Captain Armor was dismayed about the situation that was presented to him, he was walking from one side to the other inside his office looking for a solution to the problem he had between hooves without finding a way out. On the other hand, the princesses were hesitant about the situation and how they should respond once they managed to find Twilight and recover the stolen item.
The search beforehand was being very discreet so that the other ponies would not find out but it was only a matter of time before the news reached the ears of the citizens and with it the uncertainty would explode. Back in Captain Armor's office, he was pulled out of his thoughts as they kept knocking insistently - Come in - he said somewhat curtly hoping to hear good news, the door opened showing a group of Pegasus guards who entered without wasting time to report what the patrols had found so far.
- At rest - he said with a big and deep voice that denoted some tension, the soldiers obeyed the order of his superior, they stopped saluting and only stood firm before him - Any news - he questioned, he was anxious to know what progress had been made so far - Sir - said one of them stepping forward - We have searched every corner of Canterlot and its surroundings but we have not found your sister, sir - we have not succeeded, there is no trace of her or the element - at the end of the sentence, the captain looked somewhat disappointed, his efforts to locate her had been unsuccessful, he did not want to lose his temper before his subordinates, he did not want to lose his temper before his subordinates, he looked somewhat disappointed, his efforts to locate her had been unsuccessful, we have been unsuccessful, there is no trace of her or the element - as he finished the sentence, the captain looked somewhat disappointed, his efforts to locate her had resulted in failure, he did not want to lose his temper before his subordinates, but the news he had been given did not encourage him much.
He put his helmets to his face, to calm down and think about the next step to be taken, he turned his back to the soldiers who just kept watching him behaving until another one of them broke the silence - Sir, that was until we received the report about an airship - after hearing this the captain turned around to see the 3 soldiers who were standing there looking at each other in a doubtful way.
- Repeat that soldier - demanded Armor - You just said that it was until they decided to check the airship, explain - the confusion before what he said had managed to capture his attention - Indeed sir - he began to say - we received a report of a patrol that was checking an airship at a considerable distance from Canterlot, the Olympia to be exact, this patrol would review the airship once it descended but apparently in the descent maneuver it had some complications - he commented.
- What kind of complications? - Captain Armor asked interested in this news - It seems that it was sabotaged - the soldier began to look for the folder where the report of this event was - As far as we know the state of the ship was optimal and its flight path was normal, also attached is a weather report of the areas where the ship would dock for unloading and loading of goods, which rules out any deliberate error by the weather brigades - the soldier gave the report folder to his superior so that he could read it with his own eyes.
- It says here that both the personnel and the material were unharmed - commented the captain when reading the report - Indeed sir, it was so - Armor closed the folder just to look his soldiers in the eyes - this seems to be a deliberate act of sabotage, did you find any clue about it or to say the reason for such action? - Asked the captain - Yes sir, we found evidence to that effect - commented another soldier - The airship was in optimal conditions as we have already informed before, none of the machines presents a failure due to the wear of hours of flight, in fact sir, the evidence that the patrol found to affirm that it was a deliberate sabotage was this one.
The Pegasus passed him a plastic bag containing the proof of the claim, Shining inspected it in detail while the soldier continued to relate how the evidence had been found - After controlling the situation the patrol proceeded to assess the damage along with the crew who in turn began to make the inventory of losses, incredibly it seems that the cargo was not damaged but there were several missing items that the crew assured us were stolen during the incident that almost destroyed the ship.
Is that all? - I ask - Yes sir, for now the patrol is combing the entire area to try to catch the person responsible, who we believe must still be hiding in the area - was what they answered - I know, you can leave now gentlemen, I will inform the princesses about this, the search for the primary target is of high priority above all, inform the patrol that they are in charge of solving the Olympia incident and that they will be alone in it, we can't waste resources in catching a simple thief - commented the captain while he carefully observed the plastic bag, inside it was a bag that Twilight's parents bought her when she started her first day as Princess Celestia's ward, a fact that the guards did not know and he would make sure to keep it like that until he talked to Princess Celestia.
Meanwhile in the mayor's office things seemed to be even more tense despite the silence that prevailed. It wasn't a good sign after hearing the story Applejack had told her, any other pony in her place would find it hard to believe what she had heard but the only difference between her and others was the fact that she knew each of them very well, none of them would be able to do the things the newspaper was touting and if she had to blame anyone for all of this it would certainly be Twilight Sparkle, the pony farmer only remained serious and avoided the mayor's gaze hoping that at least she would believe her and could solve the situation they were being subjected to without even listening to her version of the facts, Mayor Mare took a deep breath and then got up from her chair and began to walk towards the window of her room trying to find the right words to talk to her.
