//------------------------------// // 1: Where the Sun Rises // Story: A King Unmatched // by Mister Friendly //------------------------------// Chapter 1: Where the Sun Rises Rain drizzled drearily from the muggy grey clouds that blanketed the heavens. It wasn’t a heavy downpour by any stretch of the imagination, but it was enough to keep most ponies indoors and out of the unseasonably cool weather that’d seen fit to ruin more than a few plans. Only those who absolutely had to be out trudged through the streets in such weather, keeping themselves as small as possible beneath their umbrellas or else galloping from cover to cover down the street. Or, in the case of six mares, clambered hastily into the warm, dry interior of a train, where the cool, wet nip in the air couldn’t reach them. “Of all the times it coulda rained,” griped orange, grumpy earth pony, “ya coulda picked a better day for it, RD.” Next to her, a blue pegasus gave a jaw-popping yawn, which somewhat ruined the glower she tried to throw back. “Hey, it’s not my fault. I had a lousy night’s sleep last night, and it’s not like I’m the only weather pony out here, Applejack!” Applejack rolled her eyes, but said nothing as she lead the way down the train car. Early morning commuters were looking their way, a few disdainful of the ruckus so early in the morning. However, the conversation continued on without her. Fluttershy looked up, worry in her eyes. “Trouble sleeping? Oh, it wasn’t because of nightmares, was it?” she asked worriedly. Immediately Rainbow was shaking her head, puffing up almost indignantly. “N-no! I don’t get nightmares! Nightmares get me.” Try as she might, it seemed, Applejack just couldn’t stay out of their conversation. “Sugarcube, that don’t even make any sense,” she pointed out, throwing Rainbow a look. Before Rainbow could reply, another voice from behind cut her off; this one much less friendly. “Can we please just find our seats? I haven’t even had a chance to drink my coffee yet.” All three turned around, to look towards an uncharacteristically disheveled looking Rarity, who only met their looks with a scathing, grumpy glare. It was obvious that she’d only just rolled out of bed, even for anypony who didn’t know her. Her mane was a wildly tangled mess, a far cry from what it normally was. There were bags under her eyes, which were conspicuously devoid of their usual tasteful application of makeup, which only made her look even more haggish than she already did. Now, normally Rarity was a very spritely morning pony, which only made the sight of her even more confusing. Next to Twilight and Applejack, she was usually one of the earliest risers in the group, especially when there was a project nagging at the back of her mind – which there almost always was. She almost never greeted the morning like a hated enemy and instead embraced it with hooves outstretched. Then again, she usually didn’t spend the previous day reinventing the whole of Ponyville under the thrall of an eldritch tome. “I still have a headache and a hornache from whatever it is I purportedly did yesterday,” she hissed. “And I am expected to be meeting the princesses in a few short hours. So please, if it’s all the same to you, let me wake up before babbling incessantly.” “Er, sorry, Rarity,” Applejack mumbled, lowering her head apologetically. Rarity just huffed sourly, then took a big, long sip from a steaming mug of coffee so black just breathing the air around it would be enough to give a pony the jitters. Rainbow and Applejack looked on, exchanging a quick look before watching their pearly white friend carefully. Five… four… three… two… one… Right on schedule, Rarity’s whole demeanor changed like a light switch being thrown. As the caffeine hit her system, she instantaneously stood up taller, her entire demeanor exploding into one of bright cheer. “There we are!” she said brightly, positively beaming. “Good morning, Applejack! Rainbow! Fluttershy! Lovely day, is it not?” Both Rainbow and Applejack exchanged a look, stifling their grins as best they could. Yep… we have ignition… ~~***~~ Of all the times the group had gone to Canterlot, that time was perhaps the dreariest. From the start, the rain didn’t let up, streaking the windows with ribbons of water and obscuring all beyond the glass in a fine mist – besides the occasional tree-shaped blur that raced by. Applejack couldn’t help but watch the rain with a worried frown. “Sure is a lot of rain for the middle of summer. This ain’t gonna be a fun Apple Buck Season, that’s fer sure.” “Well it isn’t my fault,” Rainbow grouched, still pouting over the earlier accusation. Even if Applejack hadn’t been looking at her, she still bristled as if the comment had been aimed at her anyway.“Ponyville’s my thing, not the whole of Equestria. The higher ups are probably just trying to cool things down or something.” Applejack turned towards Rainbow, her mouth opening to say something, when another sight caught her attention, drawing her up short. On the opposite bench, Twilight was digging through her bag, quickly tossing – wonder of wonders – books and tomes out as she hastily searched for something. Now, Applejack may not be into literature as deeply as some ponies she knew were, but she still knew old books when she saw them, and by her reckoning, it didn’t get much older than the ratty, warped tomes Twilight was feverishly referencing. “No… no…,” she was muttering to herself. “Not seven-hundred; six hundred… six hundred… I know it’s…” Applejack wasn’t the only pony watching Twilight’s antics, either. All of her friends – and even the few neighbors they had sharing the train car with them – were looking at her. It