Some days before the academy reception…
At the Mirrored Library, Mirror Coat was organizing books when he noticed Purple Smoke looking to the Tree of Crisis.
“Don’t you have work to do, Purple Smoke?” he asked, while levitating a pile of books. “I don’t know, Cutie Marks to paint or foals to help?”
“Do I tell you how to organize your library?” Purple Smoke asked back, keeping watching the tree. “No. So, stop bothering me. Can’t you see that I’m waiting for our little tree’s first emergency?”
“Let me guess this straight” Mirror Coat said, finishing putting the books on their respective shelf and then approaching Purple Smoke. “Are you going to wait here, for what may be, in a figurative sense, and eternity, waiting for an emergency to occur?”
“What’s wrong about that?” Purple Smoke asked, turning to Mirror Coat.
“Besides you looking like a vulture waiting for its prey to die, you don’t know how long it will take” he replied. “It might take hours, days, even weeks. You are the General of Talent and your job is more important than sitting here watching for a tree to glow.”
“When you say it like that, then perhaps I should go” Purple Smoke admitted.
When he was about to turn into smoke to get out of the Library, the sphere corresponding to the Enchanted Forest started to glow. Seeing that, Purple Smoke exclaimed:
“Ah, ah! See?! I told you!”
Mirror Coat brought a hoof to his face, while shaking his head, and then went to the edge of Purple Smoke who was very excited.
“Oh, I can’t wait!” he exclaimed. “I just hope is a job for me! That would be perfect.”
“It’s in the Enchanted Forest” Mirror Coat said. “I just hope is not in the academy. The little princesses are about to start their studies there and the last thing they need is trouble happening there, mainly now they now know their roles as Twins of Light and Darkness.”
“Come on, the Enchanted Forest is big and full of conflict” Purple Smoke said. “The kingdoms are all fighting between each other, even with the main ones in peace.”
“So the other alternative may be a conflict that can extend and put in cause the delicate peace we just got?” Mirror Coat said.
“Wow, you really like to put things like that, don’t you?” Purple Smoke asked.
Ignoring the General of Talent’s comment, Mirror Coat passed his hoof over the sphere and then directed its glow to the Observer who projected a map of the Enchanted Forest, with a signal appearing and locating the problem: the area around the Three Great Fairies Preparatory Academy.
“That’s what I was afraid of” Mirror Coat said. “For the looks of it, it’s a danger alert. It would appear dark forces are o the move. Fortunately, it’s not that close, but the threat is real.”
“If only we could possible know from where the threat is coming, we could…” Purple Smoke said, who then noticed Mirror Coat’s look. “And you have a way to do that, don’t you.”
The General of Knowledge gave him one of his rare cynical smiles and so he charged his horn, turning to the tree, while saying:
“I only have to reverse the flow of the energy, just like when you move a clock backwards. The problem is that it’s not very precise, but it can give us an idea of what we’re up against.”
And so a sphere started to glow and, to their shock, it was a dark sphere, that represented one of the realms that had been sealed.
“It can’t be…” Mirror Coat said.
“But, we sealed it!” Purple Smoke exclaimed. “How can this be happening?”
“I don’t know, but it would appear our dear friends had found a way to slip through” Mirror Coat replied. “I just hope Heartbeat’s little habit of crossing to sealed realms is not the cause of this.”
“That may explain why the academy is what appears to be the target” Purple Smoke said. “With the Alliance, this year, it will receive a lot more students, coming also from Stonult and Evermist. It will be like a big concentration of blooming talents… fresh energy they can use to break the seal.”
“We have to report to Golden Paladin and the princess at once. The academy may be the main target, but we have to check if they have already started to attack elsewhere. That’s the perfect job for you, Purple Smoke.”
“Yes, that may be, but what about the academy? We can’t just ignore this.”
“And we won’t” Mirror Coat said. “To signal the academy, it may be because the tree has the perfect candidates to act there. They are the operatives we need.”
“So, let’s not waste any time” Purple Smoke said. “Who are the lucky ones?”
Mirror Coat used his magic on the Observer and so the Cutie Marks of the chosen ones appeared. Seeing that, Purple Smoke said:
“Well, I wouldn’t choose any better.”
In the present…
After the reception, the Cutie Mark Crusaders went to the teachers room, where Scootaloo sat on chair, reclining and putting her hooves over a chair, saying:
“Ah, you know, I think I’ll like being here.”
