Author's Note

Most of this chapter will be told by Twilight in the first pony.

Information Sharing

Preparing for a Speech

When I arrived back at the castle I was greeted by Spike and a couple of guards. Spike rushed up to me, hugged me and asked, "Twilight, are you ok? Have you heard the news?"

I replied, "The news about Tirek escaping?"

One of the guards interrupted, "Yes your Majesty, Tirek has escaped. We are not sure exactly where he headed but he has stolen a fair amount of magic."

I replied, "I know. I went over to Sweet Apple Acres and one of Pinkie's sisters escaped his wrath and told us about what happened."

Spike asked, "So is he in his scrawny form or is he in his big, muscular form?"

I replied, "Well from what Pinkie's sister told me, he was already in his larger form and that he headed towards Vanhoover after stealing her family's magic."

This brought about much concern from both Spike and my guards. Spike asked, "Twilight, are you and your friends going to be able to defeat him like you did last time?"

I replied, "No, that rainbow power was a one time thing and we can't access the elements because they are in East Equestria."

One of my guards asked, "Your Majesty, are you going to address the town over this?"

I replied, "Yes, I am." I hung my head down in dread and asked, "Could you two go and notify the town that they need to gather at the base of the castle? Let them know that this is extremely important."

My guards replied, "Yes your Majesty."

While they headed out to notify the town I just stood there in a paranoid state. Spike saw this and asked, "Twilight, are you ok?"

I replied, "No Spike, I am not. Tirek escaped and has begun to steal magic again. I don't know how exactly I will break it to the town." I sat down and buried my face in my hooves and continued, "Could you just give me a little bit of space? I need to figure this out."

Spike left the throne room and I just sat there in a state of dread. While I knew some of the things I would discuss with the townsponies, it was how they would react that worried me. Would they blame all of this on me and begin protesting again? Would they go into a state of panic and flee the town? Whatever it was, I knew that it would likely not be good.

Addressing Ponyville, Again

Fifteen minutes had passed and I finally decided to step out onto my balcony and see if everypony had gathered for this address. When they saw me walk up to the railing they went silent. As I looked out into the crowd, all I saw was looks of concern and fear. I am guessing that with the royal guard letting them know to gather here that they must know it is something bad.

I sighed and realized the time to start this address had arrived. I began, "Citizens of Ponyville, I am sure you are wondering why I had the royal guard notify you that I am going to be speaking to the ground." I was not handling this very well and began to sob, "I am addressing you because I need to let you know that when Cerberus left his post last time that Tirek escaped and has already begun to steal magic."

A pony in the crowd yelled, "What? Tirek escaped, AGAIN? How could you just let this happen?"

I was very nervous as I did not expect any questions like this to pop up. I took a deep breath and continued, "Look, we can't just stay out there and make sure Cerberus stays where he belongs and when he does leave his post, we can't control what escapes and what stays put."

One pony sneered, "Well I bet if the gates of Tartarus were in East Equestria, Premier Starlight would have troops stationed there to keep that mutt where he belongs. If Starlight were in power here, none of this would have happened!"

I was stunned and angry. Even thinking about her angered me but for one of my subjects to actually say that things would be better if she were in charge enraged me. I screamed, "You know what, if you think Starlight Glimmer is so great why don't you see if you can immigrate there. I'm sure she would accept a submissive little rat that worships her such as you!"

At this point I had lost my rational thought and was getting ready to fire some energy at him when I felt something grab my hind leg. Apparently Spike heard what was going on out here and didn't want me to turn the town against me. He yelled, "Twilight, calm down! This isn't like you. You're trying to reassure the town that things will be ok, not turn them against you."

What Spike said hit me like a ton of bricks. I hung my head low and replied, "I'm sorry Spike. I'm so stressed right now that I lost my cool." I looked out into the crowd and continued, "Uhm, I'm sorry for how I reacted. I can't talk anymore right now."

That same pony yelled, "Well what are we supposed to do princess? You're smart, give us some advice."

I replied, "Just stay inside, I'll figure out how to defeat him one way or another."

I ran back into the castle sobbing. While I was distraught earlier, this was one of those moments where I truly wasn't sure what to do. I thought about writing Sunset Shimmer and seeing if she would come to help me with this, but realized that I couldn't just make her miss classes and leave her friends to come help me with something that she may not be able to help me with.

I was pacing back in the throne room frantically, which is something i had been doing more than I should have. Spike could sense my nervousness and asked, "Twilight, what are your plans as to what to do? I can sense you are thinking about something."

I replied, "Well, I was thinking about writing to Sunset Shimmer to see if she would come and help but then I realized that I just can't ask her to skip her classes and leave her friends to come help me."

Spike said, "But Twilight, you have left here to go to her world on other occasions than just when she stole your crown. If you can neglect your royal duties to go help save that world, then she can skip a few classes to come help you save Equestria."

What Spike said hit me wrong. I yelled, "What did you say? I did not neglect my royal duties. I went over there because my friends needed me when the sirens were ready to conquer that world."

