Act I

Present Day.

The sunlight traveled through the curtains revealing the chamber room which was incomplete mess. From dirty clothes hanging on shelfs, to books and paper sheets stack everywhere. This place would make anyone not welcome here, as there was a smell of alcohol and dragon's breath?

Snoring loudly in the room, covered with sheets, notes, books, and an empty bottle of wine all over her, was no other then Twilight Sparkle, the youngest former prize student from the University for Magical Guild, which was founded by Queen Celestia.

Twilight drooled lazily in her sleep, snoring more like a donkey than a pretty princess on Christmas eve. Even though the sunlight was now on her face, she didn’t care of it, as she rolled over then flag her hand to thinking of closing the curtains but thrown a book out of the window instead, which she didn’t notice, by mistake.

Sleeping soundly, she smiled as the dream she was having was a blessing.

Until, her door was blast open by a happy dragon who was carrying a tray with a delicious breakfast and pills for her late hangover. Spike was his name, which he looked more like a kid with green spiky hair, with his skin like scales of the same color then a dragon. He is the loyal assistant of Twilight, who she saved him around 9 years ago. He saw her like a mother/sister figure but… though there are times he thought he was more of a slave to her then an assistant.

But he lived the good life, so what?

Noticing that burning the door to dust wasn’t enough to wake the sleeping nerd, he knew what to say. "Oh no! Is that quesadillas I have on my plate?" Spike didn’t contain the excitement as he slowly brought the plate close to Twilight’s nose, which she heard what he said immediately scream no, then tried to jump out of the pile she was in but from her coverings the blanket caught her leg, causing her to fall off the bed, slamming to the floor as the tower of books fall on her.

Spike cringe to see that she was probably fully awake now, and won’t be happy after the she gets out of the pile of books, notes and other things. He places the tray of food on a desk which had her ruffled papers all over it. "Apologies, but you should know what day it is?" He was digging in the pile of books searching for the lost master/sister, has he finds her, she was looking up at him with annoy look.

Twilight rose yawning, and a bit grumpy from being rudely awaken at…4pm? She walked over taking a piece of bacon to bite. "Tuesday," she said, with her mouth full simply. Seeing that her faithful assistant snort, "How would I forget the birthday of the Princess?" Twilight sat on a chair while pushing off the papers on the desk. “I wasn’t like trying to oversleep at all,” ruling her eyes with her full mouth of bacon and pancakes. Spike sure had a reason for not letting her have nice dreams.

"Do you plan every detail with your mouth full?" Spike said, feeling a bit upset that she was sleeping at this time of day. "I spent hours getting ready, while you slept for hours going crazy about book sorting again,” shaking his head of what to do with her. “If you need something now, just ask away."

Shaking her head while eating, she motioned for him to leave the room, so she can get ready for the party at least.

As Spike left the room, she looked at an old picture frame while eating, smiling to it as she picks it up. Seeing three figures, one bring a young adult, another a 10-year old kid who was holding hands with a little boy. They were standing in front of a school that the picture frame said, ‘The First Day!’ She laugh a bit of the two who were not happy with each other that day.

‘You need to learn how to get out more kid, even try to make friend or two. You don’t want to end up like a lone duck in the battlefield someday,’ Sighing, knowing fully well that she was right. Twilight was just bit scared of making friends, and not really seeing why it was so important. She had Spike, so that counts... right?

Placing back the picture frame on the desk, finishing her food. She looked to the window, seeing the busy life of the lower parts of Canterlot, where they lived, sighing that it was just as loud and busy as always.

She wasn’t rich or poor. This place was home to them, as she just didn’t want to rent a small apartment with a nice bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. Even Spike doesn’t mind sleeping on the couch, or outside if he gets into trouble.

They also didn’t live so far from The Dark Market, which was a place she mostly goes to earn money from the jobs she takes there. Her whole life has been just studying in the school to become the greatest mage ever, but as well going to the dark market to find more stuff to learn. She loves taking on big and small guild jobs that help pay for their needs, but also looking for clues...

