The Battle of Ages

Chapter 2: The Last Night

The sunlight streamed harmlessly past Twilight's window, eliciting a hearty yawn and a half cracked eyelid. Her dark purple retina scanned the inner workings of the library and wondered why she was in the floor. Upon remembering the night before her lips twitched upwards in a hint of a smile; followed by a red dusting on her cheeks. She almost didn't want to realize that her number one assistant was shaking her violently from the side.

"Whaaaaat Spike?" She managed to utter rolling over to get away.

"You were supposed to be up an hour ago! Remember the report you had to deliver..."

"WHAT!!??!" She shot up with her entire body balanced on her two forehooves, leaning into Spike's smug face. "....There was no report...Great."

I've got to remember that Spike is almost five now. And he certainly knows how to work my nerves. Where's Luna?

The purple mare let the last thought verbalize, as she was led into the kitchen area.

"She left with Celestia this morning, something about 'pressing matters'. I dunno." He replied taking a seat with a newspaper. After cracking it open his stomach rumbled and his mouth ejected a spout of green flame, scorching the section that dealt with the unexplained weather the day before. Landing roughly in front of her the parcel held a dark velvet ribbon tied on it's length.

Twilight liberated the page of it's contents, and was surprised immediately by the length of the scripture within. Or at least how short it was in comparison to any other letter her mentor had sent her.

My dearest student,

Three nights from now you will be faced with a proposition, and it will be a hard choice to make. But trust me when I say that it is for the fate of Equestria. If you accept, you will be put through more hardship than I hate to put upon anypony, especially not you. If you decline, forget this letter and let everything return to normal, for now. If you are willing to listen to the messenger, do what they say without question.

Yours truly, Princess Celestia

The buck?

"What did it say, Twi?" Asked Spike from behind her. "Was it bad?" He corrected after getting a view of her face.

"No Spike... nothing bad at all." She said absently. She made sure everything was in order, only to find that letter was nagging her beyond belief. The purple mare needed answers.

"I'll be back later, Spike! Hold down the fort for me!" Twilight called from the door as she left thirty minutes later.

Three days, she had three days to make a decision to determine the fate of all of Equestria, whatever the decision would be. This was not light news, so she couldn't go flaunting it around wildly. She needed answers, and what better way to find answers than by finding somepony that would give everything at the drop of a pin for her friends. Rainbow Dash.

She didn't have to waste time looking for the speedy mare, as she was lounging on the only cloud floating high above Ponyville. A few minutes walk led her to be right beneath said cloud.

"Rainbow!" She called confidently. The only reaction was for the puffy expanse to twitch slightly, which gave Twilight a slight frown. "Rainbow Dash!!!" Yet again nothing happened, but she could have swore that she saw a head peek out from the cloud for a split second.

Two can play this game.

"Alright! I'll go tell Spitfire that you didn't want to see her right now. Being your trainer and all, I'd have thought you would have cared more. She was also talking about wing ponies? Whatever that is. Maybe she said she'd make you one. Oh well." She called while walking away slowly.

She was instantly tackled by a speedy blur, one that held absolute fear in those magenta eyes.

"Did she really? Come on Twi, are you serious!" Her voice cracked and changed pitch at the last part, and Twilight couldn't hold her composure. A snicker came past her mouth, then the fit of laughter echoed in Rainbow's face. Now she understood why Spike liked to wake her up this way. It was enjoyable.

"I-I can't b-believe you, I scared R-rainbow Dash!" She said wiping a tear away from her face. "Ahh, can you let me up now?"

The entire time Twilight had been pinned to the ground by two strong hooves on her shoulders, Rainbow took that chance to salvage her reputation.

"Me, scared? I've never been scared of anything, I'm fearless!" She said striking a pose a few feet in the air, narrowly avoiding a cart carrying fresh apples as it was peddled past. Nopony paid the pegasus much attention. Her display did catch a couple angry glares however. Apparently some thought that it was her lack of diligence that caused the storm the other day.

"Dash, I need a question answered. If you'll indulge me." The tom-colt dropped back to the ground sensing her friend's shift in mood, she offered a questioning glance only to be pointed across the road at a bench. She followed her friend at Twilight's insistence and both made their way to the bench, stepping over brambles and puddles. As they lay on it's surface, Twilight took a moment to take in the damaged Ponyville.

