Chapter 06: The Journey Begins
Soon, in the castle of Canterlot, within the Princess's chambers, Princess Celestia, the ruler... I mean, Co-Ruler of Equestria, was looking at her To Do list, checking everything off.
"Let's see, new carpets... check." Princess Celestia said. "Banners cleaned, check. Ate Bananas, Check. Why do I always have a strange craving for bananas?" Then one of the guards came in.
"Your Highness, you have a visitor." The guard said.
"At this hour?" Celestia asked. "Well bring them in."
"Yes your highness... Presenting Princess Twilight Spa-" The guard said as he opened the door.
"You don't have to do that." A voice said.
"Oh sorry Princess Sparkle..." The guard said and then turned to the door. "You may enter." Soon, Twilight Sparkle slowly came into the room.
"Twilight?" Celestia asked.
"Hello Princess Celestia." Twilight said. The guard looked at her and at Celestia.
"I'll uh.... leave you two alone." The guard said as he went left the chambers.
"What a surprise Twilight." Celestia said. "I didn't expect to see you this even-" But then Celestia knew that Twilight wasn't feeling alright. "Are you feeling ok?"
"Not really." Twilight said. "I thought it was best If I came to see you."
"What seems to be the problem?" Celestia asked. Twilight turned her head. "It appears that you were heartbroken..."
"Well yes... I was dumped by my boyfriend... Flash Sentry." Twilight said.
"Oh... the new guy?" Celestia asked.
"Yes..." Twilight said. "Thought he isn't technically new but... yes."
"Ahhh... the old heartbreaking emotion." Celestia said. "It gets to everypony I believe."
"Yeah..." Twilight said.
"Oh Twilight, I can understand what you're going through." Celestia said. "I felt heartbroken one time as well..." She looked at a mirror, which showed her reflection, but in her mind, she saw a black handsome pony, a pony from another dimension, a pony she fell in love with.
"Well, that's not what's been bugging me the most Princess." Twilight said.
"Go on." Celestia said. "I'm all ears."
"Princess... I've made a shocking discover... about myself." Twilight said.
"You have?" Celestia asked.
"Yes... I learned that... that I'm Adopted." Twilight said. "I'm not Night Light and Velvet's daughter... They're not my real parents..." Celestia looked at her, though the princess would feel some kind of shock by this, only a tiny bit. But she did show some surprise...
"Really... I should say that surprises me but..." Celestia said, but upon hear that, Twilight looked at the princess... Did she know about it all along too?
"Let me guess, you knew about it?" Twilight asked.
"Yes..." Celestia said. "But they never told me about it.."
"But how did you know?" Twilight asked.
"Because I figured it out." Celestia said. This definitely got Twilight's attention.
"How?" Twilight asked.
"It was the day when you first became my faithful student." Celestia said. "When Night Light and Velvet said that you were their daughter, at first I believed it. But I began to feel a bit suspicious when I saw your raw power, when you performed such powerful magic."
"Oh yeah, when I accidently turned my parents into cacti and caused Spike to grow big." Twilight said. "But how does that have to do with anything?"
"You see Twilight, while Night Light, Velvet, and Shining Armor's magic is strong, your's is much more powerful then theirs, and also way more stronger any other pony's magic, almost matching mine and my sister's. While I managed to help you control it during your time as my student, I began to check your family records, only to see that there was no record of you ever listed born in Canterlot, nor Equestria."
"No record of me ever born..." Twilight said. "But they told me that I was born four weeks before the Summer Sun Celebration. Well, I guess they lied about that too. But you found out on your own."
"Yes, I did." Celestia said. "During that time, I asked your parents about you, and as I began to ask about the magic and the family records... They confessed that you weren't their biological daughter, only adopted."
"Well, Why didn't you tell me back then?" Twilight asked.
"You were just a filly back then Twilight." Celestia said. "Seeing a young filly like you who had determination for a great purpose, I didn't want it to ruin your life And Velvet requested that I wouldn't tell you and so... I kept it a secret." Twilight turned her head in a way of both disgust and shame.
"So they had you lie to me too." Twilight said. The Sun Princess just looked at her and then at the ground.
"Twilight, please don't hold a grudge toward your parents-" Celestia said.
"They're Not My Parents!" Twilight said in a loud voice of anger, almost startling the princess. Twilight was more surprised herself. Sure she's a bit mad, but she never yelled in front of the princess before... not in her whole life. Twilight lowered her head in shame.
