Although Tirek was defeated and sealed back at Tratures, Twilight is still plagued by the event in that if she didn’t find her key in time the outcome would’ve been quite different.

Both Luna and Celestia can sympathise with her predicament, as they too have faced events that they feared could’ve turned out differently and not in a good way.

This is what most Alicorns go through to “find their strength” as their parents would say.

Those Alicorns who wished to have strength for others would undertake a pilgrimage to a new world via a portal not so different then the one that leads to CHS.

Through this portal that Twilight travels to a world under threat from beyond semi-dimensional portals called “gates” and that humans like those from CHS are in a constant struggle to survive.

Although unsure of where to find her “strength” in a world as this, Twilight non the less decides to join Neuron in their fight against the astral plane.

This is a crossover with platinum games Astral chain, the idea behind this story is that although Twilight defeated Tirek with help from her friends she still has nightmares about what if that wasn’t enough and she had to carry the day by herself but lacked the strength to do so.

So to at least get her mind off it the two princess suggest that Twilight take a pilgrimage to find the strength she needs in case the magic of friendship isn’t enough the next time a threat comes along.

As for the game Astral chain this story takes place after the main story so it is recommended you either play the game or watch a walkthrough to get a understanding of the universe Twilight is going in to.