1: A Going away gift...
Standing just outside of the Ponyville station at night, I quickly glanced behind me hoping nopony that I knew fondly was there.
Glad that there wasn't anypony there, I checked the letter for the eighth time in a row just to make sure.
Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,
I and Princess Luna need help at Saddle Arabia, as there has been an accident that only you can solve. Please be quick, and alone, as this needs to be a secret. Can we trust you, Twilight Sparkle?
From Celestia
'Of course Celestia can trust me! I'm... I was her student.' I thought, dejectedly, to myself.
Noticing the train was pulling in, I hurriedly gathered my bags and trotted in.
~~~
Twenty minutes ago...
'I can't let anypony see me. I need to be quick though, as applejack does her chores soon.' Twilight quietly rushed around her room, trying to find appropriate equipment for the task Celestia was assigning her, though she didn't give much specific information so Twilight took what she would need for survival; A healthy supply of water, various amounts of food, a sleeping bag, a lighter, a few matches, bits of paper, some quills, a disguise and a lot of Bits.
Not wanting to see the sadness on the faces of her friends, she decided to slip out of the castle at night, leaving a letter for spike to read in her absence.
'What's the time?' She thought to herself. Looking up, she saw that it was twelve to twelve.
Seeing as she didn't have much time left, Twilight scribbled a note for Spike and the others before heading off.
Dear Spike,
By the time you're reading this, I will have already gone. I, Twilight Sparkle have decided to leave for an unknown amount of time; therefore, I leave you in charge of the Castle along with Owlowiscious and Pee-Pee. If I am gone for more than three days, inform my friends that I have been lost. Don't worry, as I have taken with me some essentials I will need.
From Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship
~~~
Seven hours later...
Spike awoke, slowly getting up to do his job.
Walking down the Crystal halls, spike finally reached Twilight's bedroom.
He knocked a few times, but no answer was given.
"Hmm... Twilight is usually up by now..." Spike, after pulling in all his courage, decided to investigate.
Inside, the room looked the same as usual, except for the occupant.
"Twilight?"
Looking around, Spike noticed a quickly scrawled note left on the bedside table, slowly moving around due to the window left agape.
"What is this?" Asked the dragon, perplexed at the idea of her going on a journey without friends.
~~~
"Must I do this...? Yes, it's for the princess..." I muttered quietly to myself, trudging along the desert path to Saddle Arabia.
Looking around me, I saw tents of all shapes and sizes camped inside a large barrier surrounding the borders of Saddle Arabia and Equestria. Pony forms, barely able to walk, attempted to warn me about something, but couldn't speak as their faces were carved of any features that once made them a pony. Scars, cuts, bruises, holes in their bodies and forelegs so bent that the unfortunate soul looked like a walking tree. Dead bodies were strewn along the road, the pungent smelling aroma wafting into my nose, making me flinch and cringe.
'This is worse than I thought...' I muttered, squirming from the unsightly forms that were in front of me.
Doing my best to ignore the hopeful looks on the ponies faces, I carried on with my journey.
After the painstakingly long and heart panging task of dodging the helpless, I reached the EDF (Equestrian Defence Force) whom enquired why I was crossing the borders to Saddle Arabia.
~~~
"WHAT?!?"
"I said Twilight has gone on a journey by herself. She didn't even tell me where she went!"
A rainbow maned Pegasus dangerously hovered above Spikes head, fuming.
"Ah'm sure she has a reason, Sugarcube."
A similarly dressed orange earth pony, with a yellow tinted mane, interrupted the argument, with a poker face that could curdle milk.
"Come ON, AJ! Twilight could be in trouble for all we know!" The Pegasus shouted, obviously angry at the earth pony known as Applejack's remark.
"Sure, Ah'm intrigued on why she went on a trip without us, but of course she must have a reason to do what she is doing."
"See, Spike? We should form a rescue party for her!"
"Ah nev-" AJ started.
"AJ, you said it yourself! You wanted to know why she went on her own! If you join, you WILL know!" The fiery Pegasus complained.
"Sure ah do, but we should do it in her own time." AJ cringed at her comeback, knowing it wouldn't slow the Pegasus down one bit.
Spike, who was glancing at the both of them like it was a tennis match, decided to stop the argument. "Ok! So you two have your own opinions. What about the others?"
~~~
'Nightfall is approaching. I can feel it. Looking up from my hooded cloak, I noticed the stars were brighter than usual. But something's even more different. They seem brighter along the path I'm taking to reach my destination.'
'I must stay resilient. I'm doing this for the Princess...'
Nothing but giant sandy deserts surrounds me, clouding my thoughts and invading my mind.
'I'm not going to make it out of this alive...' I grimaced at that thought, more determined than ever.
Darkness overwhelmed me, so I might as well sleep for the night.
Building up a campfire, I nervously huddled around it trying to gain the warmth that it provided. I started to set my sleeping bag so I can acquire the maximum warmth without it burning me. After noting my surroundings, I finally was falling asleep...
~~~
After gathering the rest of Twilights friends, Spike told them exactly what was on the little parchment that Twilight wrote to him.
"Oh dear... I do hope she's alright..."
"My goodness!"
"But it isn't gonna be the same without Twilight..."
"So what are ya'll gonna do? Agree with me and stay here before looking for her, or agreeing with RD and look for her straight away? You decide."