"Come on everypony! We need to finish packing soon or we'll get off schedule! Watch out Derpy, there's a-" CRASH "-tent pole loose..." Twilight was pacing through the camp, carefully checking along her bulleted list.
"Twilight! The Earth Ponies are finished packing, all the greenhouses are ready to move, and the kitchen staff has almost finished."
"Thank you AppleJack." Check Check. "Let me know when the kitchen staff is done."
"Twilight, the spare clothing and funds are packed, as are the Unicorns."
"Thanks Rarity." Check Check. "Would you please go assist Derpy?"
"Yes ma'am." Rarity trotted off to help Derpy get the tent she had been carrying picked up.
"Thanks Rarity. I just don't know what went wrong..."
"You're welcome Derpy. Just make sure you watch for loose objects!"
Derpy turned back to say "okay", and promptly almost got her wing caught in another loose pole.
"Oh Derpy..." The poor girl had been clumsy since birth. Perhaps Twilight could help her with some magic, but she insists that she wants to remain herself. Maybe she's right. Who's to say that she can't be who she wants to be?
"Twilight, after Derpy, all the Pegasi are done, and the weather patrol has cleared the skies for your artificial lights."
"Thank you Rainbow." Check aaaaannnnd check. "Go look in on the kitchen staff. After they finish up, we should be done."'
"Yes ma'am." Quick as a rainbow lightning bolt, Dash was off and back. "The kitchen staff is good to go Twilight."
"Thank you." Check. Twilight walked to the front of the chain of ponies and carts. Her horn started glowing and some small lights lit the whole line. Check. It got a bit stronger, and then more faint as the lights that had been lighting her camp went out. Check. Finally, she took the sight border that stopped her lights from being seen and morphed it to fit around the three rows that made up the group. Check. Now for the final preperation. Twilight amplified her voice magically and called out for silence.
"Most of the ponies here have been with us during a move, and all the ponies here will make it through this one. You know the drill guys. Nopony outside the barrier can see what's inside, but we can see what's outside. Also, as a special surprise for this move, my fellow Unicorns and I put our heads together and we've come up with a way to keep us protected from people walking into the column. Thanks to a power boost from my brother Shining Armor and Lyra Heartstrings, anypony that walks in from the outside will be teleported to the other side instead of seeing us!" A huge cheer went up, forcing Twilight to stop.
"Well that will certainly stop us from having to perform those memory clean-ups Rarity. I always feel bad afterward."
"As do I Regal. Not to mention, it certainly takes alot out of a Unicorn." Rarity had to be carried for over an hour every time she performed the spell, not that she minded not having to walk.
After the crowd calmed down, Twilight continued. "Alright everypony! We've gotta get moving! There's a long day of walking ahead, and the sooner we start, the sooner we reach the first checkpoint. Move out!" With that, she kicked up, spun around, and started walking. Soon after, she saw the rainbow mane of her head scout and general beside her.
"Rainbow, I need you to take a group of pegasi ahead to scout out the way. We're going closer to Celestial City then we've ever gone before, and I need to be sure that we don't run into a a group of Nightmare's unicorns. Our barrier may fool a magic user of normal skill, but her highly trained unicorns would spot us for sure."
"Yes ma'am. I'll take Pegasquad 3, but I think I'll leave Snowflake. He's not the best at stealth."
"Alright. I could use him to carry some of the the equipment anyway."
"I'll go get them and let him know."
"Thank you. Meet us at the first checkpoint." Rainbow Dash flew back to collect the other pegasi. A strong "Yeah!" could be heard in the background, and then Rainbow and 4 others flew off into the night.
***
"Alright everypony! We've reached the first checkpoint! Set up a temporary campsite, and meet at the dining tent in one and a half hours!" A chorus of okay's went up, and the ponies all went to set up the overnight tents.
"Applejack, I need you to make sure we have enough food for the trip. We've five checkpoints to go, and I won't have anypony starving."
"Yes ma'am! But, five more checkpoints? Won't that put us about 40 kilometers from Celestial City?"
"Yes it will Applejack. We've found the elements, we're as strong as we've ever been, and since we aren't going to wait out Winter and train, we're going to have to take the offensive. We'll topple the throne in less than two weeks."
"Now that's what ah like ta hear Twilight! I'll get those greenhouses going! We don;t want anyone weak from hunger when we get there."
"Thank you Applejack." Twilight walked away from the Earth Pony to go meet Rainbow Dash and squad 3.
"Well General Dash? Any trouble?"
"No, ma'am. We saw a small group of Unicorns heading to what looks like the Southwest Corner, but they won't run into us."
"Good. Pegasquad 3, go and help Snowflake set up your tent." The 4 ponies trotted off for their fifth member.
"Rainbow, I'm going for a walk, but I don't want anyone following. I'm going to see if I can feel any magical presence around. I don't want Nightmare Moon sneaking up on us."
"Yes ma'am. What should I tell the guard?"
"Tell them that I'm going to my quarters to recuperate from the strain of the forcefield. Speaking of which." Twilight once again bent the barrier into a large bubble to accommodate the field of ponies, and set up the lighting system.
"Yes ma'am. Let me know when you get back."
"Of course." Twilight went into her tent and stayed for a few moments to keep up appearances, and then donned a black hoodie to blend into the night. She snuck out of the forcefield as she had said she would, but she wasn't going for the reason she had told Rainbow. It wouldn't do to have Rainbow know the real reason she was going for a walk.
"Well hello there Twilight. Long time no see."
"I didn't come here to exchange pleasantries. What do you know?"
"Twilight, Twilight. You're always so rude. Don't you know it's proper manners to beat around the bush a little? Your mother would be ashamed."
"I don't have a mother, you know that. Nightmare Moon made sure of it."
"Yes and you've made it your goal in life to ensure she pays for it, haven't you? Even if means working with someone like me. Tell me, what would your precious Resistance do if they knew that you had made a deal with the embodiment of Chaos? I'm sure they wouldn't exactly be happy..."
"I have to do what I have to do. The Resistance would understand."
"Of course, of course. Anything for their dear Twilight. The fact that you've set yourself up as ruler of themdoesn't even occur to them. Oh sure, you put things to a vote, but let's face it, when it comes down to it, if you really want something, you'll get it."
"Enough of this! Discord, we had a deal! Fulfill your end of the bargain!"
"If you insist Twilight. Nightmare has been distant lately, and just a few nights ago, she told one of her top advisers that she would be leaving soon. Apparently I'm not the only one with a debt to pay."
"What do you mean leaving?"
"Exiting, removing herself, walking away, leaving. What else would I mean?"
"But why would she leave?"
"I don't know. I just know that she's leaving."
"Alright. Anything else?"
"Nope."
"Then I've another question for you. Do you know anything of the Elements of Harmony?"
` "Can't say I do. I try my best to stick with disharmony.
"Okay."
"I'll see you later Twilight. Maybe next time you won't be quite so hostile."
"And maybe next time you won't be quite so infuriating." The draconequus just smiled and disappeared into the night.
Twilight trotted into the forcefield with a powerful feeling of exhaustion. As soon as she reached her tent, she undressed and passed out.