Twilight had work days. Days spent with hours of constant studying, and nothing but it. She would be lucky if she would eat on those days. She also had days where every chore of Golden Oaks seemed to pile up with no immediate end to their insufferable personalities. It was taxing most of the time and she would feel mental exhaustion most often during those times. But that day, that day she had mental and physical exhaustion like she could not believe. The day that her eyes were opened up to her.

She studied, she studied them as best she could to try and find a way to save them but there was nothing. This infection of the brain was encrypted with magic so dark and ancient that Twilight dare not touch it, not even to know the contents of the spell. It sent shivers up her spine just thinking about the spell. And in return all she got were headaches and visions. She does not know exactly where this originated but she knows that the contents of them are beyond that of Twilight. Her muscles tight and her throat sore from the ashes that now rose. Twilight stood up tall with her shoulders set back and resting from their work of the most recent hours. The day was won, but not without its casualties. Alex could only train so many, only so many could offer their lives for cause they know nothing about. It was an empty victory.

She stood atop a hill just outside on the field of battle where so many fell. Twilight held her head low out of respect for the dead. Was this what it was like to fight? Was this the cold gripping feeling that encompassed the tragedies of war? Are these the spoils of war? Twilight shook her head and a tear shed from her glistening iris as she stared at the dawning sun, peeking through dark clouds that hung a blanket of shadows over all of Ponyville. Lives lost and for what, only to live to die another day. Twilight sniffled as she felt nauseas from the acrid odor that rose into her nostrils. The smell of burning meat, pony meat. Her stomach could almost not bear the smell. They had no immediate plan to be rid of the bodies that piled up after the battle. They decided to erect a monument for the fallen in honor of their memory. The Battle of Falling Swords. Let it be known that the first ponies to die for a cause in a little over a thousand years were ponies that Twilight knew personally. All laying down their lives to help their comrades fight another day.

"Truly admirable traits to possess," Exclaimed a soft spoken male voice. Twilight nearly jumped at the sound coming from behind her. She turned and saw a hooded figure, a pegasus that carried a long knotted staff. He wore a long hooded cloak over what she could only assume was a mage coat of some kind. Raven feathers were stitched to the shoulders. There was a mystical air around him, unknown power that welled beneath his image. All Twilight could see from his face as a beard, aged grey with time and telling Twilight that he had stories. But with age also came power and it seemed to grow with every waking second that Twilight had yet to spend with this unknown stranger. The stranger continued, "Remorse. Empathy for the passings of those that you cared for...the earth will heal in time...as will the mourning and grief that resides deep inside of you. The sacrifices have been and you stand united with that of one from my world and that of your own. One victory of many to come. Do not fret Fin'alah, reinforcements are on their way and you need not worry about casualties that are only your own."

Twilight had so many questions, rushing through her mind like a blur but she decided to start from the beginning with, "Who in the name of Celestia are you?"

The pony removed his hood and revealed his full face. He showed only slight signs of aging from his tall lithe frame. A beard of jet black accompanied by a long jet black hair was most impressive. But what was more impressive was his eyes, holding in his large orbs of pure violet was power beyond anything that Twilight had felt before. Sending waves of electricity through her, it awoken her and warranted her very attention. It was unbelievable. His coat was a faded chestnut color, warm and inviting. Her nerves seemed to loosen a bit but she still held hesitation that he seemed to pick up as he added in his soft spoken tone, "You hold hesitation. That is most agreeable to your current situation...for you alone hold the key to your own planet's salvation...but where are my manners, I am Medivh and like you I am a master of the arcane. I sensed your power even when I entered this world."

Twilight made connections all the time. She had to, who else would. But of all the ponies to make her headache worse it was one that was cryptic beyond reasoning. Twilight pressed a hoof to her head and grunted from the pain. She cast a spell to attempt at suppressing the pain and it seemed to work. The pain subsided and she regathered her wits, Medivh remained as still as a statue staring at her with his large violet and pupilless eyes. Twilight drew back for a second and asked, "Wait...you said you are from another planet and that there is..."

