//------------------------------// // 3. Captain Armour // Story: Missing Dreams // by Kodeake //------------------------------// Missing Dreams Chapter 3 Captain Amour Shining Armour put his helmet on, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath to calm himself. He knew what he would find inside; he'd been given the report, but he still needed to see for himself. He needed to know for sure. He pushed open the door of Golden Oaks library. “Could ya run that by us again?” Applejack asked with a heavy sigh. Thunder Flash frowned from beneath his helmet. “I told you; Rainbow Dash left about ten minutes ago. She was heading back for Ponyville to find the Captain of the Guard, who's probably investigating Twilight's-” “Disappearance,” Rarity said quickly, cutting off the coming sentence before it could be spoken. “Right...” Thunder trailed off; the unicorn didn't seem to buy her own words. “She came here to visit Shadow Charm, and got some information about what could have happened. She wants him to be the one to check it out, but to get him not only out of jail but also access to an active crime scene she needs direct permission from Captain Shining Armour.” Applejack nodded. “Uh-huh, and why is this here Captain Armour in Ponyville?” With a deadpan stare Thunder said, “Well the guy's little sister just... disappeared,” he stressed, shooting a glance at Rarity. “So I imagine he'd want to be kept in the loop.” “WHAT!?” All four mares shouted, jaws dropping. “I'm getting tired of explaining this today...” Thunder Flash muttered, holding a hoof to his helmet as the shout reverberated inside the metal and rung in his ears. “Shining Armour is Twilight Sparkle's big brother.” “WH-” “No need to yell!” Thunder snapped, the words dying on the mares' lips. He sighed thankfully, relaxing back into his chair. “Apparently Twilight didn't tell any of you this; not even Rainbow Dash knew. However this could turn out good for you; if he's willing to take a risk and believe Rainbow for the sake of his sister, he'll probably give her the papers she needs to have Shadow Charm temporarily released to study the crime scene.” Fluttershy was the first to recover from the familial revelation, stepping up to the counter. “So... um... does that mean Rainbow Dash will be coming back here soon?” Thunder Flash nodded. “That's what I was trying to tell you; as soon as she gets the approval she'll come back here and we can start making arrangements to have him brought down to the scene. Knowing Shining he won't be wasting any time, so we'll have all the arrangements made by tomorrow afternoon, and probably bring Shadow Charm down the same day.” Applejack nodded, turning to face her group. “Well girls, looks like the best thing we can do is wait here.” “In that case, we need a place to stay,” Rarity noted. “Mister... err.. I'm sorry, I don't believe I've caught your name?” “Thunder Flash,” he answered with a smile. “And if you're looking for a hotel, there's a good one a couple blocks down the street; nice without being too expensive. Just go out the doors and turn left; you can't miss it.” “Thank you, Mister Flash,” Rarity said graciously. “If Rainbow Dash shows up, tell her where we're staying would you? Oh, and the room will be under my name.” Thunder nodded. “You got it. Rarity, right?” “Indeed it is. Thank you!” Pinkie bounced along ahead of the group, leading them out the door. “I hope they have food; I'm starving!” “Pinkie, it's almost two in the mornin'. Who eats at two in the mornin'?” Applejack asked irritably. The energetic pink mare stopped, sitting back and holding a hoof to her chin. “Hmmm...” she hummed thoughtfully, before brightening up. She pointed a hoof at herself. “Oh! I know! I do; I 'eat at two in the mornin'” she explained, putting on a thick southern accent. Fluttershy giggled at the imitation quietly. “You might have to wait until breakfast, Pinkie Pie.” “Then it had better be an extra-super-duper big breakfast!” By time Rainbow Dash made it back to Ponyville the moon was already beginning its descent back behind the mountains. Her wings were burning from the two-way flight to Canterlot, but she knew she'd have to do it at least once more, and the thought made them scream in protest. Cringing as she pulled her wings back against her sides, Rainbow glanced around the area she'd landed and quickly regained her bearings, easily finding the road she needed to get back to the library. A quiet groan escaped her lips as she thought about having to deal with Celestia again. She wasn't about to give up, but apparently Celestia had other plans for a reason she couldn't put her hoof on. With any luck Shadow Charm would be able to shed some light into the Princess's reasoning. “Rainbow Dash! What the hay is going on!” Rainbow's ears perked up at the familiar voice of Ponyville's one and only baby