Ghost from the Machine: Friendship from Nothing

The Ups and Downs

"A little while ago, my teacher and mentor Princess Celestia sent me to live in Ponyville. She sent me to study friendship, which I didn't really care much about. But now, on a day like today, I can honestly say I wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for the friendships I've made with all of you. Each one of you taught me something about friendship, and for that, I will always be grateful. Today, I consider myself the luckiest pony in Equestria. Thank you, friends. Thank you, everypony!"

—Princess 'Twilight Sparkle’, day of ascension. Ponyville

Well, I’m next right? But... I have no idea where to start. Or tell, I mean. I have told you everything about me—I think? There could be more. Not that I was in the best mind set... sorry about that by the way.

I have told you of my time in Ponyville. Meeting my friends. Of when I decided to stay. The things we did. The evil's we faced. The lessons we learned. Or should I say I was made to learn, it seemed that I was everything that mattered, right? Too convenient and peculiar. So many signs of something wrong and strange but I didn’t care for them, not once. Especially when I was a princess. The princess of Friendship. Heh.

Heh, pathetic right? Like if those times of me being princess were mine to begin with. But what else could I do? I had nothing! Only to just... be.

Just… watch... sorry, I tangented again, he-he.

.̵̣̯͇̞̞̬͆͆͗̍ͅ.͚̯̫ͥ̽̂͌̏͑.̯̰͙ͨ͐ͤ̏́̚

Well, I was a princess when I was told of the meeting. Would you believe me if I told you I wasn’t sure what it meant? I knew there was something wrong, but… I didn't suspect a thing. I would have done better if I were not so blind. Sorry, 'me', I always get those confused.

...

I was in thought most of the time, actually— Hey! Maybe I can tell a story from there. I remember it perfectly. Especially when Spike couldn’t keep me out of my thoughts all day.

Canterlot Castle. Dusk.

“Twilight…”

“Hmm.”

“Twilight.”

“Hmm?”

“Twilight!”

“What?!”

“Aren’t you going to answer?” Spike asked with confusion all over his face, hints of frustration lingered there as well.

“Wait, what was the question?” I asked, and at my response Spike smacked his claw to his face.

I was distracted in thought of everything, still trying to believe it wasn’t a dream at the time. Not even a month had transpired where worries came from day to day lists ‘one’ and ‘two’ and the weekly friendship report, but then I had to worry about all of Equestria. Well, not really but— oh just pass it off Twilight.

I got to do so much now, I could change things that I found wrong and I had word and power to carry it through, I was with no limitation on what I could do and who I could do it with.

But not really.

Being the newest princess of Equestria, Friendshio should not be taken lightly, was not what everypony paints it to be, when it comes to the royal duties of course. Events and meetings were needed every occasion somepony important did anything, and I needed to meet new ponies that partake in high society; taking in influence and acknowledgement from all. It was not as hard as it would have been without the help of my friends. Spike was knowledgeable of the activities, to my surprise at the time. Only now I understand how much influence he had in those things.

And thinking of my friends, they were happy for my ascension to royalty, or some claim to be, Rarity was especially too obvious of what she felt, she wasn’t a good liar, but I wasn’t good at detecting it either. But as long as I was with them, I was going to be fine. We even shared our diary entries together, we did those instead of friendship letters. But I could stop myself from thinking of the real trails. They never commented on their own thrones though, they didn't even dared glance at them after the whole Tarek fiasco.

One would think I could invite whoever I wanted; that I would get to invite my friends each and every time, right?

Wrong, the events were for a reason. Only those that had little importance included extra invitations for my friends. Luckily I could make the excuse of presenting the elements of harmony as a whole, the circle of friendship, my sisters in fights against evil. Even without the elements they were still to be considered. I even said it to ‘strengthen our bond’, and it worked. But not really.

It always depended if they had that particular time of day to give up their jobs in Ponyville. Yeah sure, if it involved the princess or a quest they could come and leave things behind, because of the princess help, and now being part of royalty, somewhat. Anything like an event or a gathering of boring proportions to encounter a key noble, aristocrat or elite, they usually didn’t have the time to assist. Not for lack of wanting mind you, but it wasn’t that important, and I came to the crystal library at at dawn, unless there was another event later.

And each was no different from what I experienced on the Grand Galloping Gala. It was about ten times worse! Now it was actually my job to hear everything they say. Even Pinkie Pie had trouble coming to most of them, but I enjoyed every time I got see even one of my friends there, even if they didn't got to be themselves most of the time. And I couldn’t act as myself either.

I almost forgot, we couldn't act as our normal selves anymore in public. ‘Now you're royalty, you have to act as such’, that lofted pretending left hoofed white stallion mapper... Huh, I would really like to see what Applejack and Rainbow Dash would say if they heard him talking to me like that. Fluttershy wouldn’t know, or should I say, I wouldn’t know how she would react, after her strange acting with Discord I have no real idea where to place her. Rarity would enjoyed this much more than me.

I knew Celestia had told me I needed not to worry, no noble with a right mind would do anything about her decision, especially with what I have done. But I saw it in their eyes, all concluded the princess made a wrong choice, I was just lucky, deep inside. Some were happy for a new princess, others didn’t care, but the weeping, complaining and whining bunch just wouldn’t accept it. Never up front, but in the shadows. They wouldn’t like themselves to be marked as anything against the princess, now would they?

I knew they were wrong, but I wasn’t going to ruin the princess's name by not acting like a royal princess for no reason. She always made the right decisions in my mind, and I would make sure it remained unchanged.

Princess Celestia said it would be that way for a couple of weeks before it calmed down, both the talking and the need for my presence.

But worst of all, making all the last bad things shade under its horrible, dreadful mantle...

I didn’t get to read a single book since it began.

Where was I going with thi— Oh, right! Spike was saying something. I even tangent after, hah, funny.

“I meant the door Twilight…” Spike groaned. My confused face blushed embarrassed once a banging came from the door, a common mistake. In a hurry I dodged a books of foreign countries and social norms I was attempting to read in my 'free time.' None, by the way. I didn’t get to pass the cover of any of those.

“Yes?” I asked once I was in a range of the door.

“Princess Twilight, Princess Celestia has requested your presence.”

‘How long did he wait outside?’ I asked myself as I responded, “I’ll be right there.”

The temporary bedroom I was staying was the perfect descriptions of big, spacious and cozy. But none could see its features as most of it concealed behind large towers of notes about everything I needed to remember. Notes I could read in my sleep, harder than it sounds. Most made by my number one assistant, who was on the summit of the note tower number two, making sure all the pages are arranged from least to most important.

“Spike, the princess is calling, I—”

“Go, I’ll be fine.”  Spike interrupted me grumpily, as he balanced himself looking over the pages again. I thought it was because he was too concentrated that he shushed my words, but for some reason I still didn’t understand his indifference.

“Be careful with it, Spike,” I said trotting to the door, wary of the inclination of the pillar he stood on, “when you’re done you should come find me, alright?”

“Yeah, yeah.” Spike said dismissing me. I should’ve seen Spike’s unhappiness right then, or even before. I was always distracted of what he wanted. Of what he did. He was my ‘assistant’ after all, and he liked being my assistant. It gave him purpose. I thought it was all he did, and nothing more, nothing else. I can’t believe I even forgot he had friends in Canterlot when I stayed in Ponyville and he was forced to change his life because of it. I think when it happened again with our friends in Ponyville —after our last great adventure— even if it was just for some weeks, it was then when he started to catch on how much weight carried his will.

Nothing.

Not that I thought of anything at the time. There were royal duties to fulfil, which were so few and far between that I treated them all like quests given by any of the Princesses. I opened the door and exited with a skip on my step. The two of the three guards at my door followed behind as I tracked the trail to the throne room.

The castle had been in constant visit almost every single week. So the maids, butlers and talented decorators had changed the theme each time to let visitors feel the unique experience of the Canterlot castle. The theme then was spring spread, the usual chocolate flowers placed on unique places to give the little fillies and colts going to the school for talented unicorns a little adventure on finding them all. So it wasn’t surprising to see constant movement here and there of smiling fillies and colts going around trying to find the next flower. I didn't mind that none stopped to bow or look at me, too distracted on the holiday.

I did notice the nearby parents staring, they bowed as I passed and I straightened myself as they did, saying it was not necessary would have been a waste of breath. I had tried before and it doesn't work on Canterlot citizens, at least when they are not panicking.

The trip to the throne room was uneventful. Arriving at the door one of my guards —I never thought I would say that— set hoof in the room leaving me to wait for my call, I deduced the Princess had important visitors. I was called for it after all. Even though it's just to say hi, politics need to be successfully pulled off. I've learned some things that could make other ponies doubt me, but it was all for the good citizens to keep a clear idea of the princesses, and therefore, me.

I straighten myself, tightly tucked my wings, took a deep breath and arranged the calmest expression I could muster, royal even, those were hard. I always felt both nervous and excited when doing anything 'princes-y'. Boring or not.

I waited patiently for my call. Thankfully it wasn’t long as in less than a minute my guard entered the hallway and gave me a nod. I entered the throne room head held high.

The crowd spread on both sides of the long throne room, only allowed in when the event was news related, making me relax inside. The high nobles were the first to greet me, as much that they could say greet having their noses pointed to the ceiling. And of course when I enter, the whispers. There was a noticeable amount of reporters and ponyrazzi's in the crowd, a picture or two was taken as I observed. It was not unusual, waiting for my wrong move or inappropriate act. Cadance told me of its commonplace, but never at the scale of mine. I ruled Equestria for a day after all. Hiding the princess disappearance is not as easy as many would think.

Closing in the ending stairs of the throne, I give myself a metaphorical pat on the back as my deduction was right, yet again. The princesses did have unique important visitors.

Now don’t get me wrong, griffins are not unusual in Equestria, but messengers from the royalty of Griffdom were rare, more so than any other griffin related kingdom. There was… friction in between our nations, but I had never found out why. And it’s really something when it comes from somepony who has read entire libraries on history.

There were three of them, all with dark feathers, clear yellow fur and straight a posture. Small saddlebags were strapped in their chests and backs; where they could hold and protected the scrolls the contained. The nine guards around the throne were wary of those.