"Yes I mean your friend Alexandros," Medivh nodded with wise words coming from him, "He is not a citizen of Equis, nor will he ever claim to be...and I am afraid that he is not the only one that have arrived from our world of Azeroth. For he brought with him a former student of the Lich King, Rovos the Chilled End who intends to turn this paradise of light into a land of eternal darkness. And Alexandros alone holds the key to saving your world."

Twilight looked downcast as she put it together and uttered, "The Ashbringer..."

Medivh nodded, "Yes my child, the missing part of him. If he does not find it, or worse it falls into the hands of Rovos, then your world is doomed."

Twilight looked back up and asked in a dark and serious tone, "Wait, if he holds the key to our salvation and he does not know it yet then why come to me?"

Medivh looked away and closed his eyes cracking a half smile as he added, "You are even smarter than I gave you credit for...there is a lot of power that wells within you, I can feel it as we speak...My role back on Azeroth was the pariah, the one to issue forth the end times with the invasion of the orcs. I am the one to blame, for there are no others who can be...I escaped my world after the Third War and took it upon myself to reach out and start anew. I came upon this one as it held many parallels to Azeroth, and perhaps even more with Rovos' invasion...I once took up an apprentice...under the haze of my father but I taught him...perhaps it is time that a new Guardian is to arise."

He opened his eyes and stared directly at her and said, "You, you are the New Guardian of Equis. I can teach you."

Twilight said nervously, "I appreciate the offer but-"

"The teachings of friendship can only go so far, Fin'alah," Medivh stepped next to her, "And even before your official studies on friendship you learned arcanic spells of defense. Celestia took you under her wing because she feared you, she wanted to keep you safe so you would control your powers...now that you have control over your abilities then your proper training can begin."

Medivh reached under the fabric of his cloak and took out a large tome and handed it to Twilight. Twilight held back every muscle to not have her scream in utter jubilation. A mystical tome given by an alien pony from another world. She grabbed the aged and cracked leather bound novel and just by touching it she could sense the contents. 5000 pages. 2000 dedicated to an actual subject as it is written in a language that she has no idea how to read or speak. But that is where the other 3000 come into play, it teaches the reader the language. Twilight could feel resonate power coming from the tome and she looked at Medivh with wide eyes and he said, "This will teach you the basics, I shall return with proper instructions on the spells that you will learn from the book. Thalassian is a ver easy language to pick up and I am sure it will come faster to you than any others. Al diel shala...Fin'alah."

Twilight watched as Medivh transformed into a crow and flew off onto the wind. Twilight had no idea how to begin to describe her feelings at that moment. She had just been offered to learn from a mystical and powerful being, so fast and to be honest rushed from her point of view. So fast but she had no choice. Alex was the key to saving Equestria, if somepony had to stand by his side then it would be her. From that moment onward she would dedicate herself to the teachings that this Medivh offered. This being was right, the teachings of friendship can go only so far before things would get repetitive. If she is to continue her studies then this would be it.

She looked down at the book and saw the aged red leather bound under borders of aged tin to hold the leather down. It was worn and beat up, perhaps thousands of years old at Twilight's well educated guess. She found it odd that she moved from one immortal mentor to another. It was odd really. But what was really important was reading the book and learning from it secrets that would allow her to grow as a student of the arcane. She held it up in her magic and opened it up for the very first few pages, in scrawled handwriting at the top it said, "Introduction: Thalassian a Independent Guide". Further intrigued she rushed on and read faster than she ever could before.

Rarity never felt more sick in all of her life. The amount of horrors that she let herself be subjected to was too much on her generous and benevolent mind. She laid out lazily on her bed, her blankets of silk tucked over her to trap in the heat as she felt so cold. Her stomach felt like it tied itself into hard knots. She had never felt so sick before that day. She stared up at the ceiling and she thought to herself why she subjected herself to those atrocities. She was not cut out for combat, and she doubted she ever would.

Rarity felt her knotted stomach heave and she rushed the bucket next to her bed up to her muzzle and spewed whatever contents were left in her stomach. She heaved once more as the sound of the food echoed off the walls of the bucket. She dry heaved and nothing came out. She hated that feeling of puking with an empty stomach. Her lungs burned from her constant vomiting since the battle. Her eyes stayed lulled open and she set the bucket down at the side of her bed using her telekinesis. She groaned at the pulling pain in her stomach. The images she had seen for herself no more than a few hours ago remained fresh in her mind.

