Chapter 1

        It was a clear, sunny day – only studded by enough clouds to provide the occasional spot of shade - and the pony walking along the road from the Far Pastures was thrilled. She knew this terrain; she'd walked it often enough with her friends. The dragon on her back perked up as they passed a particularly familiar spot.

        “Hey, Twilight, look! We're almost home!” He pointed towards the distinctly-shaped rock. “Oh man, I bet everybody's been worried sick! Pinkie's gonna throw the BIGGEST party after this!”

        The purple alicorn smiled at him. “You're probably right, Spike! Though I'm mostly just looking forwards to getting to sleep in my own bed for once!” The alicorn's mane and tail were disheveled – her usual brushing had been neglected during her travels.

        As she trotted into town, however, the happy smile slowly faded. The normally bustling shopfronts were closed and dark, and the sidewalk cafes that had catered to ponies until well after sunset were similarly deserted. The streets, teeming with ponies the last time she saw them, were deserted, and a prickling feeling on the back of her neck had her feeling edgy.

        “Where -is- everybody?” The dragon's voice made her jump, breaking the thick, watchful silence as it did.

        “I don't know, Spike.” Twilight Sparkle frowned. The buildings were, for the most part, undamaged, and there was no sign of upheaval – every pony was simply gone. Twilight walked down the main street of the town. “Hello? Is anypony here?” A movement in one of the darkened windows of a house caught her eye – but when she turned to look at it, there was no sign of anyone inside. She walked carefully over to the door of a house of one of the many pony's she'd met since arriving in town,  and rapped at it gently with one hoof.

        “Hello? Is anypony home?” She repeated the query a bit louder when there was no reply. From within, there was a soft sound, but the door didn't open, and after a few long moments, Twilight stepped back.

        “I think we'd better go look at the library, Twilight. I mean, we've been away a while, so maybe someone left a note there explaining what was happening?” Spike's voice quavered slightly, and Twilight's own stomach clenched sourly as his voice echoed in the still street. She nodded, still frowning.

        “I can't think what would have happened while we were gone that would lead to – well, this.” She waved a hoof at the empty town. “I mean, if there was something really bad, you'd think that everything would have been destroyed – but it's like everyone just left.” The sensation of being watched was growing stronger, and Twilight's steps grew faster in an ancient, unconscious response to it. They rounded the last corner, and found themselves standing in front of the library-tree.

        In front of the front door, there was a small table set up – and on it sat a large picture of Twilight herself. A candle burned – and sat amid the detritus of other candles, suggesting that it was changed often. Scattered around the table and nailed into the tree around the table were numerous pictures of Twilight and her friends, both her six best friends and the various other ponies she'd grown close to in her time in Ponyville. On each picture, the various ponies depicted in them had scribbled notes.

        Hope you're well, Twilight.

        Come back soon!

        We miss you.

        Please come back safe.

        Our thoughts are always with you.

        Twilight felt her eyes fill with tears. Even as whatever had happened here happened, someone had put up this memorial, and kept the candle burning in front of it. She looked around, desperately seeking some sign that someone – anyone! - was still here, but the sky, while bright and blue, was as empty as the streets. She galloped to the center of town, and shouted, “Please! Someone! It's Twilight Sparkle, I'm home!”

        Dead silence was her only response. Desperately, she ran over to the Carousel Boutique, knocking on the door – but the door was barred, and her hammering garnered no response from anyone inside. Sugarcube Corner was next, but it, too, appeared to be deserted. The sensation of being watched, however, grew stronger as she ran about – she could feel those eyes on her, staring at her from the shadows. She glanced around, staring wildly about – but she saw nobody.

        At a dead, panicked run, she galloped out to Sweet Apple Acres. Here, at least, it looked at a glance like nothing had changed – green apple-trees and lush red apples – but it was as deserted as the town. She ran to the barn – empty. The great big house, always open during the day, was deserted as well – and closed up tight. She ran up to the door, and kicked at it frantically with her front hooves.

        There was no response. Out here, the sensation of being watched wasn't so strong – but the silence was just as heavy. She launched herself into the air, still clumsy with her wings. Apart from the clouds drifting around in the sky, there was nothing in the sky – Rainbow Dash's cloudhouse was gone.  She flew back to the library, and landed clumsily in front of it. There had been no pegasi in the sky as she went, and she saw no movement at all. Her eyes went back to the memorial display, and sought out one particular picture – her sitting in a field, all six of her best friends around her – and her eyes filled with tears again.

        She could feel something watching her, but just now, she didn't care. “I wasn't...” The sob surprised her as it tore out of her throat. “There has to be some way to help...please...I can't have failed them all...” She wasn't sure who she was talking to, but she felt Spike slide off her back and hug her. He was saying something, but she couldn't make out what over her sobbing.

        As the purple alicorn cried, the wind shifted – and from a cloud overhead, a single cyan feather fluttered down.