Twilight was watching outside world from small window, that their cell provided. It’s been 3 days since meeting with Princess Zipp and while Starlight was just ‘enjoying her time in dungeon’, Twilight was for a very long time lost in thought. The meeting with royal family didn’t go well for them, as they have been locked without any chance of fleeing, but after 3 very long and very boring days, something finally happened. While listening to the guards, Twilight heard a very interesting conversation.

“Have you heard the rumors?” One said

“About an earth pony and unicorn coming to Zephyr Heights? Yeah, I heard it” Second guard answered.

“It says, that they still weren’t spotted by any guards.”

“Maybe it’s just hiding it from the public eye? You know, how ponies could react if they heard about other races in city. Luckily, they still don’t know about those two unicorns locked down here.”

“Let’s just hope Queen Haven will do something about this.” Said guard, ending the conversation and walking away. Twilight was shocked about this, since the Starlight theory about race segregation confirmed. Maybe there is still hope for this time?

“Have you heard it, Starlight?” Twilight asked her. She nodded in approval, which means that she also listened to their talk.

“Yes, but this feels not possible in this time. As we see, race segregation is very high, with every earth pony and unicorn being probable locked down” She explained. Twilight understood why Starlight would think like that. After how they were treated (technically ‘Queen’ Haven has offended the ruler of Equestria), it felt like it’s just a rumor, which isn’t true, but after 20 minutes, they heard that they believed to be false. On every corridor there were speakers. Probably for announcements for particular segments of the castle, or just all of it. Both noticed speakers activate and waited for announcement. Soon enough, a female voice started speaking.

“ Attention, everypony. Queen Haven has issued a high alert for royal guard in castle, as well on the streets of Zephyr Heights and groups that are currently outside castle patrolling. There are numerous reports of an earth ponies and unicorn approaching our mountain. From now, number of patrols on the mountain must be doubled, while on the streets, tripled. If you notice anything, you have the right to use any precautionary measures, or in extreme cases, you have right to attack. Personal guards of the princesses and Queen must immediately show up in the throne room for protection of royal family. Everypony, please follow the orders of your superiors, or, if you’re civilian, follow orders of guards. Announcement over.” Speakers deactivated. Twilight was looking at Starlight in complete shock.

“Soo.. the rumors were true?” Twilight stated. Moment after she said this a very big group of guards has been running towards the lift.

“It looks like.” Starlight answered.

<><><><><><><><><><>

1 hour later

Both unicorns were bored. There was something to do, like a massage chair, but nothing than that. Day was interesting though. Guards on high alert everywhere, patrols coming every 15 minutes, and potentially there is a unicorn and earth pony somewhere in the city. Immediately After alert was issued, Twilight was looking outside, through blocked window. She was looking and watching city from above. Maybe she will see a teleporting unicorn? Very weird not only for Twilight, but also for Starlight was fact, that in Pegasus only city, there wasn’t any flying Pegasi. She planned to ask princess Zipp why is that a thing. Lost in thought, she didn’t noticed guards opening the cell, until Starlight ‘waked her up’.

“Give back my book!” Earth pony said at guards, before getting locked up.

“ Hey, Sunny, there is nothing we can do.” Unicorn said to her. She tried to comfort earth pony, which name was probably Sunny, but it didn’t help.

“Um hi?” Starlight said to both ponies. Immediately they turned their attention to her.

“ Oh, hi new friend!” The unicorn said. “Uuuu.. you are unicorn too! That nice! But I never saw you in Bridlewood.” She commented. “What’s your name?” She asked.

“Um hi?” Starlight said to both ponies. Immediately they turned their attention to her. “My name is Starlight and her name is…” she stopped. Twilight looked at her, nervous and scared. She didn’t wanted to blow up her cover.

“I’m Twilight” She said, but before she could say anything Sunny interrupted her.

“Wait a second. Can I see your cutie mark?” She asked. Twilight hesitated, but Starlight nodded to her to do it. Twilight knew that if she declines, it will be suspicious, or if she accepts, it will probably blow her cover. It was a total loss.

