"Moon Dancer... what are you doing here?" Theta asked the grayish-yellow mare.
"I'm heeding my own advice to get out of Canterlot. I guess I trotted out of one battle only to trot into another." Moon Dancer said to Theta, her gazing passing over toward the clothing store that Theta had just left. The building no longer on fire, and the officer ponies currently cleaning the mess that was on the sidewalk.
"I'm guessing you saw... that?" Theta asked Moon Dancer, making a quick look at the clothing store before turning to face Moon Dancer directly.
"No, not all of it, but I saw enough. And I'm sorry for what happened to your friend." Moon Dancer said to Theta, a solemn expression appearing on his face. Neither of them even noticing when they were joined by Rarity.
"Thank, but there was really nothing that I could have done." Theta said to Moon Dancer, his eyes drifting toward the concrete sidewalk.
"I wouldn't say that there is always something that we can in all situations." Rarity's voice chimed in, and Theta's brain snapped. Theta's eyes turning to a burning red as he went off on the white unicorn.
"No Rarity, I couldn't!" Theta roared at Rarity, the white unicorn taking an instinctive two steps backward. Rarity had seen Theta in battle and didn't want to provoke a dragon that was able to stare down Omega. "I couldn't do a damn back there, and I never will!" Theta continued to roar at Rarity, him releasing all of his pent-up frustration he had for the last week at her whether he wanted to or not.
"I have never been able to do anything that has made a difference, I have just been trying to convince myself that I can actually make a difference!" Theta roared at Rarity, his scales getting darker with each passing second. Moon Dancer taking special note of the white dragon's color change in his scales. "Well, guess what Rarity. I can't do a damn thing. I can't even save a kid from getting murdered in cold blood!" Theta roared at Rarity.
Theta was about to continue his rant when he felt something soft on his right foreleg. Theta looked down to see the yellow-gray hoof of Moon Dancer resting on top of his paw. Her purple eyes staring directly into his. Theta's red returning their original emerald green. Something that Moon Dancer careful note of.
"Theta, that's enough." Moon Dancer commanded at Theta, her words calm but filled with force. Theta only needed to stare into the purple eyes of Moon Dancer for a second to notice his error.
Theta let out of heavy sigh as he slowly turned his head toward Rarity. Her blue eyes watery, Rarity choosing it best to just stare at the concrete sidewalk beneath her. "Rarity..." Theta said calmly, Rarity flinching slightly at Theta calling her name. "I'm sorry." Theta apologized, Rarity taken a little by surprise by Theta's words.
"What?" Rarity said, looking up and into Theta's green eyes.
"I'm sorry." Theta repeated to Rarity, his words calm while his scales began to slowly return to their original white color. Moon Dancer's hoof still resting on top of his paw.
"You... you don't need to apologize. I get it... you've been through a lot." Rarity said to Theta, his reverting her eyes back toward the ground.
"That's no excuse. I may have been through a lot in the last week, but so have you, and the rest of your friends." Theta explained himself to Rarity. "Practically your friend, Rainbow Dash." Theta mentally added. "I... I had no right to yell at you. I know that it's not much, but I hope that you will be able to accept my apology." Theta said to Rarity. Him now being the one looking at the ground.
Rarity just stared at the white dragon in front of her. She just stared at Theta for what seemed to her several minutes before a smile appeared on her face. Her trotting up to Theta and embracing him in a hug. Her only able to partially wrap her hooves around Theta's tree trunk of a neck. The bandages that she wrapped around her neck beginning to turn a dark shade of red. Theta's cuts on his neck must have started to bleed again.
"Two hours worth of work, wasted." Rarity internally sighed as she pulled out of the hug with Theta. "Yes, I forgive you Theta." Rarity said to Theta, accepting his apology.
"Thank you, Rarity." Theta said to Rarity.
Rarity took a look around the city, there seeming to be not much more they could do to improve, Manehattan own police force seeming to have the situation of dragons under control.
"Come on Theta, I think it's about time to go home. I don't think that there is much more that we can do here. Besides, I think you need to see Zecora about those cuts on your neck." Rarity said to Theta. Theta taking a quick look at his neck to see that the gaze was starting to turn a dark red, him nodding in agreement. The two friends beginning to walk toward the train station in the middle of the city.
"Hey, wait for me!" Moon Dancer called, catching up to Rarity and Theta.
