> Ashes > by Tropical Beats > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter One: Going Back > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunset walked through the school courtyard when she heard giggles coming from the corner. She looked above her shoulder to see Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Princess Twilight sat there drinking milkshakes. Sunset sighed. She really wanted to get her hands on that book. She saw it glow many times. She wanted to so badly know why so many messages were being sent from Equestria. But alas, Dash took it and hid it somewhere she didn't know. Sunset looked ahead of her to see Flash Sentry stood with his guitar. Sunset smiled as she walked up to him. "Hey, Flash!" "Oh, Sunset! What's up?" Sunset's face dropped as she looked at the ground. "It's Twilight, isn't it?" He said while looking at the princess. The only response he got was a slight nod from Sunset. "The girls won't let me go near her because they don't want her gone from here!" Sunset exclaimed in despair. "And a few weeks after Twilight didn't return to Equestria, I've gotten so many messages from there! And I understand they'd be worried about Twilight, but buzz after buzz! Non-stop! And the girls hid it from me! I don't even know where it is!" Flash stared blankly at Sunset for a short minutes until he spoke up. "Are you kidding me?! If there are that many messages from Equestria, I'm sure there's something wrong over there!" "What do you mean?" "Look, Equestria is a magical place, you should know! You were born there!" "And..?" Sunset asked raising an eyebrow. "What if some magical problem came?! They would need Twilight! The most magical element holder! And the fourth princess who bears the most powerful magic of all!" Sunset gasped. How could she never know about this? How did this occur to her now? It's been 3 years! That's over 1,000 years in Equestria! With that, Sunset walked up to the table where the girls were sitting on. "Sunset! You finally want to join us!" Twilight exclaimed with a big smile on her face. "You can share a seat with me!" "No!" All the girls at the table chanted in unison. "What do you mean, no? Sunset is our friend!" Twilight said, clearly confused. The five girls sat around the table went quite as they nervously glanced at one another. Twilight raised her eyebrow, but then turned her attention to Sunset. "Come on, join us!" She cheerfully said. "Twilight, Listen!" Sunset snapped causing the purple-skinned princess to yelp in fright. "O-okay..." Twilight stuttered, her hands trembling. Sunset took a deep breath in and spoke. "Twilight, you don't belong here! Neither do I! You are an alicorn princess, and I'm a old unicorn student!" Twilight shook her head and looked up and Sunset with a confused expression. "I don't understand a thing you're saying, Sunset. I think you've read too many fairytales." Sunset growled as she went up to Twilight face to face to tell her. By this time Flash saw what was happening. "Don't you wonder where you're family is? Do you remember going to school in this figure?" Twilight didn't get it. What could she be talking about? Why out of all days did Sunset have to be in such a bad mood? But she didn't stop there... "Do you have any fond memories of you being like this, Twilight Sparkle, The Princess Of Friendship?!" Then, everything came back to her... "M-mom!" Twilight exclaimed. She looked around scared, "D-dad! Shining Armour! Cadence!" She said as she got up, "Where's Spike? What about, Dash, Flutters, AJ, Rares, and Pinks?! Where's Celestia and Luna?! And what about the CMC?! H-hows Ponyville and Canterlot?!" "Twilight-" Sunset began only to get cutoff. “No! Nothing will clam me down!” Twilight snapped at Sunset more sharply then Sunset did to her leaving Sunset frozen in place. “I don’t know why I’ve been here for so long! Why would I do that?!” Twilight felt a hand on her shoulder. When she looked up, she saw Flash Sentry. “Don’t worry, Twilight.” He said. Twilight took a deep breath in while lifting her hand to her chest, then she let her breath go as she extended her head away from her chest (Cadence’s technique anyone?). “Thanks, Flash.” Twilight said with a slight blush on her face. “Okay, where’s the book?” “I think they can tell you that!” Sunset said pointing at the five girls around the table giving them a cold look. Twilight shook her head. “They would never do that.” Twilight said. She had full trust in those girls. They’re basically her old friends back in Equestria! “Oh, but they did!” Flash said looking away from the scene. Twilight looked at the five girls in disappointment. “W-we did…” Applejack said owning up. “But it was my idea!” Dash suddenly said. “I