//------------------------------//
// Starting Out 
// Story: Mane 6 Adventures: The Toras 
// by TPC-2k16 
//------------------------------//

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are both standing out on a balcony overlooking the grand Equestrian city of Canterlot.
It being before that time when Celestia raises the sun as Luna lowers the moon.
Though as before they start to begin their royal duties, one of the royal guards come rushing towards them.
“Your highnesses, urgent news coming from Southern Equestria.”
The two princesses look at each other nervously.
“Go on. What news you bring to us?” Celestia says calmly to him.
“It's... He's back.” 
All that was calm has now left.
“Quickly my sister, we must alert Twilight and the others. If we act now, we can stop him before he does any damage.” Celestia commands her sister to do, then making appear a scroll to write on.
Luna nods her head in agreement, then quickly heads for the balcony's exit before she realizes: “Um... after we raise and lower the sun and the moon?” 
Celestia appears already in tune to writing on the scroll before Luna had spoken to her, realizing too of their duties. “Perhaps it can wait a minute.”


*	*	*


It's a beautiful, sunny day in Ponyville.
Everypony is out and about throughout the town, whether it's shopping for the latest fad in fashion or grabbing a bite to eat.
We see both Lyra Heartstrings and Sweetie Drops (or Bon Bon for short) outside sitting at a table belonging to one of Ponyville’s most fanciest restaurants, both munching on apples. In the nearby alley next to the restaurant, Derpy and Doctor Whooves appear both standing by a big blue telephone booth.
The doctor though looking quite angry, while Derpy just strugs, less worrisome.
All four of them along with the ponies in town though not noticing the small purple dragon on his way to Twilight's castle. 
Spike, trying to run as fast as he can, carrying in his claws a scroll sent to him from Princess Celestia herself, and as always assuming it's for Twilight.
After running (and taking a break every once in awhile) through Ponyville, Spike finally makes it to the Castle of Friendship.
Going in through the big double doors and searching aimlessly all throughout the long, empty hallways of the Castle, Spike finally finds Twilight in the Throne Room, Pinkie Pie and Applejack appearing next to her (cutie marks a glowing), plus the cutie map also being up.
“Oh, uh sorry to bother everypony but it's...” Spike brings the letter out and shows it to Twilight, nodding his head at the scroll in an urgent manner.
“Can it wait for a while longer? We're in the middle of figuring out a potential friendship problem in Fillydelphia.” Twilight answers back to Spike. 
“Uh huh. When our tooshies get a glowing, friendship gets a going.” Pinkie Pie says happily.
“I'll be with you in a minute. Just stay there, okay?”
“Oh alright. Plus, I could use a minute or two of rest," Spike says as he walks over and climbs unto his own throne, “I did run all the way here from Rarity’s.” Spike stretches his arms out and gives a yawn, closing his eyes, still holding onto the scroll.
Twilight gives a slight smile towards him before turning her attention back to the map.
“So like I said before. Why would the map call me and Pinkie Pie? I'm sure there's a reasonable, logical explanation for all of this that includes multiple graphs and such, but I just don't see it.” Applejack asks her question once more.
“Maybe the map sees us both as family. Plus with your honest-to-goodness qualities plus my party planning skills, we make such a great team!” Pinkie says positively to AJ.
“Why, don't really see how all that adds up, but I guess if you're happy then I'm happy.” Applejack says as Pinkie smiles big and bright.
“I know with the both of you two handling this friendship emergency that everything will be okay.” Twilight says confidently to them.
“Well with that said. Me and Pinkie better start packing if we're gonna make the next train to Fillydelphia." Applejack says before heading on out of the throne room, only for Pinkie to somehow magically appear in front of the door leading out.
“No need to worry about that. I always plan emergency packed saddlebags just in case of situations like these.” Pinkie says before opening the door to reveal on the other side two already packed saddlebags. One being orange with a sewed on patch of an apple on it, and the other one pink with sewed on balloon patches and pieces of confetti glued to it.
“Wow Pinkie. I don't even recall you bringing them saddlebags here with ya.”
“You two seem to know what to do next. I wish both of you the best of luck in helping spread the magic of friendship.” Twilight salutes to them both, watching as AJ and Pinkie leave the Castle altogether, saddlebags with them. Pinkie of course bouncing out of the place.
As soon as the front doors closes, Twilight makes her way back to the Throne Room, going to check on what Spike had brought for her.
Still on his throne, Spike appears sleeping on his side, both claws under his head to act as a pillow, the scroll laying on one of the arms' rest.
Twilight quietly casts a spell to turn off the cutie map for now, Spike however would hear this and immediately wake up from his slumber, stretching his arms out a little and giving a yawn.
“So, now that they're both gone, you should probably see this letter from the Princess herself. I just have a bad feeling that it's not good.” Spike says, standing up on his throne and holding out the scroll for Twilight.
“Well, you sure seem super interested in this more than usual.” Twilight says sarcastically, levitating the scroll from Spike’s grip over to her.
“Heh, we all get excited for even the smallest of things.” Spike shrugs, Twilight rolling her eyes with a smile on her face.
Twilight opens up the scroll, going straight to reading it.
Towards the end of the letter, Twilight’s eyes get big, pupils shrinking, as in becoming shocked.
“What... what is it?” Spike asks as in response to Twilight's reaction.
Twilight shakes off her shocked expression, putting the scroll onto the map table. 
“Spike, gather the rest of our friends and meet me at the train station. If they ask why, say..., say Celestia’s counting on us.” Twilight tells Spike what to do before walking out of the room and towards the Library. Spike running up beside her. 
“Like now! Shouldn't we wait until after Pinkie Pie and Applejack return, and-”
“I know, but Celestia wants us immediately," Twilight interrupts Spike, “But to answer you, I'll make sure to write to let them know if they're needed as soon as their friendship mission is over.”
Twilight opens up the Library's doors. “Let's say fifteen minutes. That should be enough time to gather everypony up. I'll be right there at the station.”
Spike nods his head in agreement, soon after running out of the Castle to go and get the rest of their friends.
Why would Celestia want all of Twilight's friends?
Was Equestria in mortal danger? 
Did a mean ol’ baddie from the past return to strike vengeance on the ponies?
Or is it something minor like a filly’s birthday party gone wrong?
Whether or not, Twilight knew that she and her friends can handle anything.
That sort of positive thinking would be needed the most for the journey up ahead.