"I'm sorry Princess..." Twilight said, only to feel a hoof on her shoulder.
"I don't blame you Twilight." Celestia said. "You do have the right the be mad... but is blaming it on those you care about going to help you?"
"No..." Twilight said as tears formed in her eyes.
"I'm sorry Twilight..." Celestia said.
"It's not that princess." Twilight said. "It's just that... I'm just going through a terrible phase right now..." Twilight couldn't help but shed tears, and cry again softly. Celestia hugged her former faithful student, in hopes to cheer her up.
"First, I was dumped by my boyfriend... and now the whole secret about me being adopted is just... just.... Oh it's so hard." She just sighed and turned away, for she couldn't figure out what to say anymore. Princess Celestia could see that she was sad.
"Listen Twilight, I don't want you to think terrible of your adopted parents." Celestia said. "They didn't want you to feel bad about the whole thing, especially since you became such a wonderful mare." Twilight looked at the ground. She knew that Celestia was right, that Night Light and Velvet couldn't leave her when they found her. They just wanted her to be happy, so she can have a life. Twilight formed a weak smile.
"I know princess." Twilight said. "I know they didn't mean any harm... They brought me into their home and raised me as if I was their real daughter."
"And not only that, many good things came out of it." Celestia said.
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked.
"Well think about it." Celestia said. "If they haven't brought you into their home, you would've never became my student, nor would you have friends, or stand in here right now." Twilight looked at the princess and then began thinking.
"You're right princess." Twilight said. "They gave me a home when nopony couldn't. And not only that, I became your student, I made so many friends, I have a wonderful brother and sister-in-law, and I'm also a princess... and I had you as not just a teacher, but as a friend as well."
"See?" Celestia said with a smile. "Everything did turn out well for you."
"Yeah, well except for what happened between me and Flash, but heh, I was getting over him anyway." Twilight said. She looked at the Sun Princess once again and hugged her.
"Thank you Princess." Twilight said.
"Anytime Twilight." Celestia said. But as Twilight released the hug, she began thinking again. There was just one thing that she hadn't figured out... where did she come from?
"There's one more thing I haven't figured out..." Twilight said. "Where did I come from?"
"That is a very interesting question Twilight." Celestia said. Something else hit Twilight's mind... her dreams, which was another thing she wanted to tell the Princess.
"Princess..." Twilight said. "There was also another thing I wanted to tell you."
"Then speak my friend." Celestia said.
"I've... I've been having these dreams..." Twilight said.
"Dreams you say?" Celestia asked.
"Yes..." Twilight said.
"What dreams?" A voice asked behind Twilight, startling her and causing her to flap her wings with enough force to send Twilight high in the air and bump her head on the ceiling. She turned her head to see an alicorn pony. It wasn't Cadance, it was a different pony, who was a bit taller than Cadance, but a bit shorter than Celestia. Her skin was dark blue, and her glowing flowing mane was blue, and her cutie mark was of a cresent moon. It was Celestia's younger sister, Luna, the Princess of the Night.
"Oh, did I startle you again?" Luna asked.
"Um... Yes." Twilight said as she decended to the ground. "Could've gave me a heads up when you came inside?"
"I didn't want to disrupt the conversation." Luna said.
"Sister, I thought that you were still outside raising the moon." Celestia said.
"I did already." Luna said. "Now what's this about dreams?" Twilight looked at Celestia.
"Um... Princess, no offense, I didn't count on Luna comin-" Twilight said.
"Twilight, I think it's best that she knows too." Celestia said. "Everything I know, Luna must know too." Twilight lowered her head.
"Ok, before I begin, do you want the short version, long version or the medium version?" Twilight asked.
"All of it." Luna said. Twilight sighed once more.
"Ok, medium version." Twilight said. "Ok, today I was on a date with Flash Sentry and apparently he dumped me to go on a trip, and so I felt depressed and my brother accidently made it worse, resulting with me leaving and going into the woods, where me and Spike were ambushed by Diamond Dogs, and all of a sudden, I begin to use these fire-based abilities, which includes shooting fireballs from my mouth. So I scared off the Diamond dogs, we went back to tell my parents of what happened, and they told me that I was adopted, and so I came here to speak my troubles with your sister... there, I'm finished." Luna looked at her with surprised, as did Celestia.
"Well... for once, I am sort of speechless..." Luna said.
