The Invasion Cycle

     “An urgent summons from the princess.” Twilight leaned against the window sill as the dark of the cave passed behind them. Frost covered the window Twilight gazed out of, despite the train’s internal heating systems. The sun’s first rays lanced across the sky, and the tips of the tall spires glimmered. Canterlot was beautiful, as usual.

     “What do you think she could want from us at two in the morning?” Twilight asked. Silence answered.

     “Spike?”

     Silence.

     “Spike!”

     A snore this time. Well, that was improvement. Turning from the window, Twilight walked over to the mass of blankets Spike had brought with them. It rose and fell, the folds mimicking the gentle rock of waves. Beside the pile was the letter that had come in the middle of the night. Twilight had barely had time to read it before a detachment of the royal guard had knocked on the door. That had been four hours ago.

     “What could be so urgent?” she mused again. The scroll drifted toward her, opening so she could read it again. It went on about how events were moving rather quickly, and that she was needed as soon as possible. But nothing inside it hinted at what she was actually rushing across Equestria for! Twilight hated waiting almost as much as she hated not knowing something, and the two together was killing her. But her lack of proper sleep was killing her more. An involuntary yawn passed through her, and suddenly those blankets looked very welcoming indeed.

     Just as she fell onto the soft pile, welcoming the darkness, the train stopped. Guards came onto the car, asking if she had slept well. The purple mare could only glare. She was vaguely aware of some shifting and bumping, and soon found herself off of the train, the chill air smacking her wide awake. How high was Canterlot, anyways? It certainly wasn’t as chill down in Ponyville. Or maybe that was because she usually wasn't awake this early.

     The streets were empty as she moved on towards the castle, bodyguards and a still snoring – yet upright – Spike following behind. Twilight found the escort a bit disconcerting. When she and her friends had fought Discord, there had been almost no royal intervention. But now here she was, Twilight Sparkle, surrounded by a detachment of guards and none of her loyal friends. Well, she did have Spike. Looking behind her, she saw him stumble into a lamppost, back up, try again, and repeat a few more times before one of the guards steered him around. Yeah, at least she had him.

     Soon the giant double doors leading into the audience chamber stood before them. The guards on their posts swung open the doors, and as soon as Twilight crossed the threshold they were swung back. No need to let in a draft, she supposed. However, her guard was outside, and the mare found herself alone. Down the long Hall rolled a carpet,  red, soft to the touch, and again Twilight found herself inclined to just lie down for a few minutes or maybe hours. Just before sleep could take her, a gentle cough from down the Hall jolted her awake. There stood Celestia, flowing mane and all, pure elegance. Normally Twilight would be overjoyed to see her mentor, but right now all she could think was...

     “I’ll have you know, that is twice this morning that somepony has rudely interrupted my falling asleep, not counting your little message," Twilight remarked. Celestia blinked, slowly, and a thin smile touched her lips.

     "And a good morning to you, too," the princess responded. Twilight tried as hard as she could to keep a straight face, but it was too much effort and she was too tired. So she settled for just burying her face into the carpet.

    "Can I just go to sleep, please?"

     Celestia looked sympathetic as she spoke. "No, Twilight, I'm afraid this is rather important. More important than anything you've ever had to do." Well, that got her attention.

     "What could be that important? We've defeated Discord, Nightmare Moon, even the changelings! I think eternal chaos, endless night, and total enslavement are pretty high standards to set, let alone break." Twilight wondered what the princess could be talking about.

     Celestia spun around and walked towards the doors at the back of the hall. No answers forthcoming, Twilight grudgingly followed her. The room behind them was smaller but no less grand than the hall. Dark red curtains hung above several windows, plush carpets lay on the floors. Two staircases swept up the sides, curving impossibly up to two different doors. The princess moved to the left staircase, and Twilight followed.

     Another thick door, another grand room, more stairs. Twilight wondered just how high one could go before they ran out of oxygen. They must be getting close. Her hooves ached, her eyes drooped. "Next time, put the big secret threat to the kingdom a bit lower down," she mumbled. Celestia just kept walking.

     Finally, they stopped before a door. Same old door, same old room behind it. The only thing that stood out was a wooden table shoved into the far left corner. Beside it was a window with a brilliant view, and beside that a blank wall.

     "So, we're done, with the walking, right?" Twilight's voice was hopeful, and came in breaks along with her breathing. A smile came back to Celestia's face. She nodded, and two cushions floated from another corner towards them. They both sat down -well, Twilight more fell down- on them. Soft. Very soft. Possibly satin. Satin's good. So is sleep.

     "Twilight, wake up, please."

     "Uhn..."

     "Do you know what this room is used for?"

     Twilight took another look around. The only thing that stood out was the table, and a few chairs back by the door.

"No."

     "Have you ever heard of the idea of alternate universes?" Celestia said in such a way that she doubted anypony hadn't. Her gaze was fixated on the window, staring out of it.

     "Yes, I have, but only in passing during one of my reading sessions." Twilight tried to remember the name of the book. "Observations on the Reactions to Time and Space. It was an odd book, with a few grand hypothesis'. Why?"

     Celestia removed her gaze from the window. "Because, Twilight, we are in one. Look outside." Twilight rushed to the window in disbelief. The view she had found previously to be so brilliant was now horrific. Smoke hung in the air. Rusted metal spikes shot up out of the brown earth. Millions of fires lit the ground before her, shapes huddling in front of each one. Some threw things into the fires. Others threw themselves.

     "Where are we?"

     "We are in what used to be known as Mirrodin, and is now known as New Phyrexia. This plane used to be a place of peace, much like ours. But then they came." Celestia moved up beside Twilight, and the view from the window became one of Canterlot again.

     Twilight looked to her teacher, saw on her face a mask of pain, and of dread. "Who came?" she asked.

     The princess didn't answer for awhile, instead beginning again to stare out the window. When she did speak, her voice was low, solemn, each word like the sound of a gallows.

     "They are called Phyrexians. And they are coming here next."