the business embrace each other, and they look with fear at the guards who point them with spears, and then at the general who approaches them with an extremely serious gesture. Lifting her helmet, she makes the guards at the sides stop pointing their weapons, and hold them at their front, ankles, while standing firm on either side of the pair.
"I am Rainbow Dash, General of the Lunar Guard in the services of our Queen Nightmare Moon. I am in search and caching of two mares who have dared to go against Her Royal Highness."
"W-we don't know anything about two mares ..." The mare speaks with fear.
"Yes, we are just humble pastry chefs ..." The husband supports.
Both ponies speak in fear of the general. She for her part remains serious while slightly raising one of her wings, pulling out two rolls of paper.
"Both ponies were seen by the town, and witnesses claim that they were in this establishment. Speak now!"
With that order, she throws the rolls of paper on the counter, they unfold slightly, each one showing an image of a yellow mare with red and blonde mane, and a white mare with purple mane, both unicorns.
Fearful pastry owners open the rolls a little wider to get a better look. They both embrace in terror when the general's hoof hits the counter.
"Confess! These two were here! What did they want!"
Both ponies are still terrified, it is the mare who gives an answer.
The pastry mare decided to speak. "On-one wanted a banana cake and then asked for coffee, and-and the other had cinnamon buns ..."
The cyan mare snorts through her nose, exhaling nose smoke in anger.
"I-IT'S ALL THEY DID! THEY JUST CAME HERE TO EAT WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THEM!"
The pastry mare could not bear the pressure and begins to cry in panic, her husband tries to comfort her but he himself has trouble controlling himself.
"Please we don't know who they are! Really…!" Ask the husband. "They just asked for food and left and we don't know where! It's the truth..."
The general looks defiantly at the pair, the mare still crying desperately and the steed shrinking in on himself and her in an attempt to hide. Finally the general turns and walks to the door to speak to the soldiers outside.
"Search the place! Look for any clues as to the possible whereabouts of the fugitives!"
The soldiers nod and immediately enter the place without an iota of care.
"No please! This is our store! Our home!"
The mare begs and pleads as the guards enter, search under tables, enter the kitchen, and look at drawers and shelves.
"If you are not really in league with those two you have nothing to fear." Explain the general in a serious tone.
Both pastry chefs are not calm, every second they seem more terrified. But still, thay eyes fill with the worst fear when the soldiers come up the stairs.
The mare makes a quick gesture to go for them, but her husband stops her, even so she tries to get away and follow them, the pastry chef must force himself to hold her.
*O*o*O*o*O*
On the upper floor, there is a somewhat small corridor that leads to rooms. It denotes that this part is a home and not a pastry shop. Three doors in total, the soldiers divide to search them. The main bedroom has a bed for both owners of the place and some usual furniture. A second smaller bedroom with a bed and little furniture, seems unoccupied, and somewhat neglected by dust. The last door leads to an extremely wide, but empty room, where there is a staircase which leads to a high platform, the only thing that can be seen are stacked boxes, and sacks of flour, sugar, along with other pastry items. Soldiers search each room quickly but carefully.
After a search of the vacant room, one of the guards returns to the corridor. He starts looking around, and in a moment, he looks up, there he makes out something, there is a section in the ceiling that shows a box, a closer look and he sees a small ring sticking out. He quickly looks around, and soon he makes out a tiny rise in the carpet to their hooves, and as he lifts it, a stick, with a small hook.
*O*o*O*o*O*
The hatch in the attic floor opens, and the folding stairs descend to the floor. Right away a couple of soldiers come up and look around that dark room. The one with a horn uses his magic to light up the place a bit.
Boxes, some old furniture, and many sheets that cover more boxes and objects. The dust, the cobwebs, the damp-covered wooden beams denote the lack of care that the place has suffered for a couple of years.
Without seeing much beyond the obvious, the soldiers seem ready to go, but it is then that there is a sound, a kind of murmur, little by little it seems a voice. Both soldiers appear fidgety, ready to draw their weapons as they look around.
That little voice soon turns into a cry, the cry of a baby, that cry is promptly followed by a second cry. But far from scaring them, they both realize that they are not ghost cries.
They look around, following the sound of both cries, they soon see that it is under a sheet, which is clean, unlike the rest. When removing it there is an old copper, and when opening this ...
