Red magical lights flashed as a siren blared throughout the castle. The king knew this was going to happen, still though, he had hoped to have more time. He turned to the two young alicorn mares, who looked absolutely terrified, but still attempted to put on a brave face.

"Okay, Lulu, Tia. The time has come. You know what to do?" The alicorn king asked.

The eldest nodded, a white alicorn with a pink mane and a sun for a cutie mark, who was no more than fifteen. "Yes, Father. Go to the land of mortals, a land called Equestria."

The younger sister, who was no older than ten, continued where the other trailed off, her coat a grayish blue with a blue mane a shade lighter than her coat, her cutie mark a crescent moon. "There's an old sorcerer who's a friend of the family. Find him, and he'll take us in."

"Good girls." Suddenly, the three of them heard grunting and screaming down the hall, alerting the three alicorns of what little time they had left. "Okay. It's time to go."

"But…what about Linnie? We can't leave without her." Celestia said, wrapping a wing around her younger sister.

"Your sister will be fine." The alicorn king said. "The mortals need your help. Your uncle won't hurt her."

"But…can't she come with us? She's our sister, we can't leave her behind." Luna argued.

"She'll be safer here. She can't control her elemental power yet. She will accidentally harm the mortals and…who knows how they will react. She'll be okay here. Your uncle will not harm her."

Celestia and Luna looked at each other before sighing heavily. They had to trust their father. He loved all of them and only wanted the best for them. After another round of goodbyes, the two alicorn mares left through the secret tunnel in the castle, one that led to the city gates.

The alicorn king covered the entrance and turned to face the door just as the door burst open and he stared down at his brother…

°°°

"Lulu? Tia?" A magenta alicorn called as she flew into the room. This was the last room she had to search in the whole castle, and she hoped she wasn't too late. That they were still okay. "Lulu! Tia!"

"They're gone." A voice said behind her.

She turned around, charging her horn, glaring at the alicorn she once called family. "What have you done with them?!"

"Me?" The black alicorn asked slyly, a look of innocence plastered on his face. "I did nothing to them. They are my own blood. I'd never harm them. They left and left you behind."

Opaline shook her head. "No. No, they'd never leave me. They are my sisters! You're lying! Just like you lied to Father when you betrayed his trust!"

"Your father was weak! I did Skyros a favor by ending his miserable life!" The black alicorn with a white mane took a deep breath to calm himself. "Fine. You don't believe me? See for yourself."

The black shadow alicorn teleported himself a hoof-held mirror, holding it up towards Opaline. For a moment, Opaline saw her reflection, but soon it rippled and she saw two young alicorns she recognized.

"Tia? Do you think Linnie is mad at us? For leaving her behind?" The younger alicorn asked, her voice young.

"I don't know, Luna. I hope not." Celestia muttered, her voice full of sorrow.

"Tia? Do you think Linnie hates us?" Luna asked, and from her sister's deep breath, it seemed as if Luna had been asking questions long before.

"I don't think so, Luna. She's our sister." Celestia tried to say sweetly, though her voice was strained.

"But, what if she does? What if–"

"Luna! I'm trying to concentrate on where we're going and I can't do that when you're asking me a million questions I don't know the answer to! I'm sure Linnie's fine…" Celestia's voice trailed off as her image disappeared and Opaline's reflection returned.

Tears filled Opaline's eyes as she stared at the mirror with a look that looked murderous, but for who she couldn't say.

"You're lying." She muttered, her breath growing hot. "You're lying…you're lying…you're lying…YOU'RE LYING!"

Suddenly, Opaline burst into flames, her wings and horn and hooves catching fire, as she screamed, her body lifting into the air. Tears streamed down her face as the room around her caught on fire. She broke into sobs, the fire swelling with each heave, as she curled up in a ball, surrounded by fire. She looked up at her uncle, the newest shadow king, to see a small smile of pride on his face.

"Oh! It is so good to be back!" Pipp groaned as the six ponies entered the Brighthouse. She took two steps before collapsing to the ground. "Oh, Brighthouse. How I've missed you so."

Zipp rolled her eyes, muttering, "Ever the drama princess." Though Zipp had to admit, it did feel good to be back home.

