Twilight told the girls everything about the places they were going to, and what they would all need. They all left to go to their homes and prepare, while she was left on her own. Discord had gone home earlier, while Sunset Shimmer and Starlight Glimmer were still resting.

“Twilight.” Sunset’s voice made the alicorn jump, but she quickly got to her feet. “I’m ready to go back.” She looked away.

“Are you sure?” Twilight really didn’t want Sunset to leave, but she didn’t want to put her friend in danger when it was avoidable.

Sunset sighed. “Yes. I don’t want to get in your way.”

Twilight walked to the slightly shorter mare.

“Alright.” Twilight hugged her.

Sunset was washed with a warm feeling, and her cheeks became rosy. She hugged the other mare back, and felt a strange kind of happiness.

“Let’s get you home….” Twilight took the mare’s hoof in her own.

***

Sunset looked at her reflection in the mirror, and took a deep breath. She had came to Equestria just hours before, yet now she was going back. She turned back to look at Twilight, only to see that the princess was about to walk out of the door.

“Twilight?”

“Yes, Sunset?” She turned around.

Sunset couldn’t find anything to say. She just wanted to speak Twilight’s name, and see the alicorn’s violet eyes. She looked at the alicorn, and found herself getting lost in them.

“Sunset?”

The unicorn shook her head, and came back to reality. “Uh, bye.” She waved, and headed into the mirror.

“Huh?” Sunset opened her eyes. “Where’s the portal?” She put her hoof on it, but it didn’t go through.

“Oh no!” Twilight rushed to the portal.

“It’s not there anymore!” Sunset exclaimed.

“I didn’t know that…” Twilight put her own hoofs on the mirror. “I’m sorry.” Twilight leaned on the mirror, her face in her hooves.

“It’s not your fault.” Sunset did the same.

The two sat in silence, occasionally glancing at each other, trying to find the right words.

“I’m leaving tomorrow.” Twilight informed the unicorn.

“I overheard.” She replied.

“You can…. umm… if you want to… come along.” Twilight looked up at the ceiling.

“Okay…” Sunset did the same.

“Hate to interrupt, but I’m coming along as well.” Starlight walked into the library.

***

“Twilight.”

Twilight looked around her, but there was nothing. Just a blank white space. She ran towards where she was hearing the voice.

“Twilight” It repeated.

She continued running until she was stopped by an invisible force. A door appeared where she was stopped. It was purple-painted wood, and the knob was gold, and had been rusting of age.

She pushed it open, and the other side of the door showed a street. It had street lamps, but there was nothing else. The stars were not there, but the moon was, or what had appeared to be the moon.

“Twilight!”

“Sunset?!” She called out, and ran through the door. It disappeared, but she was too set on the call to notice.

“Sunset!” She called out again, still running to the source.

She spotted a blur of yellow and red, and stopped in her tracks

“Sunset?” She drew closer, and saw the unicorn’s figure.

The unicorn turned to face her, tears brimming her eyes. Twilight lunged to hug the mare, but Sunset became translucent and Twilights hooves went through her transparent body.

“Sunset!” Twilight yelled as Sunset vanished.

Twilight sat there, and started hearing voices. Her friends surrounded her.

“Twilight,” Rainbow Dash came close to her. “The war. Why wouldn’t you fight? I would be alive.” She snapped.

“Twilight,” Applejack drew closer, followed by Rarity. “You let us die. Why’d you do that?”

“You don’t care!” Rarity yelled in the Alicorn’s face.

“Oh, but of course you do.” Fluttershy came into the circle. “That’s why you let me get taken, of course.”

“YOU NEVER CARE!” Pinkie pie, her hair down, closed in on Twilight.

The alicorn covered her ears, and started to cry. .

“ENOUGH!” A voice boomed over them, and the five ponies disappeared.

Twilight looked up to see Luna, and flew up to her.

“Luna!” Twilight hugged her.

Luna pulled away from the hug, and the two flew to the ground.

“I don’t understand. Why were my friends all saying those terrible things?” Twilight asked.

“They weren’t your friends. They were shadows, and they were sent to your dreams to try and drive you mad.” Luna informed her.

The blue alicorn looked down, and took a deep breath. “Celestia and I have been captured.” Luna confessed.

“What?” Twilight’s eyes widened, and she looked at the older alicorn with confusion.

“We went to the Crystal Empire to see what we could do, but we were captured by some of Sombra’s citizens. We were sent to Tartarus.” Luna sighed, having revealed this all to Twilight. “I know not how I was able to come into your dream, but what I do know, is that you’re the only princess who hasn’t been captured. Cadence is frozen, along with her unborn child.”

Twilight’s mouth dropped.

“I understand that it is a lot to take in, but Equestria is in your hands.” Luna started disappearing.

“You are waking up now, so I must go. Remember your duty.”

Twilight nodded, and the princess vanished.

***

Twilight’s head rose off the pillow, and her eyes immediately opened. Recalling her dream, she planted her face into her pillow.

“How in the name of Celestia will I be able to take care of Equestria, and go on my adventure at the same-“ A realization came to her, and she walked to Spike’s side of the room.

The dragon snored, and smoke emitted from his nostrils.

“Of course.” She whispered to herself.

She walked to his bed, and nudged him.

“Twi?” His eyes groggily opened, and he rubbed them both.

“Spike… I need to ask you something.” Twilight looked him in the eyes.

“I need you to take care of Equestria.”

His jaw dropped farther than what Twilight had thought to be possible, and his eyes widened.

“WHAT!?”

“I can’t do it… and you’re the most responsible and organized pony I know, besides myself.”