My mind wandered as I advanced gracefully. ‘Could this be another invitation or letter of congratulations? But then, why would they call me? Something important? But then why the audience? I always had issues with satiating my curiosity.

My contemplations continued as I passed by the griffin messengers, they didn’t even glance to see me. Princess Luna was next to Princess Celestia, both addressing me with a smile which I easily returned. Reaching the Sun throne, next to Princess Luna the mumbles subsided as I drew closer got louder, I knew what they wanted to see. I used all my will and a little more to not bow as I passed in front of both princesses, I did nod respectfully. I was not crazy. The whispers stopped after that.

Princess Celestia spoke, giving a nod to the messengers, “Please begin."

“Alright, you know what to do.” Said the biggest of the three griffins, voice remarkably feminine. The messengers nodded at each other, pulling out something from their respective back-bags. The two back griffins brought strange candled-sized keys as the big griffin pulled a container which could be confused with a filly by its sheer dimensions. I strained my neck as many in the room, seeing as the keys clanked perfectly into place on the green container and with a simple turn cranked its inner workings and opened the canister. It was always something interesting to see advanced mechanics with no magic.

I had read that darker the color of the container, more important the message it transported. Once a strangely long scroll was released from the mysterious cylinder, the two griffins backed away as the main messenger opened the scroll with her talons, careful not to accidentally cut it and prepared her neck for a long session.

‘I’m sure it’s just some kind of summoning, it can’t be that important.’ I thought to myself again as I re-solidify my serene expression. It’s really difficult to keep up. Especially when half the glances of the crowd were directed at your person, expecting a reaction.

“Princesses of Equestria, as you should know, twenty days ago the treaty of free passage between the United Griffdom and Equestria, ended,” My calm expression almost ended, but I remained sturdy. ‘Keep calm and wait until it’s done’ I alleged to myself, I had been practicing being calm and I wasn’t going to fall so quickly. It didn’t stop my eye from giving a twitch.

“And as responsible rulers of our lands we will be always prepared to keep anything like this from becoming into a major problem, the papers of agreement should be with the messengers this letter was sent.”

I felt a breath I didn’t know I held escape me. Just a reminder, not major problem I would be responsible of. I had only a while as a full blown princess with own castle and all that, and even with the last taste of responsibility, I didn’t believe I could take it again without pressure of the entire kingdom in panic. I couldn't keep calm when a simple town went nuts. But then again, that town is special.

I smiled, heart going steady, as the messenger continued. Announcing about relations, which was bad, trades, which had grown, how happy they were to trade and exchange. They were not however happy on what had happened recently to us, affecting other nations. I smiled embarrassed on that last one. Internally of course.

“The event planned shall begin in two sun cycles from the delivery of this letter, and as you know, all of the unified Griffdoms’ rules shall be there, and we intend to speak the most important subject between us.” A round of cheers was given by the crowd of nobles and pictures were taken to capture the moment. The Princess Luna-sized griffin seemed to have concluded, taking the scroll with her talons she enrolled it slowly.

Princess Luna herself took a hoof forward to speak, “This session of important messages is at its end, you are allowed to leave immediately.”

Princess Celestia continued, “And to the news-ponies present, I shall be with you after a brief minute.”

There was a pause, nopony stirred from place. I was confused for a moment until I was aware they were waiting for my words. I felt a link of hairs of my tail spring out of order as I remained stoic. But by pure weight of the stares I nodded my head and added with a cracking soft smile. “Have a nice evening.”

And after an awkward silence, the nobles, reporters and ponyrazzi’s slowly left the room, some taking, a few pictures taken at us three together, and more fiery debating and rising their voices as they strode outside of the double doors. I remained tranquil up until the last one was out the door and I was free to loosen up a little.

I was about to ask the princesses why they had required my presence, most of what was said I already knew —by reading of course— and also due to the information sessions with the council. But the instant I saw them, I became confused with them not budging from where they stood.

Princess Celestia detected my puzzlement and motioned to something in front of us. I followed her guidance to the griffin messenger remained still, not even an inch from her original spot. Worse, she looked as if waiting. My ears perk up as I hear a, “please continue.”  From both princess.

The messenger gave them a nod and from her chest bag she revealed a small black scroll container with golden patterns all over. Then I voluntarily held my breath, then glanced to Princess Celestia and Luna and saw their faces not even shift. ‘What’s going on?’ was my thought. The griffin gave a few coughs before she began to read.

“Princess Celestia of the Sun, Princess Luna of the Moon and the new Princess Twilight Sparkle of Friendship, this is an important message for your ears only, its purpose is with our relation in general, and how it’s about to change, I personally told you the details of it years ago, but if you do not remember, or not informed, it is detailed in this scroll…” The messenger stopped, looking at us for confirmation. I wasn’t sure what the whole affair was so I nodded encouraging the griffin to read.

“This message’s purpose began with the expedition, one made six years ago. It took off for exploration purposes towards the unexplored space of the map disaster, one that you allowed to cross over your brothers to accomplish, it was set to return six years ago if it didn’t find anything, it was taken as failed and forgotten as you already know.”

I grimaced at the mention of the unexplored map incident, it was filled with many details in many books, called "The biggest loss of adventures ever known to ponydom.' And for good reason.

About ten years ago, there was this rumor of a place unexplored on a position of the map no pony had explored. The notion was conveyed out by a fictional novel, a adventurer investigating the land and returning without telling a pony, but supposedly to have wrote a book before disappearing. The novel was a nice to read fiction. But the idea had so much controversy and enigmatic bases, none could refute its possibility. Not even Celestia, not that she was asked dirrecctly. Well, I did, but she didn't respond dirrectly. Like she always does. And so throughout the land, every adventurer with a ship who heard the tale flew out to be the first to discover what was there.

But there was nothing there, the furthermost anypony had gone was Captain Cologne Ball. Captain and mapmaker, partner of Compass Blueblood, in name of the princess both sailed with a crew for eight months in one straight course west to where it was supposed to be, but for evident lack of supplies and complaining of their stallions, sense came to their minds and they turned back. Controlling what they had left, they were able to return alive to tell the tale. They were greatly rewarded for their bravery and commitment of serving Equestria and were given permanent noble status.

Griffon ships wouldn’t get half the distance as they lacked any talent explicit unicorns to use magic for fuel or compasses.

“And after many times of need you allowed us, with much less than a speech, to achieve for our own research and development, and so you planted a seed, a seed of influence. Such influence had blossomed, and so, the council has considered your proposal.”

“As you know, we are sealed out from the rest of the nations because of our position between Equestria and the eastern badlands, and by these restrictions we can do little to make our people happy, and so, we have considered your friendship agreement treaty, this would make us part of Equestria but—” The rest of the message escaped from my hearing.

My eyes got wide, ‘The Treaty of Friendship’, a treaty in the foundation of Equestria itself by the three tribes, the union between nations to become an even bigger one, equal harmony to all. The combination between different nations of equine species was common in Equestria, donkeys, sheeps, cows, goats, deers etcetera, and even the recent horses from Saddle Arabia. Always equines. Or those sharing similarities.

But never a hunter’s species’ nation. Not only by differences in culture, but the values and morals taken as well, each ideal had some conflict. It was impossible to find common ground between us as a whole. The griffins in Equestria passed for an official visit and once done headed back to Griffdom, or they were complete Equestrian citizens following the rules and values of Equestria.

This could be a historical event bigger than anything not related with the princesses. Sure it would be hard but there wasn’t any book saying they have ever even considered it! And I was going to presence it as a princess.

I turned to princess Celestia, whom saw my reaction and motherly smiled, making made me realize this was why I was called. My calm expression was shattered by a grin that would match Pinkie Pie’s. I didn’t even think of why they looked as if they knew all along.

And then I noticed the messenger had stopped reading.

Glancing at her I saw the awestruck courier had fallen on her flank gawking at the scroll in her eyes as if it was on fire. I giggled a bit, I was also amazed, really surpiced, but not enough to make me stumble. I watched the other two griffons, they didn’t even flinch at the message. My first thought was ‘Perhaps she wasn’t ready for that?’

I heard Luna giggle besides me and say, “Sister, it seems that the emissary has caught her own tongue." I saw Celestia’s right brow rise at Luna’s observation, and somewhat roll her eyes. Those kinds of jokes were unique for Luna.

I was about to try and calm her, until she abruptly wobbled her head changing her awestruck into pure seriousness. It startled me a little. She ogled at the griffin at her left, gesturing with her talon for him to come near her. He hesitated, watching us three confused princesses before slowly closing in to the messenger.

I was bemused and confused as to why she would call her partner. It was not like with another griffin reading would make the words change, the union was happening. But the thought wiped out by the pale look on the new griffin reading the scroll. He gently nodded and backed away. The messenger turned to address us three.

“Is something wrong?” Asked Princess Celestia with her worried but controlled voice.

The griffin coughed loudly, almost nervously, and straightened herself once more into a respectable posture.

“It caha—“ The griffin lost part of her breath, but before anypony in the room could say anything she raised a talon to stop us, and back on posture she said loud and clear.

“It came back.”

And I frowned.

“In this letter it is stated that the FUG sailor, after six years of its two month quest of exploring the uncharted map, fulfilled its duty, and returned back safely.”

“Princess Celestia, Princess Luna…did…did you hear the same as me?” I asked. Sure to have misunderstood. The princess had their heads tilt as I was sure they thought the same.

“Discoveries made will forever change the view of our realm, and due to this, we are ready to renegotiate every treaty made between our countries, and as a sign of good faith we are to share what we have discovered with those that helped us achieve it. Equestria, as well as others.”

Now it was the princess’s time to frown.

My eyes couldn’t widen more if they tried. There was something there, confirmed to have nothing. My only thought, 'Impossible!' But they claimed it true on an official document... so it couldn’t be a lie. By then I needed a place to sit down.

"What is the meaning of this? Lying to our faces." Princess Luna said loudly for the messengers to hear, and those outside the castle, creating three nervous messengers. “You expect us to believe such a thing? We have had our own pioneers sent to the unknown, they accomplished to barely return assuring nothing was there, and if yours were to have explored for that long, how would they too have survived?  A cargo could be made to hold food only would not make it over one year, much less four months.” Princess Luna said in a tone that could only be described as unfriendly, I was automatically nodding at each conclusion she got. But the way she said it… it sounded dangerous.

