Another Side of Friendship

by The Great Twixie


The Rising Sun

Twas the night before the summer solstice and all throughout Canterlot, all ponies were stirring, awaiting the new day that Luna brought.

Hundreds of mares and stallions flocked to the gates of the princess’s castle, the night echoing with the chatter of excited ponies being allowed inside the first time. The Summer Solstice Festival was the one day of the year when Princess Luna’s home was opened to every creature as a gesture of good faith. Even the stars in the night sky seemed to twinkle brighter at the princess’s behest. And once you got past the initial security check at the gate, that’s when the real fun started.

The expansive castle courtyard had been converted to a small village that resembled ancient renaissance times. Colorful tents and wooden stalls filled up nearly every space, more than half the ponies attending dressing up in attire to match the theme. A wide circular stage had been built in the heart of the courtyard, upon which was a large gilded statue of a conjoined sun and moon between a pair of golden wings – a symbol of the two royal sisters before the fallout.

Twilight trotted nervously through the path between stalls, checking back and forth in either direction every few seconds afraid that something might jump out at her. Spike rolled his eyes at the mare, his claws loaded with cotton candy, caramel apples, chocolate marshmallows, roasted corn, and something called mutton that ponies wouldn’t eat for some reason. The pair were passing a fireworks display when somepony set one off without permission, causing Twilight to jump and scream like a frightened cat, her mane standing on end. Several ponies gave her strange looks before trotting along their way; Twilight grinned sheepishly and kept her head down as they moved on.

“You really should lighten up, Twilight,” Spike suggested. “It’s a festival. We’re supposed to be having fun.”

“How can anypony have fun when Daybreak is so close to returning?” Twilight replied anxiously. “You saw what the prophecy said. ‘On the longest day of the thousandth year, she will escape her prison, and bring about the wrath of the sun upon Equestria.’ The sunrise is only an hour away, and according to legend, that’s when she will return.”

“But we warned Princess Luna just in time, remember?” said Spike, waving his caramel apple around. “That pony, um…sunrise glimmer – “

“Sunset Shimmer!” Twilight corrected emphatically. “Princess Luna’s top pupil and the most magically gifted pony in Equestria since Star Swirl the Bearded!”

“Right, her,” said Spike, rolling his eyes. “You gave her your notes and she took them to Princess Luna. Between the two of them, I bet they've already came up with a plan to banish Daybreaker back to the sun. If she is coming back.”

“Yeah, I guess your right,” said Twilight, sighing. “If it’s Princess Luna and Sunset Shimmer, they’re more than a match for Daybreaker. I guess I shouldn’t worry too much about it, then. I guess we could have a little fun before the sunrise. It is a festival, after all.”

“Now you’re talking!” Spike cheered, reaching for the mare’s hoof. “C’mon, I think they have pin the tail on the pony over there!”

Twilight giggled at the baby dragon’s excitement, trying to keep her balance on three hooves while Spike practically dragged her to the game.

The pair unknowingly dashed past a familiar star-spangled wagon parked between an apple bobbing game and a costume tent. The wagon had a hoofpainted sign hanging (crooked) over the window that said “The Great and Powerful Trixie’s Potions for All Occasions.” Inside the wagon, Trixie stirred the bubbling cauldron with her hooves while using her horn to levitate a glass vial, into the pot, scooping out a good amount of the liquid. She corked the bottle and leaned her head out the window, levitating the bottle to a Pegasus who tossed a few bits on the windowsill before flying away.

“Tell your friends!” Trixie called after him, then yelled at the top of her lungs with dramatic hoof gestures. “Come one, come all, to the Great and Powerful Trixie’s Potions for All Occasions! Need relief for Pony Pox? Want to make your mane shine like the sun? Or just want some fun party pranks for your friend? The Great and Powerful Trixie has everything you need for the low, low price of – uh-oh.”

Whether coincidence or divined providence, the two snooty mares she had cursed earlier that day were heading toward her wagon. They were wearing very big hat, undoubtedly to conceal the lasting damage Trixie had done. If they saw her, Trixie would be chased by another angry mob. Luckily, the Brilliant and Prepared Trixie had a plan.

The showmare flipped the sign around with her magic, making it “The Great and Powerful Patricia’s Potions for All Occasions.” She ducked back into her wagon and levitated the ingenious disguise she had picked out on her face: a pair of glasses. She was practically invisible! The Crafty and Cunning Trixie leaned out her window casually as the snooty mares trotted up to her wagon.

