It was a warm spring morning in the Southern Diamond Kingdom as Princess Twilight Sparkle woke up from Celestia's sun shining through the balcony window of her quarters, she got out bed with the help of her soon-to-be-sister Solara Star, Prince Sombra's twin. Twilight stretched out her limbs feeling bones pop from being stiff, she let out a sigh as her body relaxed from that deep wave of sleep she had fallen victim to after something exciting happened a few weeks ago.
Prince Sombra had purposed the idea of marriage to her about 10 weeks ago, she happily accepted his offer without a second thought for she knew he wouldn't ask for her hoof in marriage unless he loved her as much as he did. Solara had listened to the whole conversation wondering why in the world would her twin want to speak to her lady in private? And when Twilight gave her answer Solara was over the moon she was going to have a sister-in-law, and the was going to be the very pony she happily served.
Sombra was about to cry tears of joy as he hugged the mare he loved most, Twilight couldn't help tear up when Prince Sombra had presented her with a ring of bright silver with the center being a rainbow diamond which shimmered and glemmed in sunlight. Princess Twilight smiled at the memory knowing that her fenceé wouldn't leave her, Solara gave a cough to get her Princess's attention.
"Princess, would you like me to get you some breakfast?"
"Yes, please. Thank you, Solara. You may go now." Twilight said happily, although she knew what she had to do next.... Write three letters one to Canterlot, one to the Crystal Empire, and one to Ponyville. She would have to write all three letters all at once, but Twilight had learned how to write three or more letters at the same time from her real father, Silver Sun. She learned that when she was 12, she had her cutie mark at the time and when she had regained her cutie mark twice it had changed a little bit. First time a diamond with five stars around it, second time her disguised (unicorn) cutie mark, and third time a diamond circlet above her disguised cutie mark.
As Twilight wrote the three there was knock at the door, she didn't turn her a gaze away from the scrolls she answered. "Come in."
Sombra step in quietly barely making a sounds he snuck up behind his fenceé, and put his hooves blocking her view of the scrolls she was writing.
"Guess who~" Sombra said trying give his love a scare, but when she chucked his plan had been blown out of the water.
"Sombra, can you please remove your hooves? I'm trying to write out three letters for three specific someponies to know how I'm doing." Twilight acknowledging his entrance and silent hoofsteps. Sombra moved his hooves away from her face only to wrap them lovingly around her neck.
"Who are these letters to?" Sombra dared to ask, knowing some personal matters are meant to been handled by two ponies and not one alone.
"I did tell you, didn't I? I don't think you need to concern yourself with every little matter in life, my love." Twilight replied sweetly, trying to sound innocent. Sombra wasn't buying the tone she using.
"Twilya, you can tell me anything, you know that."
"I know, but you shouldn't worry about this matter I have it handled."
The Prince leaned up and kissed Twilight's cheek tenderly. She smiled loving glancing down at Sombra with eyes that spoke more then her words could.
"My Love, I know you want to know who's receiving these letters, but I can't tell you right now..." Twilight sighed sadly hoping Sombra would fall for the bait. "I only wish I could, my dear."
Sombra kissed Twilight's collarbone a few time, hoping to brighten her mood a bit. He hadn't been fooled by his bride-to-be lis as he continued to kiss her neck gently knowing she'd catch on quickly.
"Love... you don't have to lie and it won't get you anywhere in your reign you go on like this.... Lying for your own reasons, for nopony to find out the truth..." Sombra wasn't going to sit here and listen to his lover lie to him, it didn't suit her at all unless she was testing him.
"Darling, I'm just teasing..." Twilight said sweetly turning her face as Sombra reached her left cheek and planted a soft yet loving kiss upon it. She smiled as she saw he was smarter then she gave him credit for. "Although I really can't tell you who going to get these letters, I'm truly sorry my love."
"I see." Sombra said sadly but knew that she didn't want to spoil the surprise that was to come. He gave her one more kiss on the lips before he rested his head on her shoulder again. "But don't think you're going to get away with this... Lying around me, Dear One."
Sombra couldn't stand lying and Twilight was testing him. She wasn't going to get away without his judgement, and he had a good idea of one thing would allow him to drop his judgement.
"I'm not letting you go until you answer this one question."
"Which would be?"
"If one of your friends try to hurt me, how far are you willing to go to protect me, my love?"
"I'd be willing to fight them if necessary, but I hope it doesn't come to that, darling. Why?"
"No reason, love. It's good to know that you have my back."
"Just as you have mine."
"Very true."
~In Ponyville~
Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Spike were wondering where Twilight was at. It had been two months and one day since they've seen her and they were ready to go to Canterlot and give Princess Celestia a piece of their minds. Suddenly Spike bleached up a letter sealed with a bright rainbow colored ribbon that had a diamond like look, the girls didn't what to do with it until Fluttershy picked up the letter and opened. As her eyes scanned the page she read what was written.