"Sister," Celestia initiated, touching Luna’s leg with her hoof, "let them finish and maybe then you will get your answer." Luna looked at Celestia, and then she stared long and hard at the messenger before coughing to her royal hoof. She was annoyed, that much was evident. Princess Celestia shifted her eyes to the griffins, "please continue."

They remained unmoving a couple of seconds before the messenger proceeded to read.

“The details of our achievement shall be presented to you at the harmony celebration in which we shall converse of this matter.” I could hear Luna huff, she was not pleased, neither was I. “And you should know you are not the only ones helping us in our journey, so those that helped us are to be present as well, this was a united effort of course, your old friend, Queen Silver Peak.”

The female messenger relaxed as she finished the letter, I was about to ask about who else was in the ‘united effort’, which caused the griffin to flinch as I got closer, until I remembered that it was a written letter.

With the message done, the griffin messengers marched to leave, one faster than others, but the biggest one got closer to the guards next to the exit and gave him the scrolls for us to possibly re-read. A couple of guards followed them to escort them out the castle.

What would make one of the most traditional nations of our realm, a predator nation nonetheless, unite with Equestria? I understood they said it was due restrictions and our help, but they had those for many years. What had changed? What could they have possibly found that would make this decision acceptable for them now? My pretty little mind got to work, a pain to think as it was impossible to answer questions until they were here to ask them.

But those were only the tip of the iceberg of questions flowing in my head. It had been a while since I got that curious.

After the long day I needed some sleep, and a good book. Especially the book, I didn't care about the schedu— oh, what am I saying? The schedule was sacred.

But a new book wouldn't have hurt.

“Twilight.” My ears perked up at the sound of Celestia’s call, trying to turn with grace and class. But to the viewer I twisted so mechanically it could make small foals laugh thinking I was a bad mime. It did make both princesses smile though. “How are you feeling?”

“What do you mean Princess, I am perfectly fine.” I said with unintentional wincing on part of my ears and eye, I couldn’t stop those. And to the princesses cringing looks I understood it was evident. “That bad, huh?”

“Truly, I have seen kuduses have the same troubles, but they were hunted daily or their horns a long time ago, so it must be stress.” Luna said honestly, but it was so bluntly I was in pure. Celestia looked at Luna, disappointed. It would take two days for Luna to notice how bad it was, but for now she looked uncertain.

“I say, it isn’t that bad.” A new, familiar and annoying voice added itself to our conversation making us three deadpanned.

“Discord.” We said in sync.

“Hello, your highnesses!” Discord appeared in the entrance of the throne room, upside-down, and with a sickly colorful looking pony in between his grasps. “I seem to have missed something important. There was a whole herd of the little fellas outside the room with little fun in their lives.”

Discord, reformed embodiment of chaos. Body a combination of talon, paw, left hind hoof, right dragon leg, left griffin wing and right dragon wing. That alone gave the idea of what kind of creature Discord was. Completely chaotic and illogical.

“Discord. What did you do?”

“Wow, are you three trying for a quartet? I don’t think it works without the fourth one. And even if Cadance is nowhere near to help you, no need not to worry! I can be the replacement!” Before we could say otherwise Discord snapped his claw the pony disappeared with a yell and Discord wore a strange looking outfit of stripes of red including a hat, a moustache on his face I remembered to find every time I made a particular spell. Or Pinkie Pie acting Pinkie.

With our collective stares he chuckled enthusiastically. “I simply walked through the crowd, none tried to stop me or talk to me. It’s funny really, when I moved they flinched. But as promised, no scaring or fainting.” We kept looking Discord in the eye, not amused. “Fine, I scared one or two, but they were gaping at my tail and you know how sensitive I am.”

“You are?”

“No.” Discord answered me as he chuckled at my change from stoic to curious to deadpan again. “Oh, aren’t you princesses a treat. I shall leave and come back once the party is started. Ta ta—Oh! But what kind of low voice of the quartet I would be if I didn’t give a last lone goodbye note~”

But before Discord could commence his musical number, Princess Celestia shined her horn and teleported him away. I huffed with amusement when I heard a distant ‘you are no fun’ echo through the castle.

“Well, I will need help calming and talking to the agitated visitors. So who is coming with me?” Princess Celestia asked walking up to the door, turning to look at me and Luna.

Luna and I glanced at each other for a moment. And I recalled a game Pinkie had shown us both on how to select the carrier of bad acts between friends in a fair manner. And if there was anything in the glister of Princess Luna’s eyes, she remembered as well.

“Not it!” “Not— oh darned it all.”

“Don’t worry my sister. They're still are fond of your presence.”

“Yes, as fond as a worm is to meet a bird on its home.”

“Come, sister. Twilight, is there anything you would like to ask of the meeting? I know you have questions.”

“Oh, well, I do! But I can ask them another time. I need to refresh the captain Cologne’s statement and then I will make sure I have all the theories of the OutSpace on a list, and after—“

“You don’t have to tell me step by step Twilight, I trust you know what to do.” I nodded happily. “Good luck..”

“Thanks Princess.” My happy reply was not reciprocated as Celestia and Luna looked at me with a frown. I was confused to say the least. “What?”

“Twilight, you are a princess as well. When alone, please call all us by name.” I nodded not sure if it was right. It was not that big of a deal, I knew, but calling the princesses by name… It didn’t feel right.

It was a hard habit to get rid of, but with full will upon it, it was relatively easy. “Good Night, Celestia, Luna.”

“Goodnight Twilight.” “Good Night Twilight Sparkle, may I not need to help thy dreams.”

I laughed nervously at Luna’s… goodbye but I did notice Luna becoming a little happier once I called her by name as she had a little more energy as she trotted for the door. ‘Is it such a big deal?’

But the day wasn’t over. I was going to look under every stone and leaf for any rumor, statement or legend holding the truth. And I thought the meeting was a deal big enough to get all my friends to assist. All I needed to make sure is to send the letter on time and wait.

I was not as desperate to see my friends as I make myself sound to be I— Oh forget it, yeah I was as desperate as I make myself sound to be, in more ways than one. What can I say, I got used to something and by all that is good I wasn't going to let it go. Not that I would admit it— Sorry, not that 'I' would admit it. But back to the telling.

But, I don't think hearing of me rounding around in the castle would be entertaining in any way. And I did check, Spike didn't do anything of interest either. My friends were too far away and the princesses were doing too many political talks to be stimulating. So I kept myself to reading an open book and passed the time until something started happening.

This is, as you know, the week where it began. And even before it started, in the morning, it was bad. Heh.

Canterlot. One week later. Dawn.

“Something must’ve happened, they should already be here!”

“Not to worry Twilight Sparkle, they are to arrive, be thankful they are not here to be exposed in such regards they are not used to.”

“But— but they should—“

“It is fine, they are surely to arrive at the last minute, and it is the way of you six.”

Princess Luna, the ruler of the night and the co-ruler of Equestria, had a difficult job. Not the responsibility of ruling an entire nation, not the tiresome effort to maintain a traditional motherly expression at the trivial insignificant mention of the problems of nobles, aristocrats and elites, and much less the attempt to make herself remember everything about all to make the best rational decisions. No, it was the difficult job of upholding a newly crowned princess in her bearings as five of the most important guests had yet to arrive.

“Oh! I can wait for them at the train station, maybe with a couple of guards specialized in teleportation we could arrive in time! ...Oh, but we can’t cover the distance...” I continued to rationalize, the day had been a test of endurance and will for little poor me. Never had I experienced such a feeling, an event in which I was in a position of power; of responsibility. And something was wrong. All had to be perfect.

The place was the airship docking section of Canterlot, on the cliff side next to a small natural spring making a waterfall which united with the long river down below. It was front to another peaky mountain, and it had enough space to collect, or depart, big airships. It was an evening with no clouds in the sky, as requested from the central Griffdom crown, those of whom were about to arrive that day and time.

All Equestrian princesses, except Cadance, were on the central building anticipating the arrival with privacy, as much they could get with an event such as that. The guards surrounding the building like a wall of glaring eyes made it fell reserved. Columns making arcs in a circle around them showed the roundness of the structure and chandeliers decorated the roofs with beautiful night lamps.

The upper class was collected outside the assembly having conversation, all ready to see the Griffdom’s leaders. The elites were here in an attempt to have their influence range and remain, an opportunity of a lifetime as many elites from Griffdom were coming to visit.

At the same time Celestia waited on the arrival railing edge next to a small dragon, Spike. Her presence gave the nobles something to express about if they had nothing else to say to each other, none left the recent choices of her royal highness to go in peace, some were quite audible.

“You could do that Twilight Sparkle, take a dozen of guards, await at the station. But does that mean you are abandoning responsibility of greeting the kings and queens? Leaving me and my sister alone to fend for ourselves without you?” Asked Luna, attempting to tease me, which by the size my eyes grew and the amounts of ‘no’s’ I said, Luna didn't do it right.

Luna wore her royal attire, new each time a new festivity or meeting was done. A dress of a lighter color than her deep blue coat, one all aristocrat would call beautiful in her face but horrible on her back. I showed off a new version of my old coronation dress, the previous ribbons were replaced with yellow star emblems and the pink was changed with a darker version of her lavender coat while the yellow was changed for a darker version of the same, wearing my ‘crown’ it looked like the element, but it was not the same.

“It was but a tease Twilight Sparkle, but the idea of them coming here was for the reason of you having a responsibility, now done with this discussion, we have to stand again next to thine assistant and mentor.” Luna said adjusting her dress beaming at me. She loved talking to me, the only pony she could speak out of royal lecture. Well, three if adding Celestia and Cadance.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, I am disappointed on you, Luna.”

Make those four.

“That’s not a teaser~ you need to add a little bit of sad face to it, have her know it’s a tease, any other way is just frightening.” Discord whirled around Luna, her face going into a fixed deadpanned stare, copied by myself, as the draconequus did his best impression of swimming backwards in air. His form twisted over itself as he faced Luna’s face, smirking.

“Oh you girls are so stare and no flare when I’m around with others watching.” Discord began, floating down next to me placing an arm around my shoulder shaking his left claw three times before placing a ridiculous top hat in his head, he continued. “Is it the hat? Farmers love them these days, I know it’s quite intimidating, but with Luna here it’ll be just in place, yes?”