*O*o*O*o*O*
The general keeps her gaze on both pastry chefs who are still embracing, the only thing that prevents the eternal silence is the sound of the guards' helmets and how they move things around the premises in search of something.
"General!"
A soldier yells from above as he descends the ladder.
"Did you find something?" The general asks.
The soldier makes a salute pose while standing in front of his superior and responding to her.
"There is no sign of the fugitives, but we found… something…"
The soldier's voice is doubtful. The general seems to be asking, but the answer comes by itself, in the form of crying heard from the stairs.
As soon as everypony present hears that sound, everything is still. Two soldiers come down the stairs, their faces do not seem to have emotion, but in turn both are with their heads down, not daring to see more than the ground.
One of them, a unicorn, has a filly in his magical grip, you notice her born very recently, with bright yellow fur, semi-laughing orange mane, a very small horn protruding from her forehead, a second guard, a pegasus, leaves his wings are slightly raised, enough to hold on its back a very small foal, the same age as the other, with cream-colored fur and chocolate-colored mane, which while crying flaps a small wings on its back.
All the soldiers when they see the babies, are surprised, and immediately they all seem to erase their severe gestures, replacing them with lament, and a certain anger. Soon no guard dares to look at the two foals.
The pastry mare lunges towards the guards and the babies in desperation, is promptly stopped by the two guards carrying spears, both holding her with their hooves and pushing her back.
"NOOOO! PLEASE! THEY NO!" The mare exclaims in horror in her gaze. "TAKE WHAT YOU WANT BUT LEAVE THEM! PLEASE! My babies…!"
The pastry chef's pleading cry and louder cry forces every guard, even those holding her, to close their eyes, clench their teeth, and refuse to look at her or the babies.
The husband is only in his place, immobile, his eyes fixed on the image of both children, still crying, seeking comfort.
"PLEASE! THEY ARE MY CHILDREN! MY CHILDREN! PLEASE…! WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHO YOU ARE LOOKING FOR! REALLY…! PLEASE…!"
The general herself remains static for longer than it should. Her eyes fixed, incredulous, and… hurt, looking at the babies who still cry.
Finally, the cyan mare forces herself to swallow her own doubt, resume her stoic and severe gesture, and direct her voice towards the owners of the place.
"By royal decree, of our queen, it is established that every pony born that reaches the age of 3 months, must be sent to Canterlot to attend the Royal Nightmare school."
The mare and mother manages to free herself from the soldiers, and throws herself at the general's hooves in the form of supplication.
"NO! Please… they are my children! They are all we have…! My husband and I have been trying to have children for years… and finally we could! PLEASE! Close my store if you want! But don't take away my babies… not my babies please…!"
The mother can only cry and scream while holding onto the general's helmets. The soldiers around could no longer make the effort to show their sorrow, their eyes only reflected sadness just like their fallen faces. The general herself remains silent, her face is calm, her eyes closed, as she tries to calm her breathing. Finally she opens her eyes and sees the father, still shocked and motionless, gently extending a helmet, as if trying to reach his babies, while tears fall from his eyes to the ground.
The general looks down when the mother touches her hoof, with the most pained and pleading look that the cyan mare has ever seen, she asks once more.
"please…"
The general should take a few seconds, take a deep breath and release that air. Finally he speaks, at the same time that he turns around.
"I'm sorry. The queen's orders are absolute, no pony can disobey her mandate. We take the foals!"
She orders the last in a stern voice, but her hidden face shows regret. Immediately all the guards force themselves to put on expressions severe and devoid of emotion.
"No! Please! Take me instead! TAKE ME!"
The mother exclaims and runs towards the general, promptly stopped by the guards. They push her away, but trying not to hurt her, she still makes an extreme effort to run towards her foals when they are led to the door.
Their cries of supplication and their crying can be heard outside, and the moment the town ponies see the guards leading the foals, all of them are filled with an almost palpable regret and sadness.
The guards walk, not daring to look at any pony around, they just move forward, taking the foals with them. The surrounding ponies just turn away, many of them, especially many mares begin to sob and some to cry openly.
The mother's screams are still heard, even when her attempt to follow them ceases and the guards leave her, she just drops to the ground, crying, and screaming, pleading for her children. The father is not better, his gaze had long since gone dull, looking at the ground without any expression.