"You want to come with, we're just going to a friend of mine that is an expert at zebra medicine." Rarity said to Moon Dancer, surprised as to why the yellow unicorn wanted to join them in what was really just a trip to small hut inside the Everfree Forest.
"I know." Moon Dancer said, only adding to Rarity's confusion.
"Wait, you know Zecora?" Rarity asked Moon Dancer.
"Well no, not personally anyway. But I do know of her and of her advancements in medicine. It would be best for all of Equestria if I am able to include some of her advancements into Equestrian medicine." Moon Dancer said, Rarity seeming to accept her reasoning. "Besides my home in Canterlot was destroyed when Omega attacked so I am looking for a new home, and I have heard that housing in Ponyville is pretty cheap." Moon Dancer added, speaking more to herself.
"Well then, come on. The train ride to Ponyville is only a few hours." Theta said to Moon Dancer, motioning her to follow them further. Moon Dancer's face lighting up with a smile. Moon Dancer trotting up to Theta's side.
Rarity, Theta, and Moon Dancer all got on the next train to Ponyville. Rarity and Theta both ready to have some peace and quiet after what was truly a hectic week. Moon Dancer spending most of her time near Theta. Moon Dancer didn't know why, but ever since she had met Theta during her trip to the Dragon Empire during the dragon migration she had always had an attraction to the white dragon. An attraction that she couldn't explain. Maybe it was his eyes of emeralds or his snow white scales or their strange ability to change their color depending on his mood. She didn't know but she intended to find out. Her even falling sleep up against his white scales. Theta was at first a little, understandably, freak out by the yellow unicorn's evasion of his personal space. But he soon came to enjoy Moon Dancer's company him quickly falling
Theta was at first a little, and understandably, freak out by the yellow unicorn's evasion of his personal space. But he soon came to enjoy Moon Dancer's company him quickly falling asleep along with her. His long tail wrapping around the both of them in a half circle. Theta protecting the yellow unicorn like his own hoard of treasure. Them both sleeping in a tight embrace for the rest of the journey.
Inside Zecora's hut Twilight continued to sleep peacefully her dreams being the most pleasant ones she had in the longest time. Her first dreams that didn't include books since, well forever really. Her sleep was, however, interrupted when she started to feel something inching her muzzle.
"Ugh... five more minutes." Twilight groaned still half-asleep, using on of her hooves to swat at whatever was interrupting her borderline perfect dreams.
"Come on Twilight, it's time to wake up." Twilight heard, the voice being unmistakably that of her number one assistant Spike.
"No, leave me be." Twilight continued to groan. Her snuggling up closer to the blanket that she didn't remember putting on before she went to bed.
"Zecora made breakfast." Spike said, a noticeable growl coming from Twilight's stomach. A laugh coming from Spike afterward
"Damn you primal instincts." Twilight internally cursed her own body. Her wanting to return to the greatness that was dreamland.
"Breakfast..." Twilight said, opening one of her eyes. Spike's green reptilian eyes staring back at her. Twilight able to see both Applejack and Pinkie Pie snickering at the spectacle going on in front of them.
"Yeah, Zecora made pancakes, there actually not that bad." Spike said to Twilight, the purple alicorn opening both eyes now while still squinting at Spike.
Twilight let a defeated sigh as a smile appeared on her face. "Fine, I'll get up." Twilight said to Spike, raising her full height the blanket that wrapped around her body aimlessly falling off as she stretched. Her stretching her hind legs, Twilight letting a groan as she felt one of the joints in her left hind leg pop.
Twilight, still in her joyous attitude after her most pleasant dream, trotted over to the wooden table where the rest of her friends were located. Rarity and Theta still not back from their journey to Manehattan. Twilight sitting down and grabbing three pancakes from a clay plate in the center of the table with her magic. Twilight quietly humming a happy tone as she ate.
"You must have had one heck of a dream if you are this happy." Applejack commented, taking a seat next to the purple unicorn. Applejack nudging Twilight gently in the shoulder.
"Hmm..." Twilight hummed, mid-bite of her second pancake, this was when she noticed that all of her friend's eyes were staring at her. This was also the first time that she noticed that Zecora, Fluttershy, and even Rainbow were in the room. Zecora off in the corner making more pancakes at a wood burning stove. While Fluttershy and Rainbow both staring directly at Twilight. Fluttershy and Pinkie looking with genuine as to what had made her purple friend so happy. Rainbow looking more bored, her right wing still wrapped in a protective gaze so that the small bones in her wings could heal correctly. Applejack sending a knowing look toward Twilight, as she was almost 100% sure what she had dreamed about.
