The Dragon Queen

Applejack cantered to Sweet Apple Acres, jumping up the stairs and digging her saddle bag out of her closet. She packed warm clothes in case it got cold on the way, and sunglasses in case it got bright, which it could've. She packed water and plenty of- of course- apples. She triple-checked her saddle bag and gathered her family in the living room.

"Y'all, I'm going with Spike so he can meet the Dragon Queen so he can find out about his family. I'll be gone for a while, and I know it's gonna be hard to buck all the apples without me, but y'all can do it. I trust in ya, and I don't know how long it'll take for me ta get back. But in case I don't get back, I love y'all. Big Mac, you're the best brother a filly could ask for. Applebloom, you're the sweetest little sister a mare could have, and Granny Smith, you're like a mother and father ta me. Jus' don't worry 'bout me a'tall." Applejack smiled.

"Y'all be careful or we won't forgive ya, Applejack!" Big Mac said heartily, hugging his sister tight.

"Applejack, stay safe. I won't forgive ya if ya don't come back." Applebloom started to cry a bit.

AJ wiped the tears away and smiled, holding her face. "I'll be back, don't ya fret."

She looked to Winona. Winona had a sad face and a sad look, whimpering slightly. "I'll be back soon, Winona."

"Applejack, you'll be safe, I know it in my heart." Granny Smith smiled, a strong face present.

"Thanks, Granny." Applejack smiled pleasantly. "See y'all in a... eeyup."

Applejack cantered to Golden Oaks Library, ready for the mission ahead.

The happy pink mare hopped to Sugar Cube Corner, hopping up the steps, two at a time, and into her room. Pinkie Pie packed her saddle bag full of silliness. She packed balloons, streamers, and a small party cannon for small parties. She packed warm clothes and put her saddle bag on, walking out of her room. She walked straight to Pound and Pumpkin Cake's room and the two foals were delighted to see her.

"Pinkie Pie! Play with us!" The twins smiled.

"Sorry, Pound and Pumpkin. Pinkie's going on a journey, she won't be back for a while."

The twins looked at each other sadly. "How long?"

"Well, even Pinkie Pie doesn't know how long she'll be gone," Pinkie sighed, scooping the twins up in her hooves. "But Pinkie Pie Pinkie Promises that she'll be back before you know it! Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!"

The pink pony put the twins back on the floor, who looked at her with sad eyes before returning to their toys. Pinkie Pie smiled at them and put the door halfway closed, sighing a bit.

"Pinkie Pie might break her Pinkie Promise this time, though," She muttered quietly, walking down the stairs sadly, her head hung low.

"Oh, Pinkie, dear, be careful on your trip!" Mrs. Cake said, wiping a tear from her eye.

"We made a special cupcake just for you. Be safe, okay?" Mr. Cake asked, hoofing the cupcake to Pinkie.

"Be sure to take care of Gummy while I'm gone. He likes fruit punch, all kinds of cupcakes, but he doesn't really agree with chocolate, and-" Pinkie was stopped by Mrs. Cake's hoof. The three nodded, knowing what to do.

She smiled and nodded, putting the pink cupcake with yellow and blue sprinkles in a case and putting it in her saddlebag before nodding and trotting to Golden Oaks Library.

Rainbow Dash flew home as fast as she could, zooming up to her room. She packed the standard things, a scarf, three Daring Do books in case she got bored, plenty of water, and apples- as well as plenty of apple cider. She slapped the bag over her back and looked to Tank. She sighed. Who'd take care of her precious Tank?

"Hey, Rainbow Dash! Why the rush?" Scoots asked.

"I have a mission to go on with Spike." Rainbow said. "You can stay with Scootaloo and Applebloom, I already checked with Rarity and Applejack."

Scootaloo suddenly hugged Rainbow Dash. "Be careful, big sister."

Rainbow smirked. "Don't worry, little sister." Rainbow smiled, nuzzling her adopted sister's neck.

Scootaloo ran down the stairs and flew out of the house, an orange and pink line racing behind her as she flew. Rainbow sighed, sitting down with Tank.

"Tank, I have to go with Spike on this big mission, and I might be gone for a long, long time." Rainbow Dash scratched her neck. "But, some pony needs to watch you and make sure you're okay in case I... don't come back. So... which pony do you want to stay with, Tank?"

Tank flew over to a map of Ponyville in Rainbow's study, where he put his leg on the school yard. "You want to stay with Cheerilee? If that's what my Tank wants, I guess I can ask her."

Rainbow picked up his tortoise food and water and food bowls in her mouth and flew to the school yard, hoping to find Cheerilee. The dark pink earth pony was just leaving the building, her own saddle bags on her back.

"Hey, Cheerilee!" Rainbow called, muffled, landing close to her and putting the bag and bowls down.

"Oh, hello, Rainbow Dash." Cheerilee smiled. "What can I do for you?"

"Uh, well, I have to go with Spike on this mission, and Tank needs some pony to watch over him, and he really wanted to stay with you, I guess. Could you watch him for me?" Rainbow asked, twiddling her hooves.

Cheerilee gave an awkward look, then smiled. "I suppose I could take him off your hooves for a month or so. The foals would love to see a turtle during class."

"Tortoise," Rainbow corrected.

"Right, of course," Cheerilee laughed.

"If I... If I, uh, don't come back..."

"I'll be sure he stays in great hooves, Rainbow Dash." Cheerilee confirmed, packing the bag and bowls into her saddle bag. "I'll go on ahead and you say goodbye to Tank."

