Sojourner Sparkle

Twilight Sparkle sat awake in bed. She stared at the covers in the dead of night, with her eyes looking for imperfections in the sheets. She looked up to see Spike sleeping soundly in his own bed. He clutched his own blankets closely to himself as he breathed softly. Twilight even noted that Spike’s face was relaxed, but with a small smile on his face. The green and purple baby dragon had much to learn, much to experience, and much to envy.

This brought a small smile to Twilight’s own face. The revelations that Twilight just received had kept her up, and she had no doubt that if Spike knew what she knew, he too would have been up tonight. Twilight’s ears twitched, she yawned, and she rubbed her eyes with a hoof. It was too late for this. Slowly, she laid down on her pillows and pulled over the comforter over herself. Even with her worry, sleep came quickly to her.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash lively walked down the streets of Ponyville. They laughed and joked about this and that. Their destination was the Crystal Castle. It was easy enough to find, after all. Its glittering form towered over every other building in the town. As they walked, Rainbow Dash finally asked, "So what's this summons all about?"

Recollecting their collective purpose, Applejack took a moment to calm down from the joking and the laughing. "I dunno, Sugarcube. It must have to do with the summons that Twilight herself got from the Princess." Nodding, Rainbow Dash took on a more somber look as she remarked, "I hope it isn't anything... bad."

Taking note of her friend's turn of demeanor, Applejack asked, "What's the worry, Dash?" Looking back at Applejack, then looking up and ahead of the crystal castle, Dash hung her head. "I dunno," she said. "She's been awfully tight-lipped about her latest meeting with the Princesses. She didn't even tell Spike anything, and I get all the Princess news from Spike."

Applejack scrunched up her face in a look of contemplation and out, "hmm." Looking back to meet Rainbow Dash's eyes, Applejack then said, "I haven't the foggiest. I just hope everything's okay." They both looked at each other, and then to the castle, and then back at each other again.

They quickened their pace.

Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Equestria, sat in her chair. Her chair. It flanked by 5 other such crystal chairs, arranged in a circle around a massive, raised crystal platform. This platform had a special kind of magic on it, one that was designed to alert Twilight and her friends of any arising problems in Equestria. Twilight looked again; there wasn't anything to be concerned about. Nothing in Equestria was going wrong, which what concerned Twilight. Even at the westernmost edge of the map, where the western coast met the water, Twilight could see a growing darkness. It was subtle, almost imperceptible. It was at the extreme edge of the map, and the darkness was static. Twilight wondered how much longer this would be true.

Eventually, her name was called. Then, her name was called again. Twilight, finally breaking out of her stupor, stupidly asked, "Huh? What?" She looked around and noticed that all her friends had arrived. Applejack, a blonde-orange earth pony, sat with her signature brown Stetson hat on her head. Rainbow Dash, a rainbow-haired cyan pegasus, sat next to Applejack and leaned over to look at Twilight. Fluttershy, a pink-maned and yellow-cream colored pegasus, Seemed to withdraw herself a little as she looked at Twilight and found only her worried look. Rarity, a white unicorn, was much the same but trying to keep her cool by messing with her violet mane. Finally, Pinkie Pie was the only individual here to be smiling, as the overwhelmingly pink pony bounced on her rear in her chair. Twilight turned to see Starlight Glimmer walk into the room. Starlight Glimmer, a unicorn with a purple mane with an aquamarine highlight and a light pink coat, came to a stop near Twilight's chair.

The room became silent as the doors slowly slid shut, and all eyes slowly turned to Twilight. Finally, Applejack ventured a question. "Everything all right, sugarcube?" Twilight looked up and regarded all her friends with slightly wet eyes. Then, she did a breathing exercise, pressing her hoof to her chest and closing her eyes on the inhale, and reaching out with her hoof on the exhale. Wiping her face, Twilight then spoke up.

