Author's Note

Gonna try to go all in this time. I've hit rock bottom. Now there's nowhere to go but up.

Star Seekers

After breakfast, Spike insisted Twilight return to bed. The Alicorn agreed, acknowledging in a rare display of vulnerability that she was incapable of concealing her exhaustion. It wounded her pride to admit weakness, but a damaged ego wasn't worth running herself ragged over. She turned, facing the direction where her chamber resided. However, before she could move so much as her foreleg, a loud belch echoed across the kitchen. Following several sparks of green flame, a letter materialized before the duo. It was signed personally by the princess herself.

"A letter," Twilight inquired, "What's it say?"

Spike examined the scroll, his expression transforming into one of sheer terror.

"Uh-oh..."

"What? What is it?"

"Looks like I may have spoken too soon. You might wanna take a look at this."

Twilight skirted around her assistant, levitating the parchment into view. Each sentence clotted her blood colder. By note's end, her veins were all but ensnared by ice.

"Twilight, if you are reading this, I fear the worst has come to pass. Something ancient and deadly now stirs below Earth's surface. We cannot say for certain what this dark presence is, but without question, we know it as evil's true form. It will take time to consume the planet fully, but should it succeed, I shudder to think what will become of Equus. The disruptors of harmony you have faced before were but misguided children - lost souls wandering in search of greatness to quell the emptiness inside. What Luna and I sense now lacks such conscience or reasoning. It is murder made real. Our only option now is decisive action. We have laid out plans for a possible contingency, though the risk involved would be undoubtedly immense. Divulging such details at this juncture would cost us time we already do not have. Please, gather your friends in Canterlot Castle. Our future and world are depending on you."

"How do they know all this!? Have they been monitoring Earth this whole time!?"

"Dunno, but it looks like we're in a whole heap of trouble. Probably a good idea to do what she says."

"I guess so. Grab onto me."

Spike obliged, wrapping an arm around the Alicorn's neck. Conjuring a bubble of mystical energy, the duo disappeared, leaving no trace behind. Twilight felt it in her bones. This was the group's final test of friendship. If push came to shove, they would lay down their lives to protect one another. That was their species' way.

As expected, Twilight and Spike were met with varying degrees of hesitation. Fluttershy's anxiety overwhelmed the Pegasus with fear, having never faced a foe of such pronounced scale. Twilight placed a hoof on her shaken friend's shoulder, staring into the other mare's eyes with what little optimism she could muster.

"I know things seem scary right now. I'm scared too, but princess Celestia has always maintained faith in us, even during the most trying of times. There's no reason this should be different. If she says we can stop this, whatever it is, then I believe her, because I have faith in her, too. I know you feel the same way."

"I do. It's just..."

"I know. It's a cruel thing, being taken from this world early, especially when we leave loved ones behind, but if we stick together, our odds of survival are at least better than zero. We've been given a chance to prevent sorrow unlike anything Equestria's known, but it won't matter unless we seize the opportunity. I need you to dig down into the basement of your well. You may be surprised how deep such courage runs."

"O...Okay...I'll try..."

Fluttershy inhaled, stealing a breath to calm her nerves. At least for the moment, they had time to prepare. Pulling the Pegasus in for a hug, Twilight teleported her friends towards their final destination.

Outside the doors of Canterlot Castle, Twilight noticed something was off. Nary a soul resided before its walls, and birds did not chirp in the absence of life. Pinkie stopped bouncing, discomfort growing as her smile inverted.

"Where are the guards?" Twilight questioned. It wasn't like them to abandon their posts - not at a time like this. She'd assumed her mentor would've informed them of the impending danger.

"Maybe they're changing shifts?" Fluttershy offered. It was the only explanation she could rationalize without succumbing to fear.

"There would at least be someone standing by! They took an oath to protect the princesses at all cost! They wouldn't just leave us defenseless!"

"Should we go inside? Celestia might know something. You did say it was a secret."