“Hello, mares, what can I brew for you today?” asked Trixie jovially. “Get it? ‘Brew’ rhymes with ‘Do’? Hah! Tri – er Patricia is so clever.”

“Yes, you sell potions, correct?” Snooty mare #1 asked, somehow not figuring out it was Trixie despite wearing her trademark hat and cape.

“That’s what the sign says?” said Trixie, pointing a hoof.

“We need something of a…cure, so to speak.” Snooty mare #2 said conspiratorially. “You see, there was some uppity little street urchin that put some sort of spell on us and, well…” she trailed off as she lifted her hat, revealing a small portion of murky-green hair.

“Ooh, that looks bad,” said Trixie sympathetically while laughing on the inside. “Whoever did that must have been a great and powerful sorceress. Probably the best in all of Canterlot.”

“No, just some gutter trash unicorn that probably got dropped on her head when she was a filly,” Snooty mare #1 said snidely; Trixie’s eye twitched. “We’ve tried going to every salon in Canterlot to get rid of it, but nothing worked. Do you have something that will get rid of these hideous manes.”

“Hmm, get rid of them, you say?” Trixie hummed, a hoof to her chin. “I think I might have just the thing.”

The Intelligent and Superior Trixie ducked back inside her wagon. The snooty mares heard the clattering of pots and pans coming from inside, watching several items fly through the window that consisted of, but not limited to: a deck of cards, magic wands turning into flower bouquets, several pairs of star-spangled cloaks, and some weapon shaped like a key. After a minute, Trixie leaned back out the window levitating two vials of florescent-pink liquid.

“These are the answers to all your problems,” Trixie promised. “Just put these in while you bathe and watch those nasty old manes disappear.”

The snooty mares were ecstatic to hear that. They happily took the bottles, tossing a hoofful of bits on the windowsill. Trixie levitated the coins into her money pouch while waving the mares off, snickering deviously to herself.

“Enjoy your hair removal tonic,” muttered Trixie.

The devilish showmare disappeared back into her wagon to set up her next batch of potions, just narrowly missing a particular lilac unicorn.

Starlight Glimmer grumbled under her breath as, once again, another pony bumped into her without even apologizing for it. That was the ninth one in the last hour. Why did Princess Luna think it was such a great idea to cram the entire town into such a small space? That was recipe for disaster. And worst of all, they were – so – rude! Starlight was this close to tearing her mane out as a tenth pony bumped into her. This kind of thing would never happen in Sire’s Hollow. Sunburst would agree with her, Starlight thought.

As fantastic as it was to be this close to royalty, Starlight wouldn’t even be at this festival if it wasn’t absolutely necessary. Starlight had wondered the streets of Canterlot for hours before she finally found Princess Luna’s School for Gifted Unicorns, the school that took her best friend away. But by the time she got there, the school had already been closed; all the students and teacher already left for the Summer Solstice Festival. Starlight had no other choice. If she wanted to find her best friend, she needed to start asking around. After all, a great wizard like Sunburst would obviously be famous around Canterlot.

Now the only problem was holding somepony’s attention long enough to ask.

“Excuse me, can you – no? All right, then,” Starlight groaned as a snobbish stallion wearing a monocle snubbed her. She reached out a hoof to a passing mare in a princess gown and said, “Excuse me, ma’am, do you know where – “

“Don’t touch me with those filthy hooves,” the mare huffed importantly. “This gown is worth more than you could afford in your entire life.”

“Okay, rude much,” Starlight grimaced, resisting the urge to levitate the mare into a mud puddle. She tried calling out another stallion wearing a fedora. “Excuse me, sir, but do you know where I can find someone named – “

“Hey, I’m walkin’ ‘ere!” The stallion snapped in a thick Manehatten accent, rudely bumping her aside.

“Grr…AAAHH!” Starlight screamed furiously, scaring off a few ponies. “What is with the ponies of this town?! If it’s not one thing, it’s another!” She slapped herself in the face, dragging her hoof down the length of her muzzle with an annoyed groan. “Okay, that’s it, no more Mrs. Nice Mare! The next pony I see, I am going to make them give some answers! Even if I have to drag it out of them! Now, who do I ask…?”

The lilac unicorn scanned the crowd for the best possible candidate of her interrogation. Between the rows of high society ponies dressed in expense clothes and the common folk cosplaying in renaissance, one pony stood out from the rest: a cream-colored mare with a pink and purple curled mane.

