Chapter 1

The Elements Escape

Twilight could tell from Princess Celestia's tone that some problem had arisen that needed to be dealt with. Not that Twilight was complaining, she was always willing to help her old mentor, but for some reason, a feeling in her gut was telling her that this was different. That this was a problem that is more complex than merely using the Elements. With Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash following her, she headed for Canterlot. It was then that they saw it. Covering the sun that Princess Celestia would raise each day, was a large ball in the sky. It wasn't doing anything, just sitting there, but Twilight could tell that there was nothing good about this ball.

“Twi, we won't make it in time. Even at our fastest, that ball thing could do something,” Rainbow Dash said.

“I reckon RD's right, sugarcube. Unless we can come up with a way of getting to Canterlot right away, I don't know what else to do,” Applejack said. Then, seemingly out of the blue, Pinkie ran to the front of the group and, from some kind of negative space that only Pinkie seemed to inhabit, she pulled out a towering version of her Party Cannon. It looked kind of familiar, Twilight just couldn't place it.

“Um, Pinkie, darling. Where did you get that?” Rarity asked, voicing the question for the other girls. The party mare smiled big, pulling out six color coordinated helmets from the same negative space.

“Oh, Cheese Sandwich is letting me borrow it. He's officiating some big weddings in Las Pegasus, and can't really take a Party Howitzer with him. I told him I'd take good care of it,” she said, sticking the helmets on her friends heads.

“And you're wanting us to get inside that thing, and what, be shot out of it and sent to Canterlot?” Twilight asked. Pinkie nodded, the helmet she wore somehow fully covering her mane. The others sighed. They'd known the pink mare for years, and as such, they knew not to question her. Pinkie may be a bit unorthodox, but if there's one thing they knew, it's that she'd never intentionally put her friends in harms way. So, one by one, they piled inside the barrel of the Party Howitzer. Pinkie was the last, and with a smirk, she held the wick in her hoof.

“Ready girls?” she asked, seemingly jittering with excitement. The others nodded.

“THREE, TWO, ONE, LIFT OFF!!” Pinkie squealed, pulling the wick off, and with a loud bang, the Mane Six were sent blasting toward Canterlot. While in the air, Twilight could see multiple shapes emerging from the large ball in the sky. This was bad. Luckily, the roof of Canterlot was right below them and..slowly getting closer. Soon, all six crashed through the roof, and landed right at the hooves of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.

“Well, nice of you all to drop in so quickly,” Princess Celestia said.

“Pinkie, get off of me,” Rainbow Dash said, snorting. Pinkie Pie chuckled, getting off of Rainbow Dash and pulling the helmet off, her mane back in it's original form, not looking any different. Shaking herself off, Twilight approached the Princess's, as her friends shuffled behind her.

“Princess Celestia? What's the problem? Does it have something to do with that ball that's in the sky?” she asked. Princess Celestia sighed.

“There's no time, Twilight. All you need to know right now is that this is not an enemy that can be defeated by the Elements of Harmony. You all must do exactly as I say, my little ponies. I will open a portal for you and it will take you to an old friend of mine who can keep you safe. He will answer all the questions you have, but under no circumstances can you stay in Canterlot, or Equestria. Do you understand?” she asked. The purple mare's eyes watered, as she shook her head.

“No, Princess. I don't understand. There has to be a way we can stop this enemy together,” she said. Princess Celestia shook her head, nuzzling Twilight.

“I wish there were Twilight, but unfortunately, this is the only way. The last thing I would want is to put you in danger, so please, do as I asked,” she said. Twilight sniffed, pulling away from Princess Celestia, as her friends gathered around her. Princess Celestia's horn lit up, and in the middle of the floor of the throne room, a large purple portal suddenly appeared. A huge gale erupted from the portal, almost as if a wind turbine was unleashed inside the throne room.

“Sister! We must hurry! They're going to break down the door at any moment!” Luna yelled, levitating a sword with her magic. Out the window, Twilight could see groups of flying shapes zooming through the skies and somehow eliciting a roar. They weren't dragons or griffons, so how could they roar?

