I finally make it home, to Ponyville. Though it takes nearly two weeks after the loss of Nick before Celestia says that I can get home. I finally am able to trot into my new home. I look at the door to the bedroom that Nick and I shared. Maybe I've come back too quickly. I shake my head and suppress the tears that threaten to overwhelm me. Some of the staff for this new castle of mine are working, and I can see my children being fawned over by the nannies I've hired. I hear the clop of small hooves. A white filly with a blond mane trots up to me, she extends extremely large wings and smiles at me.
"Hi Twilight, where's Nick?"
"Hi Cathy." I suppress my emotions, but I want to do nothing more than cry. This filly was once a human girl. Brought into our world by Princess Luna. She's been helpful, a friend of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and almost like another daughter to me. Being only seven years old when she was yanked from her world from in front of a delivery van that had lost control on ice. She spends most of her time with Fluttershy, but she does spend more than a little time with one of her fellow humans. I take a moment to reign myself in, "Nick has been captured."
She gasps, "By who?"
I look down, "I wish that I knew, Cathy. But I'm going to do everything I can to find him."
She smiles at me, "If you are going to look for him, he will be found. I know you can do it Twilight." She comes up and folds her wings around me. I let the little filly be close to me for a while.
***
We are interrupted by my friends. I look up at them. Rainbow Dash and Applejack both have armor on. Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie are giving them sidelong looks as they trot towards me.
"Princess." Rainbow Dash says as she salutes, Applejack salutes as well.
"What's going on, Rainbow? Applejack?" I ask.
Rainbow looks down, "Celestia asked us to join."
Applejack looks sharply at her friend, "Asked? Shoot, she all but said we would be drafted if we didn't volunteer. We were needed, she said." She reached up, then brought her hoof down quickly, obviously missing her usually ever present Stetson. Her golden champron in its stead.
Rainbow Dash flourished her wings, showing off the sharp wing blades, the tosses her head a bit, getting used to the weight of her new barding. "As if I would have ever said no to the Princess."
I smile at my friends, "What units are you going to report to?"
Rainbow spoke first, "The 1st Pegasi squadron. The squadron that is in charge of the Wonderbolts."
"Oh, General Swift Wind is in charge there…" I trail off as I see the star on each shoulder of Rainbow's armor, tears shine brightly in her eyes.
"General Swift Wind is dead. She gave her life saving a flight of pegasi that were trapped. The entire raid that we talked about, it was a failure. Princess Celestia said that I would be the perfect replacement for the General."
"Why is this happening?" I can feel tears starting to form.
Rainbow hung her head, "This enemy, we don't even really know who they are. The best reports are hard to believe. All we know is that they are really big insects. This is a new threat to Equestria, greater than anything we've faced before. And Celestia told me, the former element bearers must take their place as leaders. We must take on new roles, Twilight."
I look at Applejack, she shrugs her shoulders, showing the star. "Ah reckon it's the same fer me. The general for the 7th Earth Corps wasn't killed, but she was seriously injured. Her second didn't want the job, and Celestia nominated me."
I say as I head to the door, "I'll draw a set of armor, I'll join you…" only to be stopped by Rainbow Dash.
"Twilight, I have orders for you as well, signed by the Princess in my presence, and with her official seal." She reaches into her bags and brings out a rolled scroll. I quickly take it in my magic and snap the seal. Unfurling the parchment, I begin to read.
Princess Twilight,
As you no doubt have been told, I have elevated two of your friends to lead in the Royal Guards. I have no doubt they will rise to the occasion. The disaster which has caused the loss of so many in the guard must not be allowed to be repeated. Their commissions are for the duration of this conflict, with an option to continue once hostilities are concluded. I trust them to do their job, and you should too. Now I am afraid I must tell you what you must do. With the loss of your stallion, and the very recent birth of your foals. Your royal duties are to remain in Ponyville. I know you want to go and find Nicholas. But the fact is, you are needed at home, far worse than any princess is needed at the front lines of this war. We have lost one city, Canterlot will be another goal of our enemies. The lives of those in Ponyville and the surrounding area are your responsibility. Please, Twilight, your time to fight may come, but for now, you need to focus on what remains of your family. Additional Royal Guards reserves are being sent. And Ponyville will be a fallback position for the government, should Canterlot be overrun. Princess Luna and I will stay here, for the time being.