"Yeah, a lot has been happening to me lately." Twilight said.
"But you did leave out these magical powers you developed..." Celestia said looking at Twilight, who then felt a bit nervous.
"Oh... yes, I was also gonna tell you that too." Twilight said nervously, with Celestia looking at her with some suspicion.
"Twilight, it seems there are some things you're not telling me." Celestia said. "What of these powers you've been having?"
"Well I can't really explain the new magic spell I tapped into." Twilight said. "All I did was get mad because the Diamond Dogs were trying to hurt Spike... but then I just fired out a fireball, and my hooves were also glowing, emitting fire as I attacked them..."
"So, you don't know how you obtained them?" Celestia asked.
"No... not a clue." Twilight said.
"And the dreams you've been having?" Luna asked.
"Well, the dreams are also a bit hard to explain..." Twilight said. "But truth be told, they didn't feel like dreams, they felt like nightmares." Twilight said. "The one I had two days ago was of how Velvet and Night Light finding me in that cardboard box, and there was some pony, being chased by another pony. It's still a bit blurry though. And the dream I had last night was just, more crazy than the last one." Luna looked at her and then at her sister.
"As much as I know about dreams Twilight, is that sometimes dreams can be created from past events and memories from the past." Luna said. "The dreams you had may be memories of the past." Twilight looked at the Moon Princess.
"So, you're saying, that I had a dream of the past?" Twilight asked.
"A dream made from a memory that was locked away inside your mind." Luna said. Twilight looked at the ground, seeing a connection. Velvet and Night Light confessed to her that she was their adopted child, and those dreams made from the memories of her past were trying to tell her that.
"So the dreams were trying to tell me that I was adopted..." Twilight said. "Is that really possible?"
"Yes..." Luna said.
"Strange..." Twilight said.
"And what of the dream from last night?" Luna asked.
"Last night?" Twilight asked. "Well, last night's was more scary. The entire city of Canterlot was... in ruins... and this monster..." She closed her eyes... "There's nothing more."
"Tell me Twilight... Did you have any other dreams like this before?" Celestia asked. Twilight opened her eyes in some sort of realization.
"Now that you mention it... there was one dream I had a week ago." Twilight said. "It was of another alicorn... But it wasn't either of you two, nor Cadance... I think it was me... flying across the sea, toward some place. It didn't look like Equestria, nor was it Canterlot. It was of a different Castle, in a far away land." Twilight said. Hearing this made Celestia silently gasp.
"The Lost Lands." Celestia said.
"The what?" Twilight asked.
"Sister, do you mean?" Luna asked.
"Yes." Celestia said as she quickly went to her dresser, and pulled out a scroll.
"Sister, would you kindly leave me and Twilight alone please?" Celestia asked. Luna was a bit confused by this request, but nodded her head as she left the room, leaving Twilight and Celestia the only ones left in the room.
"Princess, what are these... Lost Lands?" Twilight asked.
"The Lands that are far out from Equestria." Celestia said. "Lands never visited before by anypony. These lands are not like our own. Though they do have different lifestyles like we do, they still differ from Equestria. Many stories about them were told, that there is forms of violence, vicious monsters populate the lands, and magic unlike our own. One day there was a herde of pony explorers who have set sail to see of their existance, but no pony came back... Some say they were lost, and there were no survivors..."
"No... survivors..." Twilight said. "But where do the stories come from?"
"Well, it could be theories produced about the islands, but... there isn't much evidence." Celestia said. Twilight began thinking... her parents and doctors said that there was no pony in the system that matched her DNA... Could Twilight have come... from those Lost Lands? Twilight's curiosity built up... she knew what she had to do. It could be a foalish move, but she had to know.
"I'm leaving." Twilight said.
"What?" Celestia asked.
"I'm leaving Equestria to find out who I am... and where I belong." Twilight said.
"Twilight, You can't be serious." Celestia said.
"Sorry to disappoint you Princess, but I'm dead serious." Twilight said. "These lost lands outside of Equestria may be my only link for me to know where I came from."
"But Twilight, no other pony has ever went across the borders of Equestria before." Celestia said. "In fact, no pony has ever saw the Lost Lands and Never came back. It's too dangerous."
"I know it is... maybe it is.. but My gut tells me that I came from those outlands." Twilight said.
"Twilight-" Celestia said.
