//------------------------------//
// The Friendship Games and An Offer 
// Story: Long Live The Empress 
// by Mystic Sunrise 
//------------------------------//

"So let me get this straight. You're the reincarnation of some long-ago ruler of the whole planet?" Cadance asked.

The group had retreated to Sugarcube Corner after Discord had been dispatched. No one wanted to think about what had been done to him. Fluttershy still wasn't happy, and neither was Celestia. Luna and the others couldn't have cared less.

Cosmos smirked. "Oh, Cadance. Reincarnation is such a short view of it. I never died in my past life. I simply stopped existing in this dimension and returned to the being I'm a small part of."

Her gaze grew distant. "I never planned to come back. I never thought I had to. But something drew me back, and I'm glad I did. Equus needs a solid kick in the flank now more than ever. And if I have to be the one to do it, then I will."

"And what's that mean?" Applejack asked.

Cosmos shook her head. "This universe. It never should have devolved into this. My friends and I poured our blood sweat and tears into making it a place where all races could live together in harmony." She glared at the girls. "Where the disgusting attitude toward Zecora would have made you shunned by all right-minded beings. I may have been swept up in it, but it should never have been at all."

"What about Emerald?" Spike asked.

She smiled. "My kind has never been that numerous Spike. Most don't even know we exist. And we like to keep it that way."

"Why's that?" Pinkie asked.

Emerald shook her head. "Most see us as freaks or monsters. We still remember the persecutions of the Three Tribes Era by all three tribes."

Cosmos perked up as a thought came to her as she looked at Celestia and Luna. "Speaking which, do either of you know more about it? It never should have degenerated to that level."

Luna shook her head. "Nay. All we spoke to at the time could not remember why the tribes had been at each other's throats for so long."

Celestia nodded. "At one time there were some who could have told you more. But they died long ago."

"Who?" Crystal asked.

Celestia took a deep breath as she looked Cosmos right in the eyes. "Your first Exarchs. They would still have been alive at the time."

Cosmos bit her lips as her tears gathered. "Where are they? What happened to them?"

"We don't know. No one knows where they are buried. None ever saw them again after they left their families." Luna replied. "Till the day the died, the believed in you. Believed you would come back."

She was about to respond when she doubled over, clutching her head. Her Exarchs were at her side immediately. "What is it?" Celestial asked.

"Something's wrong. Very wrong." Cosmos replied.

Everyone looked around in confusion. "But there's nothing going on." Rainbow Dash replied.

Cosmos shook her head. "No here. Not on Equus. But-" Her eyes widened as she stood up. "Girls. I'm sorry to run, but something's come up." 

Igniting her horn she tore a hole in reality before she turned to her Exarchs. "Don't follow me. I'll be back in a little while."

"But-" Orchid tried.

Cosmos shook her head. "You girls haven't been there, and if we all show up together, it'll just make things more complicated."

Their heads drooped. Her own expression softened as she lifted their heads one by one. "Oh, girls. This isn't about you. None of this is about you, but this is something I need to do myself."

"And what about our oath?" Crystal asked. "We're never supposed to leave your side."

Cosmos smiled. "And you never will. No matter what happens, we will always be together. No matter how far apart we are."

That helped a little, but this still didn't feel right.

Her smile dropped as she stepped toward the tear. "I'll be back soon." And she was gone.

***

Twilight Sparkle was backed into a corner. Literally and figuratively. Her teammates from Crystal Prep and Principle Cinch were egging her on to unleash all the magic she had collected in her spectrometer.

The song itself was horrible and so cheesy it wouldn't have felt out of place in a 50's B-movie, but that was beside the point. She would be able to understand magic as she wanted to.  She'd be able to understand everything. What did she care about this world anyway? There was a whole other world out there was magic was seemingly normal.

It would be her ticket to Everton, maybe even a Nobel Prize. It was everything she wanted and. And...

And none of this was right. Twilight knew in her heart that this was all wrong. She shouldn't even be here. She wasn't an athlete and Crystal Prep had others better suited for the academics. None of her teammates liked her, and she swore some of them hated her.