Suddenly, the doors burst open, and Sunny galloped into the Brighthouse. "Misty! Misty! Has anypony seen Misty? Misty!"

"Umm…I think I saw her around here somewhere." Zipp answered, glancing around and, sure enough, not seeing Misty. "Why?"

"I can't find her anywhere. Misty! Misty!" Sunny answered, sprinting around the Brighthouse, looking at any possible hiding spot, even though playing a random game of hide and seek wasn't something she'd do.

"Chill, Suns. I'm sure she's fine. She knows not to leave the Brighthouse without you. Besides, you have that protection spell Flurry gave you to cast around the Brighthouse."

Sunny bit her lip. "Yeah, I know. I just…I promised Flurry I wouldn't leave Misty's side when we left Maretime Bay. I guess I am being paronoid though." She said, still feeling uncertain when they all heard Misty scream.

"And so it begins…" Zipp muttered as they all hurried upstairs to find Misty on her bed, hugging Madame Taffytails, rocking back and forth.

Izzy and Pipp were by her side in an instant while Sunny, Hitch, and Zipp did a quick search of the room, looking for any signs of break-ins or anything else that could cause her to scream.

"Misty. Misty, what's wrong? Is everything okay?" Pipp asked, rubbing Misty's back.

Misty tried to block out the memories seeing it caused, but it was harder than she thought. Granted, at the moment, seeing one of those things never meant anything good, so she supposed she wasn't being a complete scaredy-pony. But she knew exactly what seeing one of those meant.

"I…I…I saw a rat." Misty stammered, her whole body shaking.

Zipp was confused. She's never known Misty to be screamish. Not like Pipp. "You screamed because you saw a rat?"

"Hey, rats can be proper scary!" Pipp argued. "Especially when they come out of nowhere!"

Misty looked up at Zipp, and the fear she saw in Misty's eyes, Zipp knew this wasn't an ordinary rat. "They know I'm here. The Skyronians…they know I'm here. They know where I sleep, they know the Brighthouse's weak spots, and who knows what else."

"You know all this…because of a rat?" Hitch asked, more than a little confused.

"Not…just…any rat…" Misty sighed, squeezing Madame Taffytail harder. "A magically created rat. Used specifically for spying on ponies. It's like Zipp sending her pony drone, but this one is made of magic…and is meant to try and blend in more. Though, I'm not sure how a pink, see-through rat blends in better than Zipp's pony drone. Or, in this case, blue."

"How do you know all this?" Sunny asked, stepping forward.

Misty swallowed, looking away from her friends. "Because Opaline made one. To sneak into the Brighthouse and learn more about Sunny's lantern. So she can take the Prisbeam it contained, without destroying magic by taking the Crystals."

"And now that's what the Skyronians are doing. " Zipp finished, causing Misty to nod. She turned to Sunny. "You might want to cast that protection spell now. We've been here for all of an hour, and already they've made their move."

Sunny nodded, but Hitch shook his head. "Wait. Hold up. We're not planning on keeping Misty from going to Skyros completely right? Cause that'll be a fool's mission."

Sunny shook her head. "No. We're just trying to keep her from being fillynapped in the middle of the night so we can all go to Skyros with her."

Misty was silent for a moment. No matter how many times her friends risked something for her, it always blew her away. She wondered if she'd ever get used to it. "You'd really go to Skyros with me? For…me?"

Izzy smiled. "Of course. You really think we'd let our friend go to some super crazy trial at some super scary kingdom without us?"

"I just thought that with Sunny by my side…you didn't really need to come…" Misty trailed off.

"Neigh way. If we're going to find a third alicorn in Skyros, we're going to need all hooves on deck." Pipp said firmly.

Misty didn't know where she would've been without friends like these. No. She knew exactly where she'd be. Defeated right along with Opaline. She knew that even if she didn't free them the day she got her cutie mark at Opaline's dark castle, they'd have found a way to free themselves. Because that was just who they were. And she was proud to be their friend.

