A few days later
Twilight flew for what felt like an hour over Equestria and beyond. During that time, all she could think about was the invitation she had received from Queen Novo. She reached for her saddle bag, grabbed the invitation and read the text to herself one more time:
Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,
Because of the noble efforts of you and your friends, Equestria has finally been freed from the wrath of the mighty Storm King. Me and the rest of my subjects couldn't be anymore thankful. And to show our gratitude, we would like to celebrate our freedom with you and your friends inside our kingdom at the top of Mount Aris. And I also have a very special reward just for you, Princess Twilight. It's a reward that only a pony like you deserves.
See you soon,
Queen Novo
That last sentence in particular was still floating around in her head. What could that special reward be? And why only for her? If she remembered correctly, her friends were just as responsible for saving Equestria as she was. And there was also the fact that she tried to take their magic pearl once. Why would Queen Novo still want to reward her after that? Whatever the reason, Twilight decided to stop thinking about it and continued flying to Mount Aris.
Before she knew it, Twilight was only mere inches away from Mount Aris. She slowed down, descended to the peak of the mountain and landed in front of a gate that was placed between two giant hippogriff statues. A surprised look appeared on her face when she saw what was beyond the gate. The entire kingdom seemed a little bit foggy, all of the trees were almost bare, the houses had cracks in them and most of the ground was littered with piles of rocks. There was no single hippogriff in sight, not even a few guarding the gate. The mountain looked just like it did when she and her friends had arrived there for the first time. Twilight stepped close to the gate, raised her hoof and started knocking on the bars. The sound of her hoof hitting the metal bars echoed throughout the kingdom.
''Hello! Anypony there?!'' Twilight shouted, ''Or anygriff in this case!'' She waited for a few seconds without getting any response. All she heard was her own voice echoing through the mountain.
Suddenly the purple alicorn heard the sound of hoofsteps coming from beyond the gate. She stared into the fog, trying to see where the sound was coming from. A moment later she saw a giant sillouette in the fog. It got bigger and bigger until the sillouette revealed itself to be a blue hippogriff dressed in gold and yellow armor. He carried a giant metal spear with him and walked closer into Twilight's direction. The armored hippogriff eventually reached her and immediatley pointed his giant spear at the alicorn's face through the bars of the gate. He stared at her with a stern look.
''State your business.'' The hippogriff said, keeping the sharp tip of his spear only mere inches away from Twilight's nose.
Twilight gulped nervously and slowy backed away from the tip of the spear, clearly not expecting this kind of welcome.
''I-I am Princess Twilight Sparkle,'' Twilight answered, ''Me and my friends were invited by Queen Novo for your freedom celebration. Remember?'' She reached for her saddle bag and showed the invitation to him.
The hippogriff guard stayed quiet for a moment and looked closer at the piece of paper, ''I see....Very well, you may come in.'' He moved the spear away from Twilight's face and slowly opened the gate for her.
''So um, where is everypo- Uh, everygriff?'' Twilight asked nervously as she walked closer to the hippogriff guard.
''As orders from the queen, you are not allow to ask me any questions.'' The hippogriff guard responded.
''Why not?'' Twilight asked while raising an eyebrow.
''That was a question." The hippogriff responded sternly.
''But why can't I-''
''Stop it.''
''But can't I just-''
''No.''
''I just wanna know why-''
''ENOUGH!'' The hippogriff shouted, causing Twilight to silence herself immediately, ''Now follow me.''
The hippogriff guard walked into the kingdom without looking back. Twilight eventually followed him, choosing not to say another word despite the amount of questions that were going through her head.
The two continued making their way deeper into the eerie and empty kingdom before eventually reaching the entrance of a cave. Twilight recognized the cave almost instantly. She became even more eager to ask questions about what was going on. The word 'why' almost came out of her right before she covered her mouth with her hoof. The hippogriff guard gave her another stern look for a second before walking into the cave. Twilight quickly followed him.