What made her unusual to Starlight was that the mare was lurking in the shadows between stalls, almost unnoticeable unless you were looking straight at her. She was an Earth pony wearing a tuxedo and a pair of sunglasses even thought it was still the middle of the night. Must be some Canterlot fashion choice, Starlight thought.

“Well, gotta start somewhere, I suppose,” Starlight muttered. She trotted toward the well-dressed mare, poking her shoulder to get her attention. “Excuse me, I’m looking for a unicorn stallion named Sunburst. He’s a great wizard who attended Princess Luna’s School for Gifted Unicorns. I don’t suppose you know where he is?”

The duel-colored mare stared at Starlight long and hard, making the unicorn sweat a little. Then, she started muttering into her watch.

“This is Agent Sweetie Drops – my position has been compromised. Moving to relocate. Initiating memory wipe procedures.”

“Wait, what?” Starlight stammered, confused.

The Earth pony reached a hoof into her tuxedo and whipped out an ornate silver mirror that she held up to Starlight’s face. The lilac unicorn only saw her own reflection before a blinding flash of light filled her vision –

Starlight blinked slowly, colorful spots cluttering her vision, swaying lethargically on her haunches. She was only vaguely aware that she was staring at the empty space between two stalls, though she couldn’t remember why she came over in the first place. Come to think of it…she couldn’t even tell where she was. Last thing she remembered was wandering aimlessly around Canterlot looking Princess Luna’s school, and now she was in some kind of…renaissance fair? Weird…

“Why do I get the feeling I’m forgetting something important?” Starlight muttered to herself, but shrugged and walked away, stumbling slightly in a dazed state.

With her mind unfocused, the lilac unicorn ended up bumping shoulders were a taller pony that nearly knocked her off her hooves. Luckily, the other pony caught her by the flank and helped Starlight stand straight. Starlight let out a relieved breath and sent a grateful look at the taller mare, though slightly intimidated by her scarred face and broken horn.

“Thanks for the save,” said Starlight appreciatively.

“It was nothing,” Tempest Shadow waved a hoof nonchalantly. “You be careful, now. Canterlot may look like a sparkling jewel, but there are still some unsavory characters that would love to take advantage of innocent mares like you.”

“Trust me, I can take care of myself,” said Starlight confidently. “Thanks anyway.”

Starlight Glimmer cantered off through the crowd, never realizing that her saddle bag was a little lighter. Tempest grinned to herself as she held Starlight’s coin pouch, weighing the contents with her hoof. Not a lot, but every bit counted, Tempest thought. She stuffed the pouch inside her saddle bag underneath her cloak, bringing the number she had stolen up to six. Tempest turned on her hoof and walked the opposite direction Starlight went.

The broken unicorn’s eyes roamed the pathways the castle courtyard, picking out the ponies who were most likely to be carrying a huge haul. The wealthy were easy to spot in the crowd; they were the ones who wore the most ostentatious and expensive costumes. They were also the easiest to pickpocket. These ponies thought they were so far above everyone else that they didn’t think anyone would try to rob them. It was almost foal’s play how Tempest barely brushed past some fancy pants (which coincidentally was the stallion’s name) pony and swiped his coin purse directly from his pocket without pause. Now her total was seven.

“It’s almost too easy,” Tempest scoffed as she weighed the pouch; the jingle of several dozen bits was music to her ears. “These ponies are so clueless, it’s laughable. And the security in this place is a joke. Even Grubber could’ve….”

The scarred mare’s sentence trailed off into silence, stopping in the middle of the road with a far-off look in her eyes. She was only now realizing how quiet everything was without the pudgy hedgehog blubbering in her ear every five seconds. She didn’t regret leaving him behind – they both knew the rules from the offset – but it did feel a little…lonely.

“Have you seen this mare around?”

Tempest snapped her head up in attention. Just a short distance ahead, a group of royal guards was talking to a young stallion couple. A pegasai soldier was holding up a wanted poster to the couple. The drawing was crude – like something a colt had done – but all the important details were there: the mauve coat, the broken horn, and the distinctive facial scar. It was Tempest.

“We believe the thief may be on the premises,” the guard informed the couple. “If you see anything, please contact the royal guard immediately.

That was Tempest’s cue to leave; she had already made a good bit of coin anyway; enough to sustain her for several weeks.