wasn’t unusual for Twilight to pack some reading material, especially when called to Canterlot under the current pretenses. But rarely did Twilight take more than a book or three. Now, she was sorting through whole sacks, digging through leather-bound tomes so old the pages looked practically petrified. Applejack, Rainbow, Fluttershy and Pinkie continuously exchanged looks. Even Rarity – after rousing properly – couldn’t help but take in her friend’s furtive behavior while she ran a brush through her mane. Spike sat nervously beside Twilight, biting his lip and ringing his claws. He wanted very much to say something, but he wasn’t yet sure what. He only knew that Twilight had been up all night long digging through the library like her life depended on it, and going through some rather bizarre sections as well. He just couldn’t figure it out; the history section, he could get. But the foal’s section? Twilight was up to something, but as of yet, he hadn’t gotten a word in edgewise to figure out what that might be. By rights, she should’ve been bouncing off of the train car’s every wall, conducting a play-by-play babble of her thoughts as they struck her and whipped her up more and more into a panic. That would’ve been her typical behavior upon being summoned by the princesses, but now here she was, nose buried as far in a dusty old encyclopedia as it would go, hardly a word leaving her mouth. Finally, Spike licked his lips, opened his mouth to speak – BAM! Twilight slammed down the hefty ledger, making everypony jump in surprise. At the same time, she made a loud, frustrated noise, apparently snapping at long last. “Ugh! This isn’t helping! None of this makes any sense!” Spike gulped, rubbing his claws together apprehensively. “Uh… what doesn’t?” “This!” Twilight shouted, flinging her hoof at the open pages in front of her like it was some vile, nasty thing that’d gravely offended her. “Would it kill just one of these authors to write some facts once in a while? Every book I open is just filled with legends and myths! Legends and myths!” While Twilight huffed and puffed, furious, the rest of her friend sat stock still, looking back and forth between each other through the shocked silence. Rainbow exchanged a glance with Pinkie, both just as wide-eyed as each other. “Yeah, so… what is this all about, anyway?” the pegasus asked. “You’re acting kinda weird today. Like… eggheadier than normal. What did Princess Celestia write to you about?” She ignored the chastising glare Rarity shot her, instead focusing on Twilight’s reaction. Twilight grumbled, the wind going out of her sails. Finally she settled down, flopping back in her seat. “You don’t understand, Rainbow,” she insisted, shaking her head. “It just doesn’t make any sense at all. If only Princess Celestia had provided more information, maybe I could know for sure, but…” She looked back up, turning apologetic. “I’m sorry, girls. I guess I just… have a really bad feeling about this, that’s all.” Pinkie eyed her friend, suddenly looking worried. “Like… too much fudge bad feeling or not enough fudge bad feeling?” Twilight blinked, looking nonplussed. “What? No, that’s not it at all.” Pinkie’s eyes widened, her breath seizing in welling horror. “Worse than fudgy tummy aches?! But I didn’t even make any chilicherrychanga surprise!” “Thank Celestia for that,” groaned Rainbow, looking queasy just from the thought it. Twilight smiled despite herself, a faint chuckle leaving her lips. “No… Sorry, girls. This is something else. Something just doesn’t feel right, that’s all.” Applejack raised an eyebrow curiously. “So… what is it the Princess wants us ta do, then? Wrangle some critter or somethin’? Cuz we do that almost every other day it feels like.” Twilight shook her head. “I don’t really know what Princess Celestia wants,” she admitted. “She only mentioned wanting to discuss something about the land across the eastern ocean.” Now it was Rainbow’s turn to raise her eyebrow. “Wait, what? There’s something out there? But isn’t the eastern oceans supposed to be really dangerous? Nopony sails out that way, like, ever. Now you’re telling me there’s a whole country across the sea?” Twilight couldn’t help but look at her, confused for a moment. “Wait, how did you –” then she caught herself. “Right. Daring Do…” “T-the eastern sea is dangerous?” Fluttershy squeaked, hiding behind her hooves. “Yep,” Rainbow drawled, ignoring her friend’s panic. “Nopony’s allowed to sail out too far from the coast. Boats going out over deep water never come back. See, Daring Do was looking for a galleon that supposedly had a really valuable heirloom from the Ping Dynasty called the –” “What does Celestia want us ta do about it, though?” Applejack cut across, earning her a dirty look from Rainbow. “I wish I knew,” Twilight said, shaking her head. “But whatever it is, she must think that we can help, or else she wouldn’t have sent that letter. But at the same time… I don’t know what all we can do.” Pinkie suddenly sat forward, clapping her hooves together energetically. “Well then, we’ll just have to be really super helpful, then!” Twilight’s expression twisted a little bit. “Yeah… and that’s what’s got me worried.” Rarity glanced over this time, distracted enough from her grooming to eye Twilight. “Whatever do you mean?” Twilight bit her lip, fidgeting on her seat. “The thing is, there can only be one country across the ocean… and well… I just don’t see why they would ever ask for our help…” ~~***~~ The weather in Canterlot was not much better than it’d been in Ponyville. While the rain had let up, a gusting wind had taken its place, buffeting all those caught out in the open. Thunder rumbled