F3: Welcome back everybody hope you all enjoyed my other stories because I got another story for you. This'll still be part of my Moonverse so bare with me.
Pinkie: Bear! Where?
F3: Not that kind of bear Pinkie. Any who enjoy. I'm Fireuser3 and I'll see you at the finish line.
Chapter 1: On The Road.
Once the girls got home to Ponyville they have to get ready for a long road ahead of them. Since the comet won't be in Equestria's orbit in about two months so they'll have plenty of time to gather info about Papilla's whereabouts.
Trixie made her way to her home/library she began gathering maps to other locations all around Equestria just in case they got lost which was very possibly a possibility.
"Guess it's going to be a long adventure if we're going to capture Papilla." Trixie said as she put the maps into her saddlebag as Spike began to get nervous.
"I don't know about this Trix you sure you want to go now after you got back from the party." Spike said concerned.
"If we let this settle there's no doubt that she'll make another attempt to steal other ponies love and with the comet only two months off we can't take any chances." Trixie added as she checked her supplies.
"I know just make sure you girls come back alive." Spike said with obvious concern.
Trixie turned smiling at him and gave him a hug "Hey I'll be back before you know it okay." Trixie comforted.
Letting him go she said goodbye to Spike and Halyn leaving the library with her saddlebag full of maps and other supplies in tow. She headed toward the train station to wait on her friends, but it seems like they haven't arrived yet so she pondered about the fight with Papilla about how she didn't dodge the blast they hit her with.
"Lightning did have a point. It seemed too easy, and why would take it head on like she did?" She asked aloud to nopony.
"But if she knew it would hurt her why didn't she fly away. More importantly who prevented her from doing so?" Trixie pondered replaying that same event over and over in her mind ever since Lightning brought it up.
Ten minutes later the rest of the girls arrived one by one until all of them have arrived.
"I see that everypony is here now." Trixie replied.
"Yeah were all here and accounted for." Lightning said.
"Pen and Emerald are over at Rarity's. Though I hope she'll be able to handle three little fillies on her own." Cheerliee said a little worried.
"We can't take them with us. We'll be worrying about them and it would put both of them in danger." Sunset replied her own worry just as evident.
"I know but I do worry sometimes." Cheerliee replied.
"The soon we get this done the quicker we get back here and hopefully with Papilla in tow." Rainbow added pounding one hoof into another.
"Then why are we standing around for. Let's depart." Coco replied
"And I might have a spot where we can start gather information." She added with a smile as they paid for the tickets and got on the train and departed to their first destination.
When on the train Trixie brought out a map of Equestria and a map of the Forgotten Realms she grabbed back at the Library.
"Okay Coco where is this location that you have in mind?" Lightning Dust questioned looking at the maps Trixie brought out.
Coco then examined the maps carefully and eventually found the location.
"Right here." She pointed out a spot on the map almost right at the border of Equestria and Forgotten Realms.
Trixie examined the spot where she pointed toward "Galrovia? Never heard of that place." Trixie added.
"It's a small town just on the borders of Equestria and the Forgotten Realms." Coco replied.
"How do you know that?" Sunset questioned.
"Because Galrovia is also Rarity's hometown before she came to Ponyville." She answered.
"She said that the town really looks after their own and are quite friendly plus we could find something about where her hideout could be at." Coco added.
"Well then I guess that's where we're heading first then because it'll take a while to get there." Lightning Dust replied.
As the hours ticked away the day quickly became night the girls were asleep expect for Coco who was looking out one of the windows star gazing.
"You still amaze me with your stars Luna. I hope you have a great rest." She thought moving away from window from the bed she was in but before she went to sleep she noticed Trixie tossing and turning in her sleep with a look of distress on her face and sweating from her face.
Coco hopped off her bed and went over to Trixie trying to wake her up "Um… Trixie?" She questioned with concern tapping her hoof on Trixie's shoulder.
Trixie's eyes shot open as she yelped and sprung from her bed causing Coco to jump back as well.
Trixie was breathing fast and heavy trying to calm herself down "It's only me Trixie." Coco responded.
She looked where Coco was and immediately calmed herself "Sorry about that Coco you scared me." Trixie replied.
"I scare you. Now that's a first." She retorted but under closer inspection of her friend she noticed that bags were beginning to form under her eyes
"Trixie are you okay?" Coco questioned worried.
Trixie took a deep breath "No I'm not okay." She answered climbing back on the bed
"Is it nightmares again?" Coco questioned already knowing the answer.
Trixie nodded "Why didn't you tell us that you were having nightmare? We could've helped." Coco lectured but still with concern.