The Canterlot High team on the other hand? They had been nothing friendly to her since she had arrived. Everything the Friendship Games were meant to be. She was still trying to figure Pinkie Pie out, but that could wait. Except for Sunset Shimmer of course, but she was beginning to think that she'd had a point when she had blown up at her earlier.

For the life of her, she knew that she'd been blackmailed into joining the team, Principle Cinch using her acceptance to Everton as leverage, and like an idiot, she had said yes without thinking.

And why was she thinking about all this like this all of a sudden?

"Because you're finally thinking with your heart instead of your head Twilight." Came a voice that commanded attention. Even the Shadowbolts and Principle Cinch stopped all at once like a switch had been thrown.

There was an unmistakable tone of authority in that voice, along with a warmth Twilight only associated with her mom and dad, but so much more in some way.

Opening her eyes, she saw that everyone was looking at someone behind their group. Even the C.H.S. students and staff were looking at something with wide eyes. Twilight followed their gaze. And felt her mouth drop in shock.

If goddesshood could be personified, she was it. Graceful, her every step measured in a way that spoke of confidence and surety, dark lavender clothes covered a body that was shapely in a way that made many of the students blush. On her chest was a magenta star and on her brow was a small crown of silvers with a small gem inset into it.

And her eyes. Oh her eyes. In them danced a warmth and love that all who saw them would remember forever. But behind that danced another sight, one that scared all who saw it. Here was someone who crushed entire universes for fun with one hand, but would make new life arise from the ashes with the other.

But what really threw Twilight for a loop was her face. It was her own, if slightly older. "Bwuh huh?" She stuttered. "Who are you?"

Cosmos smiled. She chose this look on purpose to try and set everyone at ease, only her older appearance signifying her changed outlook. "A friend. Someone who hopes she can help you avoid making a mistake that will haunt you for the rest of your life if you listen to them." She replied, her smile faltering as she pointed at Twilight's team.

And with that, Twilight broke. The look of concern in her eyes, the lack of anger or hatred in her voice, cut through her defenses better than anything could as she felt her tears fall.

Cosmos held her close as she let Twilight let out her tears. And yes this was weird for her too.

"I. I just wanted to understand magic." Twilight sniffed. "I shouldn't even be here. I'm not an athlete or someone who does debates. I'm just, me." She said as her head dropped.

Cosmos lifted her chin. "Twilight, listen to me. Understanding magic is not something to be ashamed of." She lifted her spectrometer. "But this isn't how to do it. It would unleash something this world is not ready for. Not yet at least."

She smirked as she saw she had Twilight's attention as she gestured at her teammates. "Besides, what would these blubbering, incompetent idiots know of magic? At least you're trying."

Despite herself, Twilight couldn't help but chuckle while Crystal Prep glowered, but something else caught her attention. "What do you mean yet?"

Cosmos sighed. "This world hasn't known magic for many, many years. It's not ready." She smiled. "It needs guidance, someone who can sheppard it."

Twilight blinked, fearing what she meant but giddy at the thought all the same. "You mean me?"

She nodded. "You've taken your first steps on that road, you just need someone to guide and help you. The rest will fall into place after that." She smiled at her human friends. "I think they'll be happy to if you'll have them."

Twilight wanted to, she really did, but. "After everything I've done? Sunset Shimmer yelled at me."

Cosmos smirked deviously. "And I will slap her silly if it makes you feel better."

Twilight couldn't help but giggle and grin at the thought while Sunset felt a cold chill run up her spine.

Cosmos softened her look as she looked at the spectrometer. "May I?" 

Twilight nodded. She trusted her, for knowing for as long as she had. Slipping it off her neck she handed it to Cosmos.

Cosmos looked it over. "Let this be your first magic lesson Twilight. Magic like this is very dangerous. If you had used it as they demanded, it would have overwhelmed you, corrupted you."

Just for a split second, Twilight felt something rage within her at being denied. The next it was gone.

Cosmos felt it too as she pressed down on the lid. As it popped open all the magic it had taken floated out and returned to the Humane 6.

Cinch finally found her voice as she watched this. "Now see here. I don't know who you are, but you had no right to do that."

Cosmos gave her a withering glare. "I had every right, you manipulative bitch. What made you think you could use this? What made you think you could control it? Twilight at least is trying. All you care about is winning."