"Princesses, Please hear me out." Twilight said. "I just found out that I'm an adopted pony. How am I going to live with myself without knowing who my real parents are? You're the one who told me that there is a time when a pony must take a quest to learn more about him or herself, and that everypony has a path that they must choose. I need to do this princess... It isn't just something I want to do, it's something I have to do. This is the path I must and will walk, and nothing is going to change my mind." Princess Celestia looked at her once faithful student, who turned into a princess not long ago. The Sun Princess then sighed.
"Are you sure you want to take this quest?" Princess Celestia asked. "No matter how dangerous, or how much the truth could affect you, even if you might never come back?"
"I'm sure." Twilight said with confidence. "I'm ready to know the truth of who I really am, who my real parents are, and where I came from." The Princess couldn't help but smile, knowing that Twilight is ready to face the trials up ahead.
"Very well Twilight." Celestia said. "You can go see what's out beyond Equestria, and you can learn your beginning." Twilight smiled and bowed.
"Thank you Princess." Twilight said, and then she left. Princess Celestia soon turned toward from the door and then looked out the window.
"She's ready to know the truth, but will she accept it... and will she face the trials ahead?" Celestia thought.
The next day, Twilight had her saddlebag packed with things she might need along the way. Some toothpaste and a toothbrush, some food, and of course, a couple books. A survival guide, a journal to keep her records on what she'll see out there, and a book that contained some stories in them, which included Nyx of the Night, her favorite story. She told everypony, her family, and her friends that she was leaving Canterlot... well, she said that she was leaving Equestria. Her friends were a bit startled, but they knew that she wanted to do this, and that she wanted to learn where she came from. Night Light and Velvet were a bit reluncted at first, but they knew that this was probably for the best. Since they told her the truth, it's probably best that she head off to know who her real parents are.
"My, you're off to go beyond Equestria?" Applejack asked. "That's amazing Sugarcube!"
"Yeah." Twilight said. "It's kinda exciting."
"I bet it's gonna be so cool that you're going to see what's out there!" Rainbow Dash said. "I bet it's gonna be Mysterious, in a Radical Way!"
"I Do Hope you find the place where you came from!" Pinkie Pie said. "But then again, you probably won't find your home and probably die trying, or you might discover your parents are actually crazy lunatics, or farmers, or monsters, or vicious evil-"
"Pinkie Pie Please, don't get carried away with that." Rarity said. "There's nothing to worry about Twilight."
"Are you sure you don't want us to come with you?" Fluttershy asked.
"I'm sure." Twilight said. "It's not that I don't want you guys to. It's just I don't want you girls to get hurt. This is something I have to do by myself." Her friends looked at her, and then at each other.
"Don't worry, I'll come back soon... hopefully." Twilight said. The girls sighed in relief.
"Well, we're happy for you Twilight." Applejack said.
"Oh, just be sure you take care of yourself." Fluttershy said.
"Thanks girls..." Twilight said. "You all are the best friends I've ever had." They then shared a group hug, of course Pinkie Pie pulled them all in for a hug. As she let them go, Twilight turned to see her brother, who had his head down.
"So... I guess this is goodbye?" Shining said.
"It's not goodbye Shining, at least I don't believe it is." Twilight said. "I'm just going on a little quest to learn who I am..."
"I know... but..." Shining said.
"But what?" Twilight asked.
"Look, I'm really sorry about yesterday." Shining said. "I didn't mean to say that whole thing about... you know who..."
"It's alright Shining..." Twilight said. "And I do respect you looking out for me."
"I know, I know... but It's just that you're going on your own." Shining said. "First you become Princess Celestia's private student, then the Bearer of the Element of Magic, and now a Princess.. You're growing up so fast."
"I know... I know... but I'm not the only one." Twilight said, poking her brother in the hoof, and the two laugh. "And don't worry, you'll always be my BBBFF."
"What?" Shining asked.
"It's Best Big Brother Friend Forever... geez, ponies don't understand Acroynams anymore." Twilight said.
"Oh, I knew that." Shining Armor said. "And you'll always be my BLSFF."
"Huh?" Twilight asked.
"You know, Best Little Sister Friend Forever." Shining said.
"Right!" Twilight said as she hugged Shining, who returned the hug, but it was tight.
"Um... you can let go Shining." Twilight said. Shining soon quickly released his sister.
"Sorry, kinda wasn't myself there." Shining said with a smile. He quickly turned away, lowering his head. Twilight knew that he wasn't feeling ok... Seeing that he'll miss her, Twilight gives him another hug.