She glanced down and saw her reflection in her vanity. She was uncharacteristically pale and there were red rings under the rims of her eyes. Her once proud mane was now a ruffled mess. She just had to step into that battle didn't she. She hated herself at that moment. She raised a hoof to her forehead and closed her eyes trying to take advantage of the situation and get some sleep while she could. However before she was able to settle down and fall asleep she heard gentle knocking on the door.

Rarity answered the knocking, "Come in."

Her voice pained her as it rang out in the room. But her mood heightened as she saw the visitor to her quarters. It was Alex, a smile plastered on his face and a tray of food in his hooves. Orange juice in a tall glass and some herb and noodle soup, the aroma of the soup wafting into her nostrils. She then felt suspended in her own section of heaven as she listened to Alex ask, "I did not want to come in empty hoofed so I made you some breakfast."

Rarity smiled as he ushered himself inside and she said warm heartedly, "That is so sweet, you did not have to do that."

He rested the tray in her lap and he said, "Well, consider this repayment for taking care of me. It's the least that I could do."

There were a few moments of silence as she used her magic to bring a spoonful of noodles to her lips and she gently blew on it to expel the heat it had. She took the spoonful and began to gently chew on the noodles, the warm broth soothing her irritated muscles in her throat and he asked, "So, how are you handling things? And be honest with me."

Rarity swallowed the noodles and responded her voice less hoarse than it was after a sigh, "In all honesty darling I feel like rubbish. I do not feel well at all."

Her face grew dark and she added, "I can't believe that is what happens during war...I thought things were different...I thought...I thought they could all be protected."

Her voice trailed off as she kept her gaze away from Alex, he probably thought less of her for not being as strong or as capable as him. Alex moved her chin and she faced him and he said looking into her eyes, "You can't save everypony. They would not be called consequences if they were just. We all want to keep those close to us so protected that nothing bad will happen but we risk sucking the life out of them if we do so."

Alex wiped away a tear that fell from her eye and continued, "This sickness is just a sign that you still have a heart Rarity. The same thing happened to me the first few times I saw the horrors of battle, and unfortunately I became used to it all. Keep that heart Rarity, you never know when you might need it."

Alex stood up and leaned in gently pecking her on the cheek. It was nothing more than a brotherly kiss but it still caused her to flash scarlet for a second. Her light hearted mood escaped her as she asked, "But you have more heart than any other pony I know?"

Alex cracked a half smile and said, "I have had time to atone. You feel better okay?"

Rarity nodded and said, "Yes sir."

She watched him walk out of the room, she felt almost in a lightened mood and her stomach felt less knotted. her mind never wandered far when she was around Alex. All that it wandered to were fantasies. Not sexual fantasies but situational fantasies. Her and Alex out in the park, at Sugarcube Corner, at Golden Oaks. And they felt warm and inviting, making her snuggle her blanket closer as she desired the warm embrace of Alex. She could not believe herself, she was infatuated with Alex. How? He is just a friend that is all he is. A noble, strong, caring, and handsome friend. She had never met somepony quite like him before and she likely will never meet another stallion like him anytime soon.

But she knew that now would not be the time to fall in love with him. He is still soul searching and coordinating an entire town full of inexperienced ponies. He is teaching the town war. Surprisingly she did not throw up. She brought another spoonful to her lips and down another spoonful. In between delicate sips she said to herself, "I love you Alex."

It did not take long for Rarity to down her soup and orange juice, in fact she felt rejuvenated and decided to join the ponies in the town hall for a meeting. Twilight wanted to talk to them about something important. Rarity did not know what it was, but she could have guessed that it was nothing good. Usually Twilight does not joke about being serious, except when she went bonkers and thought she was going back to Magic Kindergarten. Rarity chuckled at the memory as she made her way to the town hall.

