"I never thought I would utter that word. By now the very concept was foreign. But here we are. We must stand resolute against the darkness. To protect the innocent...

I pray that I have made the right choice. I fear what these Invaders have planned. Their weapons are unlike anything I have ever seen. It is as if they have contained an attack spell within the staff. But at the same time my scientists have determined that this staff weapon is not magical in nature at all. Already they have come up with something. As we cannot rely on Unicorn magic alone, they have developed something they are calling the Arc Caster. A leg mounted device that is designed to shoot bolts of magic energy. Inspired by the Invader's weapon. According to them... weaker, but fires faster.

I cannot help but think of what I have asked Twilight to do. Send ponies out through the Stargate... potentially to their deaths.

We're not ready for this... but we have no choice. We must prepare... for war."

-Excerpt from the journal of Princess Celestia

Chapter 2

War Drums

The first thing Twilight and Rarity noticed was how tired Celestia looked. Second thing... was that Princess Luna was in full armor.

Something was wrong.

"You... asked for me?" Twilight spoke up. Celestia looked up, and motioned for the pair to approach. After a moment, Celestia stood up and pulled Twilight into a hug.

"You must be hungry," she said. "I am sorry for summoning you so abruptly, but this couldn't wait."

"Well... I am a little. What happened?"

"War happened," Luna spoke up.

Both Twilight and Rarity gasped in shock. Now the closed off street made sense. Canterlot had been attacked. But by who? Before either one could say anything, Celestia raised a hoof to silence them. She then said that there was a reason they both had been summoned before focusing on Rarity.

"I require your expertise," she said. "I need to know if you can fashion some lightweight armor using dragonscales."

Rarity blinked in shock. Her? Making armor? While she had always wanted to use dragonscales to make things like saddlebags, the idea of making armor...

After thinking for a moment, Rarity asked why they couldn't use current Royal Guard armor. The response was that it wasn't strong enough. Again taking a moment, Rarity finally nodded in response.

"I can do it," she said. "I'm just... frankly shocked you would ask me to do it."

"I need somepony to design a more modern uniform and armor for what we are making," Celestia said. "Royal Guard armor is mostly ceremonial. While it can protect... it is... not up to the challenge we face."

Celestia then turned to Twilight.

"And I have summoned you here... to ask something of you. It... will not be an easy task. The weight of the world will be on you. However, everypony has agreed that you would be the best possible leader for this new Initiative."

"Me? What did I do?" Twilight asked.

Celestia didn't respond to the question. Instead, she presented Twilight with a ceremonial saber.

"Princess Twilight Sparkle... as voted on by the Council of Nations... you have been appointed leader of the newly formed Stargate Initiative. Equus' first line of defense against foreign aggression. You will be briefed on the way to the facility, currently operating under the codename Firestar Base. It will be up to you to bring the Stargate Initiative to full operational status, as well as assemble teams who will be sent off world to explore... and if need be to fight. If you need anypony at all... just ask."

Twilight's eyes went wide. She had essentially been appointed as a General. But several key words stuck out to her. Stargate. Off world. Explore. Fight. Working through what Celestia said, Twilight's eyes again went wide. Off world. They were able to go to other worlds. But how? It was then that she thought of somepony who would be of help.

"I... I think I already know one pony I want on my team," she said.

"Give us their name and we will summon them right away," Luna replied.

"Its... not that simple."

"We can contact anypony on Equus..."

"That's the thing. She's not on Equus."

Celestia smiled, knowing who exactly Twilight was thinking of.

Sweet Apple Acres

Human World

Sunset took a swig of her apple cider as she watched her friends play baseball. It was honestly one of the sports she had taken a liking to herself in her time as a human. They were currently out in a field at Sweet Apple Acres, having yet another Graduation Party. Pinkie Pie was up to bat, with Applejack pitching.

Ok it was mostly just seeing who can hit the ball the farthest and not an actual game.

She closed her eyes and sighed. She was again thinking about her future. Where did she belong? How was she going to get by?

"You alright?"

Sunset opened her eyes, and saw Rainbow Dash leaning against the rail next to her.

"I'll live," Sunset replied before taking a drink.

Any further comment was interrupted by something buzzing and glowing in her backpack. Reaching down, Sunset pulled her journal out and looked at it. She had taken to carrying it with her wherever she went. Just in case. As soon as she opened the book, there was a warning cry, and a baseball landing in her book. Soon after, the rest of her friends came over, and Rainbow Dash exaggerated how Sunset epically caught the baseball with the book. Rolling her eyes, Sunset handed the ball over to the chromatic haired young woman and read the letter from Twilight. What she read caused her to double take. This... was something serious. As soon as her friends saw her reaction, they came closer and asked what was wrong. Sunset decided to just read the letter out loud.

"Dear Sunset,

I know this isn't how you pictured this but... I need you to return to Equestria as soon as possible. Something terrible has happened and... not only is Equestria preparing for war, but all of Equus. Not against each other though.

You are the closest thing we have to an expert on other worlds, and I need that experience here in Equestria. I'll tell you everything as soon as you get here. Its a little too much for a single letter. But all I can say right now is that I need your help.

Please hurry. I'll open the portal as soon as you get this letter. When you come through... please remove the journal and close the portal. I don't want to put our Canterlot High friends in danger should anything happen.

