Slowly the sun rose over the hills that surrounds the small sleepy village that a castle overlooks. The village looks like it came from a fantasy novel with its thatch and slate roof buildings clustered around squares in a somewhat haphazard layout and the castle near the edge looks more like a tree made of crystal. A forest border the town to the south while farmland and orchards border the town to the north and west.
The town slowly woke to the nice bright sunny day as the first residents started going about day. Strangely no one noticed a trio of owls each carrying a small parcel and a bundle of letters through town. A snow white owl stop at a lavender and white building that looked like a carnival tent, pecking at the window while the others continued on their way. “Would whoever is tapping my window please stop.” came a cranky female voice as a white unicorn mare with a dark purple mane and tail walked over to the window.
“Well isn't this odd,” Said the unicorn as she saw the owl on her windowsill nudging the parcel towards her. “Why would an owl be delivering the mail?”
Taking a look at the address on the parcel she saw her sister's name in green ink:
Sweetie Belle
Carousel Boutique
Ponyville, Equestria
And on the reverse side of the envelope was a wax seal that has a strange crest that has four sections with different animals in them and a capital H overlay on top.
The owl did not leave but looked to be expecting something. Heading to her sister's room with the letters and package floating behind her, the unicorn ask the sleepy form that was still in bed. “Sweetie Belle, did you order something through the mail?”
“Huh, wha… Rarity it's too early. Let me sleep.” replied Sweetie Belle.
“Darling, this is important. Somepony sent you something by owl.” Rarity said as the said owl flew in and landed on her back.
That perked up Sweetie Belle. “Really? Why would anypony do that?” she asked. “just bring it over.” Sweetie grabbed the letter in her still somewhat weak magical grip and opened it before reading aloud.
Dear Sweetie Belle,
You are hereby informed that you have been accepted to attend school at the Hogwarts school of Witchcraft & Wizardry. Please send your response about attending school by the owl provided no later than July 24th. If you are attending school, list of school supplies needed is on the next page.
Sincerely, Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress
There was another envelope that said it was from, surprisingly, Discord. It read:
This is for both Rarity and Sweetie Belle. There are some things about the world that you don't understand yet, one of those things is balance. Where you are about to go is so out of balance only you and your friends and family can fix it. My presence will only cause more problems that will threaten their existence. I have included a little something here that will allow you to travel there and back and walk around among the locals without drawing undue attention.
In the package the girls found what looked like small pendants on a delicate chain with charms attached on either side. Discord had also included a set of instructions.
Rarity decided she needed to consult her friends on the matter. “Sweetie Belle, I think we should consult Twilight on this before replying to this school. Let's see if Twilight or Spike is up and we can discuss this over breakfast.” Said Rarity as took the items and left the room. The Owl followed her out.
…
Five minutes later found both Rarity and Sweetie Belle walking towards Twilight's tree castle when they heard the flapping of wings from one direction and the clip-clop of hooves from another. Soon a pair of pegasi appear from around the corner, one cyan color pegasus flying lazily a few feet off the ground followed shortly by an orange pegasus filly on a scooter towing a wagon behind it.
Around another corner two Earth Ponies appeared with saddlebags on. All of the ponies present stop to greet each other. “Morning girls, you're up early Rainbow Dash.”
“Could say the same thing too, Rares.” said the hovering pegasus. “going to see Twilight?”
“Why yes we are. You too?”
“Yes,” Said Rainbow Dash
“The same,” Applejack said as she and her younger sister walked over as well. “ah had an owl fly up to me as ah was doing my morning chores. The barn owl was carrying a package too.”
“I had one just this morning pecking at my window at an ungodly hour. It also had a package. Not sure where the owl went though, or where it came from for that matter either.”
“Could we just get to Twilight's before we solve this mystery.” Rainbow interrupted. Their sisters were already chatting up a storm excitedly and looked like they were about to run off soon.
Taking Rainbow’s cue to heart, they quickly hurried on to their destination. Arriving at the door of the tree castle (aka the Castle of Friendship) where Twilight lives, the group knocked on the door and waited. Normally they would just walk after knocking but given the time of day, Twilight was likely to still be in bed. After a moment the group heard someone coming to the door judging by the sound of hoofsteps. The door open to reveal a somewhat tired Starlight Glimmer, Twilight's student.
“Oh morning girls, what brings you here so early?” Starlight asked. Her answer came in the form of a trio of owls flying in and landing on her back. One of the owls was carrying a note in its beak. The note said ‘Get Twilight from Discord.’ “Well that explains part of it. Meet you all in the map room, I'll get Twilight.” she said over her shoulder, trotting off to find Twilight.
The group made their way to the map room and sat in their respective seats. The map room is really the throne room where six high back thrones sat in a circle around a round table that sometimes grows out of the floor. Above the table is a beautiful chandelier made from the roots of a tree. Currently there was a holographic map of the land they lives in on the table.
A flash followed by pop revealed a tired looking purple alicorn. “Morning girls,” Said Twilight followed by chorus of good mornings from the others present. “Starlight Glimmer said that you wanted to see me for something. And something about owls and Discord. Could you tell me the whole story before we continue?”
Spike just enter through a side door. “Spike, please get some drinks for us.” Twilight asked as Spike turned around and headed for the kitchen.
Applejack turned to the Crusaders, “girls please sit down and give us your thoughts on all this in a moment.” Applejack then proceeded to tell Twilight with the story of the Owl delivery of the morning. Rarity and Rainbow Dash their version soon afterwards and when they were done they waited as Twilight got her thoughts together.
“Girls, would you like to attend this school?” asked Twilight much to the dismay of her friends. “What? I never would turn down an opportunity like this.” she said to her friends shocked faces.
Apple Bloom was the first to answer. “I’m not sure I want to go to this school. Don't get me wrong, this is a nice offer with learning magic and potions but I'm not sure how miss Cheerilee will feel about us not coming to her class anymore.”
“Oh I think she'll understand once I let her know.” said Twilight.
“But what about this thing Discord sent and the message he sent with it.” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Good question. I'm going to need a talk with him on that.”
“Well I for one am excited to go to this place, meet new ponies, and learn new things.” Said Scootaloo, practically hopping around the room excitedly. Her excitement quickly spread to the other Crusaders and they were begging to go. Their sisters were reluctant at first before the map flared to life, showing a map none of them have seen before. The map was showing a pair of large islands surrounded by numerous smaller islands separated from a larger landmass by a channel of water.
“Uh Twilight, do you know where this is?” asked Rainbow Dash as the Crusaders’ cutie marks appeared over a castle on a cliff overlooking a lake near a small town in the mountains on the larger of the two main islands. The word over the castle said “Hogwarts”.
“No Rainbow I don't know, but it seems to be where the Crusaders are going. Let's send those letters off then we'll see what’s next on the list. Spike take a letter.” Said Twilight.
“Dear Professor McGonagall,
Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom are happy to attend school at Hogwarts. But I fear there is a few issues that need to be taken care of first. Their older sisters who take care of them are curious on what they will be learning there and a few other things. I fear this all this might be the work of Discord and would like to meet you and anyone you deem necessary at a later date, preferably before the start of the school year.
Sincerely,
Princess Twilight Sparkle,
On request of Rarity Belle, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack for their sister's schooling.”
When Spike finished writing, he rolled it up and was about to send it off his usual way. “No, not that way Spike. Tie it to the barn owl’s leg.”
“Oh, right. Sorry, I forgot.” the young drake said.