dragon. Sure enough, when she turned her head she saw Spike running down the street towards her, leading a group of three fillies. “Hey Spike...” Rainbow greeted uneasily as the group caught up to her. “I uh... I thought you were staying at Rarity's tonight with the girls?” The dragon gave her a glare. “You mean you and Twilight forced me to stay with Rarity and the girls for 'privacy',” he deadpanned, making air-quotes. Rainbow gave him a guilty chuckle. “Yeah.... sorry about that.” Spike rolled his eyes. “Whatever, just tell me what's going on at the library; the place is crawling with guards and they won't let me in. They keep saying it's an active crime scene, but won't tell me anything else. Rarity up and disappeared about two hours ago, and I can't find anypony who will tell me what's happening.” “Applejack left too!” Applebloom exclaimed. “Where did you go?” Scootaloo asked. “I thought you were staying at the library with Twilight?” Rainbow frowned. “It's... a long story. I don't know where the rest of the girls are but... I do know they'll be back soon, and it'd be best if you just go back to Rarity's and wait for her.” All three fillies gave her sceptical glances. “Then can you at least tell us what's going on in the library?” Scootaloo asked. “It'd probably be best if you just waited until tomorrow...” Rainbow answered slowly. “Go back to Rarity's shop; she'll explain when she's back.” “But where did she go?” Sweetie Belle insisted. Rainbow sighed, shuffling on her hooves impatiently and glancing down the street towards the library. “I don't know, but I'll try to find her, okay? First I have to go do something.” “And Applejack too!” Applebloom added. “And Applejack,” Rainbow affirmed. “Promise. But you have to promise me you'll go back and wait at Rarity's, deal?” Hesitantly, the three fillies nodded. “You come back too,” Scootaloo called as they turned and slowly started heading back. Spike stayed behind, a single eyebrow raised and his arms folded across his chest. “Now tell me what's going on at the library.” Rainbow groaned. “I told you that Rarity would-” “Rarity's in Canterlot,” Spike deadpanned. “I saw all four of them get on the train. Now you're going to tell me why, and while you're at it you can explain where Twilight is; she wasn't with them.” “It's... a long-” “We have time!” Spike shouted, cutting off the excuse. “I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what happened. The library is my home and Twilight's practically my sister; you're not hiding anything from me.” With a sigh, Rainbow sat back. “I guess you should at least know before the newspapers come out tomorrow. Twilight's... gone.” Spike snorted. “Gone? What do you mean gone? How can she be gone?” “I mean she's missing!” Rainbow snapped. “Gone, disappeared. Celestia... Celestia thinks she's... she says Twilight's...” “Spit it out already!” “Celestia thinks she's dead!” Rainbow yelled finally, clenching her eyes shut. “Celestia thinks she's dead...” she repeated quietly. Spike's eyes grew wide, taking a step back as though the wind had been knocked out of him. “W-what?” “I know she's not though; I know she's alive, somewhere. I went to Canterlot to get help finding her, and the girls must have followed me.” “Rainbow Dash, slow down and tell me what happened. Tell me exactly what happened,” Spike insisted firmly. Rainbow groaned. “Look, I don't have time; I need to go find this Shining Armour guy and... never mind the details. I just need to talk to this guy.” Spike tilted his head. “Why do you need to talk to Twilight's brother?” “It's... wait, how do you know he's her brother? She's never told anypony that!” “I grew up with Twilight,” Spike deadpanned. “I should hope I know her brother.” Rainbow nodded. “Good point. Anyway, I have to go talk to him. Hop on,” she instructed, lowering a wing and allowing the dragon to clamber onto her back. “I'll explain on the way to the library. But first, you're going to tell me why Twi never told any of us she has a brother, or that he's Captain of the Guard.” Spike scratched the back of his neck nervously as Rainbow started towards the library. “Well... it's kinda complicated and really not my place to tell; it's Twilight's personal business.” “I won't tell you what happened until after you spill it,” Rainbow threatened, glancing back over her shoulder. With a contemplative sigh, Spike gave in. “Fine. Basically... she had a really big fight with Shining Armour before she moved to Ponyville.” Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “That's not exactly uncommon for brothers and sisters.” Spike shook his head. “No... like... it was a 'I never want to see you again' fight. I'm pretty sure at one point the words 'you're dead to me' were said, and taken literally. As far as I'm aware they haven't spoken since.” “Whoa... what were they even fighting about?” “I dunno; I walked in on the middle of it, and by then it had devolved to them slinging insults at each other. I tried asking, once, but when I brought it up Twilight's only response was 'who's Shining Armour?'