“It’s okay I think” she finally said. Sunny looked at Twilight's star.

“I know this star. I have seen it somewhere.” She commented. Twilight relaxed a bit, since the earth pony didn’t recognize it. Propably.

“You still didn’t tell your name” Starlight helped Twilight, by changing topic of the conversation.

“ Oh, sorry about that. My name is Sunny Starscout, and her name is…” unicorn interrupted Sunny.

“Izzy Moonbow” Unicorn smiled. Starlight giggled by the interruption. Meanwhile twilight started gathering information.

“You were these two ponies, that came today to Zephyr Heights?” She asked. Sunny looked at her and answered.

“Yes. We thought that if unicorns don’t have their magic, maybe Pegasi will have it, but it seems that they lost too. No one is flying around an entire city.” She explained. Twilight tried to stay at her neutral face, but inside she was very shocked by information that Sunny gave her. Nopony has magic. Well, that explains a lot, but if magic doesn’t work, how does she and Starlight still have it? But that was a question for another time. Twilight wanted to know as much she can about these two ponies.

“Where did you came?” She asked again.

“I’m from Maretime Bay and Izzy is from Bridlewood.” Sunny answered again.

"How did you met? If I can ask” Twilight asked once again, but now she tried not to do bad impression.

“ Well, ” Izzy started “A few days ago I started my travel to Maritime Bay, after I was invited, when I was young. I came.”

“Wait, you were invited? By who?” Sunny looked at Izzy, little surprised.

“Well, I will tell you later. I can’t do both stories at once.” Izzy winked towards Sunny “Where I was? Oh, yes. I came to Maretime Bay and immediately everypony started running away. Only Sunny didn’t. She helped me escape town and we decided together, so we will bring back magic, if possible” Twilight tried to look neutral, with barely succeeded. Bring back magic, but in a first place, what made it disappear? “We traveled here, to Zephyr Heights, in search for help, but instead of help, we got captured and locked up” she finished, not so happy at the end.

“Well, I’m sorry about that. My mom sometimes overreact, when she sees other races.” Voice said.

“Zipp?” Twilight said looking for a princess, after a moment she appeared from her hiding spot on the ceiling.

“ Yup, that’s me.” She confirmed. She looked at Sunny. “You are Sunny right?” She nodded. “I have something for you.” She said, revealing a book. After a closer look Twilight noticed her cutie mark there.”

“Oh no. They will find out” she whispered to Starlight. Starlight also started being nervous.

“Hmm. This star. It looks like something I seen recently” Zipp said. Talking about the star. Then, Sunny remembered where she saw this star.

“Hey, Twilight, it’s your cutie mar… wait. NO!” she said, looking at Twilight. She knew that her cover was blown up, she didn’t hesitate any longer.

“Yes, it’s mine cutie mark” she confirmed.

“Wait, so you are the legendary princess of Equestria?” Zipp asked, very much interested in this topic.

“Yes, that’s me.” She said, looking at the floor, sad and anxious about her cover.

B-b-but how?!” Sunny asked, looking at Twilight. Even Starlight was shocked how fast their cover was blown.

“Me and Starlight used time travel spell, to see Equestria in the future, but we traveled to much in the future. Our Ponyville is destroyed, and legendary city of Canterlot has changed to… this!" After this she dropped her disguise, so they can see her wings, but didn’t show her true form. She was still average height.

“You-you an ALICORN!” Sunny screamed. This immediately attracted guards and, what was weird, second princess, which somehow was down there.

“What’s going on?!” Guards said.

“Sister, what’s happening?!” Second princess came at the same time. Twilight will have to explain a lot of things. Mainly to one pony, if news will get to her.

Author's Note

And chapter 3 has been finished!

Quite a nice chapter I think, but it’s up to you, if you like it or not :)
You can ask questions in comment section if you are interested in lore of the story.

As usual, suggestions, corrections and criticisms are appreciated!
Also I finally fulfilled the title of this fanfic :D

Also, i have temporary art for this story but site don’t want it to upload :P