She fell back as she had just been slapped while the Shadowbolts looked on stunned. By this point, all of Canterlot High had gathered around the group. But Cosmos wasn't done. "And that's not counting blackmailing a student into joining the team. How do you think the school board will take that?"

Her hands glowed as a recording device appeared in them and began to playback a certain conversation from a few days earlier. Everyone listened in shock as it played out before another voice spoke up.

"They won't like it. That combined with everything I've seen recently is enough to warrant a serious look at replacing Abacus with someone more qualified."

Everyone turned to see who had spoken. Walking toward them was a woman. Auburn hair framed a face that was one part benevolent and one part furious.

Principle Cinch looked worried. "Super Intindent Faust." She said, trying to sound confident but failing to keep the worry out of her tone.

That got all the student's attention. "The District Super?" Fluttershy squeaked.

"Oh boy. Now we're in trouble." Applejack added.

Cosmos meanwhile wasn't that surprised. That name popped in several universes as someone of importance. None of them on goddess level of course. Tartarus no. Damn her soul to the Warp if she was ever that stupid. If one wanted that they had to go to the multiverse next door. Different name, but it was the same being more or less.

As if sensing her thoughts, Faust turned toward her and offered her a brief nod and a warm smile, one Cosmos returned and stepped back, letting her take charge of what she hoped was to come.

"What do you mean?" Cinch asked.

Faust gave her an unamused look. "Don't play dumb with me Abacus, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Dean Cadance called me after your meeting with her and Shining Armor expressing concern over Miss. Sparkle's behavior."

Twilight let her gaze drop, ashamed of how she had acted then, even though there was no animosity in the Super's words directed at her.

"Then I come to find out about all that's happened since the games began. I admit I've had my doubts about you since Principle Sombra named you as his successor, but your record spoke for itself and all I had were my doubts so I let it lie." Faust continued.

She shook her head her eyes narrowed. "But with all I've seen recently, I regret not saying something sooner. I don't understand all that's going on, but I do know of only one school that is trying to cheat its way to victory."

"Canterlot High?" Indigo Zap said, trying to look innocent, as did her teammates. All but Twilight that is. She didn't bother hiding her shame.

Faust saw it and her gaze softened. "Wrong Miss. Zap. As far as I've seen no one from that school has tried to use the "magic" to win." Her gaze drifted to Rainbow Dash. "In fact Miss. Dash tried to save everyone with it during an event." She smiled. "That is a win for me."

That made Rainbow feel ten feet tall.

Faust turned her gaze back to Twilight. "Miss Sparkle's attempts to study it may have caused everything." Her smile softened. "But she at least owns up to her mistakes and is sorry for them. Am I wrong?"

Twilight shook her head. "No. I am so, so, sorry for everything. I never meant for any of this to happen."

Faust nodded. "You lot on the other hand. It is safe to say your parents will hear about this." She turned to Cinch. "And you best believe that this is going before the next school board meeting." She looked to Twilight and smirked. "I'd ask if you'd like to help with that, but I have the feeling you will be busy."

Twilight smiled sheepishly while inwardly doing a happy dance.

Faust now looked over to Cosmos, who had remained silent this whole time. "And, thank you, whoever you are." Her brows furrowed. "Who, are you?"

Cosmos smiled. "Just a friend that cares." She tapped her chin. "That still leaves the Friendship Games undecided though."

Faust chuckled. "After all this, I think we can call it a tie." She looked at all the students. Unless someone has a better idea?" No one said anything on either side. She smiled. "Then I think we can skip straight to the party."

"Yes!" Pinkie exclaimed from the front row.

Everyone chuckled. Faust turned back to Cosmos who was grinning broadly. "I don't suppose you can stay longer? I don't who, or what you are, but you've helped immensely."

She thought about it for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I can stay awhile."

But her mind wasn't really there at the moment. She could already see where the governments of the world would kill to get their hands on the World Mirror and Equus beyond. Not all of them of course. But enough were so corrupt that they wouldn't care who got hurt just to get it.

Part of her just wanted to obliterate the whole world and start all over again. It wouldn't even be a chore. She wouldn't even have to lift a finger, but she clamped down on her Destroyer Aspect. No matter how much it hurt.