"Not even the guards know. She must've wanted to avoid panic. If the general public found out about Earth, our objective would undoubtedly be compromised."

Twilight's friends gawked at her in confusion.

"Erm...," Rarity began, "Earth? Compromised? Pardon me for assuming so boldly, but it sounds like you're suggesting reconnaissance!"

Twilight sighed. In a whirlwind of neuroticism, she had blown her own cover.

"There's a secret archive in the castle only four of us know about. Celestia and Luna make up two. Spike and I are the others."

"And you suspect our situation relates to this archive somehow? What exactly was contained in its texts?"

"Somewhere, there's a mirror that leads to other worlds. It was discovered by Star Swirl's ancestors many millennia ago. They sealed it away to cut off access from invading forces. Nothing ever came of it, and we were hoping nothing ever would. Unfortunately, it looks like something's escaped. There's a large veil of shadows covering Earth as we speak."

"You mean to tell us Earth was plotting an invasion, and now they've developed a new weapon!?"

"Not exactly. Up to now, our greatest adversaries were evolved primates called humans. Rather than magic or flight, they relied on technology, but something happened in their brains to turn them rabid, and they've been destroying each other ever since. Anyone in their path was also at risk. That's the initial reason the portal was sealed. The shadows appear to be even more deadly."

"You're JOKING! This is absolutely PREPOSTEROUS! How could you not have told us this sooner!?"

"I wanted to, but Celestia pleaded with me to stay quiet! She was even more terrified than you!"

"And now you expect to waltz into enemy territory thinking everything will be hunky-dory!? Have you lost it completely!?"

"I thought Celestia might've accounted for that already! She did say her and Luna had a plan!"

"And what plan would that be!? Sit on our tails and wait for the earthlings to eat us all alive!? I don't want to be eaten, Twilight! Do you understand!? I DO NOT WANT TO BE EATEN!!!"

"Rarity," Rainbow intervened, startling the rest of the party, "chill out already! She was just doing what the princess told her! Any of us would've done the same thing! Lay off her, all right!?"

"Listen to yourself! Can you honestly say with absolute certainty you wouldn't have uttered a single word!? This will affect our entire planet!"

"Has it crossed your mind maybe the guards couldn't handle 'em? I don't know if you've realized it or not, but Twilight's magic is way stronger than her brother's! She's already more powerful than our entire military combined!"

"Yes, but why would the princesses send us in alone!? At least with more numbers, we stand a better chance! Twilight said herself our odds would increase significantly with more manpower! Would it not make more sense for at least someone to come back alive!? Between us, I simply don't see how it can be done!"

"A clandestine operation," Twilight spoke, "Our mission will likely be to investigate in secret. Celestia and Luna want us to find the shadows' weakness."

"And how pray tell do you propose we do that!?"

"Celestia knows something we don't. She wouldn't have called us here otherwise. I'm in the dark on this one too."

"Did you even stop to consider what would happen to the girls without us!? Sweetie would be devastated! How do you intend to explain this to her if something happens to me!?"

Twilight's brow furrowed in an expression of focused indignation.

"It won't."

"And what makes you so sure!?"

"Because I won't let it."

"While your confidence is admirable, perhaps it would be wise to-"

"I'm your friend, Rarity. You all mean more to me than you will ever know. I would blow this world to pieces before anything could touch you. If you can believe in nothing else, trust in that. From here on out, everything I do, I do for you, and for all the people of Equus."

Rarity's mouth snapped shut, anger all but forgotten. Twilight wasn't acting as a princess anymore. She was someone else entirely.

"How long have you had to think this through...?"

"Long enough. I won't let anyone hurt you. The same way I have faith in Celestia, I need you to have faith in me. I only hope you understand why I would ask such a thing."

"Twilight..."

"Don't worry. Just follow me like always, and we'll get through this...Somehow..."

Twilight carried on, Spike strolling beside her. Rarity turned to face Rainbow once more.