"Oh... it was alright, I guess." Twilight said taking another bite of her pancake, her face beginning to flush pink in a blush.
"I would say it was a little more than alright. I haven't seen you happier since you come to Ponyville." Applejack said to Twilight, her taking a sip out of a glass of cold apple cider. Her giving Twilight her own glass of the amber colored liquid. Twilight accepting the glass from Applejack. Her downing a third of the drink in one go.
"What was it about?" Fluttershy asked Twilight, the purple alicorn's blush intensifying with every passing second.
"Really girls, it was nothing." Twilight said, trying to drop the issue without sounding rude as much as possible.
"Yeah, she was probably dreaming about egghead stuff, like the boring books she reads." Rainbow chimed in her already lost interest in whatever had put Twilight in a happy mood.
In any other situation, Twilight would've called Rainbow out for calling her an egghead, knowing that the cyan pegasus was a fan of reading books. Practically the books from the Daring Do series that Twilight had introduced to Rainbow in the first place. But wasn't any situation and Twilight needed a good lie to convince her friends. Or, at least, convince them enough to just drop the issue altogether.
"Yeah, a book. I was dreaming about a book. It was very book, that's why I'm so happy." Twilight said quickly, stuffing her mouth with her third pancake. Something she regretted as she began to cough. Her having to down another third of her glass of cider in order not to choke.
"Wow... slow down there partner, we don't want you to die on us here."Applejack said, giving Twilight a friendly pat on the back.
"I'm ok." Twilight said, breathing heavily. Her lie, along with her coughing seeming to do the trick as all her friends went back to eating. Twilight taking note of Rainbow wincing every time she took a bite of something. She couldn't tell if the pain she was going through was physical or mental. But either way, it was clear to her at least. The Rainbow Dash that had confidently shown off her unrivaled moves in the air was gone. It leaving her the very moment she was almost broken in half by Sigma.
When Twilight finished her third pancake that morning she noticed something that was off. "Where's Zulu?" Twilight asked her friends.
"I dunno, ask AJ. She's the one that saw him leave." Rainbow said, getting up from her seat. "I'll be in my room if anypony needs me." Rainbow excused herself, her disappearing behind the blue curtain that marked the entrance to her room. Twilight watched Rainbow disappear behind the blue curtain before turning her attention over to Applejack.
"So... where is Zulu?" Twilight asked Applejack trying her best to hide her true motives for asking.
"I don't know." Applejack said and Twilight looked like her brain just snapped. An expression of pure shock that Applejack couldn't help but laugh at.
"You... don't know." Twilight repeated her left eye beginning to twitch.
"No, didn't say where he was going when he left." Applejack said to Twilight, taking another sip from her glass of apple cider.
"Did he at least say why he left?" Twilight asked Applejack, her words becoming more forceful and her left eye continuing to twitch.
"He said he wanted to join up with the rest of the changelings. Whatever that means, he left just as I woke up." Applejack said to Twilight. The purple alicorn's ears folding to the back of her head in disappointment.
"Oh... I see. Did he say even he would return?" Twilight asked Applejack. "If he will return." Twilight mentally added.
"He didn't say." Applejack said, Twilight's ears drooping even more. "But..." Applejack began to say, Twilight's face instantly lighting up. "I think I did here him say that he hope that he would see all of us again." Applejack said to Twilight, restoring a little bit of her hope of seeing that certain changeling.
"Ok.. thanks, AJ." Twilight said returning her attention back to the glass of apple cider that was in front of her. Twilight beginning to drink the remaining third of her drink.
When Twilight was almost done with done with her glass, just for fun, Applejack began to whisper in her ear. "Why were you hoping to a little alone time with Zulu." Applejack whispered to Twilight. The purple alicorn's face instantly flushing rose red in a blush and her eyes growing the size of dinner plates. Twilight spitting out the cider that was currently in her mouth. Twilight entering a massive coughing fit.
"Oh, Twilight! Are you ok?" Fluttershy asked her coughing friend as she continued to cough her lungs out.
"I'm... ack ack ack... ok." Twilight managed to say to Fluttershy, trying to get her coughing fit under control. Her sending a death glare Applejack's way. "I guess, I just drank too much at once. The cider just went down the wrong tube or something." Twilight made up a believable excuse. Fluttershy seeming to accept Twilight's words with a nod of her head. The yellow pegasus not seeming to notice the death glare that Twilight was sending toward Applejack.