By her True Name, it had been too long since she had just destroyed a world just for the hell of it. She spent so much time making new universes and everything that went with them she barely had time for wanton destruction.

Snort. Time. What did time mean to her? She had existed long before time was even a formless concept and she would be here long after time had ceased to be.

And she was letting her mind wander again. Darn it. This was partly why she manifested in any single universe. It helped to keep her grounded.

***

A little while later the party was in full swing. While Crystal Prep sulked over being defeated, in their eyes, Canterlot High celebrated like it was the last day of school.

Cosmos had gone to find Crystal and her friends as soon as she was able. It was time for her to confront the feelings she'd had for her since the Battle of the Bands. But Crystal beat her to the punch.

Or kiss in this case for as soon as she Cosmos came in range, Crystal had lept into her arms and planted the biggest kiss she could on her. One Cosmos was happy to return. What that meant for their future could wait.

Also as promised, she had slapped Sunset silly for her blow up at Twilight earlier, while also making sure to drum her strength down so it wouldn't maim or kill her.

"I mean really Sunset. Yelling. What made you think that was a good idea?" She had asked.

In her defense, Sunset had apologized profusely after that for the whole incident. Maybe even more so now that Cosmos was showing them what would've happened had she not arrived when she had.

Twilight was aghast at what she would've become, and yet she was drawn to it at the same time. "I would've turned into that?" And then began to blush madly. "Look at what I'm wearing! You can see right up my... meep."

The group chuckled. "Should we worry about that now?" Rarity asked.

Cosmos shook her head. "Not like this now that the impulse for it is gone. Midnight is still in there, but given time you can become her without worrying about what she might do."

Twilight blinked. "What do you mean? I never want to be her. Ever."

She was sore about what she had seen between her and Crystal. Not that she had anything against it of course. Far from it. But she had begone to feel something more than just friendship with Cosmos.

And she had lost her chance before she could even at least try. She did wonder if Cosmos knew about it.

She did in fact know. What she would do about it, and what she even felt from it, was for later as she was still trying to figure it out herself. But now was a time for lessons. "Twilight, magic is not evil in itself. It's how you use it that defines it. Used the right way it can do good in so many ways."

Opening her palms she let her magic coalesce into them. The girls watched in awe as two spheres took shape in them as she settled into lecture mode. "Take these. By themselves, there is enough power here to power this whole planet nonstop for a millennium. Combined for the rest of existence."

Twilight watched in rapt attention. She hadn't seen anything so beautiful in her whole life, and yet she had the feeling that this was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to magic and what it could do.

But Comos's expression darkened. "But that's just one side to this, for this same amount of power has enough juice to destroy this entire galaxy and several others all at the same time."

Everyone was shocked by this, but even then she was glad to see that they still listened. She also noticed that they had gained an audience as many of the students and staff of both schools were standing around them. She didn't mind though. Most looked like they didn't understand what she was saying anyway. A few did and that would help in the long run.

"Aren't you worried about someone misusing it?" Fluttershy asked.

Cosmos shook her head. "Only one being can use it at full power. It would destroy anyone else who tried."

Everyone shared a look. "How do ya know that?" Spike asked.

Cosmos smirked. "Because I'm the only one who can." She saw their confusion. "What? In case you guys missed it, I'm not exactly normal anymore."

"Well. We weren't gonna say anything...." Pinkie replied sheepishly.

She chuckled. "Don't worry. I don't mind. And this is the perfect chance to get this off my chest." She sighed as she looked at Twilight. "You must be wondering why we look so much alike right?" Twilight nodded. "That is because I'm you from Equus."

"Equus?" Principle Celestia asked.

"The name of the planet we come from," Sunset added. "Not very original I know, but we don't know who to blame for it."

Cosmos bit back a retort. It was a stupid name, as was Equestria for that matter. But that was beside the point. "Time for a universal history lesson everyone. When this universe was born, Twilight Sparkle was never meant to exist, at all, and events had been planned to account for that." She sighed as she gained a faraway look.

"When I came here, I rewrote the universe so that I was always Twilight Sparkle. I didn't kill or devour anyone to do so. There wasn't anyone to do it to. I will always be Twilight Sparkle, but I'm so much more than that now. All of my memories are still here, so don't worry about me forgetting anyone here."

