//------------------------------//
// Return to Ponyville 
// Story: Destiny Book 1: Dark Vengeance 
// by SirScribe 
//------------------------------//

Twilight hated flying in the morning.

The recent storm left most of Canterlot in a heavy fog. The pegasus ponies were quick to conjure up such a storm for the area, but there were talks among the unicorns of Canterlot: the storm wasn't supervised by the pegasi. Twilight immediately dismissed such an accusation. It was impossible for a storm to exist without the pegasi. Her beliefs, however, were challenged in the human world.

Speaking of the human world, Twilight grew anxious since she returned. Why? To return to that world and learn more about it. She was hoping her friends on the other side were helping Sunset Shimmer in the transition from aspiring ruler of two dimensions to a regular teenager with the hope of graduating without anything going wrong.

A strong gust of wind rocked Twilight over the fields of Ponyville. With Spike on her back, Twilight tried to stabilize herself. "It's a bit cold up here, ya know?" Spike asked.

Twilight nodded. "The pegasi really did a good job with the storm last night. It reminds me of the storm that we had in Ponyville a few years ago," she said.

"The one I missed?"

Twilight nodded. "Also the night Applejack and Rarity slept over."

Spike facepalmed. Twilight chuckled. She never told Spike that Rarity was at their place the one night he wasn't. "Of all the days..."

Twilight burst into laughter. After a few more minutes, Ponyville was in sight. It was pretty foggy, much like the scene of a zombie movie. Or a novel. While they were fiction, Twilight enjoyed reading about what might happen if a zombie outbreak ever happened. She read a series of books from many great authors, although one author actually put himself as the leader of a group in one of the books. Twilight found that book intriguing and hoped that a second would be released soon.

She caught sight of her library. It looked the same as before. She looked around. Ponies were beginning their usual routines of opening shops and selling produce. She didn't see Applejack's cart though. "I don't see Applejack," Spike said.

Twilight nodded. Ever since she moved back to Canterlot, her friends kind of drifted apart. Applejack left to travel to Appleloosa for business. To her, it was an excuse to get away from Ponyville. Twilight would sometimes get a letter from Applejack, but it was only a status report. She found a nice spot to land behind a bush and touched down without being seen. She would always be crowded by ponies in Canterlot, but that was for advice. She was the princess who didn't spend time in the throne room. She had no idea what she was in for the moment she landed in Ponyville. Her hooves touched the earth, and she sighed. It was good to be back.

Spike jumped off her back, and that's when it all happened. The dragon burped, sending green flames into the sky. The scroll had appeared. Twilight levitated it towards her, but before she could read it, she heard commotion from behind the bushes. From behind the bushes, a crowd of ponies ran toward her.

“It’s the princess!” one stallion exclaimed.

"Spike, RUN!"

Spike jumped on Twilight's back, and she ran. Stallions had roses in their mouths. This motivated Twilight to run even faster. She saw the library in front of her. If she could get in, then she would be safe. She was about to perform an Unlocking Spell on the door, but it swung open. Inside was Pinkie Pie. "Twilight! Hurry up!"

She looked back at the crowd. They were getting closer. She poured her magic into her Teleportation Spell, and teleported to the doormat of her old home. She ran in, and shut the door behind her. Pinkie smiled as she turned the lights on. "TWILIGHT! GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN!"

Twilight collapsed. "Pinkie?! What the hay is going-?"

Pinkie shoved her hoof into Twilight's mouth. "They could be listening. Shhhhh."

Twilight rolled her eyes and used her magic to expunge the hoof from her mouth. "You were yelling a moment ago. What's going on?"

Pinkie smiled. "Well, nopony is still used to being in the same town as a princess. Ever since your coronation, everypony just wants to remember that they played host to a princess."

"Then explain the roses!"

Pinkie laughed. "Some want to remember more."

Twilight groaned. First was the whole controversy surrounding her and the new guard of the Crystal Empire, now it's this. This just proves that labels really do change things for you. "I guess you finally had time to yourself today, huh?" Pinkie asked.

Twilight nodded. "Princess Celestia sent me a letter saying there was trouble in Manehattan and she was tending to the matter. Strange thing is, all the guards were at their posts as I was leaving Canterlot," she said.

"Maybe they are the fallback. You never know, something could happen."

"Good point Pinkie."

Twilight looked around at her library. Except for the fact that all the books were dusty, everything was the same. The scorch mark on the floor when she was teleported, the stallion bust in the middle of the room, and the glass case that held the Elements of Harmony was undisturbed. Spike left to check the kitchen while Twilight picked a book from the shelves and began to read.

Pinkie paced around the library. She occasionally picked a book, flipped through the book, and dropped it on the floor. This alarmed Twilight. Pinkie was never this inconsiderate with her library. She never threw books on the ground without care. Pinkie stopped at a few books and put them on the center table, but that was all she did. "Hey Twilight, I've been wondering."

"About?"

She pointed at the glass case. "Can anypony lift that case?"

Twilight raised an eyebrow. What a weird question. "Just myself and the princesses. Why do you ask?"

She shrugged. "I was just wondering. I spotted some ponies wandering too close to the library several times while you were away. I was wondering if stealing the Elements was even possible."

A burp erupted from the kitchen. Twilight rolled her eyes. "Spike, you know some of that food is old, right?"

"Twilight, I'm not eating. It's another letter from the princess," Spike called out.

Twilight stood and walked over to the kitchen. Spike held up the letter, which had a black ribbon tied around it. Twilight had never seen a black ribbon letter before. She unraveled it and began to read. Immediately she felt chills running down her spine.

Twilight!

Listen to me very carefully. Disregard the letter from me earlier. I never sent you a letter about Manehattan. You need to secure the Elements immediately! You are in terrible danger. Do not react to this letter in any way around anypony. Nopony must know that something has happened. I've alerted the guards. Be ready to evacuate Ponyville. Oh dear Me, they found me. Be careful Twili

The letter stopped there. It was in Celestia's writing, she was sure of that. It appeared to have been rushed. Her name was dragged out in black ink. On the top corner, a large blot of ink stained the paper.

Suddenly, she heard a sigh from behind her. Twilight and Spike turned to see Pinkie behind them. "And we were so close." Her eyes glowed green.

Twilight gasped and took a fighting stance. She shielded Spike. "Spike, get out of here!"

Spike turned to run, but was suddenly hit with a green light. Twilight turned to see Spike sprawled across the floor. He was knocked out. Above him was two changelings with their magic auras charged up.

Twilight summoned a Stunning Spell from her arsenal of combat spells. Before she could fire, she was hit upside the head by something hard and metal. Her last moment of consciousness was three changelings standing proud above her. Behind them, Queen Chrysalis was grinning. "Looks like you left your guard down, Princess Twilight. How very unlike you."

Twilight tried to force a sentence to rebuttal, but fell prey to the pain and passed out. Once she did, the Elements disappeared behind the Changelings.