“What are you doing here, Discord?” Luna attempted to say calmly, but hostile was the result, not that it mattered to the chaotic being. “You were told to keep in the castle at all times during the arrival, you may be able to meet the griffins, but only after our approval.”

Discord watched Luna as if she was a mere foal. She already disliked the draconequus greatly without him doing things to reminding her. His constant ill-treatment to the respect she should receive was an incessant blow she knew shouldn’t go uncorrected. But she couldn’t do anything as Discord was already reformed and whatever he did was nothing compared on what he could do. And we were not Fluttershy.

“Of course your highness, how could I be such a fool to go against you in any way?” Discord said happily throwing his right paw to his face dropping his hat, which became balloons once it touched the floor and floated to the ceiling. “But, if your eyes haven’t been inspecting my impressive figure, you would have given a looksee for the ship of the not-too-be-seen-by griffins, which haven’t arrived.”

“That doesn’t matter!” I interjected, Discord swirled to look at me floating upside down. “You can’t be here, you are known everywhere as the spirit of chaos, being reformed doesn’t take away what you have done and other species aren’t just as forgiving. And don't you remember what you did to them last time?”

“What?! Oh no!” Discord cried theatrically, both claw and paw on his faked horror plastered face. “I don’t want others to think of me as bad, because that would be bad, and bad is not good because good is so good!” Luna remained motionless at the display of Discord as he rapt me in a hug and ‘cried’ over my shoulder. I was likewise unamused. After an instant Discord raised his head. “Yes, I don’t care. Much like you, right Luna?”

“You have yet to answered my question, why are you here? Or are you to bore us with all the antics you can now only do?” Luna asked completely ignoring the blow sent her way by sending one back, receiving the first signs of real attention from Discord. I’m still not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.

“Boring antics?” Discord replied balancing and positioning his right rear hoof on my head, the displeased feeling I had inside was so great I did no motion to correct the violation of respect. “Such harsh words, if I did interesting antics there would be a canoe, a pineapple chair and lots of flying platypuses, and chaos! But I’m doing as promised and no chaos is done, all boring from here. But suggest this is all I can do? That’s just plain mean.”

“All you can do now, yes, now and until we say so.” Luna answered earning a frown from Discord and a hesitating look from me. “And you still haven’t answered my question.”

“Ha, fine.” Discord said, going back down at my side. “I was here to propose on aiding Twilight here to transport her friends better, I don’t need to appear with them when I bring them back, my teleportation doesn’t have loud poping bubbles sound like unicorns do, and at its use, it smells like a freshly baked batch of chocolate chip cookies.”

I lifted an eyebrow confused, ignoring all the crazy he spouted. He disliked it, I always did so. “And why would you?”

“Oh, Twilight, such distrust is bad for your mane. I just want to simply help, isn’t that not enough?” Discord’s answer was received with two deadpanned stares. “Oh, hush you two, I want to see other ponies whose faces haven’t been stuck in front of the sun and have becalmed dryer for days on end. I—”

“More victims then?” Luna cut in narrowing her eyes.

“Victims? Oh your highness, still such old barbaric concepts in your mind, these are friends, maybe Twilight can teach you about those since you have so little of them.” Luna narrowed her eyes even more, Discord was unaffected. I was worried they were both going to fight right there. “But if you don’t mind we need to catch a train.” And before any of us could react against it, Discord snapped his claws with a quick good-bye and disappeared in a flash of light and a sparkling sound taking me with him.

The Twilight guards were unhappy of that as they came running from their posts' on the sides of the wall and were now frantically looking for me on the spot I once was the smell of chocolate chip coockies disturbing them somewhat. The four guards, all unicorns, looked at Luna for answers.

“Canterlot train station, go and prepare a spell to transport about six ponies, Discord should—” Luna coughed on her hoof, “will help you achieve the spell.”

The guards looked at her confused for a millisecond before heating their horns and teleporting away from the place. Luna nodded, ‘not bad at all, the best unicorns the guard had to offer, and they are all on guard duty, such a waste.’ She thought.

With the displeasing interaction done, Luna trotted slowly to her sister and Spike on the receiving railing. Neither Celestia nor Spike stirred throughout our discussion, but they were well aware Discord’s assistance.

“How much longer, dear sister?” Asked Luna arriving to Celestia’s side, Spike acknowledged her presence with a small bow, but stirred back to gaze at the mighty mountain in front of them, giving a glance to the crowd now and then. He was bored, and his job as assistance had been cut short.

“Hmm, a couple of more moments and they should be visible, they surely are rotating the mountain as we speak.” Celestia replied in a motherly happy tone, content she was no longer the only object of interest for the elite to speak of. But Luna wasn’t done with her exchange, but before she turned to Spike.

“Assistant Spike, we order thou to prepare for the honored Elements of Friendship, they should gather shortly on the back with a pleasant... what were they called… Flying carpets? Yes, one in the back should do, it’s on one of the sound sealed rooms, wait inside said room as they are to appear instants before the ship’s docking. Tell them to only exit once the majestic trumpets have played. That ought to give time to catch up.”

Spike was going to do as told. But Spike was not to be talked down to, I know that now. He was one with much respected in the Canterlot community, especially since those in the crowd talked with esteem about him when the subject passed away of Celesta. It was as if he was one of them. I mean, he had many important ponies appear in places out of his own wimp, I am amaized I hadn't even seen it. He wore a silky dark long sleeve shirt with strange white silk underneath, really fancy.

“Call them friends for once.” Spike muttered under his breath, a breath no one paid attention to anyways in his mind, he continued once Luna began to pay attention to him. “When I’m done with that princess, do you think I can get a minute to see my old friends? Like Twinkle Shine, Lemon Hearts or maybe even Moon Dancer? They are down there, their families have that style of gossip. I haven’t seen anyone since the last visit without Twilight.”

But the princess didn’t listen to Spike’s request as she had already proceeded next to Celestia. Spike could only groan frustrated. Traveling to the back of the construction he was in to fulfill a role. All the way thinking of a unicorn in particular in between his Ponyville friends that he wanted to see.

“Sister,” Luna began, taking a glance for anyone that could hear, there was none, “are you sure it was written about Discord’s reformation? It seems he is simply holding off, gathering his strength and our weaknesses.”

“Are you losing trust, my dear sister?” Luna’s ears recoiled.

“Of course not, I’m… asking if you have thought about so as well, it was but a thought, never mistrust.” Luna responded, watching into the right opening of the two mountains, observing the vast forest till the perceptiveness ceased.

“Sister, its fine to have your mind wander, it makes you grow. If you find it worrying, we will talk it after, but it remains to be acknowledged as the very thing that brought you back to me, without it I don’t know what I would have done. But if you think of anything, just say.” Luna's doubts came more often by the week, and Celestia was getting good at soothing her. Luna took a heavy breath, eyeing her sister in inner conflict, she wanted to say something, Celestia knew, but it would be her decision to do.

“So many has been said to be needed done, but I’m not sure they are for the better anymore. I just fear for what its final objective is maybe… not for a cause that is good.” That’s what Luna wanted to say, but she couldn’t, what she thought was not a good indication of her state. Or at least she reasoned Celestia would think.

“Relax sister, this day shall be as many others, but of course, they are coming here instead of us leaving.” Celestia smiled at Luna, who grinned back but with different enthusiasm. “Things look undefined when approached, but there shouldn’t be any difference of what you saw in the beginning.”

Before Luna could continue the conversation a perceptible sound of wood straining made itself known, wind picking up speed as the sound of it passed in the mountainside.

The ship was near.

Canterlot Valley. Five Kilometers out of Canterlot.

Burning coal, evaporating water, working steam, operational engine.

These are the heart and soul of the friendship express, the most efficient way of transport Equestria could ever want. It was known to be maybe the first machine with no working enchantments for its inner mechanisms in propulsion, vapor and power. But all the control systems were magic control of course.

It had transported it all, from passengers to important packages. Helping ponies of all classes reach their destinations. Undoubtedly to never fail its mission, using magic enchantments for the train to never derail and a team of earth ponies to pull the train if there were a lack of coal, or if it were to be broken, made sure of its perfect timing of arrival and departure.

But today was different. This day, a chain of unfortunate events had come to pass.

The friendship express’s engine magically collapsed because of its unstable nature, but this one was worse as the pulling team in its core received the worst of it, bringing for the first time ever a fail to its perfect departure time record.

But luckily the engine driver, without any preparations, fixed the engine, changed the broken wheels, found a volunteer pulling crew, and placed it to work on record time.

After a while, the train was ready to go, with its travelers knowing nothing of the affair. With only a thirty minute delay, the tough engine got back on track, quite literally. Those in the train could get to their destination only with a half hour delay. Lucky for everypony involved.

Lucky indeed… Oh right, back to what matters, back to what matters, sorry.

This day the friendship express carried, as always, ponies from one point to the other, some to visit relatives, some for work, others for a new beginning, and some just for the sake of travel. But if the train could have known what consequences would have come for completing his mission this particular day, it would have derailed itself without question, but to that metaphorical idea, there was an issue.

"Come OoOon, MOVE IT!!!!" A loud high pitched voice called out from one of the train carts now open windows, three carts behind the engine. It was a pink earth pony mare with bright blue eyes and a hair that flowed madly in the wind. Pinkie Pie.

She appeared to be mainly anxious about the train’s mishit in time. With a frown she barely squeezed inside due to her saddle-pack, obviously not happy.

"Pinkie dear, it's unsafe to do that on a moving train, and the gust almost completely ruined my hair!" Exclaimed a white mare unicorn wearing a delicate dress and puffy purple mane, different to her silky tail. Her pink friend closed the window as Rarity’s horn glowed. Pinkie’s saddlebag opened as a brush floated out into the Rarity’s reach with which she combed her recently developed wild mane.

Pinkie turned out to be less wild looking without the violent wind over her. Good too, Rarity would’ve had a heart attack if otherwise. The difference of their dresses was that one wore a dress, and the other did not.

