The next few hours were confusing, at best. The guards summon several wizards that cast search spells over the group for any weapons. After it was deem they were not a threat, Celestia led the group back to Twilight’s castle to set up a meeting. Twilight was setting it up in a room that housed a long dining table. She figure since it was one of the many rooms that never get used, there was no time like the present. Twilight shook her head of the thought and continue to set the room.

After Twilight was done, Celestia came inside and sat down in the middle of the seats facing the door. A few minutes later, the window that was behind Celestia open and Luna flew in. Twilight hadn’t seen Luna since that day when she was recovering. She watch as Luna glide in gracefully and landed almost right next to Celestia. She sat down on the left side of Celestia and looked straight ahead. Twilight notice that Luna did as little walking as possible and tried not to stare at the missing limb.

Twilight took the seat to the right of Celestia and hope that this meeting was not what Rover warn them about. Before Twilight could prep anymore, the doors open and the travelers walk in. The one called Fruit Flower sit in the middle with one of the other travel on each side. One of the travelers stood by the door and didn’t move a muscle. It was the only one wearing a mask and seem to be watching Fruit Flower more than anything else. Fruit Flower clear her throat and Twilight look back up at her.

“Before we get started, let’s get all the hard questions out of the way.” She said. “You probably want to know where we come from.”

“Actually,” Luna said, her voice dripping with contempt. “I’m wondering why we should, at all, trust you.” Celestia started to say something but Fruit Flower raised a hoof to show no offence.

“It’s okay. I understand the hostility. We share similar history, this world and ours. I believe you lost your fore leg fighting the Darkness?” Fruit Flower pointed to missing limb and Luna eyes darted downward. “I’m sorry for being so blunt but in our time, the Darkness fell over fifty years ago. We lost both the princesses, the army and all our holy warriors to it. We were lost for so many years before the Compassion One and her companions show us the way.”

“I don’t mean to interrupt but who is this Compassion One?” Twilight ask. Fruit Flower look a bit taken back but then started to answer,

“I keep forgetting about how… different your belief are from ours. We lost our gods due to the Darkness and a lot of ponies lost faith in the sisters. In able to keep order in the land, a pony who was dedicated to our Holy Warriors ways decided to teach them. She is the Compassion One and her followers. The follower are Certain One, Open One, Faithful One, and Delighted One.”

“She was able to unite our world because the Sacred word that allowed us to travel between worlds. It was decided by my teacher that we should build a alliance in order to prevent the darkness from ever happening again. With this alliance, we have made great advancement in our ways and the ponies have never been safer, happier.”

“If it wasn’t for these great ponies, we would be in a dire state. We are thankful every day for what they done and continue to do for us.” Fruit Flower finish. Twilight looked at Celestia and started to study her. Twilight notice an expression on Celestia she never seen before, a look of disbelief. Luna was still looking down but she was sharing a face with just as much doubt.

“I don’t understand.” Twilight finally broke the silence that fallen on the table. “If you met other worlds, surely you’ve found other version of the princesses or something?” Fruit Flower started to say something but a stomp from behind her stop her short. The whole group turn to see it came from the one standing by the door.

“Who is that?” Celestia asked, pointing at the pony. An expression flash on Fruit Flower face and Twilight barely caught it but she did. It was a face of fear and it wasn’t caused by Celestia.

“That is a Silent One.” Fruit Flower said, the words themselves seem to burn the air. “We have strict laws in our land. If we disobey the laws of the holy words, we are punish by the tenets. It was found to be dishonest so it was force to wear a Silencing Mask. When it has worn it for its sentence and serve the one who place it on, then it will be free.”

“And who place this mask on?” Celestia continue to question. Fruit Flower look directly at Celestia and Twilight could her feel the fear that was coming off the words.

“It was the holiness, The Compassion One. She place the mask on it before I’ve became her student.” Fruit Flower said. “It serves her and only her. She sent it to watch over… our group for safety. It will make sure that we make it back to our home land.”

“Is it a female or male?” Luna asked, raising her head to look directly at the Silent One. Twilight notice that the Silent One tilt its head at this question.

“It doesn’t have a gender or name.” Fruit Flower responded. “It’s believe in our ways, that the only way to follow the holy ways is to be renamed, remake and reborn. We have to leave our past behind and leave what we used to be. If a pony committed a sacred crime, a crime forbidden by the holy ones, they shall be punish.”

Fruit Flower got up from the table and headed to the door. “We have spoken long enough. We will rest in this plane but by tomorrow evening, my group must come back with an answer.” The other two ponies got up when she said this and started to follow. “There is one more thing. None of the alicorns are allowed to enter our plane. It is too dangerous for your kind and we can’t promised any protection. I’ll allow you to discuss amongst yourselves.”

With that, the group left the three princesses in silence. Twilight waited a few minutes, then turn to Celestia.

