Twilight had plans for Sunset. Celestia said that she should let the mare’s destiny unfold, but the Princess wasn’t here and Twilight knew first hoof how fast can things escalate from bad to downright terrible if the unicorn would’ve been just pushed to the center of the events to solve every problem by herself. So she decided to see how Sunset handled the mission to Ponyville, and based on the collected information she will teach the mare what still needed to be taught.

The team was ready to go in nine minutes. Twilight talked to each of them for a few seconds, asked their names at least and encouraging them if they were a little more afraid than acceptable. The alicorn reassured everypony that this will be a simple and fast mission and nopony will be hurt nor left behind.

After receiving a nod from each of them, Twilight still had one thing to check. Walking back into the cave she sought out the Mayor again.

“Can I do anything for you Miss Twilight?”

“In fact, yes. Can you lead me to the pony, who suggested these tunnels? Also to the one, who checked it out for diamond dogs.”

The mare looked a little taken aback.

“Checked out?”

Twilight had a terrible feeling about this.

“Why of course! The diamond dogs are dangerous to the common folk and we intrude into their territory!” The Mayor visibly swallowed. Twilight feared the worst. “Call for a meeting! Everypony needs to be there! See if anypony’s missing!” Turning to the crowd, she raised her voice to be audible to everypony. “I need to speak to the pony who knows these tunnels!”

The Mayor called for a meeting and whispers rose amongst the crowd. Was something wrong? Twilight was soon approached by Rarity.

“I know these tunnels. Is something wrong Pri– I mean Miss Twilight?” She looked a little nervous.

“I don’t know.”, said the alicorn, while looking at the Mayor, who told everypony to check if anypony’s missing. “Maybe nothing. But I need to see the tunnels just in case. Lead me to the end of our base. If there are any other ways to approach the camp, I need to know about it.”

Rarity nodded and asked her to follow. Twilight learned that there was three tunnels which directly connected to the camping place. The alicorn checked all of them for hoof- and footprints alike. She didn’t find anything, so she closed all of them with a thick rock wall, designing the other side to look like a collapse. She placed a movement detector spell on each of them just in case and returned to the camp. She was already late from heading out with a quarter of an hour.

“Miss Twilight!” Greeted the Mayor with a smile on her face. “Good news! Nopony is missing!”

“Alright. Thank you Mayor. I also locked every path leading to the camp, except of course the main entrance. We’ll be heading out then.”

She met the team at the exit of the cave, being greeted with a bunch of worried looks. All she said was that she took care of a potential threat. When nopony asked any questions about it, she turned to the desolation.

She had two options.

If she took the front, the ponies will calm down a little more seeing a leading figure, but Twilight had her worries. Being in the front meant that she wouldn’t see what’s happening on the back. What if somepony takes a wrong step? Under their hooves were thousands of mining tunnels left by the diamond dogs, some more unstable than the others. Some of them may collapse and can swallow a pony whole without a sound.

Taking the back would be a more practical choice. She could see everypony, and react faster to potential threats, no matter which direction they choose to come. But that would leave the group without a leading figure and that would damage their moral.

“Sunset Shimmer!” She called out to the pony, who raised her head from the grimoire. “Come here for a minute.”

The mare galloped to her fellow student and senior eagerly, with a small smile on her face. From that, Twilight knew that she managed to win some part of the unicorn’s heart.

“Can I help you anything Miss Twilight?”

“Please. Twilight is fine. In some terms, we are sisters, you and I.” Seeing Sunset nod, she went straight to the point. “I will ask you to lead the team to Ponyville, since I don’t know the way.”

Sunset Shimmer looked a little taken aback, but offered no protest. Although, Twilight swore she did see a faint blush on her cheeks. Did she take this as a challenge? Good. The sooner she realizes her position, the better. Once every eye was on her, Twilight spoke to the ponies, while picking up a stick with her magic.

“Listen here everypony! This will be our formation. We will have Sunset Shimmer on the lead, since she is the Princess’s student and the only unicorn, who received some sort of battle magic lessons. She will be flanked by Big MacIntosh and Applejack. I’ll ask every pegasus to remain above the group with only a few meters. Rainbow, you know your team, I’ll leave that to you.”

“You can count on me Twilight!” grinned the pegasus.

“Good. Dark Moon, Electric Sky and Silver Rose” The three addressed unicorns came forward. “Your task will be to pay attention. To any and every sound, smell or movement. You three are the best detectors Ponyville could offer. Be on alert, but fear not. If you notice anything, tell us.” She looked up. “The same goes for you guys.”

Rainbow Dash saluted. Turning to the last two earth ponies, she addressed them.

“Golden Delicious and Apple Bumpkin. You two will flank the unicorns. I doubt that we will face any serious threat, but the unicorns need time to cast a spell. If that happens, the earth ponies and the pegasi has to act as fast as possible to gain time. I will be at the back, which offers me a perfect view on the team, so I can easily react to any threats.”

Nopony asked any questions. Twilight stayed silent for a few moments, considering her options. She wasn’t surprised that Applejack brought her family members to help. They knew Sweet Apple Acres the best. The plan should be simple. They go in, collect the food and carry as much as possible back to the camp. While on the way back the pegasi will collect some clouds just in case.

“Tell me Applejack, how many carts are in Sweet Apple Acres?”

The pony answered without thinking about it. A true Apple indeed.

“Seven.”

“Alright, we can work with that.” Nodded Twilight, before explaining the rest of her plan to the ponies.