"Oh! I did that once. It just wasn't with apple cider, it was with chocolate milk." Pinkie chimed in. Twilight taking Pinkie strangeness as a welcomed distraction. Twilight asked Zecora if she could excuse herself in a manner as to not interrupt Pinkie's story has to how Discord made Pinkie laugh so hard that she started sneezing chocolate milk out of her nose. Fluttershy seeming to be practically intrigued by the story about the Spirit of Chaos Zecora sent Twilight gave a single head nod and Twilight rose from her seat and began to trot toward the wood door that marked the entrance to Zecora's small straw hut.
Applejack was enjoying Pinkie tale when Twilight hit her seat with her hoof. Twilight did a motion with her head urging Applejack to follow her outside the small hut. Applejack gave Twilight a small smile as she finished her glass of apple cider.
Applejack followed Twilight outside, the bright spring sun shining down on the two ponies. Applejack still with a happy smile on her face. Twilight closed the wooden door to Zecora's hut with her hoof, her still sending a glare toward Applejack. Applejack's smile began to fade before disappearing completely. Applejack let out a sigh as she started to address Twilight.
"What is it Twi?"
"How do you know?" Twilight asked bluntly, her sitting on her haunches and crossing her hooves.
"What... what do you mean?" Applejack awkwardly asked Twilight her own question, her trying to avoid the question that she was asked. Twilight's glare only increasing from Applejack's evasion. Applejack certain that if Twilight's glare was connected to her horn she could cut a diamond with it.
Applejack didn't like to see her friend made at her. Teasing her was fun, but this wasn't what Applejack wanted. Applejack let out another sigh, this one heavier than the last. "I saw the two of you." Applejack said to Twilight, the purple alicorn's eyes widening at Applejack's words.
"How... how much did you see?" Twilight stammered to Applejack, her hoping that Applejack didn't see anything... too embarrassing.
"Not much to be honest." Applejack said to Twilight. Twilight let out an internal sigh of relief. "I woke up just as you fell asleep on his neck, him putting you bed, and placing a blanket over you as you slept." Applejack said to Twilight.
"That explains the blanket." Twilight thought as Applejack continued.
"He left to somewhere I don't know after that." Applejack finished. Twilight rising to her full height soon afterward.
"Did he say anything before he left? Well, anything other than that you already said?" Twilight asked Applejack.
"Other than that he wished that he would like to see you again, nothing." Applejack said, Twilight's ears dropping at her words.
"Oh... ok." Twilight said defeated, her beginning to trot down the dirt path that led to Zecora's hut.
"Twilight wait!" Applejack called after Twilight, having remembered something else that Zulu said before he left.
"What is it, AJ?" Twilight asked Applejack, doing a quick 180. "Did you remember something?" Twilight asked Applejack, running over to her side. Her almost literally jumping for joy.
"Yes, I do remember him saying one more thing before he left." Applejack said to Twilight.
"What he say, he what he say?" Twilight asked Applejack, her jumping up and down in excitement. Applejack having to fight with every fiber of her being not to laugh at Twilight. Her looking more like a school filly with their first crush instead of the latest Princess of Equestria.
"I remember saying that he was flattered by your... advancements..." Applejack began to say, Twilight eagerly waiting for her friend to continue. "But..." Applejack said and Twilight face dropped.
"But, what, but what!? Buts are never a good thing!" Twilight screamed internally, time seeming to slow down for her as she waited for Applejack to continue.
"While Zulu said that he was flattered, he said that he wasn't looking for a relationship. A relationship that he didn't even think was possible with him being a changeling." Applejack said to Twilight, all the light in Twilight face leaving her in a second.
"Oh... I see." Twilight said defeated, looking down at the dirt ground beneath her.
"Hey, Twi." Applejack said, lifting up Twilight hoof with her hoof. "Keep your chin up. Like the saying goes, there are plenty of fish in the sea." Applejack said to Twilight, trying to raise her spirits.
"Hey fish in the sea... right whatever you say AJ." Twilight said defeated beginning to trot back toward Zecora's hut.
"What am I going to do with you Twilight?" Applejack thought to herself as she followed Twilight back to the hut.
Them both completely unaware that there were two pegasi looking for them, or more accurately looking for Twilight.
