//------------------------------// // 4. Dreams of Loss // Story: Missing Dreams // by Kodeake //------------------------------// Missing Dreams Chapter 4 Dreams of Loss Rainbow Dash stood on her hind hooves, embracing Twilight in the traditional dancing pose everypony knew. Twilight's head rested again Rainbow's chest, her eyes closed and a smile stretched wide across her muzzle ass she breathed deeply. Rainbow rested her head atop her marefriend's, and just as they were settled into their poses, ready to dance, something struck her. “I hate to be a buzz kill,” Rainbow whispered, nuzzling the top of Twilight's head affectionately. “But there's no music.” Twilight hummed, her smile growing wider as she started swaying back and forth gently. “We don't need music.” “We need some kind of beat,” Rainbow muttered, even as she allowed Twilight to guide her, the two rocking back and forth rhythmically. Twilight didn't respond, instead she started dancing, leading Rainbow over the dance floor and moving to a seemingly silent song. Twilight giggled. “Told you.” “Yeah, but-” Rainbow paused, her eyes growing wide as a simple realization dawned on her. Thu-thump Step-step Thu-thump Step-step She laughed, holding Twilight tighter. “Only you could get me to do something this sappy, you know?” “What?” Twilight asked innocently, taking her ear off of Rainbow's chest for a second to look up into her marefriend's eyes. “Seriously? Dancing to my own heart beat?” Twilight grinned, leaning her head back against Rainbow to better hear the rhythm they were dancing to. “It works, doesn't it?” Blushing like a filly fawning over her first crush, Rainbow tried to ignore the fact that their dancing sped up. She looked out across the empty ballroom, scanning over the stain-glass windows presenting Equestria's history. They moved slowly across the room, passing images of Celestia and Luna overthrowing Discord, the rise and subsequent fall of Nightmare Moon, and the return of Nightmare Moon along with her second fall. Though as she smiled fondly at the memory of that particular moment in history, something struck her as wrong with the window. Twilight wasn't in the picture. Rainbow frowned as they kept moving, the next window heralding the second defeat of Discord, the image once again lacking a certain purple unicorn. According to the windows, the Elements of Harmony consisted of only five ponies. Something was very wrong. “Twi?” Rainbow asked, slowing their dance to a stop. When she didn't get a response she looked down. “Twilight?” Twilight wasn't there. Rainbow dropped back down onto all four hooves without the added stability of another pony. She spun in a circle, scanning the ballroom for her missing marefriend. The room was just as empty as it had been when she walked in. “Twilight!?” She called, voice echoing off the high ceilings. Her eyes fell once again on the windows, this time skipping to the end. A depiction of Twilight stood in the middle of the large window, white lines crisscrossing her body, her eyes wide open and her mouth frozen in a silent scream. “Find me,” the window whispered, its voice coming from everywhere at once. Suddenly it shattered, the sound filling the room as all the other windows did the same, falling out of their frames into piles of shards on the ground. Beyond the window was nothing but a pitch black nothingness, hiding just beyond the walls of the ballroom. The walls cracked, crumbling to dust with an ear-splitting noise as the room fell apart. Rainbow clamped her hooves over her ears, clenching her eyes shut as the sound reverberated inside her head. The ground shook violently and gale force winds picked up shards of glass and chunks to hurl mercilessly at the pegasus. “Twilight!” Rainbow screamed, falling onto her stomach and doing her best to cover her head from the debris whipping around the room. All at once it stopped, leaving nothing but a deafening silence in the chaos's wake. Slowly, Rainbow opened her eyes, though what she saw was indistinguishable from the insides of her eyelids. Blackness was everything. Not a single shred of the ballroom remained, instead she was surrounded by a pure void of nothingness. “T... Twilight?” She called, though for all the sound she made it may as well have been in her head. The void seemed to absorb her voice before it even left her mouth. “Find me, Dashie,” Twilight's voice called tauntingly, ringing in her ears and making her head pound painfully. Rainbow span in circles, searching for something – anything – to move towards. Finally she saw it; a spec of purple, set out against the backdrop of black. It was tiny, an impossible distance away, but it was there. She quickly set off at a full gallop, sprinting towards dot of colour. Every step she took brought her closer to it, and before long she could recognize the shade of Twilight's coat and her mane. She was so