Twilight massaged her head, feeling, for the first time ever, the desperate sensation of wanting to leave school early. And she was the teacher.

In front of her, Rainbow Dash looked at her with a pitiful expression behind her dark sunglasses. "See? Everyone hates homework."

Twilight groaned. Great life Rainbow Dash's, who didn't have to check homework. Well, instead, she had to make sure her students didn't kill themselves or others in practice, and handle all the female sports clubs. But she was free of homework!

After coming home last night, she had collapsed in the couch for a few minutes. Spike blasted her with endless questions on where the hell she was, and his barking only made Twilight's migraine worse. So she ignored the dog and went for an aspirin. She had contemplated Celestia and Luna's offer for a long while. It wasn't a decision to take lightly. They were right when they said that, if a real threat to the world's security really came to occur, they needed to be ready to face it. If they didn't, who would?

But teaching took a lot of her time. And being a special agent would too. She decided to pursue a career in education in the beginning because she wanted to spread knowledge to the younger ones in a way they would actually enjoy it, while also pursuing her dreams on becoming an astrophysicist.

ATIDA was never in her plans, to begin with.

Joining ATIDA didn't necessarily mean leaving her dreams behind. She could keep studying astrophysics. She just had to organize herself (and she was very good at organizing).

Twilight groaned again. It was such a difficult decision. She couldn't take it lightly.

And she didn't have the time to think it through. She still had work to get done. To think that, for the first time ever as a teacher, she had given her students the first period free so she could grade homework!

She could have done this the night before. But after her thoughts on her eventful evening guided her think on asking Shinning Armor if he knew anything about this ATIDA thing, she remembered that she had missed her date with Flash Sentry. Spike informed her that he had been calling all night to the landline. They already had a hard time making their schedules work so they could see each other at least weekly for her to miss any dates. Especially without a warning. Thinking he would be blowing a fuss on his one-person apartment, Twilight hurried to dig her phone out of her belongings and called him as soon as she could.

Luckily, he wasn't mad but worried. This behavior was nothing like her, he said, so he was worried that something bad could have happened to her. And besides this damned headache, nothing bad had happened to her.

Despite the fact that she told him she was okay, he insisted on knowing what happened. In the beginning, she was reluctant in telling him about this, but in the end, Sweetie Drops just told them to be careful with who they told about ATIDA. And Flash was of her complete trust.

And she killed two birds with a single stone, for Spike also got the explanation he was demanding.

Sadly, when she asked, Flash knew nothing about this agency.

In the end, she spent so much time explaining her evening to Flash and Spike (and apologizing) that, when she finally hung up, she was exhausted. More than she was when she arrived. And it was pretty late, so she ended up falling asleep fully dressed without taking a glance to the homework.

And that brought her to be in the staffroom at lunchtime, doing her best to swallow the pain on her head and just finish grading this homework.

Twilight glanced at Rainbow Dash between two sheets. She was sipping on yet another cup of coffee.

"Aren't five cups of coffee too many, Rainbow Dash? Are you sure you can handle the caffeine?"

"I'm feeling like with the worst hangover ever, let me be."

"Alright..."

Twilight went back to her work. And five minutes after, she raised her head again.

"Have you decided anything about... last night?"

"Yes." Dash nodded. "I'll do it."

"Really?"

"Really. Celestia's right. We were given a gift like no other, and are we really gonna let it go to waste?" she shook her head. "I refuse to stand back and watch as the world burns when I could be doing something about it." she looked at Twilight over her dark shades. "But, I'll do it only if you all do it too."

Twilight was speechless, Rainbow Dash had talked with maturity she didn't know her friend had. It was breathtaking.

And she was completely right.

Just like that, she had her answer.

"I think we should give the girls a call."

Unlike most of the occasions they reunited, this time, the girls made themselves comfortable in Sunset's apartment. They wanted to go to Sugarcube Corner, but it ended up being a bad idea, for anyone could overhear their conversation there. And if no one became suspicious of it, they might as well think they had gone nuts.

While six of them sat on the couches, Twilight stood before them, chalk on her hand, writing in a blackboard. She had divided the board with a white line and written 'Pros' and 'Cons' on each side.

"Are we really going over the Pros and Cons, Twilight?" Dash groaned.

Twilight shoot her a glare. "Yes. This is a very important decision. We all have to come to an agreement."