The scarred unicorn ducked her head and lifted her cloak to obscure her face from the passing guards, cantering slowly in the direction of the castle gates. She shoved her way through a group of mares unapologetically, which turned out to be Minuette and her small circle of friends.

“Hey, you forgot to say ‘excuse me!’,” Minuette yelled at the fleeing unicorn. “Honestly, some people can be so rude.”

“How long have you lived in Canterlot?” said Twinkleshine sarcastically.

“Duh, my whole life,” Minuette answered innocently. “That’s a silly question.”

“Oh, sweetie,” Lemon Hearts shook her head, patting the blue mare’s shoulder pitiably. “We need to teach a little something called sarcasm.”

“Sooo…,” Lyra Heartstrings said awkwardly, waking alongside a mopey-looking Moon Dancer. “Pretty great festival, am I right? Totally better than last year’s festival, huh?”

“Whatever?” Moon Dancer mumbled gloomily.

In all honesty, Moon Dancer didn’t want to be at the Summer Solstice Festival so soon after her own party turned into a complete failure. Though Minuette and the others repeatedly told her there was nothing wrong and that they could just have another party, it didn’t make a difference to her. The only thing Moon Dancer could think about was watching Twilight run past her without even taking a moment to acknowledge her.

They had known each other since magic kindergarten. They sat at the same table for years, reading the same books on the fundamentals of magic. They exchanged Hearts and Hooves Day gifts for Luna’s sake! Well, it was actually just Moon Dancer. Twilight never gave out Hearts and Hooves Day gifts, but that’s just because she was busy…every year…all the time….

The point is, Twilight always had Moon Dancer’s heart in her hoof. She had always done what Twilight asked of her. So why? Why couldn’t she just come to Moon Dancer’s party? Why couldn’t she just do this one – little – thing?!

Moon Dancer nearly jumped out of her coat when she felt a hoof over her shoulders. Lyra offered her a tender, reassuring smile while patting her back.

“Hey, don’t think about it, all right,” said Lyra kindly. “This is your cheer-up party! We’re here to have fun, remember? We’ll play some games, eat caramel apples, take silly picture together, and not even think about you-know-who – “

“It’s Twilight!” Minuette shouted suddenly.

“Darn it, Minuette, what did I just say?!” Lyra snapped exasperatedly.

“No, it’s really Twilight!” Minuette cried excitedly, pointing a hoof. “See, over there, at the ring toss game!”

Moon Dancer perked up and stared straight ahead. As Minuette said, the unicorn of Moon Dancer’s desires was leaning over the counter of the ring toss stall levitating one of the rings with narrowed eyes. Spike was sitting on her back, cheering her on. Twilight had tossed the ring and stomped her hoof in frustration, apparently having missed her target.

Seeing Twilight there, playing games with her pet dragon, made something snap in Moon Dancer’s brain. Her vision because clouded in red, her breathing turning erratic as she ground her hoof into the dirt. Why, Moon Dancer asked herself. Why was Twilight having fun at the Summer Solstice Festival when she couldn’t be bothered to attend Moon Dancer’s party? Was she not good enough for the great Twilight Sparkle?!

Lyra exchanged concerned looks with Twinkleshine and Lemon Hearts (Minuette was clueless as always.)

“Hey, how about some sweet apple cider?” Twinkleshine suggested with an anxious smile. “I think they’re selling them waaaaay over there – “

Moon Dancer ignored the obvious diversion. She practically shoved her way between her friends and approached the ring toss booth like a bloodthirsty predator. Lyra bit her hoof fretfully. This was not going to end well.

Twilight tossed another ring and slammed her hoof on the counter when it bounced off the lip of the bottles stacked in front of her.

“Gah! This game is totally rigged!” Twilight shouted furiously. “There’s no way my very meticulous and carefully thought out equations could be wrong if it wasn’t! What is the secret?! I have to know!!!”

“Uh, Twilight, can we just go already?” Spike muttered, shielding his face from the ponies staring at them. “You’re kinda making a scene.”

“I will not leave until I’ve beaten this evil – stupid – game!” Twilight howled, slapping another bit on the counter. “Give me another!”

The carny-styled twins running the booth flashed their sunny smiles as they added Twilight’s bit to the growing pile and returned it with three rings. Twilight levitated one of the rings, looking through the hole like a reticle. She floated the ring back for the toss when someone said, “Hello, Twilight,” directly behind her and made the purple mare jump in a fright. She spun around and came face-to-face with Moon Dancer; the cream-colored pony wearing an unimpressed look with Twilight’s ring spinning on her horn.