A few trees had been ripped from their foundations, SugarCube Corner had sustained heavy damage, and there were more than a few broken windows.

"So what is it?" The cyan pegasus questioned.

Twilight didn't respond for a few minutes, keeping the silence alive while thinking of how to phrase her question. "What would you do for those that you care for?"

"What? I don't understand."

"How far would you go to protect them? If they were in danger, what would you honestly do?" She said, leveling her eyes off at Rainbow.

"That's a pretty serious question, Twi. But...I guess I would do anything, you know? Everytime I see somepony in danger I can't help but try to aid them, somehow. Like when Rarity melted her wings in Cloudsdale. I couldn't not rescue her and the Wonderbolts." She said with a chuckle. "Wait, why would you need to know something like that? Are you alright? That seems like a reeaally specific thing to be asking." She finished while returning the hard stare Twilight was radiating.

"No reason. Just needed to hear it is all."

"If you say so...." She said skeptically. "Are you sure? Wait...is this one of Celestia's tests?"

They stayed in silence for awhile, each in their own thoughts. Rainbow mostly worrying over her friend. While the purple unicorn wondered what could possibly threaten all of them so thoroughly.

"Not quite...." The lavender mare looked around to make sure there were no listening ears in the vicinity. She supposed that she could confide in her friend. "I received a letter from Princess Celestia, this morning actually."

She brought the note out of the saddlebag at her waist. She handed it over, allowing Rainbow to look it over. At first she just stared at the writing in a quizzical manner.

She then turned back to Twilight, asking "What's threatening Equestria? This doesn't make sense."

"I know, and I need to figure out what is going on so that I can prepare." Was all she said.

Rainbow couldn't place a hoof on why her friend's mentor would ask her to do something so important without giving her any details with which to gauge.

I guess I have no choice, I'll agree. Who knows. Maybe it'll be just a test. Twilight thought.

She smiled at her last sentiment, remembering railing on Spike due to his classification of Celestia's task all those months ago. Memories of the library shooting high into the air were vivid in her mind.

They conversed on what this could mean for a short period. And Twilight ensured that she would have Rainbow's silence. After an hour or so, Rainbow was called away by Fluttershy and the CMC. One look back by the blue pegasus and a quick goodbye left her alone. It was almost one in the afternoon now, and she didn't have anything but apprehension in her gut.

Maybe I should talk to Rarity, she might have some advice to relieve all this stress.

Twilight caught herself, she had never needed help to escape pressure, she thrived on it. Why was this different? She shook her head and started to walk solemnly towards her home. Deep in thought.

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"What was that all about...um, if you know...you don't mind?" Muttered a worried pegasus next to Rainbow Dash. They were all headed out to some of the nearby mountains for Fluttershy to gather herbs for medicine, and the CMC had tagged along at the constant begging and gushing of Scootaloo over her idol. At that moment Applebloom had landed in the middle of a pile of pine needles, which stuck to her mane causing her to laugh vigorously. The other fillies were about to follow suit when a stern stare from Rainbow caused some nervous chuckles and cute expressions.

"I-I'm not sure......But Twilight seemed to be kicking her own flank pretty hard." She lied. Already they had converged on one of the worn paths leading up the face of the mountain in a gentle incline. Fluttershy stopped to observe a cluster of red flowers and then returned with a question on her mind.

"What could get her all wound up like that? You don't think it has to do with one of Celestia's assignments...do you?" Her voice carried a darker tone as both of them were taken back to the Twilight of old times.

"What?! No..that couldn't be it.. She didn't seem all..." At that last sentence she rolled her eyes around a few times and clopped her hooves together. Letting a menacing grin spread over her face. Fluttershy squeaked a bit and hid behind her own mane at the scary look and Rainbow laughed and patted her friend on the back.

"I'm sorry, it was so convincing." She whispered past her pink blockade. The CMC promptly caught up and pulled Rainbow away from Fluttershy to settle a dispute on who would win in a fight. A dragon or an Ursa Major. Fluttershy was left alone and then flitted about the roots of a nearby bush. Sticking a few of the clippings in her saddlebags.