Rainbow hugged Tank, dropping a tear. "I love ya, buddy. Stay awesome while I'm gone, and make sure Scoots stays just as awesome. If I don't come back, you're gonna have to make up for that hole of awesomeness, okay?"

Tank nodded, flying sadly over to Cheerilee, while Rainbow flew as fast as she could to Golden Oaks Library. It wasn't that she wanted to get away from Tank, it was that she didn't want any pony to see the bravest, strongest, most loyal pony in Equestria cry.

Fluttershy cantered home, packing her saddle bag quickly. She looked at her friends sadly, but smiled. She picked up her phone and called her friend, Poesy.

"Hi, Poesy? Could you watch my animals for a... while?" Fluttershy asked.

"Are you going on a trip, Flutters?" The earth pony asked on the other end.

"Yes, sort of," Fluttershy sighed. "Can you hurry over, please?"

"Sure, Fluttershy," Poesy said, hanging up and rushing over.

After about ten minutes of pacing, Poesy was at Fluttershy's door, knocking. The Pegasus let the earth mare in, the duo sitting on the couch. Poesy petted Angel and a few other animals, smiling.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going with Spike on this long trip to see the Dragon Queen. I might not... come back. So, if that happens, can you take care of my animals?" Fluttershy whimpered, a soothing hoof on her head.

"Flutters, we're third cousins, twice removed, basically sisters. I'll be sure to keep every animal safe, from the tiniest Ladybug to the largest Elephant. Don't you worry, 'cause I know you too much." Poesy smiled.

Flutters hugged her cousin, sobbing into her chest. "Th-Thank you, Poesy! It means a lot to me!"

"Fluttershy, you should go. Staying here will just make it harder to leave, and you know it." Poesy stated firmly.

"You're right," Flutters resisted the urge to pet and kiss every pet goodbye, Poesy seeing her cousin struggle.

Poesy gathered the animals out in front of her cottage and all at once they waved goodbye to Fluttershy, who galloped off with a smile on her face, but tears streaming down her eyes, Poesy knowing she was happy that if she didn't come back, some pony would take care of her pets.

Rarity walked home slowly, taking every step with a heavy heart. She opened her door slowly, packed her saddle bag slowly, with a scarf, sunglasses, a sun hat, and a picture of her family. She put her saddle bag on and walked into Sweetie Belle's room after knocking three times.

"Sweetie Belle, I need to talk to you," Rarity said sadly.

"Am I in trouble? Did I do something wrong? I'm so sorry, Rarity! Whatever I did-" Rarity hushed her sister.

"You didn't do anything wrong, Sweetie Belle." Sweetie winced. Rarity only used her full name when she was serious. Like serious serious. "I'm going with my friends to see the Dragon Queen. I might not be back for a while, and maybe even not at all. I love you, Sweetie Belle, and if I don't come back, you're a strong filly, and a smart one. I entrust Carousel Boutique to my little sister. I arranged with Applejack and Rainbow Dash that you stay with the Apples with Scootaloo and Applebloom. You may be here or in Rainbow's house, but the Apples will watch over you, make sure you eat, make sure you go to school, and make sure you don't worry."

"Rarity, you can't go!" Sweetie cried out in her melodic voice. "Wh-What if you don't come back?!"

Rarity petted her sister's mane. "I promise you with all my heart that I will come back, and if I don't, I will die trying."

Sweetie sighed. "Okay, I'll be good, sis."

"I know you will." Rarity smiled, quickly running to Golden Oaks Library.

It wasn't that she wanted to get away from her sometimes annoying sister, it wasn't that she didn't want any pony to see her mascara running, it was that she wanted to leave so she could come back and hug Sweetie Belle and never ever let go of her.

Twilight sat in the foyer, her saddle bag prepacked. Spike had his own backpack filled with everything he'd need. After a while, every pony was regathered in Golden Oaks Library. Twilight sat them down, giving a few a tissue box and others a shoulder to cry on. After calming down, Twilight stamped her hooves on the floor.

"Now, all we need to do is find a map." Twilight Sparkle sighed. "It could be in any of these books, it could be in Celestia and Luna's old castle, it could be in the Canterlot Archives, it could be-"

"Uh, Twilight, I already have the map." Spike said, holding the book up.

"But Spike, that's only a fragment." Rarity corrected.

"Not unless you have special dragon powers, also known as," Spike paused. "Claws."

He opened the book to the very last pages which were empty- at least, seemed empty. Spike scratched the very 'last' page and a tiny square of paper fell out. He picked it up off the ground and closed the book, putting it in his bag. He then unfolded the paper many times, a map half the size of a young mare.

"It's in Dragon," Fluttershy spoke up.

"Yeah, it's a very old map of Equestria," Spike smiled. "See, this is early Canterlot. And they moved West-wards. That means that-" Spike coughed out a letter. "Hmm, Twilight, it's for you."

"Dearest Princess Twilight Sparkle,

I understand completely that you must go, and the Dragons should listen to you, Twilight. I've sent the Queen a letter, but I haven't heard back, so I know not if it's gotten there yet. I trust you all to be safe and sound on your trip. I presume you'll have an old version of the map somewhere in the book, and you only need to travel North West where it says there are mountains. There is only one large one, which is actually an earth dragon. He should be kind enough to tell you how to get to the Queen after that. Good luck, Twilight.

Your Forever Faithful Mentor and Friend,

Princess Celestia