The two friends rushed hastily out onto the balcony of the Canterlot Palace, precisely as the enormous monster of solid rock took a great leap away from the castle walls, and towards the direction of the main city gate. Both stared blankly with such shock and disbelief, as well as frightful realization that the entire situation has, indeed, taken a turn for the worse. It was only until the white-hide Unicorn, with a violet mane and tail, heard the voice of her rosy companion that her attention was regained.

"Rarity, we can't just stand here!" She felt her muzzle being tugged closely toward that of her friend's, whose pink complexion and magenta curls, along with her narrowed blue eyes, encompassed the Unicorn's entire field of vision before hearing her scream. "We have to do something!"

"Pinkamena Diane Pie, please," Rarity exclaimed as she raised her hooves to remove the Earth Pony's own from her face, "As much as I agree with you, we mustn't reduce ourselves to mass panic. At least, not quite yet."

"I know," was her friend's reply, as she quickly recollected herself, "I just wanted to make sure you knew that, too."

"Anyway," she continued, with a roll of her own blue irises, "I believe that it is best we returned our focus onto the present issue we've been dealt with. It is clear that the diversion we helped to orchestrate here was, overall, rather successful, until that monstrosity finally decided to shift its attention onto those poor, frightened ponies evacuating the city. Now, why is that? What changed?"

"I don't know," Pinkie replied, "Maybe because that's exactly what it wanted to do now? You know, going after all the ponies that are trying to leave, and catch them before they can even try?"

"That very well may be the case, but I'm afraid it already had ample opportunities to do so, especially whenever we recovered and prepared for a retaliation. No, I believe something else, something new has entered into the fray that caused it to withdraw its attention away from us."

"Huh, good point. I guess that would explain why my Pinkie Sense gave me a doozy just a few minutes ago. Okay, so what do we do about that?"

"Perhaps," she pondered apprehensively, with a hoof under her chin, "Should the Princesses allow it, I think that it would be prudent to rejoin with the others, understand fully what is happening down there, so as to find the proper solution to this awful predicament."

"But what about the palace, and everypony in it?" They both looked about them, finally taking note of the surrounding damage and debris that has now become the state of their current base of operations. Heaving a bereaved sigh, Rarity returned her attention towards the smoke and mayhem beyond, saying, "As much as I abhor the idea of abandoning this castle and its inhabitants in such a deplorable state, I believe meeting back with our friends takes top priority, if we ever wish to stand a chance against that…brute."

"Alrighty," beamed Pinkie Pie, as she turned back, feeling her tail twitch, "That's sounds like a super-duper plan, Rarity! Though, I don't think we need to worry about going all the way back inside just so we can get Celestia and Luna's permission to leave."

"Oh," the Unicorn spoke inquisitively, "And why do you say that, Pinkie?"

"Because I think the balcony's about to collapse," quickly answered the pink Earth Pony. There was a momentary pause between the two mares, before Rarity flatly asked, "I beg your pardon?" Plooookle!

Suddenly, the white stone floor was pulled from beneath them, allowing gravity to take hold, as the terrace they once stood dismantled into several fragments of debris in midair. With such very little time, Rarity thought quickly, as her horn lit up into a blue glow, focusing on the closest object she could use. The curtains belonging to an open window that they rapidly passed by gleamed in the same color of light, and were torn from their frames instantly. Shhrrip! Directing all of her heightened focus and stimulated energy onto her magic, and ignoring the squeals of enjoyment from Pinkie, she held the curtains above them, while taking a firm hold of one corner, and Pinkie taking the other. She magically sewed a seam into the fabrics, making one larger curtain. The two ponies took hold of one another, still maintaining their own grips onto the now-singular fabric, as the air was caught into the material, now being used as a makeshift parachute. To ensure the integrity of her hastily crafted creation, Rarity maintained her magical hold onto it, sewing wherever there may have been weak points, and still hearing her friend cheering with glee, until they landed safely onto the surface below.

"Yay! That was so exciting, Rarity! Don't you think that was exciting? Because I thought that was exciting. I thought that was super exciting! Because if I didn't think that that was super exciting, then I wouldn't be talking at incredible speeds telling you how super exciting that was. You are amazing!" The sporadic and boisterous behavior emanating from her jovially hopping friend did not bother Rarity in the slightest.

After having grown well accustomed to such things, she only responded with a soft smile of gratitude, and a sigh of relief, "Thank you, Pinkie Pie. I believe I even surprised myself that time. Performing such a daring feat in so little time I thought was beyond my talents. But given that I own and manage three different boutiques across Equestria, and many times having to make rapid adjustments to my designs shortly before a deadline, I suppose I shouldn't have. Also, like yourself, I did find that a most thrilling experience."

"But where'd you get the needle and thread to do that?" Upon seeing the levitated objects she spoke of, Pinkie watched in awe, as they, along with the thread she used previously, returned to their place of origin, behind Rarity's left ear within her mane. "I am always prepared, dear."