didn’t want you to go back to Equestria, and when I told everyone else, we hatched a plot to keep you here.” “We are so so sorry!” Fluttershy squeaked. “Yea, but we all wanted you here! But… I guess it was wrong. We were having fun, but who knows what’s going on in Equestria!” Pinkie Pie normally said. “W-what?!” Twilight said in shock. “Yes dear, lots of messages were showing up in Sunset’s book. We never bothered to look at them, but we even hear a buzz till this very day, darling.” Rarity said. Twilight couldn’t feel anything at that moment. She couldn’t believe this was happening. “Give me the book right now!” She shouted angrily. Immediately, Rainbow Dash sped off and returned quickly with the book. Twilight snatched it off her, and the five girls looks down at the ground in guilt. Flash and Sunset bent down with Twilight to read what was in the book. “Dear, Twilight. It’s been three weeks and you’re not back yet. Did something happen? We’re all worried. Please come back soon, you missed Applejack’s birthday, and Rainbow Dash flew in a Wonderbolt show as a reserve. Rarity also opened a boutique in Canterlot! We all hope you come back soon! From your best friends.” Twilight read on to the next page. “Twilight! It’s been 10 moons! We decided to let you come when you had to, but we really need you. Somehow King Sombra is back! I thought he would be gone for good when we returned the crystal heart, but he’s back! Not to mention, the changlings are invading Canterlot and trying to cover the rest of Equestria. Celestia and Luna are no longer in power, and Cadence and Singing Armor have been taken but King Sombra! Dash Pinks and Maud are at the base, nothing is left of now. Rarity has a really bad fever, Fluttershy is just as frail as a flower again, every part f her confidence is gone now! Applejack is pretty much still the same, but everypony else just lost it. Please come back soon! Your faithful assistant, Spike.” Twilight paused for a second. She couldn’t believe any of this, How could I be so foolish? How could I let this happen?! She gave a deathly stare at the five girls with their heads down, but Twilight wasn’t going to let them just stay like that. “Do you know what’s going on in Equestria?! I can still visit you guys whenever I need to! It was way beyond wrong to put me under a spell! How did you even do it anyways?! It makes no sense! Not to mention, my kingdom is dying!” Twilight yelled as loud as she could to the five trembling girls. All the students of CHS stopped in their tracks and looked at the scene. They didn’t want Twilight to know this was the work of the whole school except for Flash and Sunset. But Applejack stood up. “It wasn’t just the five of us, it was also the whole school.” Applejack said not making eye-contact with the pony princess. “Well, except for Flash and Sunset of course. Them two tried their best to stop it.” “I was the one who convinced the school to do it.” Rainbow Dash said. “We all like you very much, dear. We just, couldn’t let you go!” Rarity exclaimed. “And we all really really wanted you to stay!” Pinkie Pie glumly said. “We are truly, very sorry.” Fluttershy said with tears in her eyes. Small murmurs of “sorry” were heard through the crowd of students. “I’m disappointed that I did not know about this." Everyone turned around to see Principle Celestia and Vice Principle Luna standing next to each other with every angry looks. “We expect all of you who were a part of this to face detention for the rest of the year!” Vice Principal Luna said with a sharp tone in her voice. “When Twilight began to be a regular student here at CHS, my sister and I believed that she had no work in Equestria, and that everyone there she knew was busy. So then, she came here. But then, for three years she’s been staying, and we thought that she might’ve spent her time here to finish in CHS? We didn’t know, and we didn’t question it.” Twilight walked up to both principals. “I am sorry. I didn’t know I was under spell. I just don’t really know how they did it.” She said. “Oh, really?! It’s easy! We got the entire school to keep you in the gym. The five of us sang a song which we wanted to be a spell for you to stay. And before Flash and Sunset could do anything, we locked them out!” Pinkie said with *squee at the end with her usual smiley face. “PINKIE PIE!” All the CHS students who where a part of the plan shouted at her. “Whaaat?” She innocently said ad she began bouncing up and down. “Well, I can still use magic since I am originally from Equestria. Same with Sunset, so I will go back to Equestria, but I want Sunset to come back with me, and Flash to look over us?” Twilight suggested. “I wouldn’t mind a trip back home.” Sunset