"H-Hi... girls. How's it... going?" With this, she gave a half-hearted grin. It was the grin of somebody with their hoof caught in the cookie jar, or someone who had bad news. Looking more intently at Twilight, everyone else leaned in as they tried to pry the secrets from Twilight with just their eyes. "Y'alright, sugarcube?" asked Applejack. Quickly turning her head to regard Applejack, Twilight Sparkle then replied, "Y...Yeah! Everything's... fine!"

"If there's something wrong, Twilight, you must tell us!" pleaded Rarity as she got up from her chair to place a hoof on Twilight Sparkle's shoulders. Taking a few more deep breaths, Twilight wiped her face again, and then said, "Princess Celestia has a mission for me." Popping in from above, Pinkie Pie took the opportunity to ask, "Oooh! What kind of mission?"

"There is a danger that is growing in the West. I don't know what it is, but I have to travel to King's Peak so I can talk to the Forgemaster." Starlight Shimmer then interjected with, "I've never heard of King's Peak before." At this, Twilight Sparkle nodded. Using her magic, she formed an arrow that pointed to the West of the continent. Even on this magical map, the region is simply called "The Undiscovered West." Highlighting the mountains that ran along the land, Twilight continued.

"Yes. There is a pony here that can help Equestria survive the coming evil. I have to go there and recruit our allies to the west."

"Um. Excuse me." a soft voice said. Everyone turned to Fluttershy, who was looking at the map table with intent eyes. "We have allies to the west? How can we have allies if we don't know about the land?"

After a moment, Twilight said, "I... don't know. Apparently, nobody ever bothers to go there, and the maps forgot what was there. It is still important that I seek out the Forgemaster, and learn what he knows, so Equestria can be readied."

Pinkie Pie started to bounce on her hind legs, jumping from one hind leg to the other, as she held her hooves close to her body. Her grin was as genuine as it was wide, and she said with her happy closed eyes, "A new friend! A new friend!" Then, Pinkie Pie lowered down on all fours, looked Twilight in the eyes, and asked, "So, when are we going?"

"I will be going as soon as I'm ready." Twilight sadly answered. She looked into Pinkie's eyes, then the eyes of the rest of her friends. "However, I will be going alone."

The rest of the ponies (and dragon), as one, exclaimed "What?!" As the hall then descended into every pony talking at once, as well as Spike trying to talk to Twilight, she found herself shrinking from their attention more, and more. "What do you mean, 'I'm going alone', Twi? We ponies stick together!" Pleaded Applejack. Rainbow Dash added, "Yeah! We've been things through thick and thin! Whatever this new evil is, we can stop it!"

Rarity took the opportunity to put her own two bits in, saying, "Indeed, Twilight. We may no longer be the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, but we are still a team!"

"Yeah!" shouted everyone in the room. They were so busy encouraging and talking to a downtrodden Twilight that they didn't hear hoof knocks on the entrance to the room. Neither did they hear the second set of knocks. Finally, someone cleared their throat, and the ponies gathered finally took notice of who had just arrived.

It was Princess Celestia, with her regal ornaments and all.

With the issue forgotten, the ponies took the time to bow to the monarch newcomer to the conversation. Bowing herself, Celestia regarded her subjects and peer with soft eyes and a gentle smile. With a small shiver and a deep breath, she said, "It is good to see you all again, my little ponies."

Applejack was the first to ask, looking up to her beloved leader, "Is it true? Does Twilight have to go alone on this journey?" Her smile faded, and she closed her eyes. Nodding her head solemnly, Celestia looked at Fluttershy as she meekly walked on hoof-tips to look at Celestia through her mane. With a brave face, she looked up, and asked, "But... why? Why does she have to go alone?"

Celestia again looked at them all and then walked amidst and past them to reach the map table, where Twilight was still seated. With a hoof, she gently rested her limb on the Undiscovered Lands. "This is not merely something solved with friendship alone, I'm afraid," the Solar Princess began. "It is something that requires... a personal touch. This is a deeply personal journey for our newest Princess, and it is something that is best done alone."