Exact two weeks ago, she received an invitation to a birthday party from the Princess. Which didn't reveal the age of her, but it wasn’t unexpected, for she had no contact with her or the High Class in a long time. She didn’t want to go but by the insistence of Spike, she decided to go.

Twilight’s dress was fully violet with the bottom being darker to being lighter to the top. There were different size of stars that was in a form like of a river flowing from the bottom right up to the left shoulder of the dress. She also had her hair in a comb with a bang hanging out from her right shoulder. This dress was very simple and was her only one. She didn’t care if it wasn’t in Noble standards for a party at all.

She sat waiting for the little dragon, who said he was ready like an hour ago. "If I call you again, I swear I will....!" Twilight shouted from down the stairs, but was interrupted by seeing Spike smiling down at her from the top, wearing a fancy suit with a ruby color tie.

"Ready, How do I look?” The 12-year old arching his eyebrows with a laugh towards her shock face.

"You spent two hours talking about being ready," She muttered irritably, she pulled him by the ear with her magic as they walked out of their home locking the door behind.

After putting the key in her purse, Twilight smiled with a little smirk towards her little dragon. "You look really cute," As she kissed his forehead. She giggled as her faithful assistant blushed and muttered under his breath of not being cute, but being handsome.

The road to the castle was quiet, despite the fact that Twilight hated to receive attention. As expected, the magnitude of the party made hundreds of people wanted to see the Princess and the Queen, while the nobles and other invited guests who were here for their titles mostly.

"Take my hand, and don’t let go," Twilight whispered to Spike making the request.

After staying a few minutes in line, Twilight, and Spike hand over their invitations to the guard who looked suspicious at them. Ignoring this, the sorceress and her Dragon went on their way in through the doors of the palace which was packed with many nobles, famous mages, warriors and other guilds about. The whole place seems to be decorated with colors of pink with light bluish crystals. From where they were standing, the hangers on the windows had looked of a Crystal Castle on them.

“Uhhh… Oh, look! This isn’t the right party,” Twilight whispered to her little dragon. “Let’s head out before… Oh, those new books at the shop sell out.” She tried to turn around, but Spike holds on to her hand tight, that was like trying to drag a boulder.

“Nope, you promise to come and you’ll like it or not. You're coming with me,” Spike whispered back to his adopted sister. “Or you’ll see your library books be late for a return,” As Twilight’s eyes became wide with worried that he’ll actually do it. “Go in, have fun and try to at least make a friend,” He did the puppy dog face, but for a dragon that's scary.

She didn’t like that when he doe’s that. One time she ended up with nightmares for a week...

Hoping nobody was hearing them, she took a glance around seeing at least no one has been paying attention to them at all, or even cared.

“Ok, ok I’ll enjoy myself,” Rising both hands in defense, looking quite nervous. “I promise that I’ll make a friend,” Smiling like a good student.

Raising his eyebrow with his arms cross that said, ‘sure you are.’

They continue through the palace main hall which had been decorated in beautiful Crystal designs, flowers that which had been set in place shaping like hearts. They saw many different nobles, guild masters, and many other creatures greeting each other or just turning their heads up like they own the place heading towards where the party was held.

As they walk on the stairs towards the great ballroom ahead. Twilight had stopped a moment for she was nervous about something, looking around like she was afraid of being spotted. She felt her hand still in grip with Spike, which he looked to her showing that everything is fine. “Twilight, Is there something wrong?” Spike asked in a worried voice.

Breathing in to be calm. She simply replied. “Everything is fine Spike. Let’s enjoy the party,” She spoke to him with a smile. She knew he doesn’t remember what had happened years ago, but even so, they should have fun at the time, it didn't matter who she might bump with, just not with the Quee...

“Well, look who is here girls! This is a surprising place to find are dear little egglist traitor,” A surprisingly beautiful, but yet a sweet deadly voice spoke behind them. They immediately shivered knowing fully well who was right behind them.

The Dazzlings.