said with s smile. “Even if it’s currently a dump.” She chuckled. “Okay!” Twilight said as a while ball appeared. Inside of it, Flash could see Twilight. “Would you look over us?” “Sure!” He said. “And I expect the rest of the school to look after you in detention!” Celestia said as all the students scurried into the school. “Wait! I didn’t read the last entry!” Twilight yelled out. Every student stopped to listen. “Dear Twilight, I understand you where there for a vacation, BUT GET HERE NOW!! Heh, sorry that was Rainbow Dash two hours ago, now this here is Spike. I’m sorry, things are bad. It’s been over 30 moons! Rarity caught a really bad illness. Nopony know what it is. Applejack is still trying to hold her ground, but she just breaks every now and then. Pinkie Pie is becoming insane, not not her weird insane, her creepy insane. Maud doesn’t ever talk anymore. Fluttershy would get scared it the wind picks up, Rainbow Dash looses her temper more easily now, and Celestia and Luna are still gone, Cadence and Shinning are still hostages and Moondancer, Minuette, Lemon heart, and Twinkleshine disappeared! Lots of other ponies are gone too, and so many other ponies, I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THEY ARE! WHERE ARE YOU! DO YOU REAL…” “Why did you stop there?” Flash asked. “It’s a threat.” Twilight said. “What?" everyone listening questioned. “It stops there. This is the next part: "Hey, princess. Having fun while your home is crumbling? Well, say goodbye to your little friend! You better home right now! All the evil is beginning to unite, and together… WE WILL RULE EQUESTRIA!” There was a moment of silence until Twilight grabbed Sunset’s hand and said, “Let’s go." > Chapter Two: A Not So Very Nice Welcome > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Ahh!" Twilight screamed as she and Sunset were going through the portal. "Whoa! Is it always this bumpy?!" Sunset yelled as the two on them were swirling around in weird patterns. "Yea! But the worst part is when you come back, you walk out on your back legs and it hurts so baaaaadd!!!" The princess exclaimed as she entered the place she hadn't been in such a long time... "Oof!" She said as she fell down from her back legs. The same reaction came from Sunset as she walked out. Both of them looked up to see what was awaiting them. Sunset's face stayed still, and Twilight's ears jerked down in fright. The crystal walls were broken, pictures were all over the floor, glass was shattered all over the place, some type of green goo was hanging from the ceiling, and the books in the library were scattered around with pages everywhere.. Twilight couldn't believe it. Was this the library she dearly loved..? "Whoa!" Sunset exclaimed after a long moment of silence, "I can't imagine how this place used to look this before!" Twilight sniffed as a tear rolled down her cheek. "Y-yea... It was a really good library..." She said wiping the tears streaming down her face. "In fact, this totally made up for the loss of the Golden Oak Library." "Uhm... Sorry dear, but... What is the Golden Oak Library? And what do you mean by the loss of it?" Rarity questioned. Twilight took a deep breath as she stood up. She signaled Sunset to do the same. As the two were walking out the library, Twilight told Sunset and everypony (one) at CHS about Tierk, and how he destroyed her old home, the keys, and how they found the chest. She told of the sixth key being found, Discord's part in the story, the Rainbow Power, and how the castle itself came to be. "Whoa!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, "That. Is. So. AWESOME!" Twilight shot her a cold look. "Yes, Dash. It was. In fact, this castle would still be its beautiful and stunning self if somepony, or should a say, someone started a plan to keep me in their world, and got everyone else to hitch in!" Once again, there was an awkward silence. Guilty faces filled the detention hall until Applejack spoke up. "Principle Celestia and Vice Principle Luna, why did y'all need to give us only a year in detenion?!" She snapped. "Y'all did somethin' really bad. We need a punishment way worse than this!" She said in a flat tone. "We are disappointed, but really, this is another dimension we're talking about." Celestia replied. "Yes indeed. Twilight is from another dimension, it shouldn't take up most of our time. We can't let word go out about this other realm, so if the school board finds out about a heavy punishment, we're going to need a reasonable explanation." Luna added on. "I see." Applejack said as she sat back down. "Ahh!" Sunset yelled. All heads turned to the struggling unicorn stuck in the green goo, "Twilight, help!" Twilight stopped as she examined