She took notice of the condition Ponyville was in and it was rather doom and gloom. The paint on the houses faded a little bit and the windows were boarded up. Nailed to the houses and shops were wooden planks. The grass that accented the mud roads were dying and now a yellow color. It seemed like life from Ponyville was sucked away. War had stricken the place and it was not about to change any time in the near future. She glanced over to the west entrance and saw the stoneworkers working on the memorial to the dead of the Battle of Falling Swords as so many were calling it. She still held some sort of repulsiveness when she thought about that battle. A battle hard won but at the cost of one fourth of the Defenders of Ponyville.

Rarity hoped that she would get over her emotional distress soon because her friends needed her and she was not about to just sit back and watch her friends throw their lives away and leave Rarity all alone. She looked to the west gate and saw Pinkie bounding toward her, once she became in ear shot Rarity said warm heartedly, "There you are darling, we were beginning to worry about you."

Pinkie Pie answered not losing a bound in her steps, "Oh sorry! I just wanted a few seconds to think and reflect."

Reflect? Since when did Pinkie Pie reflect? And since when did she mysteriously disappear into the Everfree Forest without so much as a warning where she was going. Something was not right with Pinkie and Rarity knew it, but she could not make assumptions on just a hunch she needed more evidence than this. Rarity gave a ghost of a smile and added, "I guess we all have. And it seems that I am not the ony one affected by it."

Her usual cheery voice some what depleted into something serious as she asked, "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Rarity nudged her friend lightly, "You are not as cheery as you usually are, and that's okay I know what everypony means to you."

Worry flickered briefly on the pink pony's face which was odd in a situation such as this. Why was she so worried? What was she hiding? But Rarity dismissed this as one of Pinkie's quirks. The party pony answered, "Well, we all haven't been ourselves lately. Haven't we?"

"I am not trying to pry or make you uncomfortable," Rarity answered, "I just want my friend to be alright."

There was silence on the way to the town hall. They exchanged no other words, partly because Rarity feared her friend. She has been acting so strange lately. She could not think about anything else. She tried so hard to try and dismiss her actions as just passing grief as she was friends with everypony. But this was stranger than grief, this was keeping a secret. Rarity knows all too well that secrets are capable of destroying friendships or even worse, destroy ourselves. Rarity needed to know what was going on with Pinkie. Before they knew it, they approached the town hall and opened the doors to it and stepped their way in.

The halls were quiet aside from the occasional clicking of hooves across the floor. Senators and countrymen scurrying quickly to their places of business. Rarity saw them and knew that they would find themselves in that storm of chaos. For Pinkie and Rarity felt out of place, in the sense that their only purpose was to answer the summons of their friend Twilight Sparkle. The only senator not to be seen in the main hall.

They gazed through the sea of faces to try and identify their friend. Trying with all their readily available strength to try and find their friend. Rarity slightly felt a tug at her stomach once more as her mind wandered to those painful images. Pinkie offered her attention as she asked, "Do you see her?"

Rarity shook her head, "No, I can't see a thing through this throng. What has everypony so stirred?"

"Rarity! Pinkie!" They turned to see Alex navigating through the crowd of ponies. Dressed in his garb he wore in the battle. Alex approached each of them and gave them both a hug. Rarity asked with urgency in her tone, "Alex what is going on."

He released a sigh and responded, "I am afraid that something terrible has happened. I cannot explain as I do not want to bring more disorder to an already chaotic situation. Come, Twilight will explain everything."

"Has something come up?" Rarity asked as they moved through the halls. Rarity found his clanking plate armor somewhat distracting but focused solely on Alex.

He stared ahead of him and replied, "You could say that. Let's just say that the enemy has pulled a move that could change the tide of this conflict."

Rarity's stomach tied itself into knots. A game changer, this early on? But they barely even fought a battle how could they possibly have turned the tide of this conflict. She had never been in a situation like this, her stomach began to slowly turn and felt as if she would lose its contents but focused on keeping it inside of her and followed on Alex's heels. They were taken to a room on the south side of the building and ushered inside the closed room and was brought into a room where there was a table in the middle of the small room. There was a certain air as they broke through the threshold of the room. It was cold, and empty despite the small gathering of ponies there.

