//------------------------------// // Missing Ponies Report // Story: Least Faithful Student // by Dexter Helix //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash swooped down over Sweet Apple Acres and hovered just above the ground, slightly frantic. "Hey Applejack! Have you seen Twilight?" "Nah, I haven't seen her since yesterday. Why?" "I've been trying to renew this boo— uh... I've just been looking for her. Spike hasn't seen her either." "You think she might have gotten lost in the Everfree forest again?" "I was managing the clouds on the forest border all evening yesterday, and I didn't see anybody go in or out." "Did you check if Rarity dragged her off to the spa? That crazy pony tried to take me down there as an apology earlier today." "I talked to Rarity and Fluttershy already, neither of them have seen her since she was at the market yesterday." "And Pinkie?" "Haven't been able to find Pinkie either..." "You don't think they might just be spending time together?" "Pinkie and Twilight?" "Ah see your point... huh... Well when was the last time ya checked the library?" "A couple hours ago, you think I should check there again?" "I wanna go too, just to make sure Twi's okay." "Sure, if you think you can keep up!" Rainbow Dash said, bracing herself. "Is that a challenge?" "You bet your flank it is! READYSETGO!" Rainbow shouted, as she dropped to the ground and started sprinting. "Hey, no fair! I wasn't even ready, much less set!" Applejack yelled as she tried to catch up. "Ya snooze ya lose!" That sort of banter carried on for about ten minutes as they made record time to the Library. Both desperate to knock on the door first, they crashed into it at full speed together, sending it flying off its hinges. A mortified Spike stood inches from where the door landed, staring at the pile of wood and pony on the floor in front of him. "I touched it first!" "No way, Ah touched it first." "Well, you both broke it. Did you guys find Twilight yet?" They both replied at the same time as they got to their hooves and dusted themselves off, "no." "Well I haven't seen her either, but I've got a letter from Princess Celestia. She says she needs the Elements of Harmony to meet her in Canterlot, and its urgent!" Rainbow groaned. "Great, it's been almost a year since the last time we had to use those things, and suddenly they're urgently needed on the day Twilight goes missing?" "Maybe she's already at the castle..." Applejack suggested. "I don't know why she wouldn't have told me if that's where she was going," Spike objected. "Well, ask Celestia already!" "Alright, one second," Spike mumbled, as he began writing on some parchment. "TWI-I-AIAIAIAIAIAI-LI-LI-IGHT?" Pinkie's voice, rich with vibrato, rang through the door as she entered. She was shaking violently from head to toe. "Ha-a-as an-y-bo-d-dy se-een Twilight? ... Oh, it stopped!" "Yer Pinkie sense is actin' up again? This can't be good." "Yeah, I've been like this all day! I was looking for Twilight to see if she could help me figure out what was going on!" "We can't find her either! She's been missing since last night..." "Spike, how's that letter coming?" "I just sent it, hopefully we'll hear back—" Spike belched out a letter before he could finish his sentence. He read it quickly and shook his head. "She's not in Canterlot either?" Applejack asked, eyebrow raised? "Then I guess we'll have to go searching for her!" "Now hold it for a minute Rainbow, where would we even start looking?" "We can cover more ground if we split up! Pinkie, you know everypony, ask anyone you can if they've seen her. Applejack, you check the outskirts of town. I'll do a flyover to see if I can spot her anywhere in the streets. We'll meet back here in an hour." "But what if she's in the forest again?" "Like I said, there's no way she could've gotten into the forest yesterday without me seeing!" "Uh, you remember that she can teleport, right?" "Yeah... of course I remembered that..." Rainbow replied, her wavering voice revealing that she had not, in fact, considered any such thing, "But why would she need to?" "Ah don't know... maybe she's working on some sort of secret assignment for the Princess..." "But then Celestia would know where she was," Spike retorted. "Well what are we supposed to do?" "Well, y'all should look through town like you were sayin', but Ah'm going to go check the forest. I just have a feelin' she's in there." "Fine. Just be careful in there, I don't want to have two friends go missing today." "Ah'm sure Ah can handle myself. Maybe you're too scared ta go, but I'm not." "I'm not scared, I just don't think she's in there!" "Where else could she be, Rainbow? You said you already looked all over town. Why are you gonna waste your time lookin' again?" "Alright, fine, I'll check out the forest with you. But if she's not in there, you owe me!" "You comin' Pinkie?" "Nah, I think I'll stay here and ask around town like Dashie said!" "Okay, see you back here in an hour!" Rainbow Dash and Applejack made a break for the forest, again keeping pace with one another quite well and arriving in record time. "Ah say we stick close to the main path. Try to search about 20 feet out from it, but make sure you can see me and Ah can see you. There could be somethin' dangerous in there." "Hey, now who's the scared one?" "Can it, Rainbow. I'm just trying to stay safe." "Hey, it's