Spike, having been quiet for the longest time, finally spoke up. " I disagree." he announced forcefully. His voice even carried with it the tiniest bit of anger. Anger at the Princess. Ramrod straight, and rock still, with eyes like saucers, it is all Twilight Sparkle could do to not immediately spirit Spike away. "Spike!" she shouted in an unsteady voice. With a smile, Celestia interjected. "It is alright," she said calmly. "It is a sign of loyalty and love that Spike would seek to defy even me just to accompany you." She lowered her head, and added, "That, I can respect." Spike's earlier bravado now carried more weight to his stance, and he shrank away from the Princes he had just challenged.

"However," Celestia continued. "This is indeed a journey that Twilight Sparkle must take on alone. I have nothing left to say." With that, Celestia bowed again to her little ponies and departed. She left behind her a bunch of ponies (and dragon) to look at each other with downtrodden eyes.

The morning was quiet, and only the hardest of workers in Ponyville was to be up at this early hour. The sun had not yet risen, but there was still enough light for Twilight to work. The supplies had been gathered, the bedroll wrapped up with rope, and a spare map stuffed haphazardly into her saddlebags. She brought a small amount of food, as there was ample grass between her and her destination, but she did pack a canteen of water.

Checking, double checking, and then triple checking her pack and gear, Twilight shouldered her saddlebags. Ample of time had been given for farewells, and all the arrangements had been made. Starlight Shimmer would manage the castle in her absence, and Ponyville should run normally. As normally as it could, anyway. Rolling her hoof steps, Twilight walked lightly through the crystal halls and doorways, looking for any sign of life that may want to say another goodbye to her. She shifted the weight of the heavy saddlebags on her back and fluttered her wings. Perhaps she would use these to fly to her destination. She shifted the weight of the saddlebags again.

"No, they might be a bit heavy for that." Twilight mused. Just as well. She could use the exercise. As she neared the front entrance, she paused to scratch her horn. Following that, she eyed the crystal doors to her palace. She took a long breath in through her nose, closed her eyes, and let her breath out through her nose. Looking to the left, and then the right, her eyes drank in every detail of the palace. She even turned around to see her own banners and tapestries line the hallways, and she smiled.

"Well," Twilight thought. " here goes." Turning back around, she nosed the door open and walked outside. The stars were retreating their light to make way for the advance of the sun, which even now peaked on the eastern horizon. The lazy streets were lit with a warm glow as the cold of the night was banished away. The thatched-roof houses were lit golden by the morning sun, but the streets themselves remained in shadow. However, there was still enough to see what waited for Twilight outside her own castle.

"Y'all didn't think we would let you leave without us, right?"

It was her friends. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity. In front of them, all was her adoptive little brother, Spike. They each had their own bags, filled with provisions and tents and bed mats. Underneath these saddlebags (and backpack), everyone wore a cloak, one that was a desaturated hue of their coats. They were made from thick, heavy material, and Twilight looked as Rarity magicked over a dark violet cloak, neatly folded in her magic. Rarity told Twilight as she accepted the gift, "We'll be going where there isn't any pegasi weather teams or railroads... so you might as well keep the rain off of yourself, darling."

Eyes watering, Twilight neglected to hold up the cloak long enough that it fell to the ground. Before Rarity could ask whatever was the matter, Twilight had rushed forward and embraced Rarity. The rest of the gang fell in and they all had a big group hug. Sniffing, Twilight started to tear up. Before long, the hug was broken up, and Twilight retrieved her cloak. "Oh, my little ponies," she exclaimed. "Not even Celestia could keep us apart, right?"