*	*	*


While on the train ride to Canterlot, Twilight and the rest of her friends, barring Applejack and Pinkie Pie, along with Spike, are all together for whatever reason Celestia needs of them.
“So, what does the princess want with us exactly? All we got out of Spike were, and to be exact, 'Twilight, Celestia, train station, fifteen minutes!!'.” Rainbow Dash asks Twilight, doing somewhat of a good Spike impression.
“I’m... actually not so sure about it myself. But I’m sure whatever it is, it’s urgent.” Twilight answers back to Rainbow.
“As long as it isn’t having to save Equestria from another thousand year old evil being wanting to enact his revenge on ponies. Oh, I wish it isn’t. There’s this new koala at the sanctuary that’s really hurt, and I should keep checking on the poor little thing.” Fluttershy said worryingly.
“Oh I know how you feel. I was busy at work on a very important client’s gala gown before Spike came a calling. I should really finish it by the end of the week.” Rarity said as Spike blushes a little.
“I know you all have things to do, but maybe if we’re lucky, it’s only for one small thing. Maybe.” Twilight says convincingly to her friends.
“Well whatever it is, I’m sure we’ll take it on like we do with all the other baddies from the past! Because we’re awesome and nothing can break our friendship.” Rainbow says as she pulls everyone into a tight hug.
That kind of spirit was just what everyone needed for today.
After they (or Rainbow to be exact) breaks away from the hug, the train stops at their destination.
“Well, here we go.” Twilight tells the others as they all get off the train and towards the Canterlot Castle.


