Your wish came true.

Galloping as fast as your limbs will allow, you end up outside of Princess Celestia’s throne room. You push through the guards and buck the door open. Celestia’s head twists to face you, filled with shock. “Speedster, you could’ve just knocked.” Forming a smile on her face and giggling slightly, she turns her head back to the window. “Leave him be, guards. It’s fine.” They bow and leave, closing the door behind them. “So Speedster, I assume you have urgent news for me then, yes?”

“Celestia! Luna and somepony called Shadowbolt are planning to take over Equestria!” Celestia’s eyes snap open in awe, cocking her head towards you with a sadistic scowl on her face.

“What did you just say?!” She leaps off of her throne and gallops towards you, staring you down, her eyes still widened with shock

“I-I said that uhm…” You feel hesitant telling her, but deep down you know she must know. After a few deep breaths, you spit it out. “Princess Luna and somepony called Shadowbolt are planning to take over Equestria?”

“Oh no... Oh no!” Her face is in utter disbelief, sweat is starting to form on her brow and she shakes her head menacingly. “This can’t be happening… We banished him!”

“Banished who?”

“Shadowbolt…” She turns her head away, trying not to face you. “We-We banished him, he was our step-brother…” It seems her eyes are starting to swell up with tears, without thinking you bring a hoof around Celestia’s neck and hug her. “Th-Thanks, Speedster…”

You both stand there for a few moments before you break the hug, and turn to Celestia. “Celest, we have to stop them!”

“That we do, but Shadowbolt is far more powerful than me. Who else could possibly face him?”

“Wait, before, didn’t you say that he was the opposite of me, all that time ago?”

“Well yes but, I couldn’t possibly ask you to fight against him and Luna! It’s suicide!”

“Well, if it means saving Equestria from evil… I guess I have no choice.” You stand tall, and bring your head up in braveness, “For Equestria!”

“So, is that it, then?” You ask.

“Speedster, are you sure about this?” Celestia asks you.

“I’m positive, but assuming their army is going to be this big, will we have enough force against them to win?”

“Well, we can only hope we do.” Her voice slowly trails off, “I’ll go inform the royal guards immediately.”

“I’ll go inform the others, I’m sure they’ll help.”

“Speedster, I have to know, are you absolutely sure about this? Nopony could ever beat Shadowbolt before. He is far too powerful.”

“I’m positive, as long as you teach me how to use all of my power, then I’m sure we’ll win.”

“Like I said before, that is a last stand move, if all else fails, okay?”

“Yes, Princess Celestia.”

Flying through the air, you spy Twilights library first. Deciding to descend, she sees you outside of her windows and her door opens. “Hello Speedster, what brings you here?”

“Well, you might want to sit down while I tell you this.”

“What? Why? Is the Princess hurt? Or even worse, one of my friends?” You feel the sorrow in her voice flowing around you. ‘This isn’t going to be easy…’ you think to yourself.

You both sit on a couch inside and she hoofs you a cup of tea. Happily, you take it and set it down on the table. “Twilight, Equestria is in deep, deep danger.”

“But, but how?”

“Well, I don’t know if Celestia told you about her step-brother-“

“Actually, she did.”

“Oh, well he’s back.”

Twilight almost drops her tea as the words leave your mouth, “Oh no…”

“See! That was Princess Celestia’s reaction too!”

“Do you realize, just how powerful Shadowbolt is?”

“Unfortunately, yes…”

“And do you understand what might have to be done…?”

“Yes… And I am prepared to do it.”

Twilights face darkens at you, “And what does Rainbow Dash have to say about this?!” She exclaims.

“Well, I uh… Kind of uhm, haven’t told her yet, hehe…”

“Oh, so you’re just prepared to sacrifice yourself, and not even tell her?! She’s going to marry you for Celestia’s sake!” Her face seems to be filled with rage, while yours, calm, and solemn.

“Twilight, please. If you would allow me to explain?” She starts to tap a hoof on the floor as she waits. “Well… If it wasn’t for Celestia, I would be dead right now, alright? And if it wasn’t for Rainbow, the love of my life, well… I would’ve never been this happy. Twilight, this is the happiest I have ever been, and I owe it all to Celestia, she gave me this, and I’m just glad I had the experience, okay? Rainbow taught me to love again, Celestia helped me want to live again, and I will happily lay down my life for Equestria.” You quickly wipe a tear from under your eye, hoping she didn’t see.

Twilight stopped tapping a few moments ago, but yet it still echoes in your head, going on and on. Eventually you open your eyes and Twilight is looking directly at you, tears in her eyes and her mouth agape. “S-Speedster… That’s so-so… So touching…” She hastily wraps her hooves around you and gives you a big hug, holding you tightly. “H-How are you going to break this to Rainbow Dash?”

“Well, I’m not. The less she knows, the better.”

“I understand, and I promise I shan’t tell her. Is there anything I can do to help you?”

“Well, are you and the others able to help in battle against Luna and Shadowbolt? I don’t want to face them on my own.”

“Consider it done. We’ll be there, whenever and wherever it is.” She brings you in for another hug, holding you even tighter.

Outside of Celestia’s chambers you stand again, waiting to go in, but something seems to be keeping you out inside, maybe the fear of having to leave Dashie? Maybe, just maybe. It could even be the feeling of having to leave Equestria, as it finally dawns on you, that you might have to give up your life, to save everypony else’s… You weakly push open the doors and are greeted by Celestia and a bunch of Royal Guards standing around a table, moving pieces around. “Princess?” You beckon her over with a hoof, she slowly trots over.

“Yes, Speedster?”

“What’s all this about?”

“We’re planning out our battle. Luna and Shadowbolt left the castle and haven’t come back since, so we assume they’re planning an army of ponies and anything else they can use against us to win over Equestria, but we can’t let that happen.”

“So, that’s the strategy over there?”

“Yes, allow me to show you it.” You both quickly trot over and start eyeing up the map, to where it will all be taking place. “Here,” Celestia points a hoof at one side of the map, “Is where we stand, and over here,” Moving her hoof to the other side of the map, she points again. “Is where Luna stands. As you can see, this is going to be a tough war, the battlefield alone has not been used for centuries upon centuries, the only place where battle is permitted.”

“I see, and are these pawns us and them?”

“Yes, these are the royal guards, behind you, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, all wielding the Elements of Harmony. It won’t do much, considering the sheer power of the opposing army, but it should help.”

“What about these ones?” You ask, pointing to some different looking pawns.

“Ah, these are the eagles that decided to side with us, opposing, are the griffins. They’re just as good as each other, but we’re going to need all of the help we can get.”

“I see, so when does this all begin, Princess?”

With her voice, almost as quiet as a mouse, you slightly hear her utter the words; “Noon.”