They eventually saw a light at the end of the small dark tunnel after what felt like a full minute of walking. Soon both of them got out and Twilight finally had a chance to see where the hippogriff had taking her. In front of her was the same pond she remembered Pinkie Pie jumping into. The flowing water that came from the hippogriff heads on the left and right side of the pond looked as beautiful as ever.
''She's here!'' The hippogriff guard suddenly announced. He stepped aside so that Twilight could see who he was talking to.
On the other side of the pond, Twilight could see a group of hippogriffs standing around the water. Among them were her friends, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy and Spike, all of whom looked rather upset and angry at Twilight. It began to remind her of a certain unpleasant memory during their last adventure.
''So, you finally came?!''
Twilight knew that voice all too well. She turned her head to the left and there she was, Queen Novo herself, staring at her with anger and resentment filled in her eyes. Twilight began to feel a light sense of fear.
''Queen Novo? What's going on?'' Twilight asked.
''Oh, I think you know exactly what's going on.'' Queen Novo responded.
Twilight suddenly felt her legs being forced together by something. She looked down and saw that her hooves were being chained up by two hippogriff guards who had appeared next to her out of nowhere. Then she felt something heavy above her head. Her pupils looked up at her horn to see it being chained up as well. She tried to use her magic to get them off, but the chains seemed to be completely immune to it for some reason.
''I'm about to give you your special reward.'' Queen Novo said in a cold voice.
''I-I don't understand.'' Twilight said to Queen Novo with panic in her eyes.
''Did you really think I would forget about what you tried to do the last time you showed up?!'' Queen Novo said, looking even angrier than she did the last time when Twilight committed theft, ''You are a thief, Princess Twilight. And thus you shall be punished for it. Guards!''
It took Twilight a second to figure out what that meant, but when she did, she started struggling harder than she's ever done. No matter how much she tried, the chains remained stuck around her hooves while the guards began to carry her to the pond.
''I'm sorry! I only wanted to save Equestria! Please, don't do this!'' Twilight begged to Queen Novo.
Twilight's attention quickly turned to her friends, who were still standing among the other hippogriffs while looking very upset.
''Applejack! Rainbow Dash! Pinkie Pie! Rarity! Fluttershy! Spike! Help me!'' Twilight shouted. Applejack looked down, shook her head and then looked back at Twilight again.
''What were you thinking?! Using us as a distraction just so you could steal their pearl?!'' Applejack exclaimed.
''We were just about to get the hippogriffs on our side, Twilight!'' Pinkie Pie said while looking very hurt, ''Why didn't you just trust us?!''
''I-I was just trying to-''
Before Twilight could finish her sentence, a metal muzzle was put around her mouth, stopping her from saying another word. The next moment her entire body was put in chains by the guards. They picked her up and threw the chained up alicorn in the water. A powerful maelstrom sucked Twilight deep down into the depths of Seaquestria.
The maelstrom stopped as soon as Twilight ended up in an underwater cave. The purple alicorn tried as hard as she could to break free from the chains, but it was no use. She slowly could feel herself drowning while keeping her mouth closed under the muzzle. Her eyes were shut as she tried to hold her breath for as long as her lungs would allow. But it took her less than ten seconds to realize that she just couldn't hold it any longer and was about to accept her fate.
Suddenly Twilight felt a big splash of water hitting her face. Her eyes and mouth opened wide, but instead of water, her lungs were met with fresh air. Twilight quickly catched her breath, having no longer a muzzle around her mouth for some reason, and looked at her surroundings. Much to her surprise, the environment around her had completely changed. All the water around her was gone, the place was completely lit and the cave suddenly seemed to be made out of crystal instead of rocks. Something soft was pressing against her backside. Twilight looked down to see a white mattress under her. It was eventually clear to her that she was back home inside her castle.
''Morning, Twilight.''
Twilight looked next to her and saw Spike standing close to the bed with a wooden bucket in his claws.
''Uhehe, sorry,'' Spike said nervously, ''Too much water?''
''Spike?'' Twilight said, still trying to figure out what was going on, ''W-What happened?''