*	*	*


Inside Canterlot Castle's Throne Room, Celestia is shown sitting on her throne, looking the more nervous and awake every time she takes a sip of her coffee held between her hooves. Luna just staying by Celestia’s side, looking boringly at a newspaper she appears to be reading.
“Princess Celestia, Princess Luna," Twilight announces as she and her friends run into the Throne Room, all five of them bowing before them once they get close, “We’ve received word of you needing us for an urgent emergency. Whatever it is, we’re all here now.”
“Yeah,” Rainbow says as she flies up into the air, flying near the princesses, “Whatever baddie it is that may be the threat, you can always trust in the six of us," Rainbow happens to look down at her friends, however also noticing that Spike’s also with the group, “Ah, seven, I should say.”
Below her, Spike bears a smile after hearing of Rainbow include him too.
Twilight walks more closer to the two alicorns. “Well technically five I guess. Pinkie and Applejack are busy on a friendship mission right now to join us.”
After hearing this latest bit of news, Celestia hurls up the gulp of coffee she'd recently taken a swig of.
Noticing this, Twilight asks: “Is everything alright? You two do appear acting a bit... different than usual.”
“Oh I know. I’ve always thought of Celestia as more of a tea drinker.” Rarity says as she walks over to Twilight’s side.
“True. Something does look to be bothering you.” Fluttershy says as walks over by Rarity.
“No no, it’s nothing,” Celestia lowers her coffee mug onto her throne’s armrest, then immediately summoning up an ancient looking book to her side. The book looking old, ragged, and all torned up, “You want to explain?” Celestia asks Luna, looking to her.
“I suppose. You did get to tell it for a thousand years.” Luna says, saying the last part as a joke. Celestia giving a slight smile towards her.
Luna handles the book from her sister’s magical grip, immediately opening it up to a certain page.
Twilight steps up closer to them. “That book is something I’ve never seen before. You probably wouldn’t mind if you let me borrow it... to understand it more?” Twilight asks them, giving them both a cheesy grin. The princesses both giving her a look. Rainbow Dash behind her facehoofing.
“Maybe when all is calm but for now," Luna finds where to start reading, “Ah yes, here we are.”
“More than a thousand years ago, way before even we and all other well known ponies were born, lived a beast. This beast had the head of a dragon, body of a pony, and tail that of a manticore. This beast was known to us as Toras.” Luna looks up from her book out onto the ponies, seeing their reaction of this beast whom she just told about.
Fluttershy already looking to be scared of the beast just from the description of it alone, Rarity being by her side, placing a hoof to comfort her friend.
Rainbow Dash flying up in the air, “pretending” to look brave, though a little scared on the inside.
And Twilight, of course, looking to be thinking heavily of the beast whom she probably just heard about now. What was she thinking? Who knows.
“The Toras wasn’t easy to banish from our lands. Why, it took almost every magical unicorn to create a spell that wouldn’t let the beast come near us. And now it appears that he has found a way to get back into Equestria,” Celestia tells the ponies, “Which is why you are here.”
Rarity walks closer up to the princesses. “And surely how can we stop this beast from so long ago? If we create another spell to keep it out, it’ll just find another way to get back in, won’t it?”
“I’m afraid yes it would," Luna looks towards Celestia then back at the girls, “But we do have a solution that will keep the Toras banished forever.”
“Well, what are you waitin’ for?! Spill! What do you two have in mind to banish this thing once and for all?!” Rainbow Dash says while flying up in the air, doing little karate moves while speaking.
“Oh, well the thing is, you probably won’t like it,” Celestia takes a short glance towards Luna, Luna shaking her head at her sister, “The solution is... to use the Elements of Harmony on the Toras, and banish him once and for all.”
“WHAT!?!”


*	*	*


“Use the elements? But won’t Equestria be in danger if the Tree of Harmony is without them?” Rainbow Dash asks, still shocked from what the princesses had said earlier.
“Well true, but we feel that the tree should have enough magic for itself without the elements' help.” Luna says, answering Rainbow’s question. 
“Yes, but still, the tree is defenseless from whatever evil that wants to destroy it. Who knows how much magic it could have left?” Rarity asks to either one of the princesses.
While all of her friends are busy questioning the princesses' motives, Twilight walks off over to the side, thinking of this situation to herself.
Right as Twilight stops thinking to herself does she happen to look up at the window of her and her friends defeating Discord, realizing that it was them that got through it together. Their friendship overcoming Discord’s game to save the day. 
Twilight thinks for a second before walking back over to the princesses, getting in the middle of her friends, and saying to them all: “Alright we’ll do it. We’ll use the elements.”
All of her friends look at her shocked. Twilight though feeling confident.