Rainbow Dash signals for all the soldiers to leave, and when the last of them leaves the place, she takes one last look at the couple, the father now absent, and the mother, broken, on the ground ...
Her eyes devoid of any serious trace expected of a guard, and a general, now reflect, the gaze of a pony, like anyone else.
"I'm sorry ..."
It's a whisper that accompanies his trembling gaze. With that, she forces herself to return to her severe gaze, raise her head, and just leave the place, closing the door, leaving only two devastated ponies, whose only sound was the endless cry of that mother ...
*O*o*O*o*O*
As soon as the general leaves the establishment, the guards greet her and she only gestures for them to dissipate. Along with them all the ponies that had gathered, rush to separate and leave, not wanting to come between them.
The general allows one more breath before moving on.
But she does not take two steps before feeling a blow to her head.
"GENERAL RAINBOW DASH!"
Nightmare Moon's shrill voice echoes inside her head. Everything around herself turns black and her body is unable to move. After a moment of surprise, she forces herself to recover, and speaks, but only hears her own voice in her mind, along with Nightmare's.
"Y-Yes, your highness!"
"Have you found those vermin yet?"
"… I'm afraid not my queen, but they have been seen in the town of Ponyville. They can't be far-"
"I know where they went."
The queen interrupts her, and surprises the general.
"Those two entered the Everfree Forest."
"The ... the Everfree forest ?!"
"Somehow they managed to get to the old royal castle that once belonged to my sister and me."
"The old castle ... so ... are they in that place? In the Everfree forest?"
"No, they are not anymore. I am convinced they have left."
"I-I see…"
"But it is certain that they could not go very far. Those two ponies, they have taken a valuable treasure that was hidden inside that castle. I want you to move your troops, extend your search! Check the vicinity of the forest and do not let them escape! Bring them before me at all costs! "
"Yes my Queen."
That ends that conversation, the general feels like being virtually thrown back into the physical world. After taking a couple of breaths, she frowns and calls out to her soldiers.
*O*o*O*o*O*
...
Little by little the world around her took shape, starting with the sensation of having something soft and warm under her, then faint sounds that she could not really recognize, then she could feel different fragrances, the aroma of old wood, apples, there were what appeared to be spices and some hay, and more aroma of apples.
Finally, when she opened her eyes tenuously, she could not distinguish more than blurred shapes, a brown spot predominates in her vision. She forces herself to blink a few times to clear her vision, and then the brown spot took on the image of a dog. A dog that immediately begins to lick her face.
"blegh! Giah! Take off! TAKE OFF!"
The fire-mane pony exclaims as she pushes the dog out of bed, yet the canine, a female, remains quite happy barking contently and wagging her tail at the mare who rubs her face with her hooves to wipe the saliva off. dog.
"Hiack! Who let this dog in to my-… my…"
She does not finish her sentence because when she looks around she does not recognize the room. Floor, walls, also the ceiling, made of wood. The bed she's in is big enough for two ponies, in fact, Rarity is still asleep there, and the sheets feel heavy and show years of use.
After rubbing her head, Sunset huffs in annoyance and stands up. She is greeted by the canine who looks at her happily while bending the front half of her body and barking softly.
"Get out!"
Sunset orders in annoyance, still rubbing her head. The canine barks, and curiously obeys, she leaves the room quite animated, through a door, which has the drawing of an apple. Sunset takes advantage of the silence now to look a little more around, the room is a bit small, in addition to the bed it only has a dresser and a closet, and a small nightstand on the other side of the bed, next to the window that now the curtains are closed. For the rest it is a normal room.
Sunset after looking around decides to wake up her partner.
"Hey Rare Icy, Rare Icy wake up."
The white unicorn complains and curls up on the bed to continue sleeping, although she manages to respond.
"is, 'Rarity'..."
It's the only thing she says before returning to her heavy sleep. Sunset just rolls her eyes, and turns hastily the moment she hears the door to the room open. What she sees is a mare with orange fur, dressed in an earth-colored suit, her mane and tail tied with a net.
Sunset and the pony look at each other for a moment, the first with suspicion and the other a little confused, finally it is the blonde pony who speaks, giving a soft smile.
"Well, you finally woke up, I was starting to get worried."
The mare's voice carries a delicacy and accent soft, and refined.
