Chapter III: No Place Like Home

Starlight Glimmer (Present)

"I've flown over the entire market three times and no sign of this hot chocolate place," Dash says as she lands in front of me. She asks me if I was sure I saw her enter it. I nod telling her that I even pointed out it to her. "Okay, I'm going to get some help and do another flyby," she says taking off again.

"I should never have left her out of my sight," I paced back and forth trying to relax but my mind was racing. Who could have taken her and why? Was it Chrysalis coming to get to revenge? Or... Applejack slaps me in the face to bring back to reality. "Thanks," she nods and says we need to expand our search.

"Twi often comes here when she needs to unwind," AJ says as we arrive at the bookshop. "I am going to check the nonfiction section. You take the fiction aisle. We'll meet back her in about an hour."

"Let's see if I were Twilight where would I be," I look at the long rows of books. Twi loves a good adventure story." I see the display for the new Daring Do book. "Bing..," I frown as she not here. "I could have sworn she would be here."

I ask a clerk if he's seen Twilight, "I am afraid not but I will keep an eye out for her," he says as I thank him and teleport back to the front of the store.

Twilight Velvet (Past)

"Goodness what happened?" I ask as Night, Armor, and Cadence come into the house. Shining Armor had his sister on his back. Her coat was covering in a black slime. He looks to his father and says he and Cadence went off to have some fun and Twilight followed them and got lost.

"I am so sorry about this mom...," I tell him it's okay as I gently take the filly from him and carry upstairs. I tell him it's all right and the important thing is that they're safe. I tuck her in bed and kiss her forehead. "How long will be asleep?" he asks worriedly. I tell him it depends on how long she was exposed to the slumberslime. "How did you know it's slumberslime?"

"I was a Filly Guide when I was little. I got a merit badge for naming the dangers of the forest," I assure him that Twilight will be fine and there was no harm done. "Why don't you and Cadence help your father get the Hearth's Warming decorations from the attic."

"Okay but tell me when she wakes up," he says before racing down the stairs to help his father.

Ocellus (Present)

"Are you sure about this," I asked as we approached headmare Twilight's personal office. Gallus tells me that if there is any proof of what's going on it will be in here. He slowly opens the door and motions for me to go first. I change into Professor Applejack and slowly walk inside. "Hello is anyone here?" I call out but there is only silence. I signal the others to come in.

"Just what are we looking for anyway?" Smolder asks as she flies around looking at the items in the room. Gallus said that something is fishy is going on with our teachers and they might need our help. "They've taken on the worst of the worst. I don't think they need us."

"Look at this," Sandbar points to the wall. Plastered on it were postcards from different places. He takes one and removes it. "It's from Starswirl the Bearded." he read the note the wizard wrote to her. It was about his travels around Equestria.

"Someone's coming!" Silverstream says as we scramble into a closet to hide. She looks out through a crack and watches as Angel hops in the room. He looks around as his ears scan the room.

"Wha...," Yona began to say as she felt a tickle in her nose. Gallus places a hand over her snout to stop her from sneezing. A moment later Silverstream gives the signal that Angel left the room. "That was..." she lets out a great sneeze.

"I don't think he heard that," Smolder says as we continue our search.

Cadence (Age 15)

"Auntie Tia has same ornament," I tell Shining taking out a gold snowflake from a box. "It was always my favorite growing up." He says that he saw it once in Celestia's office at her school when he went to pick up Twilight. "If I recall correctly, Starswirl made it for her when she was little," his eyes grew wide at that and ask if Aunt Tia talked about him often. "Not really at least not when I'm around."

"Look at this," I hear Night Light call out as we raced over to him. In his hoof was a little Hearth's Warming doll. "It's Twilight's first Hearth's Warming doll. Your mom had this made shortly after Twily was born. If I remember you were upset because her doll was in 'your place' on the mantle."

Armor blushes saying he was a colt back then and admits at first he was jealous of Twi. "I don't think I've ever seen you jealous Shining." I tease him as he giggles awkwardly. "I've seen you protective, proud but never jealous. Not even when Spearhead beat you as top of the class."

"Well," was all that came out of him as we giggled. "Hey look at this! I made this ornament when I was eight." He picks up a small ornament of Santa Hooves. Night Light explains he got a A+ for it in art class. I smile thinking of Shining Armor the artist. "I was pretty talented and was going to be artist if I didn't get accepted at the academy."

Fluttershy (Present)

"Are you sure you heard something in Twilight's office," I ask Angel as he leads me down the hall. "I don't...," I begin to say when Discord appears in front of me and wishes me a happy Hearth's Warming. He looks at me asking why I didn't return the greeting. "You just took me by surprise is all."

"Are you still coming over my place later?" he asks as a makes a sweater appear on him. "You get to hear about I wanted a BB gun as a kid but never got one," he says making a sad face. I tell him that as soon as I am done here. "Oh goodie," he says and disappears.

I walk into Twilight's office. One of Starswirl's postcards were lying on the floor. "It's from Vanhoover," I say looking at the picture on the front. I gently pin the card up again before continuing my search. Her closet was opened. Twilight never leaves it open. Angel hops inside and points to the door. There were marks on it like claws. "Why would come in here. We better get back and tell Rarity about this."

Twilight Sparkle (Age 6)

"Somepony help!" I scream as I look around and see that I am home. "What happened?" the last thing I remember was being pulled in the disgusting slime and then everything was dark.

"I would like to know the same thing Ms. Sparkle," mom's voice asks as she come into the room. "Your brother and Cadence said you were looking for a Zebra." I remember now I was going to see Zecora and ask her about this whole time travel business. I look at mom sheepishly. "I have a warm bathing waiting for you," she says helping me out of bed.

I walk into the bathroom looking at my face in the mirror. My mane was a mess and splotches of black goo were stuck in it. "I'm a mess," I exclaim before jumping in the tub. Mom nods and says that's what happens when you wonder in the forest. I wanted to tell her that I wasn't wondering and was looking for Zecora but like everypony else she wouldn't believe me.

"Oh my Twilight what am I going to do with you," mom says handing me wash cloth. My mind soon drifted away from time travel and zebras as the warm water eased my sore body and relaxed. "I sent your letter to Santa Hooves? He said that he'll try to find an ancient map of Canterlot." she says as I wash the slime out of my mane.

"They have it in the antique shop in the city," I tell her. "I heard the owner said it might have been owned by Starswirl himself." Mom smiles and says that Santa told her that I will have a very happy Hearth's Warming regardless. "I have no doubt."