*	*	*


The Mane 6 (excluding Applejack and Pinkie Pie) plus Spike now find themselves walking over to the cave that houses the Tree of Harmony. And in it, the elements.
Everypony has been as unusually and equally quiet since they were in the Throne Room.
Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Fluttershy still looking over at Twilight shocked/surprised that she agreed to the princesses’ plan.
Twilight did know of the potential consequences of removing the elements from the tree.
Rainbow Dash would finally break the silence as they all reached the cave’s entrance: “Okay, so you wanna tell us, your friends, what is it you have planned?”
“I suppose so," Twilight said as she soon faces all her friends, “While I do know of the consequences that removing the elements from the tree will do, I also know that they could be the only best option we’ve got in banishing this thing. Once and for all. I know this will be tough, and our friendship may get tested, but I know we can overcome anything as a team.”
Rainbow Dash walks a little closer to Twilight. “Yeah, but what if something were to happen to the elements while using them? This beast could swipe them away from us and destroy them, once and for all.” Rainbow getting up on her hind legs to empathize the last part.
“I do have to agree with Dash here. If something were to happen, the future of Equestria could be in big danger.” Rarity says walking by Rainbow, defending her.
“Um, I have to agree with Rainbow Dash also.” Fluttershy says softly.
“I know your concerns. And to be honest, I feel the same way as you three, but if we can banish this thing once and for all, the future of Equestria will be forever saved. And if say it costs a few hours or days with an element -less tree, then I think we can manage it.”
The three girls still stare at Twilight before huddling together.
“Um, you think I could get a say in all this?” Spike says walking over to Twilight, her just giving a strug back.
A few seconds later the three break from their huddle, Rainbow speaking up for them: “We have all decided... to go with your plan. It may be risky, but as your friends we trust in you.” Rainbow gives a smile, Rarity and Fluttershy doing the same.
Twilight gives a smile back. “Well now that that’s settled, shall we?” She motions her hoof towards the tree, them all soon walking over to it.
When they all reach the tree, staring at its beauty, Twilight casts a spell. Coming from her horn and directly to the exact center of the tree, soon after all the elements release, the red lightning bolt one going over to Rainbow, turning into its usual necklace when it gets close. The same happening to the others when the purple diamond goes to Rarity, the pink butterfly over to Fluttershy.
And lastly the star in the middle of the tree going over to Twilight, becoming its usual crown, planting itself right on Twilight’s head.
The last two, the orange apple and the blue balloon, immediately turns into their usual necklace while in the air, Spike having to hurry and catch both of them as they fall.
“So we have the elements. But what do we do about Applejack and Pinkie? It’s not like we can wait ‘til they get back.” Rarity said after all the elements are formally removed from the tree.
“No need to worry. On the way here, I’ve written and sent a letter to them both. Telling them that after your friendship mission is complete, to take the next train to the farest it will take you to the southern Equestrian border. So yeah, I think we’ll good.” Twilight geekly tells them all, finishing with a snort.
“Give it to Twilight to properly prepare.” Spike whispers to Rarity.
“Anyway, what do we do now?” Fluttershy asks Twilight.
Twilight puts a wingtip to her mouth, thinking. “Hmm. I’ll say we head south. If you wanna go back to Ponyville to grab some things, or say goodbyes to loved ones, then I’m all for it.” Twilight gives a small smile.
The girls all nod their head once before leaving the cave together.


