//------------------------------// // The party // Story: A world away // by Meilha //------------------------------// "I'm so excited! I just love parties!" exclaimed Pinkie Pie as she hopped down the road with her friends. "Just please try to contain yourself, this is a prestigious party," Rarity said. "Hey, why is she having this party anyways?" Pinkie Pie asked. "I don't know Pinkie, it didn't say in the letter Celestia sent me," Twilight said. They were making their way down the path towards their pony drawn carriage. Princess Celestia was holding a party at her castle in Canterlot and had invited all of them to attend. They were all pretty excited to see princess Celestia again at her castle, especially Pinkie Pie, although they had made her leave her party cannon at home. When they got to their carriage, they paid the ponies carrying it and were on their way. "Rarity, I just love these outfits you made for all of us. They fit us so perfectly!" said Twilight. "Oh, why thank you Twilight. They did take a while to make, but nothing less for my friends, "Rarity smiled. "Except, I can't quite remember where I got the material from." "What do you mean?" Apple Jack asked. "Yeah, how do you not know where the material came from?" questioned Rainbow Dash. "Well, I woke up one day wondering what in Equestria I would use to make our outfits, when I went downstairs and this beatiful material was just laying there ready to be used" explained Rarity. "That seems a little strange don't you think?" asked Twilight. "Well how could I just throw it away! It was so magnificent!" said Rarity. "I guess..." mumbled Twilight. Just then the carriage pulled to a stop, and they all got out. They had been to Canterlot before, but it still looked amazing as they walked towards the castle. At the doorway Celestia stood and welcomed them. Everyone else went in but Celestia stopped Twilight. "Twilight, I have something to tell you," said Celestia. "What is it?" asked Twilight. "Well," Celestia began," A few weeks ago there was a tremendous storm." "Oh yeah, I remember that, everypony had to stay inside their houses it was raining so hard. Where were all the pegasi?" asked Twilight. "They were investigating a strange phenomenon," said Celestia," that happened in the everfree forest that day. Ponies claim to have seen a very bright light coming from the forest right after a very large thunder strike occured. I felt a strange feeling like our very world was momentarily ripped, like there was a big hole. I sent the pegasi there to see what they could find but nothing was discovered. I want you to investigate that area and see if you can find anything, if anyone can do it I know you can." she smiled at her best pupil. "You got it," said Twilight. "I'm going to search that entire area, and I won't let you down!" "Thank you, Twilight, I can always count on you," Celestia said. Twilight walked into the room and joined her friends. "What did Celestia want?" asked Rainbow Dash. "She wanted my help in a discovery she has found," said Twilight. "Oo, can I help?" Pinkie Pie asked. "I don't see why not," said Twilight." I'll need your help too Fluttershy, I want you to talk to the animals in the everfree forest and see if they've seen anything peculiar." "Oh, me?" Fluttershy said as she tried to make herself unnoticeable. "Th-the everfree forest?" "Yep," said Twilight," the everfree forest." A look of worry was on Fluttershy's face. "I guess i can try to be of some help," she said. "Well, for now we can all enjoy this party," said Twilight. They looked around the room at the ponies dancing and the refreshments. " "Way ahead of you," said Rainbow Dash as she spotted the wonderbolts. "I'm going to go talk to princess Celestia some more," Twilight said. As she walked away, Rarity saw some ponies she recognized from canterlot and said she was going to go catch up. Apple Jack went outside to set up her apple stand and started selling her apple products. Pinkie Pie noticed a beautiful waltz being played by Octavia and some other ponies, and brought Fluttershy over to dance with her. Except her dancing wasn't quite the right dance for the song and some classy ponies gave her strange looks. As Fluttershy shied away, for she wasn't the best at dancing, she said, "I'm going to go use the little ponie's room," In a quiet voice. "Ok, but don't take too long! The party is really getting good now!" Fluttershy walked down a dimly lit hallway towards the restroom and the only noise was that chatter and cello music coming from the other room, but she couldn't help the feeling that she was being watched. As she looked behind her she said, "Hello? Is anyone there?" But there was nopony in that dark hallway and she tried to ignore it. But as she turned her head back to the direction she was going, she came face to face with a strange and mysterious pony standing right in front of her. The pony was wearing a drab and wrinkled cloak, hiding the ponie's face. Inside her cloak her eye's burned like amber. Fluttershy was startled by the ponie's sudden appearance and gasped. "Greetings", the cloaked pony said telling Fluttershy that she was a female pony,"and what brings you to this hallway, where I lay." "Well...I...uh..." Fluttershy stammered as she was still recovering from such a surprise. " Tell me, are those wings I see, the ones that set you free?" the cloaked pony asked. "Y-yes I am a pegasus." Fluttershy said. The eyes that glowed in the darkness seemed to get brighter, as this pony looked even more determined. "Well I,uh, better get going," Fluttershy said as she turned around and started heading the other way. "Wait!" the mysterious pony said forcefully as she ran in front of her to stop her in her tracks. "I have something very special for you." With her mouth she reached into her cloak and brought out a very strange looking circular device with several buttons . She set it on the ground in front of her and pushed one of the buttons, bringing the strange device to life as it started to whir and brightened with lights turning on. Fluttershy stared at it in awe. Then the strange pony started to back away. "Now!" she yelled. A light came from the shadows behind the cloaked pony, and illuminated a familiar face coming out of the darkness, one that filled Fluttershy with dread. Before she could run or call for help, a magic shot from this ponie's horn flew into the object on the floor, and Fluttershy's world went black.