"Now do you get it? Twilight's the adhesive binding us all together. We're safe in her hooves."

Rarity hung her head. A fresh pang of guilt echoed across the unicorn's breath, embarrassed and remorseful of her uncouth display.

"I suppose you're right. Why must I lack the courage to see...?"

"It's okay. We're all a little freaked out right now. If we put our heads together, we're bound figure somethin' out. We've done it before. Just gotta think harder this time is all."

"Thank you, Rainbow. I feel better now. Twilight's always come through when we needed her, so I suppose it's only natural we reciprocate. We must proceed with our obligations in mind. It's the only way we'll emerge unscathed."

"All right! Now you're speakin' my language! Come on! First one in's a rotten apple pie!"

"Excuse me?" Applejack chided.

Twilight's friends rushed towards the throne room. Both Celestia and Luna waited patiently for their arrival. Taking into account the latter's aforementioned involvement, their circumstances were unquestionably dire.

"My goodness, Twilight," the sun princess exclaimed, "You look exhausted! Are you all right!?"

"I'm okay, princess," Twilight replied cordially, "We came as soon as we could."

"I assume you've told your friends?"

"Everything I know. Our mission entails learning the shadows' weakness so we may use it to our advantage."

"While correct, as I mentioned, there's more to this than meets the eye. Based on our observations, the best course of action appears to be a joint effort, for you see, humans have undergone a radical transformation of their own. Their cognitive abilities are beginning to show themselves in full."

"You mean...!?"

"Forgive me, Twilight. There are secrets I have hidden even from you. As you know, under Star Swirl's guidance, we were taught the lessons necessary to become proper royalty, and upon reaching maturity, another of our tasks was to guard the astral plane. His ancestors presumed such a scenario would occur in the distant future, though it spiraled into something far more ominous than they ever could have imagined. We didn't know how things would play out until today, but now that we've acquired our answer, the fate of all worlds must fall on your shoulders."

"How are we supposed to cooperate with humans!? I thought they were dangerous and prone to betrayal!? How can we hope to trust them after everything we've learned!?"

"Things are not what they appear. The archives were flawed in a way no one could have predicted. They are antiquated by the standards of the modern era."

"Antiquated? How so?"

"Humanity's destructive tendencies were not the result of a genetic defect. It was merely part of what made them who they were."

"That's even worse! How is that supposed to help us!? Now we have even less reason to trust them!"

"I'm surprised you can't see the bigger picture. It's what those tendencies created that will ultimately aid you on your journey."

"What they created...?"

"Millennia of failure spawned resistance among their ranks. The youth today understand their world to be broken, and realize by proxy that repairing it as things stand is borderline impossible. However, what they can do is survive. They have taken it upon themselves to atone for the sins of their forefathers."

"How are we supposed to know who we can trust, though!? It doesn't help if we don't know who we're looking for!"

"Perhaps this will put your mind at ease."

Luna flew over to her sister's side. Mingling their magic, they shifted separate mechanisms behind each respective throne. A concealed tunnel revealed its corridors between their shared seating.

"The location of the mirror was omitted intentionally so no one would ever find it. You've probably surmised by now where it's been hidden, but the portal lies below."

Celestia shifted, motioning for the party to follow.

"What you see below must remain undisclosed, at least for the time being. We will escort you of our own volition to the other side."

"Good thing Apple Bloom ain't here," Applejack stated, reminded of her sister's aversion to underground hideouts, "Cellars back home creep her out as it is."

"Don't worry. I assure you, the passage has been well maintained."

The group followed their monarchs, concentrating their energy to light the way down.

Dimly-lit torches lined freshly-moulded brick, further aiding the party on their quest for ultimate truth. Celestia spoke again, reprising her role as Twilight's former instructor.

"Long before we met, Luna and I studied the archives extensively. We were looking for holes in the human world's defenses. Much as it pains me to admit, we were prepared for the possibility of war with our terrestrial neighbors. It was there a connection began to form. Our worlds are interlinked - bound together by threads of a common lineage."