Over the skies of the Everfree two pegasus royal guards on a mission from Celestia herself. There mission being to find and deliver an important message to Princess Twilight Sparkle.
"Tartarus, how hard can it be to find one purple alicorn in the Everfree Forest." One of the pegasus guards said to his partner. Him being a white stallion with a jet black mane with silver highlights.
"I don't know Lightspeed. But Princess Twilight Sparkle has to be around here somewhere." Lightspeed partner said to him. Him a dark gray stallion with a lighter color of gray mane, him going by the name of Silver Spear, or just Spear for short.
"Hey, Spear isn't that the Princess?" Lightspeed asked Dust. Him pointing his light hoof at a small clearing in the tree tops near the edge of the forest that was located at its border of Ponyville. Him swearing that he saw a purple pony with wings, him not to tell if the pony also had a horn sticking out her forehead from the attitude that he was flying.
"Maybe, but there's only one way to find out." Dust said back, the two fly down toward where Lightspeed had seen the purple mare.
The two guards landed in the small clearing in the tree tops to find that the purple mare that Lightspeed had thought was Princess Twilight was indeed Twilight. Twilight still joined by Applejack.
"There she is." Dust said to Lightspeed.
About time." Lightspeed said, beginning to trot toward the purple alicorn. "Princess!" Lightspeed called out into the dark forest. Both Twilight and Applejack coming to a halt.
Twilight and Applejack both did a quick 180 to see the two pegasus guard wearing golden armor staring back at them. The dark gray guard with his golden helmet removed, it resting underneath his left wing. Twilight was frozen in place, her not sure why white guard had addressed her as Princess. Her still not used to her new title.
"Twi, I think there talkin' to yay." Applejack whispered to Twilight.
"Oh, a yes." Twilight said quickly, realization coming to her. Twilight quickly cleared her throat before addressing the two guards that were standing in front of her at attention. "Yes, what is it that you two have to tell me?" Twilight asked the white guard that had called her name earlier. Twilight doing her best to sound like Princess Celestia.
"I guess we should introduce ourselves first. My name's Corporal Lightspeed..." The white guard introduced himself, removing his helmet and placing underneath his left wing, much like his partner. "And this is Private Silver Spear." Lightspeed said introducing his partner to Twilight and Applejack. Silver Spear giving Twilight a quick head nod when his partner introduced him to Equestria's newest Princess.
"Pleasure to meet you both, now what is it that you needed to speak to me about?" Twilight asked her Princess voice a little better than it was before.
"We are both on a mission from Princess Celestia herself..." Lightspeed said, Twilight instantly tensing up at the mention of her former mentor. "to merely deliver a special message to you." Lightspeed finished, adding more questions to Twilight's mind.
"A message, why would she send two guards to give me a message when she could just send one to Spike? Maybe she feared that he would still be under Omega's control and couldn't risk such important information to end up in the wrong hooves, or claws." Twilight thought to herself. Coming up with her own reason for Celestia's reasoning.
"What kind of message did Princess Celestia want to deliver to me." Twilight asked the two guards. Silver Spear speaking up this time.
"Princess Celestia, along with both Princess Luna and Princess Cadence, have summoned you and your friend, if possible, to the Crystal Empire for your first Princess Sumit." Silver Spear said to Twilight. Twilight a little surprised that Twilight hadn't just sent her a letter through Spike.
"Um... Thank you Corporal Lightspeed and Private Silver Spear, I will inform my friends, and we will be on the next train out of Ponyville heading toward the Crystal Empire." Twilight said to the two guards, them both nodding and placing their golden helmet back on top of their heads.
"Thank you, your highness, we will inform Princess Celestia that you have received her message and will be arriving in the Crystal Empire soon." Lightspeed said to Twilight, giving her a small bow before opening his feathered wings.
"Thank you, Corporal Lightspeed. Me, and as many of my friends as possible, should be in the Crystal Empire by sundown. Twilight said to Lightspeed as the two guards began to hover in the air.
The two pegasus guards were about ready to began the long flight back to the Crystal Empire when a masculine voice broke the silence of the mid-day Spring air. "What is this about a Princess Summit in the Crystal Empire?" The voice of Theta said, taking everypony by surprise.
All eyes shot around to the sound of the voice to find Theta standing a couple of yards away from the four ponies, his snow white scales shining in the bright sun. Rarity standing at his left, and Moon Dancer to his right. The two guards recognizing the white dragon and landing back on the ground, removing their helmets and giving a small bow toward Theta. Theta being the dragon equivalent to a Prince or Princess.
