Warning tags refer to scenes of warfare written for a teen audience.

Sunset paused on the high balcony of Princess Twilight’s empty tower, catching her breath after all those stairs. Everypony was away setting up the Friendship Festival; the journal had been buzzing almost constantly with Twilight’s hastily scribbled one-line updates, ecstatic and anxious—until a couple of hours ago. The longer the sudden silence lasted, the more concerned Sunset became, until she hopped through the portal to see what was up. Her alicorn glowed as she fiddled Twi’s telescope into position for a look at the distant city clinging to the mountainside.

Canterlot was burning.

Takes place after CHS graduation—between seasons seven and eight.

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