close now, Rainbow could practically see the unicorn's smile. Then everything stopped; time froze, and Rainbow was left mid-gallop, helplessly watching as Twilight started moving away, getting smaller and smaller until she was nothing more than a vaguely purple point in the void. “Twilight!” Time resumed at Rainbow's shout, and she fell to the invisible floor with a thud. Within seconds she was back on her hooves, already sprinting towards her goal. “Stop.” Rainbow ignored the new voice in the void, even as she tripped on nothing and fell to the floor. When she pulled herself back up, it was as if she hadn't moved at all; Twilight was still so far away. “Stop this.” Again Rainbow took off, blocking out all other thoughts as she doggedly chased down her marefriend. Time stopped again, though this time instead of Twilight getting farther away, she disappeared all together. “You will never catch her,” the voice said coldly. Time started flowing, but Rainbow found herself unable to move; Twilight was gone, lost in the darkness, and she had nowhere to go. Tears started flowing down her cheeks as she searched the void desperately for any sign of Twilight left. “Twilight!” Rainbow screamed, her voice weak as sobs shook her body. “Twilight!” A bright flash of light momentarily blinded her, and when her eyes recovered a tall, deep blue alicorn stood before her. “L...Luna?” Luna frowned, keeping a careful watch on the sobbing pegasus for a few seconds. Eventually, she asked, “Why do you chase her?” “Because I love her!” Rainbow shouted angrily even as tears continued to flow. “Love cannot bring her back.” Rainbow didn't respond. She rubbed fruitlessly at her eyes, trying to wipe away her tears. Luna sighed, sitting down next to the pegasus and extending a large, midnight blue wing around her shoulders. “Rainbow Dash, listen to me. I know how much you cared for her, but you must accept the fact that she is gone; no amount of love or determination can find her. Hope is a dangerous, powerful thing. It gives ponies strength in the darkest of times, but can also crush their very soul if it is not placed in the right spot.” “She's alive!” Rainbow snapped, pushing the wing off her back and taking a few steps away. “I don't care what you say; I will find her!” A fuzzy, static sound filled the air, causing them both to look around at the void. Some of the blackness had faded, and white was beginning to show beneath the nothing. “You are waking up. Be careful where you place your hope, Rainbow Dash; it could be more painful than accepting Twilight's death.” The black faded, and with it Luna vanished, leaving Rainbow alone in a white void. “She's alive!” Rainbow shouted, bolting upright in her bed and slamming into a yellow head. Fluttershy yelped in pain, jumping back and falling onto her rump as she held a hoof to her forehead. Rainbow was panting, her heart hammering in her chest as she looked around herself; four of her friends stood around, watching her with a mixture of worry and relief. She shivered, the cold air meeting her sweat-slicked coat. “Girls?” She asked after gaining some control of her breathing. “Finally!” Applejack cried, pushing her way to the front of the group as Rarity helped Fluttershy to her hooves. “We thought you were in a coma or somethin'!” “I...” Rainbow trailed off, lifting a hoof to her forehead and pulling back her sweat-drenched mane. “What time is it?” “Almost 10 o'clock, dear,” Rarity answered. “We figured we'd let you sleep in, but... then you starting calling out in your sleep and we got worried. We've been trying to wake you for a while now.” Rainbow fell back onto her damp pillow, staring up at the ceiling. “Are you okay? Fluttershy asked timidly, poking her head up from the end of the bed. “Yeah... yeah I'm fine; it was just a dream.” Rainbow sighed, crawling out off bed and shrugging off her blanket. “Just a dream...” “Sounded like one heck of a dream,” Applejack noted. “You uh... you were dreamin' 'bout Twilight, weren't ya?” “How'd you know?” Rainbow asked accusingly, shooting a glare at the farmer. Applejack rolled her eyes. “Who do ya think you were callin' for?” “It's nothing to be ashamed of!” Rarity piped up quickly, “I think I speak for everypony when I say you're not the only one that's worried.” “Worried enough for a visit from Princess Luna,” Rainbow grumbled under her breath, turning and trotting towards the bathroom. “I'm gonna take a shower; you girls should get the next train to Ponyville. I'll be there with Shadow Charm soon.” “Aw...” Pinkie pouted, “What about breakfast?” “Eat on the train!” Rainbow snapped, slamming the bathroom door closed. She sighed, holding a hoof to her temple and rubbing in gentle circles. The hotel sat silent for a few moments before the hushed, muffled whispers of her friends could be heard through the walls. No doubt they were talking about