Utopia

"Twas not so long ago, that this tale did make its course through the throes of history's binding pages, but a tale to be told none the less. A tale of daring adventure, of courage and loyalty, and generous sacrifice. For tis the tale of ponies six, who made their dreaded way through the dark and dangerous Everfree, to save their beloved home."

The voice from the stallion was enrapturing, and even as he spoke his horn was lit, and ghostly apparitions floated around him, six in all and each of a different colour. With a pulse of softer white light, he set a scene in a park not too far from where they were in Canterlot.

"Our adventure dear friends begins here, in Canterlot, on a balmy summer's eve, with the young but brilliant Twilight, the Princess we know today. Studying, as she was wont to do, in her times as beloved student of our fairest Princess of day, studying however the elements, that would lead only to dismay. Refusing a young lass' offer to join in rapturous glee, Young Twilight rushed homewards to find a something she thought she knew."

As he spoke, the illusions danced with his words, making the scene as he told it in his silvery voice, gesturing with his arms and swishing his cape.

"To her room within a tower she went, and called for her best assistant!"

"Spike!" called the illusion, calling another to the stage, a little purple dragon, with sharp looking spines down his back.

"The pair did search for hours for the book she knew she had, but when they found it Spike did pause, and asked in confusion of her meaning. For twas but an old pony's tale, of Nightmare Moon's return, did she find mention of the Elements she had found mentioned in her other tome. But a sense of foreboding grew in young Twilight, as she read the frightening tale, that in one thousand years since her sealing, the mighty dark queen would return, and the stars would aid in her vengeance, and release her from the moon."

"Through dragonfire she sent an urgent message to her mentor, proud and true, but no response she received was expected, and nor did she believe was due. For Celestia, in her benevolence, told her to stop reading dusty old books, and sent her instead posthaste to Ponyville, to prepare for the Solstice day."

The scene showed a disgruntled looking Twilight flying through the air in a chariot made of pure gold, and two burly pegasi carrying her. The little dragon was with her.

"The little townstead was quaint, and nothing like the city. Twilight had no time for it all, and wanted nothing but to study, to prepare for what she knew was coming. But no, she had to make sure everything was as it should be, and with checklist in hoof, she and her little dragon toured around the town."

"She met first a Pink mare, who merely gasped and ran away. Confused and not very happy, Twilight continued on her way, for she had to check on the food for that most frabjous day. So on she went to the fabled and loved Sweet Apple Acres! The beginnings of the town, to meet with dear honest Applejack, and see what was done. But despite her pleas, a gentle question..."

A little illusory filly, looking up with big sad eyes, questioned Twilight Sparkle, "Aren'tcha gunna stay for brunch?"

"Twilight was helpless to the little filly's plea, and let herself be dragged into the massive family. A Brunch so big, her belly was overfull! But beyond the uncomfortable feeling, her need to study grew, so she decided to continue on quickly, to find her next stop. Luck that be, her stop found her instead, as a rainbow struck her, finally becoming a pony on impact. She introduced herself, Rainbow Dash! Fastest pegasus in Equestria! A Challenge, made in anger about the lack of work, led to Twilight's embarrassment, and she left for the hall upon which her mentor's celebration would take place."

"Upon her arrival, did she find the most beautiful of unicorns to ever grace fair Equestria, the ever generous Rarity, decorating the delightful hall to match even her in beauty. And though she made many an offer to help Twilight in her image, the panicked unicorn declined, insisting she had too much to do. And thus she continued onwards, to face her final task. Tracking down the trainer of the choir, traditionally of birds. And thus, she met the ever kind hearted Fluttershy, and her beautifully voiced birds. Be that as it was, she seemed much more interested in our hero's faithful assistant, and thus they spoke, till Twilight and her assistant reached their new abode, temporary though she knew it to be."

"But what she would find there would not be the peace and quiet she had expected. Nay dear friends, peace and quiet is not what our heroine would find that night, for the stranger of a pink pony from the start of her adventure had set up the last of which Twilight would ever want as the end to her exciting day. Her entry was met with a shout of Surprise and a blast of confetti as she unwittingly set off the surprise party that had awaited her arrival for the better part of half the day. Tired and not in the mood to humor the laughing Pinkamina Diane Pie, Twilight tried for a beverage, only to realize the liquid she drank was instead sauce of the hottest degree, scalding her mouth as she drank instead of the punch bowl before leaving, proclaiming that all of the ponies, all of them, that resided within the boundaries of the townstead were insane, deserving of an asylum perhaps.

"But late that night... As the poor Twilight Sparkle tried vainly to sleep, she witnessed the single most terrifying moment of her life. As the stars themselves began to move, spinning around the mare branded moon that had inhabited Equestria's skies for a thousand years, getting faster and faster until, like a bolt from the blue, they shot to the moon, releasing a blinding flash of light as, to Twilight's astonishment, the moon itself changed, becoming a blank slate, where once there were a bust. And in that instant she knew... She knew that trouble was Brewing.

The stage went dark, a red light filtering through the fog now conjured upon the stage as the masked performer smiled.

"The Nightmare was coming... Coming to lay waste upon Equestria, and bring with it night eternal, never to allow the sun to grace her land again."

"Hurry it up will you? The show doesn't go forever, and if the Princess and the off duty guards get back, we're screwed!"

Swift rolled his eyes as the slower member of the thieves group followed to catch up. The side entrance to the Castle Canterlot was not very well known, but Swift had been in before, and these boys were his personal retinue. Perfectly capable, and absolutely loyal.

To him.

"Tch. Don't worry so much Silt," he replied slyly, "After we rob the guard captain blind, we'll be certain to leave enough evidence to get the bitch imprisoned."

Silt, a brown earth pony huffed as their lockpick started working the complex lock, "Please. If she was any kind of smart, she would have picked the team herself, or sent one of those guards of hers with her."

"Good thing she's not then..." their lockpick, a unicorn of Trottingham descent said idly, ear to the door, "or she'd have sent Hoodlum with us, I guarantee it. The big one doesn't look... suited..." he frowned before he continued, "To stealth."

"Something wrong Gin?" Swift asked quietly. Gin shook his head.

"Nah, just caught the pick on somethin'. Got it now, let's go."

The door clicked and swung open. Swift grinned and patted Gin on the shoulder as Silt lead.

"Irreplaceable mate, that's you," Swift complimented Gin. Gin simply shrugged.

"It's what I do," Was his simple answer.

The trio swept into the castle. Silt and Swift neutralizing the few guards that were present in the castle halls with non-lethal force. The best thieves never killed, and that was a creed all thieves save the worst lived by. The halls were mostly deserted however, and the trio easily found their way cleared most times. As they passed through one hall however...

"Dude... that's Princess Celestia's room," Silt whispered, stopping the other two, "Can you imagine the prestige we'd get if we stole something of hers? Shoes, jewelry, anything? Damn, even a hoofmirror..."

"Later," Swift said with a wicked grin, "After we've set up Ambrosia. Come on, let's go."

They set off through the halls again, hoofsteps silenced by their felt shoes as they rushed through the hallways, their hearts set upon the esteemed office of the Guard Captain, who had taken personal responsibility for both Princesses visiting the great show today, leaving the castle virtually unattended. So set were they on their target, they became oblivious to the flash of a long, sky blue tail vanishing behind them.