the goo. A buzzing sound filled the air. It got louder, and louder, and louder! "We need to get out of here!" She demanded as she teleported Sunset out of the goo. "Why?" She asked. "One word, Changlings." Twilight plainly said as she was finding out where they could escape from. All of a sudden, Sunset's face froze. Changlings? Twilight looked at Sunset with concern. "You don't know what Changlings are?" She asked. Sunset shook her head. "Don't worry, I know. When I studded under Celestia, I learned about them." Sunset replied. "Uhm... What are Changlings?" Fluttershy's small voice squeaked out. "Changlings are shape-shifters. They take the form of somepony and feed off the love they have for another pony." Sunset explained. A small "eeeee" escaped Fluttershy's mouth. Someone to take the shape of her and feed off the love she has for someone else? That didn't sound nice at all! "Yea, but that's not all!" Twilight said. All faces turned to her with confused expressions. Twilight told them about Shinning Armour and Princess Cadence's wedding, and how Queen Chrysalis took the form of her old foal-sitter. Around the time the story was finished, they arrived at the front door. "Let's go." Twilight said as she opened the doors. But once her determined face fell flat, the same had happened to Sunset and the others. "P-ponyville..?" Twilight managed to say. But it was a mess. White fog filled the place giving it that creepy vibe. Most the houses were abandoned and wreaked. Broken signs were everywhere, and the market carts were left deserted in place. Was this the Ponyville she lived in? All of a sudden, Twilight and Sunset got tackled to the ground. "That is it, Changlings! Y'all think ya can come into our kingdom and rule it, well then, think again ya darn varmints!" The voice said. "A-applejack..?" Twilight said. "Twilight?!" A squeakier and younger voice spoke. "I-is it really you?" A much deeper and a little raspy voice said. "Sweet apple cider! It is her!" A mature country voice sang. "Well, I'll be. It really is you, Twilight!" Applejack said as she held her hoof out to Twilight up, "Sorry for what I did." She chuckled. "No problem, AJ." Twilight warmly said as she hugged the orange mare. When the two stopped hugging, Applejack turned her attention to the unicorn beside Twilight. "And who may this be?" "Oh! This is Sunset Shimmer." "Sunset? The one from all those years ago?" "Yep! That's me!" Sunset said as sweat fell down her face. "And what are you doing here after all these years?" Applejack addressed coldly. "And it's been 1,000 years! Why were you in the human world for such a long time?" Applejack said to Twilight in a much softer tone. "Ohh... I'll tell you that later..." Twilight said as she shot a deathly glare at the white ball. "What in tarnation?!" Applejack squeaked. "Again, I''l tell you later. Now, are the CMC with you? I heard three other voices!" Twilight asked with delight as the three teen ponies walked up to her. She smiled until she saw that they had their cutiemarks. And they were all nearly identical! "Uh..." Twilight managed to say with a smile on her face as she pointed to their marks. "Oh!" Sweetiebelle yelped with joy. "Looks like we both got stories that we need to tell." Apple Bloom happily said, followed by a nod from Scootaloo. After the greetings went by, Applejack and the CMC, who were surprisingly still the CMC, led Twilight and Sunset to the Equestrian Base as they told their tales. They were sometimes interrupted by the humans who had questions on Equestria and how things work there. Sunset and Twilight happily replied as Applejack and the CMC didn't speak a word to them except for Flash and the two principles. "See Sunset? When you were defeated the first time, you said that you didn't want to come back to Equestria because you though you wouldn't be accepted! But look now, AJ and the CMC are already with you!" Twilight said with a smile. "Yea. I guess I should've never been so worried." Sunset replied with relief. "Well, I cam assure you that you won't be gettin' any criticism from Rarity." Applejack said with a frown on her face. At that moment, Twilight's face fell. "How's she doing?" Applejack sighed. "Not too well..." "Yea. I've been worried myself!" Sweetiebelle said. "It started off as a harmless cold." Scootaloo continued. "But now, It's been all kinds of nasty!" Apple Bloom finished. Twilight looked down at the ground in shame. "Let's just keep going." She slowly said. She then whispered in Sunset's ear. "I just hope Equestria can except me..." "Twi... Don't worry. I'm sure they'd be as accepting of you as they've been of me." Sunset reassured with a smile. Twilight sighed. "Oh, Sunset. I hope you're