"Well, now's not the time to foal around, silly," the Earth Pony beamed, "Let's go and find our friends and save the day, like we always do!"

"Yes, of course. Quite right." They both trotted their way down the street, turning to a full gallop, and making their way westward to the main gate that led to the highway for Ponyville. "I certainly hope nothing dreadful has become of Applejack, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash."

"Please, I'm absitiveley posilutely sure that they'll be A-okay," Pinkie said with a playful puff, "I'm just wondering if we'll be able to meet up with Twilight, Spike and Starlight on our way over there."

"Indeed. It has definitely been a while since we heard from them last. Didn't Spike's most recent letter say they were on Chamomile Road, heading southwest toward Violet Boulevard?"

"I think so. But I'm pretty sure they would have already moved on from there, by now. What exactly are they looking for again?"

"I'm afraid I know as much about that as you, Pinkie. Twilight never gave me any details concerning the matter, but I trust her sound judgment in knowing what she is doing."

"Gee! And to think that this is all happening before the surprise party. Twilight must be having quite the super exciting birthday, today!"

“Ugh! Worst. Day. Ever.” Feeling the ground make a violent tremor beneath her hooves did not aid in comforting the Princess of Friendship, knowing that her friends were still in the heat of the conflict, while she was moving further into the city, away from the potential harm they were facing. It only took her a moment to recall the purpose of this collateral assignment she bestowed upon herself, Spike and Starlight Glimmer, which prompted her to press onward, instead of turning back to help as she so desperately desired. The moment another quake arose, however, the lavender Alicorn, with a night blue mane and tail that had bright crimson and purple strands, stomped her hoof in frustration as she casted her purple orbs downward.

“Come on, Twilight, we’re almost there.” Feeling a slight degree of anxiety being released, after receiving a hoof onto her shoulder from her new friend, Twilight took a deep breath, offered a smile in return, adjusted the strap of her satchel, and then continued.

“Spike,” she spoke, as she turned her head to face the adolescent purple and green dragon behind, “Did you send that letter to Princess Celestia yet?”

“Yep. Told her that we’re now at the corner of Autumn Wind and Chestnut. But I still don’t get why you wanted to have me tell Celestia we’re somewhere we’re not.”

“I’m with Spike on this one,” added Starlight, “Why the secrecy? Especially to your mentor and friends, of all ponies?”

“My friends may not know, but Celestia does. It was kind of both our idea, actually. You see, when we agreed with Zecora, Cadence and Shining Armor on how to arrange for secret convoys and places to transport and safeguard the artifact, it was decided that, in the event of a great crisis, (which we’re experiencing, right now, he-heh) when ponies are sent to retrieve it, they were to send false messages that update their current positions, in case those messages were ever intercepted. Only Celestia knows, because she taught me that the best kept secrets need to be held between as few ponies as possible. The fewer who know, the fewer connected to the secret, the fewer lives endangered.”

“But wouldn’t all our friends still be consider connected, since they’re pretty close to you?”

“Huh, close is the understatement of the century,” remarked Spike in response to Starlight’s enquiry, “More like inseparable. And why bring us here with you anyway, and let us know?”

“Spike, that last one’s easy: I need you to send those messages. Plus, I know how good at secret keeping you are.”

“Yeah, unlike somepony I know.” This resulted in a slight glare from Twilight to her reptilian assistant, who cringed as she refuted, “For your information, Spike, I’ve learned a lot about secret keeping since then. I did manage to keep this secret from you, until now, after all.”

“Meh. Fair enough,” he shrugged. Just then, a third violent shake resounded throughout the street they were on, to which they responded with even greater urgency to press on.

“As for you, Starlight,” the young Alicorn continued, “The spell that conceals the artifact requires two Unicorns to unlock it, and only Celestia and I know the key spell.”

“And since Celestia’s occupied with creating the diversion for that stone giant,” Starlight completed, “You can’t retrieve it alone.”

“Exactly.” The light purple Unicorn huffed with false animosity, brushing her purple mane with bright and dark blue strands, shifting her purple-blue eyes with a smirk, saying, “Well, thank you, very much, Princess of Friendship, I feel so much safer around you now.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” Twilight brightly responds, pretending to be oblivious to Starlight’s sarcasm, to which both share a friendly mirth.

“Still, you could’ve explained all of this to us sooner.”

“Sorry, you two,” she returned to her somber tone, “but I had to make absolutely sure we were out of earshot. And you may have raised a valid point about our friends, Starlight. The embodied Elements of Harmony are so closely knit, that the general risk is exceedingly high. That is why I made sure that they’re occupied with the evacuation.” She paused, as she cringed at the very mention of their current plight, while another tremor occurred. “All this, to ensure that they know as little about this as possible, and that they can’t be followed or used to get back to me by anypony spying on them, while I secretly secure the relic.”

"Like what happened with Tirek, when you gave up all that Alicorn magic for them," Starlight said, recalling the one of many she heard from her teacher.