- I swear that everything I have said is the truth mayor, please believe me when I tell you that none of us would be capable of such an act against our friend, that is why I came to you to help us with this injustice we are being subjected to - Applejack's words showed part of her fear and anger at not knowing who else to turn to in case she decided not to believe you and even if she managed to get an audience with the princess she might not be of much help thanks to the news in the press.
- As much as I think about what you told me it is something I find impossible to believe given that she is Celestia's private student...however I know each and every one of you well enough not to believe your story. But you must also understand that this cannot be handled lightly because if you do something wrong the only ones affected will be you and your families, do you understand what I'm trying to say Applejack? - the farmer only nodded crestfallen at the words of the leader of the town who was still looking outside, the harmony and tranquility of her beautiful town had been overshadowed by the childish attitude of a unicorn that in her life had had everything easy.
- So that's it...isn't it, we must bend our hooves and endure all this thanks to that stupid mare who claimed to be our friend...damn the time I decided to accept her friendship - the earth pony's mood was full of sarcasm and anger as she thought about what she would do and how she would communicate it to the others when she caught up with them at the hospital but she was stopped by the mayoress who still kept that serious look on her face.
- I didn't say I wasn't going to do anything Applejack, at this moment in spite of all the anger you have I recommend you to keep it as it won't help you at all and the same goes for your friends as soon as you see them as that's what they want you to do, I will contact the newspaper to talk to them and I will talk to the people so they stop being influenced by external facts that are only causing problems...and as for your friend Fluttershy, you will have to keep her confined to her house since she will be the biggest problem you are going to have if you want to clear up this situation - the farmer just nodded as she said goodbye and walked out the door thinking about it, that Pegasus was going to be the one who would end up sinking them if she made another scene shouting that they deserved what was happening when that was completely false, somehow she had to make her understand that none of this was anyone's fault either by hook or by crook since her family wouldn't pay for the mistakes of that unicorn she once considered her friend.
In a similar way someone else was thinking along similar lines, to take their mind off the news about Twilight. Celestia had decided to walk through her garden, not only Shining Armor and Cadance felt guilty but Luna blamed her and the remaining 5 guardians even though she was absent in the main events, Celestia was smelling her roses remembering when she had brought her student to this place for the first time until she heard a familiar laughter, without wasting time she galloped to a specific area of the garden where a strange statue stood in a mocking pose.
Something inside her told her to be careful as she approached to examine it, she knew very well what she had heard as well as knowing the owner and that was what terrified her at this moment, she only lightly brushed the rock with her horn when a beam of light blinded her because of its intensity, This only made her get into a defensive pose while she charged her horn with magic only to get the shock of her life, before her was a chaotic panorama full of inconceivable shapes where her beloved ponies were fighting each other, the beautiful colors of their coats were now a cold dull tone. But what ended up disturbing her was hearing the laughter that now echoed throughout the place as a huge statue-like figure played with a pair of puppets that turned out to be Princess Luna and the rest of the guardians of the elements except for Twilight.
-This can't be happening, how is it possible that he is free! - doubts assailed her mind as she stepped back to avoid attracting his attention but she received a magical discharge that made her fall, with no chance to defend herself or get up until another magical charge immobilized her and lifted her up.
-Well, well, well, well, it seems we have visitors and it is none other than the great and powerful Princess Celestia, how long has it been since we last saw each other, ten or twelve maybe, who knows, it's hard to keep track in a place where time has no importance.
-I don't know who you are but if this is all your fault I swear you will receive your punishment," she exclaimed as she tried to free herself from the magical grip but it grew stronger to the point of almost cutting off her breath as a unicorn shrouded in shadows advanced towards her with a huge grin on her face.
-That is something I would like to see Celestia, because this world you see will soon be reality and the best of all is that you will not be able to do anything without feeling guilty, time is running out and I will return.
- What does that mean?! What do you mean, you're coming back?!
Before she could say anything it was all over, the chaotic scenery she had recently seen no longer existed and in its place was only the beautiful garden and the statue of the creature that remained in its immovable pose as if nothing had happened, It all seemed to have been a delirium caused by the stress of the problem she was now dealing with, or at least it would have been if it had not been for an insignificant detail that shook her and made her run inside the castle to order her guards to look for her sister and niece as soon as possible and take them to the war room. It didn't take long for the aforementioned to show up without knowing the reason for the insistence until she saw the serious and worried countenance which did not bode well.
- What is going on that you require our presence so quickly, sister, is it that there are already clues as to the whereabouts of your student and the item he took from the royal vault?