I hope she's okay...I would hate for anything bad to happen to Twilight.

At that moment a bird flew to her and began chirping in her ear wildly. Her eyes grew wider and wider while her irises had collapsed to a pinpoint. Her animal friend had just informed her of a wildfire that was breaking out further down the path around a bend in the mountain. The smoke would be hidden and the CMC and the cyan mare had lost themselves in conversation.

"Wait!!! Girls stop!" She screamed in her sing-song voice. They managed to hear her and stop to wait, allowing their argument to stop. "There's a fire on the other side of the mountain!"

At this, Rainbow Dash's ears shot upwards along with her wings, carrying her higher and higher to assess what was happening. On the far side of the mountain, there was a large wall of fire engulfing the green vegetation, along with forcing all of the animals to flee in terror.

Why couldn't that freak storm have been here now? Thought an annoyed pegasus as she began to search for clouds in the sky.

There in the distance were a few of the white masses. She zipped to them and pulled them up over the black smoke drifting off of the growing fire. It didn't seem to be too large at this point, but unchecked could cause quite a bit of damage. She jumped up and down on the top of the converged clouds, causing a small downpour focused on the torrent.

She repeated this process until what little flickers of flame had died to ash. As she landed to assess the damage, beads of sweat rolled off of her head and down into her mane. The sun seemed to be smiling ever harder to chastise the exhausted pony.

While Rainbow had been extinguishing the fire; the CMC and Fluttershy had been trying to save animals that had been trapped by falling timber. The area of damage was less than a couple hundred meters in every direction, so in all it was an effectively contained catastrophe.

Fluttershy soothed the animals with a light song and began to search for her herbs after few minutes. Rainbow however noticed a pile of rocks formed in a circle, the typical fashion for campers. After a few minutes she voiced her concern to the other pegasus in her company, causing her to ask a nearby bird what had happened. After some convincing the bird led them to a pile of fallen trees.

Trapped under one of the fallen brambles was a familiar blue unicorn. After moving all the wood Rainbow let Trixie lie on a patch of dry ground. Soon after, she awoke to her saviors.

"How long has Trixie been out?" She queried, putting a hoof to her head.

"I dunno, did you start that fire, Trixie?" The cyan mare dropped any pretenses. And Trixie held an indignant stare.

"No she did not! It must have gotten...out of hoof." She explained in her grand way of exaggerating with hoof movements. After a quick exchange of questions and answers, the group of five left Trixie, who had apparently been camping outside of Ponyville for the past few months. Even after all their differences had been settled she didn't feel comfortable in town with all those ponies that blamed her for the Ursa Minor attack and resented her more for the showdown between Twilight and herself.

It was a sad sight, and with her meager belongings it didn't seem like she could be doing very well. A small tent that had escaped the blaze, that had seen better days, and her small bag of belongings. Not much else was said on the way back to town, and even the CMC seemed to have been knocked down a notch at that realization.

As Rainbow took the CMC off of Fluttershy's hoofs, she could see the determination in her eyes. "What's up? Why are you staring like that?" She asked while letting her hooves scrape the ground.

"I have to help her, Dash."

"Who? Trixie?"

Fluttershy only nodded, and looked out towards those mountains in the distance. Rainbow shook her head at her friend's kindness, and offered her the best of luck. She knew that there was no way she could talk an assertive Fluttershy out of her goals.

Already the sun had begun to set on a weary Ponyville, and as Rainbow left she could see Fluttershy heading back to the mountains, this time without her saddlebags weighing her down. The chirp of crickets masked hers and the CMC's footsteps, along with the chattering of the tired fillies. One by one they branched off to head home. All until Scootaloo was left in front of her own door, it wasn't a typical cloud home for a pegasus, it was a two story house on the edge of Ponyville.

"Alright, Scoots. I'll see you tomorrow okay?" She said as she prepared to take to the air. All of the sudden a crash emanated from the house followed by yelling and screaming.

Causing the filly to cower into Rainbow, before she asked "Can I just spend the night with you? Please?" The look of pure innocence reminded Rainbow of her foalhood. This wasn't the first time Scootaloo had asked to stay at Rainbow's because her parents were fighting.