overhead, though its source went unseen. It was a brooding, ominous sound; distant, yet ever-present, like the fast-moving clouds overhead that bore the storm along. It was a nice relief from the midsummer’s heat, probably the intent in the first place, but at the moment, Twilight just couldn’t appreciate the cooler weather enough to overlook the dreary gloom that’d rolled in as a consequence. The gilded towers of Canterlot Castle, usually gleaming under the sun like a grand tiara, now looked dull and lifeless under the heavy gloom of the storm clouds above. Even approaching noon, the lights in the castle were still visible from the streets, glimmering faintly against the dull sky. That was the thing that struck Twilight the most as their taxi trundled up the long road towards the drawbridge. It filled her heart with unease, and a familiar sense of panic that burned in her limbs whenever she saw the pointed silhouette of the castle proper. It was finally starting to sink in that she was on her way to see the princess, under the exact some pretenses as when the Crystal Kingdom had returned… as well as Discord, now that she thought about it. Whatever was in store for her and her friends, it was not going to be nearly as simple as her tasks had been of late. Even as she and her friends made their way through the front gates with all due haste, the feeling of unease did not dissipate from Twilight’s chest. Again and again she saw the pages of her history books flashing through her mind, waging war with each other in a desperate attempt to make sense in her head, but to no avail. Only one pony out there could’ve helped her make sense of it all, otherwise she’d never figure it out. Not even the sight of her long-time mentor alleviated the pressure she felt. Celestia waited for them all in the throne room, grim-faced upon her thrown, alone save for a contingent of the usual guards flanking the literal seat of power in Equestria. Only once the six mares came bursting into the extensive hall did her mood seem to lift, a smile rising on her face at the sight of the one leading the galloping herd. “Princess Celestia!” Called out Twilight. “We got here as soon as we could. What’s happened?” Always so eager, no matter the circumstances… Celestia’s smile warmed for a moment, and then she recomposed herself. “Twilight, everypony, it’s good to see you all,” she said. “I am glad you all could make it.” She rose from her seat in one graceful move, stepping down towards the approaching group as they reached her. “I’m sorry we couldn’t get here earlier,” Twilight said apologetically, “The train out of Ponyville had to close early yesterday.” On account of the rails turning to crystal, and all the coal turning to diamonds, she thought, but kept the comment to herself, given present company. Celestia smiled regardless. “It’s quite alright, Twilight. You are right on time.” “So what’s the problem this time?” Rainbow spoke up, rising into the air to get a better look at the Princess of the Sun. “Need us to kick some ancient evil’s flank? Or maybe find some long-lost treasure? Just point us to it and we’ll buck it into next Tuesday!” While Twilight shot Rainbow a look for her tactlessness, Celestia allowed herself a mild chuckle. “I appreciate your enthusiasm, Rainbow Dash. But I’m afraid this situation is a little more… delicate than that.” She turned away then, overlooking the brash pegasus’ disappoint me, her expression falling into a pensive blankness. “Not long ago, I received a letter through a very old channel, one that I believed would never see use again, but one that I have nevertheless left open, in case I was to be proven wrong,” she explained. With one flick of her horn, the room was filled with a golden light, forming in midair between Twilight and Celestia. With an audible pop, it faded again, leaving behind a strange, golden cylinder floating in midair. The cylinder was unlike anything Twilight had ever seen before. It appeared to be made from a cord of gold coiled tightly together, like some kind of snake tightly wrapped around a branch. Each end was capped with a simple, domed plate carved with some kind of snarling beast’s face with emeralds for eyes. “What is it?” Twilight asked, edging a little closer to the strong object. “This, Twilight,” Celestia explained, eyeing the strange thing, “is the first letter to cross the eastern ocean in over six hundred years.” Everypony stared in awe, their eyes shooting open wide in surprise. Even Pinkie grew still and stared, her eyes fixed on the strange golden object. The only thing that could’ve distracted some of them was a small voice speaking up through the heavy silence. “… I knew it,” said Twilight, and yet she looked even more troubled than ever before, her eyes staying fixed on the mysterious letter. “It’s from Neighpon, isn’t it?” Rainbow turned to look at her, confused. “From where?” “Did y’all just say Napalm?” Applejack asked, all the while digging around in one ear with a hoof. “Cuz… Ah’m pretty sure that stuff can’t send letters.” “She said Neighpon, darling,” Rarity corrected, giving her friend a look. “Honestly, how could you not have heard about it? Didn’t you pay attention in school?” Applejack puffed up indignantly in response. “Ah paid attention just fine, Rarity, and they ain’t ever talked about no Napping thing, either.” “Me neither,” Rainbow pointed out, looking peeved herself. “Me either,” put in Fluttershy. “But, oh, maybe I… forgot?” “No, you wouldn’t have,” Twilight responded, giving Fluttershy a reassuring smile. “It’s something they teach unicorns in school, sort of like what they teach pegasi about their history, and earth ponies about there’s.” “Yes,” Rarity