"But Rarity, the train got delayed thirty-two minutes and Twilights party-thingy is in fifteen, this is the first party we all have time to go to and if we don't do something we could arrive late! To a Twilight’s party! We could be missing all the fun Twilight had planned!" Pinkie retaliated with helplessness all over her face.

“Pinkie, you already know the lesson you learned about missing out fun, you said it yourself, as long as we are so good friends we are never missing out.”

“But that’s just it, Rarity, I get it about opportunities and all, but this is the first time we will all be together is a super-duper-important-party-meeting-thing Twilight was so worried about! And she had it all planned out! How anxious will she be now?!”

“Well, you have a point there, Pinkie...”

“Don’t worry any, sugarcube, we’re sure to make it in time. If not, we can always do what Rarity says she does when she arrives late at a party. Twilight always got a little nutty with her, she still passes no iffy.” Another pony said, outside of the Pinkie’s vision behind her. Applejack.

“I don’t say it, I actually do it and she understands, it's called to be 'fashionably late' as it has been named, we have talked about this already, Applejack.” Rarity said ears drawn back and tail flickering irritably with an annoyed tone in her voice.

Now next to Pinkie, revealing her signature Stetson hat and comfortable dress, which was as gold as her mane and as orange as her coat, her three apple cutie mark plastered perfectly on the side. Eyes gazing at Rarity. “It’s more like deciding what to take to the party.”

“Presents and gifts are a hard assessment to make. You need to know the pony, what would be best to give him or her, make sure it isn’t too glamorous or different for his or her tastes, you need t—” Applejack interrupted.

“Big Mac isn’t that complicated Rare', just a simple present would’ve been fine, not that piddlin'-Purdy-thing you called hat.” Applejack said annoyed thinking of many white lies she had to say to get rid of the ridiculous thing.

“Then tell me, does he like it?” Rarity said with a smirk.

“That’s not the point.”

“Applejack! Back to the real problem here,” Pinkie said as she stood in her rear hooves, fore-hooves going all over the place, “we need to do something or we will arrive late to the funeriffic party!”

“Um, Pinkie." A soft voice began at Applejacks side, "I’m sure it’s not that kind of party, I mean, do you know what it was about?” A yellow pegasus pony besides Applejack said, her pink mane covering half her face only revealing one of her cyan to green eyes, which matched the colors of her dress perfectly covering most of her back, even dragging against the floor. Fluttershy.

“Yeah, what is it about? I heard it was a big party or a big noble thing or a big egghead reunion." A sky blue coated, rainbow mane flying pegasus said, hovering above all the others. "What’s it about Fluttershy?” Her rasp but feminine voice was full of interest. Rainbow Dash.

“Um, well… it could be all three, I’m not so sure, but it’s because of a… griffin union?” Futtershy responded now sitting, not over her dress of course as that would be horrific. But she was not quite sure if her answer was enough for her friend.

“What do you mean, sugarcube?” Applejack's eyes squinted in thought, everypony else’s questioning gaze told Fluttershy she now had everypony’s attention.

“You didn’t read the newspaper this morning?” Now it was Fluttershy's turn to be confused.

“Wait a minute…” Rarity said with realization in her voice, “you mean we’re going to that event! The meeting?!” Rarity’s voice raised a couple of pitches higher than normal, complete horror crossed her mind. Her recently brushed hair going hay wire.

“Well, Twilight said it was important, and it had to do with being a princess, and that it was big, so… it could be?” Fluttershy said, not so sure of what she knew anymore as she hid behind her mane.

“Of course it has to be, it makes perfect sense! How could I've not noticed?” Rarity said theatrically, and started to murmur something about ‘not paying attention when it comes to the point of the events’. The attention transferred to her.

“Hold on a darn second, am Ah missing somethin’ here? What’s this about a meetin’?” Applejack said as her disconcert only grew, Rainbow Dash agreed as she hovered closer.

“Yeah, it should be a party! Which we are still going to be late to!” Said the now not so anxious Pinkie trying, and failed, to pull the subject to what ‘mattered’.

“The griffin kings and queens are going to meet with the princesses after an interview is done to an important professor by the Canterlot elite brought by the griffins themselves. But that was said to be days from now!” Rarity said with a dramatic high pitch voice, increasing with each word, making it sound many times more over the top.

“Kings and Queens? You mean to tell me they got like, many married couples rulin’? Well that’s just plain weird.” Applejack stated as she pictured in her mind how that would work.

“I get with stupid politics stuff, those are always something to you, but what’s all the fuzz of griffin egghead?" Rainbow Dash asked as she huffed in annoyance, relaxing in the air. “Royalty, a big deal, egghead, not.”

“Rainbow dash," Rarity said, suddenly changing to an incredibly serious tone "this interview is 'that big of a deal', it’s a trade terror deal for the Griffdom meeting Equestria in anything, because everytime they come together something just happens to become unavailable in the market. And and what would I do it's the precious silk."

Everyponys face, except Fluttershy’s, changed to understanding, not due to them truthfully understanding the problem, but by Rarity’s tone it told of the importance it had for her. An importance of a friend is not going to be overlooked like nothing. That lesson was learned.

"But~" Rarity added overdramatically, "what is really a 'big fuzz' about this interview is the interviewed, an explorer that disappeared after four years in a mysterious campaign into the unknown space of the map.” Rarity finished even more dramatically, earning confused stares and raised eyebrows, especially from Rainbow Dash.

“Wait, what are you yappin’ about an unknown map?” Applejack asked beginning to be frustrated by the amount of bewilderment she had today so close in between.” From what Ah remember we had the whole world mapped and such already.”

With the attention centered on Rarity, Fluttershy easily responded to Applejack’s question. “Umm, we know where everything is now but, well, we haven’t been everywhere? Like the mapmakers assuming? I... I don’t think I know how to explain it.”

“Don’t pounder on it sugarcube, Ah… Ah think Ah get it.” Applejack certainly didn’t. In the middle of their interaction Rainbow and Rarity still spoke to each other.

"Whoa, whoa, *whoa!* Wait a second," Rainbow said raising her voice, "you mean like 'Daring Doo and the unknown world’? Where she fights against all kinds of monsters searching an underwater city, where these ancient pony treasure—" Rainbow stopped herself due to the way Rarity was staring at her, "y-you know what I mean."

"That is exactly what I mean Rainbow dear, he has been lost for three long years, with only food for one at best, in a hopeless mission to the unknown, whatever he found is told to be known in his very exclusive interview after tomorrow before the princesses even more important meeting after-after tomorrow. Or that was what I read, it appears that some things are not true in the newspapers." Rarity finished, as she began checking on her dress, making sure nothing had stuck into it.

"Um, Rarity?" Fluttershy asked, just thinking on what Rarity said, “If you don't mind me asking, how do you know so much about it? We, um… read the same newspaper."

"I do get most of my imported silk from the South griffin kingdoms, dear, I just needed to make sure it wasn't that serious, after learning it was, I felt it to be risky not look for… information with someponies I know. There's when I found out about the mysterious griffin, I just couldn't resist knowing about it, the amount of rumors of what was found was huge." Rarity said with an almost shameful look. The key word was almost.

Rarity was going to continue until she saw an evident lack of pink. "Where’s Pinkie Pie? Have any of you seen Pinkie Pie?"

Everypony, except Pinkie of course, searched the cart noticing the pinked ones’ stealthy disappearance.

"Don't worry Rarity, she’ll be fine, she got bored of staying put, now... Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash ominously began as she descended to the floor. "Let's speak bets, what do you think the Darling Doo wannabe did in his oh so mysterious adventure? I call sea monster."

And with that, the group underwent a discussion of facts they knew of, and bets were to be made. Pinkie Pie on the other hoof was on her way to the train front, to see if she could help in any way to speed the giant metallic machine.

Passing from train cart to train cart, watching ponies talk on and on of what they were going to do once they arrived, most discussed theories about the train’s delay, but Pinkie didn't pay too much attention around her, she was on a mission. At least that is what she continuously thought outside of what kind of leaping she was forecasting to do one she found the nearest candy store. Yeah, Pinkie’s mind was not the best to be left alone.

But a friend’s get-together depended on her.

Once Pinkie Pie arrived at the last train cart before the engine, she caught an uncommon sight.

A dark-yellow coated, red curled mane-d unicorn with a deep pink captain hat and cape was standing next to sheep with size and muscle definition screaming stallion with incredibly large sized horns swirling on the sides of his head ready to tackle any enemy adversary. But to their side was a biggest... long-necked… something Pinkie had ever seen, golden rings decorating its throat and head almost touching the ceiling, and it had antennas, with a strange cream coat and brown spots spreading over its fur, a couple of bags adorning its supposed middle section, an ‘alien’. All of the interesting ones were surrounding a simple uniformed train driver earth pony.

It was quite the picture to see.

"Please, for the last time, I can't let you pass, and I’m not sure what the two of you are saying, please, return to your cart." The earth pony driver said while sitting his flank, stressed out of his mind. One of his hooves pointing toward the back which Pinkie Pie was now occupying.

"Come on, it's not hard, just let us help, talk to the driver. When you're done if she or he was against it we'll leave you to whatever you do in peace. But at least ask." The unicorn mare pleaded with a noticeable illustrious tone, the driver seemed to shiver at her voice.

"(If we were to arrive late to the introduction, things will not go as planned.) Αν επρόκειτο να φτάσει αργά για το κόμμα εισαγωγή, τα πράγματα δεν θα πάνε όπως είχε προγραμματιστεί." The muscle sheep spoke in a way Pinkie had never heard before, she found it strange, and giggled at the way it make her ears feel. She had never heard anything like it.

"(This was true, please miss Cologne Ball, if we are to miss this event we may not get another chance to enter the... how did you call it? Party?) Hii ni kweli, tafadhali Miss Cologne Bal, kama sisi ni miss tukio hili hatuwezi kupata nafasi nyingine ya kuingia ... jinsi gani ya simu yake? ‘Party?’” And even with the new strange speech, Pinkie heard a familiar word, and from there she stopped listening.

For what the sheep said, Pinkie Pie didn't mostly understood, the alien wasn’t easy to understand either, but that last word and from what the mare was asking, Pinkie’s mind came to a logical conclusion. They were late to a party! Just like her! It even could be the same party!