"How so?" Twilight asked, curious to delve into their planets' shared histories.

"Our cosmic dates are the same. We have been around for as long as each other."

"You mean our worlds are the same age!? That's impossible!"

"Is it really so hard to believe? Time and space are chaotic by their natures. It's not inconceivable two dimensions would share similarities."

"But what does it all mean!? Will we regress like them and start killing each other the same way they did!?"

Celestia chuckled. Her pupil always had a knack for assuming the worst.

"I wouldn't worry so much about that. Even when the tribes were divided, things never escalated to such barbaric levels. I think we're safe for the moment - relatively speaking of course."

"I need an explanation! Not knowing anything is driving me crazy! I can't wander around all day without knowing where we're going! It's all too much! Please, princess! Just tell me what we're supposed to do!"

"Twelve speckles of light. That was what Luna found piercing through the shadows' hold. They were faint, but visible. They are the humans who will aid you on your quest."

"Lights...!?"

"Luna detected a unique source of power emanating from their coordinates. Like the shadows, it was something new - something we've never seen before. If they're able to penetrate through total darkness, that has to mean something. I feel it in my bones..."

Twilight thought it over. Maybe...Just maybe...

"Is one of them a girl with light blonde hair?"

Celestia stopped dead in her tracks. Luna did the same.

"Yes, but-"

"I had a dream about her. That's why I'm so tired. I was up all night trying to figure it out. I knew it felt more real than usual. Even nightmares aren't that vivid."

"A premonition!? Are you quite certain!?"

"If we're thinking of the same person. Would you happen to know her name?"

"Well...No, but we did discover two of their identities while making use of an imaging technique. We were planning to send you to one in particular."

"Who are they?"

"The first is a male in his twenties named Zane. The second appears to be a teenager. We found her while she was settling in for the school day. The top of her worksheet read out Maria Drake in calligraphic handwriting. We're not exactly sure why, but her eyes were kept hidden from our view. Her and the other girl both seem to prefer concealing them. The same applies to another of their group as well. He seems to be related to Maria somehow. Considering their proximity in age, we suspect he might be her brother."

"I wonder if they all know each other. That would make our job so much easier."

"It's worth looking into. We're almost there, anyway."

The party halted before a reinforced structure resembling a door. A barrier had been erected to keep trespassers out. Once again, the sisters combined spells, unlocking the unit with a specialized key.

"The mirror is just behind this drape. I must urge you to proceed with caution. Luna has already directed your course for Earth, though we cannot say for certain where you will emerge. We only have a general idea of the layout, and since Zane was the first to appear, we have fixed your position to his location. All we can tell you for sure is the date, as time is measured differently between our worlds. The card in his office specified October 1st, 1997."

"I'm assuming conditions are similar to ours?"

"More or less. I suggest you find a way to keep warm if possible. It may not be a bad idea to adopt native clothing habits, as they appear better-insulated."

"We'll keep that in mind. Is there anything else we should know?"

"Not that I'm aware of. I only request a full report upon your safe return. Would that be acceptable?"

"Of course. I was already planning on it, anyway."

"Very well. May your endeavors prove fruitful during the sobering times ahead. I shall pray you be well in this era of uncertainty. May the indomitable flame of harmony and courage burn strong, lest we meet again in another life."

Luna removed the portal's covering. Twilight circled back towards her friends.

"Well, this is it. Moment of truth. Is everyone ready?"

"As we'll ever be, Sugarcube," Applejack assured, "We're countin' on ya. Try not to let us down, all right?"

Twilight nodded.

"I'll keep you guys safe, no matter what it takes. Now come along. We've got a job to finish, and I intend to see it through to the end."

One by one, Twilight's friends stepped through, disappearing in a haze of liquefied photons. Celestia stood motionless, collecting her resolve in the hopes their subjects would make it back unharmed.

"Fare thee well, my little ponies, God willing our efforts be not in vain..."