''You kept shouting 'water water water' over and over again in your sleep,'' Spike explained, ''So I thought you were really really really thirsty. So then I went to get some and....Well, I didn't exactly know how to make you drink it in your sleep. So, I just kinda poured water over you and hoped for the best.'' He ended his sentence with an awkward little smile while a squeeing noise could be heard.
Twilight let out a soft sigh of relief, ''Thank Celestia. It was only a dream.'' She used her magic to dry her mane in a second.
''What exactly were you dreaming about?'' Spike asked her curiously as he placed the wooden bucket next to him, ''Were you stuck with us in a desert again or something?''
''It was nothing, Spike.'' Twilight quickly said, hoping it would make Spike forget about the subject manner.
''Twilight. You can always be honest with me,'' Spike reassured her as he could tell that Twilight was trying to hide something, ''You and I are practically family, right?''
''I know,'' Twilight said before sighing, ''Let's just say that I'm not ready to go to Mount Aris again for the Hippogriff Freedom Celebration.''
''Why not?'' Spike asked.
''Well, last time we were there, Queen Novo and I didn't exactly end on good terms with each other,'' Twilight explained, ''So she probably won't be very happy to see me again.''
''Aw, come on, Twilight,'' Spike said, once again in a reassuring manner, ''You and your friends are the reason Queen novo and the other hippogriffs are allowed to roam free again. She's probably already forgotten about the whole ordeal with the magic pearl.''
''But what if she hasn't?'' Twilight asked.
''Then we'll just explain everything to her,'' Spike answered, ''I'm sure she'll understand.''
''I hope so,'' Twilight said, still sounding a bit unsure, ''Let's just go pack our things before we head to......oh no.'' She turned her attention to the clock that was hanging against the wall on her right. Her eyes widened in shock.
''What is it?'' Spike asked.
''I FORGOT TO PACK MY THINGS YESTERDAY!'' Twilight shouted in a panicky manner before jumping out of bed.
''Twilight, calm down. I already-''
''Oh, what do I do?! What do I do?!'' Twilight said to herself while her hooves were tapping on the floor, ''How am I gonna pack all my things in such a short amount of time?! I haven't even made a list yet! My friends will-''
''Twilight,'' Spike said with a proud smile while covering her mouth with his claw, ''Easy. All that stuff is already taking care of.''
''Wait, really?'' Twilight said, sounding surprised after gently pushing the claw from her mouth.
Spike nodded, ''I was gonna wake you up sooner, but since you were sleeping so peacefully, I thought I might as well just pack everything myself.''
Twilight smiled and embraced the little dragon into a warm hug, ''Spike. You are too kind.''
Spike hugged Twilight back for a few seconds before letting go, ''Hehe, I guess you could say I'm one of a KIND. Get it? Because it's the same word, but with a different meaning.........that was a bad joke.''
Twilight giggled a bit, ''You really are one of a kind, Spike.''
''Aw, shucks.'' Spike said as he rubbed the back of his head.
''I think we better go, our friends are probably already waiting for us in Canterlot.'' Twilight said when checking the clock again.
Twilight exited the bedroom right after Spike jumped on her back. They grabbed their fully packed bags, headed out of the castle and flew to Canterlot.
A group of royal guards had already strapped themselves to the golden carriages and were waiting patiently for the arrival of the Princess of Friendship in front of the Canterlot Castle. Behind the armored ponies, Twilight's friends were all waiting for her as well.
''I hope that Twilight will get here soon,'' Pinkie said eagerly while bouncing around her friends, ''Those seashell necklaces for Princess Skystar aren't gonna make themselves, you know! Eeee, it's gonna be so much fun!''
''I can't wait to finally see the Hippogriff Kingdom in all of its real glory, now that the Storm King is gone,'' Rarity said, ''I bet their houses are going to look simply divine.''
''And I can't wait to meet those adorable little babygriffs again. They're just so cute.'' Fluttershy said.
''Has anypony seen Twilight yet?'' Rainbow Dash said as she was looking around the sky.