fine, I'm only messin' with ya." "This is no time for jokes. Ponies have died in that forest." "Alright, sorry. Let's just get started already!" Applejack proceeded through the forest slowly, methodically, and cautiously, while Rainbow Dash moved quickly and chaotically in leaps and bounds, practically circling her friend. Applejack thought about saying something, but in all honesty, the two contrasting methods were probably going to give them the best shot at finding Twilight. "See anything yet?" Applejack asked her friend. "Nah, there aren't even many animals out here today." "Well, you're probably scarin' 'em all off with all your runnin' and jumpin'." "True. But we aren't looking for animals, so it shouldn't be a problem." "S'pose not, but it couldn't hurt for you to be a little more careful. Never know what we might run into out here." "I ain't scared of nothin'. I can handle whatever this forest can throw at me!" "Just like you did with that manticore?" Applejack added with a smirk, nudging Rainbow with her elbow. Rainbow looked hurt, and moved a few feet from Applejack. "Come on, that was a long time ago." "I'm just makin' a point. Overconfidence might help you win over a crowd, but out here it's just gonna get you into trouble." "I guess so..." A distant howl caused the two ponies to stop abruptly. They pressed their bodies against the ground, keeping their eyes and ears peeled for anything threatening. "You think it's coming this way?" Rainbow whispered. "Shhhh." "But—" "Shhhhhh!" Applejack listened very intently before quietly saying, "Alright, I think we're safe. Just keep quiet and stay low." "What's so scary about a little wolf?" "Those things are dangerous! You know they're carnivores, don'tcha? They'd eat us up for supper with smiles on their faces." "Ick." "It's true." "You don't think..." "Twilight? Nah, I think she could handle timber wolves. They don't much care for magic, and besides, their main tactic is to work in groups to outrun and corner you. Twi could just teleport to safety." "Right... I'm worried about Twilight, though." "Me too, Rainbow, that's why we're lookin' for her." "No, I mean... She's been acting different lately. Kinda distant. It's not like her to just go into the Everfree Forest all alone." "You got a point there... She's always been a bit of an introvert, though." "Yeah..." "You said Twilight crossed this bridge last time she came out here, didn't you?" "Huh? Oh! Yeah, but I thought she might have seen me, so I didn't follow her after that." "Well, it hasn't been quite a half-hour yet; we should probably go a little further before heading back." Applejack walked across the bridge as Rainbow Dash flew alongside her. "So... earlier, you said Rarity was tryin' to apologize for something?" "Oh, yeah, she was actin' really weird this morning. Said some pretty rude stuff, not in her character at all." "Weird..." "It gets weirder. She was really worried Ah was gonna steal something from her!" "Rarity?" "Yeah, can you believe it?" "Wait... You don't think... What if Discord is back?!" Rainbow asked, gesturing dramatically in the air with her front hooves. "Discord? But then... Oh no, Twilight!" "He must've gotten to her and Rarity, that's why they're acting so different lately!" "This is probably what the Princess needs us for! We better tell her what's goin' on!" The two had just made it across the gorge, but quickly did an about face and started rushing back to the library with a pace which was even unusually fast for the two athletes. "How're we gonna fight him without Twilight?" Applejack asked through shallow breaths. "I don't know, hopefully Celestia has some way to find her!" "What if she doesn't?" "Then we'll have to do our best anyway. Equestria is counting on us!" "I s'pose you're right... I just really hope that Twi turns out to be okay!" Rainbow and Applejack came hurtling out of the forest at a dangerous speed, covering the same distance in a little over half the time. Upon arrival, they spoke quickly while trying to catch their breath. "Spike! Take a letter!" "Discord's back!" "He's got Twilight!" "What?!" Spike asked, looking back towards them and totally caught off guard. "We need you to tell Celestia that we know that Discord is back and that we need her help to find Twilight!" Spike jumped up, grabbed a quill and quickly scribbled down the note, not wasting a moment before sending it. Applejack and Rainbow Dash stared anxiously at the dragon, and Pinkie returned just as the reply letter came in. Spike cleared his throat before reading the letter aloud, "My loyal subjects, I have just checked the statue garden personally and found that Discord is still safely imprisoned. He is not related to the matters for which you were summoned. I have dispatched a team of guards to search for Twilight, but I need you to come to Canterlot as soon as possible. Make haste, -Princess Celestia" "Weird..." "Well... you heard the letter, let's go get Fluttershy and Rarity and head up there!" "Right!" A pair of royal guards greeted the five ponies at the front gates of Canterlot Palace, and quickly escorted them into the castle. Celestia stood in a particularly tall and regal manner, and though she was a demigod, a creature of incredible power — a being who had gone without sleep for a millennium without ever appearing weary — her face betrayed a thorough exhaustion. "Equestria