“Don’t get too comfy” Apple Bloom told her, standing. “Don’t forget we’re here tah do more than jest teach. We have a mission.”
“Apple Bloom is right” Sweetie Belle said, sitting while using her magic to write some music sheets. “Despite our duties to the school, we still have to carry on the mission Purple Smoke and Mirror Coat gave to us.”
A few days ago…
In Manehatten, Bridleway was in awe with the one that was the last session of the last successful musical play starred by Sweetie Belle. She and the rest of the cast came to the stage for the last applauses, thanking them with bows. While doing that, she scanned the area and became disappointed for not seeing the one she wanted to see.
Returning to her dressing room, she was at her vanity mirror, taking out her make-up, while using her robe, when somepony knocked her door. It opened and Apple Bloom and Scootaloo appeared, saying:
“Surprise!”
“Girls!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed, going to hug her friends. “It’s so nice to see you!”
“Well, we got tah know this was yer last show before ya take yer leave ov absence from actin’, so…” Apple Bloom started.
“We thought we could celebrate by going out tonight!” Scootaloo replied. “We can go take a drink and then go for a spin or even for a dance. I know this place here in Manehatten where there is this cute guys…”
“That would be great” Sweetie Belle replied, with a nervous chuckle. “But I’m a little tired, so I don’t think… I can go.”
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo traded a look, sharing the same concern.
“Are ya okay, Sweetie?” the former asked.
“Yes, I am, it’s just…” Sweetie Belle started, trying to find words to use and then sighing. “It’s just this was last performance before my break and I haven’t seen Spike. He hasn’t shown in any of my shows.”
“Well, he is the Dragon King” Scootaloo said.
“Yeah, and he does have a lot ov responsibilities” Apple Bloom added. “Mainly after tha big war. It has pass’d only some weeks since it ended. Even with Ember’s help, Ah’m sure there’s still a lot ov things tah do, mainly after Lord Torch’s death.”
“I know that, but… it doesn’t make it any easy” Sweetie Belle said.
“Come on, sugarcube” Apple Bloom said, while raising her friend’s cheek. “Don’t be like that. Ah’m certain Spike will be able tah get time tah spend together with ya.”
“Yeah, and even he doesn’t, you can always do it yourself by going to the Dragons Lands” Scootaloo said.
“Ah don’t think a place full ov volcanos an’ lava rivers are tha best choice fer romance” Apple Bloom commented.
Hearing her best friends trying to cheer her up caused Sweetie Belle to drop a chuckle and then say:
“Thank you, girls… for everything. I think you just gave me the will to go for a fillies night.”
“That’s tha Sweetie we know and love” Apple Bloom said. “Always looking to the bright side.”
“Just let me get ready, and we can go” Sweetie Belle said.
And, in a wink of an eye, Sweetie Belle just trade her robe for a beautiful dark blue dress.
“Wow, that was quick” Scootaloo said. “I don’t even know Rainbow Dash would be able to change that quick.”
“When you have to change cloths quickly between scenes and you have a sister like mine, you get able to change just like that” Sweetie Belle replied. “Now, let’s go have a great time, girls. I’m certain this will make us shine like no other.”
At that moment, Sweetie Belle’s Cutie Mark started to glow, something that was noticed by her friends.
“Wow, you really meant it” Scootaloo said, motioning to her Cutie Mark.
Seeing that, Sweetie Belle was caught by surprise and exclaimed:
“My Cutie Mark is glowing!”
“An’ it’s not tha only one” Apple Bloom said.
She was right as both hers and Scootaloo’s were also glowing.
“But what is happening?” the latter asked.
“What’s happening is that your services are required” a voice said.
They looked and saw Purple Smoke near the door.
“Purple Smoke!” the three Cutie Mark Crusaders exclaimed.
“What are ya doin’ here?” Apple Bloom asked.
“You’ll soon get to know” he replied. “Up for a fieldtrip?”
The three mares traded a confused look.
Purple Smoke brought them to the Mirrored Library where he and Mirror Coat explained to them the situation.
“So, what you’re saying is that there’s an emergency in the academy, right?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“More like a potential threat, yes” Mirror Coat said. “The Tree of Crisis can’t properly specify, but it does think you are the best candidates for the job.”
“But what are we suppose tah do?” Apple Bloom asked.
“We’re still trying to understand everything, but we’ve been digging some intel” Purple Smoke replied.
Mirror Coat made the images of some ponies appear. Many of them were colts and fillies, but there were also young mares and stallions.
