Chapter Text
It was dark when Rarity finished working on the new gowns she had been asked to create for princess Luna and Celestia. They weren't due for another few nights but Rarity had wanted to make sure they were perfect and fit for the royal sisters to wear. She placed the last gem upon the dress and trotted a few steps backwards to examine her work, "perfect," she said, nodding with a relieved smile. Nothing quite satisfied her than a job well done. It wasn't until she heard rapid banging on the door before she realised how late it had gotten.
"Come in," she said moving towards the door to open it with her unicorn magic, "what can-" Rarity had little time to finish her sentence before Spike burst in, rushing past her and shutting the door swiftly behind himself.
"Sweet Celestia, are you alright, Spikey wikey?" Rarity asked with some concern. She noticed he seemed panicked and out of breath.
"I-" Spike began, trying to catch his breath, "vanished..."
"Who has?" Rarity questioned, "catch your breath and tell me what has happened."
Spike nodded only once before taking a deep breath in and then releasing it, "they have all vanished! Twilight was talking to the other princesses as you know, for the planning of Luna's surprise birthday party – but something happened."
Rarity's eyes widened as she took in what the baby dragon was talking about, "all of them? But how? Was it a spell gone wrong?" She questioned.
"I don't know," Spike admitted, "there was a bright light and then they were gone! I tried looking everywhere – but I couldn't find them!" He exclaimed.
Rarity frowned, "have you spoken to any of the others? Maybe one of them knows something we do not?" She questioned, trying to remain calm in an otherwise worrisome situation. The little dragon shook his head, "I came straight here, you were the first pony that came to mind." He admitted.
It was obvious to Rarity that he was holding back tears. She didn't want to panic him further but she was worried that some unknown enemy was behind this act. She wondered if Luna had vanished as well – but for the time being the most important thing on her mind was to find her friends to let them know what she had been told.
With Spike following just behind her, Rarity quickly made her way to Fluttershy's cottage. Pinkie Pie and Apple Jack were at the farm having a sleepover so Rarity knew where to find them, and Rainbow Dash was out of town doing some kind of business with the wonderbolts. They would need to send her a message as soon as possible, but for now, Rarity needed to talk to those closest to her.
Once at the cottage, Rarity gave the door a polite but rapid knock with her hoof and waited for Fluttershy to answer. She waited and waited and waited. It wasn't like the pegasus to ignore the door, "perhaps she isn't home?" Rarity said, mostly speaking to herself. She looked at Spike who shrugged his shoulders.
"It's unlike Fluttershy to be out in the dark, though," Spike said, seeming a little worried, "but maybe she's out helping some animals?" He asked though he didn't seem too sure of his own suggestion. Something did not feel right about the whole situation and he was sure that it was nothing good. "W-what should we do now?" He asked, his voice clearly shaking.
"Let us go and find Applejack and Pinkie Pie, they are at the farm so finding them should not be an issue. Maybe Fluttershy is there as well?" Rarity said with a hopeful tone. She wasn't sure what was going on, but she knew that staying calm was best in such a situation.
It took them a short while to reach Applejack's farmhouse and the sun had almost fully set. The full moon threatened to hide behind a dark cloud as an icy breeze blew down Rarity's back, sending a shiver down her spine. There were no lights on at the farm and it seemed unnaturally quiet. She reasoned with herself that it was just the same as always and that the lights would come on as soon as somepony realised how dark it was getting.