Spike crossed his arms. “I’m not a pony…” He muttered under his breath.

“You are to me.” Twilight sat on his bed.

Spike sighed, and looked up at the purple alicorn.

“You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?” He questioned.

“Yes, I am.” She looked at the ground.

“What do I have to do?”

“I need you to build an army, and foresee that it succeeds in taking down King Sombra, and whatever else that may appear.”

“You know I can’t-“

“I’m not asking you to fight. I just need you to make sure it happens. Think of yourself as acting as a prince.” Twilight put her hoof on his shoulder.

He nodded. “Alright, I’ll do it.”

Twilight beamed with graciousness, and mouthed ‘thank you’.

“Where are the princesses, though?” He asked, and he leapt out of his bed.

“Oh… that.” Twilight’s grin faded. “Luna and Celestia were sent to Tartarus, and Cadence is frozen.”

“How do you know?” Spike inquired with a shocked expression.

“Luna came into my dream last night.”

“How did she do that if she’s in Tartarus?”

“I don’t know.”

The two sat in silence, until Twilight stood up.

“I must give you some papers. They’ll help you do everything that you need to do.”

`

***

Fluttershy lay on her bed, and looked at the paper map Twilight had given her. She was to go beyond the Crystal Empire, and this bewildered her. She was to be going alone, without any other pony. Rarity and Applejack were going together, so they had each other’s company, but Fluttershy didn’t. She’d never gone alone, and by foot much less.

“Surprise!” Discord appeared in front of her, causing the yellow pegasus to jump. “Miss me?”

“Discord, you’re alright?”

“Well….” The draconequus scratched his neck. “I’m going with you!” He beamed.

“But… the map said to go alone…” She reminded him.

“The map said you had to go there, not that no one could come along. Besides, Twilight is bringing Sunlight Glimmer and Starset Shimmer.”

The pegasus giggled. “It’s Sunset and Starlight.”

“Tomato potato.” He shrugged.

“Alright, you may come with me.” She hugged him, and the draconequus hugged his friend back.

***

“We’re here.” Fluttershy announced as she walked into the castle, and she was followed by Discord.

“He’s going with you?” Twilight questioned.

“Hypocrite.” Discord teasingly spat at her.

“That’s not what I meant.” She groaned. “Alright.” Twilight turned to Spike. “Are you sure you can handle everything?”

“If I can’t, who will?” He grinned.

Sunset and Starlight stood next to the dragon, and they both watch Twilight intently.

“Are you two sure you want to go with me?” She asked the two unicorns, and they both nodded.

Twilight nodded, then turned back to her friends.

“We must be prepared for whatever lies ahead, so Pinkie Pie,” She turned her attention to the pink pony. “I’ve arranged for a good friend of yours to accompany you.” She informed her.

“Oh! Oh! Oh! Who?!” Pinkie bounced up and down with excitement.

“Cheese Sandwich. He travels all of Equestria so he should be able to help you on your journey.”

“CHEESE!” Pinkie rushed to the door as the orange party pony walked in.

“Hiya, Pinkie!” Cheese grinned.

“How did Twilight get ahold of you?! I mean, I know where you are all the time since we wright to each other, but how did she know? ” Pinkie asked, still bouncing up and down.

“Through me.” Spike boasted.

“And you’re okay with coming on this dangerous mission?!” Pinkie’s jaw dropped to the floor.

“Why wouldn’t I not come?!” He laughed. “I know equestria like it’s my own home. Everything and everywhere.” The earth stallion beamed.

“Alright, now that that’s settled, Rainbow,” She turned her attention to the cyan pegasus. “Are you sure you can handle going on your own?”

“Duh, I’m Rainbow Dash, I can handle myself.” She flaunted her wings, and Twilight rolled her eyes.

“Alright, if it’s all settled, then we should go now.” Twilight declared, and her friends rushed in to hug her.

“Ahm gonna miss y’all Twi, Flutters, Pinkie, and even you Rainbow.” Applejack wrapped her forelegs tighter around the ponies.

“As will I. Do be safe, and Discord, watch Fluttershy.” Rarity glanced at the draconequus, but quickly turned her attention to the group hug.

“Gah, you’re making it- hard to breathe!” Rainbow Dash wheezed, but continued to hug her friends.

“AWW, I’M GOING TO MISS YOU ALL!!!” Pinkie Pie sobbed, and her waterfall of tears formed a large puddle.

“I’ll miss you girls, but I can manage.” A single tear rolled down Fluttershy’s cheek, and she embraced her friends.

Twilight was on the verge of tears, but she kept herself together. “Oh, I’ll miss you all. Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack.” Twilight eyed Discord, who had been crossing his arms, and rolled her eyes. “You too, Discord.”

The Draconequus beamed, and joined the group hug.

The ponies pulled apart, and they all dried their tears. Sunset watched intently. Twilight’s friends here reminded her so much of her friends at Canterlot High, and it made her want to cry, but she stayed strong.

“Goodbye.” Twilight waved to her friends as she walked out the door, followed by Sunset and Starlight.

Rarity and Applejack left afterwards, followed by Pinkie and Cheese.

“You sure you’ll be okay, Fluttershy?” Rainbow Dash questioned.

The yellow pegasus nodded. “I have Discord.”

The two pegasi hugged each other, and Rainbow Dash flew out, leaving just Fluttershy and Discord.

“Good luck, Spike.” She hugged the Dragon.

“You too.” He smiled. “Goodbye.” He waved at the mare and the draconequus.

The two waved back at him, and then walked out, shutting the door behind them.

Author's Note

Nothing to say, nothing here.

Yep.