"What about Queen Vespula?" Hitch asked. He still wasn't thrilled to be around the changeling queen, seeing as she killed his one true love, but anything to save his future stepsister-in-law. "She has the alicorn wings and horn and after everything she did, I'm sure she'd be happy to help out. Plus, seeing as Misty did help reform her…"

"I don't know, Hitch. She is a changeling," Sunny pointed out. "We don't know the kind of relationship the alicorns have with them. Especially since they've only reformed recently." Sunny paused. "Izzy and Hitch, search Maretime Bay. Look for anypony new or suspicious. I doubt they'll go around looking like alicorns. They'll probably have cloaked themselves with some kind of magic."

Hitch and Izzy nodded, and, wasting no time, ran out of the Brighthouse to search the streets.

Sunny turned to the three remaining ponies. "Pipp and Zipp, watch Misty. Just while I cast the protection spell and then join Hitch and Izzy." Then she teleported out of the room, trying to use any opportunity she could to practice her magic.

The three mares were silent for a moment before Misty spoke up. "You know…you ponies don't have to do all this. Not for me. Opaline has already hurt you ponies enough. If something happened to you…"

"Hey…we're sisters. That's what sisters do." Zipp said, interrupting Misty.

"But…what about your royalty before family motto?" Misty countered. "If something happened to you…where would that leave Zephyr Heights?"

Pipp waved a dismissive hoof. "That only applies if we have to choose the immediate safety between Zephyr Heights and our family. Like when you shattered the Unity Crystals and chose Equestria over me. Choosing me would've put all of Equestria in danger."

"Yeah. Besides, if something happens to us in Skyros, Zephyr Heights is declaring war, and I doubt the Skyronians want that."

Misty smiled at the two pegasi she already called family. "Thanks guys."

Zipp smiled back. "That's what sisters do."

There was another moment of silence. Misty loved these mares as though they really were her blood sisters. All she ever wanted besides a cutie mark was to know where she came from. Instead, she found her father, gained two of the best sisters she ever could've asked for, and found best friends who were practically her family. Misty smiled as she began to sing their song:

🎵Searchin' high, searchin' low,
Lookin' for a place I belong.🎵

Zipp walked over, standing next to the bed where Misty still sat.

🎵Searchin' wide, tryna find,
Something to make you feel less alone🎵

Pipp sang on Misty's other side before they all sang the chorus together…

🎵You know I heard it said,
Home is wherever you are.
And friendship is forever,
When you carry it in your heart!

And now I see I got you,
You know you got me too!
When we're together,
There's nothing that we cannot do!
And if your family can be the ones you choose,
I choose you, yeah I choose you🎵

Zipp climbed up on the bed, sitting next to Misty, who put her head on her shoulder.

🎵When you're up, when you're down,
No matter what I'll be by your side.🎵

🎵You and me, we're family.
We're sisters 'till the end of time.🎵

Pipp flew up into the air as she sang her part before, once again, they all sang the chorus together.

🎵You know I heard it said,
Home is wherever you are.
And friendship is forever,
When you carry it in your heart!

And now I see I got you,
You know you got me too!
When we're together,
There's nothing that we cannot do!
And if your family can be the ones you choose,
I choose you, yeah I choose you

I got you, you know you got me too!
When we're together,
There's nothing that we cannot do!
And if your family can be the ones you choose,
I choose you, yeah I choose you🎵

Pipp flew down, landing on the bed next to her sisters, and the three mares hugged as they all sang the last line…

🎵I choose you, yeah I choose you…🎵

"SUNNY! ZIPP! HELP!"

All of them woke up immediately upon hearing Misty scream, but it was Zipp who was the first to jump out of bed. She darted with her wings like a bullet to Misty's curtained room. Without even processing, without even pausing to look around, she threw herself at the shadowed figure who was holding Misty in its green magical aura.

It grunted as it fell to the ground, but it didn't make him drop Misty. He picked up Zipp and threw her through the curtain, causing her to knock it down and get wrapped up in it.

Sunny was next, her horn already charged. Sunny didn't know how the hell he got through the protection spell, but he wasn't leaving with Misty. The shadow figure stood up, turning to face Sunny. "Drop. My friend. Now! Or I blast you into next week." Sunny threatened, a laser beam spell at the ready.