"Rarity, Theta, you're back!" Twilight and Applejack both cried out at once. Them both running over to give their friends a big hug. Twilight and Applejack embracing Rarity in a tight hug. Followed shortly by a short exchange of hugs with Theta. Moon Dancer being to feel like the third wheel in this interaction. Tartarus, the two royal guards that were bowing to dragon royalty looked more in place than what was nothing more than a homeless pony that had an attraction to a dragon that she couldn't even begin to understand.
"Oh, and I hi Moon Dancer is it?" Twilight said, surprised to find the yellow unicorn standing close to Theta.
"Hey Twilight, and yes my name is Moon Dancer." Moon Dancer all but spat at Twilight. The two guards were about to correct Moon Dancer for her rudeness but decided against. "Twilight had only been a Princess for less than a week. You can't expect the general population to be as respectful toward her as a trained guard would be." The two guards thought, them not knowing of the bad blood between the two old friends. Bad blood that not even Twilight knew of.
"When did you guys get back?" Twilight asked, completely forgetting the conservation that she was very only a minute earlier.
"Will discuss Manehattan at a better time, but what I currently what to know is about this Princess Summit." Rarity said turning Twilight's attention back at the two pegasus guards.
"Oh right, my bad. Rarity, Theta, Moon Dancer, this is Corporal Lightspeed, and this is Private Silver Spear." Twilight said introducing the two guards to the new arrivals. The two guards raising from their bow and placing their golden helmets back on their heads.
"Pleasure to meet you both soldiers, now what is this about a Princess Summit." Theta said speaking to the two pegasus guards.
"We are filled with much information about the latest Princess Summit in the Crystal Empire, we are simply message ponies." Lightspeed said.
"I see..." Theta said, an idea coming to him. "Twilight do you to think that I could accompany you to this Princess Summit? As a representative of the Dragon Empire." Theta asked Twilight.
"Sure, I think Princess Celestia would like to add another royal to the mix, even though you're not technically a Princess." Twilight said, getting a playful glare from Theta.
"Will that be all Princess?" Lightspeed asked Twilight, the two guards opening their feathered wings. Them preparing for the long trip back to the Crystal Empire.
Yes, I believe so Corporal. You both can inform Princess Celestia that I, my friends, and now Theta, will be attending the latest Princess Summit, and we should all arrive in the Crystal Empire by the end of the day." Twilight said to the two guards.
The two guards both nodded, gave a bow to the two royals, and launched into the sky. Them flying back toward the icy north of the Crystal Empire.
Twilight, Theta, and Rarity all walked back to Zecora's hut. They quickly pack all that was needed for a two day trip to the Crystal Empire and got on the next train heading to the Crystal Empire. Moon Dancer deciding it best to just spend her visit in Ponyville, she wasn't needed in the Crystal Empire. Besides, she might still be able to get so important medical advancements from Zecora.
"At least it's something." Moon Dancer thought to herself as she sat at the wooden table in Zecora's hut. Her drinking a cup of herbal tea that Zecora had graciously made for her.
"Why so gloom? It is Springtime you should be in bloom." Zecora asked Moon Dancer in her usual rhyming, the zebra taking a seat across from the yellow unicorn. Moon Dancer used her magic to place the small ceramic tea cup on the wooden and let out a heavy sigh before talking to Zecora.
"I don't know Zecora. I guess I just feel an emptiness inside of me. I've been feeling it ever since I took a trip to the Dragon Empire for the dragon migration." Moon Dancer said to Zecora, the zebra nodding as Moon Dancer continued. Zecora taking a sip out of her own tea cup. "I thought it was just from the lack of knowledge that I didn't learn during my travel. But... that isn't it either." Moon Dancer said, her logical mind trying to make sense of the flurry of emotions that she was feeling.
"What do you mean? If I can help, I must know how to make you clean." Zecora said back, taking another sip of her teacup.
"I don't know Zecora. I knew it wasn't the knowledge about dragons as just study the Alpha when he was asleep gave me more information about dragons than anything I ever could've gotten from the dragon migration. I just keep feeling this emptiness. An emptiness that seems to just get better everytime I see Theta." Moon Dancer said, putting Zecora into deep thought.
"Hmm... Moon Dancer are you sure it is not something, but someone that you are missing." Zecora said to Moon Dancer, breaking her rhyming just once.