“TWILIGHT! GO NOW!” Princess Celestia yelled, as the door to the throne room was busted open. In what seemed like a haze to the purple pony, large white shapes burst in, holding black objects that were sending bright red light out them. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were defending themselves, until more shapes swarmed the throne room. Soon, some broke off from the main group and headed for Twilight and the others. Her horn glowing, Twilight sent a shot out of her horn which hit the leader in the chest. The rest advanced, as Applejack wrapped one up with her lasso, Rarity levitated one and sent him flying out the window, Fluttershy dodging two causing both to hit each other, Rainbow Dash knocking the helmets of anther two together, and Pinkie Pie sending explosive pastries at the rest. Soon, the sounds of battle died down, until even more swarmed in, but these one's were different. Their attacks were straight and true, and they were being led by a figure all clad in black and holding a long red rod. A few guards ran at the black clad figure, prepared to defend the Princess's, but the black figure merely raised a limb and the guards were lifted up and seemed to be choking. The black figure approached Princess Celestia, who sent a blast out of her horn at them. The figure was able to simply flick it out of their path and, pointing at Princess Celestia, the figure sent her flying back without even touching her. Even through all the commotion, Twilight could hear an odd noise coming from the figure. An odd and terrifying noise. The Mane Six were stock still, they were terrified, they couldn't move a muscle. The portal was still active, but the black figure was slowly advancing on Twilight and the others. So, with all the effort she could muster at that point, Princess Celestia lifted them with her magic and then dropped them in. The last Twilight could see of her teacher, was her prone on the ground, and the black figure approaching her.

“NOOOOOOOO!” Twilight's scream of anguish seemed to echo from Canterlot to the end of the portal. In the blink of an eye, Twilight Sparkle was cut off from Equestria, from Canterlot, and from Princess Celestia.

============~o0o~============

Time seemed to stand still. The Mane Six were safe, but seeing Princess Celestia seemingly sacrifice herself for them, it shocked them to the core. None of them knew what to do or what to say. The sounds of battle were gone, all seemed quiet, except for what oddly sounded like creatures from the Everfree Forest. But, when they finally opened their eyes, they saw they couldn't be further from the truth. They found themselves in a damp, muddy patch of swampland that didn't look anywhere like it was in Equestria. That's when they all realized, they ended up in a pile again. A groan that could only come from Rainbow Dash sounded.

“Pinkie! Again, get off of me,” she said. As Pinkie moved to get up, she heard Fluttershy scream. As Pinkie turned to see what was wrong with her best friend, it was then that she saw their transformation. No longer were they ponies. Now, they were all bipedal beings. Their muzzles had been replaced with round faces and button noses, their tails were gone, they were all fully clothed, and their Cutie Marks were now adorned to accessories that they all wore; Pinkie's on a necklace around her neck; Applejack's on her belt buckle; Rainbow Dash's seemingly etched onto the jacket she wore; Fluttershy's on her pant leg; Rarity's as both a pin on her jacket lapel, and as a barette in her hair, and Twilight's stitched on the pocket on her sweater vest. The Mane Six now were faced with a new problem, working these bodies, which just like their clothes, were different. Pinkie was the curviest of the Six, all the sweets which she'd consumed filling out her curves in the right way, not to make her fat, but to make her filled out in the long sleeved shirt she wore, a shirt that was the same color as her fur was. Twilight was the thinnest, the lavender dress shirt clinging to her, which made the neck tie a bit loose, even with the dark blue sweater vest. Rarity had the most 'womanly' shape, looking flawless as usual in a white business jacket, the same color her fur once was. Fluttershy's was the hardest to determine, as she was lost in layer on layer of baggy clothes. A yellow turtleneck, and baggy pants gave the shy girl easy room to hide, yet she was the tallest of the group. Rainbow Dash was the shortest of the Six, but perfectly athletic in body type, as a Wonderbolt should be. Applejack was the most muscular of them all, her toned arms revealed in the sleeves of the orange button down shirt she wore. Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Rainbow Dash all wore jeans, but where Pinkie Pie wore pink and white lace up shoes, Applejack wore dark brown cowboy boots, and Rainbow Dash wore bright colored athletic sneakers. Twilight and Rarity were wearing skirts, both with stockings under them, but Twilight was wearing flats, and Rarity was in heels, which was now revealed to be a mistake by the fashionista, as fashionable high heels were not something one should wear in a swamp.