"Yes."

“But wouldn’t it be safer to keep the artifact hidden, as is, during this crisis?”

“One can never be too sure,” said Twilight, in response to Spike’s enquiry, “We agreed, as in myself, Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Shining, and Zecora, that it’s best to keep it as close to ourselves as possible, in case somepony and their pals might actually stumble upon it. To keep it someplace where we can see it, during times like these. And to ensure I don’t lose it on our way back, I’ll place a security spell around my satchel, once it’s inside. One that only responds to my magic.”

The three of them made the turn around the corner, their destination immediately impressing upon their visions, as they did so. The escalating tower loomed over their heads, as they continued to make their approach.

“Wow,” said Starlight, with a slight gasp, “I had no idea you lived in a place like this.”

“And I doubt anything’s changed since we last came here.”

“Actually, Spike, you’re absolutely correct,” Twilight gleamed, “Nopony has seen me come to this old home of ours more than once these past four years. So, to keep that artifact’s location a secret, I maintained its dusty, old, cobwebby state, for the sake of a façade.”

“How comforting.”

“You haven’t lived in this place for four years,” the baffled Unicorn asked, “and the real estate agency still lets you keep it?”

The two ponies and infantile dragon strolled passed the creaking door Twilight opened, and made their way up the stairs, where a wide variety of volumes and reference books gathered dust and cobwebs, exactly as she said, receiving the light of the sun from the immense, single-paned window.

“Hard to believe this is where I began my studies,” Twilight reminisced, “And before a whole new life began for me.”

“Yeah, me too,” joined in her small assistant.

“You don’t have to tell me how strange it feels to know how much things have changed. Believe me.” She offered Starlight a friendly nod in response, then unleashed the energy from her horn, which shared a crimson glow with the telescope placed on a singular pedestal, attached to a spiraling stairwell. The telescope shifted its position, having the eyepiece turned directly toward the sunlight, which was magnified and brightened by the mirrors that also became adjusted inside, as it traveled through the other end. Its radiant splendor shined onto the center of the floor, in which a sparkling glow of energy gleamed within the sun’s rays.

“Just say ‘open says me’?” Twilight chuckled at the Unicorn’s quip, then gave the passkey that was required. The two mares focused on channeling their magic, flourishing through the tips of their horns. The energy that suspended before them began to accumulate, then formed a small sphere of red, which then made its way towards the bookshelves, touching one out of the many volumes in particular, which opened to reveal a camouflaged, cut-in slot within the pages, carrying a simple, red jewelry box inside. Just then, the ground shook beneath them, once again, causing a few books to fall off the shelves.

“Whoa. What’s inside that, I wonder?”

“Sorry, Spike,” the youthful Princess replied, preparing to stow it away, “I’m not supposed to show it to anypony. Besides, it’s locked from the inside, and it requires a full moon as its catalyst, courtesy of Princess Luna.”

“Failsafe inside another failsafe,” Starlight commented, “Not exactly original, but better careful than-” Psh’klang!

A loud crash emanated from the top of the large window, causing glass to shatter and fall onto the room’s occupants. The mares managed to raise barriers before the full brunt of the sharply scattered crystalline could do much harm, while Spike’s scales kept him unscathed. The ponies and dragon looked up to see the great window now ruined by the cracks that spread like veins from the newly made opening they found. Quickly, Twilight placed the case into her satchel, casting her breach protection spell onto it, then turned to face the source of the sudden damage, placing herself into a fighting stance, wings outstretched and horn heating up. Starlight followed suit with her own magic, as Spike warily bared his claws.

It did not take the Alicorn Princess and her friends long to know exactly what broke the window. What they found was a pony sprawled against the opposite shelf, covered in a torn, red and blue, web-themed costume, and a spider emblem at the center of its chest. It also had cuts and bruises on all its four beige legs and abdomen. The mask the pony wore was also to shreds, revealing a horn and muzzle of the same shade as the legs, but its wide, blank lenses concealed the eyes within. The Unicorn was buried in books, which were brushed off with the moan of a young male’s voice, enabling the three friends to see the brown, short, yet disheveled tail that was hidden before the stallion stiffly rose.

“Ugh! Oh. Aw! Ow. Oof. Ah,” the masked figure groaned incessantly. He gradually stood onto his hooves, hunched over, glancing downward with fatigue, and shaking the daze out of his head. “Anyone get the number of that rock?”

Author's Note

Even though the MLP: FiM series has run for six seasons, thus far, I decided to base my timeline for this series on the number of Hearth's Warming/ Winter Wrap Up episodes produced, which is, in fact, four. The episodes themselves have never given further indication of dates, or lengths of time between them, aside from the holiday episode, with the Hearth/Winter episodes outnumbering the others. As for Peter's timeline, I decided that, since the two seasons of SSM essentially covered his junior year in high school, he spent four years after the events of "Final Curtain" continuing his journey as Spider-Man. So much has happened, of course, yet more is still to come.