. I never asked again,” Spike explained, shifting around uneasily on Rainbow's back. “I really shouldn't have told you that...” Rainbow sighed. “Probably not, now that I know what it was. But a deal's a deal, so I'll tell you what happened. After me an' Twi left you with Rarity at dinner, we...” As Rainbow launched once again into the retelling of her night, Spike sat on her back, enthralled with the story. She covered everything from the disappearance of Twilight to her conversation with Shadow Charm and everything in between. By the end of it, Spike looked more confused then when she has started. “Wait, you're telling me you're going behind Celestia's back to prove Twilight's alive, and that you're using Shadow Charm, the pony who kidnapped you both, to do it, and you need to get Shining Armour, who hasn't spoken to his sister in two years, to give permission to release a prisoner and give him access to an active crime scene?” Spike asked, shaking his head at the sheer absurdity of what he'd just said. Rainbow thought for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, that about sums it up. Though now that I know what happened between Twilight and her brother... I dunno how I'm gonna do this.” Spike rolled his eyes from atop Rainbow's back as the library came into view at the end of street. “I'm sure he'll say yes. They are still siblings, and whatever they were fighting about they're still family.” “I.. guess.. but what if?” Rainbow questioned, more to herself than her passenger. “I mean, when Twi says something, she sticks by it, and I can only imagine her brother's the same way.” “Well only one way to find out,” Spike prompted, the duo arriving at the path leading to the library. The yard and path were all roped off with caution tape, and a few guards were stationed around the area. Rainbow nodded slowly, glancing towards one of the guards and waving weakly as she flew over the tape. The guard raised an eyebrow at her, taking a few steps forward before being stopped by another guard who whispered something, glancing over his shoulder nervously. The first guard's eyes widened, glancing over the second's shoulder at Rainbow and Spike before nodding quickly and returning to his post. “Guess they recognize you...” Spike said uneasily as the guard's eyes stayed on the pair. Carefully, Rainbow trotted up to the door and opened it, glancing back at the guards only once before slipping into the library and closing the door. “Must have...” she muttered, glancing around the front room. Surprisingly, there was only a single pony in the entire library; a guard sat in the middle of the room, his elaborate helmet sitting on the floor beside him and his two-tone blue mane falling freely over his eyes. “Shining?” Spike called, a tremor of nervousness running through his voice. The guard's head snapped up at the voice, and he slowly turned around, eyes wide and cheeks matted with tears. “S-Spike?” He asked shakily, running a hoof across his face and shaking out his messy mane. “What are you doing here? And... oh... you must be Rainbow Dash...” Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, that's me. You're the Captain of the Guard, right?” Standing, Shining shook his head and gave her an uneven smile even as tears continued to flow down his cheeks. “Please; just Shining. You were one of Twily's friends, right? I've heard a lot about you all through Princess Celestia.” “Twily?” Rainbow whispered to Spike, who just shrugged. “Uh... yeah... I'm Rainbow Dash. Listen, I need-” Shining's careful smile wilted as he turned back to the shards. “Some time alone?” He offered knowingly, voice surprisingly calm in a stark contrast to the sheer despair readable on his face. Rainbow grimaced. “She's not dead.” An awkward silence befell the room after those words. Shining watched her carefully, eyes unredable even as they continued to leak. Eventually, he asked, “What?” “Twilight,” Rainbow clarified. “She's not dead; I'm going to find her.” Shining Armour grit his teeth together, glancing back to the pile of shards. “Are you mocking me!? I just lost my sister, and you have the nerve to come in here and... and... tell me she's not gone!?” “You didn't lose her,” Rainbow insisted, standing her ground even as the large, muscled stallion marched up to her angrily. “She's not dead, and I can prove it.” “Is this some kind of sick joke to you?” “Shining, please!” Spike called, jumping off Rainbow's back. “I know she sounds crazy but you have to listen to her! I don't know if she's right or not but... when I have a choice to believe her or think that Twilight's...” he shuddered, unable to finish the thought. “Princess