Missing Friends
Several days had passed and the ponies of Ponyville were no longer hiding in their houses and had resumed their normal activities. While this didn't bother me too much there was one thing that was really bothering me. Why haven't my friends come over to see me? Are they still hiding out in the apple cellar, are they hiding out elsewhere on the farm or did they leave town entirely. Sunset could tell something was wrong. She asked, "Twilight, what is wrong?"
I replied, "I'm just worried. Everypony else has resumed their normal activities but I haven't seen my friends since before you arrived."
Sunset asked, "Do you think maybe we should go and see if they are still at the farm?"
I replied, "Good idea Sunset. Let's get going."
Sunset and I headed over towards Sweet Apple Acres hoping to find my friends. The first place we headed to was the cellar. As I was opening the door to it I heard somepony say, "Twilight, don't bother looking down there. They're not here."
It was Granny Smith. I headed over to her and asked, "They're not? Do you know where they are?"
Granny replied, "I'm not sure where they are but they went to try to get the Elements of Harmony."
I yelled, "They did what? Didn't they hear me say that we just can't go get them?" I began to panic, "Oh no, I hope they didn't get captured, I hope she doesn't declare war."
Sunset asked, "What do you mean you hope she doesn't declare war."
I replied, "Well when the agreement was signed that split the nation in two, Starlight put a provision in there that if anypony from West Equestria illegally crossed the border, that it would constitute an act of war. If they were caught they were likely hauled off to Fillydelphia, interrogated by Starlight and thrown in jail. After that Starlight would likely be making plans to invade."
Sunset asked, "If Starlight does invade, where do you think she would lead her army to?"
I replied, "She would likely attack Ponyville. I am certain that she knows the capitol is here now and if she were to capture me, she would take all of West Equestria and the whole continent would be under her rule."
Sunset asked, "What would happen to you if you were captured?"
I hung my head low and sighed, "I don't even want to think about it. All I know is that it would likely be just as bad if not worse that what Tirek would do to ponykind."
Granny Smith over heard our conversation and said, "Don't worry Twilight. You and your friend will beat Tirek and Starlight and rescue your friends."
I replied, "For the sake of all of West Equestria, we better."
Sunset asked, "Twilight, think we should get back to the castle in the event Tirek was to suddenly show up?"
I sighed, "Yeah we probably should and Granny, I would advise that you stay indoors as well."
I was very concerned about what happened to my friends and while it may sound kind of odd, I was irritated that Tirek had yet to show his ugly face. I just wanted for Sunset and I to defeat him, banish him back to Tartarus and to try to get the nation back up on its hooves. It has already suffered enough since the split, but everypony having to stay in and hide from Tirek is likely only making things worse.
Tirek Returns
While Sunset and I were returning to the castle Sunset asked, "Twilight, I know you are going to think I am nuts but do you think that you could contact Starlight and see if she does have them in custody?"
I put my hoof up to my face and sighed, "Sunset, are you nuts! There is no way that Starlight would give me that information and even if she did have them, she would lie to me and say she didn't." I stomped my hoof into the ground and continued, "And if she did offer to tell me the truth, she would likely demand more territory."
Sunset asked, "Seriously? She would do that?"
I replied, "Yes Sunset, she would. I know that pony well enough that she won't be satisfied until the whole continent is under her rule and I have been punished in the worst way imaginable."
Sunset said, "I remember how she was when we were in Celestia's school together and she never seemed to have that kind of greed. Yeah she had an insatiable hunger for knowledge....."
I interrupted, "Sunset, that Starlight no longer exists. As soon as she discovered what her true origins were, she considered it her destiny to avenge the wrongs that Celestia did upon her ancestors and now I think she wants everything."
Sunset asked, "Seriously, she would want everything?"
I replied, "Yes. For over a millennia ponies of Western lineage controlled the whole continent and given the way her mind works, she would say that it is the time for Eastern ponies to rule over everypony else. To her it would be Karma coming back and biting us."
Sunset asked, "I know this may sound like a silly question but who do you think would be more dangerous to us, Tirek or Starlight."
Again I put my hoof to my forehead and sighed. This had to be the dumbest question anypony had ever asked. I grunted, "Sunset, Tirek would be far more dangerous because he can steal all our magic, all Starlight can do is steal our talents. Besides, Tirek will be so huge when he comes to town he could pick us up and smash us into the side of a mountain."
Once we returned to the castle we headed to the throne room and were discussing what we thought the best plan would be to defeat both Tirek and Starlight when suddenly *STOMP, STOMP, STOMP!*
Sunset shrieked, "What is that?"
I could hear buildings being destroyed and ponies screaming as they were having their magic stolen from them. I yelled, "It's Tirek. We must stand our ground Sunset."
Sunset asked, "How? You had to have all the Alicorn magic in Equestria just to be equal to him last time and we don't have that."
I replied, "Well when he attacked last time he had stolen the magic from most all of the ponies in Equestria, including those that live in the eastern cities. I have a feeling that he has not crossed over into East Equestria yet, so he shouldn't be as strong."
Sunset sighed in relief but became terrified as we began to hear pounding on the castle. Tirek yelled, "PRINCESS TWILIGHT, YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT BELONGS TO ME!"
He continued to pound and pound but he could not breach the castle. Luckily when the castle formed it was much stronger than Canterlot Castle was, which Tirek had no problems getting into. I stood in front of the throne room in attack mode while Sunset was hiding behind my throne. This frustrated me because I knew I would need all the power I could get. I yelled, "Sunset, I need you. If he gets in, I need you to use your power on him too."
While Sunset was clearly scared, she joined me and stood in an attack stance. I gave her a smile and realized that with Tirek likely not as strong and with the two of us having strong magic, we should be able to defeat him. Then we heard something else, something we did not expect to hear and chances are it was not anything Tirek expected to encounter either.