"who are you?" Asks the unicorn with some suspicion
The other pony just smiles and speaks kindly. "My name is Applejewel. Don't worry, I won't hurt you. I found you and your friend unconscious in our orchard, and no pony knows how you got there."
"Orchard? Where are we?" Sunset asks still suspicious.
"On our farm, Sweet Apple Accres. Home of the best… and… only apples in Equestria…"
Saying this the voice and gaze of the mare fall. Sunset is still suspicious, but lets her guard down slightly. Applejewel soon shakes her head and smiles again.
"what is your name?"
"… Sunset. Sunset Shimmer."
"Nice to meet you. Now, I must ask, what were you and your friend doing unconscious among our trees?"
Applejewel's voice and expression seem to reflect, as well as intrigue, a certain suspicion. Sunset just frowns and replies dismissively.
"First, she's not my friend." Sunset begins. "In second grade, I don't know or care about your trees. I was at the castle with-AAH!"
Suddenly the amber mare screams when she realizes something.
"The elements of harmony!"
"Excuse me, the elements of what-AH!"
Before finishing her question, Sunset throws herself at Applejewel and holds her against the door.
"what did you do with the elements?!"
Sunset's horn flashes, but it quickly goes out, puzzling the fiery mane. Applejewel reacts and looks very angry as she pushes Sunset hard.
"Get ya'h hooves off me!"
She orders, and strangely her thin voice is replaced by a southern accent.
From the push, Sunset recoils just over a meter and both mares look at each other suspiciously.
At that moment, a very deep voice is heard as the door slammed open.
"What's going on here?!"
An extremely large stallion appears, he is robust and very tall, with red fur with a very short orange mane. The steed looks at Sunset and she looks back at him, then he walks over to the orange mare.
"Applejack, are you okay?"
Applejewel sighs and relaxes her body that had been stiff since the outburst. She clears her throat and her voice sounds sophisticated again.
"I'm fine big brother. Nothing happened."
It is at that moment that the other unicorn that was still asleep, finally wakes up.
"ugh… why are there so many screaming?… a lady can't sleep like this…"
The pearl pony realizes that she is in a room she does not know, and when she turns her head, she sees the other three ponies in the place. Sunset is still frowning, Applejewel looks at her curiously, and the great stalion shows a stern look. This makes the unicorn smile quite nervous, she immediately stands up and hurries to get behind her unicorn companion.
"Sunset, where are we?"
Sunset looks at her for a moment before answering. "Apparently at an apple farm called Juice Apple Ashes."
"Ah what?"
"It's 'Sweet Apple Acress'." Correct Applejewel.
"Sweet Apple-… wait."
The pearl unicorn steps forward, and looks intently at the blonde pony. Their eyes cross, the unicorn is slightly surprised, the blonde confused, and then she seems to get uncomfortable.
"Applejack… is that you?"
The farm pony is a bit surprised, and then seems to want to ask, but instead, it seems, to recognize her.
"Rarity…?"
Both ponies look at each other for a moment, then the unicorn smiles, and soon they both approach each other, joining in a hug that makes them turn against the other and both smile very happily.
"Rarity! I don't believe it!"
"Applejack! Oh so good to see you again!"
They both laugh and share comments with each other, curiously, Applejewel's voice changes again, showing that southern accent again.
The red steed smiles at the sight of both mares talking very joyfully. From her side, Sunset looks at them with a raised eyebrow, but a firm frown, with disinterest.
"How did you get here ?! I mean… I haven't seen you since…"
"Since you went to Manehattan years ago. Honey I've missed you so much!"
The purple mane smiles while hugging the other mare tightly, she puts a tender look.
"owwww Rariy… I missed you too. But…" The orange separates and looks curiously at her friend. "I thought you went to Canterlot! I heard from ya'h parents that you moved to try your luck in the capital."
At that mention, the unicorn's face lowers and you can see regret in her eyes.
"Yes... the truth... I never had success with my boutique here and... I was hoping that going to Canterlot would give me the experience to do it... but I only managed to make a fool of myself over and over and over again..."
"ow Rarity…"
The unicorn sighs in defeat and her voice is hurt. "I guess it was never my destiny to be a dressmaker ..."
"don't say that…"
There is silence as the pearl mare wails for a moment. All the time they are seen by a sunset, quite annoyed. Rarity forces herself to compose herself and smile.