They are a Musical Guild Master Class. Which they were sirens before but after getting into trouble, they were turned into humans. Later somehow they join the guild. Using their vocals together, they can let loose negative emotion or sway the enemy they face, causing the target to get either be obedient to them or let them be distracted.

“Adagio, Sonata and Aria!” Twilight turnaround quickly, addressing the group she hadn’t thought she was going to meet at all with an annoyed smile. “What a surprise to see you all here. How was the trip back from the Snowy Mountains?”

Adagio eye twitches from that, but she controls herself before answering. “Oh Twilight, it wasn’t so bad. After all, you were the one who left us behind.”

“Yea, the one who took the rewards…” Spoke Aria, who look to Twilight with an angry look.

“Oh!! We had so much fun there Twilight!” Sonata jumps in front of her, with eyes shining with glee. “You had so missed out on the fun of escaping the cold mountains. Like when we meet som-ahh!” Her mouth was shoved by Aria’s hands, keeping her from talking about anything that happens.

“Aria, would you mind taking Sonata to where the food is, I think they have Tacos or something.” Adagio waved her hand to address the girl of moderate purple with light brilliant aquamarine streaks

Sonata had wide eyes looking very excited to eat Tacos! Grabbing both of Aria hands out of her mouth, then running off in a blast towards the ballroom.

Spike didn’t know much about these girls, but he knew a bit of them. They have been bullies to Twilight since all he can remember, but they weren’t nice.

Twilight and Adagio stared at each other for a while, waiting to see who will make the first move. Twilight didn’t want to fight her, or at least right now.

“Look squirt, let me tell you to stay away from us tonight, for now, if afterward I find you…” Adagio whispered to her. “I love to have some pay back what you pulled off back there, but right now it's a party that I need to focus on, so be the nice little girl you are and stay out of the way for tonight.” Smirking, her teeth were like shark teeth.

Twilight only stared hard at her.

“Oh! I know you're angry and wanted to fight us, but you know the rules,” Smiling in a mock voice to Twilight, she really wanted to punch the bully for sure. “No fighting here in the castle, so go have fun sunny’s girl.” Adagio left the two, as Twilight only stared down on the floor.

“Hey, are you alright?” Spike looked up to Twilight, noticing she didn’t seem happy, but sad.

Twilight hated the Dazzlings, for they been bullies to her ever since she was little. They called her the egglist because of how amazing she is at writing plans. She was glad to leave them behind that one time when Sonata got distracted by something… She giggled how much trouble she got when coming back home.

Shaking from her thoughts, breathing in and out, she didn’t want to ruin this party for Spike. “It’s fine,” she simply said, in a quiet tone that had a hint of frustration. “Let’s go enjoy the party.”

Spike only nodded, but seem worried for her. They continue on their way passing through the doors to where the party was being held in.

The ballroom looked amazing. With crystal hangers brightening the room, to beautiful pieces of art, to the music playing, with the room design more as a crystalize kingdom, this place looked beautiful.

The guest were unique to their own, with Nobles talking about how rich they are, to guild warriors slamming down their drinks, to the dances, this place had many things to do here. But for Twilight and Spike, they had different plans here at the party. Spike just wanted to eat all that delicious food, and maybe try to find the date of his life. Twilight wasn’t in the best mood right now, after meeting with the Dazzlings, she was a bit moody and only wanted to hide in the crown so that she won’t be spotted by the people she didn’t want to meet again. But now she just wants to find the bar, wait there till the party’s over.

"Spike," Twilight nudged the dragon who desperately sought wonderful giant meats of Monsters, Buffalo, and Gems! "If you get lost, or end up getting the desperate feeling again that I forgot you can spit up. I'll find you."

"If you get lost, you drop fire and bark like a dog on New Year’s Eve." They exchanged a laugh at each other while people nearby shook their heads thinking what kids have to be here for.

They parted ways to enjoy the party.

Spike was right to expect a boring party with a bunch of arrogant people and a tedious music. But the best thing about it is that they would be busy showing off, while almost no one ate.

"Where do I start," Spike swallowed that formed in his mouth. Picking up a green gelatin and tucking it at once in his mouth. "Still, Twily isn't here, but she could give me a lecture on manners later."