''It certainly is not like Twilight to be late for such an important occasion.'' Rarity said worriedly.
''Rarity, she's only a few minutes late.'' Applejack said.
''And that's already way too long by Twilight Sparkle standards.'' Rarity said back.
''No kidding,'' Rainbow Dash added, ''Being thirty seconds too late is enough to freak her out.''
''Oh dear,'' Fluttershy said, shuddering at the thought of it, ''I hope she's doing alright''
''Come on, Rainbow Dash. That's an exaggeration.'' Applejack said to the rainbow maned pegasus.
''Well, it's true,'' Rainbow Dash responded with a shrug, ''Remember how she reacted when she couldn't write a friendship letter to Princess Celestia on time?''
''Of course I remember. But that was years ago, I'm pretty sure she's past that.'' Applejack explained.
''And if she's not?'' Rainbow Dash asked.
''Then we'll just have to reassure that everything's fine, like we always do!'' Pinkie answered while still bouncing all over the place.
''Hi, everypony!''
Spike's voice was coming from behind them. They turned around, looked up and saw Twilight, along with Spike riding on her back, descending down to the ground.
''Hello Twilight!'' Her friends all said at the same time.
''Wow, you actually managed to keep your cool about being a few minutes late. I'm impressed.'' Rainbow Dash said.
''Told ya it was an exaggeration.'' Applejack said quietly while giving Rainbow Dash a smug look.
Rainbow gave Applejack a playful eye roll, ''Point taken.''
''Sorry that we're a bit late.'' Twilight said nervously after she had landed close to her friends, ''I kinda overslept.''
''You overslept?'' Rainbow Dash said to Twilight, ''That's new.''
''Hey, that's okay,'' Pinkie Pie said after she finally stopped bouncing all over the place, ''Sometimes I oversleep too. I mean, how could I not when all my dreams are about sweets, and chocolate rain, and spicy cupcakes, and party string monsters, and even-''
Applejack rolled her eyes at Pinkie as she kept going on and on about the many more absurd things in her dreams.
''I think she gets it, Pinkie.'' Rainbow Dash said with a playful grin while she covered Pinkie's mouth with her hoof. The pink pony muffled the rest of her words through the light blue hoof.
''Twilight, darling,'' Rarity said when she noticed a familiar expression on the purple pony's face, ''I can see something's bothering you. What is it?''
''Just tell them, Twilight.'' Spike said to her with a reassuring look.
Twilight sighed deeply, ''.....I'm nervous about going to the Hippogriff Freedom Celebration.''
''Aw, that's okay,'' Fluttershy said, ''Sometimes parties make me nervous too. Trust me, it can be very chaotic.''
''That's not exactly what I meant.'' Twilight responded.
''Then what is it?'' Rainbow Dash asked, still covering Pinkie's mouth with her hoof.
''Last time we were at Mount Aris, I tried to steal Queen Novo's magic pearl,'' Twilight explained with a desperate look, ''How is she going to react if she sees me again?''
''Aw, come now, Twi,'' Applejack said, ''It's been a few days since then, I'm sure she's already forgiving ya for that.''
''And besides, we helped them get rid of the Storm King,'' Rarity added, ''She's probably already forgotten about the whole ordeal.''
''Told ya.'' Spike said to Twilight with a playful smirk.
''How do you all know for sure?!'' Twilight suddenly shouted, sounding a bit frustrated, ''Did you forget what she said to us right before we got banished from their underwater home?!''
''Whoa whoa, Twilight. Cool your jets.'' Rainbow Dash said.
Twilight quickly calmed herself down and sighed again, ''I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I just....''
Applejack slowly walked up to Twilight, ''Twi, ya really gotta quit being so hard on yourself,'' She talked to her in a calm and comforting tone, ''We all make mistakes sometimes. Ya just gotta learn to stop looking back, and learn to look at what's ahead.''
''Like me!'' Pinkie Pie said after Rainbow Dash had finally moved her hoof away from the pink pony's mouth.
''I see what you mean, but...'' Twilight said.