Pinkie Pie got closer with a grin glowing like her mane. She wasn't the only one doing something to arrive at the party on time, and the thought alone skyrocket her mood. And meeting some‘thing’ new like the alien would do wonders on her frame of mind as well.

"Gentlestallion, if it's because we're too many, its fine, and one can stay and the others leave, but we want to do anything to help." The mare said once more in her illustrious tone.

"Yeah, speak to the driver. It will only take a second." Pinkie Pie said as her attendance became remarkable at the mare’s side, everyone turned to her, her signature grin catching all off-guard jolting their heads back, the mare more overstated than the others as she was closer.

"Uh, alright? Sorry miss, but as I said to these three, my given job is to make sure no pony goes into the front, so—" A loud protest was heard through the whole cart, the engine pony cringed, everyone tried to find the source of the sound as the engineer pony's expression spun into embarrassment. He chuckle before he spoke again.

"He, he, sorry, we had to do many things so the train could run again, I lost my lunch break." His ears bent downwards, his annoyance visible as he gritted his teeth.

"Oh!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, pushing a hoof into her saddlebag, tough moving free out of her mouth in concentration, and in less than a second she took out an accessibly sparkle-covered cupcake with what could be called a cherry on top, if it wasn’t brown. "If you just speak to the driver, you can have a sugar cupcake supreme for your trouble."

Everyone raised an eyebrow.

Pinkie Pie's grin didn't wager an inch, giving a smile to his frowzy face was another mood ascender for her. She was going to give him the cupcake anyway, but at the same time to forward her goal would be like eating two flying cakes in one bite, a tricky feat she knew hard it was to achieve.

The engineer suited pony stared at the cupcake hungrily, as if he has spent the last three days in a cave with only water, and at the end of the third day finally found the cupcake before him.

"How many you got?" Asked the driver pony as he hoofed out of his trance.

"About six." Pinkie Pie confirmed in a not so common serious tone.

"Totally sprinkled?"

"With special chocolate frosting inside."

"All with cherries’ on top?"

"Every, single, one."

About three seconds past, the result was already decided.

"Deal." The moment the word left his mouth, not a jiffy passed before the diver pony was gone halfway through the door to the engine room.

"Ha. That was the first time I've ever seen anyone being bought out by cupcakes." The mare said amazed, taking a moment to contemplate the pink mare on her side before continuing. "One learns something new every day, huh?"

"Yuppity!" Responded Pinkie Pie with a giggle afterwards.

“Are you always prepared to bribe ponies with cupcakes, or do you sell those in the train?” The apperent captain asked in a playful manner eying Pinkie’s flank mark. She narrowed her eyes, but shaking her head at the end.

“Not at all, they’re for my friends and anypony who wanted any on the way to Canterlot!” Pinkie exclaimed with her signature grin, which told the sheep and the alien to not speak with her, anything with that kind of smile has to be in some way bad.

The mare didn’t seem to get the message. "We're very grateful. And I don’t want to sound rude by asking but, why did you help us anyway?"

"Because I'm also going to the party, I will never arrive late at a friend's party, NEVER!" Pinkie Pie finished her happy comment with a war cry that could be used for morale in battle. The mare in the other hoof was surprised, not because of her spirit, but because of what she said.

“Wait, what? You’re going to the intro welcome gathering?” The mare asked honestly surprised, the sheep and alien as well, bending over slightly towards Pinkie to hear her response.

“Yippedy-yup-yep! I’m going because one of my bestest friendliest Twilight asked us to be there, but in the morning I got distracted with taking all the Gollum balls to—” Pinkie gasped in the middle of her rant catching the mare, alien and sheep off-guard, jerking their heads back again.

“I have been talking to you for more than sixty seconds and I haven’t introduced myself!”  Pinkie Pie cried out, as if she had broken a sacred rule. She quickly composed herself with a grin once again.

“Hiya! My name is Pinkie Pie, what’s your name?” Pinkie Pie said happily balancing on two hooves as she gave the mare a hoof as a sign of acknowledgement, then leaning dangerously to her side without falling, ogling at the ones behind the mare. “And you two too!”

The mare seemed to be a little put off by Pinkie’s odd behavior, at least that’s what Pinkie deduced by her flinching, she stared at Pinkie as if she was about to burst into song or explode in a puff of party streams, which would be likely, but not today. Only after an ackward silence the mare gave a hoof and bumped it with Pinkie’s.

“The name’s Cologne Ball, these two are my recently known acquaintances, Sir Marrakech and Doctor Golden Horn.” She said with a smile, pointing at the sheep then alien respectively, Pinkie didn’t feel the smile was completely there, maybe Cologne was simply nervous Pinkie thought.

“Oh! Oh! And what is Mr. Doctor Goldie? I’ve never seen one of him before.” Pinkie asked with a bright smile to the doctor, the sir raised a brow, looking at Cologne for an answer.

“Ah, never been out and about then. The good doctor here is a giraffe fom a faraway land outside the Equestrian borders. He get’s a little grumpy if you talk too much about him.” As if to prove Cologne’s point the giraffe ‘humph’ in response. But they couldn’t say anything else, the engineer pony entered the cart with a smile in his face.

“Finally I get to eat!” He said out loud, when he saw the outburst had a crowd he tried to save some dignity by coughing, followed by a professional tone “Ahem, yes she said there will be no problem, only if you don’t complain about anything, and if you have no trouble with getting dirty or pulling the engine train or taking orders.”

Golden Horn gave another ‘humph’ in response and proceeded towards the front cart passing through the engineer, who shrugged and followed, Marrakech followed close behind the imposing giraffe.

“Well, Miss Pie, you have a problem with getting dirty for a cause?” Cologne asked with the tone a warrior gives to a fellow warrior, puffing her chest in an attempt to look bigger.

“Always ready to serve the cause for a friend, to the coal!” Pinkie Pie yelled as she disappeared towards the engine room leaving a mare chuckling in the empty cart.

Or at least until Pinkie was out of sight.

Once there was no pink on the cart, Cologne’s brave stance and chuckle twisted into a frail posture and whimper. Covering her head with her hooves, scared out of her mind; eyes unfocused.

She then felt the need to pace on a circle staring at the cart floor, cape losing its grip on her back as she stepped on it again and again. At a glance she appeared like any other mare being anxious.

But then there was the room to account for.

The cart grew dim as the windows fogged. The door at each end of the cart closed unexpectedly and locked. The mare ignored these as if normal but didn't look so much herself anymore. Mane growing long as the ends of the curly mane which broke apart and her fur lost most of their color and becoming thick as if it hadn't been cut for months.

“I... I just made friends with one of the old elements bearers.” The mare whispered now shivering, facing the cart floor with concentration until her head snapped towards the ceiling, losing her hat to the wind picking up from nowhere and blowing said hat far into the massive ocean around the small piece of ice Cologne was now sitting on. She was searching for something on the ceiling; now the open twilight sky.

“Are you sure? Is that alright?” The mare continued to whisper, eye going all around the endless ocean, vibrating left in right, then in between the ice floor and horizon, so fast they blurring out, appeared to be even be lacking of cornea.

But as quick as it began, the room was instantly in darkness. As if somepony had blocked out the sun, no sound, not even from the previously existing wind could be heard. But then it reversed. The inside of the cart looked restored as the windows left light pass through them once again. The mare had stopped her incisive searching, her appearance back to how it began, short curly red mane, dark yellow fur. She sat there, staring into the front cart, sitting still.

After another moment of remaining completely stiff, she let out a giggle.

“You’re right, you’re right. I’m sorry, it will be done soon.”

The mare giggled covering her muzzle due to retained happiness. Securing her fallen hat stuck on the wall by ice and adjusting her loosen cape flicking it to take away its stiffness. She restored her warm smile once more, and trotted to the front cart as if nothing had happened.

Back on the third cart a heated discussion had blossomed, tangented and escalated. The loudest voices in between all those trying to speak. Two ponies. Two which would never surrender, a battle for honor, a battle for glory, one fight’s for recognition, and the other battled for the ultimate prize.

Not wearing that back hoofed, purdy, too fatherly, uncool, dress.

“Please Rainbow, this is a very important meeting, it could be very beneficial for my name in Canterlot. If I would’ve known I would have made something more your peculiar style.”

“Another dress, Rarity? No prob, the one I have now? Fine, but that, I am not wearing. And if you dare use magic to dress me, you'll be my number one prank victim until I get tired of pranking!”

“Like if you didn’t prank me once a week already.”

Like all conversations, the mares derailed away from the source. In this exchange, that began with theories and bets, became for Rainbow Dash a race for her dignity. Rarity had reached to the fact that key ponies she knew could appear in the gathering. Many might have never met her. Never met her dresses.

So with recognition in her mind, she took some of the extra dress she was going to wear for the visit to Canterlot, in case something happened, again, and asked her friends to wear one each.

Each more feathery and excessively un-cooler than the last.

“Come on, Rainbow Dash. It’s just for a day.”

“I prefer to spend a week trapped in a library reading uncool books than wearing that for a second!”

"Rainbow you are already famous on your own, you could catch the eye of many more ponies on areas I can ever reach."

"Hey, I thought you wanted to give me reasons to wear it, not avoid it!"

But for Rainbow Dash’s future gratitude, a crazy pink party pony came to her rescue.

Suddenly the whole cart pulled with a tremendous force forwards. The ponies caught by surprise barely remained on their leggings, and Rainbow Dash, who was in midair, tried to become the first pegasus to fly backwards without noticing it herself, she would have flown four meters if it weren’t because of the persistent back wall of the cart.

Twenty whole seconds past before they were able to stand correctly, the first one to recover her bearings was Applejack, who claimed the tittle of the first scaler of recently formed summit of pony mountain with a question.

“Wow nelly, what in tarnation’ just happened?”

The pony mountain slowly dissolved, and Rarity, who after close inspection of her dress and those of her friends gave a relieved sigh, was the second to speak.

“I will answer your question with another question. Which pony we know recently was very upset she couldn’t arrive to a certain gathering early?” Rarity asked as she rubbed her template with her hooves.

Rainbow Dash joined the balanced ponies, and answered for everypony.

“Pinkie Pie…”  She answered facehoofing.