"Have you tried the strawberry cupcake?" Spike heard a female voice talking to him.

"Not yet..." As he turns to see who spoke to him which his eyes went wide and mouth open. In front of him was no other than Princess Cadence, who was the birthday girl. Offering a cupcake to him. "Thank you. Umm… Have you tried the…” Looking for something to say, picking out something quickly. “Gem spikes?" Spike couldn’t control the sweat that started to appear when he spoke.

The princess wore a magnificent pink dress, with crystal designs on different parts that had shapes of hearts. The shoes she wore made of crystal and a pink gem on it, and her hair was pink with lovely comb twist the braid going down on her left shoulder, with a lovely Crystal Heart necklace around her neck. Was she smiling at the small boy? Cadence did not know for sure if he was a boy or not, but she knew him before, even though the boy doesn’t remember her.

"I'm going… Ahh… Check out the art! You know… I heard that there was an art of… crystals?" Spike fake laugh slowly, stepping as far back enough till he dashed off into the crowd.

Cadence giggled from the reaction, she decided to follow him.

Twilight Sparkle was on the fourth cup of white wine, this didn’t affect much as it achieved a strength of alcoholic. She had seen a lot of famous members of the noble families and wonderbolts here. But nobody that caught her eye in talking to or something to look at, she had already done a few hours of walking around already.

Twilight was bored and upset from before, she didn’t like those Dazzlings at all. Even though they might know something about what happen to…

A sigh escaped her lips, she decided to not think about it for now and not to get drunk as well, for Spike might have a word with her about going drunk again in a party, last time she brought the roof down because someone thought Star Swirl wasn’t the best wizard in history.

As she got up to see what else the party had interesting going on. Someone bumped into her, spilling wine all over her dress.

"Gahh!" Twilight grunted, as she fell to the floor.

"I'm so sorry my dear, I wasn't looking where I was walking and... Ahhh! Oh your dress, don’t worry I’ll help fix that for you." Twilight looked up at the woman who knocked her down. Maybe she was a year or two older than her. A few centimeters higher and with a supernatural grace in every action she moved. She wore a dress that showed she was a fashion model 'Oh great, a fashion model...' Twilight thought.

"Here, let me help..." offered the ladies hand, but Twilight only refused, teleported herself back up, then turning her back ignoring the purple haired woman, in went off to search for a bathroom to clean up.

Walking away grumbling several words of her night being a failure and rather be at a mission instead. "I hope you're enjoying yourself, Spike."

Entering the bathroom, she saw the giant red spots on her clothes. "Wonderful," She picked up a paper towel, wet the stained spot and rubbed hard like the woman's face was on it. What did much effect on it only worsen the stain more. "Oh, I had loved you so much my dress..." She sighed, knowing her only dress for these parties is over, but hey she might have an excuse to not come.

Staring at the sink, she sighing that tonight wasn’t the best of nights for her. She poured water on to her face to wash some of the wine.

Rarity was extremely irritated to see that petulant girl refuse her help. After being shocked for a few minutes ago. She never would leave such a beautiful outfit like that ruin by not care the right way. As she entered the bathroom, she notices the other girl at the sink. "You like or not, I’ll help you!" Rarity said with an authoritarian tone. Twilight just jump in surprise and remained only silent, while the blue-eyed woman with a smug smile on her face beginning to make a spell that she had invented.

"Relax, it's a little cold but it will completely remove the stains" Twilight watched as the blue glow in the palm of the woman hands started to work on the dress. With a curious look, Rarity understood. "My sister lives on spilling grape juice and other things on my clothes, that I could not leave with stained clothes out there," Rarity spoke while working on Twilight's stain.

"Interesting," Twilight whispered.

"Brand new," Rarity said smiling proudly. "I'm sorry again."

"I had to apologize for being...." Twilight didn't finish speaking when they heard screams coming from the party. "What was that?" Twilight got up and went quickly towards the doors.