“Looks like you’re having fun, Twilight Sparkle,” Moon Dancer said in an even tone.

“ oh…hey…you…,” said Twilight, giggling nervously; Moon Dancer’s name escaped her. “Um…how’ve you been…?”

“…You have no idea who I am, do you?” Moon Dancer accused.

“What, no, of course I do,” Twilight denied. “You’re uh….”

“Moon Dancer,” Spike whispered in her ear.

“Moon Dancer!” Twilight parroted aloud. “My good buddy Moon Dancer! Great to see you!”

“Good buddy, huh?” Moon Dancer said, scowling; Twilight made a loud gulping noise. “So…buddy…any particular reason why you didn’t feel like coming to my party that I worked so hard to set up earlier today?”

“What? That was today?” said Twilight; she was visibly sweating. “I had no idea!”

“Minuette said she told you about it half-an-hour before the party started,” Moon Dancer immediately retorted.

“Oh, well, um, yes, I – I suppose she did,” said Twilight. “Well, you know, I was very busy at the library and – “

“I saw you run past my party headed straight for Princess Luna’s castle,” Moon Dancer said shortly; Twilight flinched like she had been slapped. “You didn’t even notice I was there.”

“N – no, that’s not it,” Twilight sputtered. “You see, what happened was – “ Thankfully, before she could bury herself in an even deeper hole, the sounds of trumpets carried through the courtyard, to Twilight’s immense relief. “Oh, will you look at that! It’s time for Princess Luna to raise the sun! We better hurry before all the good spots are taken!”

At the trumpet’s call, all the ponies in the courtyard gathered around the stage under the gilded statue. Twilight, Spike, and Moon Dancer found spaces near the back of the crowd; Twilight was still sweating, knowing Moon Dancer was glaring at the back of her head. Trixie preferred the unobstructed view of her wagon window, resting her head on her hoof. Starlight did not care for the ceremony and was wandering the rows of stalls, asking anypony who passed about her friend. And Tempest was fleeing cautiously in the shadows toward the gates, not wanting to push her luck more than she already had.

The courtyard sounded with another chorus of trumpets and everypony’s eyes were faced forward as Princess Luna rose from the back of the stage, side-by-side with her student, Sunset Shimmer. Many were in awe of the princess with her regal walk, poised and graceful at each step, her glittering mane blending with the starry backdrop. By comparison, her prancing apprentice looked like an overgrown filly eagerly awaiting Hearth’s Warming Day, though no one dared to say as such out loud.

Princess Luna and her student stopped in the middle of the stage. The princess cleared her throat and spoke in a loud, booming voice that carried to everypony’s ears:

“Fillies and gentlecolts! As Princess of Equestria, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Summer Solstice Festival!” She paused for a moment, giving her subjects a chance to shout praise. “Of course, I cannot take all the credit! This wonderful festival you all enjoy was organized by my student, Sunset Shimmer, who worked tirelessly to ensure that this year’s Summer Solstice Festival was its best one yet! You have done a fine job, my student!”

“It was my pleasure, your majesty,” said Sunset, bending her leg at a bow.

“In just a few moments,” Luna continued, “Canterlot will celebrate the magic of the sunrise and celebrate this, the longest day of the year! And the one thousandth year since the start of my rule over Equestria!

“Please don’t let anything bad happen,” Twilight muttered under her breath.

“And now, my faithful subjects, I give you…the sunrise!” Luna declared to a thunder of applause.

With her horn aglow and tilted upward, Luna commanded the moon to glide across the night sky, disappearing over the western horizon. She then turned to the east where the midnight-blue sky started to fill with brilliant reds and yellows. Luna stretched her majestic wings and floated into the air, hover in front of the crest of the statue behind her. She waved her outstretched hooves with a flourish and Canterlot was soon awash in the golden light of Equestria’s sun. Twilight Sparkle stared in awe as Princess Luna was bathed in the sun’s heavenly glow like the goddess she was, the stars in her mane twinkling brighter than before. It sent her mind reeling back years ago when she saw her first Summer Solstice Festival; back when she first discovered her love of magic –

But even while the ponies danced and cheered around her, Twilight felt something was off. The sun…did it just flicker for a moment? Princess Luna also seemed to think something was amiss. She stayed aloft, glancing curiously over her shoulder.