After a time with added speed it would take the group one more minute to arrive at the train station of Canterlot. And as many on the train, they would have somepony waiting for them on arrival. But for this particular group those that waited for them attracted a lot of attention. Or all the attention they would get from nopony staying there.

Now, magic of teleportation is not a big secret, it had become common after decades of its discovery and use. And all expert unicorns able to use it were known by many, and those that appeared spontaneously in the train station were no exception.

But being known here was the reason the waiting group for Pinkie, Rainbow, Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy were alone in the train station. Some more happy than others.

“Did you have to bring us right in the middle of the station?” Asked a frustrated princess, me, light lavender colored dress a little dirty by dragging it on the floor pacing at the side of a waiting bench. Guards surrounded me, all of them wearing no helmet preparing their horns, heating and cooling them as a stretching exercise.

“Of course I had to your highness, you said to go here, I won’t do anything different because it would be too… chaotic” Said Discord, his claw and paw helping each other to clap. “Unless that’s what you want?”

“Discord…” I strained my voice. Patience was a virtue I recently was finding limit of.

“Yes, your highness?” Discord replied with a higher amount of enthusiasm, but Discord’s smile only grew as I got more irritated. “That’s my name, don’t stale it out.”

Giving a sigh of annoyance as reply I controlled my breathing in manner practiced from the kind of situation I had been in. Discord was unhappy with my gained control as he crossed his arms and floated to one side of me to the other.

“What happened to you? You used to be so much fun.”

“What? With you always being a discomfort every time you talk, it should be obvious I would eventually get used to you.”

“Somepony getting used to me? You couldn’t be more wrong even if you tried. No little Sparkle, I question your acceptance of me being here, of you being a princess, of… a lot really.” Discord’s almost serious voice made me glance at him warily.

“Acceptance? Of you? I still consider that “reforming” you was a mistake.”

“Oh, such harsh words, but why is that the one thing you question, hmm?”

“Why would it not be, it’s obvious you didn’t change at all.”

“Of course I have changed!” Discord’s voice rose more than usual, making me momentarly lose my guard.

“Have you?” I asked eyebrows rose.

“I’m not stone anymore am I now?” Discord replied, his smirk growing tenfold, dancing in midair, tapping noises coming from nothing. I didn’t react, too used to the way Discord acted, what he did is surprising, that’s without saying, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of making a reaction. Being a princess has given me more time to get used to controlling responses, which made me internally smile when Discord stopped his tapping, rolling his eyes.

“No, your highness, my wonder is to why it's the one and only thing you think.” Discord repeated, this time with a particular change in his voice. My ears flickered, but other than that I was unaffected.

“I don’t have time for your mind games, Discord. I need to prepare a teleportation that leaves me perfectly fine or not fried. We need to look perfect for this morning’s arrival.” I said ending the conversation by strolling towards the unicorn guard nearest to the edge confident with his preparation. Discord shook his head.

“Hopefully you will think up right at the meeting. That way it can get interesting.” Discord muttered as if talking to me, ascending to the air with his despaired wings. Discord gazed into the horizon and if the column of smoke he was seeing had anything to say, it would be that the train was impending to the station. Just about to surround the mountain to enter the station.

“Hmm, that’s interesting…” Discord commented to himself when he was able to see the smoke closely stretching throughout the sky. The train was going fast. Unusually so, but that was not the only interesting object to see.

The trains got into full view helping Discord see it with detail, everything about it, including the locomotors cabin.

Discord smirked.

With a quick snap of his claws, Discord appeared back next to me. I was speaking to the guards, agreeing into which method they were going to use and the details of it. Discord rolled his eyes, he was the one mainly teleporting us. The train was near, a loud screech of the train’s brakes made Discord glance to make sure he saw correctly. His mood improved considerably once he said the next phrase.

“Pinkie Pie really does like to be late.”

“Wait, what?”

The setting was perfect, it took only a fraction of a second but I got to see the train and caught the sight of the driver cabin, and with it, a clearly recognizable pink mare using a train driver’s hat blocking the cabin’s door with a goat helping her push while a giraffe’s head poked above the other window, eyes wide as it hit the brakes. A couple of actual train drivers, this could be noticed by their uniforms, were trying to remove the pink menace of their train controls by trying to take down the iron door. This would’ve continued if not for a smile and eyes of recognition filling Pinkie’s being. A 'hello' wave was sent my way. With nothing holding them out the railroad engineers broke down the door and got a hold of the pink driver wannabe by jumping inside, yelling bloody murther.

And from there the train continued its slow friction-filled break, screeching all the way. Discord was the only other source of sound as he snorted away whichever sorrows he had out of the sight of the expression I used to describe my opinion of the scene. This continued for a minute which was the time the train took to finally stop and signify its arrival with its colorful amount of sounds.

“Oh so glorious not Elements of Harmony, how I have missed you all joined up.” Discord said finally ending his reign of laughter, with an extra-large smirk for my ‘what in tartarus' look. “See how fun it is when you react to them?”

I responded to Discord with a stinkeye. Discord’s chuckle could reach far and wide, a couple of lightings in the background was all he needed to make it complete.

With the train finally here I prepared my dress and fixed my hair. Even if I tried there was no way I would be able to hide anyone I was happy to see my friends again. It hasn’t been that long really, but it has been long since all of them have been together.

Ready to meet my friends with a smile, even with the smirking draconequus at my side, I waited for the cart’s doors to open.

And once opened, I got smacked by pink.

“AND DON’T COME BACK!” Yelled somepony from the train, furious stomping followed, becoming weaker until it became impossible to hear. The same voice became clear once again to those paying attention, which was Discord. “AND YOU THREE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE!”

“Oho, ho~ I was sure it was only Pinkie Pie. But the more elements thrown to Twilight the better, come on!”

But the collision between me and the pink blur didn’t go unnoticed as the Twilight guards already surrounded the pink attacker, horns at the ready. I shook my head, clearing my spinning eyes from the collision. Once focused I was met with a big smile.

“Hiya, Twilight!” Pinkie Pie said loudly, bouncing off my person and helping me stand, ignoring the momentary threatening unicorns surrounding her. The guards only took a glance at Pinkie’s cutie mark before going back to the stoic ways, but did continued to eye her every movement.

“Wow, Pinkie Pie what did you do?” Another voice entered from above the ruckus, Rainbow Dash got next to Pinkie before she continued. “What happened? Oh, hey Twilight.”

“I made us arrive early, silly.” Pinkie answered, giggling as if it was nothing. I took a look at my friends, a warm smile adorning my face, Rainbow was wearing a dress comparable to all the ones she used before, modified to seem somewhat new and different. Just like all the others, Rarity, Fluttershy and Applejack who came from the cart equally worried, to the dismay of Discord hoping for more throwed ponies. I saw that all wore equally modified versions of their old dresses, some with more feathery than others.

But the real problem was Pinkie Pie, the problem wasn’t that she wore no dress at all. The problem was a dark, filthy, dirty and sweaty layer of coal over her fur that made Rarity screech like the train had once done beforehand. One of my locks of hair sprung out of place.

“Pinkie Pie, what have you done to your coat?!” Rarity shrieked, completely ignoring her royal friend or a spirit of chaos next to her. There were more important things to worry about. “Girls help me clean Pinkie, Applejack, find her dress, Rainbow, get her saddlebag. By Celestia we are not going to arrive late for this, or worst, unpresentable!”

“Hey! That tickles!”

“What is wrong with this? Is- is this coal?!”

“Yipster! Coal makes trains move Rarity, at least this one, wouldn’t it be great if it moved with sweets? That would be super amazingly-incredible! I mean, I always get faster with sweets! Why wouldn't it do the—“

“Stop moving!”

“Hello Twilight... Discord.” Fluttershy said once near us two, the only one not helping Rarity, only because she wasn’t given any orders. I was about to explode in stress from the predicament of Pinkie so I wasn’t in any state to reply.

“Hello, my dear friend.” But it didn’t mean Discord did not. “How has everything been without me? Boring?”

“Oh, a yes, things have been fine, you haven’t done anything bad have you?” Fluttershy said with a smile, making me look at her funny. The attitude change of Fluttershy to 'more confident' around Discord was to really note. Maybe to not be an easy pick for the draconequus.

“Good, good, wouldn’t want a friend to get bored when I can do something about it.” Discord continued, picking up Fluttershy to rub her head with his paw, a little too forceful to be nice. Fluttershy and I were not pleased about the gesture of friendship. As he did so, Discord glanced at the train; at all the ponies remaining in the carts, wary or frightened of even being in the same floor as him. Not that we paid attention.

“Oh, it’s no use! This coal can’t be taken swiftly... Twilight? Do you have any spells to clean stubborn dirty coats? Oh, and hello darling how are you?” Rarity said ending with a crocket smile. My breathing became faster as she chuckled nervously.

“I’m sorry, Rarity,” I said trying to remain calm, doing so internally but the price was paid by the exterior. Hair slowly losing its tedious brushed texture. No real ways to have Pinkie clean, I thought of anything in the castle which could be used as soap to remove the black coat.

But I remembered someone that had a thing for soap.

“Discord!” I called out even before turning to him. The cry made Fluttershy squeak as Discord whirled too fast for her liking, smiling innocently, now I know he was wearing a knowing smile. All the others glanced at me questionably. By this point the Twilight guards were done preparing. “Do you think you can take off some coal off her fur?”

“Clean Pinkie up, right? I can make her squeaky clean and better.” Discord said snapping his claw, it didn’t mean there wasn't word against it from everywhere in the vicinity. Pinkie, in a poof of glistening light, was cleaned, and not only that, she was wearing a dress, the same once held on Applejack’s hooves. Earning an giggling ‘ohh’ from Pinkie Pie.

“Thanks!” Pinkie said checking out her dress, Rarity saw at the dress with recognition, looking deep in her saddlebag she found that Pinkie was wearing one of her special dresses. She unconsciously bit her hoof.

Discord then raised an eyebrow at me, still with Fluttershy in his grasp, struggling to escape. Rolling my eyes I said as the words obviously requested as if it was painful.

“Thanks, Discord?” The words were said ending with an awkward silence. The feeling coursing inside me was a confusing one, I didn't understand what it was at the time, a feeling of dislike to Discord's help.

“Discord, it’s not nice to keep friends in a hold when they are uncomfortable.” Fluttlershy stated, her confidence rebuffed. “Or do you want us to stop being friends?”

