Why Did We Even Do This?
Twilight ran as fast as she could, shouting at herself internally for her mistake, and quickly found her room, immediately kicking the door open.
"Spike!" she called, fear in her voice.
"Over here!" came the answer, "I can't get out!"
Twilight frowned at the obstacle before her, a pile of smoking wood, and promptly levitated a large chunk of the wood out of the mound.
A little dash of green purple dashed from the breach in its trap and ran into Twilight.
"Twilight! I thought you'd left me!"
"Never," Twilight answered, glad beyond words that her companion was safe. "We need to get out of here, now."
"But what's going on?"
"I don't know; I think the Germanes are attacking."
"Where are Chernov and Reznov?"
Twilight's heart went heavy and she said, "They had to go fight."
"Are we going to wait for them?"
"No, Spike, I'm afraid not. We're going home."
Spike's eyes went wide with surprise, but then he nodded, understanding.
"Princess!" the voice of Ironhoof called. He and Golden Justice sped into the room and began to gape at the damage.
"Is everyone alright?" the Princess asked.
"Yes, of course, but we need to leave."
Twilight nodded her agreement and the four again left the room. The hallways had grown far more silent since the beginning of the attack, but sounds of fighting could still be heard in the distance. It didn't take long before they managed to escape the palace and begin toward the train station.
All the while, Twilight was asking herself questions. Why Stalliongrad? Why there of all places? It had just kind of lept out at her. But now they were leaving, without a student or anyone of the sort. Where would they go next? She didn't know.
Most of all, Twilight felt guilt toward her blatant abandonment of one of her best friends and brother figure. Should she bring him next time? It depended on where they went. Should she refuse him passage, Twilight knew that Spike would object. Despite the circumstances, Twilight chuckled to herself.
The train, this time, was empty, which Twilight was grateful for. Much of the ride was spent in silence until Spike broke it, saying, "Well, that was fun."
This pulled a round of chuckles from the ponies on the train, and slowly conversation began to build up. It never grew to the high end that it did on the way to Marescow, but it was no longer a somber silence.
It was nighttime when the train reached the checkpoint where the group first met Chernov and Reznov, and Twilight again chuckled at the memory. Then her gut tightened at her question regarding where they were, if either of them were okay.
The quartet was about to board the next train when Twilight paused.
"Hold on."
"What is it, your majesty?" inquired Ironhoof, slightly alert.
"I . . . I think I may be able to get us home much faster."
Spike frowned. "What do you mean, 'Twi?"
Twilight smirked and stepped of the train's step ladder.
"Everyone hold on to me."
Realization hit the other three, and soon they were all obeying the Princess's command.
Twilight closed her eyes and concentrated, fueling her magic and preparing for the shortened journey ahead of her. She strained and finally, everything went black.
[/hr]
The world slowly came back to Twilight in a tide of consciousness. She bolted up and found herself in her Canterlot room. She was alone. Well, the multi-personnel, long-distance teleportation had, mostly, been success, but it had exerted her far more than she had anticipated. How long had she been out?
Twilight exited her bed and curiously peeked from her room. It seemed to be at most mid-afternoon, but no one was in sight. And then there was Spike.
"Twilight! Oh, you're okay, good!"
Twilight laughed and said, "Yes, Spike, I'm fine. I really didn't think that it would be that difficult . . . how long was I out?"
"Only a few hours. Princess Celestia was a bit cross with you in the beginning, but she's fine now. She heard about what happened in Marescow and was worried. She's glad that you're alright."
Twilight smiled again, but it slowly melted away. Spike noticed this and said, "'Twi? What's wrong."
Twilight shook her head and said, "Nothing Spike, I'm just . . . I'm disappointed at what happened."
"That you couldn't find a student?"
"Yes, that too, but . . . "
"Ah, don't worry about it 'Twi; everyone's alright."
That was true, and soon the Princess was happy again.
"Well, for now, let's go back to Ponyville. I am in serious need of some relaxation."
[/hr]
Twilight got her wish, and was soon sitting in her kitchen, drinking hot cocoa (it had grown slightly colder in Equestria while she had been gone) - and, of course, reading. It was a sad tale about a Stallion who was the only survivor of a worldwide cataclysm, and spoke of how he slowly learned to cope with his circumstances and grew happier, while sacrificing his sanity in turn. It was chilling, but one of Twilight's favorites.
Twilight had sent a long letter to her senior Princesses, giving them details about what exactly happened, and she had yet to receive an answer.
She was not nervous about it, just glad that everyone was alright.
The main question was: was it worth it? To go everywhere and find a student? To put herself and Spike in harm's awy yet again? Should she go somewhere less . . . war-torn next time?
That was the question. Indeed it was . . . .