This takes place a little after the finale of season 5.
Over the hills, through the valleys, and past the Everfree Forest, there resides a moderately small town appropriately named, Ponyville. This town is inhabited by, fittingly, ponies. Unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies going about the early morning of a new day. Within the rows of tan and white houses stood a large structure, a structure made completely of blue and purple crystals, this was known as the Castle of Friendship. Within this castle lived a young alicorn princess who had purple fur along with a deep purple mane and tail with a pink stripe. On her flanks was a cutie mark; a pink star-like shape with sparkling white and purple spots peppered around it.
Her name was Twilight Sparkle. Once a unicorn who became Princess Celestia’s student and subsequent protege. She learned about friendship, learned to make friends, and became one of the Elements of Harmony. She and her friends had conquered many foes that sought to take over Equestria; Nightmare Moon, Discord, Queen Chrysalis, and Lord Tirek had all fallen to the Elements of Harmony. Receiving wings and a castle, she was to become the new ruler of Equestria in the future.
Now, however, she stood silently with a look of confusion on her face as she stared at the Friendship Map, or Cutie Map as they preferred to call it, with her life-long friend, Spike, a baby dragon with purple scales with a green underbelly and fins on his head, who looked equally confused. Both Twilight’s cutie mark and Spikes scales were glowing brightly as the entire map was also brightly glowing and emanating.
“Twilight, what’s going on?” Spike asked.
“I…don’t…know Spike.” Twilight answered, still staring at the Cutie Map. Normally, if there was a friendship problem, the intended cutie mark would hover over the location where the problem was located. This time, the whole table was glowing a bright light.
As they continued to stare in awe and confusion, the doors to the room burst open followed by a blur of blue with a rainbow streak.
“AW YEAH, another friendship. Where’s it at this time?” The new pony asked excitedly. The pony, in-question, was a pegasus with bright blue fur, a rainbow-colored mane and tail, and a cutie mark which was a cloud with a rainbow lightning bolt coming out of it. Her name was Rainbow Dash.
She was soon followed by an earth pony who had bright pink fur, a darker shade of pink for her poofy mane and tail, and a cutie mark which consisted of three blue and yellow balloons. Her name was Pinkie Pie.
“Yeah-where-is-it-I-want-to-know-where-it-is-so-I-can-be-the-first-one-to-say-hello-to-our-new-friends.” She said in a hyperactive tone without even taking a moment to breath.
“A’ight settle down you two, we’ve done this before.” Another pony said. She was also an earth pony, she had orange fur with a blonde mane and tail. She also wore a brown Stetson hat. Her cutie mark was three red apples in a triangular formation. Her name was Applejack.
Following that was a unicorn who had snow-white fur along with a deep purple mane and tail fashioned to look like ribbons and her cutie mark was three perfectly cut diamonds also in a triangular formation. Her name was Rarity.
“Honestly a friendship problem happening today of all days. I had a full day of completing dress orders ahead of me.” She complained.
“C’mon Rarity, your work may be important to you but nothing is more important than actual friendship.” Rainbow Dash said confidently.
“Oh, I suppose your right Dash.” Rarity sighed.
“Um…e-excuse me, did I miss anything?” A meek voice asked quietly. The voice came from a pegasus who had bright yellow fur, a long, pink mane and tail, and a cutie mark which was three pink butterflies in a triangular formation. Her name was Fluttershy.
“I’m glad you all could make it, girls.” Twilight said happily.
“No problem Twilight, when there’s a friendship problem, the Cutie Map knows who to call.” Pinkie said gleefully.
“Now where are we needed this time?” Applejack asked.
“Well, that’s the thing girls. The entire map is glowing.” Twilight turned back to the map.
Her other friends gathered around with looks of confusion.
“Wut exactly does’it mean?” Applejack asked.
“That’s what I’m been trying to figure out. The entire map is glowing so maybe the friendship problems…are……everywhere?” Twilight said, not believing what she was actually saying. The others looked just as unconvinced.
“No Twilight, it’s something much more.” Another, more regal, voice came. The others looked in surprise to the entrance to see a tall alicorn with bright white fur and a mane and tail that were flowing of blue, green, and purple. She was also wearing gold regalia on her chest and hooves as well as a crown. She was Princess Celestia, the current ruler of Equestria.
All the ponies and dragon bowed out of respect as the Princess of the Sun walked in.
“There’s no need for formalities, my little ponies.” Celestia giggled. “You are a princess after all, Twilight.”
“Right. Sorry, force of habit.” Twilight with a little embarrassment. Celestia chuckled.
“So Princess, what exactly do you mean “something much more?” Rainbow asked.
Celestia cleared her throat.
“As you all know the Cutie Map has helped in finding friendship problems all over Equestria.” She started, the others nodded.
“However, it is much more capable than finding friendship problems just in Equestria. It is capable of finding problems far more complicated than friendship. Other problems from different worlds.” She finished.
The others gasped.
“Other worlds!? There are other worlds!?” Twilight said in shock and excitement.
“Yes, Twilight there are countless worlds out there. More than even I could ever comprehend. And it seems the Cutie Map has found a friendship problem in one particular world.” Celestia announced. Twilight’s excitement had increased ten-fold at this point.
“Eeeeee, I need to get more notebooks, there are so many things we can learn from these new worlds. SO MANY POSSIBILITIES!” She squealed while beginning to flap her wings excitedly.
“Twilight, remember you and your friends are brought here for a friendship mission, not to gain information. I understand your excited by this new prospect, but solving friendship is more important.” Celestia said sternly.
“The Princess has a point, Twilight. We must help the other ponies before we can do anything else.” Rarity chimed in. Twilight slowly landed as shame began to take hold of her.