"Why should I listen to a mortal like you?" The shadowed figure asked.

"Because I'm no mortal," Sunny said dangerously. The lights turned on, thanks to Izzy, and Sunny unfurled her wings, showing her alicornhood. "I'm an alicorn."

The alicorn standing by Misty's bed, who had a brown coat with green eyes and a white mane, along with two others, widened his eyes, before twisting his lips. "Aye. That you are. Which means you know this business don't include ya. This is a prisoner of Skyros. You'd do best to get outta our way."

"This does include me. I'm one of the alicorns who will back Misty."

The three alicorns were silent as they glanced at each other before the spokespony turned back to Sunny. "Got any more?"

"Yes. Flurry Heart of the Crystal Empire. A born alicorn." Sunny answered.

"And?" At the alicorn's urging, Sunny remained silent, looking away. "Sorry, love, but you need three. You only got two. Which means this here mortal belongs to us."

"We demand an audience with the king," Pipp said, stepping forward.

"Why should we listen to a mortal, even if that mortal is a pretty little lady?"

"Because I'm not just any mortal. I'm Princess Pipp Trailblazer, Princess of Zephyr Heights, Element of Confidence, and defeater of Opaline Arcana."

"Defeater of Opaline Arcana, eh? You defeated Opaline Arcana?" Another alicorn asked.

"Well, we all kinda did. The six of us. It was kinda a group effort. Mostly. Actually, it was entirely a group effort." Hitch corrected with a shrug.

The three alicorns were silent for a moment before they sighed. "Fine. The alicorn can come with us."

"We all go. Or none of us do." Pipp said firmly, stepping forward.

"Sorry, Princess, but we ain't bringin' a bunch o' mortals with us, even if one of them mortals is a pretty princess." The brown alicorn said, causing Hitch to take a step closer to his wife.

"Yes. We are." Pipp hesitated, before deciding to take a HUGE risk. But if it was the only way… "Because whether or not you take us isn't the question. The question is how we get there and what we do once we do. Either you take us and this trial goes smoothly or you don't and we sneak into Skyros, take Misty, and come back to Equestria. Successfully."

"And what makes ya think you can do all that?"

"Because not only have we defeated Opaline Arcana, but we also defeated the Shadow Walkers, saved the Crystal Empire, and reformed the changelings. Sneaking into the alicorn land would be a breeze."

"Oi! That sounds like a threat!" The third alicorn said.

"It doesn't have to be," Pipp said simply.

The three alicorns remained silent, before one of them asked, "You defeated the Shadow Walkers?" When the five of them nodded, the alicorn whistled. "Goodness. Kudos to you. Even the Father of Monsters couldn't figure out how to do that. Not 'til Gusty the 'Great' took his magic usin' his own damn bell. The Shadow Walkers died along with his magic."

"So…do we got ourselves a deal?" Pipp asked, projecting fake confidence.

"You got confidence kid, I'll give ya that." The leader paused, as though thinking it over. "Aye. The king'll be interested in the lot of ya. We leave at dawn. Best be ready 'cause we're leavin' with or without ya, and we takin' this one with us."

The alicorn dropped Misty and she went crashing to the floor before teleporting out of the room, causing the six of them to breathe a sigh of relief. The six of them stood there in silence, staring at the place where the three alicorns stood, their hearts racing, their breath heavy.

Zipp, who had untangled herself from the curtain and rejoined her friends, turned to Pipp. "How'd you know that would work?"

Pipp smiled nervously. "Honestly? I had no clue. But with a little fake confidence, you can make almost anypony believe almost anything."

"Well, it worked. So, I guess it's good that we didn't unpack then. Cause we're going to Skyros."

"Let the adventure begin, I guess," Zipp muttered.

Author's Note

Whoo! The fifth story of the Pitch Saga has arrived! So excited for this one! Ive got big plans!

I know it started off intense, but that seems to be the theme for these stories so…

I've been wanting to write a story about Sunny finding the alicorn land for a while, and I couldn't think of a way to make it just a random single, so why not make it part of this series. Plus, there are gonna be lots of opportunities for Hitch and Pipp to bond.

Okay, see you in the next chapter!

Hakuna Matata!