"I didn't want you girls to worry." Trixie says worry and guilt apparent in her voice.
"But you know we will. We almost lost you once when the Tantabus captured you and that won't happen again." Coco said reassuring her azure friend.
"We're your friends so if there is something bothering you don't be afraid to talk about your problems." Coco added.
That brought a soft smile to Trixie's face "Thanks Coco." She smiled.
A loud snore interrupted them and look toward Lightning's bed seeing the Pegasus sleeping on her back giving out another snore before rolling on her stomach, curled herself in a ball like a cat would and began sucking her hoof like a foal would.
Trixie held back a laugh so she didn't wake anypony up while Coco let out a silent 'aw' seeing Lightning so adorable in her position.
Trixie and Coco glanced to each other "I won't say anything if you won't." Coco whispered.
"Deal." Trixie agreed as they both proceed back to sleep.
The morning came as Celestia's sun shined bright waking the girls from there slumber. Sunset was the first to wake up fully and noticed that the train had stopped.
"Um girls you may want to get up." Sunset replied getting all their attention as they noticed the same thing.
"Hey why'd we stop?" Rainbow questioned.
"Maybe we can find out from the conductor." Cheerliee said as they exited the bed quarters of the train.
They spotted to the conductor talking to what looked like construction ponies.
"Pardon me but why'd we stop. Is there a problem with the train?" Lightning asked.
"It's not the train it's what's on the tracks." The conductor said pointing out on the tracks that a large amount of rocks and boulders were blocking the tracks.
"We can't go on until the tracks are cleared so they had to divert us to another station and stop trains from leaving." The conductor explained.
"How long is it going to take till it's cleared?" Trixie asked.
"About three days at best." He answered.
Without any other option the girls get off at the station where the train was stationed.
"Any idea where we are Trixie?" Rainbow asked while Trixie brought out one of her maps.
"Let's see…" She began skimming through the map until finding where they are as Sunset was starting to smile seeing some familiar sights to her.
"It's looks like we are in…" Trixie began but couldn't finish.
"Vanhoover." Sunset said looking on in awe.
"Vanhoover?" Lightning questioned then realized what she said.
"Wait a minute isn't this place…" Lightning began as Sunset nods.
"Home. This is my hometown." Sunset finished.
The town itself was bigger than Ponyville but smaller than Canterlot with rustic brick houses with wooden roofs on all the houses. Unlike Ponyville that had a town hall Vanhoover didn't but had a community center to help young fillies and colts and it doubled as a school house as well. There's also an outdoor market where ponies would by fresh fruits from all around Equestria.
Sunset smile the air feeling home again "This place hasn't changed a bit." Sunset said in awe.
"Wow Sunset this place is amazing, and this was your home." Rainbow added with admiration.
"Yep I was born here and raised here when I was younger. Would you girls like a tour?" Sunset offered.
"We would love a tour Sunset." Cheerliee smiled.
"Alright then follow me." Sunset said leading them through town.
As they went through town other ponies began to notice them "Wow didn't think we catch the pony's attention." Rainbow began.
Sunset chuckles "Oh you think that there only ponies here. Look around you'll be quite surprised." Sunset suggested.
The girls did and immediately they noticed an older unicorn mare being helped by a male caribou with medium size antlers carrying some groceries for the older mare. They looked toward the skies and noticed a Pegasus stallion putting a cloud in place with his female griffin partner. But what really got them noticing was an earth pony mare and a medium size male dragon with black scales carrying supplies for a project.
"Caribou, griffin, and dragon living in a pony occupied town that's… that's…" Trixie was speechless
"Pretty cool huh." Sunset added.
"You haven't seen anything yet. But what'd think girls?" Sunset asked.
"I have to give to yah Sunset this place is amazing." Rainbow commented.
"Quite roomy and the diversity is quite a sight to behold." Cheerliee added.
"Yep that's Vanhoover for yah." Sunset said.
Lightning noticed a bush heading their direction.
"Huh?" she pondered while the bush was moving closer.
"Uh Sunset was that bush over there?" Lightning asked pointing toward it as it stopped in place.
Sunset looked behind her to see the bush was unmoving "Uh yah why?" Sunset asked turning back to face her.
"Cause I could've sworn that it moved." Lightning replied.
The bush started moving toward them again before stopping "There it goes again!" She replied.
This time Sunset looked directly at it and noticed a bit two toned green mane sticking out of the side of the bush. "Wait a minute. There's only one pony I know with that color." Sunset thought then giggled knowing very well who the pony is.