'My Dearest Friends,
I am writing you this letter to let you know I'm fine, I'm safe and I have a surprise for all of you my family and my fellow royalty. I've already sent a letter to Canterlot and the Crystal Empire, so don't worry about relaying this letter anypony else. I've also sent two of my best guards to escort you six to the train station. Oh! Rainbow, and Applejack... Don't chew out Celestia for what she has done, this wasn't her fault but it's mine.
I'll explain everything once you're here with me and the others.
Your Best Friend,
Twilight Amondra Sparkle'
Before the mares and dragon could mull over what had been read, two ponies both stallions, a blood red unicorn stallion with a silver mane with the other one, a light purple pegasus stallion with a forest green mane, came into Sugar Cube Corner. Both wore Royal Guard Armor, but the red stallion wore a set of armor that showed that he was a Captain, the other was a Lieutenant.
"Are you the Elements of Harmony and Spike the Dragon?"
"Yes, we are. But who are you?" Spike asked scooting closer to Fluttershy.
The red stallion bowed his head, as he spoke. "I am Dawn Janus Moon, Head Guard of the Diamond Army. And this is Green Heart, my second in command. We've come to escort to the train station, and from there to our home. Please, follow us."
The girls followed Dawn to the train station just as the Friendship Express was arriving, Green Heart walked behind the group making sure that nopony was missing or lagging behind. The five mares and one dragon followed Dawn through the until Dawn stopped to turn around to face them.
"May I see the letter from my lady sent you?" Dawn asked in a gentle and kind tone, showing the group of five mares and one dragon respect, hoping to earn the same in return.
"Why yes we do darling, hold on one moment." Rarity said in the same tone Dawn had used, pulling out the scroll and gave it to Dawn to check. He looked at the signature on the letter, a smile crossed his face as he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to Rarity.
"Thank you, Ma'am. The Canterlot royalty are through the door ahead of us, Our lady requested for everypony to stay to together. So please don't try to wander off, thank you." With those words Dawn and Green began to head for the door at the opposite end of the train car.
Applejack spoke up, ending the silence. "Ah think we should go da door and join da Princesses."
Spike got the door for the girls, the sound of voices reached everyones ears.
"Don't worry 'Tia, we'll get there soon."
"I know Luna, I know. But why couldn't Twilight come see us? It's not like her to do that..."
"Mom, Auntie Luna. Please don't start fighting, not again."
"Cousin Glacies is right, there's no need to fight."
"Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, Prince Glacies, Prince Blueblood... Are you ok in here?" Fluttershy asked meekly.
"Oh... The Elements of Harmony and young Spike, how are you all?" Luna asked with a smile, which was rare to see on the Moon Princess's face. Clearly Princess Luna was happy for some unknown reason.
"We're fine, Princess Luna. But Princess Celestia, where is Twilight? Why hasn't she come back for two months? Where is she? Why did she send us letters?"
"Rainbow. One question at a time, and for the answers to your questions, Twilight is a place called the Diamond Realm. I don't know why Twilight hasn't come yet, and I hope we find out when we see her. I even don't know why Twilight sent us letters, but only hope Cadence and Shining have more information to give us."
The girls and Spike all sat down, and listened to Celestia talk and even tell a couple tales of herself and her family. They didn't even notice the train pulling out Ponyville Station, heading for the Crystal Empire. The Crystal Royals, Princess Cadence, and Prince Shining Armor, who join their friends and family, the couple gave all the information they could. But Cadence could tell by the way her sister wrote her letters, she wrote them at the same time and Cadence nor anyone knew how to do that.
A knock from the other side of the door caught everypony's attention.
"Everypony?" It was Dawn, the Head Guard.
"Yes, Dawn. What is it?"
"We're nearing the Southern Kingdom of the Diamond Realm, we will be getting off at the train station soon. I will need you to follow Green and I to the Place to meet Our lady, and Princess."
"Thank you, Dawn. Can you please give us a moment to get up?" Luna asked politely with her eyes close, she hadn't thought of how tired she was.
"Alright, Princess Luna. Take your time, after all, not all of us are day-loving ponies."
As the train pulled into the station, everypony looked at themselves. Their manes, tails, and bodies where the same when at the Crystal Empire, but the only difference was the look of their coats they looked like to be made of diamonds.
Dawn entered the cabin, his coat was like those he was escorting. They looked at the highlights in his eyes, they looked like Raity's cutie Mark only white.
"Please follow me to the Place, the Princess is waiting."
"Where's Green Heart?"
"I sent him back the barracks, he deserves a break from all of the hard training he did yesterday, and today's journey has tired him out. May I have your letters, I have to give them to the Princess's closest attendant, and she will give them to the Princess."
Once Dawn had been given the scrolls, he lead the group of 12 followed the Head Guard to the Southern Diamond Kingdom. They couldn't help but notice the foals running around, playing, and so on. But one of the many foals, a filly, sat near the path that lead from the train station to the Kingdom, but as they neared the filly they saw she wasn't sitting, she was stuck. Her hind-quarters were stuck in what looked like a rabbit hole, she was trying to get out of trouble but she was stuck pretty bad.