"But what about you honey ?! How was it in Manehattan?"
The question takes the orange pony off guard, and she answers, but clears her throat first, returning her voice to that elegant accent.
"Well yes, Manehattan is a wonderful city. I learned a lot there and my uncle Orange and my aunt Orange took care of me like a daughter." After saying that, his expression dropped and he looked in another direction. "But when Nightmare Moon appeared… I had to come back here to help my family…"
This makes the white mare look to the side, exchanging a silent greeting with the red steed, before speaking to her friend again.
"Your family… what happened?"
A sigh is the farmer's first response, then she seems to want to keep talking, but Sunset's voice stops her.
"Alright alright, if you want to continue this, alumni meeting or whatever, fine. But I have things to do. Applejuice what did you do with the elements of harmony?"
"First of all, dear, my name is 'Applejewel'." Fix blonde mane pony.
"'Applejewel'? And where did that come from?" Rarity questions.
The question makes the other mare uncomfortable. "Um, yeah… it's the name I adopted in Manehattan. My aunt Orange said, 'Applejack', it wasn't enough… it wasn't appropriate for a lady."
The answer makes Rarity blink in bewilderment. "With all due respect to your relatives, but what nonsense is that?"
"Don't worry sugarcube, you can call me whatever you like. We are friends for a reason."
They smile. Sunset clears her throat to return the attention to her, which seems to upset the blonde pony slightly.
"The elements?"
Applejewel takes a light breath. "Look, my dear, I don't know what these elements are that you say."
"Ugh! Ponies without education or culture. The elements of harmony-… you know what? I don't need to explain. Have you seen some round stones near wherever you found us?"
The question seems to attract the attention of the orange mare.
"Well, yes, besides you, we found 5 rocks shaped like spheres in the garden."
"That's it! Where are they?! I need them!"
"We didn't know what to do with them. We left them in the barn-…" She doesn't finish explaining herself as Sunset is already heading for the door. "Hey!"
Suddenly the great steed gets between the amber pony and the door.
"Move! I'm in a hurry." Demand the amber pony.
The steed doesn't move, just looks at her suspiciously. Sunset looks back at him, her horn is seen to glow with magic for a second, but it goes off, this puzzles her, but far from backing away, she only keeps that look against the other pony.
"Sunset! Please! Take it easy." Speak Rarity to the mare. "Um Big Mac… sorry, I apologize for her. We had… a bad day…"
That makes both brothers look at both of them, then at each other, and at them again. Applejewel asks.
"Rarity, what happened to you two?"
*O*o*O*o*O*
Not long after, both unicorn mares are sitting in the living room of the house. In front of both, a small table and in this two cups of tea, which are filled with liquid by the blonde mare.
Applejewel has the kettle in her mouth to serve, once done she puts it down so she can speak.
"Wow, wow. Let's see if I understand this. Do you want to overthrow Nightmare Moon?"
Sunset rolls her eyes, sitting with her back against the back of the couch, her front hooves crossed. Sitting there like she's not a quadruped.
"We talked about, 'Nightmare Moon', as Nightmare Moon the queen of Equestria? The goddess of the night? The one who defeated Princess Celestia herself and usurped the throne."
"Yes yes! That Nightmare."
Sunset responds, although it seems like a complaint. As she looks at the rate in front of her. "
"Should I repeat the fact that she defeated Celestia herself? How are you supposed to intend to defeat her? She is kind of like… invincible."
"Celestia was useless! I'm better than her. And I'll prove it once I get rid of that 'title steal'."
As she speaks, she doesn't look away from the cup, her horn only blinking, unable to focus her magic. This seems to bother her.
Meanwhile, the answer makes the other mares puzzled.
"Darling, why do you have so much resentment towards Princess Celestia?" Rarity asks with great interest.
"That's none of your business." Sunset responds as she keeps trying to get her horn to work, and it keeps failing. "WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING TO MY MAGIC?! Move fucking rate!"
With that order she puts the hooves on the table and forces her horn more, but it is of no use.
"Sunset calm down. You'll be tired after that fight ... your magic may have run out."
"What fight? What have they been up to?" Applejewel asks again.
*O*o*O*o*O*
A couple of minutes pass in which Rarity tells what happened in Everfree, in that time Sunset had given up her horn and only grabs the cup with her hooves. Anger makes her sip her tea noisily and have a frustrated look on her face.
