"Finally!" Devastator cried out as he reappeared on the school's screen. "I can finally stretch my legs!"
"Devastator, you don't have legs." Ricky said.
"I still can't believe you have a living artificial intelligence." Twilight said. "What, did you base him off your own mind?"
"Not really." Ricky said. "He was originally a virus protection software, but then Discord used his magic to bring it to life... although, it was an accident."
"Discord's magic can animate?" Twilight asked. "Wow, you learn something new every day."
"So, Twilight," Cadance said approaching her, "Sorry Everton turned out to be a fraud."
"That's okay." Twilight said. "I suppose it wasn't right for me anyway. I mean, there's still so much I need to learn; not just education, but also friendship. And I certainly won't be learning that in an independent study program."
"So you're staying at Crystal Prep?"
"Actually, it looks like everyone at this school knows more about it than we do. So..."
"I suppose you can transfer here." Cadance said. "I'll set it up."
"Thank you."
"Hey, everyone." Sunset said calling everyone to the portal.
"Any word from Twilight." Applejack said.
"Actually, yes." Sunset Shimmer replied. "She said she's sorry she couldn't reply, but she was in a crazy adventure."
"What kind of crazy adventure?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I don't know." Sunset said. "Something about Equestria's Discord being kidnapped and they had to go to another world and there were superheroes and time travel involved. It's hard for me too keep track."
"Yeah." Discord said. "Sounds like this chaos saga would have to be split into probably four stories." He then turned to the readers and smiled.
"By the way, I think I figured out how magic works here." Sunset Shimmer said. "You pony up when you are being your truest selves. Can't believe I didn't see it earlier?"
"Me neither." Discord said with a slight grin.
"Hang on." Rainbow Dash said. "Discord, did you know?"
"Of course." Discord said. "Frankly, I'm surprised I'm the only one who figured it out before."
"Don't you realize you could've told me before?" Sunset asked.
"Well, I was going to," Discord replied, "But then you started having self-doubts about yourself. You were thinking that all you do is cause trouble for us. So, to cheer you up, I decided to throw you a bone and let you figure it out yourself. You can't expect other people or ponies to hold your hand and give you your answers when you can just figure it out for yourself."
"You're right." Sunset said. "I've got to learn to be more confident in myself. Can't believe I'm saying this, but thank you, Discord."
"Hey." Scimitar said. "I think I have it figured out."
"Figured what out?" Rarity asked.
"I asked Scimitar to find out what Tartus did to the portal." Sunset said. "What did you find?"
"Well, I'm not as big of a genius as my dad, but I think I have a pretty good idea of what he did. When I tossed a pebble through, it just hit a solid object. But when I tapped it with your journal, Sunset, the portal reacted. I think Tartus rigged it so that only matter not from this world can pass through. To anything else, it might as well be solid."
"Why would he do that?" Fluttershy asked. "It doesn't make any sense."
"I'll tell you why." The Rainbooms looked at Dawna who was holding a bag over her shoulder. "He expects me to follow him. ...And I won't disappoint."
"You?" Discord asked. "Why?"
Dawna sighed and fell silent for a minute. "Okay. It's time you all knew the truth. Abacus Cinch didn't learn magic existed since the Friendship Games. She's known is since the day she and I met."
"What?" Applejack asked.
"So that's why she didn't seem confused when the magic appeared." Sunset said. "But how..."
"I'll explain." Dawna sat on the ground. "You see, I'm from another world like Sunset Shimmer and Tartus. I come from a powerful tribe called the Wandors. We traveled from world to world in an effort to chart and map them. The glyphs on our bodies gave us the magic to create constructs and energy that we used for travel. But that all changed in the worst way.
"My father, the elder of the tribe, had a summons back to our home world. As we arrived, we learned that one of our own wanted us to destroy some worlds we find and harvest their remaining resources. Some people agreed and some opposed. This lead to a civil war that lasted five years. Those who wanted to destroy then then created robots that were too strong for their enemies. My father left to a different world to find a magic bullet."
"I don't think a single magic bullet would be enough." Pinkie Pie said.
"No, Pinkie." Sunset Shimmer said. "A magic bullet is an expression. He was looking for a way to end the war."
"When my father returned, he had a smile on his face." Dawna continued. "He then showed us something he was sure would guarantee our win... the Golden Apple."
"WHAAAAAAT?!" Pinkie Pie gasped. "The same Golden Apple that almost destroyed us?"
"What other Golden Apple is there?" Rainbow Dash asked. "So is Tartus the one who wanted to destroy worlds?"
"I don't know if that's his goal, but he's not the one my father was against." Dawna said. "That was someone else. Anyway, I was against the idea of using something we didn't know anything about, but we didn't have much choice in the matter. My father gathered up the elite to be on the frontlines of one last battle. My father used the apple to remove the magic glyphs from the enemy, so their magic proved to be useless. But no one could have expected what would happen next.