"You got that right, sister," replied Rainbow Dash as she hooked a hoof around Twilight's neck. She broke away, as well, and Twilight walked up to Spike. She had on his back a tent, but the package and the wrapping of the tent were taller than he was, but he shouldered his burden and was able to look up to meet Twilight's eyes, as his hands clasped the shoulder straps. Smiling, Twilight nuzzled her Number One Assistant, and asked, "Did you have something to do with this, Spike?"

Beaming, looking up with eyes closed, Spike replied, "Yup! I just thought it was a little unfair that Celestia would ask you to go alone! We always go together, right? So, I asked the girls to come with!" At this, Twilight scooped up the little drake and held him close in a hug. "Oh, Spike," said Twilight. "You didn't have to."

"If I didn't," Spike jokingly said. "Who would be your Number One Assistant?" After another moment of riotous "aww"-ing and laughter, Twilight put on her cloak. Her head fits through the neck hole, and she made sure to look at herself now that she had the cloak. Twilight asked around, "How do I look?" Pinkie Pie jumped up and down in her dull pink cloak and said, "Like you're ready for an adventure!"

From inside the castle came Starlight Glimmer. She leaned against the door and had a sad smile on her face. "Well, it looks like you guys are off to save the world again," she remarked. "I'll have to hold the fort and keep Equestria from falling into chaos while you're gone." Twilight, having seen Starlight, walked up to her and hugged her with a foreleg. Returning the embrace, Starlight Glimmer chuckled. "Looks like I'm having my own adventures in Ponyville, just like you."

From inside the castle came the sound of rattling pans and a shattered plate. Downtrodden, Starlight said, "That'll be Trixie again." Looking Twilight in the eyes, and with a smile, she continued, "I better see what that is about. I'll see you when you get back!" Turning around, Starlight Glimmer retreated back into the Ponyville Crystal Castle, now temporarily under new management.

The adventurers then proceeded down the road to the west, out of town. As they walked, the sun continued its advance. Six ponies and one dragon merrily trotted and one even bounced around from the excitement. Houses passed by, their occupants still sleeping, surely unaware of the new adventure and the new set of histories that was unfolding this day. As they neared the edge of town, alone pony came out from the left-side alley, laden with a long bag.

It was Princess Luna.

Greeting the adventurers, Luna simply presented her package. "I had suspected that you would disregard the advice of my sister," Luna said. "Thus, I have prepared something for thine journey. You may have prepared for everything you can think of, but you are not prepared for what I can think of." Withdrawing the content of the bag in her magic, Luna handed out a bundle of... short swords. Seven them went to their new owners, and they looked upon the swords with hesitant motions and still faces.

"Go on," urged Princess Luna. "Let them see the light of day." At this, the group drew their weapons. Straight, coming to a point, these steel-and-wood weapons hearken back to a more violent time. The simple wooden handle and hilt were decorated with gold and leather. The narrow hilt gave way to a straight blade that widened somewhat before sharply angling to come to a point. "Pegasi Gladii," muttered Rainbow Dash. Everyone turned to look at the prismatic athlete. "It's a... Pegasus Gladius. These were what the heroes of the Pegasi Guard used." Her face lit up and her grin widened. "So cool." She waved around the weapon in her grip before carefully sheathing the sword. She then took the strap and wore the new weapon around her neck, and she beamed with a bit of pride.

"You know of this weapon," remarked Luna. "But do you know how to use it?" With a modest chuckle, Rainbow Dash suggested, "You... stick the pointy end into the other guy?"

Smiling, Luna replied, "More or less." With some laughter, the group took off. The sun rose ever more, casting the light of the day on the fields and plains that were about to be traversed. Luna watched the departure of the Elements of Harmony (and Spike), and she looked at the sky and saw that it was a clear day. From the alley, another pony appeared.

It was Princess Celestia.

"I suppose you are happy with these circumstances," spoke a remorseful Celestia. "Yes," replied Luna. "They will be the ones to finally break the siege of shadow."

"Hmm," mused Celestia. "It would have been better still for Twilight to go alone."

"Now, all of their lives are in danger."