is currently facing a threat it hasn't seen in over a thousand years; war." The last word rolled off of her tongue harsh and bitter, carrying with it great weight. She paused, evaluating the five ponies' reactions before she continued. "Very few within our borders know what that word truly means. My sister and I are the only ones left alive who have experienced an Equestrian war personally. Whatever other stories you may have heard... Count yourself certain that they were mild in comparison with reality." Celestia began pacing, as she carried on, "For over a thousand years, our enemies have been afraid to face us. The Elements of Harmony gave us an edge on any battlefield, in any condition. Truly, they were a blessing. When my sister returned from her banishment to the Moon, the distention of that night was a beacon. It showed the whole world that I was no longer in control of the Elements. Those who previously feared us sensed a weakness, and began moving in on that weakness. Over the course of the following years, word spread that you five, along with Twilight, had taken my place and become fully competent bearers, and international relations once again calmed down. But it seems that that was not meant to last." The five ponies in her company remained silent, wide-eyed, and attentive. "The griffon King has acquired weapons. Pieces of ancient unicorn technology on par with the Elements of harmony. Our soldiers can hold the griffons back for a while, but they are not equipped to fight this kind of war. Pitting them against this enemy would be nothing short of sending them on a suicide mission. This is why I need you to fight them. Only you have something that puts you on the griffons' level." "But... without Twilight..." Applejack interjected. "The Elements are strict, but also reasonable, and have been known to bend their own rules for the sake of harmony. Twilight *is* the best option, but she can be substituted with someone else, if need be. Her brother will make a suitable, though not ideal, replacement for this dire emergency." "I don't want to fight anyone," Fluttershy added, hiding partway behind her own hair. "And I don't want to make you fight anyone. But we have no choice. I have made every possible offer to the griffons, but the weapons they've acquired have corrupted them beyond reason. Even their leader has had his mind twisted. Can I count on you?" "I'm ready to fight for Equestria!" said Rainbow Dash without hesitation, raising her hoof to her forehead. "Me too, I reckon." "I'll do what I can," Rarity added. "Okie-Dokie, Princess!" "Um... Well... Okay..." "Excellent. Shining Armor will brief you further on the frontline. I have responsibilities here that I must tend to, but rest assured that I will be joining you in battle tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll be able to find Twilight and Luna as well. Given what we're up against, we're going to need to put everything we have into this. Good luck, my little ponies." The five friends found themselves being loaded onto the next Eastbound troop transport train. It was hot, and crowded with members of the royal guard, but it was the only way they were going to reach the frontline in time. Before the Sun set, the train had reached the Bezzer station, just outside of the fortification. It was hardly a station, so much as it was simply a wooden platform alongside a short loop of track for turning the train around, but given its distance from any modern city, they were lucky to have that. There would be another thirty minutes of marching before they would reach the barracks. "The defensive line has been set up well ahead of the station," a spear-bearing pegasus explained to the group, "so that trains could maintain operation during a retreat." With great efficiency and unity, the royal guards moved towards Fort Bezzer. The sight of the mighty fortress in the distance was both exciting and intimidating, something from distant history which seemed to have been dropped down into the modern world. Near the front of the formation, at the Western fort gate, Shining Armor could be seen inspecting troops as they arrived. The five ponies broke from the crowd to approach him, and Shining's tired eyes lit up as he noted their presence. "You finally made it!" He said, looking over the group as concern spread across his face, "but where's Twily?" Rainbow Dash gave a nervous glance to Applejack, who bowed her head. Hesitantly, Rarity replied, "We haven't been able to find her. The Princess is still looking." Shining Armor swung his head violently and stamped his hoof against the ground. "I swear, if those griffons did something to her, I'll—" He stopped abruptly, whinnying, gritting his teeth, and flaring his nostrils. "Ah'm sure she'll be okay, I can just feel it," Applejack said. "Yeah... Twilight's a pretty tough cookie!" added Pinkie, who had begun jumping excitedly. "That's right! For all we know, Twilights getting up in the Griffon King's face right now, showin' him what's what!" Rainbow declared, boxing the air with her forehooves. Princess Cadence, who was standing behind Shining Armor, moved up and leaned her head across his neck, adding, "We both know Twilight is too amazing to have given up already." Shining Armor smiled a little bit. "Maybe you're right... I hope you are. You're all probably tired. Come this way, let me show you to