right..." > Chapter Three: Meeting The Past (#1) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Here we are, y'all!" Applejack said as she pointed to an old looking building. "That's where your staying in?!" Rarity asked in disgust. "Well, if it is, it's a terrible choice!" "We're trying to survive..!" Scootaloo muttered under her breath. "You are nothing like the Rarity here." Sweetiebelle said with a mad look on her face. "Quit the fightin', y'all." Apple Bloom said. "We just need to get Twilight and Sunset settled in. Then, we can find a way to get this all sorted out." "Good idea, Apple Bloom." Twilight said with a smile as she pulled Sunset along with her inside. But deep down, she didn't want to see anypony. The thought of meeting them after how she left them wasn't a good one. "I want to see Rarity before anything else comes up." She said. "Actually... So do I..." Sunset spoke up. "Well then, Don'cha worry. Rarity should be up by now!" Applejack said with a happy look on her face. "We need to go." Apple Bloom said. "I really wanna see Rarity, but we do have our own responsibilities..." Sweetiebelle sighed. "Yea..." Scootaloo said the same way as Sweetiebelle had done. "Okay, y'all! Go ahead." Applejack said as she led the two ponies to Rarity's room, "Here we are." Twilight gulped at the sight of the door. She felt a hoof place on her shoulder, "It'll all be find, Twi. I promise. Rarity will be happy to see ya." "Okay, AJ." Twilight said as she opened the door. She walked towards the bed where she saw a dreadful looking Rarity asleep. Her coat color and mane color were all dulled out. Her mane was ruffled all over the place, and it no longer had its beautiful curly wavy affect. "OH. MY. CELESTIA!" Sunset squeaked at the sight of the sick mare. "I-is that really me?!" Human Rarity cried, "I look absolutely dreadful!!!" The human Rainbow Dash slapped her across the face. "Rarity, she has an unknown disease and can die any minute!" At those words, Rarity hung her head in shame to avoid eye-contact with anyone. But also, the pony Rarity woke up to see what the hubba-bubba was about. "What's all this comotion?" Her dried voice cracked. But when she saw a familiar purple alicorn standing before her, she didn't know what to say. "T-twilight..?" "Heh heh. Hey, Rares!" She chuckled nervously. Rarity just sat there speechless until she realized a familiar looking yellow unicorn beside Twilight. "And Sunset Shimmer..?" Twilight and Sunset looked at Applejack for a moment. She nodded her head in response. "I think we have a lot to explain..." Sunset said with a small smile on her face. ~~~ "Whoa. S-so when you stepped into that plant, you came back with a bad cough?" Human Fluttershy said alarmed at how a force of nature could cause such tragedy. Rarity gave a simple nod. "So then everyone in Equestria though it was a small cold." Human Rainbow added. "And then, ya started to cough up blood and went blind for two weeks?" Human Applejack asked. Once again, pony Rarity gave another nod. "But then, You got your vision back! And then, You couldn't walk. Your vision went fuzzy once again, you wouldn't stop coughing blood again, and you found out that your body was becoming unstable, so then you were here in great care ever since!" Human Pinkeie Pie said with a big smile on her face. Everyone/Everypony looked at her in confusion. "Uh... Pinkie, I don't really think it's a smiling matter..." Flash said as he backed away from the super-hyper-active girl. Pinkie just stared back happily as she sat down. "But I don't get it!" Sunset said. "Why didn't the doctors go to the plant to see why it gave you the disease. There must've been something in it that started this. "It's because Rarity forgot how it looked like and where it's located. And since non of the ponies have seen it, we can't risk somepony else catchin' this one heck of a bully disease!" Pony Applejack stated. "Well, Rarity." Twilight began, "I hope you feel better. It's been nice catching up, but, we have to go." "Oh, no worries, princess." Doctor Hooves said out of no where. "Doc!" Twilight exclaimed with happiness. "Yes, I am here and Nurse Redheart and I are taking care of Rarity. She needs to rest now." He said. "I'm fine with that, but I though you were an inventor doctor, not a health doctor." She said. "Oh, but he knows both! Isn't that amazing?! Even me, Bon Bon, Lyra, Octavia, and Vinyl didn't know that, and we're his best friends!" A bubbly (adorable) voice chanted. Twilight turned around to see a grey pegasus mare with a blond mane and tail. she wore a warm smile on her face and her eyes, like always, were looking in different directions. Twilight smiled at the sight of the pegasus. "Derpy!" Twilight