nodded. “Of course, I’d only assumed it was all legends. Neighpon seemed too fantastic to be real. If it wasn’t for them, unicorn magic would be very different today indeed.” “I know,” mused Twilight. “Telekinetic theory… conjury… it all originated in Neighpon who knows how long ago; before there even was an Equestria, at least… Mother always used to tell me stories about it before bed when I was growing up. Growing up, I never thought it was a real place.” “I’m afraid,” Celestia put in, regain all of her subjects’ attention, “that it is not a myth. Neighpon is very much real, and at present, it is in danger.” She turned her gaze back to the letter. When she did so, something crossed her features – something Twilight and company were not used to seeing. Celestia looked almost… troubled. That couldn’t be right… could it? “Six hundred years ago,” Celestia began, “Neighpon’s greatest sorcerers closed the countries’ borders to the outside world, sealing itself off behind an enchanted fog nopony has ever been able to penetrate. The country has since remained in isolation, its fate not known to anypony – including myself. That is, until just recently.” After she paused, Celestia’s horn flashed brighter for a moment, and her magic pulled upon the cylinder’s bottom half. To everypony’s surprise, the whole cylinder split with a click, and unrolled into a long length of what appeared to be paper. Only… paper shouldn’t shimmer so much. It was as if it’d been inlaid with an incredibly thin layer of gold filament that shined even under the faintest of lights, making it seem almost laminated. “I only wish the news was less dire,” she said grimly. “This letter speaks of a great disaster that has struck the far east; a creature unlike anything they have ever encountered before has appeared within their country, destroying whole villages and causing untold mayhem, and they alone cannot overcome it. If this letter is to be believed, if nothing is done, their entire civilization could be at risk of annihilation. The country’s emperor himself has asked for my aid specifically in this matter to see his people safe.” All six mares looked between each other again, puzzled, and not a little tense. The picture being painted for them was not a very pretty one, that was for sure. A monster so powerful a nation of unicorns could not defeat it? It filled their hearts with dread just thinking about it. But while her friends reeled over the implications, Twilight herself had caught hold of something Celestia had said, which only served to perplex her more. “They… asked for your help?” Twilight repeated, frowning. “But if that’s true… why did you call for us? Why would you need our help?” While the rest of her friends voiced their agreement with her question, Twilight noticed something cross Celestia’s features that she’d never, in her many years of studying under her, seen before. For a brief moment, Celestia’s expression became… conflicted. That would’ve been enough to worry Twilight, even without the princess’s next words ringing in her ears. “I… cannot go,” Celestia admitted after a pause. “I would have the six of you go in my stead.” “What?” Twilight spoke up, taken aback. “But why? Wouldn’t somepony like you be more suited to this kind of thing?” An understanding smile crossed Celestia’s lips, but she still seemed almost sad. “Perhaps, but I fear that my presence there will only serve to do more harm than good.” All six ponies looked between themselves, completely at a loss. Celestia? Doing more harm than good? The concept was downright alien, like a temperamental Pinkie Pie, or an unathletic Rainbow. It just didn’t fit with their image of what the princess was, or how the world was supposed to work in general. “Uh… why is that”, Twilight asked, taking the diplomatic approach. Celestia obviously picked up on it, because her sad smile did not come back. “Few ponies know this, but Neighpon is only the name of the region,” she said. “The country itself has another name. In Equestrian, it is known simply as the Empire of the Sun.” Silence. All six ponies stared back at Celestia, completely at a loss for words. Even Twilight was left dumbfounded, her mouth hanging open. This, as it turned out, was something she had not known, and it left whatever comeback she could’ve said woefully inadequate. The regal alicorn gave them all a knowing look. “Do you see my predicament now, my little ponies?” she asked. “Wait,” Rainbow started, the first to recover her wits. “The Empire…” “… of the Sun?” Applejack finished, cocking her head. “Does that mean…?” Celestia flashed them both an understanding smile, having easily predicted where their assumptions would take them. And at the same time, she slowly and deliberately shook her head. “No, Applejack,” she said, fighting to keep her amusement in check. “I have had nothing to do with them, as strange as that might seem.” “But… how?” Pinkie asked, rubbing her chin in sheer confusion. Celestia had to fight to keep her bemusement in check. “Contrary to what some ponies might believe, I have not been around since the dawn of time,” she said. “There are some things in this world that are older than even I am.” Even after hearing Celestia say it, the idea was hard for Twilight to wrap her mind around. But there was one thing that did click in her mind. “Is… is that why Neighpon… or rather… the Empire of the Sun has never been on very good terms with Equestria?” she asked. “Because… of you?” Celestia gave her student a sad, weary smile in response, one that twisted Twilight’s chest. “Indeed it is. The Empire of the Sun predates Equestria by many centuries, and back then, it was the duty of unicorns – not