-I fear it is something worse sister, recently as I walked through the gardens to clear my mind I had a vision of an Equestria plunged into chaos as one of our old enemies stood victorious because of it, I fear it is quite possible Discord will be released from his prison.
-Don't talk nonsense Celestia, he will not be able to escape from that prison, he was locked up by the elements themselves and only they could free him, what makes you think he is capable of doing such a thing?
-Because his prison has begun to fracture and I fear that now that the elements are incomplete we will not be able to deal with him, it is vitally important to find Twilight and the element at all costs because apart from him. Another threat is about to emerge and he will team up with Discord to bring the vision I have had to fruition.
- Another threat, will Chrisalys and her changelings return?
-I'm afraid it's not her but someone else, someone full of resentment towards me whom I can't remember.
-That would be nothing new, if only you had fixed things at the time maybe we wouldn't have this predicament or maybe we would just have a problem to deal with.
-This is no time for reproaches Luna, we need to act or we will have a real problem in hulls that I doubt we can solve by ourselves, for now I want you to be in charge of leading the search together with Cadance and Shining Armor, I will go to Ponyville in the morning to try to get some information from the other guardians and if necessary bring them with me to help us with the search brigades, time is something we can't waste in silly fights.
The night had certainly been the most uncomfortable so far and the morning could do little to improve that, after saying goodbye to her sister. Celestia embarked towards the small town of Ponyville to try to find something that could help her avoid that vision of chaos to come true, as the wind brushed her mane she couldn't stop thinking about the words of the vision especially when she said that she wouldn't be able to stop it without feeling guilty, She couldn't find the meaning no matter how much she thought about it but she had to leave that for later when she began to see the small town in the distance, it wasn't long before the chariot landed in the town square and with it she realized the tension that was felt throughout the place for some strange reason, after spotting the mayor's office she headed with her elite guards to talk to the mayoress and perhaps find out a little about what was going on. After announcing her arrival she was immediately taken to the main office where she was apparently already waiting for her.
-My apologies for arriving without properly announcing myself mayor, but there is a matter of vital importance which has forced me to do it this way and I wish you could help me with it.
- Yes Princess Celestia, I understand but it will be after we talk about what happened in Ponyville because of the newspapers which I no longer allow their sale in town and what it has generated with the reputation of the girls.
- It is a very interesting subject but I think we can deal with it later, I will even proceed to severely punish those newspapers in Canterlot and talk to everyone in town to clear up the misunderstandings.
-No princess, I'm afraid this is something more urgent than what you can tell me, why don't you take a walk around the village and see for yourself, so you can tell me if it warrants your intervention or not...unless the topic of conversation is about Twilight of whom we know nothing and we don't know her whereabouts although maybe one of the girls knows something, of course, if they haven't left here yet.
- What do you mean by that, Mayor, why would the girls leave town? it's absurd - the only answer she got was the mayor's helmet pointing towards one of the tables in the room where there was a newspaper with a series of headlines hard to believe for her, the guardian of loyalty was wanted for stealing infants from the town's orphanage, The guardian of kindness had tried to take her own life and not satisfied with that she had self-injured her wings trying to mutilate herself, without a doubt things were taking a strange turn and without saying goodbye she set out to look for the girls to try to understand what was going on.
The first one she visited was Pinkie Pie since she was the closest and she could see how the atmosphere changed in the place, she no longer felt the joy of before and what she saw left her speechless since she was not the Pinkie Pie she had known. Celestia met a pink pony with straight hair that she could see from the window talking to herself and was received reluctantly, at first she thought she was part of the influence that was escaping from Discord's prison but after talking for a while she realized that it had nothing to do with her.
- Pinkie Pie, what has happened to you, everything about you is the opposite of when I first saw you and even the cheerfulness of this place has changed to be more hostile.
- That happens when you distrust the word of a friend you can lose her forever as it happened with Twilight - Pinkie immediately takes a knife and approaches Celestia in a threatening way - We have all changed Princess, you have no idea how the five of us have changed since Twilight escaped from Canterlot.
Celestia was just waiting to be stabbed by Pinkie, she even had her horn glowing in case she tried and that was when she received a slice of cake from her, which was hidden behind the pink pony and before things escalated she made the decision to leave.
- Princess if you plan to visit Flutershy I suggest you go to the Ponyville hospital and be prepared, you won't like how you will see her and AppleJack's new attitude, Rarity and Raimbow are no longer in Ponyville!