Applejewel looks at them in amazement and some fear, her voice returning to the southern tone.
"Did you fight Nightmare Moon in the Everfree Forest ?!"
"It wasn't really Nightmare… according to Sunset." Rarity says. "But if it was scary ..."
"How come you guys are still alive? I mean ... doing such a thing is ..."
"I honestly don't know… I just know that Sunset was able to stop her, and then… we woke up here at your house."
The farmer looks at the unicorn, whose cheeks are now full of tea, and swallows hard.
"Did you really defeat Nightmare Moon? How ... how did you do that?"
"I already told you." Sunset responds while putting the cup on the corresponding plate, on the table. "Celestia is useless. I am going to get rid of Nightmare Moon. I just need to find a way to make the Elements of Harmony work."
"The elements… you mean those stones, right? You said you found them in the forest, what is special about them?"
"Your retarded farmer brain wouldn't understand."
The insult makes the blonde glare at her, Rarity is also upset.
"But that's the most powerful magic in Equestria. Celestia used them last time to lock Nightmare on the moon. Now, I'll use them to exterminate her! And once I do, not even Celestia will be able to deny me my right. "
There is a slight silence as Sunset beckons her cup, Rarity sees this and uses her magic to serve her more tea, tea that Sunset soon returns to, sipping.
"Ok, um, I mean… I understand, the situation." Applejewel responds and returns to her refined accent. "But even assuming these harmonic elements work, how are you going to fight Nightmare Moon with them?"
The amber unicorn takes one more sip of her tea and gulps it down before setting it down on the table and standing up. "That's what I have to find out. Now show me where the elements are! I have to get to work and I have less than 3 days left."
"Um, 3 days? Why 3 days?"
"I don't have to explain it to you. Just tell me where the elemets are. I'll take them back to Canterlot."
"wow, wow! stop there filly." Exclaims the farm pony with her southern accent, which quickly changes to fine. "I mean, wait a minute, miss."
"Sunset, you can't go back to Canterlot! They're looking for us there!" Rarity declares.
"I must. I must find out how to use the elements and the only place I can find information is the castle library."
Applejewel is alarmed and exclaims in her southern voice. "Do yah want to go to the-" She clears her throat and speaks the other accent. "Do you want to go to the castle? It's crazy!"
"Sunset you can't go back there!" We could barely escape and if you go back, Nightmare Moon will catch you, lock you in a dungeon or torture you! Or worse than that! I don't even know if there is something worse but being a Nightmare she will definitely find something worse ."
"Rarity is right sugarcube. You must not go there."
"It is the only way." Repeat Sunset. "Thanks for the tea, I'll take the elements and go."
With that affirmation she is about to go to the front door, but the farmer blocks her way.
"Wow! I mean, wait! Look, maybe you're… not very nice. But I can't let you go there. No pony deserves to be taken prisoner by Nightmare Moon."
"What I do is none of your business. I have waited 5 years for this opportunity living among a bunch of monkeys without culture and I will not let that be in vain. I will defeat Nightmare, take what belongs to me and take revenge on Celestia Now take off!"
To her surprise Rarity puts a hoof on her shoulder and gently pulls her to speak to her.
"Sunset please ... I understand, you want to achieve this, and honestly ... I'm starting to believe you can do it."
The look on Sunset's face shows she wasn't expecting to hear that.
"But going straight to where Nightmare Moon is… you won't accomplish anything like that. There must be another way. Some other place we can go to gather information."
Applejewel thinks for a second. "There is a library in town, the manager is a pretty smart unicorn. I heard that she used to study at Celestia's school, plus she knows a lot about a lot of Equestrian stuff. Maybe she knows something."
The orange mare speaks, as if trying to convince the yellow one. Sunset continues to frown.
"Seems like a waste of time." Sunset complains.
"Come on Sunset. Also, remember you burned the train station..." Mentions Rarity with some suspicion.
"She did what?"
"And without that, well. I don't think you'll have a way back to Canterlot."
The reveal leaves Sunset wondering. She takes a few steps, frowns, and grudges as she thinks about all this.
"Ugh… Fine! I guess it's better than nothing. Who is this unicorn you say?"
Applejewel is silent for a moment, she seems to think...