myself – to raise and lower the sun in the sky and bring day to the world. Back then, it was a concerted effort to move the sun, involving many, many unicorns working together; not just here, but across the sea as well. Only the strongest, most influential unicorns were called upon to perform the task. For us, it created the noble families of early Equestria, most of which still exist today. For Neighpon, it brought the strongest individuals together, and together, they forged the Empire of the Sun, a kingdom of some of the greatest unicorn minds this world has ever seen, yet it was only in one field hat they truly excelled.” “Neighpon’s specialty was controlling the world around them,” Twilight explained, addressing her friends. “But instead of having pegasi control the weather and earth ponies harvest the land, they believed only unicorns could fulfill these duties. At least, according to what little historical data I could find. Almost everything we have left is more myth and legend than fact.” Celestia nodded. But when Twilight looked back at her, she saw that her mentor’s smile had slipped, replaced instead with something darker. “For all their innovations and contributions, however,” Celestia said, “it was their skill with astronomancy and their stewardship over the sun that was their pride; the very pillar of their civilization.” She looked up, locking eyes with Twilight. “After Luna and I rose to power… our relationship understandably soured. The ruling party at the time devoted themselves wholly to returning the stewardship of the sun to the ponies of Neighpon. Had they been closer to our borders, and had the eastern sea been less... hostile, a war between our countries would not have been out of the question.” “But… why?” asked Pinkie. When everypony looked at her, they saw a deeply confused mare, attempting to battle a concept that didn’t agree with her at all. “Why couldn’t everypony work something out? Why fight at all?” Celestia gave Pinkie a reassuring look, reaching down at the same time to pat the distraught pony’s head. “Sometimes, Pinkie,” she said softly, “differences are not so easily settled, and hurt pride is not so easily mended. Sometimes, it is not harmony that holds sway in a pony’s heart, but hatred that consumes it, blinding those to all other possibilities.” Celestia took a step back as Applejack and Fluttershy converged on Pinkie, putting their hooves around her as comfortingly as possible. “But this letter…,” continued Celestia, eying the scroll again. “For them to reach out to us for aid… perhaps it is a sign of change. It would be foolhardy of me to simply overlook it, especially after all this time.” “Six hundred years is a pretty long time to hold a grudge,” Rainbow remarked. “I bet nopony over there even remembers what they’re supposed to be mad about.” Twilight nodded. It was a real possibility, if maybe an optimistic one. “Maybe if we go and lend a helping hoof, they’ll realize that we’re not so bad after all.” Yet not everypony was convinced. Applejack scowled, pushing her mouth to one side as she thought. “Ah don’t know… After hearin’ nothin’ for centuries, then suddenly they want their sworn enemy’s help? Maybe Ah’m just thinkin’ about this too hard, but somethin’ ain’t addin’ up…” “Well, obviously they’re past the point where they can depend on their pride,” Rarity pointed out. “Even your ego has its limits, darling, and I can hardly think of a prouder mare in Equestria than you.” “Well… that’s true,” Applejack mumbled, not sure if she’d been praised or insulted – or both. “Ah just… ain’t convinced, that’s all.” Twilight looked towards Rarity, a troubled frown knitting her brows together. “Rarity… you do have a point there. Whatever has happened, it must’ve been so bad that they’d swallow their prides and ask for Celestia’s help. And six-hundred years ago, Luna had already become Nightmare Moon; they probably still assume that Equestria is still run by one princess, otherwise they might’ve turned to Luna instead, and sooner.” Celestia nodded. “The thought did cross my mind as well,” she said. “Whatever calamity has seized them, it is so terrible that they have felt the need to reach out to us, who they have not wished to speak to for centuries. But I feel that I must warn you all; the Empire of the Sun is unlike any place you have been before. Compared to Equestria, it is a hostile land rife with danger; the ponies who live there just as much so. And if it is as bad as the emperor’s letter suggests, you will find only strife and suffering there, and I would not subject anypony to that needlessly.” Twilight turned to give Celestia an inquisitive look. “Princess Celestia… what are you saying?” she asked. Celestia turned to give them all a look in turn. “The six of you are the only ponies I trust enough to see this mission through,” she said. “Had I any other option, however, I would not force this upon you. Princess Cadance and Shining Armor have their own kingdom to manage now, and I dare not send a larger force in case of how Neighpon might react. This situation is too delicate to make careless decisions, and only by stopping this creature can we hope to begin mending bridges properly.” “What about Princess Luna?” Rainbow asked. Celestia’s expression only became more complicated. “She… is unwilling,” she said, and nothing further on the matter, but Twilight couldn’t help but notice how she didn’t meet anypony’s eye when she said it. Seeing the regal princess so torn over one issue was not something Twilight was particularly enjoying. It didn’t bode well when Celestia’s confidence was even a little questionable. But instead of filling her heart with trepidation, Twilight