That put a stop to further conversation for a time as everyone tried to digest that. It was simple to understand. Now they just had to come to terms with it.

***

Meanwhile, the Mane 10, Spike, and the princesses were beginning to wonder what was taking Cosmos so long. Nothing seemed out of place, so what was taking her so long?

Cadance, while as curious as the rest, was also laying into her aunts, having discovered they had known this was coming and hadn't told her. To say she was upset would be an understatement.

But the ones who were taking the separation the worst were her Exarchs. They were still growing into their new powers. Orchid and Water Lilly, in particular, we're trying not to smash something by accident with their newfound strength.

Finally Crystal threw her hooves up in frustration. "I can't take this anymore! We're never supposed to leave her side. It's the oath we all took."

"Through darkness and light, through good and bad. We pledge ourselves to her. Mind, body, and soul. To walk with her, be there for her. Until time itself is unmade."

Everyone could feel the power behind that oath. It was as binding as any contract, maybe even more so. But the message was clear to them all the same.

Crystal, Emerald, Celestial, Orchid, and Water Lilly's one and only loyalty now was to Cosmos. Whatever others they may have had were gone now.

"But what are wer supposed to do?" Orchid asked. "We've never been there and I don't even know how she did that."

Celestial shook her head. "It was some kind of magic, but not like any I've ever heard of."

Emerald slumped. "We're sunk then. Outside her, you're the only other one who knows magic. I doubt any of us thought to study it."

The girls shook their heads. Celestia sighed seeing this. "I think you're going about this the wrong way."

"How's that?" Water Lilly asked.

"You all share a bond that goes beyond anything we know, and your magic is no longer constrained by the laws we knew." Luna replied.

Everyone blinked in confusion. Celestia chuckled as she settled back into her role as a teacher. "Look deep inside you. That same power she used is within you as well. You just have to find it."

The girls shared a look, but decided to give Celestia the benefit of the doubt. Call it a holdover from their old lives still within them that their ascension hadn't yet erased that they listened to her.

Closing their eyes, they concentrated on their shared bond with Cosmos. Soon they felt her nearby, but behind what seemed like a curtain. But that was easy to fix.

Unnoticed Celestial's horn began to glow an electric blue, wavered for a moment, and then became solid. A light appeared at the tip of her horn and soon detached itself and seemed to rip open a hole in reality.

Opening their eyes, the group looked at in surprise. "Did we do it?" Orchid asked.

"There's only one way to find out," Luna said. "But be wary. Very few have ever been there and come back. We do not know what you will all find there."

Nodding, the girls stood up and carefully stepped through the tears which closed a moment later.

***

"That still leaves us with what to do with the portal." Rarity said after a moment. "Now that both schools know about it."

Twilight nodded. "Principle Cinch won't let it go. She won't talk about it, but she'll still try and steal the magic from it for herself."

Cosmos smiled as she held up a finger point it at the statue. "Let me handle that." And let loose a bolt of magic that went straight into the base. The statue glowed a moment before returning to normal.

"What was that for?" Sunset asked.

"I put a seal on it. Now only certain people or ponies can ever use it and cross the dimensional wall." Cosmos explained. 

"So who does that include?" Fluttershy asked.

She smiled. "Everyone hear of course. I know you girls want to see Equestria. And you can't be the only ones."

"Even me?" Twilight asked. Even now, with everything she had been told and how friendly everyone was being with her, she still remembered what she had seen. She didn't want that.

Cosmos's smile softened. "Yes Twilight even you. No offense Sunset but you're years out of date with magic, and she can only learn so much here."

Sunset grumbled irritably while everyone snickered. Cosmos held up a hand "While we're on the topic of other worlds, I'm also here to invite you, girls, to something a long time coming."

"What's that?" Rainbow asked.

Her smile grew. "Just the biggest party Equus has seen in a very long time."

Pinkie's grin grew another ten inches and she was soon squeeing. "Cosmos chuckled. "I was hoping you'd say that Pinkie."

"Say what?" Applejack asked.

"I was hoping you girls would like to help with the preparations." Cosmos replied. "My pony friends can only do so much themselves, and it would be a great chance for everyone to meet and bond."

