GATE: Welcome to Equestria

Prologue: The Gate Appears

Celestia's sun shined high above the thatched roofs of the peacefully quiet town of Ponyville bringing warmth to the cool autumn day. In a large tree that by some means had been hollowed out into a home and Library for the residents of the town. Inside Twilight Sparkle was doing her annual inventory and reshelving of the books in the Golden Oaks Library with the aid of her number one assistant Spike. She stood at the top of a tall ladder several heavy tomes floating in her purple magical aura as she scanned their titles to determine where they went while dusting the shelf. She was wearing shorts today with a light purple shirt over her purple fur her dark purple hair was pulled back in a ponytail which matched the one coming out the back of her shorts. As she had no plans to leave the library that day she decided to be comfortable and wear something that she didn't mind getting dirty. It happened suddenly her magic fizzling out and dropping the tomes to the floor drawing a surprised and pained 'Ow' from beneath her.

"Oh! Spike-" Twilight said as she rapidly descended the ladder to find her assistant rubbing his head "-I'm so sorry it was an accident."

Spike sighed rubbing his head where one of the tomes had landed, "It's okay Twilight," he said removing his claw and examining it for any blood. The young dragon was dressed casually as well but it was no different than his normal attire of cargo shorts and a green t-shirt with holes in the back to let his spines out, "My scales are tougher than they look," he said jokingly to alleviate his Mother/Older Sister's worry. "What do you think caused your magic to go out?" he asked as he started picking up the books that had fallen.

"That's the oddest thing Spike," Twilight began as she helped Spike testing her magic and seeing it had returned and seemed unchanged by whatever had happened. "Whatever it was just temporarily disabled my magic," she went on as she accepted the other books from spike holding them in her arms. "I should send a letter to Princess Celestia she might know what caused it," she finished as she mounted the ladder to finish her task.

Twilight Sparkle as the smartest pony Spike knew besides the Princess of the Sun if she said that Celestia might know why her magic glitched out then he knew she was right. So the young Dragon resumed his task removing books from the shelf and checking them against the incredibly long roll of parchment which was the inventory list. Looking up at Twilight who once again had the tomes floating around her he inched a few feet out from under her just to be safe that he didn't get another book to the skull. He fought off the sense of boredom the task of taking inventory brought as he pulled another book off the shelf and ran through the list before marking it and placing it on the stack next to him.

They had been at it for hours since before Celestia's sun cleared the horizon and were just making it to the back wall when the Dragon felt the warning signs of an impending letter, with a mighty belch of flames that twisted in the air producing a roll of parchment sealed with Celestia's cutie mark in wax upon it he called up to Twilight. "Twi! There's a letter from Celestia," he said which got her to drop the books once more in her haste to read her mentor's missive. She slid down the ladder and snatched it from Spikes open hand with a hasty thanks before breaking the seal and reading. Her purple eyes moving over the parchment rapidly.

My dear Student. I'm writing to alert you of an urgent matter that has just reappeared in Equestria. The Gate has returned. This event hasn't happened in two thousand years and we must prepare in case anything comes through this time. I wish for you and your friends to come to Canterlot at once.

Your Mentor Princess Celestia

Twilight finished reading the letter and rolled it back up tapping her chin in thought. She remembered when Celestia taught her about the mysterious Gate and all the times it had brought something through. First were the Minotaurs, then Griffins, followed lastly by the hated Caribou. The letter had said 'at once' so it was urgent and her curiosity at what could come through the gate was growing. "Spike can you run to Sweet Apple Acres and tell Applejack to come to the library?" she asked to which the Drake nodded. "I'll collect the others," she added as he headed for the door while Twilight headed for Rarity's Boutique closing the Library door behind her.

POV Celestia

High above Ponyville on the side of a mountain stood Canterlot the capital of Equestria the spires of the castle reaching for the wide blue sky above. The oldest solar Princess was standing on a balcony off of the throne room which had recently been cleared of nobles when she felt the arrival of the Gate. She stared out at the city that surrounded the palace the closest buildings being the rich homes of the Nobles many of them seeming to be competing in gaudiness as they flaunted their wealth trying to outdo one another. Celestia masked her worry with well-honed skill from centuries of ruling her peaceful realm. The Alicorn wore a white dress in a Roman-style gold weaved around the trim of her dress hugging her curves that any mare would kill to have and many a stallion would long to caress. Her ivory wings stuck out of the dress comfortably, her hair flowed in an unfelt breeze along with her tail. Stepping away from the balcony she strolled toward the large golden doors that led to the throne room and ignited her horn in its golden glow which appeared around the large doors as she opened them. The solar guards outside snapped to attention as she passed saluting her at which she gave them both a kind smile.

She moved through the Palace her mind a storm of thoughts and plans for what was to come. She remembered the war with the Caribou all those centuries ago when they arrived in Equestria before it was Equestria at least in the history books. She remembered the ferocious battles that pushed them out of her lands but not without a heavy cost of life that she still regretted to this day. So engrossed in her thoughts she didn't notice her sister till she touched her arm causing the solar monarch to slightly jump in surprise and look around quickly spotting Luna.

"Oh. Lulu, I'm sorry I didn't see you," Celestia said smiling apologetically at her younger sister. The shorter Alicorn mare was wearing a regal gown of midnight blue that sparkled like her mane which like Celestia's flew in a nonexistent wind. The younger mare smiled kindly up at her sister nodding slightly at Celestia's apology.

"Tis alright dear sister. We merely saw thou looking troubled and wished to inquire what it was that hath thee worried?" Luna asked as her smile turned to a frown of concern for her elder sister.

"The Gate is the cause of my worry sister," she answered resuming her walk with Luna falling in step beside her as they walked the deserted hallway.

