To say Twilight was exhausted would be selling it short. The Grand Equestria Pony Summit was being held in Canterlot with Twilight and Sunset Shimmer helping to prepare. Celestia insisted the summit go on the show a sense of normalcy during the Equalist threat. While Sunset helped, the work and the free of Starlight Glimmer attacking wore poor Twilight out. Finally, it was time to greet the delegates as Cadence joined the princesses. But, as Celestia talked, Twilight struggled to stay awake.
"Now I'd like to turn things over to the one who organized the summit: Princess Twilight Sparkle." said Celestia.
Twilight stepped forward.
"Thank you, everypony. With delegates from over fifty cities attending the three days of conferences, receptions, and meetings. This is the largest Grand Equestria Pony Summit yet." began Twilight.
"At least she's focusing on something other than Starlight." thought Sunset relieved.
"And let me tell you, putting it all together has led to more than one sleepless nights." continued Twilight.
"If that is the only reason." muttered Sunset concerned.
"We're so excited to have you here and to learn more about this great land of ours." concluded Twilight.
This garnered cheers from the crowd.
"And now my faithful assistant Spike would like to have a few words." noted Twilight.
Twilight stepped back and Spike stepped forward.
"Um, hello, everypony! I'm here to help anyway I can." said Spike, "So if there's anything I can do for any of you..."
"We love you Princess Twilight!" exclaimed Neigh Sayer.
The others began praising the royals.
"I guess everypony loves a princess." sighed Spike.
Sunset put her foreleg on Spike's should and gave him a sympathetic look.
"My name is Sunset Shimmer and I am the marefriend of Princess Twilight. If you need anything these three days, please ask myself or the number one assistant Spike." said Sunset.
"Thanks." whispered Spike grateful.
"No problem." replied Sunset.
Spike returned to the guest room following the opening ceremony. However, a knock came on the door. He answered it to find Cadence and Sunset helping an exhausted Twilight stay on her hooves.
"Spike, we need you!" declared Cadence.
"Of course! What can I do?" asked Spike eagerly.
Spike then noticed how drained Twilight was.
"Whoa, what happened to you?" asked Spike.
"I'm sorry, Spike. I just..." began Twilight.
Twilight was interrupted by a yawn.
"need a quick... nap." answered Twilight.
Twilight began staggering.
"Napkin!" exclaimed Twilight.
Twilight curled up on the floor.
"Tell the delegates I'll..." said Twilight, trailing off.
"She's been awake three days straight preparing for the summit." revealed Cadence.
"Not to mention worrying about Starlight Glimmer." added Sunset.
"We need to make sure she gets some rest today. She'll never be able to attend the welcome reception in this condition." said Cadence.
"It's up to us to make sure she doesn't get disturbed." said Sunset.
Spike nodded his head in agreement.
"You up for it?" asked Sunset.
Spike puffed out his chest and saluted.
"Of course!" declared the baby dragon.
"Spike, pull back the covers." said Sunset.
Spike hopped onto the bed and pulled the covers back. Sunset took Twilight with her magic and placed her in the bed.
"You know what to do." said Sunset.
Spike covered Twilight and carefully got down.
"No problem." shrugged Sunset.
"She's in good hooves." replied Cadence relieved.
Cadence turned and departed.
"Sleep well Twilight." said Sunset softly.
Twilight Sparkle slowly opened her eyelids. The Princess of Friendship didn't know how long she'd been asleep, but she did need it. Twilight sat up in the bed and yawned. The then stretched. However, Twilight was interrupted by screams of terror outside. Twilight jumped up and raced to the window. To her horror, Twilight saw Canterlot under attack by the Equalists and Starlight Glimmer. Twilight jumped out the window and flew down joining the fray.
'Well if it isn't the Princess of Friendship." said Starlight.
Twilight saw the Equalist leader standing alone in the street.
"I don't know how you got in..." began Twilight.
"That was easy. The Royal Guard are a joke and I easily got rid of the Wonderbolts." explained Starlight.
Twilight scowled angrily.
"I'm still going to stop you!" declared Twilight.
Starlight let out a laugh.
"Didn't you stop to ask where the princesses are?" asked Starlight.
The thought hadn't crossed the mind of Twilight until now.
"No." said Twilight horrified.
"Princess Celestia was very tough and it took all I had to beat her. Princess Luna and Princess Cadence where almost the same." said Starlight.
"What have you done to them?!" asked Twilight demanding.
"All in due time." answered Starlight.
Suddenly, a yellow and red unicorn walked next to Starlight. Her colors where faded and she bore an uncanny smile.
"Hello Twilight. You should become our friend." said Sunset.
"Sunset Shimmer!" cried Twilight, heartbroken.
"She was a tough nut to crack, but I got to her." boasted Starlight.
"How could you?" asked Twilight disgusted.
Starlight laughed wickedly.
"Don't be no naive." spat Starlight.
"I won't hurt Sunset." stated Twilight firmly.
Starlight snickered.