her. Sighing, she opened the door a crack and peaked her head out. “Sorry. Just... thanks for worrying about me, but I'm fine. You girls go ahead and get back to Ponyville; Ill meet you back at the library.” Pinkie smiled happily. “It's okay Dashie! We'll all find Twilight together; don't you worry!” “I hope you're right, Pinkie,” Rainbow muttered, closing the door and trotting over the the bathtub. Closing the curtains she turned on the taps and pulled the lever. The pipes groaned quietly as water started flowing out of the shower head, raining down and filling the room with white noise as it hit the porcelain tub. She jumped in, tensing for a moment under the cold water before relaxing as it rapidly warmed up until steam began floating up to the roof. Rainbow closed her eyes, sighing as she allowed the water to wash away the sweat and grime clinging to her. Even now, she could see her dream so clearly; Twilight's dress, her voice, her smile. Then she was gone, just like that. Rainbow shuddered, clenching her jaw as Luna's words came back to her. “Love cannot bring her back.” “I'm not letting her go,” she argued back to the empty bathroom. “I'll never let her go.” Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes, but she forced them back before they could even begin to fall. Rainbow gave one final, drawn out sigh before turning to the bottle of soap. Thunder Flash groaned quietly, his helmet sitting on the desk next to him and his hoof digging into the bridge of his nose. Between his lips was a quill, worn and mottled with permanent stains of ink from being dropped into the well too many times. With a final flourish, the last document was filled out and signed, ready to be sent off to Canterlot Castle. “Finally!” He sighed happily, letting his swore jaw hang slack and ignoring the quill as it tumbled to the floor. “Who knew being a guard would mean so much paperwork?” Glancing down, he eyed the sizable stack of papers in front of him. At least it was finished, and according to the sun, it was just a little before noon. The extra guards had arrived to assist with transport as well as the prison carriage. Everything had been checked and double checked and stamped and authorized. All that was left was to actually get Shadow Charm to Ponyville, a task that would take a chariot at least two hours, if the wind was in their favour. The clock strung noon right on time, bringing with it a quiet chiming through the guard station. Thunder Flash smiled; his shift was finally over, and that meant whatever paperwork was left would be given to the guard working the next. As if summoned by the the chimes, the front door was opened and a cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane and tail walked in, eyeing the prison carriage sitting outside. It was a boring, bleak thing. A dull grey coloured box on wheels, just big enough to be considered a carriage but smaller than most. The back was made up of a set of double doors, held shut with a large padlock and no doubt multiple levels of enchantments. Windows sat around the top of the walls, filled with bars and no bigger than a pony's head. “Ah, Rainbow Dash,” Thunder greeted, standing from his desk. “Just in time; all the arrangements have been made, and we were just about to go get Shadow Charm.” Rainbow looked around uneasily at the noticeable surplus of guards mulling about the front room. “Good.. but uh... are all these guards really needed? I mean, it's just one guy.” Shrugging his shoulders, Thunder motioned to two of the guards, who nodded and disappeared through the door that lead down into the cells. “I don't make the rules. Oh, and there's somepony here to see you.” Rainbow frowned. “Who?” Instead of answering, Thunder raised his hoof and pointed towards the corner of the room towards a small area filled with chairs. The soul inhabitant was a mare Rainbow recognized. “Fluttershy?” She called, watching as the pegasus in questioned jumped, too lost in her own thoughts to notice Rainbow's entrance. Fluttershy looked up, smiling as she recognized her friend. Immediately she jumped out of her chair and rushed over. “Rainbow, I-” “What are you doing here, 'Shy?” Rainbow asked sharply. “I told you and the girls to head back to Ponyville on the train. We're going to be leaving soon!” “I might not be as fast as you, but I can fly to Ponyville from here,” Fluttershy explained, glancing around cautiously before whispering. “And right now you need a friend.” Rainbow sighed, rolling her eyes. “Did Rarity put you up to this? I told you guys; I'm fine. As soon as we find Twilight this'll all be over and we can get back to our lives.” She turned away, starting towards the door before being caught by a yellow hoof placed on her shoulder. “Rarity didn't ask me to do this; I wanted to.” Fluttershy pulled, slowly spinning Rainbow around until they were face to face. “I know you, Rainbow