It happened again; the sun flickered like it had bad reception. How could –

The sun seemed to explode without warning; a brilliant burst of light flashed across the sky; many ponies shielding their eyes behind their hooves. Princess Luna slammed back onto the stage, stretching out her wings protectively in front of Sunset Shimmer while she stared into the light with a hard leer. The light faded as quickly as it came, everypony lowering their hooves with relief and confusion, when they looked upon the stage and let out a collective gasp.

Another alicorn stood across from Princess Luna – a rarity in and of itself. But this alicorn did not exude peace and calm like their benevolent ruler. Their coat was as bright as sunlight, clad in burning-orange armor with a sun motif, and their mane and tail made of literal fire, giving off a powerful heat that had almost everypony breaking out in a sweat. The alicorn’s hollow, golden eyes were wide with madness as she barked out an insane cackle.

“I’m ba-a-a-a-ack!” the alicorn sang. “Did you miss me, Equestria?!”

Everypony in the crowd backed away slowly; they could instinctively tell this mare was bad news.

“Who the hay are you?” Sunset questioned bravely, pointing a hoof accusingly.

“Stay behind me, Sunset Shimmer!” Luna commanded, stretching her wings to block her pupil.

“Dear sister, have you forgotten to mention me to my subjects?” the alicorn asked with a venomous undertone, stepping lightly across the stage, leaving singed hoofprints in the wood. “Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years? Or did you simply wish to forget after you banished me to the sun?! Well?! Which is it, little sister?!”

“I know who you are!”

Luna, Sunset, and the flaming alicorn turned to the crowd, which immediately parted so that Twilight and, reluctantly, Moon Dancer were visible to everypony.

“Twilight, what’re you doing?” Moon Dancer hissed.

Twilight ignored her and continued, “I saw the signs and I know who you are! You’re the Mare in the Sun: Daybreaker!”

The crowd gasped simultaneously in shock and fear. Even the youngest of foals knew about the legend of Daybreaker, but most of them just brushed it off as an old mare’s tale. Now, to see the actual Daybreaker with their own eyes, they started to realize how dangerous this alicorn really was. But none looked as fearful, or guilty, as Sunset Shimmer, her mind reeling back to Twilight Sparkle’s warning earlier that day.

If only she had heeded her words….

“Well, well, well, somepony who remembers me,” said Daybreaker with a manic grin. “Then you also know why I’m here.”

“You're here to... to...,” Twilight trailed off, lowering her head nervously, only now realizing who she was talking to.

Daybreaker chuckled wickedly and said, “Remember this day, little ponies, for it will be your last! Everypony will suffer retribution for my banishment! On this day, the sun will never set and Equestria will burn forever more!”

The flaming mare threw her head back with an insane cackle.

Meanwhile, Trixie, who had been observing the scene from a distance, leaned out her window with a serious expression.

“It appears the time has come for the Great and Powerful Trixie…,” she said dramatically…. Then, quick as a flash, she slammed her window shut, jumped out the door, fastened the wagon’s harness to her back, and took off running. “To get the hay outta here!”

Back on stage, Princess Luna took a defensive stance, tilting her horn threateningly at Daybreaker. The corrupted alicorn merely smirked with confidence, not at all threatened by her darker counterpart.

“You will not lay a hoof on anypony, Daybreaker!” Luna declared. “I will stop you!”

Daybreaker laughed again, shaking her head, and said, “Have you forgotten, little sister? Of the two of us, I have always been the superior warrior. You only bested me last time with the Elements of Harmony. But I don’t see them anywhere around, do you?” She made a show of scanning the area. “No magic trinkets to protect you this time.”

“Sunset Shimmer, you must flee immediately,” Luna whispered back to her pupil. “Find the Elements of Harmony. Protect Equestria. I will hold her off as long as I can.”

“I’m not leaving you by yourself!” Sunset gasped.

“Go, now!” Luna commanded forcefully.

“Nopony is going anywhere!” Daybreaker roared, raising her front hooves.

“Sunset Shimmer!” Luna cried.

The princess of Equestria turned on her pupil, shooting a meaningful look with her eyes before blasting the smaller unicorn with a burst of magic that sent her flying. At the same time, Daybreakeer’s hooves stomped the stage and an orange dome formed from the impact, expanding in every direction. Princess Luna had no chance to defend herself before the dome enveloped her. The crowd that surrounded the stage turned and fled, screaming, but the barrier was moving so fast that many were swallowed up in seconds.

