In a dark room, deep beneath even the foundations of Lady Faust's castle, only illuminated by a single crystal light, and from the magic of two equine beings, who stood in front of a stone table with stacks of paper, pens, and inactive holo-readers spread upon its surface.

Both of these beings were tall, both possessed single keratinous horns that glowed and thrummed with immense magical power, along with wings that showed leylines of magic coursing through them. Their manes and tails flowed, as if blown by an omnipresent gust of wind, and their hooves glowed with unreleased energy.

One of them had a vibrant azure coat, with a cornflower blue mane and tail that had streaks of a lighter shade of the same color. The horn on their head was long and curved upwards, it glowed with powerful pale purple-colored energy just like the tip of their hooves. The leylines on their wings branched from the central node to each primary feather. Their Mark of Destiny was that of a sharp, five-pointed star surrounded by a crescent-shaped wisp of sparkling magic that interweaved each point. Their regalia was made out of a light blue alloy with silver highlights that glowed a pale purple near the edges. This was Trixie Lulamoon, Peacekeeper of Reality.

The being next to her was covered from head to hoof with gold-colored armor, it wasn't as ornately designed as her regalia, but it was tougher than any known material on Tellus sans starsteel. Through some of the openings of their armor, one would be able to see their pale amber coat. Upon their helmet was a sapphire blue crest that moved like fire, the same color as their mane and tail. Their horn glowed a deep blue just like their hooves and the leylines on their armored wings. Their Mark of Destiny was covered by the plating, but is emblazoned on the peytral instead, it was of a blue shield, with a sword and spear crossed behind it, and a gold lightning bolt plastered at the front. It was Flash Sentry, Vanguard of Tellus.

"So you're saying, Midnight and her friends opened up a portal to... another universe?" Flash asked.

Trixie nodded, "Yes. Based on the readings from Trixie's sensors, there was an unsanctioned tenth-tier rift in reality that opened up somewhere around Midnight's last known location."

Flash nodded as well, "Alright. They went to another universe. Now what?"

Trixie turned to the large rolled up sheet of paper, "We'll open our own portal to follow Midnight."

Flash looked to his sister, "And we're going to bring her back, right?"

Trixie went silent for a moment, she put a hoof on to the rolled-up diagrams and brought it closer, "It's a one-way trip."

"Woah, wait, what?! So we're going to leave? Just like that?" Flash asked incredulously.

"Yes." Trixie said simply.

Flash took a moment to collect his thoughts, "But why?"

"Consider this a form of retaliation to Midnight's wrongful banishment. They were framed! could the Council not see that? Even after five hundred revolutions, an entire mountain of evidence curated by yours truly, and multiple back-flashes done by Turner himself, they still think she was at fault for the sector's destruction! It's as if those bumbling fools at the Council are under some mind-altering charm or something! The Majestic and Magnificent Trixie will never associate herself with those idiots!" Trixie exclaimed; her wings ruffled against her sides.

"You know, I kinda think they might be." Flash thought aloud.

"Even if that's true, we wouldn't be able to do anything due to our respective domains. We would have to consult Thorax, Rabia, or Jerome, who want nothing to do with our cause." Trixie commented.

Flash sighed, "Yeah..." he turned his gaze to the rolled-up sheet, and then back to Trixie, "You know they're going to blow a fuse when they realize we're gone."

"Trixie has prepared for this. Trixie's apprentice, Accord, shall take Trixie's role as the Peacekeeper; he has a well enough reputation between Skyros and Hades to maintain their diplomatic relationship. You, brother of mine, will be replaced by General Scorpan. He has the most qualifications required to be the Vanguard. Trixie has gifted them with transcendence shards to use so they can fit into their respective roles." Trixie explained.

"Well, alright then. Scorpan's a good kid, he's got the guts." Flash added.

"And Accord is an elder spirit, he understands Hades more than Trixie ever will in a trillion revolutions." Trixie admitted.

Flash raised an eyebrow, "Wow, the Majestic and Magnificent Trixie praising somebeing else?" he teased.

Trixie huffed, "Can't a teacher be proud of her student's achievements?"

Flash chuckled, "Alright, alright." he opened up the roll in his magic, "Anyway, how are we going to do this, then?"

"We'll need to gather some components first. It shouldn't be too hard since we have access to most of it in Skyros already, but we may need to visit Hades and Tambelon for the rarer stuff." Trixie informed.

Flash nodded, "Okay, and I take it we need to keep this all under wraps?"

"Mhm. If anybeing finds out, cast a short-term mind wipe, or if necessary, use amnestics." Trixie confirmed as she took the diagram back and stored it in hammerspace.

Flash nodded, "'Kay."

The two transcendent alicorns then made their way out of the ancient underground room and went their separate ways, pretending that the meeting never even happened. They both silently vowed to meet with their lost sister once more.

Author's Note

Oooooh~ What's this? A peek at what's going on in Skyros?

Next chapter: Fluttershy pets a hydra?!

If you want to share ideas on how this story should go, consider commenting!

Corrections and criticisms are more than welcome, I can't improve without those now, can I?
Have a good existence!
:)

"Remembered forever, the land of Equestria"