Rarity cursed herself mentally forgetting her main job, but Twilight didn't care what that was, as she ran out of the bathroom seeing what was the commotion about. As she left the room, the crowds were running off in different directions away from a certain green flame, while hooded mask men we're running towards it.

"Well done Spike," She facepalmed herself, recognizing those flames anywhere in the world. It was going to be difficult to get to her little dragon with all these people blocking the way. She could not teleport without knowing where it might be suicide.

Princess Cadence to see these masked men trying to hurt her, she conjured a shield to protect herself and the adorable boy she had company. "Stay behind me Spike," Cadence said with a gentle smile on her face to calm the little boy who was terrified but blushed a little.

"Break the shield!" One of the men ordered the rest of the hooded ones. They all wore a black silvery mask. Everyone wanted to make it clear what they were doing here, the millionth year's longest day has not happened yet.

Cadence analyze the situation, she saw that the guards circled the castle also were in a battle against them. "Looks like it's just me" She spoke, with her shield began to be broken by the power of kicks and shots of magic.

Spike saw another man flying with a sword heading towards the Princess, he spat a fireball at the attacker sending him off to the windows falling down below.

The Princess was distracted by this peculiar power from the boy since she felt no magic coming from him, or yet the fire that hit into the face of the enemy.

Which was a great distraction for another man to stab the Princess from behind, but before the sword came in and did any more damage, it was swept away by a gust of purple wind.

Twilight came throwing the men away. "Spike!" Twilight shouted. She was tired of getting into a fight again.

Spike, tears in his eyes jumped onto her lap, who hugged his sister with all the force in the world. "It’s ok, I’m here." She smiled relieved to see he was ok but realized that he was looking very exhausted from the fight so far.

Noticing that the Princess was on the ground in pain. "Oh no!" Going up to her side immediately seeing a part of the blade spiked in girl's shoulder. "Hey, it's going to be alright, I'm going to get this off, then get you to safety," Twilight spoke in a confident tone, that surprised her.

But there were more enemies still present. She didn’t have time to contour with a shield or teleport them out. The Lime bluish beams were heading straight toward them, but then suddenly diamond shape crystal shields appear around the group, protecting them then reflecting the attack back at the enemy.

“Darling, it’s very rude to leave a lady from finishing her fashion work.” Appeared the drama queen from before, who was now wearing an armor like a dress, that looked like the violet mix with light gray lines. Diamonds shining one the edges of the dress, markings of diamonds as well with her hair having a swirl but also fashionable like design with a diamond headpiece on the left side of her head. She was holding a baton that looked unique with a diamond shape twirled at the end.

Shaking off from being saved at the moment, there were other matters that needed to be the focus right now. “It doesn’t matter right now, I need to get these two out of here as soon as possible,” She said, looking around the room to see the men start getting back up.

"Don’t worry about them dear. I’ll take them with me, while you distract the enemy," The fashion queen spoke with a confident voice, as she moved her arms in a dance formation causing the baton to lit in magic, with the Diamond shields around them spin and tighten together to close off any coming attacks from the ground.

Twilight nodded towards her, as she rolled up her sleeves to get ready for a spell she hadn’t even tried before. ‘Boy, I wish I had more time reading that spell before the party. I have to focus or if I mess up… Here it goes.’

Rarity notices the runes all over the girl's arm. As they started to glow in purple. But she didn’t have time to question it, so she grabbed both Spike and Cadence, then putting her hands together on the ground, that form an impenetrable diamond barrier around them.

Twilight didn’t even have the luxury of catching her breath when she got hit by the shoulder from above. Who attack her was a hooded mask man that got blasted away by Rarity in a few feet. The broken parts of the attacker's blade were scattered on the ground in front of Twilight, which had a name on it: “I am Suffer.”

Twilight was in pain on her shoulder, but she needed time to concentrate on using the spell before she gets attack again. With the hooded mask man coming up to her quickly, she used a strength spell with a bit of quickness to her fist then punch the middle of the man's face, breaking the mask.

As he was thrown a great distance away from her. The man was on his knees wiping the blood off of his mouth, his face was black and apparently had ancient burns of symbols on the side of his face. He didn’t look happy at all.