"Skies? What happened to you?" Dawn asked recognizing the filly.
"I was just walking around, minding my own business. When a Dragon from ClawenScale grabbed me, he asked me where Our Princess was. I didn't say anything, than he dropped down, dug this hole and stuck me halfway in it." The grey filly answered, refusing to show the marks the dragon had left on her hide.
"Skies, look at me." The filly shook her head in protest. "Please Skies, let me help you. Skies you did what was right, you wouldn't tell that ClawenScale Idiot where Our lady is, and I am very proud of you."
Dawn nuzzled Skies, showing he that he cared for her very much. Skies looked up showing her face and neck, three long hook-like scars, starting from her right eyebrow and ending at the top of her left shoulder.
Dawn's face paled a little at the sight Skies' scars, the scars had a sickly, pitch black aura leaking out of them, and Skies suddenly fell violently ill from the aura inside the scars. Skies was so ill that she puked multiple times, her colors faded, and her scars started to get infected.
"Skies, hold on. I'll pull you out, then get you the doctors. Ok?" Dawn said, trying to be gentle with the injured, and sick filly. Skies' vomiting finally stopped, she nodded numbly due to her illness.
"Here, let me help you, Dawn." Princess Cadence said softly not try scare the filly, gently grabbing Skies around her waist. Dawn let Skies grab onto his tail as his wolf spirit, Light Claw, grabbed onto the extra fur in between Skies' shoulders.
"Alright. One... two... Three!" Cadence said with her wings beating hard as the two ponies and one spirit guide pulled the grey filly out of the hole to safety.
Skies felt a bit better from her freedom, but still sickly from what had infected her wound. After another round of vomiting the filly passed out, Dawn levitated Skies on Light Claw's back.
"Get to the hospital, and take care of her." Dawn said, Claw nodded before running off to the city.
"Who where those two?" Glacies asked quite surprised with what he had seen.
"That wolf you all saw was my spirit guide, Light Claw. And the filly is Twilight Amondra Skies, One of the Three Saviors that live here in the Southern Diamond Realm. Solara Star, the Princess' head attendant is another Savior, and I am the third Savoir." Dawn explained with a smile, knowing that what he'd done meant more than bits to his fellow ponies. On the up side they now lived their lives in peace.
"That sounds like a great honor." Shining Armor stated.
“It is.” Dawn simply said.
The group walked the rest of the way in silence, a dark shadow passed over the ponies walking, making them look up in surprise. They saw a pony with flying overhead, with an odd feature; Her mane flowed within its own way, the bottom flowed towards her left but as it reached the end the flow reversed itself back to her right, her tail did the same. The pony’s coat was Lavender, with royal attire of sky blue, the cutie mark was hard to see where they stood.
The pony’s voice came out with power and passion as she sang.
‘I don't know how I can find, The strength for what I've been assigned
My confidence has faded away, Like dusk chased by the ending day
I'm between the day and night, Overshadowed by their blinding light
The sun and moon; a dazzling pair, How could one like me ever hope to compare?
But a voice within me says:
"I will be brave, I will be strong
Despite those around who tell me I'm wrong, I'll make mistakes
I'll take them in stride, For I am here and I've nothing to hide
The Twilight will rise, The Twilight will rise"
I've done some much to get this far, Crossed every bridge, chased every star
I've brought together dark and light, I've witnessed love and all its might
Still some believe I do not have, The strength it takes to rise and stand
Above to the rest and take my place, To protect and serve those of my race
But a voice within me says:
"I will be brave, I will be strong
Despite those around who tell me I'm wrong, I'll make mistakes
I'll take them in stride, For I am here and I've nothing to hide
The Twilight will rise, The Twilight will rise"
I will be brave, I will be strong
Despite those around who tell me I'm wrong, I'll make mistakes
All of the these, doubts I will cast them aside
I will not bend, I will not break
I must be strong now, for my kingdom's sake
With help from my friends, Evil will hide
And I will stretch out my wings, touch the sky
The Twilight will rise, The Twilight will rise.’
Everypony excluding Dawn stared in shock, they knew that voice. They knew only one pony with that light, powerful, and strong voice… Twilight Sparkle. Their Twilight Sparkle, was here and they had seen her flying high above them. Luna spotted Light Claw running back with a scroll in his mouth, a letter no doubt. At the last possible second, Light Claw threw the scroll up into air, where the lavender mare caught it in her mouth. A magenta aura opened the scroll, allowing her to read what was written. She drop the scroll halfway through and flew for the kingdom she ruled.
Dawn read the drop scroll and his heart a dead stop, Skies was dying. The young filly had Dark Magic in her system and it was killing her. Skies needed her friends by her side, Dawn ran for the kingdom without a word. Cadence read scroll out loud and felt her heart skip several beats, that filly was in trouble...