It aggravated her because of the fact that nopony should see their parents argue. More than once the streamlined mare had stepped in to rescue Scootaloo from their accusations and squabbling. And both of her parents had come to her separately thanking her, they both loved their daughter, no matter how much fighting they did.

"Yeah, Scoots, yeah. Come on." She said putting a wing over her back.

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"No, no, no, NO!" A marshmallow coated unicorn cried out. This would not do at all. Her latest order had come from one of the upper echelons of Canterlot, and her inspiration had never taken a worse turn. No matter how she placed the cloth, no matter how she stitched the threads, it wouldn't seem to straighten itself out.

I swear, if not for bad luck I wouldn't have any. She thought to herself as she scraped the cloth to the side.

Taking another glance over the specifications and proof drafts, she came up with yet another preliminary sketch. The coloration had to be an aquamarine hue, it had to be of the utmost elegance, and she couldn't settle for Sapphire Shore's new ensemble. So why was it so very hard? She couldn't remember the last time she hadn't felt the artistic drive chaperoning her every move.

As she passed the mannequin she looked out of the large paned glass window adorning the front of her shop. Already night had fallen, forcing her to rub her eyes and realize she had been working on this same project for hours with no respite. The white unicorn felt her stomach rumble and she felt the dryness of her tongue. So she decided to get something to eat.

After gathering the necessary ingredients from the cabinets with magic, she began to hum a light song while crafting at least one thing right today. A small sandwich with no real aesthetic appeal was enough, along with a glass of milk. She didn't feel it had to be a regal meal, so she brought it with her to the main room. Taking a minute to admire the utter chaos her shop had been reduced to. Or in her mind, it was 'controlled' more or less. Piles of fabric lay in sheets next to her design table; while threads, needles, and accessories were naught but ragtag assortments of the inane.

Conjuring a couch to lounge on she gathered energy in her horn. Not much; just enough to levitate all of the clutter. She then began sorting through it with her magic, letting the objects find their places in her drawers and hangers.

I don't have the slightest idea what I would do with myself if I weren't a unicorn. She thought happily, finishing off her meal.

Not long after having that thought there was a brisk knock at the door, followed by an even harder knock at the window. Rarity checked the time and found it to be almost eleven o' clock.

Who could be here at this hour?

Her mental question didn't go long unanswered as she arrived at the door to find an orange coat, emerald green eyes, and a blond mane hidden under an unassuming stetson.

"Oh good afternoon Applejack, dear. What would bring you to my humble abode?" She asked graciously offering her longtime friend into her boutique. Usually nopony dared to come to the boutique after hours, mostly for the fact that the last pony to do so was greeted with an unhappy scowl and less-than-friendly ladylike talking to. Her sign said "Closed" and she had always adhered to that concept.

"Ah dunno how t' say this Rarity, but ah reckon yer the pony to talk to." Right after saying this she paused, letting Rarity situate them a place to rest next to each other on parallel conjured couches.

"Go on." Rarity offered with a slight smile of encouragement.

"There's this stallion........And Ah think he's a mighty fine hand on the farm. And lately when Ah'm around him, Ah can't help t' feel all...." Applejack signified the gesture with a wobbly head and queasy stomach.

"Oh, this is wonderfully excellent news Applejack, darling! I had no idea you were so smitten!" She said in a high pitched squeal, already imagining the wedding and all the plans. With the doves overhead and the bridal flowers soaring through the air....

"Rarity! Wake up, I need yer help!" This effectively snatched her out of the wonderful reverie she was feeling. "I may have t' sell the farm. Or at least part of it..."

"Whatever for?!" She intoned in horror, her hooves pressing hard into her white face.

"Ah can't keep rebuilding the barn every two weeks, and expect to turn a profit. And if Ah don't sell the part of the farm, all the hired help'll have to go home. Along with...him... And he lives so far away, there's no chance Ah'll ever see 'em again." The orange mare said with growing desperation in her voice, no matter how she looked at it, the walls of bleakness were closing in.

Rarity couldn't believe this. This had to be one of the most romance novel-esque situations she could ever hope to find herself in. And here, the unassuming earth pony had found her true love, and was forced to make a decision for the sake of said love.