said as she pulled the mare in for a hug. "Hello, Twilight! I haven't seen you in a really really long time! I know that you were in the human world, but you never ever ever came back!" Derpy said in her usual derpy tone. But this time, her expression fell sad. At that moment, Twilight felt like punching each of the humans in her face, for nopony liked seeing Derpy sad (XD dat line doe). She calmed down and was about to speak until she got cut off by the human Rarity, "Did she call you Twilight without saying princess?! That is very disrespectful!" Pony Applejack looked at her coldly. "Oh, 'Ahm sorry. But Twilight's friends don't needa call her, princess ya lil' spoilt diva!" She sharply replied, "And mah friend Rarity whose laying in bed, this does not apply to ya. At least you have manners and know to think before ya speak!" Human Rarity opened her mouth as if she were going to speak, but then stopped for she had to reply to that. "Whoa, Applejack!" Sunset exclaimed. "You sounded just like RD." Twilight said with a smile. But Applejack didn't smile. She only sighed as they walked out the room. "Rainbow did teach me a thing or two on smack talk. But that was before everythin' changed..." She trailed off, "C'mon, y'all. Let Rarity rest." Sunset followed Applejack, but Twilight just stayed behind for a minute to say what she wanted to say to Derpy. "I'm really sorry, I don't have time to tell you everything, but I think Doc and Nurse Redheart heard everything. You can ask them." Derpy nodded as a smile formed once again on her face. "Okay, Twilight!" She sang happily. She got up and walked up to Doc. "Oh yea, and Doc, Redheart, you two will take care of Rarity properly, right?" Twilight asked. "Leave it to us, Twi." Dr. Hooves said. Human Rarity's left eye twitched, but she remained silent. Twilight herself was about to leave until she bumped into a teenage mare. She looked down to see a pale purple unicorn mare with a blond mane, yellow eyes and four stars for a cutiemark. Twilight felt as if she was about to die as she looked at the mare. "Dinky!" She yelled as the mare before her realized who she was. "T-twilight?! What are you doing here?! I haven't seen you since I was a filly!" Twilight blushed at the remark. "You can join your mom, your dad and nurse Redheart have conversation... Heh heh..." Dinky looked behind the alicorn to see her parents and nurse together. She smiled and said goodby to the princess and went to join them, "Oh, and Dinky! Later, tell me how you got your cutiemark!" Dinky smiled and nodded her head and Twilight exited the room. "I'm married in this world?!" Human Derpy said in fright. Twilight chuckled at the question. "No, you're not. It's just that... Uh... Well... You see... Dinky was an... accident you could say..." Twilight blushed as she tried to get the words out her mouth (It's my theory for those of you who understood what Twi was talking about). She quickly ran to see where Applejack and Sunset were with the white ball following her. She found the two of them talking to a yellow pegasus mare with a long pink mane and tail and aqua eyes. Twilight beamed with joy as she exclaimed in delight, "Fluttershy!" > Chapter Four: Meeting The Past (#2) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Twilight!" The yellow pegasus said is glee. The lavender alicorn pulled her friend into a hug. "I can't believe it's you! And don't you worry, Applejack and Sunset told me everything." "I'm glad I don't need to repeat a story." Twilight chuckled, but then her face turned glum. "Have you and Applejack seen Spike lately?" Both ponies shook their heads and Twilight's face fell. "What's wrong, sugarcube?" Applejack asked. "You see... The reason why I came here again was because Sunset and Flash got me out of the spell, you know that, but..." *Sigh "Twilight, if you want to tell us, go ahead. And if you don't, we won't mind one bit." Fluttershy reassured. Twilight took a deep breath before she spoke again, "When I read the last entry, it started off with some demanding message from Rainbow, then a message from Spike, but in that same message, there was a threat from whichever evil we've faced in the past! The most important thing is that they took Spike!" Applejack and Fluttershy look dumbfounded. They glanced at Sunset only to receive a nod. They looked back at the white orb only to see many guilty faces. Applejack gulped and spoke up. "Why didn't ya tell me when we were with Rarity?" "It's because Rarity was sick, and I didn't want her to have to worry about Spike while she's in such a condition." Twilight replied. "We were all confused when Twilight read the message. But now, Spike is gone to who knows where!" Sunset added. "Well