After hearing the energetic cry of the pony she decided to pass by Flutershy's house, the place was abandoned looking like a tomb, it was full of flowers and animals crying in front of it as if they had had a loss from which they could not recover, Celestia could not do anything but feel bad for the scene she could see in the place, she went to Sweet Apple Acres hoping to find the guardian of the element of trust but when she arrived she did not find AppleJack but her sister sitting in a corner crying.
- Hi, AppleBloom right, is your sister here?
- No Princess Celestia, she is in the medical center taking care of Flutershy, I... I still don't understand what happened to her, maybe an animal attacked her and...and... - Everything will be fine little one, don't worry - I was telling her in the sweetest way trying to calm her down until I noticed a series of bandages on her body which intrigued her - But that's not all, I heard my family talking about sending me away from town because of the problem that happened at school, AppleJack doesn't want me to be hurt again, but I don't want to be away from my family now that I lost my friends because of the same thing.
- Please tell me what happened, I promise I will help you in every way possible to keep you from leaving your family - the little filly began to cry for it while being comforted by the princess who could not believe what was happening in the village.
- You see you Princess - she started a little bit relieved - it all started with two different things one of them good and the other bad, new classmates started to arrive at school and my friends and I wanted them to be part of our group but that same day the Canterlot newspapers arrived and Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon took advantage of the news to prevent us from making new friends. Scootaloo snatched the newspaper and we were surprised to read the news, time passed and we could not be friends with the new students and those we already knew began to avoid and ignore us, everyone said "They can betray us as their sisters betrayed the unicorn of the news".
-That was too unfair and premeditated, the girls never did such a thing," replied Celestia, surprised at the way they were treating the subject.
- The arguments between foals sometimes end up this way Sweetie Belle and I were the ones who got hurt the most. Scootaloo was the only one who had time to defend herself so the bullies did not get away unscathed from the blows and that was when the three of us were removed from the school, to protect Sweetie Belle. Rarity along with her parents moved out of Ponyville yesterday, they didn't tell me where. In the same way Raimbow Dash took Scootaloo with her by sneaking her out of her orphanage and now they think she kidnapped her and today I got the letter where my cousins from Appleloosa approved me to move with them and they even found me a place at school, tell me Princess, is this one of the consequences of what happens when a family member betrays a friend, is it fair that my friends and I went through all this when it was our sisters who betrayed Twilight?
Celestia drew AppleBloom to her while she pampered her and healed her wounds, so that she could leave for Appleloosa temporarily while she fixed the problems that now existed in ponyville and that were imperative to be solved.
-Ready AppleBloom, I need you to be strong while this is being fixed but first I'd like to know if you know anything else, anything you can remember.
- I'm sorry princess Celestia, I don't know anything more than rumors but I can tell you that after what happened at school and after seeing the news we went to Flutershy's house and it was like a house of horror, there was blood everywhere and Raimbow Dash was trying to revive her, he sent us to look for Zecora on the way we met AppleJack when we arrived with Zecora my sister didn't want to give us details of anything but she sent us to call my brother with a cart to take Flutershy to the hospital, We could only hear the ponies talking in secret from our sisters and us, AppleJack took a detour on the way and went to another place, when we arrived at the hospital the doctors didn't waste time and quickly admitted her, maybe they thought badly of her but she is a patient anyway. I don't know what they said exactly, I don't even think we didn't listen to them because it seemed to me that they called her "the Flutershy pegasus of Cloudsdale, she broke her own wings" but it can't be true, Flutershy wouldn't be able to do something like that...as a consequence they all changed and they are not like before, my sister...I think she is wishing Twilight to be arrested...but I know that deep down she doesn't want that, I swear that is all I know...It was a pleasure to see you Princess - Things had definitely gotten out of control in the village and although it could be an exaggeration something told him that all this was part of a bigger plan for Discord's return, but he still had to talk to the other guardians that still remained in the village and thus know more about the matter, directing now his steps towards the hospital.
Upon arriving at the hospital Celestia asked to be taken to Flutershy but the doctors did not agree with her request due to the critical condition she still presented while they were still thinking about what could have led her to commit the act that brought her there in that state, but at Celestia's insistence they took her to the bedroom where only AppleJack was, who received her with a somewhat forced bow.
- Excuse me for not acting as I should but I think you know how things are in the village or you wouldn't be in front of me, if you come to claim something or ask for my help you are wasting your time, I'm not interested in anything that has to do with that selfish girl - she said and then turned her back to him and continued in her position while she saw the unconscious Pegasus, Celestia could see AppleJack's cold pose as a shield against the problems she had to face alone to prevent her whole world from collapsing, "so strong but so fragile" is what she said to herself while she saw her taking care of her friend.