Celestia herself has confirmed it,” Shining Armour yelled, leaning forward until his muzzle was just a hair's breadth away from Rainbow's. “She thinks she can just waltz in here and say otherwise without any kind of evidence!? It's hard enough to know what happened to Twily, but it is my personal responsibility to tell our parents, do you have any idea how I feel!? She was my sister!” “I love her!” Rainbow roared back, standing on the tips of her hooves in a vain attempt to put herself on equal height with the large stallion. “I was there when this happened! I was right next to her! Don't you dare think for even a second that I don't know how you feel, but I also know that she's alive! Before she disappeared, she looked at me, and she told me to find her. That's all she said before she vanished, not 'good bye' not 'I love you', just 'find me', don't you think if she was going to die she'd have said something else!?” “What are you-” “She knew what was happening to her,” Rainbow continued, cutting easily through Shining's attempted argument and pushing him back a few steps. “She knew what was happening and she wanted me to find her.” Shining blinked, craning his head back and away from Rainbow Dash. “I...” “Please, Shining,” Spike urged. “Just give her a chance to prove it; what could you lose?” Glancing back to the pile of purple shards behind him, Shining took a couple steps back and sat back on his haunches, eyes wide. Rainbow kept her face set in a determined glare, but she eased back. Lifting a hoof, she held her necklace out. “She gave me this necklace when I was trying to get into the Wonderbolts. When I found out it was enchanted... I blamed her for it; I yelled at her and I told her I never wanted to see her again. You know what she did? She didn't give up just because I told her I didn't want to see her. She worked day and night to find a way to prove I was innocent. She didn't care that I was mad at her; all she cared about was getting me back on the team. In the end... she pulled it off, and the only reason I;m a Wonderbolt now is because she didn't give up on me. “I will never, ever give up on her. She told me to find her, and I will go through whoever tries to stop me in order to do just that. Whether they're you, my friends, or princess Celestia herself. I don't know why you two aren't talking, and quite frankly I don't care; you are her brother, and it is your duty as an older sibling to do whatever you can for her. Believe me or not; I don't care. But you have to trust your own sister.” Shining was stunned into silence for a solid for thirty seconds, too shocked to even cry anymore as he regarded the mare in front of him. Finally, he broke the silence, asking; “And... you're sure that's what she said?” “I'm not deaf,” Rainbow deadpanned. Shining sighed, rubbing the tears out of his cheeks. “I... fine, I'll give you a chance... what do you need?” “Shadow Charm,” Rainbow explained. “I went to see him a little while ago, he said he might be able to prove Twilight's alive, something about disguising one spell as another. I heard you could give him permission to come down here and take a look.” “Shadow Charm?” Shining yelled, glaring at the pegasus in front of him. “You'd trust Shadow Charm to do something like this? Couldn't we just find another unicorn with experience in enchanting magics? Do I need toe remind you what that bastard did to Twilight?” Rainbow frowned. “Hey, he didn't just do it to Twilight; I was in a cage too.” “R-right, sorry...” Shining muttered. “That's even more reason not to trust him though!” “I don't trust him; I believe him when he says he wants to help put his sister back where she belongs,” Rainbow clarified. “Besides, how many other unicorns with that kind of skill would believe me over the Princess?” Shining Armour sighed. “Fine, fine, I'll write up the letter. Just give me a second.” He turned, scanning around the room until his eyes landed on the desk, stocked full of parchment ink and quills. With a flourish of magic he grabbed all the supplies he'd need and brought them over, scribbling onto the paper. One final stroke of the quill to sign his name, and he rolled it and passed it to Rainbow. “Take this to the prison and give it to the guard; it'll take a few hours to prepare everything, but this will grant Shadow Charm access to the crime scene for as long as he needs.” Snatching the letter out of the air with a wing, Rainbow nodded in thanks. “I'll make sure-” “Just go,” Shining muttered, cutting her off as he turned back to the pile of purple shards. “I hope you're right, but if you're not...” He shut his eyes, letting his sentence trail off. “She is alive,” Rainbow assured quietly. “She is alive, and I will find her and I will bring her back.” Shining Armour turned his head, once again looking through teary eyes. “If Shadow Charm can prove