''No buts, Twilight!'' Rainbow Dash exclaimed, ''If she for whatever reason still hasn't forgiven you, then we'll just have to help her understand.''
''We know that you had good intentions, Twilight. And I believe that's what matters most.'' Fluttershy explained in her usual calm and friendly tone.
"Thank you." Twilight said, finally showing a little smile on her face. The words from her friends made her feel a lot less worried. Although, she still was feeling a level of uncertainy about the situation.
Suddenly the sound of the royal trumpets could be heard. Twilight and her friends all looked over to the castle's entrance at the same time and saw Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, walking over a long red carpet while two lines of royal guards kept playing on their trumpets for a few more seconds.
''Is everypony ready to go to Mount Aris?'' Celestia asked as she and Luna approached Twilight and her friends.
''Ready as a pony can be, your highnesses.'' Applejack answered proudly.
''Me too!'' Pinkie Pie shouted, ''Skystar's gonna LOOOOVE the seashell necklaces I'm gonna make for her! And then we'll become besties forever!''
Celestia showed a warm smile on her face, ''It's good to see that you're all excited for this wonderous event. Now, anypony without wings, step onto your golden carriages. It's gonna be a long flight.''
''And this time we'll make sure to bring some royal guards along,'' Luna added, ''Turns out that giving them all a vacation during the Friendship Festival a few days ago wasn't exactly a good idea.''
''I know, sister,'' Celestia said, ''But you know what they say, you can always learn and improve from your mistakes.''
''Hey, girls,'' Spike said right before everypony was about to step onto their carriage, ''Something just occurred to me......Where's Tempest? Or Fizzlepop Berrytwist to be exact.''
''I'm not sure,'' Twilight answered, ''I haven't seen her since the Friendship Festival.''
''And what about Captain Celaeno and her pirate crew?'' Rainbow Dash asked.
''Or Capper?'' Rarity added.
''Or those poor missguided storm creatures.'' Fluttershy said.
''Missguided?'' Applejack said to Fluttershy with a confused look.
''During our fight in Canterlot, I managed to get through to one of them,'' Fluttershy explaind, ''They're actually not so bad once you get to know them.''
''Well, that would have been nice to know beforehoof.'' Rainbow Dash said in a sarcastic manner.
''Oh oh oh, I know where they all are!'' Pinkie Pie suddenly said, ''Well, only most of them to be exact.''
''Really?! Then by all means, let's hear it.'' Spike said.
''I'll let you hear it.....in SONG!'' Pinkie Pie shouted happily as music equipment appeared out of nowhere. Music boxes stood behind her, she had put on her sunglasses, a cool looking cap and held a microphone with her mane as the finishing touch.
''Uh, Pinkie. You really don't have to-''
Before Twilight could even finish her sentence, the music was already coming out of the music boxes at max volume. Pinkie Pie already started dancing to the beat while holding a microphone with part of her mane. The music boxes started playing what sounded like rap music.
🎵Do you wish to know where Capper, Tempest and the Storm Guards could be?!🎵
🎵Then sit back and listen to the pink super duper uber party pony named Pinkie!🎵
Pinkie started spinning around like a tornado for a quick second and was suddenly dressed in a pirate outfit. She soon started rapping with a pirate like accent.
🎵Captain Celaeno, most heroic pirate of the land🎵
🎵What she and her crew are doing, you'll quickly understand🎵
🎵After the Festival had ended, Celaeno and her friends were about to flee🎵
🎵But before that she told me: 'Yo ho yo ho, it's a pirate's life for me'🎵
🎵Off she went with her crew on her new ship over the seas🎵
🎵Sailing from the docks as she turned the steering wheel a three hundred and sixty degrees🎵
Pinkie did another spin and this time dressed into a cat suit that made her look just like Capper.
🎵Now the sneaky cool cat Capper, he's quite a mystery🎵
🎵He headed back to Klugetown, where he wanted to make history🎵
🎵He took with him nothing more than a fabulous magician suit🎵
🎵One made by a generous Rarity, with a purple feather on his hat to boot🎵
Pinkie spun around once again and suddenly wore the exact same mask as the Storm King's guards on her face.