- You are right to take that attitude AppleJack but I would like you to listen to me please, I know you have a lot on your mind and that you must protect your family and friends above all...I would do it too, I know Twilight has made mistakes and this one mainly has cost more than I would have imagined...I do not blame you, I do not have to and that is something she should see for the damage she has caused you...I would like to solve all of this...
- P-Princess...Celestia? - It was Flutershy who was just waking up - P-Princess...tell me you found my friend, I...I must apologize...I must tell her that I'm sorry I didn't trust her - She said with a weak voice and cracked by the effects of the anesthesia - AppleJack...I'm sorry...I just want to apologize to my friend...Rarity and Raimbow will be back...Pinkie will be back to her old self...everything will be fine...n - she said before falling asleep again.
-Everything will be fine...nothing will be fine and nothing will be as it was before after this...I don't think we have anything else to talk about princess, just...I don't want to know anything for now, please...
The Princess said nothing more and just prepared for her return to Canterlot as she psyched up what she would do once she arrived at the palace to try to clear the name of the bearers. "Two guardians left Ponyville, two had a big change in their personality and another guardian took the paw of death, what could all that mean for Equestria," she said to herself remembering the words of that shadow pony which seemed to make sense now.
Two days before Celestia's arrival in town, things had become more hostile than usual, which led two of the bearers to take action to protect what was most important to them.
- Sweetie honey get your things together we will get you out of both this class and school, anyway you know the four of us are moving tomorrow and it is the only way to keep you and your sister from being bothered in this town anymore.
- But gentlemen, don't you think you are taking it lightly by running away from problems, it doesn't really solve them and as Sweetie's teacher it is up to me to look after her and see to her well being.
- Well, she doesn't seem to be doing her job, or aren't the blows to our daughter obvious? - I'm sorry I can't keep an eye on all of you all the time, I'm sorry you have those injuries, I really am. But running away from problems doesn't solve them anyway.
- You're ready honey we have to go pack and our destination is something you can't divulge, we're not going back to Ponyville so if you want to yell at everyone here do it.
Sweetie Belle turned to the class - Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon this is all your fault, I was so happy in this place and you two had to ruin it all - With that said she left with her parents to go home. An hour later the principal arrived to pick up Scootaloo with the same intention of preventing her from returning to school.
- Miss Cherelee I don't want to hear any excuses from you, my precious Scootaloo can't stay one more minute in this violent school where she is only assaulted out of ignorance, pick up your things sweetie we are leaving.
- But Miss Bunny Pearl...
- No buts, get your things right now, we have to leave here as soon as possible.
Apple Bloom knew she would be next so she gathered all her things before she was asked, finally Big Machintosh arrived at the end of class to pick her up.
- Apple Bloom sis, Grandma Smith and I have decided to withdraw you from school for now, you will be at home until our family in Appleloosa responds to the letter we sent yesterday so you can study there.
- But Big can't send your sister away, please let me try to fix this - Miss Cherelee begged him but to no avail.
- I am very sorry Miss Cherelee but it has been decided, at home you can no longer receive the mistreatment you received, say goodbye Apple Bloom.
- Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon as Sweetie Belle said all this is your fault I hope you are already satisfied your bullying acts got out of hand this time, if I were a violent pony I would leave them well beaten - he finished saying and then went home in the company of his brother while the alluded ones did not know how to hide because of the embarrassment of the moment.
At Sweetie Belle's house was already Rarity with her things in a cart and with her Boutique closed forever with the windows and doors boarded up, once packed the parents did the same at home and left for the train station where they would head to their new destination in Philadelphia, From that point they walked half way to Manehattan where their beach house was located that most ponies did not know about.
In the night at Miss Bunny Pearl's orphanage, Raimbow Dash sneaked inside, waking only Scootaloo.
- Scoot it's me Dash, I've come for you sister since I'm also moving and I want to take you to our new home, the two of us will live together - Scootaloo didn't think twice, knowing that she would live in the same house as Raimbow Dash was a dream come true and deep down she was sorry to have to leave Ponyville, but she took her things and scooter to leave with Dash being careful that Pearl didn't hear her leave.
Sweetie Belle and Rarity had already left, when Dash arrived at the station she did not know the place and they did not wait for them so they decided to go to another place even further away if necessary, on the map she checked and made the decision to go to Yanhooyer, so the 2 left without knowing what fate had in store for them since by ironies of life, that was the same town where Twilight was now.
I apologize for taking so long to publish a new chapter, who would have thought it would take a little more than a year, if it seems short it is because it is too long and I have to divide it in two or three parts.
As always I give half credit for this chapter to Ghostbell777