it, I will do anything I can to help. Oh, and one last thing; Celestia will be informed about Shadow Charm coming here. There's nothing I could do about that. She won't be able to stop you; I've put an urgency order on it, so by time she hears about it you should already be on your way, but she might meet you here; you'll have to deal with that.” “That's fine; I can deal with her,” Rainbow said, passing the letter to Spike. “I'll just have Shadow Charm prove it to her.” “I'll be waiting for news. Now go; the sooner you get to Canterlot the sooner preparations can be made,” Shining prompted. Rainbow Dash nodded, crouching down and motioning for Spike to get back on. “Let's go to Canterlot.” “I can't...” Spike said suddenly, hanging his head. “Huh? What are you talking about?” Spike sighed quietly. “I can't just leave Scootaloo, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle. They all think their sisters are coming back tonight; I can't just up and leave them. I'll stay here and tell them what's going on.” Rainbow frowned uneasily. “Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, there's a reason I didn't tell them what was happening with Twi...” “I won't go into detail,” Spike clarified. “All they need to know right now is that the girls are going to be in Canterlot until tomorrow. No matter what, we have to tell them what Shadow Charm finds, but until then the whole truth can wait.” Sighing, Rainbow relented with a nod. “You're right. Alright, I'll take this to Canterlot and find the girls to tell them what's happening, you keep an eye on the fillies.” “I'll meet you back here tomorrow.” With a wave Rainbow Dash set off out the door, jumping into the air and flying into the night sky as soon as she was clear. Spike watched her go for a moment before glancing over his shoulder to Shining Armour, who seemed oblivious to the dragon's presence. Quietly, Spike took a few steps towards the door before he was stopped by a voice. “Who is she?” Spike turned curiously. The stallion was still staring resolutely at the shards. “Who?” “Rainbow Dash,” Shining clarified. “Who is she?” Tilting his head, Spike said, “Rainbow's one of the Elements of Harmony. I though Celestia told you about them all?” “She said she loves Twilight,” he snapped suddenly, glaring over his shoulder. “Who was she to Twilight?” “Oh...” Spike scuffed his food awkwardly over the floor. “They're marefriends...” “How long?” Spike sighed, walking over and sitting next to Shining Armour. “They've been together since the stuff happened in Canterlot with Neon Lightning and Shadow Charm.” Shining frowned into the shards. “And she never told me... six months and she didn't tell me she was with somepony...” “You haven't exactly talked to her much,” Spike noted. “Every month,” Shining corrected sharply. “Every month I send Twilight a letter. She's never sent one back...” Spike's eyes grew wide. “She's still that mad at you?” “Guess so.” “What were you two even arguing about?” Spike asked carefully. “What could make her that mad?” Shining Armour sighed, his breath thick with emotion. “It's a long story, Spike... I made a mistake, and as a result said some things I shouldn't have. It's my fault but... I just wished I could have talked to her one last time before... before...” he cut himself off with a strangled sob. “She's alive,” Spike assured confidently. “She's alive, somewhere, and Rainbow's going to prove it. Just give her a little time and she'll find a way to prove it.” “I can only hope, Spike,” Shining whispered, rubbing fruitlessly at the fresh tears trailing down his cheeks. “I'll be fine. You said you had to go look after three fillies right?” Spike nodded. “Yeah, but-” “Go,” Shining urged, motioning to the door. “I'll be okay, just give me a little while.” “Are you sure?” Shining Armour hung his head. “Yeah, I'm sure. Whatever Shadow Charm finds here... I can hope, but I have to be prepared.” Hesitantly, Spike nodded. “If you're sure. I'll see you later, Shining.” When no response came, Spike made his way out the door and into the darkened streets of Ponyville, turning and walking towards Carrousel Boutique. With a half-controlled crash landing Rainbow skidded to a halt on the cobbled streets of Canterlot. Her wings burned from exhaustion and no small amount of sweat had gathered in her coat despite the chilly night air. Flying to Canterlot was one thing, making the trip three times in a single night was something she could barely do. Panting around the letter held tightly in her jaw, she quickly gained her bearings and set off towards Canterlot Prison. If the moon's proximity to thee horizon was any indication the sun would be up in little over an hour. Easily finding the large building again, Rainbow pushed her way inside, giving a sleepy smile as she spotted the guard at the desk. “Thunder Flash?” She asked