Your friend,

Twilight Sparkle"

The girls all looked at Sunset, clearly worried. The first to speak was Applejack, voicing her concern over the fact that their friend mentioned the word "war".

"There hasn't been a war in Equestria for... about a thousand years now," Sunset said. "For Twilight to say they're gearing up for one now... something serious must have happened."

"But... why would she want you back?" Rarity asked.

"Yea... and why say you're an expert on other worlds?" Fluttershy added.

Sunset didn't have an answer. Closing the book, she finished off her apple cider and got ready to head out.

"We can help ya pack," Applejack volunteered.

"Thanks," Sunset said with a smile.

Canterlot High School

Human World

Packing wasn't hard at all. Sunset didn't actually have a lot of personal items. Anything Sunset couldn't take with her, Applejack volunteered to store at her place. Surprisingly enough, Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna were present as well to see her off.

"Aw... I hate goodbyes," Pinkie Pie whined. "And I don't even get to throw a Goodbye Party..."

Sunset smiled and pulled the party girl into a hug.

"This isn't goodbye Pinkie," she said. "There are no goodbyes between friends."

The redhead made the rounds, giving each of her friends a hug, before moving to the two school administrators, telling them that even when she wasn't the best student... she actually looked up to them. Finally, she approached Applejack and offered the country girl her book.

"With this... we can write to each other," she explained. "And... I will try and visit again. This world's as much my home as Equestria is."

"Ya take care now Sunset," Applejack said as she held the book close to her chest.

Sunset moved towards the portal before stopping and looking back at the people that meant the most to her. The very people who helped turn her life around for the better. She smiled before closing her eyes and stepping into the portal.

Ponyville Castle and Library

Equestria

The first thing she felt was her sense of balance was off. Opening her eyes, Sunset flailed for a moment before falling to her hooves. Shaking her head, she looked around, thinking that she'd have to get used to being a pony again. Looking up above the mirror, Sunset saw the book powering the portal. Grabbing it with her magic, which surprisingly came back to her pretty quickly, she pulled it off the device before flipping a switch and shutting down the portal. Slipping the book into her saddlebag, which had started life as a backpack, Sunset looked around for Twilight.

There was no one around.

"Hello?" Sunset called out. "Is anyone here? Twilight? Spike?"

The sound of hooves on stone came to Sunset before an armored Earth Pony entered the room. He asked if she was Sunset Shimmer, to which she nodded in response. The Guardspony asked her to follow him. It seemed odd to Sunset that Twilight would have Royal Guard in her castle. She tried to ask him a question, only for him to say that she would be briefed en route to their destination. Muttering under her breath, Sunset let it drop for now.

Outside was a carriage hooked up to a pair of Pegasi. Climbing in, Sunset noticed there was another member of the Royal Guard present. This one was a Unicorn, and she had a clipboard with her.

"Sunset Shimmer?" She asked.

"That's me. What's going on?"

"Please sign these."

The Guardspony presented the clipboard, and Sunset took it. After looking over the paperwork, it appeared to the fire maned mare that she had to sign some form of Non Disclosure Agreement. After feeling like she just signed her life away after twenty pages, she handed the clipboard back. She didn't even notice that they were already flying somewhere while she was doing the paperwork. After a moment, she finally asked what was going on.

"Six days ago, Canterlot was attacked by unknown hostiles," the Guardspony replied before taking her helmet off. "These beings came through something called a Stargate. After meeting with the leaders of the neighboring nations, it was decided to form a coalition force to fight back. Its called the Stargate Initiative, or SGI for short. You can get the technical specifics from the eggheads when we reach Firestar Base. If I may ask ma'am... why did Commander Sparkle request you?"

Sunset blinked in response. Twilight had requested her.

"Well... I don't know. Twilight's letter said I was the closest thing to an expert on other worlds," she replied.

"I guess that makes sense ma'am. Anyways... Once we arrive and you get settled in, you will be trained to handle our new Arc Casters, as well as training in combat magic. Also I have been authorized to give this to you."

The Guardspony slid something out from under her seat and presented it to Sunset. It was a field commission in the Royal Guard, with the rank of Captain. Sunset blinked before just sliding it under her own seat for now. The rest of the flight went by quietly. Once they arrived, Sunset slid her commission into her saddlebag and followed the Guardspony into the base. After a while, Sunset was led into a large chamber with a ramp leading up to a big ring.

"What... is that?" Sunset asked.

"That... is the Stargate."

Turning to face who spoke, Sunset found none other than Twilight Sparkle. The purple Alicorn was wearing a blue barding with rank insignia on her collar. She also looked uncomfortable wearing it. With a smile, Sunset walked over and hugged her friend. Twilight returned the hug before looking up at the Stargate.

"So... am I here to be some kind of consultant?" Sunset asked.

"Actually... no," Twilight replied. "The truth is... we're going to be sending teams through the gate to other planets. And... I kinda want you to lead one of them. If you're up for it."

Sunset looked over at the gate, as technicians worked around the chamber. So that was what she was here for. Twilight was offering to make her a team leader. While that would mean actually fighting in this war... the idea of visiting new worlds appealed to her. After a moment, Sunset nodded.

"I'll do it."

"Great. Now I just need to fill out the rest of EG-1..." Twilight said with a smile. "And Sunset... welcome to the Stargate Initiative."