“These ponies have mysteriously disappeared, both in the Pony World and the Enchanted Forest” the General of Knowledge told.
“But… they’re just kids…” Sweetie Belle said. “Why would anypony kidnap them?”
“It’s just a theory, but we believe it has to do with talent” Purple Smoke said. “The foals that were kidnap just got their Cutie Marks and the others were kidnap soon after they have made their dreams come true.”
“An’ ya think we can stop this… talent thief?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Oh, I like that name” Scootaloo said. “Maybe we can use it to talk about this crook.”
“The Tree of Crisis says that” Mirror Coat said. “I like to believe my inventions normally work… having in count my very high success rate. And even if the tree is wrong, I blame Purple Smoke as it is his magic that decides who is selected for the job.”
“Thank you very much, Mirror Coat” Purple Smoke ironized.
“But, if it is happening both in Pony World and the Enchanted Forest, why is the tree calling us to Thicket?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“We don’t know” Mirror Coat said. “Perhaps something important will happen there and your presence there is necessary.”
“But the fact is you have to go there… that is, if you accept the job” Purple Smoke added.
The three friends shared a look and then nodded to each other. Apple Bloom spoke then:
“Well, normally, we jest watch our sisters doin’ things like these, but… ya can count on us all.”
In the present…
“We can’t let them down” Apple Bloom said. “Until now, we’ve been only helpin’ foals findin’ their Cutie Marks, but now we don’t have tah search fer talent, but tah protect it.”
“That’s very cute, Apple Bloom, but we don’t have any clue or lead” Scootaloo said.
“Well, we have this” Sweetie Belle said, putting down the music sheet and making appear an evidence bag where there was a sort of golden powder. “Purple Smoke found it in all the kidnapping scenes. Apparently, it’s some sort of fairy dust.”
“So fairies are involved in this?” Scootaloo asked. “That’s a twist.”
“No, I already asked the headmistresses about it and they told me it is nothing like any fairy dust they have already used or made” Sweetie Belle said. “It looks like we’re at the dark for now.”
“Don’t worry, girls” Apple Bloom said. “We’re goin’ tah figure this out. Remember tha school will be target by tha talent thief an’ we’re at tha perfect position tah scout fer any possible targets. Until then, we have to act normally.”
The twins and Silver Wind were guided by Moonlight and Galena to their rooms, receiving their keys. The older ones left the younger ones to go to their rooms and then they went to theirs. While walking, Midnight was a little sad, as she and Sunny were not in the same room.
“And I was thinking we’re going to be in the same room” Midnight said to her twin.
“Come on, Midnight, we don’t share the same room back home and we still manage to pass all the time together” Sunny said.
“I don’t mind in trading my key with yours” Silver Wind, who was to share the room with Sunny, said. “I’m certain the headmistresses won’t mind.”
“It’s okay” Midnight said, reaching the door of her room. “Perhaps this is a perfect opportunity to make a new friend.”
“That’s the spirit, sis” Sunny said. “Well, we have to go. See you later.”
And Sunny and Silver Wind moved away. Midnight placed the key on the door-lock and turned, opening the room. There was already somepony there. She was a pegasus filly around her age with a pinkish gray coat with a rook as a Cutie Mark, a pale, light grayish arctic blue and light artic bluish gray mane that was arranged with locks with a bow both at the mane and the tip of the tail and moderate scarlet eyes. She was unpacking when she noticed Midnight.
“Oh, hi!” she exclaimed, going to Midnight. “You must be my roommate!”
In an unexpected move, the filly just hugged Midnight, something that both bothered and confused her a little bit. After the hug, the filly said:
“My name is Cozy Glow and I’m certain we’re going to be great friends. Possibly besties.”
“Hi…” Midnight said. “My name is Midnight, Midnight Shine.”
Hearing that, Cozy Glow gasped, bringing her hooves to her open mouth and asked:
“Like in Princess Midnight Shine, daughter of Princess Twilight Sparkle and Prince Blue Sword and younger sister of Prince Star Knight.”
“Yep, that’s me…” Midnight replied, nervously.
“Then we really gonna be great friends!” Cozy Glow exclaimed. “You definitely have to tell me everything about you. You see, I’m from Vanhoover and I’ve hardly got out from there and I would love to know everything about the Light Kingdom.”
Midnight didn’t know what to feel about Cozy Glow. She seemed nice, but there was something off about her she couldn’t explain. However, she probably just needed some time to get used to her.