"That fine. because she has no problem hurting you." said Starlight.
Sunset Shimmer fired several volleys of magic, but Twilight easily blocked them with her shield.
"Without her cutie mark, Sunset isn't as strong." noted Twilight.
Starlight remained unphased.
"Keep firing." ordered Starlight casually.
Sunset nodded and fired volley after volley, but they couldn't break through the shield.
"Sunset Shimmer! It's me!" cried Twilight.
Sunset continued her barrage.
"Your marefriend! Please remember me!" cried Twilight desperate.
Starlight Glimmer laughed coldly.
"It's useless." said Starlight.
"Maybe, but I have to try!" declared Twilight.
Twilight began walking forward.
"What are you doing?!" asked Starlight amazed.
Twilight got closer and closer.
"Sunset! It's Twilight!" cried out Twilight.
Suddenly, three beams of magic hit the shield breaking it. To the horror of Twilight, the princesses arrived all under the control of Starlight Glimmer.
"No." said Twilight devastated.
"Oh yes." said Starlight.
Starlight laughed.
"Spike." said Twilight hopeful.
Starlight laughed.
"You're find that dragon is nothing but splatter on sidewalk now." laughed Starlight.
Twilight tried to fly off, but Starlight fired a beam of magic which hit Twilight. This sent the Princess of Friendship crashing to the ground.
"You tried to ruin my life work. But, nopony can stop my revolution." said Starlight.
Starlight marched over to Twilight with a sinister grin.
"Goodbye." said Starlight coldly.
Starlight fired a powerful blast of magic at Twilight. Twilight let out a scream. Twilight then up in bed and looked around. She was in the castle tower in the bed. Sunset and Spike raced in.
"Are you okay?" asked Sunset worried.
Spike hoped onto the bed.
"We heard you scream." added Spike worried.
Twilight sighed and flopped onto her back.
"Just a nightmare." answered Twilight flatly.
"Starlight Glimmer." guessed Sunset.
"How did you know?" asked Twilight sarcastically.
"Tell us what happened." requested Starlight.
"The Equalists where attacking Canterlot. Starlight enslaved you and the princesses. She beat me and was going to kill me when I awoke." answered Twilight flatly.
"What about me?" asked Spike.
Twilight winced.
"She killed you." answered Twilight sadly.
"Damn." muttered Spike, taken aback.
"You can't let Starlight Glimmer get to you." said Sunset.
"Too late for that." replied Twilight stoically.
"That will never happen. If the Equalists do attack, then your friends will always be there to help you." said Sunset.
Twilight gave an uncertain glance.
"Promise?" asked Twilight worried.
"Promise." answered Sunset.
Twilight chuckled a bit.
"Yeah. You're right." agreed Twilight.
Twilight sat back up.
"Feel better?" asked Sunset.
Twilight nodded her head.
"Yeah." confirmed Twilight.
Twilight jumped out of bed.
"The summit!" cried Twilight.
"We took care of everything." said Sunset reassuring.
"Yeah. Nothing to freak over."added Spike.
"Oh Thank Celestia." sighed Twilight in relief.
Twilight hopped back onto the bed.
"Anything happen?" asked Twilight curious.
"Just some delegates we had to deal with." answered Sunset.
"We also had a polo game outside and a pony working on the water pipes. Luckily, Sunset knows a spell to soundproof the tower." explained Spike.
"You helped plenty Spike." said Sunset.
"If you weren't here I'd probably go mad with power and cause chaos." replied Spike jokingly.
"Thank you both for all your help." said Twilight.
Twilight let out a yawn.
"I really did need that nap." admitted Twilight.
"That's putting it mildly." said Spike bluntly.
Twilight laughed embarrassed.
"You can met the delegates now that you're well rested." noted Sunset.
Twilight got back off the bed.
"Thank you so much for everything." said Twilight.
Twilight hugged Sunset and Spike.
"Happy to be of service!" declared Spike proudly.
"I'm ready to met the delegates now." said Twilight.
"Let's go." agreed Sunset.
Sunset and Twilight shared a kiss causing Spike to pretend to gag.
"Get a room." joked Spike
"Yeah. Yeah. Yeah." replied Sunset chuckling.
The event went off perfectly. Nothing bad happened at all. There was no damage from the relocated polo game. There was no flooding. There was no dragon sneezing damaging the commemorative statue. Starlight Glimmer returned to her followers after leaving Canterlot. Thanks to her invisibility spell, Starlight had been able to enter Canterlot without being noticed.
"Comrade Glimmer!" exclaimed Double Diamond.
The Equalists came to see their leader return.
"My mission to infiltrate Canterlot was a success!" declared Starlight.
Everypony cheered including a reluctant Party Favor.
"I was able to observe the city and the ponies. Including the palace as well as the princesses." continued Starlight.
Everypony cheered again.
"I have no doubt in our victory!" exclaimed Starlight.
For a third time, the ponies cheered.
"Twilight...I will kill you." thought Starlight.