Dash, and if you don't mind me saying so, I also know that you haven't cried since Twilight went missing.” Huffing irritably, Rainbow sat back on her haunches. “Why would I cry? Twilight's fine, and I'm going to find her; there's nothing to be sad about.” Fluttershy gave the mare a stern glare. “Your marefriend, the pony you love, and openly admit to loving, has gone missing – probably pony-napped – and you're being told constantly that she's dead,” she deadpanned, leaning forward and wrapping her forelegs around Rainbow's neck. “There's isn't a pony alive who wouldn't cry at that.” “I'm fine, Fluttershy,” Rainbow muttered, even as she bit her lip. “I just... need to find her...” Fluttershy's only response was to squeeze tighter. “I-I... I said I'm...” Rainbow trailed off, clenching her eyes closed. “I don't...” “Oh, it feels wonderful to finally be out of that cell!” Rainbow jumped, pulling herself out of Fluttershy's embrace and spinning around to face Shadow Charm, accompanied by two guards on either side. His front hooves were bound together with heavy iron cuffs and a chain, long enough to allow him to walk but short enough that he couldn't do much else. His hind hooves were chained together as well, a little looser than his front hooves. His horn was accessorized with a small, gold ring at the base, partially hidden by his short, slicked-back, black mane. “Ah, Miss Dash,” he greeted, stooping down in a half-bow. “I see everything went smoothly getting me access to the crime scene.” “Don't get to comfortable out here,” Rainbow growled. “You get one shot, then it's back where you belong.” Shadow Charm gave a wan smile. “As long as I get some... permanent company down there soon, I'm okay with that.” “Let's go,” one of the guards next to him grunted, giving a gentle shove. “Alas, it it is time I depart. See you again in Ponyville, shall I?” Shadow Charm asked as he was guided out the door. Rainbow sighed. “You're our only lead,” she called after him. “Don't screw it up!” “Well, glad to see that's over,” Thunder Flash mentioned casually, coming up beside the two mares. “I'm off duty now, so they're going to be in charge of transporting him. He has until sundown to find something, after that he'll be brought back here. “For what it's worth,” he added, “I hope he finds something.” “That makes two of us,” Rainbow muttered. “Thanks for the help.” Thunder nodded, smiling happily. “Not a problem; it's my job, after all. If you're ever in Canterlot, come find me; I'd like a chance to actually meet Twilight Sparkle. She sounds like a pretty awesome mare.” “Heh, I'll be sure to tell her all about how you helped when I find her,” Rainbow chuckled, watching out the window as Shadow Charm was loaded into the carriage and two pegasi guards were strapped in. “We should probably get going. Come on, Fluttershy.” Fluttershy sighed quietly, shaking her head as she followed Rainbow Dash out the door. “You're not going to get away from this.” “I'm fine,” Rainbow grunted. “I'll tell you a million times if I have to.” “No, you're not fine. What happens if he doesn't find anything?” For a few moments, Rainbow didn't respond. Eventually she spread her wings. “He will find something,” she growled before taking to the air, the prison carriage not far behind her as she lead the way to Ponyville. Fluttershy frowned, but stayed quiet as she followed behind the dozen or so guards accompanying the ones pulling the carriage. “I see them!” Pinkie cried, bouncing excitedly as she pointed a hoof into the air. Rarity and Applejack grinned, rushing over and looking to where Pinkie was pointing. “That's a cloud,” Applejack deadpanned. Pinkie nodded quickly. “But it looks just like them, doesn't it? There's Rainbow Dash.” She motioned to a puff of cloud extending off the main clump. “And that's Fluttershy back there,” Pinkie explained, pointing at a tuft of cloud lagging behind. “Right... Pinkie dear, could you just tell us when you actually see them, not just something that looks like them?” Rarity asked gently. “Like the tree. Or that flock of crows. Or a... cloud.” Pinkie gave an over-exaggerated pout. “Aw, but then how are we going to play eye-spy if you girls know what I'm looking at?” “Consarnit Pinkie, we ain't playing eye-spy. Do you even know why we're here?” Applejack shouted, throwing her hooves out and gesturing at the large tree behind her. “Well excuse me for trying to lighten the mood a bit,” the pink mare huffed, crossing her forelegs and tilting her nose up into the air. Just as soon as she did, a huge grin exploded onto her face. “I see them!” Rolling her eyes, Applejack turned away. “Is it a group of butterflies this time?” “Hi Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie called, waving happily. Applejack raised a brow, turning and looking to the sky. “Pinkie, there's nothing there.” “Well duh!” Pinkie exclaimed, grabbing