*	*	*


Back in the Castle of Friendship, Twilight can be seen in her room, busy packing her saddlebags that she'll take with her on this mission.
When she finishes packing and places the bags on her back, then walking down the Castle's hallway, Spike, after waiting for so long, immediately comes running up to her, carrying with him a small suitcase, packed heavily to the fullest it can go.
“Twilight... let me... hold up!" Spike pants for air, what from his running.
Spike catches his breath a second later, then saying: “Wait up. I got my stuff all packed, and I’m ready to help beat this thing and save Equestria.” 
Twilight looks down at Spike nervously. “Right, about that,” Twilight sits down on her haunches, motioning a hoof for Spike to do the same, “Listen. I know you want to help, and I’m not bothered by it. But it’s just, while on the train ride here, I was thinking. And well, I think that you should stay here while me and my friends go on our adventure. I hope you understand.”
“Understand? But I’ve been on lots of adventures with you and your friends. What makes this any better than before?” Spike asks Twilight.
“I know you’ve been on many adventures before, but this just feels different. Don’t you see that Celestia and Luna have asked of us to banish this creature. And that we have to take a risk of removing the elements from the Tree of Harmony to help in our fight. I just want to make you feel safe. I know you’re not the little dragon I hatched anymore but still, I just think you should stay home.”
Spike just looks at Twilight for a second before replying: “Oh. Well I better start unpacking my things then.” Spike said sadly, tears dwelling in his eyes but none leaking out yet, getting up off the floor and picking up his suitcase with his claws.
Twilight gets up too. “It’s going to be okay Spike," They both hug for a moment, “Say, maybe Starlight will be around. I know you and her are good friends.” Twilight says to Spike while they're still hugging.
Spike separates from the hug, still looking sad but a little relieved. “Yeah, I'm sure she will.” Spike gives a smile, Twilight giving one back.
“Well, I better go. I’m sure you and the others got this.” Spike says a little more cheerily.
“I’m sure we do.” Twilight replies back with a smile.
And with that Spike would stay home as Twilight wished, Twilight soon after heading out to walk to the train station.


*	*	*


Twilight appears at the train station, saddlebags all ready and packed, seeing in the distance all her other friends.
Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity walking together, each one having saddlebags of their own lying on their backs, all looking to be packed to the fullest.
As soon as they all walk over to Twilight on the station’s platform, Twilight speaks up: “Everypony good and ready?”
“Hmmph. Got everything from mane treatment to hoof care all in this small bag.” Rarity says answering her, showing to them all a small fanny pack.
“I guess so. I asked my friend Treehugger if she could watch the sanctuary while I’m gone.” Fluttershy says for her answer.
“At least you didn’t have to practically beg for Spitfire to let you off of Wonderbolts' practice. I tell you, that mare is really hard to compromise with.” Rainbow says to Fluttershy. “Oh, and I got everything I need too.” Rainbow says answering Twilight's question.
“Well, that’s great to hear. I made sure to pack everything we might need," Twilight opens her saddlebags open, levitating out: “Plenty of parchment to write on," Twilight levitates out about twenty scrolls, all blank, "Along with quills with plenty of ink,” Levitating out next six quills, plus about ten ink pots, “A map of course,” Levitating out a map of Equestria, “Lots of snacks for on the way there,” Levitates out some apples, carrots, and small bottles of apple cider, “Along with spices, for flavor.” Levitates out some spice boxes, “Plus many more! I overpack, I know.” Twilight blushing at what she just said.
“Geez Twilight. How you got all that stuff in your bags is a mystery to all of us,” Rainbow said to Twilight before looking around, “Hey, speaking of overpacking, where’s Spike at?”
“That is true. I didn’t see little Spikey-Wikey here when I first came.” Rarity said too.
Twilight acts nervously a moment before saying: “Why, I asked of him to stay home while we’re gone. To stay safe.”
“Huh. Haven't seen your 'maternal side' in quite some time darling. Not that it’s a bad thing.” Rarity says, causing Twilight to blush a little at the thought of ‘maternal side’.
Just now, the train conductor walks out onto the platform, shouting out to everypony: “All abroad! Last stop, Southern Equestria! All abroad come abroad!”
As everypony walks onto the train’s passenger cars, Twilight says to everyone: “Well guess it’s time. Let’s do this.” All the girls nod their heads in unison.
The start of the adventure starts now.