"What! That's... that's just absurd. I... have never needed ponies and I still don't." Moon Dancer denied. Only making a smile appear on Zecora's muzzle.
"I didn't say anything about a pony. I have come to believe that it a certain dragon, from your testimony." Zecora said with a smile, Moon Dancer's pupils shrinking to the size of peas.
"No, that's just absurd! We're not even the same species!" Moon Dancer loudly denied, shaking her head quickly back and forth. Her standing up from her chair and beginning to storm out of the small hut.
Moon Dancer's movements coming to a halt when Zecora called after her. "You can deny my words all you want Miss Dancer. That change the fact that Theta makes your heart prancer." Zecora said to Moon Dancer, her eyes filled with determination.
Moon Dancer simply ignored Zecora's words, she was too furious to care. "Thank you for the tea Zecora, but I think I'll find where else to stay while I'm in Ponyville." Moon Dancer spat at Zecora, slamming the door with her magic behind her. "Ugh! The nerve of that pony, no zebra." Moon Dancer cried out, her beginning to trot out of the Everfree Forest in order to find a motel in Ponyville so that she could find a good place sleep before she got a permanent housing.
"Oh, Moon Dancer, my sweet dove. There is no debate that you are in love." Zecora said taking another teacup.
Over in the Crystal Empire Celestia, Luna, and Cadence were all having a special meeting involving a very special object that was currently in front of them.
"I'm so glad that I took your advice earlier little sister to move this over to the Crystal Empire." Celestia thanked Luna.
"No problem sister, we don't know what would've happened to the other side if was destroyed when Omega attacked Canterlot.
The three alicorns were then joined by Cadence's husband, Shining Armor. A look of confusion appearing on his face as he watched the three other alicorns staring at what seemed, to him at least, just a regular purple full body crystal mirror with magenta gemstones around the base of the mirror.
"I don't mean to intrude, but what is so important about a mirror?" Shining Armor spoke up, trotting up to his wife's side.
"I'm glad you asked, Shining Armor." Celestia said, trotting up to the large mirror. "This isn't any ordinary mirror." Celestia said to Shining Armor, her touching the face of the mirror with her white hoof. A ripple going across the mirror from her touch.
"I see that... but what does it do?" Shining Armor asked Celestia, looking for a little bit more information.
"This mirror isn't just something that can be used to check your reflection." Luna joined in. "This is a portal to another world." Luna explained.
"What do mean by... another world?" Shining Armor asked the two alicorn sisters.
"This mirror acts as a portal to another world... an alternate dimension if you will where everypony in Equestria are turned into these bipedal creatures known as humans." Celestia explained.
"Oh... so how does it work?" Shining Armor asked.
"Well... you walk through it and it sends it to that world that we were talking about." Luna said.
Shining Armor was about to ask the alicorn sisters another question about the strange mirror, only for the Royals to be interrupted by a white pegasus guard trotting into the room. The guard being Corporal Lightspeed. The white guard removing his helmet as he addressed the four royals.
"My apologies for the interruption, but I have urgent news from Ponyville." The guard said, all of the royals eyes widening at the guard's words.
"Did Twilight receive the message?" Celestia asked Lightspeed.
"Yes your highness, Princess Twilight Sparkle did receive your message and said that she was going to be the next train from Ponyville which departed about a half an hour ago. The Princess, along with her friends, should be in the Crystal Empire by sundown." Lightspeed said, getting a few nods from the four royals.
"Excellent, is there anything else that you wished to inform of." Celestia said to Lightspeed keeping the white guard on his hooves.
"Yes your highness, in fact, there is." Lightspeed said to the four royals. Celestia, Luna, and Cadence all sharing a look. "Not long me and my partner, Private Silver Spear, found the Princess we came across the apprentice of the Alpha of the Dragon Empire." Lightspeed said Celestia and Luna both sharing another look.
"Theta?" Cadence said to confirm her suspicions. Lightspeed giving the pink alicorn a single head nod.
"The apprentice said that he would be honored to join your Princess Sumit, and is on the same train as Princess Twilight Sparkle heading toward the Crystal Empire." Lightspeed said, putting Celestia into deep thought.
"What are you thinking big sister?" Luna asked her older sister. Luna liking to refrain from calling Celestia by her name while those that she didn't see as friends were around.
"I hadn't predicted Alpha nor Theta joining us or our Princess Summit." Celestia said more to herself.