Spike replied, "Calm down Twilight. All I am saying is that she could return the favor. Besides, she originally came from our world so maybe she would want to save her homeland."

I sighed, "Ok, you're right Spike."

Spike asked, "So you're going to write Sunset and see if she will help?"

I replied, "Yes, I will do that. I just hope she will agree."

Return of a Friend

Spike and I headed upstairs to where the mirror is and I flipped the switch to activate it. I will admit, one part of me wanted to go through and see my friends over there but I knew that I would be needed if Tirek were to suddenly show up. I grabbed the book I communicate with Sunset through and wrote,

"Sunset,

Hi, it's me Twilight. I know you are probably busy right now with classes but I am wondering if you could come to Equestria and help me with something. An old villain, Tirek has escaped for the second time from Tartarus and I am wondering if you would help me defeat him. I ask you this because my friends and I can not use rainbow power like we did the first time and what makes matters worse, The Tree of Harmony is now located in East Equestria. I await your response.

Sincerely,

Twilight Sparkle"

I closed the book and the message was sent. I sighed, "I just hope she can read this soon and let me know if she can make it or not."

Spike replied, "Well I'm sure she will read it and come. You know she thinks very highly of you now."

I said, "I know."

***

At Canterlot High, Sunset Shimmer was sitting with her friends out by the horse statue talking when a glowing light began to flash from Sunset's backpack. Rainbow saw this and asked, "Sunset, did you know that your bag is glowing?"

Sunset replied, "Really? I wonder if Twilight is coming?"

Fluttershy commented, "I really hope so, I miss her so much."

Sunset opened her book and read the message out loud. While she had studied quite a bit during her time in Celestia's school and knew of the ancient powers that Tirek had and knew about his first escape, she was completely shocked over the last part of the message. She thought out loud, "East Equestria? What the hay is East Equestria?"

Applejack asked, "East Equestria? What is that?"

Sunset replied, "I don't know. I am thinking maybe I better go check on Twilight. There has to be something wrong because no such place exists."

Sunset wished her friends well as she stepped into the portal. While Twilight seemed serious in her letter, she thought that maybe she was just overly tired when she mentioned a place called East Equestria.

***

I was waiting anxiously hoping to get a response from Sunset but she would not get one, instead I would see a blinding flash of light and see my friend come through the portal. When Sunset arrived she ran into my hooves and said, "Princess Twilight, it is so good to see you!"

I replied, "It's good to see you too Sunset. I just wish it weren't under these circumstances."

Sunset asked, "Twilight, I'm worried about you? What was up with that message?"

I replied, "Well like I said Tirek has escaped again and my friends and I can't access the elements because the tree is in East Equestria."

Sunset asked, "About that, what in the hay are you talking about? What is this East Equestria you are talking about?"

At first I was wondering why she was asking me this but then I realized that I had never told her about Starlight taking over half the continent. I hung my head and replied, "Regarding East Equestria, I had a run in with an incredibly powerful pony named Starlight Glimmer a while back. I don't know how she did it but she eventually became an Alicorn, broke into my castle, took my cutie mark, kidnapped Spike and me and took us to Fillydelphia. She forced the princesses to hand over a huge part of the country in exchange for my release. Because of that, the continent is now split in two and everything east of the wall, including the Tree of Harmony, is now East Equestria."

I saw Sunset's eyes grow wide as she yelled, "Wait a minute, Starlight Glimmer? As in the Starlight Glimmer that Celestia expelled from her school?"

I replied, "Yes, that Starlight Glimmer."

I could see a fury erupt in Sunset's eyes. She yelled, "So you mean to tell me that she has her own country now?"

I replied, "Yes, not only is she the premier of East Equestria, but she is also a grand mage. It all has something to do with her lineage going all the way back to the very first grand mage of the ponies of the east."

Sunset sighed, "Well that would explain why she was always so loyal to her family. I have heard that they were always more family oriented but that is beside the point." She calmed down and continued, "Twilight, not only will I help you defeat Tirek, but I will also help you and Celestia take down Starlight so Equestria can become one single nation again."

I replied, "About Celestia. Her and Luna abdicated when everything began to go downhill in this country. Luna left with Starlight and conquered The Equine Empire and after there was an assassination attempt on both Celestia and I, she took off for Saddle Arabia."

Sunset asked, "So you're the only princess left."

I replied, "Unfortunately I am."

Sunset asked, "So do you want us to go after him now or are we going to wait until he gets here to take the fight to him?"

I replied, "I think it would be best if we let him come here. I won't have the same power I did when my friends and I defeated him but I have a feeling that together, we should be able to handle him."

Sunset asked, "So for now, what do we do?"

I replied, "I think we should get something to eat and I'm guessing that you are hungry."

Sunset replied, "Actually, I am. Let's get something to eat."

We headed downstairs to the dining hall where we had our lunch. I could tell that Sunset was kind of hesitant to eat the food that the cooks brought to us but given that she has not had a meal in Equestria in ages, I could understand that.