"Oh, Celestia!" Twilight held her tears from punching the man. "What is your mask even made of?" Twilight held her hurt hand with the other.

She needed to Ignore the pain for now. Seeing that the time to use the spell was now, she quickly drew the fastest magic circle ever made in history. Plants broke through the floor of the palace and grabbing the remaining men around her. She made a point of letting the plants squeeze them like snakes.

As the men around her were caught in the vines of the deadly plants, the masked figure she punches before didn’t get caught has he blast the plants with violet fire and running up towards her. She fell on the floor exhausted and tired from casting the powerful spell. She couldn’t do anything to defend herself for it might be too late, but suddenly a golden light surrounded her.

Catching a glimpse of a figure, who stood before wearing what seem to be Royal clothing and a crown on her head with her rainbow shining brightly...

The only person she wanted to avoid all day.

Then she fainted…

The first thing Twilight had noticed when she opened her eyes was a ceiling that had the design of several suns, with clear blue skies reaching to the white walls of painted landscapes, forest, mountains and villages. The time she realized that she wasn’t in the orphanage, in which the ceiling was covered by cracks and infiltrations, nor in the house of that other couple.

Just to remember them, Twilight without realizing it closed her wrists strongly.

She tried to get out of bed, with sheets that also had different shades of red & yellow sunsets. But as soon as she got to her feet, she felt a stab in her right leg, which was bandaged up with a design of a sunset. She lay back down to take a closer look at her leg.

"It was that man who did this..." Twilight said, remembering what had happened to her to be that way. "Sunset!" Twilight shouted with a smile, finally noticing the Sunset marks everywhere in the room, reminding her the name of the powerful magician who saved her and…

With wide-eyes she almost jumps up from the bed, she looked around but didn’t see the little boy she had saved. “Oh no…” She shutters sadly and being upset, where did they put him?

She was about to get out of the bed when she notices a writing on her bandaged leg, looking closer at it, she saw it was from Sunset! “Hey kid, you're safe where you are, and don’t worry about your scaly friend. Just rest up and hope your leg gets better soon!” Also having an awful drawing of a smiling face, which is odd… How can someone miss up to a smiling face.

She laughs about how someone can miss up drawing a smiling face. But something about Sunset’s her name was very familiar as if she had read it in a newspaper or something.

Before beginning to venture into the room for answers, Twilight looked at every detail of that four.

The most obvious thing was that it was huge, with constellation paintings, shelves full of books Twilight had never seen in the library, the giant house bed she was sitting on, and next to a window that could see all of the Canterlot, A magnificent view of the sunset.

"Am I in a castle?" Twilight asked herself.

But before her subconscious began a battle to arrive at a correct result, the door was squeezed by scaring the young Twilight who was leaning down watching the view, causing it to fall.

"Did she ever wake up Sun ..." Princess Cadence entered talking to the other Princess. But she did not know what to do when she saw the child with her face on the floor.

Sunset is going to kill me if I laugh, that's what Princess Cadence intended not to burst out laughing at the scene that was before her.

Sunset Shimmer, the student and adoptive daughter of the Sun, rushed to help the little girl.

"Twilight are you hurt?" Sunset asked worriedly, to little Twilight and fertilizing if she had any bruises.

What Cadence found strange about all this, is that she's known Sunset to be arrogant and selfish ever since she came to live here years ago. But never seen her act like this before...

"I've been through worse, more than this ..." Twilight commented groggy from sleep. With a smile on her face, even having a giant cockroach on her forehead moving around in a circle.

Twilight stared at Sunset with her eyes glittering with admiration, and smiling something she had not done in a long time. Sunset looked with the same affection for that little girl.

But suddenly Twilight had noticed the insect, causing the girl to grab it and throw it at Princess Cadence by mistake.

A huge girlish screaming could be heard for miles as the castle shook from the Royal Voice.

Author's Note

Each chapter an educational fan art (which may or may not have spoilers)

Edited by:PlatinumPony