"I'll help you." Was all she said.

In her mind though she couldn't help but feel slightly jealous of her friend's situation, but another part of her, generosity, kept her true. She grabbed her scarf, led Applejack out of her home, and began conversing with her friend over what they were going to do....
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The next morning Applejack awoke to the smell of fresh apple pancakes sizzling in a pan. Her eyes were barely open and her nose led her down into the kitchen, where Big Mac, Applebloom, and Granny Smith were already wolfing down stacks of the delicious treats. Granny Smith was competing just as well as Big Mac in finishing their's first. Applebloom trailed closely behind.

There at the stove, a familiar white unicorn was fixing some more of the food her friend's stomach was rumbling for. Rarity offered a warm smile and levitated another plate full to the table.

"Thank ya, Rare." Was all that was said before the sounds of chewing exerted it's dominance over the space.

Rarity finished making herself two of the flapjacks and sat down to eat in her ladylike manner. Carefully levitating bite after bite to her mouth, unaware that the Apples had already finished and were eyeing her eating habits like a foreign animal.

"What? Have you never seen a unicorn eat? It's rude to stare, you know." She lashed out when she noticed, and all of the gathered ponies left hurriedly except the orange mare.

"So were ya serious 'bout last night? Do ya really think it'll work?" She asked while checking over her shoulder, keeping her voice hardly louder than a whisper.

"I'm positive, besides, what could go wrong?" Rarity replied hardly containing her excitement....

Later that day the stalls had been set up near Town Hall, multitudes of ponies had shown up to do an impromptu party/fundraiser. Pinkie had went out of her way on this one, making sure that the banners flew high and the music was festive, thanks to a blue maned mare by the name of Vinyl. Rarity was helping distribute the pies that they had commissioned from the pink party pony. Rarity was caught up thinking about last night.

That night they had made several stops right after leaving her boutique. First, they headed to Pinkie's to ask if she could set up a much needed town-wide party. And Rarity explained AJ's conundrum, and Pinkie had offered up the idea of cooking and selling, what else? Pie. After that, they went to Rainbow to see if she would write the event up in the sky. Using the clouds to advertise the event.

Rainbow looked more than happy to oblige, and wished them luck with Applejack's love interest. Which surprised the prim mare. The fact that she wasn't laughing hysterically at the thought of true love seemed odd, but welcome. Next, the pair began to head to Twilight's and caught Fluttershy on the way there towards midnight. After explaining what had happened and what they planned to do, Fluttershy couldn't hide her happiness for the all-of-the sudden shy orange farm pony.

Wait why was Fluttershy out so late anyways? Thought Rarity as she recounted that specific event. Oh, what am I thinking? It's just Fluttershy. She giggled mentally at herself. The beautiful mare sold yet another steaming hot confection, allowing a genuine smile to radiate from her flawless face. The blue colt she had given it to blushed a deep red, and hid behind his black mane. Quickly thanking her and running off after some of his friends.

Then after that, they arrived at Twilight's. Her being the last friend they had yet to tell of the good news. They didn't really need anything from her but the two friends thought it necessary to inform the studious mare. After a few minutes of knocking, the lavender colored unicorn came to the door in a mess. Her hair was splayed all over her head, and along with the disorderly state of the library, it lent the look of a severely stressed pony.

The bags under Twilight's eyes were indicators as well, and she denied that something was indeed wrong.

"No girls, I just...had to study. For Celestia. Reaallly important. So if you don't mind, I'll get back to....you know, studying..." She said while practically shoving them out of the library.

"Well, that was certainly not her."

"Ah agree. Should we press it?"

"...No, she'll tell us in her own time. I hope."

"If you say so, sugarcube." Was all that Applejack answered with.

It was already two in the afternoon and there was no sign of Fluttershy or Twilight. Rarity decided to voice her concerns with her nearby friend Rainbow Dash.

"I know what 'Shy is doing. But as for Twilight, I dunno. Maybe she has her nose in a book, I'll go check... Be right back." Was all that the streamlined mare said before shooting high in the air. Darting of in the direction of the library.

"Wait....what is Fluttershy doing?" Muttered Rarity as she returned to the busy line that hadn't stalled as of yet.