"I'll miss you." Twilight said.
"I'll miss you too." Shining said.
"I'll always be with you." Twilight said.
"Thanks Twilie." Shining said as they released the hug, and he soon went back to the house. Princess Cadance approaches Twilight.
"You stay safe now." Cadance said as she hugged Twilight, and she returned the hug.
"Thanks... be sure to keep an eye on my brother." Twilight said. "I bet he's not gonna be focused while I'm gone."
"Hopefully with our foal coming very soon, he'll probably won't worry about you too much." Cadence said.
"Right." Twilight said. The young alicorn turned to see Spike slowly approaching her.
"So... you're leaving huh.." Spike said.
"Yeah... I'm leaving." Twilight said. Spike lifted his head toward her.
"I wish I could come with you." Spike said.
"Me too, but I have to do this myself Spike." Twilight said. "And you need to stay here, where you truely belong. Besides, I want you to look after my... well... my adopted parents... for me." Spike couldn't help but lower his head. He was going to indeed miss her very much. They were friends for like ever since he was born. She hatched him out of the egg, she took care of him, and she made him her number one assistant.
"Ok..." Spike said. "Just promise me that you'll be back."
"I will." Twilight said as she hugged the baby dragon, who hugged her tightly. "Um... Spike, you can let go now." Spike then released the hug.
"Sorry..." Spike said.
"It's ok." Twilight said.
"Well, good luck Twilight." Spike said. He then walked away, with a sad worried look on his face. Twilight noticed this.
"Don't worry about him Twilight, he'll be fine." Velvet said. She then noticed that Twilight was looking at the ground. "What's wrong Twilight?"
"What's wrong is that I'm leaving you all." Twilight said. "I just have a gut feeling that I might never see you guys again."
"Don't be daunted Twilight, we know you'll come back." Velvet said. "As long as you believe in yourself, you'll see us again." Twilight looked at her and made a weak smile.
"Yeah... You're right." Twilight said.
"Now you take care of yourself, and use that new power of yours wisely." Velvet said. "All gifts can come with a price."
"Oh don't worry about her, you know how so concerned she is." Night Light said. "You take care now."
"Thank you." Twilight said as she hugged them both. She then turned to see Princess Celestia, and then bowed before her.
"Princess... I just wanted to say that... that I am honored to have had you as a teacher..." Twilight said. Celestia smiled and gave her former student a hug.
"Take care now..." Celestia said. "I expect the journey to be long." Twilight nodded.
"Twilight..." Celestia said.
"Yes?" Twilight asked.
"I just want to say... I'm really proud to have had you as my Most Faithful Student." Celestia said. Twilight was touched, and then she gave the princess a hug.
"Thank you Princess." Twilight said. Soon, the two released the hug, and Twilight headed off to where her journey took her... mostly to the edge of Equestria, to start her real journey to the Lost Lands to learn who she is... Celestia watched Twilight leaving, as her sister Princess Luna stood beside her.
"You think Twilight is ready for this?" Luna asked. "To go to places that we've never went to ourselves? To find out who her real family is?"
"She's ready Luna." Celestia said. "Twilight was ready to be my student. She was ready to learn about Friendship, she was ready to defeat Discord, and even stop King Sombra. She was ready to be a Princess and defeat Tirek. She's ready to know the truth of her real parents and who she really is... But accepting the truth will be her greatest challenge of all."
"But what if she doesn't accep-" Luna said.
"She will..." Celestia said. The two watched the sun rising in Twilight's direction.
It took almost a whole day for Twilight to get to part of the edge of Equestria. She decided that the best way was to take the train and ride and hike all the way to Tall Tale. She took the morning train, heading to her destination, passing the Unicorn Range, stopping at Yanhoover, and then hiked all the way past Smokey Mountain, and making it to Tall Tale. Soon, Twilight managed to reach the edge of Tall Tale, She is standing on part of the cliff, looking at the ocean...
"Well, made it to the edge of Tall Tale... now to use that Magic Balloon spell..." Twilight said. Then her horn began to glow as she picked up materials to make a a hot air balloon. Not to her notice, high from a distance at the top of Smokey Mountains... a strange looking creature was looking down at a check list... checking things off one at a time. The creature was technically speaking a Draconequus. It was Discord, the Spirit of Chaos and one of the biggest threats to Equestria, or at least he was until he had a change of heart after one of Twilight and her friends' adventures.