Yours…
Princess Celestia
I sit down heavily at the news. I look at my friends. I get a nuzzle from both Rainbow and Applejack. They quickly leave, with the rest of my friends staying here. I look around. "I'm to stay here."
"Oh darling, it's for your foals, and for your subjects. We need you here." Rarity starts, only to be interrupted by my forehoof slamming to the floor.
"I'm sorry, Rarity. But I cannot stay here. I must find Nick."
Fluttershy and Rarity look at each other. Fluttershy's ears fold back, but she speaks up, "But Princess Celestia said…"
I give my friend a hard look, causing her to wilt. I move closer and hug her, and bring Rarity into the hug as well, "I know what Princess Celestia said. But somehow, I know that I am the fulcrum here. I am what this all balances on." I look at my friends, confusion on their faces, "Whomever has Nick, they want me. And I have my suspicions as to whom it is, but I don't know for certain."
"So, you think this is all by somepony who has a grudge against you? That list could be pretty long." Rarity says.
I grimace, "I know. But there is just something about this that doesn't seem right. Luna has discovered new worlds that have intelligent life like ours. But what if there are more of those than Luna even could think of. I think that this isn't humans like what Nick and Cathy and the others are. I think this is something else entirely."
"But if they aren't from our world, why would they come here? And how did they find us?"
I frown, "I don't know the answers to those questions, but I'm going to find out." I look at Pinkie Pie, who has been uncharacteristically subdued since Nick went missing.
"Pinkie Pie, I need your help."
She smiles, "Anything you need Twilight."
I smile back, "I'm going to find who has my Nick, and I need you to make sure my foals are taken care of while I'm gone."
She bounces forward and salutes me, then she bounces to the door, I can hear her singsong as she hops away, "Whomever got Nick is going to pay." I smile, at least I've got Pinkie on my side.
I look at Rarity and Fluttershy, "I know I'm violating what Princess Celestia has told me to do. But I need to find Nick."
"But Princess Luna said he was dead." Fluttershy says.
I suppress a new bout of tears, "I know what she said, she is wrong. And I'm going to find him."
***
My vision is clouded by tears as I walk the familiar streets of Ponyville. I'm at a loss. I know what I need to do. I blink my eyes to clear them of tears. Then when that isn't enough, I swipe a forehoof across my face. Finally I can see and I know where I am. I look at the house I'm near. I look down, chew my lip for a moment, then I decide. I'm going to get Nick, no matter what anypony says. And to do that, I need supplies. I can buy most of what I need, but the number one thing is something I can get here. I knock on the door. For a long time, there's no answer, so I knock again, louder.
Finally the door opens and a very pale pink pegasus with a cerise and mint green mane answers the door. I smile at her, "Hi there Blossomforth, is Cloud in?"
She looks down, "Um, Twilight, is there any way you can come back later?"
I'll lose my nerve if I don't get going, "No, Blossomforth, I really need to see Cloud Kicker right now."
She excuses herself back to the bedroom, and I look around, and finally decide to alight on the couch in the living room. I feel my ears rotate towards the sounds emanating from the bedroom.
"Ahh, careful."
"Oh, sorry Cloud."
"That's too tight, she needs to see me, and not like this."
"Oh, sorry, I'm trying."
"This would be so much easier if I had magic."
"But then I couldn't…" The voice lowers to where I can't understand.
I hear giggles from both of them, then Cloud Kicker's voice picks up, "Just one more…"
I hear the sound of bodies tumbling around, then the door opens, Cloud Kicker trots into the room happily.
"Hi, Twilight. What brings you to my humble abode?"
My ears lower, "I've been ordered to stay in Ponyville, by Princess Celestia."
Her ears lower now, "I'm sorry to hear that, Princess. I've been permanently discharged by the guard, or I'd be joining with the call ups."