hopefully, passing the letter to her wing. The white coated stallion looked up from the desk, smiling as he saw the mare in front of him. “Rainbow Dash!” He cried happily, standing from his chair. “Did you get it?” Rainbow held out her wing, dropping the rolled and sealed scroll onto the counter. Thunder picked it up and unravelled it, quickly scanning the contents. “Perfect! I'll start making the arrangements immediately. We should be ready for transport a little after noon.” “Great...” Rainbow trailed off, eyes drooping as she yawned widely. “I'll... go find a hotel or something...” “Wait!” Thunder called suddenly, stopping the mare in her tracks towards the door. Rainbow looked back over her shoulder. “Your friends were here a while ago looking for you. They didn't make the trip back to Ponyville tonight... or rather this morning, so they got a hotel. They asked me to send you their way when you got back with the letter.” Yawning again, Rainbow gave a small smile. “Point me in the right direction.” “Out the doors and turn left; it'll be the first hotel you see and you won't miss it. They said the room will be under Rarity's name,” Thunder Flash explained, pointing in the general direction he was talking about. “It's just a few blocks away.” “Hope they're still awake..” Rainbow muttered, thanking the stallion before heading out the doors, leaving him to deal with the arrangements for later that day. “She should be here by now, shouldn't she?” Applejack sighed, glaring at the alabaster coated unicorn pacing anxiously around the room. “Will you calm down? It don't imagine it's easy flying all the way from here to Ponyville and back again.” “Oh she's probably exhausted, the poor dear,” Rarity continued muttering to herself. “She's been through so much today...” “Rarity, we're all worried, but you need to calm down. Fluttershy and Pinkie had the right idea when they hit the hay; worry 'bout it won't do any good, so we may as well get some sleep. It's almost sunrise and none of us have had any proper rest,” Applejack insisted. Rarity stopped her pacing, hanging her head. “I know Applejack... but after what happened to Twilight... I can't lose anymore of you girls...” “Now you listen here; Twi's missin', not... completely gone, alright?” “I know, I know... I want to believe it but... what evidence do we have?” Rarity asked, sitting on her bed and staring out the large glass window on the far wall of the room. There were a total of four beds in the hotel room, spread across two rooms. In a third, central living room was a couch that could be folded out to make a fifth bed. In one room the only sound that could be heard were the quiet, near-inaudible snores of Fluttershy and the noise Pinkie made when asleep which could only be called a giggle-snore. Applejack, however, had been unlucky enough to share a room with the one pony who refused to sleep when stressed, and the current situation certainly counted as stressful. Applejack groaned, falling back into her bed and glaring at the ceiling. “We'll know more tomorrow once we get Shadow Charm there lookin' around.” “But what if-” Her worrying was cut off as a sharp knocking broke through the relative quiet of the hotel room. Without saying anything she took off towards the door, Applejack not far behind. “Rainbow Dash!” Rarity cried happily as she swung the door open. Her relieved smile quickly fell to a pensive frown when she saw the glare on the pegasus' face. “Rainbow? What's wrong?” “Forgetting anything?” Rainbow asked sharply, ignoring Rarity's question and stepping into the room, acknowledging Applejack with another glare in the farmer's direction. Rarity blinked. “I... don't think so?” “How about three little fillies and a dragon supposedly spending the night at your house? Didn't even think about them, did you? You just took off after me without telling them a single thing. Did any of you stop to think that maybe Spike should be told Twilight's missing? Or maybe you should tell your own sisters that you would be gone? When I got back to Ponyville they'd been wandering around looking for you. “Spike saw you get on the train,” Rainbow continued, ignoring the realization dawning on the other mares faces. “He didn't say anything to them, but he wasn't exactly happy. The Library's a crime scene and nopony bothered tot ell him anything.” Rarity's jaw was nearly on the floor as she started for the door. “How could I forget!?” She shrieked, more to herself than anypony else who could answer. “I have to get back there! I have to-” “It's fine,” Rainbow cut in with a sigh, shaking her head. “I told Spike what was going on; he's looking after the fillies. They don't know what happened to Twilight, but until we know for sure we'll keep it that way.” “Ah... ah didn't even think 'bout them...” Applejack muttered, hanging her head in shame. Rainbow glanced around