"After the glyphs were removed, a robot managed to fire a beam that shot the Golden Apple out of my father's hands and into mine. But then, the Golden Apple began to glow and vibrate violently."
"Wait a minute." Discord said. "Tartus said the Golden Apple was alive and that harming it would mean destruction."
"Indeed." Dawna said. "First, the light hit me. It sent me to another world. Then, it blew up and destroyed my home world along with some of my tribe. I assume everyone thought I was dead. And from what I gathered, my father escaped and, along with a small group, hid the Apple somewhere they thought no one could find it."
"Well, since Tartus has it, it wasn't hidden enough." Scimitar said.
"So it appears." Dawna resumed. "I also learned that the Golden Apple gave me eternal life. I wandered the worlds for millennia until a few years ago when I found this world. I thought I could make a new home here and forget about my troubles. But I never expected to see another magical visitor here."
"So you knew?" Sunset Shimmer asked. "You knew from the beginning about the magic?"
"Not at first. During the welcome party, I saw the punch start flying and you all trying to cover it up. When it spilled, I told everyone I saw the bowl flip over to help you. I didn't want Cinch to get suspicious."
"So how did she know about the magic in the first place?" Sunset asked. "You said she knew years before the Friendship Games."
"When I started working at Crystal Prep, Principal Cinch was about to get crushed by a shelf being moved, so as a quick impulse, I activated my glyphs and saved her. Afterwards, I told her where I came from and how I saved her. It was fine at first, but then she started to blackmail me. She threatened to tell the world about me if I didn't do some stuff for her."
"Like get me expelled." Discord said.
"Or force me to compete." Twilight said.
"Believe me, the last thing I'd want to do is hurt you." Dawna said. "But I didn't want to be reminded. Every time I think about my old life is simply another reminder that... my world was destroyed and the Wandors are gone... but I'm still here." She then began to tear up. She wiped them off. "But now, Tartus has the apple and is planning something big. I need find him and stop him."
"But what about Crystal Prep?" Twilight asked.
"I've talked it over with the mayor." Dawna said. "Principal Cinch will look over Crystal Prep fairly and under supervision while I'm gone. But when I return, she will resign and promote me to the principal. I look forward to helping the students go straight, but first, I need to stop Tartus."
"But if he is leaving the portal open for you, then you could be walking into a trap." Discord said.
"More than likely," Dawna said, "But the Golden Apple has caused too much suffering. I won't have it hurt anyone else. With my magic, I can navigate through the worlds and try to find him, but I don't know where to start."
"Maybe I can help." Scimitar said. "My dad has been to many worlds, so perhaps I can lead you to where he's been. Maybe I can help retrace his steps and piece together what he's up to."
"You're leaving?" Sunset Shimmer asked.
"He's my father." Scimitar said. "That makes him my responsibility. But it's going to be dangerous."
"Then I'm coming too." Sunset said.
"What?" the Rainbooms gasped.
"Sunset, I thought you changed your mind about leaving." Discord said.
"I'm not leaving indefinitely." Sunset said. "Just until we stop Tartus. We'll return afterward."
"Sunset, I can't ask you to come with us." Scimitar said. "Like I said, it's going to be dangerous."
"Which is why you need as much help as you can get." Sunset Shimmer said. "I used to learn from Princess Celestia. I think that'd make me a valuable asset. And Princess Twilight's a friend of mine. If we ever need her help, she'll trust me."
Scimitar sighed. "I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Don't worry about me." Sunset said. "I've got you, don't I? And once we're done, we can come back here and start over."
"I don't know." Scimitar said. "I've been isolating myself from even my father. I don't know how to be a friend."
Sunset Shimmer made him pause my giving him a peck on his cheek. She then held onto his hand and sang.
"I'm a friend
I'lll help you start
I'll teach you
If you let me in your heart"
"I hear your voice" Scimitar sang,
"So I'll let you in
You are something special"
"Definitely something special" Sunset Shimmer sang.
"Let this quest begiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin" both sang.
"Enough with the fuzzy stuff, you two!" Discord said. "Are you gonna kiss or go on a quest?"
Looking at each other, Scimitar and Sunset nodded their heads. They faced Dawna and awaited their leave. Dawna went through the portal first. Everyone shouted "bye", "see you later", and "good luck" as Scimitar and Sunset Shimmer followed Dawna through until there was no trace of them left in that world.
"Anything can happen
In just a quick snap
And you won't even know
An impossible dream
Is closer than it seems
You just have to goooooooooo
If you capture the now
Well, I give you my vow
YOUR FUTURE'S UNFUUUUUUUUUUUURLED
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN
IN THIS OR ANY WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORLD
IN THIS OR ANY WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORLD
IN THIS OR ANY... WORLD"