I look her square in the eye, "And the reason you can't get into the mix is exactly why I need you."
She cocks her head to the side, "Princess?"
I sigh, this was fine when it was bouncing around my head, but actually saying my plans to somepony else…that is hard, "I need a set of armor, I'm going to find Nick."
"But he was listed…" Blossomforth trails off with one look at the hardness in my eyes.
"Nick is not dead. I will repeat this until I am blue in the face, I know it to be true."
Cloud Kicker stiffens a bit, then looks me up and down, "Violating Princess Celestia's orders is not something to do lightly, and I could get in a lot of trouble helping you, Princess."
I feel myself wilt, I knew it. I feel a wing fold over me, then a second, Cloud Kicker whispers in my ear, "But that doesn't mean I won't help you, Princess. You are in love with Nick, you know he's alive. That's good enough for me. You've got as much help as I can give until you either find him, or his body."
I suppress my tears, "Thank you, now about that armor?"
She looks surprised, "Now?"
"When would be a better time?"
She looks thoughtful, "True, Princess. But I don't keep spare sets of armor at home, I have my personal set, which would be a bit small for you." She stops and looks thoughtful, "I know the guard has extra sets, at their office in Ponyville. I can get a set for you. Full set, with blades?"
I nod.
She nods back and heads to the door, "Blossomforth will keep you company until I get back.
***
A few hours later, I'm looking at myself in the mirror. I turn to look at my profile, then the other side. "Does it have to be so shiny?"
She chuckles, "The guard has their own standards, most armor is golden in color, it's more for show. We do have other sets that aren't as obtrusive, but I couldn't get a hold of them, this was what I could get. My contact in the guard was wary of giving me weapons and armor, but I was able to convince her it was necessary."
I frown as I look at the armor, "Let me see what I can do." I close my eyes and charge my horn. I focus on the armor and I can feel the enchantments on it. Including the one that enfolded me as I put the champron on my head, which turned my coat white to match the rest of the ponies in the guard. I break that one immediately. I then focus on the rest of the armor, and in moments I'm opening my eyes to look at my handiwork. My coat is back to its normal purple, and the golden color has been replaced with a matte black finish. And the blank flanchard now is sporting a subdued version of my cutie mark. Not brilliant and shining, but it's visible. I smile at my new look in the mirror. Then I hear a low whistle from Cloud Kicker.
"The enchantments on the armor would take a level five unicorn to break, and then it wouldn't be easy."
I smile, "Before I ascended, I was beyond level five. Now, I don't know what level my magic would be classified as."
"That's some serious work, Princess." She trots into her study. I doff the armor and pack it carefully in one side of my largest saddle bags. The other side already stuffed with food and other necessities for a trip. I finish packing and levitate the now heavy saddle bags onto my back. It wouldn't do to be trotting to the train in full armor. I look up and see Cloud Kicker with an equally large set of saddle bags on her back. She smiles at me, "Ready to go?"
"Oh, no. You've done enough, Cloud Kicker by getting me the armor, and the provisions. I don't want to get you in any more trouble."
She scoffs, "You have zero actual combat experience, you have zero knowledge of the wing blades that are integral to your armor. If you want to take them, you'll take me as well, Princess. I'll train you how I can. But…"
I interrupt her, "Cloud Kicker, I thank you for your assistance, but…"
"Don't be stupid, Twilight. You are running there in a blind rage. You need strategy, you need to think past the idea of I'm going to kick whomever's flank I need to to get my stallion back." She shouts as she overrides me.
She backs off her voice, "Princess. Two ponies will stand a better chance, I am coming with you, whether you like it or not."
"I could just tie you up."
"Go ahead and try, I've been trained in anti-unicorn fighting."
I step forward, my wings spreading in aggression. Then I see the look on her face, she's not fighting me, she's being stubborn, and she's pleading with her eyes. She sees me pause, "Please, Twilight. Nick was my friend too. I need to join you."
I lower my head in defeat, "Fine Cloud Kicker. You can come."