Everyone shared a look before breaking into smiles. "Where do we sign up?" Twilight asked.

Cosmos was about to reply when a new voice joined them. "This is so weird."

Both of her eyes began to twitch as everyone turned to look to see who had spoken. Walking toward them was a group of girls that looked about their own age. Four they recognized from the school, but something told them that they weren't. But the fifth stood out with her exotic features, none of which they recognized. But even Rarity could admit to being jealous of her looks.

Cosmos though was annoyed. "I thought I told you to wait for me in Ponyville?" Crystal smirked. "You can get rid of us that easy. Besides you were taking to long so we decided to come to see what's up."

"We're not sure how though," Emerald added.

Cosmos sighed. "It's your Exarch powers beginning to manifest." She chuckled. "A lot soon er than I expected too. But that's a good thing."

"How's that?" Water Lilly asked.

Cosmos snickered. "It took the girls before you a lot longer to grow into their own Exarch powers."

***

Sunset felt her blood run cold as soon as she heard those words, but that was impossible.

***

"Exarch. You mean like in Dungeons and Dragons?" Twilight asked.

Cosmos shrugged. "Close enough. It's more complex than that, but that's a good start." She saw Sunset's face and smirked, deciding to rub the salt in her pride. She still wasn't happy about her remarks from the week before, even if she hadn't known the truth of herself at the time. "Finally clicking Sunny?"

Sunset looked at her shock and mounting horror. "You, you can't be her. Cosmos. She's just-"

"I'm what Sunset? Fiction, myth? Don't disparage what you'll never understand." Cosmos replied with a hint of anger. "I was there when Megan unleashed the Rainbow Light and Midnight Castle fell, I watched the blossoming of Dream Valley and led it into becoming Ponyland." Her gaze dropped. "And then, I left. I thought my time and purpose had been fulfilled. I never planned to come back, I never thought I needed to."

Twilight leaned over to the others. "Does anyone have any idea what's she talking about?" They just shook their heads.

Sunset though put on a brave face, but they could all see it was forced. "Prove it then. Prove you're her."

Cosmos smirked as she removed her crown. "You want proof Sunset. Try and hold it. If you know my story then you know what it is."

She frowned but tried all the same, but as soon as she did a rush of images came to her. She held for only a few seconds but that was enough to know.

When she let go her eyes glazed over in horror as she looked at Cosmos. "The Cosmic Crown. You. You are her."  Right before she fell over unconscious. Luckily Applejack was able to catch her in time before she hit the ground.

Cosmos snickered. "I see she's been watching you Rarity. All that's missing is your fainting couch."

After a moment though she came to and sat up while everyone gave her a concerned look. "Are you alright Sunset?" Fluttershy asked.

"I'm fine Fluttershy Sunset grumbled as she glared at Cosmos. "I just have one question for you then Cosmos."

She only smiled sweetly. "Ask away."

That sent Sunset's anger over the edge as something about it made her explode as she got up right in her face. "Why did come back? You left us ages ago, your precious dream is dead, and the world went to Tartarus."

Her tears began to fall now. "Did you ever care about us? Or did you just keep us around to amuse yourself?" She laid her hands on her shoulders. Tell me. What were we to you, Empress?"

That last word sent their minds reeling. What they hay did Sunset mean by that?

Cosmos just shrugged as she waived off the girls who looked ready to rip Sunset to pieces for daring to talk to her like that and laying a hand on her. "Are you done? I just told you why I left. Yes, I regret it, and that I never took my first Exarchs with me."

"Did they even know?" Celestial asked.

She shook her head as her own tears fell. "No. I left in the middle of the night. I never told even told them. I never gave them a chance to say goodbye." She sniffed. "I miss them."

Rainbow threw her arms up in frustration. "Can someone please explain what the heck you guys are talking about? None of this makes sense."

Cosmos smirked as she dried her tears. "Rainbow. Sense is highly overrated and no fun."

She grumbled as Sunset got her mind on track. "So what? You came back to fix the cesspit you left behind?"

Cosmos glared at her, holding in her own rising anger. "If you want to be blunt about it, yes. Deal with it Sunset. I'm done patronizing you."

That put an end to that, for all could feel she was holding in her temper at the moment, and no one wanted to see it explode.