Trixie, who had the sense to run before anypony else, was halfway to the gates when somepony slammed into her from the side. It was Sunset Shimmer; Princess Luna’s magic had thrown her into the showmare. The collision caused Trixie and Sunset to trip over themselves to a tangled pile of limbs. Unfortunately, the momentum of Trixie’s wagon continued forward, picking up the mares and flattening them against the wagon’s walls. Sunset and Trixie screamed and held on to each other as the wagon rolled out of their control.

Because they were standing near the back of the crowd when everything took place, Twilight, Spike, and Moon Dancer were ahead of everypony as they sprinted toward the castle gates. Twilight looked back to witness Daybreaker’s dome expand faster, swallowing up dozens of ponies.

“What the hay is going on around here?!” Moon Dancer cried, wheezing, trying to match Twilight’s pace.

“Who cares?! Just keep running!” Spike screamed.

Unfortunately, some other pony came shooting out from behind the stalls and ended up smacking into Twilight and Moon Dancer, causing them to knock heads and fall flat on their flanks with throbbing headaches. Twilight shook her head, blinking the stars out of her eyes, and looked at the mare they bumped into.

It was Starlight Glimmer. She hadn’t been with the crowd when everything went down, so she had been naturally ahead of everypony else when she saw the dome starting to absorb the festival grounds.

Starlight rubbed her head with her hoof, groaning, as she looked at the pair of mares and asked, “What the hay’s going on around here?”

“Explanations later!” Moon Dancer cried, hopping to her hooves. “We have to run before – “

“Too late!” Spike screamed, pointing a claw.

The dome had swallowed the last of the ponies behind them and were seconds away from overtaking Twilight, Spike, Moon Dancer, and Starlight. The mares and baby dragon held each other, shivering, waiting for the inevitable. But then – in true cartoonish fashion – a run away wagon smacked into them from the side, lifting the four off the ground, and carrying them along for the ride.

Twilight Sparkle blinked at the absurdity of what just happened, looking on either side of her. She, Spike, Moon Dancer, Starlight Glimmer, Sunset Shimmer, and Trixie exchanged questionable glance. Then Trixie pointed a hoof forward and screamed, “Look out!”

Tempest Shadow was just about to exit the castle when she heard Trixie’s cries and looked back. The scarred mare didn’t even have time to look surprised before she was swept up by Trixie’s wagon and the seven of them were flying out the gates.

Trixie’s wagon was careening down the road when one of the wagon’s wheels bumped over an exposed rock in the middle of the path. The wagon lurched forward and the seven were vaulted into the air, plopping onto the ground in various positions. Though they safely landed in the soft grass, it was still a rough landing.

Everypony groaned, shakingly rising to their hooves (and feet).

“Ugh…worse – job – ever,” Tempest groaned, rolling her shoulders.

Trixie, who had landed next to Starlight, let out a dramatic gasp and shouted, “Oh no, are you all right?!”

“I’m fine; just a little dirty,” Starlight answered, brushing off her coat.

“Trixie wasn’t talking to you,” Trixie said rudely. She galloped over to her wagon, which had stopped on the side of the road. “Trixie was talking to her precious baby.”

“Of course you were,” Starlight muttered sarcastically, rolling her eyes when Trixie started kissing the wall.

Twilight walked back down the road a few paces away from the group, looking back sorrowfully at Princess Luna’s castle. Daybreaker’s barrier had completely cut the palace off from the rest of the world, stopping in front the castle gates and blocking any entrance from all directions.

“No…how could this have happened?” Twilight muttered weakly.

“That’s what I want to know!” Twilight jumped and turned around. Moon Dancer was in front of the others, all looking to the violet unicorn for answers. “What the hay was that about?! Do you know what’s going?! Did you know about this?! Who was that pony?! Say something, Twilight!”

“I – I – “ Twilight stammered, uncertain.

“That was Daybreaker,” Sunset Shimmer stepped forward, coming to Twilight’s rescue. “Princess Luna’s older sister who was banished to the sun a thousand years ago, when she had been corrupted by greed and paranoia. She’s returned to Equestria, and she’s brought with her the wrath of the sun.”

“And what does that mean, exactly?” Tempest questioned.

“It means…,” Twilight answered anxiously. “That unless somepony does something…all of Equestria is doomed.”