then, why don't we wait for Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Maud to come. That way, we can talk it over and find out what we're going to do." Fluttershy suggested. "That's a great plan, Fluttershy!" Twilight said. "Now, where do Sunset and I stay?" "Right this way." Fluttershy said, "And I'm really glad to have you back. I couldn't to anything while this entire thing was going on. I always needed Applejack and Rainbow Dash to help me out. Oh, and Angel Bunny too. You know, with all the war going on, Celestia and Luna are taken hostage along with Shining and Cadence. It's all been really bad. You have no idea how glad I am to have you back." Twilight smiled in reply, but inside, she felt guilty. Sunset recognized her friends' worry and with that,she went to her side. "It's okay, Twilight." She whispered, "They all forgive, They're all happy to have you back." "I know, Sunset." She whispered back. "It's just that... I'm sure Pinkie Pie can easily switch, but Rainbow Dash?" "Just let things happen when they happen." Flash said (The ball follows Twilight so it was at the back with her and Sunset so the humans heard the entire thing :3) Twilight sighed as she nodded her head. Before she knew it, voices could be heard. Twilight looked up and her gloomy expression turned to one of delight, "Cheerilee! Big Mac! Mare Mayor! Octavia! Vinyl! Bon Bon! Lyra! Amethyst! Carrot Top! Berry Punch! Hey... Is that Pumpkin Cake and Pound Cake? And Mr. and Mrs. Cake! What about Tootsie Flute and Ruby Pinch?!" (I agree with Berry Punch adopting Ruby Pinch and I like to think Tootsie Flute admires Lyra ever since I read this thing called Heartstrings: http://tritebristle.deviantart.com/art/Heartstrings-Extra-p9-A-challenger-appears-501250131) ~~~ "Here's our room, y'all." Applejack said as she showed Twilight and Sunset where they were staying, "Thanks Applejack. But I have a question." "And whatd'll that be?" "Who's Minuettee, Lemon Heart, Moondancer, and Twinkleshine...?" Both Fluttershy and Applejack paused. "Y-you don't know who they are..?" Fluttershy muttered in disbelief. A bright pink blush appeared on Twilight's muzzle. Applejack took a deep breath. "They were your friends when you lived in Canterlot. Didn't you talk tot hem at Shinning and Cadence's wedding? "What?! And the wedding?" "They were the bridesmaids. Well, before we became them since that entire attack. And Moondancer didn't attend. She said something about not doing friends or socializing anymore because a friend let her down in the past." Twilight's face fell. "Uh... Twilight? Everything alright?" Sunset asked with concern. "E-Eyup, everything is fine." She chuckled. Suddenly, hoofsteps could be heard from the hallway. Fluttershy and Appeljack's faces lit up as they ran out the room. Twilight and Sunset gave one another confusing looks and trotted outside. Both their faces became even more excited than Applejack and Fluttershy's when they saw Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Maud with the two mares. Sunset nudged Twilight. "Time to make your move." Twilight nodded her head as she walked towards them. "I still don't think Equestria is cool." Human Rainbow Dash said, "It's under attack!" "Yea, because of you guys! Keeping Twilight there, what were you thinking?!" Sunset flatly said. Human RD grunted and crossed her arms. "Wow, that is low..." They heard the same voice say, but it was the pony RD who said it now. She was giving a cold look the the white orb as she trotted over to Sunset. All of a sudden, the sound of a balloon popping was heard. Well, it was just Pinkie Pie. She got her color and a little poof in the mane and tail back at the sight of Twilight. And when she saw Sunset, she was back into full swing, "OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH! THISISREALLYHAPPENING, IJUSTCANNOTBELIEVEITATALL!" And she pulled Sunset in for the most lung-wreaking hug ever. "N-not too-" *choke "HEEEELLP!" "Pinkie Pie, not so tight!" Rainbow said. "Whooopsy.... Sorry, Sunny!" *squee "It's alright..." Sunset said, loosing her balance for a bit. "So... I said hi to Pinkie... Uhm, Dash?" Twilight slowly said. Rainbow Dash smiled at the sigh of the lavender princess. "Twi! I haven't seen you in ever!" But her happy face turned into a mad expression. "Where were you?!" Twilight's face froze. I knew this would happen... I knew it would be hard to regain Dash's trust..! She thought. It wasn't until somepony saved her flank by a long shot. "Nice to see you again, Twilight. And Sunset Shimmer? I heard of you. I'm Maud Pie. Pinkie Pie's older sister." "Nice to meet you, Maud." "Want to hear my poems?" "Sure! I love poems! What are they about?" "Rocks. They're all about rocks."