“I would never want that, you are my friend, and I am yours, equal caring on both parts of this, right?”

“Right.”

“Good, now, was that so hard you highness?” Discord said with a smirk at me, opening his arms letting Fluttershy sigh in relief. We all observed Discord in surprised, his smirked only got bigger. “What? I do think you remember me getting reformed, right? So, before the princess here becomes a train wreck, are you ready for an important and boring party?”

“Absolutely~ Like Spike once said, as long as we are together!” Pinkie said tossing her hoof in the air, Rarity sighed in relief, and Rainbow Dash groaned in memory of what was going to come.

“Well, uh Discord that was... nice of you?” Applejack said, almost alienated by the words used. It had been a while any of them interacted with Discord and Applejack was beginning to think it was about time they saw Discord in a new way. Discord waved off her half made gratitude and prepared his claw for a snap.

I had spoken to the guards as Discord, Applejack and Pinkie had their exchange, and we were ready to go our way. And at good time, strains of my mane had been slowly losing their comb each second passed being there. I knew I couldn’t last any longer.

I asked Discord to transport us immidietly. With a snap of his claw and the glowing horns of a squad of guards. Our group was gone.

But to my later dismay, before when Pinkie Pie lifted her forehoof in her joyful reply, a squeak resounded from her body. Squeaky clean is a term not used lightly by the spirit of chaos.

Discord breathed, relieved. Chuckling as he raised both forelegs stretching with both claw and paw gripping tightly at nothing. All the ponies watching Discord would only see he was stretching his arms.

But his face had an unfamiliar wrathful scowl. The normal yellow in his eyes had exchanged places with the red, his brows tightened like his jaw as muscles tensed throghout the body. Eyes closed, and inhaling deeply he—

He left the breath go, an unfamiliar haunted expression taking over. If he wouldn’t have been in concentration he would have detected a unique assembly of three leaving the train against the other passengers’ warnings, disappearing in a poping sparkly flash.

“Just two thousand more changes and I’ll be fine for the day.” Discord said ominously. Once his common trickster like expression got back into place he jumped in the air and, for everyponies relief, vanished from sight.

That day was a horrid one really. There was too many things passing through my mind, and the real problem was that it just continued to pile up all the way into the horrid night and then collapsed under the climax of the night. At least when I was near my friends. But I still believe there was nothing I could've done to prevent it.

.̓̌ͫ̌̃͏̯̙͝.̨͒̎̐̃̐҉̥.̴̙̯̫͛ͥ

Huh? Oh, yeah! I do remember that night. But shamefully I wasn’t inside the castle. I was more interesting to watch what happened on the forest, right?

.̡̹͓͖̻͎̪̝̱͌̊ͪ.̩̳̟̳͛̌̔̆̾́͆͐͠.̬̖̤̦̞̼̰̉ͦ̅ͅ

What, you didn’t see it?

...

Ha! You neither? Wow, I can see why you two like to hide so much. It feels powerful.

...

.̴̦̥̤̜͖͉̺̅ͧ̈̾.̖͓̠̖̗͖ͦ̚ͅ.̘͖͎͚͖̬̆͗̕

Alright, alright, don’t need to get worked up about it… well…

Canterlot Valley. Night of the same day.

First to notice was the night sky. A lovely wonder for those that could observe it. Many would say its unique beauty has conveyed much more than simple visible features. Thoughts, dreams, and concepts, you name it, but of course in reality the same sky can bring so much more. And this idea couldn’t have been truer that night.

White Tail woods. A forest whose name was placed by its founder, was known to be an abode of peaceful slumber for beings of many sizes. Its natural trees would only grow when helped to do so, its weather would change when commanded to do so, and its residents would always be sure to hear those that cared for the forest said.

But this night was different, dangerously so.

Smoke was the first sign of trouble, the night sky easily blending with it. Only careful small creatures in trees could catch its foul smell and obscure coloration as it blocked stars from the sky, the light of the moon barely helped its vision. But for those at the place of birth of the smoke, there was no denying it. The White Tail forest was on fire.

The dangerous night began violently. A collosal shake snapped the whole forest awake, all big and small. Those whom saw the forest fire were already far away from the place of growth of the heated savage, or stayed in wonder of its bright and warmth. Never had they seen such a thing, and it’s true that curiosity could be ones doom, but certain group of critters that were observant of the flame were not curious of its bright form, or abnormality, but by its fuel.

Fire, glass, steel and blood, made the scene. Only the fire enjoyed the moment, rising with the soft wind and spreading through the green grass. Not even the trees were safe, those which were already broken were effortlessly consumed and helped made the wildfire grow. The creatures continued to stare, some with an expression of worry, and there was an obvious reason why, if listened carefully.

The sound in the night was of the wind blowing, the flames crackling and groans of pain rising from between the chunks of steel. Some creatures attempted to help whichever critter of the forest was in the blaze, trying to clear a path, and once that failed, trying to look for the over-watchers of the forest. But it looked as if they wouldn’t make it in time as the great first watcher was nowhere to be found.

That of course was until the strange being stood from inside the inferno.

It was as strange as it was tall, fire blocking from any actual observation. For any small creature that watched as it rose from the pieces and stood in two legs, it would be forever a miracle that none wanted to be too close to see. It seemed to contemplate its surrounding, as if in marvel, right in the middle of the flame.

As if it just considered its predicament, the thing ran, but in the wrong direction. Entering in between the pieces of steel instead of leaving the burning space, it searched. And only those animals with a tuned hearing that could overcome the roar of the flames could understand why.

There were more cries for help.

And thanks to those cries it became a bigger surprise when the creature pulled not another creature like itself, but a small red cylinder. Many watched in confusion as to what it was, and some thought the poor bipedal was ‘co-coos’ or just cared for the tube more. At least until the being grasped the red cylinder’s tip.

The red cylinder was neither a toy nor a treasure, it was a vessel, a vessel that contained the breath of winter. The voice howled in the night, making everything it touched part of its cold season, wherever it touched. Including the infernal flame.

The creature holding the vessel was thorough, not leaving a spot untouched by the cold voice. Covering every alcove and fissure until all was concealed in strange snow and mist of cold.

Once done, it left such an impressive connection with a whole season spirit, fall hastily on the now snowy grass. Heading back again in the twisted steel, surely searching for its pack.

And it was successful, as it consecutively pulled about three like itself, all still impossible to see by the curious creatures, but now by a mystical mist instead of a terrifying danger. The recently rescued tall beings seemed to ask the first to find the nearest hill and scale it, whichever was said, it did the last anyway.

The unknown nature of things was too much for some of the residents of White Tail woods, mainly on the young and the squirrels. One in particular, Snuggles, as the guardians of the forest had named him, carrying himself with pride as he was the one brave enough to meet every creature in the forest without missing one, and this would be no different for him, no matter how scared he was.

Snuggles made a dash to the first being as it carried itself in two legs to the nearest hill. The being stumbled now and then, obviously unbalanced. Snuggles followed, sure to keep his distance until he was seen to make contact. And once it reached the top of the hill the thing looked at the looming smoke, following its trail.

In curiosity, Snuggles did the same, and following the being’s direction of sight. He noticed the separating nature of the smoke, and following the trail with his head he reached the smoke’s destination.

Snuggles tilted his tiny head.

It was the beautiful white rock, all the way up on the side of a mountain. Snuggles had seen over-watchers entering it now and then. Snuggles had seen it many times before. Its white colored smooth stone and yellow tops, its high columns and twisted earthworks, its destroyed rock towers and falling rubble—

Snuggles made a double take.

Undoubtedly, the beautiful structure was missing one of its beautiful white rock towers, pieces of it fell due to the nature of its location. The strange formed white rock, which was unnatural by itself already, was half destroyed. Exactly where the smoke made contact with it. And as if to add to his thoughts there was a continuos tickle on Snuggle’s ear, it didn't take much thought to recognize its purpose.

Laughter.

Snuggles searched for the source, and to his horror, he found it. It was the new being, its shoulders were trembling with how hard it was laughing. By that moment Snuggles wasn’t sure if he wanted to meet it anymore. But before he could give a paw back, a flash from the destroyed towers of the white rock stopped him on his tracks, almost blinding him.

It took him some time to dare look again, but when he did, he didn’t know if he was permanently affected by the light, or he was still sleeping in his leaf bed. He could have sworn by his tiny eyes, that a side of the rock structure was missing completely.

A little shiver moved up Snuggle’s small spine, feeling he was being watched.

Slowly turning his head, he looked at the being, scared for his life.

The being was no longer there.

All bravery gone, Snuggles decided it was time to leave.

But it was not to be.

Snuggles collided hard. A little squeak escaping as he stumbled forward. He was already scared out of his little mind, but then he turned. Looked up.

And his blood ran cold.

It was the being. A smile spreading from side to side on its disturbing looking pale face, barely with any fur, and black marks from the fire it has recently been inside of, covered in shadow. Its eyes were small but sharp, reflecting with the little light the night had, looking deep into Snuggles' existence.

Everything got dark.

And from there forward I couldn’t see anymore.

I…

"Well, who’s next?" Twilight said in the darkness. The others were there, that much she knew, and that's all that mattered.

.̙͓͕͓̲͇̞̅̊̔ͦͮ.̶̮̻̇́ͥ͐̆̂̂͡͠.͑̃̔͂͛̐ͪͦ҉̸͈̭̟̮͈

"Ah, of course, Cristal, right? Sorry for asking, I just sometimes forget your name, I mean, you tell me it's spelled with an I instead of a "Y"and it just sounds weird to me. He-he."

.̪̥̮̻̣̻̽̃ͦ̔ͧ̔.͊̊̉͏̸͓̰̣̞͇̱.̜̟͌͂̒̽ͤ̒

"Alright, fine, get yourself calm, I'm not looking for... much trouble? Heh." Twilight remained in the static nothing, expecting something to respond back, and recieving nothing, she rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine, tell your story, think of anything, I can wait. It's not like we're going anywhere in a while."

“What happened? What did that light do? Wait, I have wings now? What? Princess? Where are you? Hello? Anyone? Hello?!”

—Twilight Sparkle, day of ascension. Unknown.