“What should we do?” Twilight let the question hang in the air. The other princesses look at each other then back at Twilight.

“Summon your friends, Twilight.” Luna said finally. “We have to discuss this deal.”

(Outside Twilight’s Castle)

“Why are we still waiting? We should go back to our Holiness and tell her that we need to do a full conversion.” The earth pony on Fruit Flower’s left, Counting Coin, said as the three made camp on the castle’s grounds. He was setting up tents and unpacking several items.

“We can’t do that.” The other one, a pegasi name Music Weaver, said. She was starting a fire and was using a device call a hoof claw. It allowed their kind to hold fine items that can’t be held in their hoofs. Right now, she was using it to rub two stick together. “The last time we did straight conversion, it cause more riots and the rebels were able to gather more followers. We have to tread more carefully.”

“Hopefully, we won’t have to convert at all.” Fruit Flower stated. Both of them stop what they were doing and turn to Fruit Flower. “I mean, we have twenty planes to our alliances. We might just need them for a trade route.”

“Do you really believe that, Fruit?” Count asked. “How many times are you going to swallow that lie? You know as much I do that every world we come to must be converted, sooner or later.”

“Can we talk a little more quietly?” Music asked, lowering her voice to a whisper. “If the Silent One reports back to the holiness of this, we will be punish for sure.”

“And how is the Silent One going to report back? It’s the Silent One.” Count pointed out. “It can hear me swear my allegiance to the Rebels and she’ll never know. I honestly don’t know why she keep sending it to watch us.”

“You know why.” Fruit answered and she turn to her tent. The two look at each other than Music sighed.

“I’ll go talk with her.” She said to Count then followed Fruit into her tent. She saw Fruit was laying down and looking at the ground. “You should go see them. It’s not every day you can see…”

“You know what will happen if I try that again.” Fruit cut her off and turn to face her. “But I’m sure you believe that if I do go, it’ll convince me to join your team.”

“You know as well as any pony what her ideals will do to this world. To every world we come on.” Music insistence, keeping her voice down. “You should join our cause and help us bring freedom. We just want freedom.”

“I know what you want.” Fruit said. “What concerns me is what your group will do to get that freedom. I know the lies that were spread about the rebels but I also know what dark truths you tend to forget. How do you think this world will react to what your group did in the name of your leader?”

“I know you will join our cause. If you weren’t, you would’ve of told the “Holiness” about Count and me.” Music said. She started to leave then turn to face Fruit once more. “I’m just saying, go exploring. Things are about to get interesting.”
(Back in Twilight’s Castle)

The whole group had heard the story and were now discussing how to proceed with the information. Starlight Glimmer was also brought in to help and was now watching an augment be bounce around the two sides of the group. Rainbow Dash, Apple Jack, and Luna all voice that we shouldn’t join any alliance while Fluttershy, Rarity, Twilight and Celestia argued that it would help prevent an event like Pure from happening again. Pinkie Pie was either counting the number of crystal in the chandelier or wasn’t taking any side.

“Starlight, what do you think?” Celestia asked, causing all the group to stop at once and turn to her. Starlight look at both side and then put her hoofs up, starting to think.

“I think we should go over to their world, see how they work.” Starlight stated. “We know nothing of this world or their customs. We seem to be jumping to conclusion and I don’t think it would be a good idea to be angry or join any pony without knowing the whole story.”

“Well, there a surprise.” Rainbow Dash said, rolling her eyes. “That what we did for you and how did that turn out again?”

“That is exactly why we need to be careful.” Starlight stressed. “I was just a small timer and you were barely able to outdo me. We are talking about some pony who was able to harness the ability to contact different worlds and form an army beyond anything we could imagine. This is real power and if we misstep, it could be worst then anything Pure could’ve think of.”

“Well, that was surprising depressing.” Rainbow Dash said, sighing. “So who should we send over to the other side?”

“I think Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and I should go.” Starlight said. “We need to have very open minds and also be able to not be easily fooled. Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Apple Jack need to stay here because if anything goes wrong, we’ll need are strongest.”

“Two question, Sugarcube.” Apple Jack started. “One, why shouldn’t I come along? I’m able to tell if some pony lying and I’m not that easily fooled.”

“Because you can’t lie.” Starlight pointed out. “Let’s be honest, if they need to lie, you are last pony to do that.” Apple Jack nodded and then brought up her follow up question.

“Alright, then my second question is why are we pretending? We should just be honest and tell them we don’t want to be a part of their group.” Apple Jack asked. They all looked at Starlight.

“Because if they are as bad as we fear.” Starlight answered. “Then we need to tread carefully. Because they won’t allow us to get in their way.”

Author's Note

Second chapter. Took a little longer to edit. Who is Fruit Flower or Compassion? That of course comes later. Right now, I'm trying to keep tract of how many rooms are in that castle.