"Okay Lemon Zest come out from the bush." Sunset said playfully.
"Huh?" The rest of the girls questioned. Not long did said pony came out of the bush in full view.
The pony is an earth pony mare with light grayish amaranth coat and light brilliant amber eyes that had grayish arctic blue eyeshadow. Her cutiemark are slices of lemons in a row. Her mane and tail are two toned green with dark green stripes down them. She is also carrying around a pink head set around her neck.
"Come on Shimmy I just wanted to say hi to you." Lemon whined.
"Yah I know, but… WHAA!" Before she finished she received a tackle from Lemon which was her way of giving her a hug.
"It's great to see again Shimmy." Lemon said
"Yeah it's great to see you too." Sunset said getting up from the hug but before she could say anything else more voices rang out.
"There you are running off like that you have to warn us when you…" The voice sounded almost like Rarity but with more of an authority like tone. Sunset looked up and noticed four sets of eyes from four other ponies looking at her and the girls.
The first is a Pegasus mare with light turquoise coat and mulberry with light raspberry streaked mane that was neatly cut just above the eyes. She also had moderate cerise colored eyes with dark indigo eyeshadow staring wide eyed at Sunset.
The next is also a Pegasus but seemed like Coco's height. She light amber grey coat that went with the dark conflower blue mane that had moderate cerulean and arctic blue streaks that draped over her brilliant gamboge eyes. The Pegasus cutiemark is a dark navy blue flower with a light blue lightning bolt shooting out of it.
The pony next to her is a unicorn mare and tail with light phthalo bluish grey coat and light opal gray mane with light arctic gray streaks tied into two separate long ponytails. She also had grayish orchid colored eyes. Her cutiemark is that of a pair of magenta-colored lips for some reason. She was standing near the second Pegasus.
Finally the pony standing behind Lemon is a unicorn mare with pale grayish gold coat with moderate rose mane with light rose and aquamarine colored streak down the center of her mane and tail. She has moderate indigo colored eyes which are complemented by the aquamarine colored eyeshadow she has on. Her cutiemark is that of three berries surrounded by green leaves.
Lemon Zest rubbed the back of her head "Sorry Flare's just that I noticed Sunset over hear I just had to say hello." Lemon announced.
"But next time don't just run off like that." She scorned.
Sunset looked at the pegasus "Is that you Sunny Flare?" She questioned.
"I'm surprised you remember me after so long." Sunny answered.
"Uh Sunset who are they?" Rainbow questioned.
"Oh right girls these are my friends before I moved to Ponyville." Sunset said.
"Let me introduce Lemon Zest." She began as Lemon waved to them.
"That's Sunny Flare." Pointing toward the first pegasus
"Hello dears." She introduced.
"The one behind her is Indigo Zap." She pointed toward the other pegasus hiding behind Sunny Flare.
"Then there's Sugercoat and Sour Sweet." She said pointing toward the two unicorns.
"Well Sunset these must be your friends that you've written us about and I must say they seem like a lively bunch." Sugercoat mentioned.
"Then we don't have waste introducing ourselves then at least." Lightning added.
Sunset giggled then a thought came to her head "Might as well ask them about that." Sunset thought then turned toward them.
"Hey girls have you spotted anything out of the ordinary around here?" Sunset asked.
The five pondered till Indigo Zap spoke up "Well... there was that black bug that came through town not too long ago." She said.
"Black bug?" Cheerliee questioned.
Indigo nodded "Yeah it looked really creepy from a distance."
"A changeling. It's got to be." Coco added as Indigo and the others were giving them questioning looks.
"A what now?" Lemon Zest questioned.
Trixie sighed "Guess we'll have to explain."
After about ten minutes of explaining about what occured two weeks back before they began their journy.
"Well... that explains somethings." Sunny Flare began.
"Ever since that; changeling you called came through the towns been getting robbed by something unknown but we don't know since it only appears during the night." She explained.
"You think it's a changeling stealing from the town." Rainbow added.
"It might be what you described." Lemon Zest confirmed.
"Then prehaps we can help capture it before it terrorizes the town again." Sunset added.
"And it might tell us how to get to Papilla's home." Cheerliee added.
"Then what are we waiting for we got to prep for the night." Sour Sweet added.
With that being said the girls raced off hopefully to catch the changeling before it gets away from them and able to find more information about where to find the changelings home.
F3: Well that finishes that chapter of this story.
Pinkie: Hopefully they do find that meanie changeling.
F3: Who says it's a changeling that they'll encounter.
Pinkie: But you said... Ohhh.
F3: I'm Fireuser3. Blazing Out.