"Now let's see... Breakfast with me, Check." Discord said, checking off everything. "Making singing Chocolate Rain clouds?" Discord looks to see a small cloud over the mountain raining chocolate, which was singing Chocolate Rain.
"Check." Discord said. "Made some skeletons walking and singing and having some pony in a Bat suit fight them... Check. Now for tonight's schedule." He then threw the check list aside, which exploded with an old 1940s sound explosion. He then pulled out a schedule book.
"Ok let's see..." Discord said. "4:00, bring some of the Unicorn Range flowers alive. 4:30, stare at the Caves of the Abyss. 5:00, go the Manehattan... oooh the Big Apple. 6:30, exercise. 7:00, dinner with Fluttershy, oh I hope I don't have to cancel that again. 8:00, wrestle with myself naked... though I'm not wearing any clothes right now... looks like I'm booked." He then began thinking.
"Now that I mention it." Discord said. "Of course, I could just move the wrestling at 9:00, and I'll still have more time to bring flowers to life, stare at the ceiling, go to Manehattan, exercise and still eat with Fluttershy early." Discord then got a bit frustrated, throwing his schedule book aside.
"Oh Come On, Can something interesting happen Already?" Discord asked. He then heard his schedule book explode.
"That's not what I meant!" Discord called. But soon, he turns his head to see Twilight finishing her Magic Hot Air Balloon...
"Well my my... what do we have here?" Discord said to himself. "What is Twilight Sparkle doing all the way here at the edge of Tall Tale?" Then suddenly he heard something behind him. He turned his head to see something straight at him. It was... a Firework!
"WHOA!" Discord shouted as he flew out of the way and the Firework missed him. Back at the ground, Twilight's horn then stopped glowing as she smiled, with the magic balloon finished.
"That was easy." Twilight said. "Now to get on an-"
"TWILIGHT!" someone called. Twilight turned her head to see the giant firework coming toward her location.
"What the..." Twilight thought. Then the Firework a few yards in front of her, and admited a small explosion, that sends a creature right on the ground, right in front of her. It was Spike!
"Ow... I'm ok... that didn't go as expected." Spike said.
"Spike?" Twilight asked. "Wh...what are you doing here?"
"I... I wanted to make sure you didn't leave yet." Spike said.
"Wh... How did you get here anyway?" Twilight asked.
"Ok, allow me to explain." Spike said. "You see, I saw that you already took the train, heading to Tall Tale, so I had a little help from one of the Pegasuses that came to Canterlot with Dr. Whooves. They were in Canterlot looking for somethin-"
"Spike, back to where you were saying how you got here." Twilight said.
"Oh right." Spike said. "Anyway, He and Derpy helped me find a way to get here. Of course Derpy strapping me to a large Firework that sent me blasting all the way here. And That's how I got here."
"Spike, does everypony know your out here?" Twilight asked.
"Maybe." Spike said innocently. "At least Dr. Whooves and Derpy knows."
"Ditzy." Twilight said.
"Well whatever her name is." Spike said.
"Spike, can you please tell me why did you come all the way here?" Twilight asked.
"Look, me and your parents, well, your adopted parents had a talk and I convinced them that, well..." Spike said.
"Adopted?" Discord thought from a distance. "Twilight's an adopted filly?"
"Yes?" Twilight asked.
"Let me come with you Twi." Spike said. Twilight was stunned, and didn't know what to say.
"I.... I don't know Spike, this is something I have to do alon-" Twilight said.
"I know, I know, but I really want to come with you." Spike said. "I'm your number 1 assistant, and according to the Assistant for Dummies guide, I'm suppose to stick with you where ever you go... no matter how crazy or dangerous it could be. Besides, somepony, or somedragon has to make sure you'll be ok... and... we're friends, right?" Twilight looked at the baby dragon, who she raised ever since he hatched out of the Dragon Egg, and well, though technically he is 12 years old... or is he 13 now... I don't know, they never confirm the characters' ages in the series so... yeah. Anyway, Twilight knew that he wanted to come, so she sighed and smiled.
"Ok you can come." Twilight said. "But if we come back and anypony asks where you were, you owe me, ok?"
"Deal." Spike said. Soon, Twilight and Spike hopped into the balloon. Soon, the balloon began to fly into the sky.
"Well, here we go... off to the Lost Lands..." Twilight said.