"I haven't seen Alpha since Omega's attack on Canterlot." Luna added, getting a nod from Celestia.
"Nor have I, but with Theta coming it might be best to also have Alpha along with him." Celesta thought out loud. "Corporal Lightspeed." Celestia called out to the to the white pegasus guard.
"Yes, Princess. What are your orders for me?" Lightspeed said, expecting to be given another assignment from the white alicorn.
"I want you and Private Silver Spear to find Alpha and tell him that he is summoned by the two alicorn sisters of Equestria to the Crystal Empire for a special diplomatic conference." Celestia ordered at Lightspeed. Him nodding and putting his helmet back on his head.
"If I may ask before I depart, where exactly could I find this Alpha?" Lightspeed asked, beginning to open up his wings.
"His a dragon the size of a mountain Corporal, he is pretty hard to miss." Shining Armor said sarcastically, him not really helping.
"Shining your not helping, I believe he was traveling toward the southern mountains after he defeated Omega, so I'd check there first." Cadence said being more helpful than her husband.
"Thank you, your highness, is there anything your graces." Lightspeed said, beginning to leave the room.
"No, I believe that is it Lightspeed. You are free to go and follow out your orders." Celestia said to Lightspeed.
"Thank you, your majesty." Lightspeed said closing the door behind him with a kick of his hind leg. His partern standing just outside.
"Come on Silver, we got another mission from Princess Celestia, I'll fill in on the way there." Lightspeed said the two guard launching into the skies to find the massive body of Alpha who seemingly disappeared after Oemga's defeat.
The royals continued to talk their discussion changing from being about the mirror that was currently behind them and to about the Princess Summit that was being held the following day. Them completely unaware that someone else was listening to very word that they were saying on the other side of the mirror.
"Another princess, a princess that was a student of her's. Princess Celestia must really desperate if she thinks that she could find a student that could even challenge me at magic." A creature on two legs that went by the name of a human said to herself as she continued to listen to what was going on the other side of the mirror. The other side of the mirror being a large square podium made out of marble with a statue of a horse on top of it.
The human being amber-skinned with a head of hair that looked like it was on fire, or made out of bacon depending on your perspective and teal eyes. She was wearing a black leather jacket with a purple shirt underneath. The shirt having a split sun emblem in the middle. The right side of the sun being yellow while the left is red, the center of the sun being orange. The human also wore an orange skirt with two stripes, one purple the other yellow. Along with a pair of black cowboy boots with purple details.
"Just wait Equestria, soon you will be mine." The human said to herself, a plan malicious plan beginning to shape in her mind. Her teal eyes twinkling as her plan began to shape.
The human's malicious thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of two idiots that she had made her wonder why she didn't kick to the curb ever since they began taking her orders.
"Right Equestria." An overweight light-blue-skinned human wearing a black shirt with a pair of scissors on and blue pants said dumbly.
"Yeah, wait what's Equestria? Sunset why talking to yourself all evilly again?" A shiny amber-skinned human wearing a long sleeved green vest with a small snail on it and tan pants said in response. The amber-skinned human by the name of Sunset Shimmer hitting face palm with her five-fingered hands.
"Why do I still work with you idiots?" Sunset internally groaned. "Because they are stupid and will do all of the manual labor needed for you." Sunset mentally talked to herself as she turned to face her minions.
"Nothing, it's not important." Sunset said to her two minions. Them going by the names Snips and Snails. "At least, not yet." Sunset thought to herself before continuing. "Did you to do want I told you to do?" Sunset asked her minions in a simple and direct voice.
"Yes Sunset, we checked with Pinkie Pie to make sure that you will be the only one that will be running against for the Fall Formal Princess." Snips said to Sunset.
"Yeah, we also made sure that anyone that would run against didn't." Snails added with a small giggle.
"You made sure not to use any... unnecessary force right? The last thing I need right now is to get on the wrong side of Principal Celestia before the fun actually starts." Sunset asked her two minions, her turning around in a flash of fiery red and orange hair.
"Nope, nothing more than threats of embarrassment, like normal." Snips said, a devilish smile appearing on Sunset's face.
"Excellent, now go and do whatever you idiots do on your spare time." Sunset dismissed her minions, her turning back around to face the statue, which functioned as the human world entrance to Equestria.
"Just wait Princess Celestia, you will soon come to regret ever letting me leave." Sunset said bitterly, her eyes burning with hatred.