Foreign

Celestia swept over the room once more in an attempt to fish out any last details that she may not have noticed the previous times. When she was satisfied that nothing remained hidden she backed out of the room and headed towards the castle’s library. It was there where Twilight was currently rushing through her books in an effort to find anything which may point in the direction of what had occurred. A short, purple, and wingless dragon by the name of Spike was keeping watch over Twilight. He paced back and forth within the room constantly gazing back at alicorn while thinking of anything else he could do to help her feel better. With a tired sigh Twilight dropped her book and looked at Spike.

“Honestly Spike I’m fine, you don’t need to keep worrying over me.” She said.

“I know I know, but are you absolutely sure you don’t need anything else? I mean, I know about burns, being a dragon and all, and that one is about the worst I’ve ever seen.” Spike said.

Twilight glanced at where the bolt of energy had hit her earlier. The bolt seared Twilight’s skin underneath her fur on her back, just to the right of her spine, leaving behind a sinister black mark. She briefly thought about what would have happened if the bolt had hit her spine. she shook her head clear of the thought and diverted her attention back to her anxious assistant whose ascending amount of worry about her as well as his actions to treat the affected alicorn caused her to appreciate and admire the young drake.

“Yes I’m absolutely sure.  Now will you stop your fidgeting, it’s very distracting.” Twilight said.

Despite the reassurance the little dragon could not help himself. It wasn’t long before he started pacing across the floor once again. Slightly annoyed at the returning habit, Twilight watched the dragon that she had raised over the years. The annoyed look in her eye slowly melted and gave way to a softer hearted, gentle gaze. She motioned with her hoof for the young dragon to come over to her. When he got near enough Twilight cast a wing over him and pulled him into an encouraging hug.

“I’m okay Spike, I really am. It doesn’t even hurt anymore. I promise.” Twilight said.

“Okay, but if you need anyth-“ Spike said.

An emerging growl from Twilight stomach put a halt to Spike’s words. It was the first reminder for Twilight that she had not eaten yet. She let out a short giggle as she sheepishly turned to her assistant.

“Well if you really want t-.” Twilight said

“I’m on it!” Spike exclaimed, interjecting before Twilight could finish her sentence. He shuffled out of Twilight’s embrace and ran toward the kitchen. It was about this time that Celestia found her way into the room.

“How are you feeling Twilight?” Celestia asked. Her gaze settled over the menacing looking spot on Twilight’s back.

Twilight took note of the concerning look of her mentor and shifted on her hooves in attempt to hide the mark that distracted Celestia. She already had one over concerned presence within the castle. The last thing Twilight wanted was for her mentor to worry over what she considered to be nothing.

“I am feeling great princess, never better.” Twilight said. She let out a nervous chuckle when the cream colored princess with a multi-colored searched her with a sweeping and unconvinced eye. “So, did you find out what exactly caused the map to go all crazy like?” Twilight asked. A shake from Celestia’s head diminished any last hope Twilight had for discovering where the strange magic had come from.

“I’m afraid that in all my years I have never encountered a magic such as this one.” Celestia said. “In fact, when I first felt it, it seemed wrong. Almost as if it was-“

“Out of place?” Twilight finished. Celestia nodded her head.

“I hate to add more to the mystery, but there is no trace of where it even came from.”

Celestia and Twilight turned their attention to the entrance of the library where a midnight blue alicorn with a starry mane stood.

“No luck sister?” Celestia asked.

The starry maned princess shook her head. “Whatever this magic is, it does not leave a trail.” She said.

Without any lead to go on the three princesses were simply stumped. The library descended into silence. Only the occasional wild noise from the kitchen could be heard as each princess reflected on the details they knew. They searched their minds for something, anything, which could turn up a lead. Eventually, Spike returned to the library with Twilight’s breakfast which she accepted with thanks. With seeming nothing else to do and noticing the trance that the princesses were in, Spike started to clean the castle. About 2 hours of meditation, discussions, and searching through Twilight’s books passed before they caught a break. Twilight’s cutie mark started to flash, signaling her to return to the map room. Curiosity gleamed from the eyes of the three princesses as they cautiously made their way back to the great room. Curiosity turned to astonishment when they found that the map, which moments before appeared completely drained of magic, was active. Yet on the table where normally there would have been a map of Equestria, appeared two distinct images; one of a celestial sun, and another of a crescent moon.

Inquisitively the two princesses which bore the cutie marks of those on the table approached the images. Once the map sensed that both Celestia and the dark blue alicorn, whose name was Luna, were near the table it let out a soft flowing light directed at the royal mares. Upon reaching contact the two images moved to opposite side of the table. The map of Equestria finally revealed itself on the table. The light directed at the two princesses then reversed flow and shot out towards the map revealing a single location in the Northwest, very close to the tundra of the North. Once the location was revealed the map then zoomed in on the location. The image of Twilight’s cutie mark then appeared over the location. Twilight studied the area the map had revealed. Though the location was far north towards the tundra the area was still temperate in appearance. In the middle of the map stood a great wooden structure by the likes Twilight had never seen before. If her scaling was correct, the structure was about the same size as Canterlot Castle.

The building’s architecture was circular in appearance. The center itself was a circle with a large diameter with three floors above it, each floor decreased in diameter. Extending from the east side of the structure were two wedges that connected to and curved around the center ending at the north point and south point of the structure. Each wedge of the building had two floors. On the west side of the building was a fenced off area with what looked like orchard trees and farm plants. Beyond the fenced off area was empty grasslands. The thing that caught everyone’s eye, however, was northeast of the structure where a forest was placed. At least that’s what they assumed it was for the air around it was contorted and as a result the image was blurred, something which Twilight found eerily familiar. Whatever magic had invaded Twilight’s home earlier; this appeared to be the source of it. It was twilight who broke the silence when she noticed it was just her mark above the location.

“If the map needed both of you to find this location, why is it only sending me?” Twilight asked.

“It looks as if that will be a question you must discover for yourself my dear Twilight.” Celestia said.

Rising anxiety started to form and flow through Twilight as she thought about having to go on a quest by herself. She could barely remember the last time she went on an adventure without somepony, especially one without even one of her friends. In fact, Twilight started to entertain the idea of asking her one remaining friend in Ponyville, Pinkie Pie, to tag along with her. As she stared back at the lone mark hanging above the map she sighed in defeat. She knew that the map decided based on who was right for the quest and was never wrong before. Whatever was out there it looked like it would be up to her to find the answers.

Both Celestia and Luna noticed the crushed look on Twilight’s face and brought her into a group hug. Relief flooded Twilight as the action of the two princesses reminded her that she wouldn’t be truly alone on the journey. The support and love of the princesses and Twilight’s friends, though not physically present, would be there with her in spirit, carried by her heart. Standing in the doorway, watching the group hug from a distance, was Spike. He had walked by the door and spied the act taking place. Stealing a glance at the map, Spike saw the familiar looking cutie mark suspended above the map and knew what that meant. Hardening his grip on the broom he held, he glared longingly at the purple alicorn, frustrated at the fact that once again he would be left behind again. At the same time he was very concerned for this time he knew that Twilight would be heading towards danger and there was nothing he could do. The broom in his hand shattered into many splinters.