stood up tall, a fire in her chest. “Don’t worry, princess,” she declared. “Just leave it to us. We’ll make sure the Empire is safe.” “Yeah!” piped up Rainbow fiercely. “We’ll kick that monster’s flank so hard it won’t know what hit it!” “Or,” Twilight said, fighting back a smile, “we can get Fluttershy to talk to it.” “Oh… well yeah… I suppose we could do that, too…” “M-me?” gasped Fluttershy, looking even more nervous than usual, like she always did whenever she suddenly found herself thrust into the spotlight. “B-but what if it’s a really big, really scary monster w-who eats ponies? O-or what if he doesn’t want to talk, or… or…” Rainbow immediately brightened. “Then we get with the flank-kicking!” “Yeah!” Pinkie cried out, so loud even the guards by the doors jumped a little. “And then they’ll forget all about hating us for no good reason, too!” “That’s the idea, sugarcube,” Applejack chuckled, grinning. At least the wind was back in the party pony’s sails. “As long as we got Fluttershy with us, there ain’t no critter that’ll give us trouble.” “I-I-I hope you’re right,” panicked Fluttershy, nibbling her lip nervously. Applejack smiled at her, then turned her attention elsewhere, looking towards Twilight instead. “Welp, if we’re goin’ on a trip across the sea, there’s gonna be some preparations that need gettin’ done. Odds are we ain’t gonna be home for a while; best we prepare now while we got the chance.” “Oh, right,” Twilight said. She hadn’t thought about that until then. The journey to the Crystal Empire had been one thing; an overnight trip by train, cooped up with an excited Pinkie Pie and an unhealthy amount of misgivings . Sailing across the forbidding eastern sea… that would be something else entirely. “We’ll need supplies, whatever material we can get on Neighpon – factual material, mind you – find some petsitters…” Celestia couldn’t help but smile at the group, already lost in their own little world over what would need to be done for the coming journey. She didn’t realize it, but that was the first truly genuine smile she’d had all morning long. “Thank you all,” she said. “I will leave this matter in your capable hooves. If there is anything you need, do not hesitate to ask.” “Uh, question,” spoke up Rainbow all of a sudden, pulling everypony up short. “Yes?” Celestia asked, curious. There was a look of uncertainty on the usually brash pegasus’s face as she said, “How exactly are we going to get to Neighpon when nopony is crazy enough to sail out that way anymore?” It was a good question, she thought; one that hadn’t yet been answered, and one that’d been weighing on her mind since learning about the country’s location. Namely, because she didn’t fancy becoming another casualty of the ever-turbulent eastern sea. Celestia, thankfully, didn’t seem thrown by her question. “The same way the emperor’s letter reached us,” she said, as if it seemed obvious. “An imperial vessel is docked near the coast of Los Pegasus, and is awaiting my arrival. I will send a missive ahead of you explaining the change in plans. Hopefully they will understand.” That, however, only made Rainbow more perplexed. “A ship? Is… is it safe to sail across the eastern sea?” This time, Celestia’s smile was all-too knowing. “It all depends on what kind of sailing one does.” ~~***~~ The rest of the day passed in a whirlwind for the six mares. With so much to do and so little time to do it in, each set about their chores fervently, aided in no small part by Twilight’s organizational prowess. All six returned to Ponyville in a state of uncommon silence, and once they reached the town, all six went their separate ways with hardly a word spoken to each other. They only agreed to meet back in front of the station in time for the next train bound for Los Pegasus; a delay of nearly two hours. Two hours to set their affairs in order and prepare for what was likely going to be the longest journey of their lives. While Applejack rushed off to her family farm and Fluttershy soared off to her cottage, Twilight made a bee-line for the library at a steady gallop, Spike on her back. “So… what are we looking for?” he asked while holding on tightly. “Anything relating to Neighpon or the Empire of the Sun,” Twilight answered. “There must be something I missed… There’s bound to be a book or two on the Empire I overlooked. But now that I know what to look for, we're bound to find more material worth looking into, and the more we know, the better prepared we'll be, right?” “I guess,” Spike said, trying to keep up. He wasn’t doing a very good job, however. “And we should probably grab the first aid kit from the kitchen,” she added. “I hope we won’t need it, but better to be prepared. Oh, and maybe…” Spike’s attention drifted away from the purple pony’s ramblings, no longer interested in the topic. He knew what his role in this whole ordeal would be; to stay out of Twilight’s way and pitch in where he could. Instead, he let himself think about other things. While he hadn’t been present for the group’s meeting with the princess – something he was used to by now – he had picked up on the particulars about what’d been discussed. And out of all of them, something kept worrying at the back of his mind; a little doubt that he shouldn’t have had, and yet one that wouldn’t leave him alone regardless. It was only when they’d rounded the last corner and the library came into sight that he was finally able to voice the thing that’d been nagging at him. “Twilight… what if Fluttershy can’t talk some sense into this guy?” he asked. “What are we going to do then?” Twilight, however, didn’t look all that worried. “Spike, there isn’t an animal out there that won't listen