“What. In the hay. Are we?” Applejack asked, reaching up and sighing with slight relief as she felt her hat still there. Twilight's eyes widened.

“We're in the form I take whenever I go through the portal to Canterlot High,” she said. Pinkie's eyes widened.

“You mean, when you go to help Sunset Shimmer?” she asked. Twilight nodded.

“But there's a difference. Usually, I still have the color of my fur, but now, I'm peach-looking,” she said. Twilight was right. She and the others were now of a complexion that was on par with most humans, but they did not know that yet. The one thing that seemed to carry on from Equestria to here was their manes. Pinkie still sported her curly, magenta mane, but now part of it fell down her back. Applejack's braid was still in tact, except it wasn't going down her shoulder, and instead laying on her back. Rarity's coiffure was still perfectly primped, not a hair was out of place. Fluttershy's was still as long and pink as it was. Rainbow's was no different, perhaps a tad longer, and Twilight's still sported her bangs and highlights. Yet, aside from their hair, they really looked no different from normal humans, though they'd yet to meet any normal humans. Now that they had their bearings, the former pegasi realized their wings were gone, and for the unicorns, their horns were nowhere to be found. Before any of them had time to mourn however, a rustling could be heard from the bushes. Twilight glared. Whoever had the idea to come at them made a big mistake. Standing in front of her friends, with Applejack to her left and Rainbow Dash to her right, with the others taking position behind them, Twilight sent out a warning.

“Whoever you are, you'd better turn around. We have had a ringer of a day and we are not in the mood to deal with nonsense,” she said through grit teeth, which she realized also changed. No reply came, but something emerged from the bushes. A small, green troll-looking figure appeared, smiling at the Mane Six.

“Hmm, good. Arrived safe, you have. Come, much to discuss, we do. But, eat first, we will.” the troll creature said, for some reason in a jumbled manner, then as quickly as he came, he went back to the bushes.

“D-Did we just see that?” Rarity asked in disbelief. The others nodded. Curiosity seemingly getting the best of them, they found themselves following the troll creature to a small wooden hut, where a plume of smoke came from the window. The Mane Six couldn't deny that whatever it was, it smelled delicious, and they were starving, not having eaten on the trip to Canterlot. Slowly approaching the small door leading into the hut, the Mane Six could see the troll creature sitting on his knees, not moving. The cauldron next to him was bubbling and boiling, but the troll creature made no move to do anything to it. Minutes went by and still, the troll creature did not move. Twilight decided to break the silence.

“A-hem. Um, sir? Are you alright?” she asked. The troll creature straightened up, and turned his head, chuckling in his throat as he saw the human Mane Six huddled and cramped inside his hut.

“Fine, I am, Twilight. Thank you I do, for your concern. Introduce myself, I will. Master Yoda, I am. Princess Celestia, a friend of mine is. Sent you to me for your protection, she did.”

“T-Then you can answer our questions about the attack on Canterlot?” Twilight asked. Master Yoda nodded, grabbing six bowls.

“But, eat first we will. Famished, you all must be,” he said, picking up the ladle in the cauldron and pouring the unknown food into the bowls.

We are on the right track, Yoda. With Twilight and her friends here, we are one step ahead of Palpatine, Qui-Gon said in Master Yoda's head. The aging Jedi Master chuckled.

Suggest I train them as Jedi, do you, Qui-Gon? Need more, we do. The ghost of Qui-Gon chuckled.

No, my friend. That may or may not be in their future, but it cannot be rushed. All you should concern yourself with is answering their questions and finding Palpatine's next targets. Master Yoda confirmed, as Qui-Gon left again. He offered the Mane Six a second helping, and Pinkie Pie a third and fourth, before he prepared to answer the questions they had. It was almost time for Grand Jedi Master Yoda to go into battle once again.

Author's Note

So, what do you guys think of the first chapter? Pretty exciting huh? Next chapter will be more of an exposition chapter, and also the introduction of perhaps two new characters. Enjoy guys. Hope you liked this one