"This should be exciting right?" Spike asked.
"I guess it should..." Twilight said. She then looked at the ocean.
"Don't worry Twilight, we'll find your real parents..." Spike said.
"That's what I'm afraid of..." Twilight said. "What if my real parents are not what I expected... what if they're lunatics, or don't even like me?"
"Twilight, don't spiral ok?" Spike said. "Everything's gonna be just fine." Twilight looked at her friend and smiled.
"You're right Spike..." Twilight said as she hugged her little dragon friend and watched the ocean as the Balloon flew into the skies... Unknown to them, Discord was watching the whole thing from the mountain.
"Oh my... so Twilight learned that she is actually an adopted child and is traveling to the Outer Lost Lands outside of Equestria to find out who her parents are and who she really is?" Discord asked. "They Don't Tell Me Things Anymore!" But then he began thinking.
"Hmmmm.... now this may be absolutely interesting..." Discord said, as he does a sinister laugh. Sure Discord has a change of heart, thanks to Fluttershy, but he still likes to play tricks and cause a tiny bit of mayham sometimes... What crazy thought does Discord have in that brain of his? What does he have planned for Twilight and Spike?
Meanwhile... at a mysterious place... The place was some sort of throne room, except the windows were destroyed. The place was dark and looked scary at the same time. Soon the doors opened up wide and then a tall pony-figure, at the same height as Celestia, was entering inside the room. It didn't look like Princess Celestia, nor Luna at all. It was a black creature, with a crooked horn, two front fangs like a vampire, her back was blue as her belly was scaly dark green, she had insectoid like wings Her eyes were green with blue dark-pupils in them, and her mane was long and dark blue as well. It was the vicious Changeling Queen Chrysalis, one of the biggest threats to all of Equestria, for Changelings are nasty little demonic monsters that feast on love, and will, at times, suck their victim's love until they're dry.
"Please, come in..." A voice said. The Changeling Queen obeyed and came inside the room, and bowed. She never bowed to anypony, nor anything. Who was this voice she was bowing toward.
"I am at your service master." Chrysalis said.
"Have you anything to report?" a voice asked. "And be quick about it."
"Affirmative..." Chrysalis said. "My last attempt to invade Canterlot was a complete failure... My Plan... didn't go as predicted."
"You were not given permission to make... plans." The voice said angrily.
"I was only doing it for you sir." Chrysalis said. "The Princess didn't saw us coming."
"So... you let that Sun Princess Defeat You?!" A voice shouted.
"It Wasn't My Fault!" Chrysalis shouted. "Her Faithful Student of a Foal Saw Through My-"
"ENOUGH!" The figure shouted as he rose from his seat. He slowly approached the Changeling Queen, revealing himself to be some kind of Minotaur... He was almost Chrysalis's size, but more taller. His skin was Brown with his lower Horse legs black. He had clothing on him. His hair was also grey with his horns black. He was wearing a red robe, and wore a cape, as if he was an evil king, though he had no crown on. He was nothing like Tirek, no... he was more... sinister.
"I gave you refuge into my kingdom, and you were following my command, and yet you fail and bring me incompetence?!" The Minotaur asked, startling the Changeling Queen. "For a Queen who commands an army of Changelings, you aren't doing a good job at it... just like your brother..."
"I AM NOTHING LIKE THAT FOAL OF A BROTHER OF MINE!!!" Chrysalis hissed loudly. The Minotaur looked at her with an angry look.
"My lord... I didn't mean harm." Chrysalis said. "I would never..."
"Unwise your move was..." The Minotaur said. "But yet, I cannot complete my conquest without you... I will give you another chance."
"Thank you my lord... I will do what I can-" Chrysalis said, but then figure turned around and looked at the sky, as if he sensed something. "What's wrong?" The Minotaur looked at the sky suspiciously.
"It's a presence... a presence I haven't felt since... since..." The Minotaur said. "It seems this unexpected presence may be a problem..."
"What presence?" Chrysalis asked.
"Two outsiders, coming the Lost Lands..." The Minotaur said.
"Well do not worry sir..." Chrysalis said. "You're army are scattered all over the other islands. They'll find those outsiders, and then..."
"They will capture them, bring them to me, we will torture them for a matter of days, and then and, I will eat them alive..." The Minotaur said as a thunder flashed outside, and some of the flashing light shined over his face, revealing a scar over his right eye.