At The End

The sun was slowly setting as Twilight and her friends finally left the Whitetail woods. They had spent the entire day walking after the train was forced to go back to Canterlot for an emergency. Most likely due to an incident on the line. Or maybe an issue on the fronts.

No matter, they were almost home. Spike had ridden on her back the entire way. All of them were very tired and worn out.

The fact that the train had been diverted back to Canterlot had made all of them frustrated. On the ground they were all too slow for Rainbow who wanted to get there within a few minutes. But without transport for the others, they had no choice but to walk.

That and Twilight didn’t want to be seen abusing her ‘powers’ by ordering the guards to bring her a chariot. Especially in front of all the other commuters and passengers.

So they walked. Following the normal folk as they made their way to their own destinations. The trip was made even more difficult for Twilight with not only Spike on her back, but also her amour. The spiky metallic shards were every bit as uncomfortable as they looked. While the armour was real and functional, it seemed like it was more for intimidation as a former element bearer than to be practical in actual combat.

The straps rubbed at her legs, her hind quarters were sore and she had begun to limp. She couldn’t just take the armour off. It was laced with a tracking spell from one of the nobles own personal magic. It was a way to track of prized possessions. If they ever were to take it off their life sign, he would know.

All those who had to wear such armour knew what would happen to their love ones if they ever took it off. That was loyalty, but not to him. To their friends and family. That was control. That was power.

“Twilight?” Spike spoke. Turning her head do that her ear was in his direction, he leaned in and whispered. “Don’t you find it strange that we’re not being followed?”

“What do you mean Spike?” She whispered back. Looking around, Spike then leaned back and continued.

“We’ve been sent to find some ancient magic and you said we’re going to help it. How is the Shadow to know if we followed his orders?” He asked nervously. Her friends appeared to have heard and were now looking at Twilight awaiting her answer.

Clever Spike. Despite his young age, he had quickly taken to how the Shadow ran things. Most times, changeling drones were being sent out as spied to follow through with missionaries orders. Easily concealed, they were the perfect tools.

Despite this, Twilight felt quite satisfied in knowing that with the situation in border areas, almost all the drones were being sent to the front. This left far too few of them to effectively follow Twilight and her friends while also defend Canterlot. Despite this, her master had shown her to be cunning, sometimes letting his forces crumble only to wipe the floor with his enemies by himself.

It was how he had been able to take control over the Changelings. How Chrysalis had fallen to her newest low.

“I know what you mean. And I’m pretty sure that we are being followed.” She said, taking a glance at the other ponies who were walking around them. None of them batting an eye at the element bearers.

“That’s why I’m using a concealment spell. That’s why no pony has even noticed us since earlier.”

They all looked at her, shocked.

“What do you mean, darling? Are we invisible?” Rarity asked, her brow raised in suspicion.

“Not at all, its just that we look like different ponies”. Twilight smirked, all thanks to Discords magic. Chaos magic was very useful. And the spell was very simple so there would be no suspicion from the mages as to what she was doing as all she would claim was that she had been flexing her magic to find a trace of the ancient magical source.

“I’m making us look slightly different so that we can elude any guards and make it so that we won’t be noticed by other ponies. Nothing dramatic, just six normal ponies and dog.” If looks could kill, then Spike’s would have been done with her by now. She smiled sheepishly as he crossed his arms and lifted his nose like all the nobles in canterlot used to do.

“Does that mean we can’t go tah our homes for the night?” Apple Jack asked.

“I wanted to go back and see my cottage.” Fluttershy whispered, barely audible.”

“I don’t mind bunking with whoever has room.” Rainbow said while hovering around, looking at her hooves.

“I was planning on going back to the boutique and check on Sweetie Bell!” Rarity said, then added. “And to check on my fabrics. Its been so long since I’ve been home.”

“I was hoping to go back to Sugar Cube corner!” Pinkie exclaimed loudly, drawing a few odd looks. Twilight was quick to shove her hoof in Pinkie’s mouth. “Phorry.” She squeaked. Twilight removed her hoof and gave her friends a warm smile.

“Its only a temporary change. Nothing long term, by the time we get home, you should all revert back.” She explained, silencing their worries for the time being.

Just as the last rays of sunlight were beginning to set, they ascended a crest in the road. And below…

Ponyville off in the distance. It looked so peaceful basking in the sun set.

They all cheered on seeing their homes. They all began to gallop, running down the road passing disgruntled ponies. They were just so pleased. The day’s walk from Whitetail had been very tiring.

They could not hold the gallop for very long, especially Twilight with her armour. So they kept up with a steady trot as they now neared the entrance to Ponyville. The remaining town guards were stationed in barracks next to the post office on the outskirts of town. The guards had let them through without question. Only stopping unicorns to see their magic permits. Luckily for her and her friends, the forms that they now bore were only earth ponies and pegasi.

Upon arrival, they began to realise just how sad Ponyville looked nowadays. The whole town was a shadow of its former glory. The colours fading from the lack of care, passion… and friendship.

If only they could find the elements. Find a way to stop all this madness… then maybe the world could go back to the way it was before. Maybe there was a way to restore what was lost. Twilight remembered. “If one man can stand tall there maybe hope for us all.” She breathed. Lowering her head as she caught her breath, her friends regained their composure. Spike was alright, sitting on her back.