Applejack's head in her hooves and turning it around. “They're over there!” “Hey girls!” Rainbow called, fanning her wings out and landing gently. Se turned around, watching the carriage align itself with the road and descend until its wheels met the cobblestones. It came to a stop in front of the library, the squad of guards sent with it landing behind it. Fluttershy landed last, skidding to a halt next to Rainbow Dash. “I see you've brought company,” Rarity noted uneasily, nodding towards the carriage as the guards opened it and unloaded Shadow Charm. Applejack leveled a glare at him. “I still don't know why you trust him to do this.” “I'll give the guy a chance,” Rainbow explained. “If anypony wants his sister in jail it's him.” “Miss Dash?” Shadow Charm called. “Could you come with us? I'll need to ask you a few questions.” Rainbow nodded. “Come on girls, let's see what we can find. We just need enough evidence to prove Twi's alive, then we can go find her.” She lead the way into the library, flanked by her friends and followed by Shadow Charm, who was in turn followed by the guards. They stepped into the front room and spread out, two guards remaining by the door while the others stationed themselves around the room. “Alright, get to it,” Rainbow urged impatiently, deliberately looking away from the pile of shards still sitting in the middle of the floor. Though it was noticeably smaller than it had been the previous night. “I'd love to, really I would, but...” Shadow Charm trailed off, pointing to his horn. When nopony did anything, he sighed. “I can't do a thing without my magic, and I can't use my magic with this damn ring on my horn.” Rainbow glanced at one of the guards. “Can you take it off?” The guard she was looking at shook his head firmly. “We cannot allow a prisoner to-” “Take it off.” All the guards in the room abruptly snapped to attention as another walked in, covered head to hoof in detailed, elegant armour. “But Captain Armour,” one of the guards protested, “it goes against-” “I said take it off,” Shining Armour repeated. “He's not dangerous, and even if he was I'm more than capable of handling him.” The guard shuffled awkwardly, before eventually saluting. “Sir,” he affirmed, walking over and using his hoof to slide the ring off Shadow Charm's horn. “Shining,” Rainbow greeted carefully. The stallion smiled at her. “I told you; I'd do anything to help. You gave me hope for my sister, Rainbow Dash, and if anypony can go through Celestia to prove Twily's alive, then it's you,” Shining explained. “That's Shining Armour?” Rarity whispered to Applejack. “He's... not what I expected.” “I know,” Applejack replied, “I was figuring he'd be more... Twilight...” Shadow Charm cleared his throat, bringing the focus back to him. “There's teleportation residue all over this place, did you try tracing it?” Shining Armour rolled his eyes. “Of course we didn't; Twilight teleports pretty much everywhere she goes. It'd take weeks to track all of them. Besides, the only magic we found in here was Twilight's, so if she teleported, it was of her own will.” “Perhaps...” Shadow mumbled, staring intently at the pile of purple shards. “And these shards are-” “What remains of my student.” All ponies present gave respectful bows to the newly arrived alicorn standing in the doorway. All except Rainbow Dash, who just grit her teeth. “What are you doing here?” She asked accusingly. Celestia sighed. “I'm here to do what I should have done from the start; force you to accept the truth. You have dragged not only your friends into your denial, but also the Captain of the Guard and Spike.” “I'm not in denial!” Rainbow shouted angrily. “And you are not going to stop us from finding the evidence we need.” “No, I do not intend to stop you,” Celestia explained calmly, ignore Rainbow's angry tone. “I intend to convince you. Mister Charm, surely you've sensed it?” Shadow Charm fidgeted nervously under the icy gaze of Celestia. Eventually he caved. “Y-yes, your highness, I noticed as soon as I walked in.” “And you, Captain Armour?” Hanging his head, Shining nodded hesitantly. “Rarity?” Celestia called, turning to face said unicorn. “You of all ponies should have felt it.” “I... yes, I did,” Rarity admitted, taking a step back as Applejack looked at her questioningly. Rainbow growled. “Will somepony tell me what you're all talking about?” Celestia nodded, stepping carefully across the room until she came to a stop next to the shards. “Please, come here.” Rainbow complied, keeping a careful gaze on Celestia as she approached, still looking resolutely away from the pile. “What now?” “Touch it.” “What?” Celestia pointed to the shards. “Touch them, and you'll have all the proof you'll need.” Raising a curiously doubtful eyebrow, Rainbow lifted a hoof, but was stopped as a white foreleg blocked her. “With your wing,” Celestia clarified. Rainbow