CHAPTER 1
A MAGICAL DISTURBANCE
Twilight woke with a sudden start in her bed. She put a hoof to her chest and breathed in and out slowly as her heart race beat rapidly. She closed her eyes trying to regain the memory of what had just woken her. The thoughts came up empty and she let out a long sigh, the purple mare lifted her head. The night sky still shone through the window. The moon light was the only glow in her blue marble room. Although the air was cold she felt hot, the back of her neck was setting and she had to kick away the blankets. "What a dream..." she muttered as she stood up out of bed. It was only then that she noticed the pinkish glow Emanating for from her flank. Her eyes widened and she gasped at the sight of her cutie mark. A large smile smile stretched across her muzzle and she ran to the door.
Twilight busted through the doors of the main hall, it was still dark and the cold empty walls echoed with the ringing of the great marble doors as they hit the walls. Twilight galloped to the table where she could already see her cutie mark floating over the map. "Oh yay! Another adventure! Maybe I can finally go to the mountains of Griffonstone, or even The big city!" She exclaimed in her typical nerdy excited way. Of course if anyone else had been around she'd be embarrassed right about now but that didn't matter, she was all alone and ready to see her newest adventure. She didn't even hop into her throne, the Mate went straight to the map and propped herself up with her two front hooves. She looked across the map and laid her eyes on the floating glowing symbol of her cutie mark. Her heart fluttered and filled with joy as the realization came across her. "The Crystal Empire!...I can go see Cadence and Shinning Armor and Flutter Heart".
Twilight ran back to her room and immediately began to pack her bag. Small footsteps slowly followed behind her and soon a certain pup role baby dragon was standing her doorway. He yawned and was still rubbing away the drowsy feeling from his eyes. "Twilight?...What's going on? It's midnight!" He snapped. Twilight didn't pay any attention to him. She just kept levitating objects and clothes into her saddle bag. "Actually it's 12:30 Spike, and I've got some great news" she smiled. Twilight finally turned to him and floated the bag over to his arms, dropping it off in his claws. He gave a small huff, not expecting the sudden weight. "Whatever the news is I doubt deserves this much packing" he muttered still grumpy from the early wake up. "Oh Spike, the map has called me. There's a friendship problem in The Crystal Empire and I've been called to help fix it" She trotted our the room expecting Spike to just follow her. Spike hoisted the bag above his head and ran after her. "The Crystal Empire? Cool! Who else?" He asked. Twilight suddenly stopped and Spike bumped into her. "Who else?...I actually didn't see any other cutie mark. I think it's just me" she told him suddenly feeling a little nervous.
"The map chose me. It just chose me. Last time it was Fluttershy and I, oh Spike what if I can't do this on my own?"
"What?! How can you say that? Your the princess of friendship. If any pony can do a solo map mission it's you!"
"That's sweet Spike But I've never done a solo mission before. Last time I kept trying to help by using different techniques based on the other girls. It wasn't until I started listening to Fluttershy that we figured out the solution to the friendship problem"
"So what? The map was right about that problem needing both of you then so it's gonna be right now about sending you alone. Trust me Twilight, if the map thinks you should go alone then that means your the smartest and bravest and most qualified to fix this problem"
Twilight felt her heart flutter again at Spike's words. "Thanks Spike, your the best messenger a pony could ask for" she praised and wrapped her hooves around him tightly. He smiled and held out the saddle bag to her "Good luck Twilight".