"Ah. We see," Luna said nodding in understanding her sister's worry. "We also felt its return but we can handle anything that comes through, together," she said placing a hand on Celestia's shoulder comfortingly.

"Thank you sister," Celestia said wrapping her alabaster arms around Luna in a brief embrace which Luna returned with equal affection. "We've already alerted Twilight of the situation so she and her friends should arrive soon," Celestia continued as the brief hug ended. "We'll have to have an emergency Summit called to discuss what to do if anything does come through the gate," Celestia informed Luna who nodded agreeing with her sister's course of action.

"I assume even an invitation will be sent to the Caribou Empire?" she asked unable to completely hide her loathing of the word.

"Yes sister, even though we are not allies they do deserve at least to be invited," Celestia replied resuming her stroll.

"If thou sayest sister," Luna said her tone depressed but accepting of the choice.

POV Twilight

Back at the library, Twilight was walking through the front door of the library followed by Fluttershy and Rarity who she had caught outside the Spa just having finished their monthly treatment with Lotus and Aloe. The butter-yellow pegasus wore a green sundress with flowers along the bottom her wings folded behind her, her pink mane was still damp from her time in the hot tub. Fluttershy was aside from Pinkie Pie the more endowed of the group with her double D bust. Rarity was wearing a surprisingly simple blue dress adorned with a single blue gem that held the top together over her C cup bosom her own purple mane was dry and styled perfectly which was usual for the seamstress.

"Well, Twilight darling I'd like to know what was so urgent?" Rarity asked as she tossed her purple curls over her shoulder.

"Don't worry I'll explain when the others get here," Twilight answered.

They didn't have to wait long as the door to the library opened again and Rainbow dash stepped inside followed by Pinkie Pie with her usual bubbly smile on her face. She was still wearing the apron from Sugar Cube corner over her Pink tank top and jeans and that stretched to fit her wide hips. Her tank top was challenged to hold her Dcups inside. Her mane like her fur was just as pink but was its usual poofy style. Rainbow Dash was wearing her usual of track shorts and a tank top that showed off her toned abs and lithe body. Her prismatic mane was pulled back in a short ponytail to keep it out of her eyes as she flew, she crossed her arms as she leaned against the wall.

"What's up Twilight? What you need to talk about?" she asked her scratchy voice sounding annoyed at being interrupted in her training.

"When Apple-" Twilight started only to be interrupted by the door opening letting in Spike and Applejack.

"Hey, sugarcube," Applejack said in greeting as she closed the door behind them. "What's going on?" she asked. Applejack wore her usual jean shorts and a plaid button-up shirt tied in a knot over her breasts that were the same size as Rarity's but unlike the fashionista Applejack's body was more muscle from years of hard farm work. Her trademark stetson sat upon her head still as worn and weather-beaten as always atop her blond and braided mane that matched her fur.

"Well, now that we're all here I can explain," Twilight answered as she took a breath to collect her thoughts. "Princess Celestia sent me a letter telling me that the Gate has appeared again," she said receiving only confused looks from her friends except for Pinkie Pie.

"So that was the doozy," she said as her body started to vibrate, "I've been doing this off and on all day," she added her voice distorted by the vibrating of her body.

"Umm, Twi what exactly is this Gate thing?" Applejack asked taking her hat off while inside.

Twilight wasn't surprised that her friends didn't know, the Gate hadn't been seen in a very long time it had nearly faded from common knowledge. "The Gate is a magical doorway which a long time ago brought Griffins, Minotaurs and finally Caribou to our world. It comes and goes at random and has just reappeared, and we don't know what's going to come through," she said giving a short explanation which was unusual for Twilight.

"So what does Princess Celestia want us to do...if you don't mind my asking?" Fluttershy asked.

"She wants us to come to Canterlot as soon as we can," Twilight replied, "She said it was urgent so I figured we should make plans to leave town quickly," she finished.

"That's not good. I have a few orders I'm almost finished with and just in time for the deadline," Rarity said.

"And I still have some harvestin' to do at the farm," Applejack interjected.

"And I have to finish a big order of pies for the Cakes," Pinkie Pie added.

"I've got a new weather schedule to go over with the Weather Team," Dash said with her own previous commitment.

"I need to make arrangements for my animals in case we're gone for a while...If that's okay?", Fluttershy spoke up finishing in her usual demure tone.

"Alright, I'll send a letter telling Celestia to expect us in a few days," Twilight said getting grateful nods from the girls and with that decided they begin to leave the library. This left Spike and Twilight alone as they set to the task of sending a letter to the Princess.

POV Celestia

Celestia was putting the final touches on several letters when a cloud of green smoke appeared and twisted itself into a rolled-up letter with Twilights seal on it. Finishing her letters and adding them to the short stack already finished in her assitant Ink Well's arms she picked up the new arrival. Reading it quickly she sighed and set it aside while Ink Well left to send the letters via Dragon Lamp. It seemed the Elements wouldn't be arriving for some time which was fine if inconvenient yet she had to remember that they all had their own lives. Briefly, she felt a pang of regret for how she had severed her connection to the Elements so long ago. These thoughts were pushed aside as Luna arrived her hand clutching a letter with a look of utter disbelief on her face as she silently held the letter out for Celestia.

Celestia took the letter from Luna noting the Caribou Emperial seal alongside the Griffin Queen's and the Minotaur Republic's own seals. When she read the letter a cold wave of dread washed over her. In the letter were the details of an expedition force already assembling to enter the Gate and go to the world beyond.

"Celestia, what do we do?" Luna asked her voice mirroring the dread Celestia herself felt at that moment.

"We can do nothing at the moment but watch and pray," Celestia answered while turning her gaze out her window. "Pray and hope," she added under her breath.