rolled her eyes but did as asked, extending a wing and laying it across the top of the pile. Instantly she froze, her muscles tensing and her joints locking as her eyes grew wide. “This...” Celestia's gaze softened. “What do you feel?” “I...” Rainbow felt like she'd been shocked. She wanted to retract her wing, to take it away and make the feelings she felt stop, but she couldn't. Something held her there, and as her mind raced to understand what it was that she felt, she realized why. “It... it feels like...” Tears gathered in her eyes as she fell to the floor, her wing still grasping the shards. “It feels like Twilight...” Thoughts and feelings and memories raced through Rainbow's mind. Tingles like static shocks lanced through her wing as it rested atop the purple shards, bringing with them more and more painful thoughts. Everything that she could feel, everything that she could sense, reminded her of Twilight. Her mind was awash with purple colours and the scent of Twilight's lilac shampoo. Twilight's voice rang in her ears and memories forced themselves to the forefront of Rainbow's thoughts. Memories of Twilight, of being happy with Twilight, of being mad at Twilight. If it was about Twilight, it was remembered or thought. The damn finally broke and tears flowed freely down Rainbow's cheeks as a second wing joined the first on the pile. Slowly she curled in on herself, hugging the shards as though they were actually Twilight. Sobs wracked her body as she cried openly on the floor. Her entire world was Twilight, and everything about Twilight reminded her that the unicorn was gone. Fluttershy quickly rushed over, wrapping Rainbow in her hooves even as the rest of their friends stood still, too stunned to do anything. “What you feel is magic.” Celestia's voice said, powerful enough to pierce the almost overwhelming feelings. “Those shards are made from Twilight's magic in its purest form. Everything she ever was or ever could have been is contained within that magic. This is how I know she is dead.” Applejack watched with wide eyes as Rainbow Dash broke down in front of her. Slowly, fearfully, she turned to Shadow Charm. “What's she talking about?” Shadow Charm bit his lip. “It's... difficult to explain. For now all you need to know is that those shards are made from Twilight's own magic.” “That is what the Glass Statue curse does,” Celestia lectured, turning away from Rainbow and facing the rest of her friends. “As soon as the enchanted object comes into contact with the target's magic, it traces that path back to the source, and crystallizes it. A pony has magic flowing through their entire body, and as such everything is turned to magical energy and solidified. “That's also why we have not bothered to remove the shards, and why they are getting smaller; magic was never meant to be a solid, and it is slowly turning back into its natural state. What Rainbow Dash is feeling right now is pure, unfiltered magic. Since it's Twilight's magic, it brings forth emotions and memories closely linked to her.” “That's also what you and I felt, Rarity,” Shadow Charm added. “As the magic returns to its natural state it has filled this room, and we unicorns can feel it if the concentration is high enough. Rainbow Dash needed to touch it with her wing because for pegasi their external magic conduits are their feathers. If she were to touch it with her hoof she'd feel nothing, but an earth pony would.” Applejack swallowed a nervous lump in her throat. “So... what you're saying is-” “She's dead!” Rainbow's devastated cry answered Applejack's unasked questioned. “She's gone... there's nothing we can do!” She continued to sob, her tears soaking into the shards as she desperately clutched at them. “I failed her... I... I...” Shadow Charm clenched his eyes shut against the heart wrenching wails. “I am truly sorry,” he whispered. “There's nothing I can do.” “There has to be somethin'!” Applejack argued. “It's a fake! A copy! It's ain't Twilight!” “You cannot fake another pony's magic,” Celestia insisted. “I know it is hard, but you must accept the truth.” Suddenly, Shadow Charm's eyes grew wide. “No... you can't fake another's magic... but if you had a sample of their magic...” he trailed off, muttering to himself under his breath. “The orb!” “Beg pardon?” Applejack tilted her head. “The orb,” Shadow Charm repeated. “After Miss Dash and Miss Sparkle escaped, my sister insisted we clean the place to get rid of any evidence, and we found the orb!” Celestia frowned. “What orb?” Shadow Charm started pacing furiously, all eyes glued to him. Even Rainbow Dash turned to watch him through her blurry vision as she hiccoughed and sniffled. “Miss Sparkle extracted my magical essence from the enchantment I placed on the necklace to frame Miss Dash. But left on its own, it would have dissipated, so she encased it in a sphere of her own solidified