Twilight held in her hoof a parchment that had her eyes glued to it. Rarity looked closer and saw that there were tear stains on it. Whatever this game changer was it did not have a positive effect on Twilight. Rarity looked and saw that the rest of her friends were there as well. Including Ditzy, Virtuoso, and Steel Flash. They all had faces of despair and forlorn. What could have affected them so adversely?

As if to answer her thoughts Twilight began to read the parchment aloud in a depressed tone,

My Most Faithful Student,

I am sorry to inform you that we have fallen on dark times. What we know and what has remained untrue for so long are now fallen between blurred lines. The Equestria we once knew is falling apart. I tried to keep it at its best and remain it in its peaceful state. Luna and I have received a vision of a threat to harm Equestria. We have taken it upon ourselves to seek it out in secret. We brought no guards and no one knows of our absence except for you.

Do not come searching for us, we wish to investigate this on our own. But if something were to happen to us, then our last location is the Ponyville Graveyard just outside of town. Please, do not worry for me or Luna. Continue on your studies of friendship while I remain away. I will return soon.

Princess Celestia

"Why would they leave with out an escort of guards?" Rarity spoke with a low toned voice. For she was affected by the news. Their most noble princesses, lost in the dark catacombs of Ponyville Cemetery. Her skin chilled and her heart heavy from the news. Her gaze down cast and her eyes closed in silent mourning.

Twilight answered, "They did not want us to worry. They dis not want to arouse rumor and suspicion. This is why they entrusted me with this information, this is also why we have not seen any guards come to protect our feeble walls."

Twilight crumpled the letter in anger and she uttered, "If only I had received this letter earlier."

Alex spoke, his hooves crossed over his chest, "But the sun and the moon still sets and rises. That means that they are still alive and there is a chance to save them."

Applejack joined, "Who'd want the Princesses?"

Alex answered, "The undead. They have captured your princesses. To instill chaos and despair on all of you."

Twilight's voice was cold and dark as she muttered, "Rovos..."

Alex looked over and he seemed astonished and asked, "What did you just say?"

Twilight looked right at Alex and enounced, "Rovos. The Chilled End. That is the name of the one that followed you Alex."

Alex turned to face her and asked, "How did you know that?"

Rarity harbored the same curiosity, what secrets was Twilight hiding? Ever since Twilight came back to town with that mysterious book, she has been acting strange. The room dead silent, not a word from anypony. Rainbow finally moved in the corner of Rarity's vision and asked, "Are you a spy?"

Rarity choked back a lump and looked surprised over at Twilight. Was she a spy of the enemy? What could she believe? Who could she believe? She stepped closer to Pinkie to hold herself up from passing out as the room began to spin. Pinkie caught her as her hooves slipped. Pinkie whispered trying not to let Rarity fall to the ground. As Pinkie grabbed hold of her she felt her throat tighten and Pinkie flashed away and a nightmarish creature took form. A tall standing demon like creature that made her heart jump, was this her friend? In the blink of an eye the demon was there, but then it was gone. And her pink friend returned in its place. Horror filled her eyes but they soon shrunk down and her breathing returned to normal. Pinkie asked, "Are you okay? You look paler than normal?"

She swallowed back a hard breath and replied getting back on her hooves, "Yes...ahem...I am fine...just a little woozy is all."

Pinkie nodded and continued to stand aside in the conversation. But Rarity kept her gaze on Pinkie, and then after a while she tucked away that horror filled image and returned to the current discussion. Twilight back pedaled, "Do you really think that I am a traitor?"

Applejack chided, stepping closer next to Rainbow and Alex, "Twi, we have seen dead ponies walkin' again. I don' know what tah think anymore."

"But how can we be sure?" Rainbow said, showing that she was not holding the same amount of mercy that Applejack or Alex held.

Alex raised a hoof in front of Rainbow Dash and said, "That is enough. I can tell whether she tells the truth."

Twilight backed into a wall with fear plastered on her face as Alex raised a hoof and brought it down on her head. Alex prayed, "Light show me the intentions of this one. Tell me her allegiance."

