A/N: This is adopted from MsTook. The first two chapters are hers, I only edited them a little. I would really appreciate feedback, though, as it's the first multi-chaptered story I've published (the other oneshot being on a different profile).

Chapter 1

Twilight Sparkle sighed. She had so much work to do, like practice her magic. She also had to work on the assignment that Princess Celestia had given her - to make friends with other species, and she didn't just mean Spike. Actually, Twilight wasn't quite sure what the Princess meant.

A burp from Spike interrupted her thoughts. "A message from the Princess, Twilight," the purple dragon said, holding out a scroll. Twilight used her unicorn magic to lift the scroll out of his claws and open it. She read out loud:

To my dearest student Twilight Sparkle; I have discovered a way to assist you in completing your current assignment! Kindly come to my castle as soon as you can, and bring your friends!

~Your faithful mentor,

Princess Celestia

"'As soon as you can'? 'Bring your friends'? This must be important, Spike! C'mon!" Spike jumped on her back and she galloped out the door.

Twilight pounded on Rarity's door with her front hooves. "Rarity! Open up!" The door flung open.

"What in all of Equestria is the matter, darling?" Rarity's beautiful face and perfectly sculpted purple mane looked out from the doorway.

"I've just received a letter from the Princess! Saying to come to her castle! And to bring her friends!"

"Oh, dear, I was in the midst of my spring cleaning..." Rarity said, her face falling. "Well that can wait! I've got to go clean up! I can't go to the castle looking like this!" The door slammed shut and Twilight heard hooves clopping frantically.

"But Rarity, you look fine!" She shouted through the door. When she didn't get a response, she looked to Spike who shook his head as if clearing it.

"Ah, well," He shrugged. "Let's go see what Fluttershy's up to." Twilight sighed and headed towards Ponyville Gardens.

"Come on, little bunny, go play with the other bunnies…" Fluttershy nudged a baby bunny forward with her nose. She heard a steady 'clip-clop' of hooves come closer, and the little rabbit perked up it's ears and ran into it's burrow.

Fluttershy looked up. "Twilight! You scared the bu-" She exploded, then caught herself. "I-I mean...um...hello, Twilight."

"Oh, I'm sorry Fluttershy," Twilight apologized, glancing at the rabbit hole.

"No that's okay, really," Fluttershy assured her.

"Well, anyways, Princess Celestia sent me a letter saying to bring all my friends to the castle!"

"Ooh! How exciting!"

"Did someone say 'exciting'?" came a shout from above. A giant 'whoosh' left Twilight and Fluttershy staggering, trying to regain lost balance. Then Rainbow Dash landed in front of them. "You're going to the castle?" She asked eagerly, obviously having eavesdropped.

"Yes, Rainbow," Twilight said, "You're coming, too."

"Yes!" Rainbow flapped her wings in happiness, and the three set off to Applejack's, proceeded to Pinkie Pie's house, and eventually back to Rarity's.

In the throne room of Princess Celestia's castle, after a small argument with the guards on whether they were allowed to be there, the Princess explained why she had called them so urgently.

"As Twilight Sparkle knows," Celestia nodded towards Twilight, "She has received an assignment from me stating that she shall make friends with another species." The Princess's gaze swept through the room, looking at each pony in turn, then Spike. "The species I have selected is one called 'human'." Before anypony could ask questions, she continued. "They are tall beings that walk on two feet. They live in another world, called 'Earth'."

"Ooh, Earth? I've heard of that; it's nearly all covered in wa-" Twilight Sparkle clapped a hoof over her mouth, blushing.

Princess Celestia laughed kindly and continued. "Yes, a large portion of it is taken up by water. Anyways, I am going to transport you seven to Earth, to a city called 'Lima'."

Pinkie Pie jumped up and down, laughing, "Haha, like lima beans!"

Twilight stepped forward. "How are you going to get us there? Isn't it very far away?" She asked politely.

"Yes, but I've had much practice and I have Luna helping me." She gestured with her hoof over to her younger sister Luna, who looked up from a scroll and nodded. "However, before you depart, you will go through classes with me to learn about Earth. Things you will need to know, because I will be applying you to a school there. You may go now," She said abruptly. "meet me here tomorrow."

The ponies started talking amongst themselves excitedly and started towards the exit. "Oh, and one more thing," The Princess waited for everyone to turn around. "While you are on Earth, you will take on a different form... you will be turned into humans."