to her. Besides, even if she can be a little…” “…Fluttershy?” Spike offered. “… Yes,” Twilight admitted grudgingly. “Even if she can be a little bit… Fluttershy… I know she’ll come through for us in the end, like she always does.” “Yeah, but…,” Spike mumbled, biting his scaly lip. “What if… she can’t?” Twilight didn’t respond for a while, not until she’d slowed to a stop at the library’s front door. “Well… we’ll just have to think of something else, then,” she said, pretending all the while like she didn’t, in fact, have a lump in her throat all the while. ~~***~~ Rainbow Dash leaned stiffly against the side of the train station entrance, watching the drizzly road beyond. Beside her rested a pack, the kind she usually took camping. It was kind of grubby and stained, but at the moment, it was also bulging with all manner of things, making it look lumpy and oddly shaped. It hadn’t taken her long to pack her things, and already she was regretting that. Standing around for half an hour with nothing to do was a very mentally taxing thing, more so than she ever thought possible. Thoughts of grand adventure, flank kicking and general amazing awesomeness had been flooding her head the whole way back to Ponyville, only to lead up to her hurrying up… and waiting. Again she repositioned, shuffling over to the other side of the threshold, eyes scanning for any trace of a pink mane, a yellow set of wings, an orange coat, purple profile, whiny voice – anything to tip her off that her friends were on their way. Traffic to and from the station was practically non-existent, and with nothing to do, Rainbow was quickly turning stir-crazy. Again she checked the clock – ten-til four – and glanced back out, squirming restlessly. At last – at long last – she spotted somepony. Applejack came galloping down the main road, totally ignorant of the drizzle; mostly because she seemed to be wearing a bright yellow parka that hung around her like some heavy cloak. She was carrying not only two saddlebags full to the brim with Celestia-knows-what, but also a rucksack across her back that seemed even more bloated with goods. “Hey Rainbow,” Applejack greeted with a smile. “Been here long?” “Nah,” Dash bluffed, waving a dismissive hoof. “Not long. Anyway, what took you?” The laden earth pony moved up beside her. She was a little red in the face and short of breath from running with so much weight, but she hardly looked like she’d warmed up besides. Still, it was an obvious relief when she shrugged the rucksack off her back, producing an unexpectedly loud series of bangs and clatters, like she'd just dropped a kitchen's worth of pots and pans. “Simple,” Applejack said back, looking unexpectedly grumpy. “Apple Bloom. She’s been makin’ a real pest of herself the moment she learned Ah wouldn’t be comin’ home fer a while. Had ta keep double-checkin’ my bags ta make sure she didn’t try ta stow away in one. That got old real quick.” She sighed, taking a seat on the ground. “Though… Ah can’t blame her. It’s gonna be tough bein’ away for so long. Big Mac’s gonna have ta handle Apple Buck season all by himself, and there’s no tellin’ what Apple Bloom will get up to. Just thinkin’ about it’s got me more worried than Winona at the vet.” She then turned to Rainbow, giving her a quizzical look. “What about you, sugarcube?” “Oh, yeah,” Rainbow chuckled uncomfortably, ruffling her wings. “You know… lots going on at home. Mom and Dad weren’t too thrilled, but they gave in. Not like they can go against Princess Celestia, right?” Applejack, however, merely crooked an eyebrow. “Really?” “Yeah!” protested Rainbow. “Why are we talking so much about me, anyway? What about – oh! Hey Fluttershy!” Applejack looked around, just as a yellow pony touched down lightly in the shadow of the station. Like her, Fluttershy was clad in rain gear, only hers was the lightest shade of pink Applejack had ever seen. She, too, had bulging saddlebags tucked beneath her parka, though she seemed to have packed the lightest of all three of them. “How’d it go?” Rainbow asked. “Did you find somepony to look after your cottage while you’re away?” Fluttershy nodded as she moved into cover. “Oh, yes. Everypony wasn't too happy to hear I was leaving, though, but we won’t be gone too long.” Then she paused, anxiety crossing her eyes. “…Right?” Applejack shrugged. “The sooner we deal with whatever this monster is, the sooner we can come back,” she said. “Yeah, so not long,” Rainbow finished confidently. “Don’t worry, Fluttershy. This’ll be cake.” “I-if you say so,” Fluttershy mumbled, not sounding very convinced herself. “Still,” Applejack commented, looking out over the thatched roofs and familiar vistas of Ponyville. “It’s goin’ ta be strange, leavin’ all this behind.” Rainbow shrugged in response, unbothered. “What’s the big deal? We’ve been going all over Equestria for months now. How’s this going to be any different.” Applejack gave her an even look in response. “Because we ain’t goin’ ta be in Equestria no more,” she pointed out. Rainbow just blew her off, waving a hoof. “Pff, I bet we won’t even know the difference.” Before Applejack or Fluttershy could respond, they were both interrupted by a brilliant flash of violet light, catching them all by surprise. And out of that light, Twilight popped into existence. She looked panicky and restess, looking around quickly at her surroundings. “I’m not late, am I? I better not be late,” she worried. Applejack and Rainbow exchanged loaded look. “Yer fine, sugarcube,” Applejack answered patiently, drawing the fretful alicorn’s attention. “… Ya find everything?” She only found herself asking because Twilight didn’t have one bag with her. She had