Dash didn't fight back.

"So," Twilight turned to her friends. "Pros. Anyone?"

Rainbow Dash raised her hand. "We get to make actual use of our powers."

"Training that'll come in handy if we face any meanies!" Pinkie Pie claimed with a wide smile.

Twilight wrote in the board 'Usage of Geodes' and 'Training'. "I think we should add the wider knowledge of Equestrian magic." She wrote 'Knowledge'.

"We might even learn new things we can do with our Magic," Sunset suggested.

"That's a good one." Twilight wrote it down. "Anyone else?"

"We become heroes." Rarity said.

"We get to do something for our people." Applejack nodded.

Fluttershy whispered: "We, uh, get to work together."

"Alright!" Twilight wrote them all down. "Any Cons?"

"I don't get to help around the farm anymore!"

"It's scary..."

"Takes a lot of time that I'll need for the boutique. And greasy hair!"

"One of us could get killed."

"Or seriously injured!"

"Paperwork would be so boring."

Twilight wrote them all down and added 'Little Free time' to the list.

"There!" Fluttershy said suddenly, surprising the rest. "There are more Cons than Pros! Problem solved!"

"Not quite, Fluttershy," Sunset said. Fluttershy 'eeped'. "Twilight is right. This a very serious matter. And instead of focusing on Pros and Cons, no offense Twilight, I think we should focus on what's best... for everyone. Not just for us. How would our decision affect the whole world?"

"If we are going to look things that way," Rarity said. "I must admit that Celestia does has a point. Would we rather stand by and let things go downhill, or do something? I myself wouldn't want the world to fall into a pit of darkness, especially considering this is the world Sweetie Belle is also living in."

"Rarity's right." Applejack admitted. "I wouldn't feel good with myself knowin' I could be makin' a better world for AppleBloom."

"And what if this is destiny?" Pinkie Pie asked, touching her geode. "What if we were given these... powers so we could make a better world?"

"Many people daily do what they can to make future brighter." Rainbow Dash added. "And most people get frustrated because they don't have the means. We do have them. Why not making use of it?" she shook her head. "I'll do it. But I'm only doing it if my best friends do it with me."

"Me too." Sunset stood up with Rainbow Dash.

"Wasn't really in my plans." Twilight took a step forwards. "But if we can help people, so be it."

Applejack chuckled and got up. "As long as I get to help in the farm..."

"Count me in!" Pinkie Pie cheered, standing with a single jump. "It's gonna be fun!"

"And me." Rarity also stood up.

All six turned to Fluttershy, still sitting, eyes filled with fear.

"We're not doing this without you, Fluttershy," said Sunset. "It's all of us or none of us."

Fluttershy gulped down some tears and stood up, nodding vigorously. "I'll do it! I refuse to let fear overpower me. I'll be brave too!"

"Now that's the attitude!" Applejack laughed.

All the girls laughed and joined hands in the middle.

"Rainbooms, go!"

The next day, Sunset, with all the girls in tow, opened the door of Principal Celestia's office. Much to their short-lived surprised, both her and Luna were there.

And the surprise faded when it occurred to them that, from now on, they wouldn't be caught by surprise at all.

Celestia raised her gaze. "What can we help you with, girls?"

Sunset noticed it. A Gleam. A gleam on her eyes, quite difficult to describe, but it also shone on Luna's eyes. Confidence.

Sunset took a deep breath. "We'll do it." were her only words.

A smirk cracked on Celestia's face. The gleam intensified. It was almost like she knew this moment was coming, like she was completely certain that they wouldn't refuse. Of course, she knew they would agree. She knew them.

Celestia stood up. Behind her, Luna smiled too.

A hand was extended to Sunset Shimmer. Celestia looked at her in the eye.

"Welcome to ATIDA, girls."

Sunset shook hands with Celestia.

And with that, a pact was sealed, and a whole new future expanded before their very eyes.

Author's Note

And that concludes the last chapter of this arc. But what's in store for the girls from now on? Only time will tell...

From the next chapter on, the frequency in the publication of the chapters will vary. These parts were ready, so that's why they've been updated weekly, but from here they get a lot longer, so it will take more time to write (and translate, since I also publish this story in Spanish too).

Also, things will get more... interesting from now on I think it's pretty clear that these first chapters were to get the story rolling.

That's all for today, folks.

Until next time!

~ Midday Giggle