Alex's hoof gave off a soft glow and Twilight closed her eyes in fear of pain. They all had seen the extent of his powers, perhaps not to his fullest but they saw power none the less and he carried it well. Rarity leaned on a hoof to see Alex's face and he closed his eyes, his face showing serenity as he focused. After about a minute or so Alex lowered his hoof, the light in it dying. He opened his eyes and said, "She is not our enemy."

"And of this you are certain?" They all turned to see the new voice that entered the room. Rarity looked and saw a tall standing grey unicorn with silver mane and a mare to his left. The mare looked like an older version of Scootaloo and they stopped in front of the entrance to the room.

Twilight and Alex rushed over and stood in front of the the gathering of ponies and Alex hissed, "Yes. But what stranger would challenge my capabilities?"

The stallion smiled and added, "As acting soverign of Equestria I have taken it upon myself to search for our missing princesses. And it would seem that I am the only one who knows what they are doing?"

Rarity chided, "But you both look as though you travelled from Canterlot on hoof. Why did you not take the train? As you would have likely arrived quicker?"

The mare seemed uncomfortable with the sudden question and she blushed as she answered, "I am not exactly comfortable around trains..."

Rarity moved her gaze back over to Alex who seemed unmoved by the strange ponies, as well as Twilight. Holding hardened gazes on the silver pony. The unicorn rested his hoof on his sheathed sword and asked, "I would suggest that you reveal the location of where our monarchs were last seen."

Alex tensed up and growled, "And your reason behind making demands?"

The unicorn stepped closer to Alex and got close to Alex, they stared each other down. The unicorn answered, "I am your sovereign, we are running out of time so I suggest you make it quick."

Alex stepped and the unicorn back pedaled, Alex growled, "I am no citizen of this country, you will not make demands of me-"

"ENOUGH!" Twilight roared, "We certainly aren't getting anywhere with you two arguing. Perhaps we can strike an agreement."

Alex and the unicorn kept cold stares on each other and stepped back joining their ally's side. Rarity had only met this unicorn for only a few moments and already she could not stand his company. He was so arrogant and full of himself, why should we reveal the location of where the Princesses were headed to them. But she decided not to get involved as Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie, and Fluttershy decided to do. There was no reason for their voices not to be heard but they were not going to argue something they knew little about and they were no diplomats, though Rarity was exceedingly great at talking she decided not to chide in. She crossed her hooves over her chest and waited patiently for a ruling of the access of the information.

Twilight moved her gaze from the unicorn to Alex as she explained, "There was a reason the Princesses only trusted me with this information. Because she knew that I and my friends could only find them, and we intend to do such as this. But perhaps, Silver Bolt, we can combine forces and find our beloved monarchs."

Silver Bolt thought for a while but answered sternly, "Perhaps you are correct, but if any of your friends are to be injured or worse it is on your head Twilight."

Twilight nodded, "Do not worry we will keep the search party small. Only three of mine will accompany you."

Silver Bolt turned to leave but stopped at the threshold and added, "Be ready to depart in ten minutes."

Once they left Rarity turned to Twilight and asked, "Three? Why only three? We are all capable of accompanying you two to find the princesses."

Twilight explained, "We need to keep the party small so that we can moved quicker and more silent from the gaze of Rovos. And we will be more conspicuous if eight moved to rescue the Princesses. They are expecting us to save them, the less...casualties...the better. Which is why I am choosing the two strongest. Alex and Rarity."

Rarity remained silent and took in the information and only looked up as Alex added, "A most Noble Blessing..."

Rarity had a sneaking feeling that this would not be the last time that she would see action, so she would have to not even have to fight the undead ponies but her own feelings of war and her body's unhealthy reaction to it. She swallowed hard and nodded, "I understand."

Author's Note

The cute nickname that Medivh gave Twilight means "Last Light". I wanted the translation to be "Little Light" but I could not find the Thalassian word for little. Oh my god I am a super nerd when it comes to WoW and its lore. So yeah, can't say a few things but I can say that I hope you enjoyed the reason behind why Firefly and Silver Bolt took so long to get to Ponyville.

I'm going to work on one story at a time. No Matter What can wait, right now I am going to focus on Ashes to Ashes and Wild Fantasies. As it stands Wild Fantasies might turn out to be one of my shortest works.