🎵Now where those storm guards went, even Pinkie doesn't really know🎵
🎵The poor missguided creatures seemed like they had nowhere to go🎵
🎵Suddenly they left before I even had the chance to help them out🎵
🎵I tried everything to stop them, even giving them a SHOUT!🎵
🎵The storm guards just ignored me, no matter what I did🎵
🎵It broke my poor little heart and made me cry like a little kid🎵
After her fourth spin, Pinkie made dark armor appear around her body and suddenly had a scar on her right eye.
🎵Now on to Tempest, or Fizzlepop to be exact🎵
🎵Her actions here in Canterlot had left quite the impact🎵
🎵Her final words to me were about finding her own way🎵
🎵Then she left by herself and said: 'I'm gonna be okay'🎵
One final spin made everything around the pink pony disappear, except for the microphone she was still holding with her mane.
🎵And thus we've reached the end of Pinkie's exposition song🎵
🎵It's so catchy and so funky you might hum it all day long🎵
Pinkie put the microphone back inside her mane and started catching her breath after finishing the song.
''Well, that's one way to get exposition across, I guess.'' Applejack said to her friends in a joking manner.
''Is nopony gonna ask where she got all that equipment from?'' Rainbow Dash asked to Twilight.
''She's Pinkie Pie. It's best not to think about it.'' Twilight answered.
''Good point.'' Rainbow Dash replied.
''So in short: Captain Celaeno and her crew are off doing pirate stuff, Capper went back to Klugetown to be a magician, the Storm King's guards left to pony-knows-where, and Fizzlepop Berrytwist went on a journey of self discovery.'' Spike explained.
''Pretty much.'' Pinkie Pie said before showing a bright grin on her face.
''Anyway,'' Luna said, still a bit flabbergasted by Pinkie's song, ''We better leave to Mount Aris now, everypony. The hippogriffs are expecting us to arrive very soon.''
While Twilight's friends were stepping onto the golden carriages, Celestia looked over to the purple alicorn and calmly walked over to her.
"Hey, Twilight." Celestia said.
"Hm?" Twilight said before looking at Celestia, "What is it, Princess Celestia?"
Celestia sighed, ''I just wanted to say that I'm sorry.''
''Sorry for what?'' Twilight asked, suprised that such a sentence came from the royal princess's mouth.
''I'm sorry that I wasn't able to help you when Canterlot was being invaded by the Storm King.'' Celestia answered, looking guilty while her eyes were looking to her side.
''But that wasn't your fault, you were turned to stone. Remember?'' Twilight explained.
''I know, but still...'' Celestia said, still looking guilty, ''I just feel like I should have been there for you.''
Twilight smiled a bit and hugged Celestia's front right leg, ''It's alright, Princess Celestia.''
Celestia smiled back at the purple alicorn, "Thank you. But I just want you to remember that from now on, I'll always be here whenever you need me. Okay?" Twilight nodded in response.
Everypony stepped onto their golden carriages as the royal guards got ready to fly them to Mount Aris. A few seconds later, they all flew up into the air and began their journey to the Hippogriff Kingdom.
"Wow. You weren't joking, Celestia," Spike said as they flew over the outside lands of Equestria, "It really is a long flight.''
''A long and boring flight if you ask me! Can something exciting happen, please!'' Rainbow Dash shouted, loud enough for her voice to be heard through the rough winds in the sky.
''Like what?! Canterlot being taken over again by a big white baboon with a staff and a crown?!'' Applejack remarked from her golden carriage with a playful smirk.
''Well, no! But can it at least be something else besides seeing clouds, clouds and more clouds?!'' Rainbow Dash asked.
''Why not look at some cute little birdies, Rainbow Dash?'' Fluttershy suggested to the bored pegasus, ''That always helps me whenever I'm feeling bored. Oh, look. I see some.'' She pointed to a group of small blue birds a few meters to their left.
