The Princesses were informed of the situation upon being woken up. Princess Celestia herself took note of one particular detail.

“You say this mare’s aura was a greenish-blue?” she inquired.

“Yes,” Sunburst said. “The real Sunset Shimmer has a moderate amaranth or, for simplicity’s sake, red magic aura.”

“Magic auras don’t just change color like that,” Wallflower said. The Guardians opted to remain silent about Dark Mimic.*

“Hey, Wallflower?” Spike said. “Earlier, you mentioned something about a ‘monster.’ What was that about?”

“Let’s just say that I wasn’t the only victim of a bully at magic school,” Wallflower admitted.

“Thanks, Wallflower,” Rainbow said sarcastically. “That explains everything.”

“Hold on, Rainbow,” Applejack said sternly. “This might go back ta that thing that Wallflower promised ta keep secret.”

“Bullying?” Celestia asked, almost indignant. “In my magic school?”

Wallflower meekly nodded. “I was a frequent victim,” she said. “And here’s why.” She raised a forehoof up and made a flower grow out of it using her own magic.

“Wallflower,” Celestia said gently. “I accepted you into my school because of your gift. It is very special and those other students should have known better. How long have they been bullying you?”

“Ever since I first enrolled 14 years ago,” Wallflower admitted.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Celestia asked.

“I didn’t want to be a bother,” Wallflower confessed. “You had enough to worry about as the ruler of Equestria and headmare of the magic school.”

“Wallflower,” Celestia said gently. “I promise you that you could never be a bother to me. I want to be fair towards my students and if I had known you were in trouble, I would have helped you and sorted things out with those bullies. But, since I didn’t know, I wasn’t there to help you. So, I apologize to you.”

“That should also go to Sunset,” Wallflower said. “I’ve gotten death threats at least twice a day from my bullies, but, what Sunset’s did to her was even worse.”

So, Wallflower explained a fraction of what had happened, but, left out who specifically bullied Sunset. This caused the others listening to become shocked and increasingly uncomfortable.

“What?!” Celestia gasped.

“Even at my sister’s worst and most neglectful,” Luna said. “She would never have allowed such things in her school if she had one!”

“That was just horrible!” Cadance gasped. “Who could even be capable of such cruelty?”

“I know who,” Wallflower said. “But, that’s for Sunset to tell you.”

“Indeed,” Rarity said. “Though, of course, the Sunset we met wasn’t like the one who was your friend. She did such a cruel thing by stealing Twilight’s crown and used such vulgar language.”

“And now Twilight’s crown is up her bu-” Pinkie started before Applejack slammed the pink earth pony’s mouth shut.

“It ain’t really up there,” Applejack said flatly. “But, how’d that thief n’ the crown go inta that there mirror?”

“Luna, Canis**, and I can explain,” Princess Celestia said as she led them to the room where the mirror was kept. “Once we do, Twilight, you will soon know more about this place than even we do.”

“That mirror is not an ordinary one,” Luna stated. “It is the Crystal Mirror, a gateway to another world.”

“After your coronation,” Celestia explained. “I had given the mirror to the Crystal Empire so that it can be more carefully watched over.”

“Wait,” Rainbow said. “If that mirror leads to another world, what’s stopping some pony from going through whenever they want?”

“The fact that the gateway is not always open,” Luna explained. “Every thirty moons, the gateway opens. After three and a half days and nights, the portal closes again.”

“Today’s the first full day,” Canis said from atop Luna’s back.

“Twilight,” Celestia said. “With your crown now being on the other side of the gateway, you must use the mirror to go through and find it. Without your crown in Equestria, the other elements lose their power. From what I have heard, the world on the other side is different from ours.”

“Uh, isn’t the Element of Magic the other five elements mixed together?” Rainbow asked.

“Yes,” Celestia said. “But, it was only after all of them were discovered that their true magic was unleashed. The Element of Magic also stabilizes and energizes the other five elements.” She returned her attention to Twilight. “Do you understand your task?”

Twilight was nervous, but, nodded.

“Then, you must go at once,” Celestia said.

Twilight was about to walk towards the mirror, but, her path was intercepted by the other Guardians of Harmony, Sunburst, and Wallflower.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Rainbow said. “If you’re sending Twilight to some mysterious other world, then, we should go, too!”

“And if that other world is where the fake Sunset Shimmer came from,” Sunburst added. “It stands to reason that the real Sunset Shimmer would be there. It seems fitting that Wallflower and I should go as well.”

“I’m afraid I can’t let you all go,” Celestia said.

“What?” Rainbow asked. “Well, why not?!”

“Sending all of you would upset the balance of the other world,” Celestia explained calmly. “This, in turn, would make it impossible for Twilight to get the crown back.”

Reluctantly, the ponies had to clear the path back, allowing the lavender alicorn to enter.

“We’ll be waitin’ fer ya, Twilight,” Applejack said comfortingly.

“Be careful,” Fluttershy advised.

“Please bring my real sister back,” Sunburst pleaded.

“Time is of the essence,” Luna said. “Remember, on the third day, when the moon reaches its peak in the night sky, the gateway will close. Once it does, it will be another thirty moons before you will be able to use it to return.”

“You're telling us,” Rainbow said. “That if Twilight doesn't get back by midnight on the third day, she’ll be stuck in another world for, like, thirty YEARS?!”

“Thirty months,” Canis corrected.

“Oh,” Rainbow said with an embarrassed blush. “I guess saying thirty moons can make it sound longer than it actually is. Either way, that’s like two and a half years.”

Twilight took a deep breath and exhaled. She then carefully stepped through the mirror to a world that was unknown to her. Spike, however, grew increasingly frantic. Without thinking fully, he charged through the portal after Twilight.

“Spike!” the ponies called.

Author's Note

Here's the next chapter.

*It's a callback!

**He's back, baby! At full life!

Comments? Questions? Thoughts? You know where to leave them.