Once everypony knew everything necessary. They headed out, following Sunset Shimmer. Twilight discarded her cloak, revealing her armor in all its glory. Taking off her helmet, she enjoyed as the wind caressed her cheeks. Her mane sparkled freely in the moonlight. She settled her wings in a more comfortable position. This was a tactical move.

Every creature of Equestria knew about the alicorns and their power. Seeing one with the group could scare off the better part of their potential threats. The bandages on her neck did not help, but she covered her injuries with a cloaking spell, hiding them from the eyes of others.

The road was silent and felt long. It was clear that the ponies didn’t receive any sort of training for this kind of situation. Twilight somehow managed not to sigh or frown. Celestia knew her enemies were coming, yet did almost nothing. Sending off one of her students and calling the other home. She could have done so much more! Not going too far, there are the other alicorns for example!

Cheshire Grin was a special case, she had to admit that. She met him about a hundred years ago. The stallion was a little… strange, so to speak. He was undoubtedly intelligent and a true master on his own field. But Twilight understood why Celestia didn’t offer him the title of a Prince. Cheshire Grin lacked the necessary quality to be a ruler. He put knowledge before his ponies and that was a dangerous thing. Just take Sombra for example.

But what about Oceana? Twilight never met her in person, but based on what the Princess said, she was loyal and had a protector’s spirit inside her. And Princess Mi Amore Cadenza?

Twilight had her mind filled with doubts. Looking at the frightened ponies she gathered, she couldn’t help but question the Princess’s ways. Would’ve it been so hard to militarize the last two generations? They still could have lived their lives happily after a few years of duty.

She considered her options. She was still alive and kicking. Should she call the others herself? Oceana will surely help, so will Cadence. Cheshire may refuse the call, but at least she was positive that he will remain a neutral party. That much she knew for sure.

Looking at the yellow unicorn in front of her, she heard the Princess’s words all over again.

“Don’t take away her opportunity to unfold.”

Twilight wanted to let the mare prove herself, but at the same time, putting Equestria in danger for a single destiny? Is it worth it? No, of course not. Then what was the Princess thinking? What did she know that Twilight overlooked? Something must be here that she doesn’t recognize.

But she will find it out. There were two places she could start looking. Canterlot and Ponyville. And since she was almost at the gate of the town, there was no question about where to start. She thought about the library, since Celestia assigned Sunset to sleep there, so she may find some clues.

“Miss Twilight!”

She raised her head and immediately saw, what caused the distress. In the darkness, a big creature head straight at their direction. Its fur gleamed in the night lights, giant yellow eyes sparkled through the darkness. Galloping to the head of the formation, she saw that Sunset was already in some sort of battle stance. Good.

She spoke in calming tone.

“Calm down everypony! This is an Ursa Minor. If you remain calm and silent, it won’t consider us a threat.”

But something was wrong. The Ursa looked tired and angry, visibly struggling against falling asleep. It seemed aggressive. Twilight readied her magic, fearing the worst. Her fears soon turned into reality, when the creature spotted them and started roaring and running towards them.

“Into the forest!” She commanded, while steadying her stance.

The main part of the team did as they were told and ran to the nearby forest, while three of them denied the command and stood their ground. Rainbow Dash was circling above them and rising higher in the air, stopping at the Ursa’s eye level. Applejack readied her lasso with a grim expression on her face. Sunset Shimmer was silently murmuring magic words while her horn shone turquoise with magic.

“What are you doing?” Demanded Twilight.

“Sorry Sugarcube, but we won’t run.”

“That would be so not cool.”

“You are injured. Let us help.”

Spreading her wings, slightly flinching as the injured left one throbbed with pain, but refusing to show weakness. The creature was almost at them by the time her magic sparkled to life. She spoke the words fast and understandably. It came as easy as breathing. Moments later, several purple vines broke out from the soil they were standing on and charged at the Ursa.

“Leave it to me!” Yelled Rainbow Dash and started circling around the creature’s head, which tried to smite her with its giant paws with no success. While it chased the mare with its paw, Twilight had an easier job capturing it with her vines.

One of the blows nearly collided with the pegasus but it was held back in the last moment by Applejack’s lasso. The Ursa’s momentum carried on its body, but it stumbled upon Twilight’s vines. The small earth pony released the end of the lasso just in time, before she herself could have been raised from the ground. The vines wrapped around the Ursa and held it down for enough time for Sunset to place a sleeping spell on it.

“No!”

Twilight’s protest startled the unicorn, but the spell was already done. The alicorn gripped the three ponies with her magic, forgetting about the vines for a moment and pulled them behind herself. The moment they were safe, she started to murmur spells, one after the other and the air slowly filled with magic circles, some vertically at the direction of the Ursa, other horizontally above them, creating an hour-glass like shape.

The Ursa started to thrash and roar in its sleep, looking like it was tortured by some king of nightmare.

“What’s wrong with it?” Screamed Sunset to beat the sound of the creature.

“Mare in the Moon must have cast a Tantabus spell on it!” Informed Twilight, still readying the spells. “Take cover!”

This was the moment, when the Ursa woke up, angrier than ever and without hesitance, it charged at their direction. Twilight’s magic hissed like a thousand winds, and created many shockwaves before even colliding with the creature. Once it hit, everything seemed to stop and just for a moment. Sunset hoped for a moment that the spell worked.

Then Twilight started to scream.

Author's Note

Yeah. That is gonna bite me in the ass XD