''Booooooring,'' Rainbow Dash said after observing the blue birds for a few seconds, ''Are we there yet?!''
"There it is!" Pinkie Pie shouted from her golden carriage. She pointed her hoof at some slow moving clouds in the distance, eventually revealing the tall mountain where the hippogriffs live.
''Finally.'' Rainbow Dash said with a sigh of relief.
Celestia and Luna landed on Mount Aris in front of the entrance to the Hippogriff Kingdom, soon followed by Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Twilight, Spike and the royal guards carrying the golden carriages.
''Hm, that's strange,'' Rarity said before hopping out of her carriage, ''Where are all the beautiful party decorations?''
''Maybe we're too early?'' Fluttershy said.
''Is that you, Princess?!'' A voice coming from the entrance shouted in an urgent manner, ''It's me, Sky Beak!''
Before they could make out who the voice belonged to, a hippogriff dressed in yellow armor appeared at the gate. His hopeful look disappeared as soon as he took notice of Pinkie Pie and the others.
''Yup, it is her,'' Pinkie Pie said, thinking that the hippogriff was referring to Twilight, ''The one and only Princess of Friendship!''
Sky Beak sighed in disappointment before looking back at the hippogriffs standing behind him, ''Nevermind, everygriff. It's not her.''
''What?! Yes she is!'' Pinkie Pie said before she suddenly grabbed Twilight with her hooves and placed her in front of the gate, ''Just look at her! Little crown thing, purple mane, wings, horn. What more proof could you possibly need?!''
''Calm down, Pinkie,'' Twilight said with a slightly worried look on her face, ''I don't think he was talking about me.''
''Forgive us for the misunderstanding,'' Sky Beak said, '' But it's pretty much chaos in our kingdom right now.''
"Why?'' Twilight asked.
"You see, it's about Princess Skystar.......she's missing." The hippogriff said somberly.
"Missing?!" Twilight and Pinkie Pie said at the same time.
"Yes, missing. And we cant find her anywhere," Sky Beak answered, "Someone or something must've taken her. There's no other explanation."
''Let us in,'' Celestia said, having heard everything, ''Maybe we can help you.''
''Oh thank you, your highness.'' Sky Beak said before opening the gate, ''Come in.'' Twilight and the others quickly ran into the Hippogriff Kingdom
They made it inside and it was just as Sky Beak had said. Hippogriffs ran and flew around everywhere in a stressed manner, checking every corner and every house in the Hippogriff Kingdom.
"I'm glad you could all come." A familiar regal voice said from behind Pinkie and her friends, ''I need your help.'' They turned around and saw a sad looking Queen Novo walking over to them.
''Queen Novo.'' Twilight said quietly. She watched the queen of the hippogriffs heading her way and could already feel her own heart beating like crazy.
''Can you tell us what happend?'' Celestia asked Queen Novo.
''I have no idea,'' Queen Novo answered in a defeated tone, ''We were just about to get ready for the celebration, then suddenly I couldn't find my daughter anywhere. We've been searching the whole kingdom, including Seaquestria. And found nothing.''
''Did you notice someone or something sneaking into your kingdom?'' Luna asked.
''No. At least not to my knowledge.'' Queen Novo answered.
''You don't suppose the Storm King has something to do with this?'' Fluttershy asked worriedly.
''No way. He got smashed into tiny pieces.'' Spike answered.
''But what about the Storm King's guards?'' Rarity asked, ''Pinkie did say that she has no idea where they went. Do you think maybe they're behind this?''
''I say we go pay those masked hairy monkeys a visit!'' Rainbow Dash said.
''Yeah,'' Applejack said with an unamused look, ''And uh, where do you suppose they are, exactly?''
''Well....Uh, I don't know,'' Rainbow Dash responded with an awkward smile, ''But it shouldn't be too hard, right?''
''I'll order every guard in Canterlot to search for Princess Skystar,'' Celestia explained to Queen Novo, ''We will search every corner of the world if we have to.''
''Oh, thank you,'' Queen Novo said with a relieved smile, ''I can't believe I ever used to think that you ponies were untrustworthy.''