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The wind brushed through Rainbow Dash's hair as she enjoyed the short flight to the tree located towards the south side of town. Her eyes landed on the lack of activity around the usually bustling Ponyville. Almost everypony had to be at that fundraiser, it seemed strange to her that Twilight, the almost unspoken leader of any activity that involved logistics and keeping order, was absent. She banked slightly and dropped gently on the ground. Allowing herself a bit of grace since there wasn't anypony around expecting her to be the "awesomest" pony ever.

She knocked on the door and called "Hey Twi', are you there? We were wondering if you were gonna show up for Applejack's party thing." Rainbow didn't feel the need to hold pretenses, considering it wasn't private knowledge.

The door creaked open slowly, and a mangled Twilight poked her head out. She looked as if she hadn't slept all night, and the way she squinted at the sun spoke of how she had been shut in all day. But it didn't appear as if it were the crazy Twi that had presented itself over a late lesson all those months ago.

But Still.

"Hey, why are you beating yourself up so badly?"

Twilight didn't answer at first, then said "I'm not beating myself up, I just need to figure out what the hay she meant.... The fate of Equestria my flank" The mare attempted at humor. She attempted to smile but her tiredness kept it from realizing any potential. It ended up seeming as a half-baked try to cover an even less flavorful lie.

"You can't do this. First, you come and ask me some question about Equestria, then you shut yourself in all day. If we need to find out what's going on, we need to do it together." She asserted, pushing past Twilight into the scattered wasteland of books. She hadn't seen the library this dirty since she had crashed into it herself. Spike was over in one section attempting to bring some order to the chaos.

"Oh hey, Rainbow." He said before returning to his daunting task.

"Sup, Spike." She deadpanned, trying to keep from slapping her friend across the face. "Ok, why did you want me to keep this a secret?"

"Because...." Was all the librarian said while looking at the floor. Something was obviously eating her. But what the hell was it?

"TWILIGHT!" Was the athletic ponies brisk reply while picking her friend up and pinning her to a wall. "What's wrong!" She yelled, she couldn't stand not being able to help someone in need.

"Do you really want to know?"

"If it was nothing you would have carried your ass out of the house today. So yes, I do." She wasn't used to cursing but she felt it got her point across adequately.

"Fine." Twilight said, finally putting down her emotional facade. "Spike, could you leave us alone for a bit?"

The dragon nodded and stopped arranging books, he quickly slipped out of the front door. Eager to get away from the oppressive loneliness that the library held.

"I didn't want to....."

"What?

"I didn't want....

"Louder!" Rainbow felt herself being taken back to the day she had attempted to train Fluttershy in the art of cheering.

"I didn't want to get you involved!!" She finally yelled.

"That doesn't make sense, what makes you think we wouldn't be there for you? We're you're friends. I wouldn't be the element of loyalty if I was a terrible friend." Rainbow said as she allowed her brightest smile to the teared up unicorn.

But the unicorn was gone, she could tell from the way her eyes were spaced out, along with the tear that had conjured itself on her muzzle.

What could have caused her to react like that?

"Twi'. Twilight come on." She pleaded. Rainbow let her down from her position against the rough wooden wall. The unicorn, however, didn't seem to notice. Dash didn't know what to do with herself, so she grabbed the teared unicorn and began to rock her back and forth in her lap. She had no idea how long she sat there comforting her, but she could see the sunlight waning in a nearby window. The streamlined mare decided that she might as well leave, before she started crying as well.

Just as she made it to the door, she heard "I was sent another letter by the Princess.....It was about....you all. I wish I could tell you, Dash. I just...I just can't..... Please forgive me......" Twilight said as she looked up, the trails of water had made their impression on her fur. Rainbow didn't see the strong independent librarian she had seen since she moved to Ponyville almost two years ago. And it burned itself into her eyes forever.

Rainbow felt numb. She didn't feel the wind or the vapor of the clouds as she passed, nor the salty tears trailing down her face. Nothing felt right anymore. She didn't even know if she had held her sorrow in front of the unicorn, in that moment all she wanted was to hold her close, caressing her mane and ensuring her that it would be alright.

Why?! What the fuck did that letter say?! She thought, now getting angry at Celestia.

