During the War: A Secret Mission

“Merrifeather, Hurry and get your coat.” Twilight said strongly. After a brief moment Merrifeather replied

“Why Twilight? What is happening?” she said while fiddling to get on a heavy navy coat.

“I do not know for certain, Princess Celestia needs me and it is dangerous to go alone.”

“Do you think it is about the Dragon Raid earlier? I never thought they could reach this far and that the precautions were silly.

“Never think a precaution is unjustified” Twilight cautioned ”If the shield and alerts were not in place who knows what would have happened.” Time passed and Twilight spoke again “ Princess Celestia knows how to keep us safe. She would probably want for me organize some sort of relieve program, or something. It has been too long since my adventures to go back into the field.

The two set off. It was nighttime by now. The only noise came from the few ponies still making their way home in the total darkness of the blackout and the words between Merrifeather and Twilight. After a long ways they had reached the palace and were quickly shown in after a guard recognised her. Princess Celestia they found was in the Royal throne room preparing to leave, when approaching her the Princess called out “ Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student, I am so very happy you could make it in time. Please, you must follow me, it is not wise to speak here.

They followed Celestia off the palace grounds into a private car that was waiting.

“Number 10,” Celestia calmly ordered the driver ”With the most possible haste please.” The motor turned over and began chugging along at a brisk pace towards its location, on occasion giving a shudder at the un-evenness of the cobbled roads.
Celestia's attention changed to Twilight and her young assistant. “Twilight, I am certain you are anxious to hear the reason why I called on you for assistance. Rest assured you will know soon enough, but for the moment who is this little foal who you have brought along with you?

“Oh, Princess Celestia, I would like to introduce Merrifeather my assistant at the Canterlot Library. She has been a great help to me and I am helping her to persue her studies”

“And what is it that you wish to be my dear?” Celestia inquired.
Merri's wings rustled in her coat as she thought of words

“Not quite be, Your Majesty. There is something I have been wanting to make for some time. We know very little about the creatures not native to Equestria and the largest maps in Canterlot only show the world out to the travels of Marco Perlino.”

Celestia was attentive towards the young foal and could see the use of the endeavour. “ Yes, I will agree, Equestria has progressed so much in such a short time but still knows so little.”

“Twilight and I have spent two years now trying to piece together the world outside of Equestria. I can only imagine how helpful this work could be. We want it to be more than just a map. Twilight had the idea of listing animals as well. I mean, we do not even know for certain where the Dragons come from. We have chartered their migration through Equestria but there is no location for their home. Far to the North is what we believe yet do not know for certain.

The car made a turn down a small alley and back out towards a larger side street. The headlights shining dimly against the brick and thatch of passing structures and from a distance seemed a floating beacon to anypony it passed

“Twilight seems quite the good influence on you.” The Princess Complimented “I wish only it were safe to send out ponies to learn more of our world.”

They slowed to a stop at the entrance of a large but other wise unassuming timber-frame structure on a street it blended with perfectly. The with the only marking being the 10 etched above the doorway. “10 Downriver Street” the driver said. Celestia thanked the driver and lead her two passengers into Equestria's war rooms.