The last sentence from Queen Novo caused Twilight to have a slightly worried look on her face.
''Wait a minute, untrustworthy? What do you mean by that?'' Celestia asked with a surprised look on her face.
Queen Novo glanced over at Twilight for a few seconds, ''It's not important right now, I just want my dear daughter Princess Skystar to come home safe and sound.''
''Never fear! Your friendly neighborhood Pinkie Pie and her friends are here!'' Pinkie Pie said in an overly proud manner as she saluted to the worried looking Queen Novo.
''Hey, that's my line!'' Rainbow Dash said.
''We'll do whatever we can, your majesty Queen Novo,'' Twilight suddenly said determinedly before giving the royal hippogriff a bow, ''And we will not return until we find her. You have my word.''
A genuine smile appeared on Queen Novo's face, ''Thank you, Princess Twilight. You truly have a good heart.''
Queen Novo's words helped ease Twilight's fears about her, but it still wasn't enough to completely convince her that her actions towards the queen of the hippogriffs was repayed. She slowly stood back up again and looked at her friends.
''You heard her, girls. We've gotta find Princess Skystar.'' Twilight announced to her friends.
''Where should we look first?'' Fluttershy asked.
Twilight rubbed her chin for a few seconds and thought to herself before eventually coming up with an idea of where to go.
''Klugetown,'' Twilight answered, ''Maybe we can find Tempest there.''
''Klugetown?! You want us to go back to that horrid and filthy place they dare to call a town?!'' Rarity said with a shocked look.
''You really think Tempest has something to do with this, Twilight?'' Spike asked curiously.
''That's not what I meant, Spike,'' Twilight explained, ''Tempest used to work with the Storm King and his guards. If they are behind this, then maybe she can help us find Skystar.''
''I guess that's our best bet so far.'' Applejack said.
''Then it's settled. Me and my friends will go to Klugetown.'' Twilight announced.
Luna looked over at Celestia, ''It would probably be easier if you, me and the royal guards looked elsewhere, just in case. Princess Skystar could be anywhere.''
Celestia glanced over at Twilight for a second before nodding, ''I suppose you're right.''
''Sounds like it's time for another adventure, everypony!'' Pinkie Pie exclaimed.
''Another adventure?! Count me in!'' Rainbow Dash said excitedly.
''Let's do this, y'all!'' Applejack added.
''We will find Princess Skystar,'' Rarity exclaimed, ''Even if it's the last thing we do!''
''The last thing we do?'' Fluttershy said, looking slightly scared.
''Oh. I don't mean it like that, darling,'' Rarity explained to the yellow pegasus, ''I was just trying to sound heroic.''
''Oh, thank goodness.'' Fluttershy said with a sigh of relief.
''Alright, everypony. Next stop: Klugetown!'' Twilight said determinedly as she spread out her wings, ready to leave Mount Aris.
Celestia walked over to Twilight and placed her hoof on the purple alicorn's shoulder, which got her attention.
''Twilight.....be careful.'' Celestia said with a slightly worried look.
''I will,'' Twilight said before looking over at Queen Novo, ''And I promise you that we won't come back until we find Skystar.'' Queen Novo gave the purple alicorn a hopeful look.
''Good luck, my little ponies!'' Celestia said before she and Luna flew off to Canterlot.
''We're gonna get Princess Skystar back safe and sound, your majesty Queen Novo!'' Pinkie Pie said as she saluted Queen Novo one more time.
''Thank you. I'll stay here with my subjects, perhaps Princess Skystar might come back by herself. You never know.'' Queen Novo explained
Twilight and the rest headed back to the stairs of the mountain, where Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity stepped onto their golden carriage. The royal guards carried the carriages into the air and flew away from the mountain. Spike jumped on Twilight's back and together with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy they left Mount Aris to begin their search for the missing Princess Skystar. Queen Novo watched the ponies leave from the entrance of her kingdom.
''Please be safe, Skystar.'' Queen Novo said to herself right before a small tear rolled down her left cheek.