Does it matter? Just forget about her.

Of course it matters! I need to be there for her!

...She'll never feel the same, you know

SHUT UP! Dash gritted her teeth and clenched her eyes harder, hoping to escape from the tormenting voice in her head.

If you insist. Her more sinister side said, leaving her alone.

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Twilight lay in the floor for what seemed like hours. She hadn't moved since Dash had set her down. She heard the tears, she knew it had hurt her longtime friend. But it was necessary. So why did it ache so badly? Her very soul felt torn, and she couldn't form thoughts in her head. Spike had tried to come and comfort her when he returned, but gave up eventually.

Finally the purple mare stood on stiffened joints, most of the library had been cleaned. All but the pile she had been lying on. She could smell the food being prepared in the kitchen, but her stomach held no appetite. Twilight walked to the nearest mirror, and realized she had been crying. It was a strange sight, to see herself like this. She decided to go shower, to get her thoughts together....

She stepped out and cast a water drying spell on her coat. She took a brush and began working it through the tangles, slowly straightening everything out. It seemed to have a cumulative effect on her mind. Slowly soothing her with the monotonousness of it.

I have to do this, I have to do this, I have to do this, I have to do this. Twilight, this was all for the best, right? Yes. No time to second guess yourself. For Equestria.

The mare skipped dinner that night, and Spike seemed to understand. Twilight simply let herself lie in bed for the entire night, even when Spike came in and laid down in his basket, she continued to stare at the ceiling. The fact that she hadn't slept since she had received the letter the day before didn't seem to embellish the thought of sleep. Eventually she saw the dawn breaking over one of her windows. And she decided that she might as well sleep through the day. Just to get it over with, she cast a sleep spell on herself. And Twilight felt herself fading into the blackness...

Twilight awoke to the tapping of a hoof on the library door. The grogginess she felt as a side effect of her spell didn't want to liberate itself from her sleepy eyelids. She vaguely remembered something important was supposed to happen, something for Equestria. Oh well, Equestria could wait, she was comfy. She turned her back to the noise and snuggled harder into the sheets. Another tap tap tap, but this time on her window.

Would they not give her a break? She turned over yet again, and this time she placed a pillow over her head. She felt her smile breaking over her as the waves of sleep took hold again. The purple mare felt a breeze emanate from said window, and part of her mind went into an alarm state. Somepony was in her house...But that was for somepony else to solve, she was too deeply lost in her own half dreams.

Twilight felt the hoof on her back, slowly followed by a shaking movement. Something was said, whispered. And soon she felt the shaking stop, and the entity that had haunted her room was leaving.

Wait! Wake up Twilight, you stupid filly! The fate of EQUESTRIA, remember? Come on!

"W-wait." She mumbled in her sleep.

The presence stopped, and she could tell she had gotten it's attention. This time it came and shook her more violently.

"Wake up, Twilight. We need to leave, now. I can't stay much longer. Please."

Finally, the purple mare opened one eyelid and turned over. But all she was faced with was a dark robed pony. The only thing that peeked out was the eyes, it reminded her of Zecora. She didn't answer at all for a moment. The entity took that as her answer and began to leave. It had already flown most of the way out of the window...

"Wait!!!" The unicorn shocked herself into reality. The pony stopped and looked back, Twilight had already hopped out of bed and was at the window. "I'm ready, I'll help Equestria in any way I can..."

"Then follow me, we have much to discuss." Said a pony that promptly removed it's hood.

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Author's Notes are for people with no lives.

Anyways, this was a completely background chapter. To tell what happened in those days, and what everypony is doin' with themselves. And helps with some decisions that are to be made later on etc.

I'm not much for cliffhangers, and I can promise that the next installment will have more answers. Maybe a bit of sexy action sequences, we'll see. I give 'em as I get 'em

-TastyBass

(Oh by the way, you guys who fav'd the story I wanted to thank you all personally but after I realized that there were like, sixty favs in the first day....I kinda gave up, so here's to you guys! Along with those that are watching me, and I especially enjoyed comments. They help me grow.) Have a hoof.

/)(O3O) /)(\ (^.^)(\

(I also make music, you should give me feedback here too VVVV)

http://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialDefPwny2013?feature=mhee