“Your right, friendship is more important than research. Thank you, Princess.” Twilight said, Celestia nodded with a smile.
“But how exactly did we get to a, uh, new world?” Fluttershy asked.
“Not to worry, my little ponies. There is a way.” Celestia answered.
“How?” Pinkie asked.
“An old spell I learned back in my youth. It will allow you to travel swiftly to where the map needs you.” Celestia answered.
Her horn began to glow as she concentrated her magic. Then, a bright gold beam shot from it and made contact with the table.
Suddenly everything began to rumble. Everyone, minus Celestia, thought an earthquake was happening but then a bright gold and pink portal began to form in the center of the Cutie Map. The others looked on in wonder as the portal began to grow, enveloping the map in its entirety. Soon the portal reached max size. The table was now completely replaced with the portal.
The Main 6 and Spike walked cautiously up to the portal, eyeing it with awe. Twilight carefully stuck her front left hoof into the mesmerizing mix of pink and gold, she quickly reeled it back when a buzzing sensation began to envelop it.
“Don’t worry, Twilight it’s perfectly safe.” Celestia said trying to comfort their understandable fear.
“Are ye sure Princess. Ah don’t mean to doubt’chya but this new for all of us.” Applejack spoke still keeping her eye on the portal.
“I can assure dear Applejack, would never do anything intentional that would bring harm to my ponies.” Celestia assured.
Applejack was still a bit on the fence about this but decided not to press on with her concerns. After all, Celestia was one of the most trustworthy ponies in Equestria.
“So this is how we get to the new world? The one to solve the friendship problem?” Twilight asked.
“Yes, my little ponies, this portal will allow you to travel to the world that map has selected.” Celestia answered.
“Well what are we waiting for? A friendship problem needs to be solved. C’mon!” Rainbow shouted before jumping into the air, spreading her wings. She eyed her position into the portal and dived right into it.
“Dashie, wait for meeeee!” Pinkie shouted before leaping into the portal after Rainbow Dash.
Fluttershy was shaking at this point and began to back away from the portal, not feeling safe near it. Rarity approached her from the side.
“It’s alright darling, you’ll be okay. Here, take my hoof we’ll go in together.” Rarity said holding up her hoof.
Fluttershy looked at Rarity, then to the portal, then back to Rarity, she had a warm smile on her face that seemed to calm Fluttershy’s nerves. She gulped, but stowing her fear, she grabbed Rarity’s hoof.
“O-okay.” She whispered.
They both slowly walked up to the portal, then together, they both leaped inside.
“Welp, guess ah’m next, Hope this goes well. And Princess, tell mah family ah’ll miss em.” Applejack said, Celestia nodded.
Then, without saying much else, Applejack jumped into the portal as well. Celestia then walked up to Twilight.
“Ready to go Spike?” Twilight asked her dragon friend.
“Yeah, I suppose.” He answered.
“I wish best of luck to you Twilight and be safe wherever you may go.” Celestia said.
“Thank you Celestia, I promise to make you proud.” Twilight hugged her mentor.
Celestia hugged her back. Once they separated, Twilight and Spike jumped into the portal after their friends.
“You already have, Twilight.” Celestia spoke softly.
Just then, another pony came running in. She was unicorn with pale lavender fur and a royal purple mane and tail with an aquamarine stripe along both. Her cutie mark was a purple and white star with two glimmering blue streams. Her name was Starlight Glimmer.
“What happened!? Did some pony get hurt!? I felt rumbling. What’s going on!?” Starlight cried in a full-fledged panic.
“Calm down Starlight, nothing bad has happened. I have simply opened a portal to another world.” Celestia said calmly.
“WHAT!?!?!? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!?!?” Starlight shouted in utter horror.
“At ease, Starlight. Twilight and her friends have been summoned by the Cutie Map to travel to another world to solve a friendship problem.” Celestia answered calmly.
“A friendship problem? In a different world? Why couldn’t why come along?” Starlight pouted.
“Was you cutie mark glowing?” Celestia asked in concern.
“Well, no, it didn’t glow at all.” Starlight answered. “But, it gets boring around here when Twilight and her friends are gone.”
“I’m sure the map will call for you in time. From what Twilight has said, you have been making some progress. There’s no doubt in my mind that you’ll be just as good at solving friendship problems as Twilight.” Celestia said.
Starlight was still saddened that she didn’t come along with, but, Celestia’s nurturing words made her feel a little better. Then a thought hit her.
“Wait, how did you know the Cutie Map found a problem from a different world.” She asked quizzically. Celestia began to walk out the door.
“Come, I shall explain it to you elsewhere.” She said.
“Uhh, Okay, I guess I can make some tea while we’re at it.” Starlight said.
“Splendid.” Celestia commented.
(Meanwhile in the portal)
Twilight and her friends flew there the dimensional space. Some having the time of their lives, others…not so much.
“This. Is. Awesome.” Rainbow shouted thrillingly. Meanwhile Fluttershy and Rarity were holding each other screaming their lungs out.
“Ohhh, I wonder if the narrator is having just as much fun as we are.” Pinkie squealed.
Everypony turned to the party pony in confusion.
“Uhh, Pinkie. What narrator?” Applejack asked, completely puzzled.
“The one narrating this story, silly.” Pinkie giggled.
Applejack just looked at her, completely lost at what crazy statement her friend had just said. Pinkie Pie turned to the…narrator.
“Are you having fun, mister narrator?” She asked.
*Ahem*
Anyways. Twilight could only look into the bright horizon of the portal they were quickly coming upon. She closed eyes waiting for the new adventure she and her friends were about to have.
To be continued