the room, taking stock of her surroundings. “I take it Pinkie and 'Shy are already asleep?” “Yeah,” Rarity confirmed with a nod. “We got here pretty late.” “Speaking of, why are you girls here anyway?” Rainbow asked, walking over and collapsing onto the couch, heaving a heavy sigh as she let her aching wings fan out. “Last I checked you girls thought Twi was dead.” Rarity scuffed a hoof along the floor awkwardly, glancing over to Applejack. When the farmer made no move to explain, she took an uneasy breath. “Well... after you left and came here to Canterlot after the Princess explained what happened we started talking. We were still reeling from the news about Twilight, but we didn't want to believe it any more than you did. Then Fluttershy mentioned what you'd said about what Twilight told you, and after the... incident a few months ago... we decided we owed you the benefit of the doubt. None of us want what princess Celestia said to be true, so if there's anything we can do that would prove Twilight's still alive, we'll do it.” “We ain't abandoning you again,” Applejack added firmly. Rainbow looked them over curiously. “So instead you abandoned your sisters...?” They both hung their heads under her scrutinizing gaze. Eventually she relented with a shake of her head. “Never mind; it' fine. At least you're not ready to give up just like that. They're expecting us back in Ponyville around noon tomorrow, so go and get some sleep.” “You need sleep too,” Rarity noted, lighting her horn and lifting Rainbow off the couch. With a few quick folds the couch was folded out into a full bed, and a blanket and pillow were brought forward from a closet. “Three trips between here and Ponyville is no small feat, even for you.” Rolling her eyes, Rainbow grabbed the pillow out of the air and tossed it to the head of the bed. “Why do you think I came here in the first place? It wasn't just to talk. You girls will be catching the train back to Ponyville tomorrow, I'll fly with the guards bringing Shadow Charm.” Applejack chuckled. “Sounds like Twilight had been rubbing off quite a bit; I think that's the first time I've ever heard you plan something. Or wait, for that matter.” Rainbow frowned, glancing down to the silver lightning bolt hanging around her neck. “Someone's gotta plan these things...” “Sorry, I didn't mean-” “It's alright, AJ,” Rainbow interrupted, lifting her eyes back up to meet her friend's. “I know you didn't. Good night.” Applejack nodded slowly. “'Night.” “Good night, Rainbow Dash,” Rarity called, gently ushering Applejack into their shared room and shutting the door behind them. In a magical glow the lights were shut off, bathing the room in darkness, left with only the little moonlight streaming through the open window. Rainbow slowly laid back on her pillow, turning her head and looking out the window into the blackness of the night sky. Her necklace, glinting in the silver light of the full moon, caught her eye. Gently pressing a hoof against it and holding it to her chest, through which she could feel the steady beating of her heart, she closed her eyes. “Just a little longer Twi,” she whispered, a lone tear rolling down her cheek. “I'll find you soon, just hang in there a little longer.” Sleep took over her mind, and when she next opened her eyes, she was no longer in the hotel room. Rather, she was in a large ballroom, complete with a tall, arched roof supported by pillars on either side of the rectangular room. The walls beyond the marble pillars were lined with stained glass windows, each depicting a scene from Equestria's past set into a golden frame in the pure white marble wall. The floor was a seemingly random pattern of black and white marble, buffed to a shining finish. The ballroom was empty; the stage sat abandoned without instruments nor musicians, no banners hung and no ponies danced. Without some kind of festivity, the room seemed early empty; as though haunted by the ghosts of celebrations gone by. If she listened hard enough, Rainbow could hear the quiet whimper of songs once played in this very room. “Hello?” She called, looking around at the barren room and listening to the echo of her voice as it reverberated around the large, empty space. “Hello,” another voice answered, making Rainbow jump as she whipped her head around. She smiled widely as her eyes fell on the mare she hadn't even noticed. Before she was confused as to why she was in the ballroom, but suddenly it became obvious; there could only ever be one explanation. “Twilight,” Rainbow said, bowing down, her dress crinkling quietly as she did so. The smooth fabric hugged her form, embracing her with its gentle curves. “May I have this dance?” She asked, putting on a thick, over-exaggerated Canterlot accent. Twilight giggled, her own stunning dress ruffling as she returned the bow. “I thought you'd never ask.”