She shook her head. "But that's beside the point. Are you guys sure? Equus is not like Earth, and this won't be a short vacation. Months, maybe longer."

Everyone shared a look. She had a point. Most of their families now knew about their magic, but they had never really thought about going to Equestria fully. It never seemed likely to happen.

Twilight, on the other hand, wasn't even sure she should be allowed to go. On top of being new to all this, she was still technically  enrolled at Crystal Prep Academy, even though Principle Celestia, Vice Principal Luna, Dean Cadance and Super Intindent Faust were discussing the possibility of letting her transfer to Canterlot High.

And then there was the issue of her parents. Twilight Velvet and Night Light were often away on business, as they were now, leaving her and Shining home alone. It was fine for him since he now lived on his own, but Twilight didn't. So now when they were away she usually stayed in the dorms at Crystal Prep, and as much as she now looked at the school different, she would miss them.

Heck her roommate Moondancer was probably the only other friend outside her family and Cadance she had at the moment. Sure they fought, but they made up afterward.

"Do you need an answer now?" Pinkie Pie asked.

Cosmos shook her head. "Give it some thought, there's no real rush. Celestia and Luna still need to make the announcement about it and some other things need to happen before then." She smiled at Twilight. "Plus it gives us more time to learn more from each other and more about magic."

Now it was Twilight's turn to squee.

***

"So why are we out here again?" Rainbow grumbled.

The Humane 7, now including the recently transferred Twilight Sparkle, Cosmos, and her Exarchs, stood outside the C.H.S. ground just after dawn after Cosmos had dragged them all out here for some reason.

It had been a few days since the end of the Friendship Games and things were beginning to return to normal. Cosmos and the girls had decided to stay awhile now since there was no rush to be back in Equestria. Her Ponyville friends and the princesses knew as well.

Most of the school had gotten used to there being doubles of some students. Crystal, Celestial, Orchid, and Water Lilly had quickly met their own counterparts and to the surprise of quite a few, were already becoming friends.

Emerald did wonder where her own might be, but seeing as how exotic she was here, it made sense that she may not even know about this place.

Cosmos frowned. "There's something out here Rainbow. Something that doesn't belong here, or existing for that matter."

"Like what? Twilight asked. Her magic detector had gone crazy as soon as they had come to this spot. A small circle of stones that no one had known even existed this close to the school before. But someone did apparently for the area was too well maintained to be natural, and whoever it was, they knew their gardening well.

Cosmos smiled as her hands glowed. "Let's find out shall we?" Bending down she plunged her hands into the ground, a moment later pulling them back out. In them was a small intricately carved stone. Whatever it was, it was glowing brightly with some kind of power as Cosmos glared at it.

"What is it?" Emerald asked.

"A Memory Stone." Cosmos replied. "A solidified piece of entropy itself. With this, someone could erase people's memories of everything or just somethings if they wanted too."

Fluttershy gasped. "Who would do something like that?"

Cosmos shrugged. "Someone with a god complex probably and a half baked idea to make themselves feel better, and of course they probably didn't think their plan all the way through."

***

Somewhere, Wallflower Bush sneezed.

***

"So what do ya plan to do with it? Applejack asked as the group returned to the school.

Cosmos smiled. "I'll take it back to Equestria and put it someplace safe, where no one can ever find it."

As they passed the Wondercolt statue though, Cosmos suddenly bent over double, clutching her head as she sucked in a breath.

Everyone was immediately worried. "What is it?" Crystal asked.

Cosmos shook her head as she tried to breath normally. "I. I don't know. I feel like something's calling me." She rubbed her forehead. "Why do I know this? Why-"

Her eyes suddenly opened in shock. "No. It. It can't be. How? They're dead. But why..." She looked at the group. "Girls, I'm sorry to run like this but something's come up."

"What is it?" Rarity asked.

"Something I need to take care of. If you do decide to come, Sunset should be able to get in touch with Princess Celestia and she can smooth over your arrival." She replied as she opened a tear in space time.

"We're leaving now?" Water Lilly asked.

"Yes." Was all Cosmos said as she stepped through the portal and was gone. Her Exarchs got the message and were soon behind her, leaving seven girls behind and very confused as to what had just happened.