several, a few of them sporting the telltale jagged lumps of book corners. One was so stuffed it could’ve been hiding a whole other pony inside it. Spike was clinging to Twilight's back, looking exhausted for reasons none of the assembled ponies had the heart to discover. He didn’t say a word as the one he was riding powered her horn, and magically hefted all of her luggage into the air like they were actually filled with helium. “Sorry, I didn’t have enough time to sort through everything,” she said, sounding embarrassed. “So, I just grabbed everything I could that had anything to do with the Empire and packed it. Turns out there’s more than I’d expected!” “She’s not kidding,” Spike grumbled, climbing down off her back. “I figure I’ll do a little studying on the journey,” Twilight explained. “The more we know about what we’re dealing with, the better.” “Well, that makes sense, I guess,” Rainbow mumbled. “So, I guess that just leaves…” “Sorry I’m late!” Everypony turned around, just as Rarity made her grand entrance onto the scene. She, and her mountain of luggage, courteously carried along with three stallion who were clearly questioning their life choices by that point. Despite the gloomy weather, Rarity was dressed in her best, widest brimmed sun hat, sunglasses and matching scarf. All in all, she looked more fit for going on holiday, rather than setting out for battle. “I simply could not think what to bring!” she complained. “You were late because of clothes?” Rainbow questioned, utterly stunned. Rarity gave the pegasus a look like she’d offended her. “Why, of course, darling! First impressions are always important, you know! But how am I to make a charming first impression when I don’t even know what kind of styles the Neighponese wear? We are trying to win hearts, darling, not turn stomachs! So,” she went on, turning to gesture grandly at the heaps of suitcases and bags, along with the stallions and their shaking legs, “I decided that I simply had to take as much material with me as possible, and I’ll make more suitable attire once we get there and see for ourselves what we’re dealing with.” Rainbow could only exchange a wordless conversation with Applejack, one appalled pegasus to another understanding earth pony, before she closed her eyes, rubbed the bridge of her muzzle with a hoof, and muttered something about “frou-frou” to herself like it was a foul expletive. Twilight eyed the copious amounts of luggage dubiously, but thought better of arguing; they didn’t have time to try to talk Rarity out of it. They’d need more than a hoof-full of minutes to accomplish that endeavor. She would just have to overlook it; there was more pressing matters to deal with first. “Alright, that just leaves Pinkie Pie, then,” she said, looking around. “Has anypony seen her?” “Present!” All five mares jumped in alarm, wheeling around to face not the road, but the train platform itself. Nopony would ever know how they missed her until then – Rainbow most of all, considering she’d been there for half an hour already and never heard a peep or spotted so much as a single flash of pink. But now it was all they could look at; a pink, rambunctious party pony, sitting merrily on the edge of a gargantuan suitcase, that had – most alarmingly – the muzzle of a cannon sticking out of one end. It looked so absurdly like some fat, squat beast chewing on the stump of a cigar that for a moment Twilight would’ve bet money that that was exactly what it was. “Good news, everpony!” Pinkie cheered, beaming from ear to ear when she reached down and patted her incredibly oversized suitcase, “I found one that fit!” Thankfully, the group was spared from trying to come up with a response. Before anyone could even think of what to say, a loud whistle cut through the afternoon air, the sound of a chugging steam engine right behind it. ~~***~~ By some miracle – which involved no small amount of begging, actually – all six mares and their luggage found its way safely onto the train before it departed again, though it was a narrow thing. For reasons that escaped Pinkie, the crew seemed oddly reluctant to help her stow her baggage. But claims of supposed safety issues went unheeded, and eventually everything was squared away, one way or another. By the time all of them got situated in their seats, the train was starting to come to life. Excitement buzzed through the group, finding its way out through their lively conversation, as well as their restlessness. It was starting to sink in now; a new adventure awaited them, and it was only one train ride away. “This is so exciting!” cried out Pinkie, positively vibrating with repressed energy. “I know!” Twilight delighted, clopping her hooves together eagerly. “We’re going to be the first ponies across the eastern sea in centuries! To think I’m actually going to Neighpon of all places!” "And we're going to save the day, too!" enthused Spike, bouncing in his seat. "Whatever's making a mess over there won't know what hit 'em!" “Yeah! This is going to be so awesome!” cried Rainbow. “Empire of the Sun, here we come!” The six mares were so caught up in their own excitement, heads filled with fantasies of adventure, that none of them thought to look out the window one last time as their home town faded into the distance. Only Fluttershy thought to turn to the window to catch one last glimpse of home, just a heartbeat before the train rounded a bend. She only saw the briefest glimpse of what she thought might’ve been yellow thatched roofs under a gloomy sky, but before she could find out for sure, it was gone, and they were speeding off to parts unknown, and unbeknownst to them, towards a future that was just as murky.