"Alright girls!” Twilight declared, getting their attention. “We meet at the library tomorrow morning at 10 to prepare for our expedition into the Everfree.” Her friends nodded in agreement. “Bring only essential supplies, we don’t want to be over encumbered.”

“Sure thing! Gotcha! Certainly darling! O-oh okay… and Okie Dokie” Were the replies she got and with that, the group dispersed within the mostly empty town square. Sighing Twilight dropped the spell, showing herself to the world. It made no real difference. The guards were to few to actually control all the exits let alone the entire town. She knew that she was being tracked, hopefully she had eluded any unwanted third parties for the time being. Maybe she and her friends could get to the source of the magical disturbance before the ones following her could catch up.

It didn’t make much difference if she dropped it now seeing as her friends had already gone home for the night. All she wanted to do was lie down and take the armour off. It was painful and she was sure that blisters were forming in where the straps met her joints.

Making her way from the town square to her library, she began to feel worried. She had not gone back to the library since she was thrown into the other world. Even after her return and her attempt at rebellion, she dared not return to that place.

She had no choice now. She could not burden her friends by sleeping at one of their homes. She was too embarrassed. Even now she was worried about going back to her home. The place where she had unleashed the Shadow.

Where had he come from? The portal led to another world, didn’t it ? She had been sent to Lou’s world from that portal. Yet it could not be the case. Maybe the Shadow had created a portal within the mirror to send her to that other world.

But then where did he come from? The mirror was not reactant, she had not detected any magic when she scanned it for safety. It was pointless, she had no idea how any of this happened. Only that it took just three days for Him to take total control and declare war on the other nations.

The Changelings would not have been a part of this had Chrysalis not foolishly thought that she could invade the now seemingly leaderless country, only to have her plans fall apart at the last moment.

The Shadow ruled alone, and it proved most effective.

“Twilight?” Spike broke her out the trance. She had been starring at the road, and only moved a few hoofsteps away from the Ponyville market place.

“Are you okay Twi?” He asked, she looked up at him and gave him an adoring smile. He was always there for her, wasn’t he?

“Sorry Spike, lets get home shall we?” She said, getting her things together and heading down the street towards her home.

“So what’s the plan.” The young drake asked. He was always very inquisitive, and often questioned Twilight’s reasoning. Chrysalis did that too when she often had to make decision about the Changelings within her jurisdiction.

“First we go home, get some sleep. Then at first light we head out to the Everfree.” She replied between a yawn. She was exhausted and sleep could not come soon enough.
“We’ll see about tomorrow when it comes.”

“But—” Spike began but Twilight cut him off.

“I know what you’re thinking Spike, but I am too tired to talk now. Lets just get some sleep.” She said as they approached the library.

Stiffling a yawn while approaching the door, she levitated a small flower pot beside the door and dug out the key. Pushing the key into the keyhole, the door creaked open, slowly.

The lock had been forced from the outside. Someone had broken their way into her library. Almost on instinct, Twilight drew her sword from her right hip. Spike jumped to the side as Twilight mouthed ‘Stay close’. He nodded and made to stand behind her. Sticking her ear to the door. Inside she heard a voice.

“I’m sure I shut the door.” A muffled voice mumbled.

“I’ll go and get it.” The voice said getting closer to the door. She could hear movement on the other side. Preparing her self, she awaited for the right moment to attack.

There were still rumours of rebels hiding in seemingly abandoned houses. Often alone. But she also knew that it could also be spies from the warring nations. If so, then she could expect a fight.

The knob on the door began to move slightly as the door began to move back. Taking her opportunity, Twilight slammed the door open and then jumped through. Her eyes having to get use to the darkness, she found her target lying on the floor. A stallion clutching his muzzle in obvious pain and surprise. He was not dressed like a deserter, but that didn't meant that he was harmless.

Twilight jumped into action and grabbed the pony and slammed him down against the ground all while holding her sword to his throat.

“WHO ARE YOU?!” She screamed at him, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOME?!” Her voice rising to that of the royal Canterlot voice.

The dazed pony seemed absolutely out for the count. But in the heat of the moment and the action, she had failed to notice the two other figures who were only moments before, rousing from their sleep.

“PUT THE WEAPON DOWN!” They were screaming at her. Twilight was so surprised that she dropped their friend on the floor. Backing up, she was outnumbered. Though they did not appear to be armed.

“DROP THE SWORD!” They yelled each time in more and more intensifying panic. They were holding strange metallic objects in their magic. And as the her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she noticed their gear on the floor. It had markings that she had seen before. Looking over at the pony she had assaulted. He was wearing a similar cloak with a patch near the shoulder. It was rectangular in shape. Blue with a diamond in the centre. She also began to notice strange things about these ponies. Not only were they using magic, but they also had their wings flared defensively.

The strange weapons they were holding. She recognised them!

‘Oh no’ She thought. She watched as the pony she had assaulted got to his hooves. Looking up at her, his golden slitted eyes gazed upon her.

Her heart was hammering in her chest. She had wished… She had hoped… “Oh my gosh!”. Her breath escaped her as she struggled to breathe.

As the pony’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, so did his friends. They lowered they weapons, and stared in awe at her. Twilight didn’t take her eyes off the pony that was in front of her. Her magic failing, her sword dropped to the floor in a loud cluttering of metal.

The pony opened his mouth and spoke in complete bewilderment. She recognised it almost immediately.

“Twilight?”

“Lou?”