your quarters." The six ponies moved through the encampment, taking in all the unusual sights and sounds of ponies training and preparing for battle. Pegasi were running flight drills, a firing squad of unicorns was tearing an effigy of a griffon to shreds with magical attacks, Spitfire was entering a tent at the far east side, Earth ponies were cleaning rifles and sharpening mighty blades and lances— Wait, Spitfire? "The Wonderbolts are here?!" "Yes, Rainbow, of course. Griffons are fairly strong fliers, so we need the very best to fight them in the air. They're going on a weather and recon mission first thing tomorrow morning." "Can I go with them?" "I don't think that's a good idea. Celestia tasked me with making sure the Elements stay together, and that's what I'm going to do. It's going to be hard enough pulling this off without Twilight." Rainbow sighed. "Okay, fine." "Good. Now, you'll be sleeping in the royal bunker. It's not exactly luxurious, but it's relatively comfortable, and the safest place here by far." "It doesn't look very safe," Rarity objected, eyeing the shoddy tent suspiciously. "It's not supposed to." Shining replied, lifting the entry flap. The tent was rather small, dark, and poorly furnished. Mattresses stuffed with hay lined the edges of the room. "Are we really expected to sleep here?" Rarity asked, daintily withdrawing her hoof from the ground. "These are the same beds everyone else has to sleep on, but no, actually." Shining Armor stamped the ground three times, prompting it to give way before him. It fell more quickly at the far end of the tent, creating a steep ramp leading to a strong stone structure. "Right this way..." Though the bunker was cramped, old, and musky, the arched stone ceilings were much more comforting than the thin layers of canvas offering their protection at the surface. Really, the bunker was little more than a hallway with three rooms branching off of it. The first and tallest room was clearly meant to be the Princesses' residence, the second would be the home of Shining Armor, and the third room was designed to protect the Elements of Harmony, which had already been delivered to this location. Around the Elements themselves were six beds, clearly meant for the bearers to sleep in. "Make sure you get plenty of sleep. We believe that the griffons will begin their attack at mid-day, but we'll need to get up early to oversee preparations and revise the attack plan. I was really relying on Twilight being here, so I'm going to need to... alter them... dramatically." He turned his head away, shedding a tear. Suddenly, a pegasus burst into the room, frantic and out of breath, "Captain Armor, Sir! They've found Twilight!" "What happened? Is she okay?!" "Luna found her. Says she's fine, but too tired to make the trip right now. They'll be here in the mor–." Shining Armor leapt forward and hugged the pegasus hard enough to knock the air out of him. The other five ponies, who were initially in shock, started cheering, as Shining armor began jumping about the room like a little colt on Hearth's Warming Eve. "Where has she been?" "I don't know," replied the pegasus, recovering his breath for the second time, "As soon as Celestia gave me the news, I flew up here immediately." "You flew all the way here?!" "It's too far to teleport, and well, this is just what I do best!" He said, revealing his cutie mark as he stood up. A bit of postage, with wings. Fitting. "You must be exhausted!" "Nah, I'm fine. Any news you wanna get back to Canterlot before I head back?" "Just let Celestia know that the Elements arrived safe and everything is going according to plan... And let me at least get you a glass of cider before you go back." "Sure, why not?" "Have you got everything you need girls?" "Yeah" "uh-huh" "Sure do." "Good, get some rest," Shining Armor said, leaving with the messenger pony. "Boy howdy, Ah'm sure glad she's okay!" "Me too!" "Me three!" "But Luna found her? Where do you think she was? Was she in trouble?" "Ah still reckon she was in the Everfree Forest." "Maybe. You think she got lost?" "Or maybe a cockatrice turned her to stone?" "Oh dear!" "Well, she's okay now, right?" "Yeah, that's what's really important." Rainbow changed the subject quickly, "That's great about Twilight, but I'm exhausted! We should probably go to sleep..." "You're right, gotta get up bright and early tomorrow." " 'night everypony." "Good night." Before long, everypony was asleep. Everypony, that is, except for Rainbow Dash. As soon as she felt safe doing so, she slipped out of bed and snuck into the hallway. Neither Shining Armor nor the Princesses were in yet, so she had little difficulty making it back to the entrance unnoticed. Just as she had seen Shining do, she tapped the ground three times with her hoof, and the wall of dirt collapsed before her into a clean ramp in precisely the same way as before. Everyone in the fort was simply too busy to bother with investigating her behavior, so she made swift passage to the Wonderbolts' tent. Once inside, she proceeded to curl up in the back. If she slept here, she thought, she wouldn't miss her chance to fly with the Wonderbolts. She'd wake up with them, fly with them, and impress them, getting back in time before Twilight even shows up. It was a flawless plan, she thought to herself while yawning. Flawless. She quickly drifted off to sleep.