magic! “Neon took the orb, but then we were captured! I don't know what happened to it, but if she found it again after she escaped, she'd have had a sizable sample of Twilight's magic!” Applejack groaned irritably. “How does that help us?” “Another pony's magic cannot be faked,” Celestia said, her eyes staring off into and endless distance. “But if they had a sample, they could synthesize it with their own, and use Twilight's to mask their magic as hers. Depending on how much of Twilight's magic they had, they could easily make enough to create a duplicate...” “That's also why there's no trace of a teleport spell other than Twilight's own; they could have used the same technique to mask their magic teleporting her!” Shadow Charm shouted victoriously. He rushed over to Rainbow. “Rainbow Dash, listen to me,” he commanded sharply. “I need you to think, I have a theory, but we can prove it. Was Twilight wearing anything when this happened? Pyjamas or socks? Even a hat or ear rings?” Rainbow shook her head slowly, sniffling weakly but still refusing to let go of the shards. “No... no Twilight didn't wear anything like that, not usually.” “Think!” Shadow Charm pressured. “We can prove that she's alive. Did she have her saddlebags on?” “No... no she-” Rainbow paused, teary eyes growing wide as a silver glinting at the bottom of her vision caught her attention. “She was wearing something. I... I got her a necklace for her birthday, and she was wearing that when she disappeared. But what does that-” Celestia lit her horn, her lips pressed into a neutral line as she forcefully removed Rainbow Dash from the pile, taking Fluttershy with her over to where their friends were sitting. “Hey!” Rainbow shouted, struggling in the air. “I was-” “She's alive!” Everypony stared at Celestia, grinning like a maniac as tears poured down her cheeks. “Twilight Sparkle is alive!” Rarity blinked as Shadow Charm cried out victoriously, sharing Celestia's grin. “I can't be the only one confused, can I?” “Nope...” Applejack agreed. “I got no idea,” Pinkie added with a shrug. “It's simple!” Shadow Charm shouted excitedly. “If it was the Glass Statue curse, then anything not... well, Twilight, would have just fallen into the pile of shards! But she was wearing her necklace, and it's not here!” “Which means,” Celestia started, completely dropping her calm facade as she smiled widely. “It was a teleportation spell! That would have taken Twilight and anything she was wearing!” Rainbow cleared her nose with a loud sniffle. “You're saying-” “You were right!” Shadow Charm cheered. “You were right, and now that we know what happened it'll be easy to trace the teleport spell!” Celestia coughed into her hoof, still smiling as she wiped her relieved tears away. She turned, facing the five mares. “I believe an apology is in order,” she said slowly, bowing her head down. “I was too hasty in my judgement, and as a result failed to question deep enough into this case. If it weren't for you, I'd likely never know the truth.” Rainbow rubbed at her own eyes. “Hope's a dangerous thing, remember?” “I... am truly sorry, Rainbow Dash. When you live the life I do, it is painful enough to see ponies grow old and die, when you hope for their survival-” “It can hurt even more than accepting the death,” Rainbow finished. Celestia gave a small smile. “I see I am not the only one Luna has spoken to on the subject of hope.” “And here I thought you put her up to it,” Rainbow chuckled weakly. “Though for me it was many thousands of years ago,” Celestia admitted. She shared a genuine smile with Rainbow before turning to the nearest guard. “I want a squad of unicorn guards down here immediately, along with all the equipment needed to trace teleportation spells.” The guard saluted and ran out the door, taking to the air moments later and flying towards Canterlot. Shining Armour came out of nowhere and tackled Rainbow Dash into a fierce hug, squeezing her against his armour. “Thank you, Rainbow Dash,” he whispered, small rivulets of liquid rolling down his face. “If you hadn't done this, I don't know what I'd have done.” Rainbow chuckled awkwardly in the embrace. “Heh, no problem. We're not done yet though; Twi's still missing, and we need to find her.” Celestia nodded in agreement. “Yes. As soon as the equipment gets here we shall start tracing every teleport spell cast in this room until we find the one that isn't Twilight's.” Just as Rainbow finally wriggled out of Shining's embrace, she was tackled by her four friends into a group hug, all of them shedding relieved tears. “She might be missing,” Rarity started. “But she's alive,” Rarity finished. Even Pinkie remained unusually quite as gentle tears sprang from her eyes. “She's alive!” rainbow cried, holding her necklace close to her chest. “I'm comin' for ya, Twi.” she whispered. “Just a little longer; I'll be there soon.”