Early morning. Very early. The six heroes in Canterlot gathered near the train station so they could get home. They were worried. You could sense it- maybe not see it- but sense it.

"I just hope everything's going to be okay with Twilight... i don't want her to get hurt." Fluttershy told the others in her shy voice.

"We all do sugar. But ya know we can't change her min' now. The only thing ah hope is that she's come back to us safely." appleJack told her friend honestly.

"She's changed so much... I don't even know her properly anymore..." Rarity told her friends.

"Yeah- it's like she changed completely. Like she got replaced." Rainbow-Dash stated while hovering in the air.

"Well- ah don't think she'd BE replaced Rainbow- ah think she's... just... had a change in attitude nothin' else." AppleJack told her rainbow-maned friend.

The five sighed. What were they going to tell Spike? (No- I've not forgotten the dragon :P i'm not THAT evil... maybe :I). The poor baby dragon was more than heartbroken when the lavender mare left. How in the name of the stars were they going to tell this to him?

Now that was going to be a challenge... after all... he is just a baby...


In the forest. Twilight was in her tree house- making sure she had everything she needed. Even though everypony was going to share most of the things like food and water- it was still nice to have some of your own things to take. The ONE thing she took everywhere- was her picture with her family and friends. It was the one thing she'd never forget to take with her. It felt strange for some reason. She missed them everyday. Not one missing. She'd trade her own life to keep them safe. But the problem was... when she was with them... she felt trapped.

The tight dresses- perfect posture- the fake smile she just had to wear on her face. She felt trapped- even though she knew that they didn't mean it. But they had began to weigh too much pressure at once when she was to be a crowned ruler. She didn't want it to be like that. She wanted to stop the heavy make-up and tight dresses and the constant help. So. Many. Waitresses.

The help. That's what bugged her most. Even if it was the most of simplest thing- like running a bath or flipping a page in a book- they were there... and they did it for you.

The only thing she wanted to prove- was that she was perfectly capable of anything. Most of society these days tends to think that- mares are weak. Like they belong in the house to take care of the kids.

But Twilight had a different opinion. No. it was the complete opposite.

Mares could be just as viscous as stallions could be. It didn't matter if the pony was a mare or stallion- they could still fight. In fact- most worriers in attack were mares. It was a mix of pony alicorns. When the alicorn race went into a war with the Draconic- they lost almost everything. Only Princesses Celestia and Luna survived- because they were locked up in their royal castle all the time.

From the alicorn race- the three races decided that mares were to only stay at home. Of course- that more or less didn't changed when her mother and aunt were crowned both protectors and rulers. Even now- it still went on. The more 'snobby ponies' still stick to that rule- mares stick at home or stay in a more 'mare-ish' job like fashion or running a store which even though is a multi-gender thing is still classed okay... most of the time.

For the young princess... it was ridiculous. So what if stallions were classed stronger naturally? She was stronger than some of the stallions she knew. So- if that was so... then WHY did ponies say that mares were not suitable for the job? They didn't criticize them when it came to use magic to more or less save the WHOLE OF THE WORLD FROM NIGHTTIME ETERNAL!

But when it came to swinging a blade- they all turned stuck their noses in the air.

Not for this mare- no. This mare was going to show the world- that if she could do it- so could the others.

Twilight sighed. It wasn't going to be long before eventually her mother would go crazy and go after her. She'd be put in harms way just because of her.

She missed being in the castle most days- but the one thing she'd miss her whole life if she went... was not just the feeling of freedom... but her friends as well. She had made friends- that was obvious. But one of the reasons as to why she survived before Starswirl found her- was because when she helped them- they helped her in return. They helped each other. They had created a big friendship. Some bigger than others but even so- they were just as unbreakable as the ones she had with Rainbow-Dash- Fluttershy- applejack- Rarity and Pinkie. They were family to her- like the others.

But what could she do? put the ponies she cared so much about get put in danger just because of her? No- She'd just have to be strong. Not one victory was/is made without a bit of pressure or sacrifice.

She sighed once more. She finished off packing. Though it didn't seem as much- she'd be needing it. More than most ponies would know. But the group was like family and some closer than what some other ponies would think- so they'd share everything.

She smiled and checked once more that she had everything. No checklist. No ink and paper. Just a fast check. Twilight finished her check. Suddenly she felt somepony hug her from behind- her body tensed and then relaxed (muhahahaha- you will never comprehend me :P).


Back at the training ground- The team along with Starswirl were waiting for Twilight.

They'd expect her to be the last as she did come back later than the rest. She needed to get Crystal back to her own cave and then make sure everything was okay for a final time- only then she was able to begin packing.

Twilight had suddenly just arrived with a smile on her face.

"Sorry for being so late- you know how it is with Crystal..." She apologized (Holy cream puff- so much writing without dialogue :P).

"It's okay- we're ages ahead of them Twi. It'll be over before you know it." Sweetie told her friend with a warming smile.

"Let's hope so- I don't like being away from this place. You sure you can keep it safe Starswirl? You know one of us can stay behind." Twilight asked Starswirl.

"I'm sure Twilight. I may be old- but i'm still alive aren't i?" He asked with a smile.

"If you say so... Let's get out there before they get the hint we're a step or three ahead of them." Twilight told the team.

Doing that exactly- they headed out- only however after they gave a 'good-bye' and 'see you soon' to Starswirl making him smile.

Soon- they were on their way. Getting ready to show that they could handle anything that any force-pony- or thing would throw at them.


In the castle of Canterlot- Shining Armour was seeing to his duties as a captain and was giving orders- while taking one set out to train.

While he was very much organised- or he classed himself to be so- he well did have troubles. While he had done this for what felt like his whole life- getting in new recruits was very chaotic. Even with some help they still managed to get into times when Shining Armour thought about not bothering due to all the stress.

But even so- he stayed as an effort to show that he may be prince by marriage- but he knows hard work when he sees it and if needed he will complete it to the best of his ability

Once the training session was over- he directed the guards to their posts- and then began to walk back to his office- thinking deeply.

Twilight.

Twilight. Twilight. Twilight. Something didn't sound right with that ? Why did it sound so strange? Of course it was his sister's name- but why did it sound so strange?

Maybe because She Was. not. There. With Him- With them.

Shining saw NO reason as to why she couldn't do what she was doing- maybe she wasn't being as smart and as safe- but even though he worried- he was actually very interested as to how much Twilight had really improved- and not just learned to threaten and point an arrow and do a trick or two.

If Twilight truly had improved- she'd be the best defense along with her team- In the world.

Just one thing however...

Had Cadence found them yet? (Who you ask? You are to never know... hahahahahaha... haha... ha... h...a... I need to ask myself what i do in my spare time -ilovekpalot- *COUGH COUGH*)


Twilight and her team were setting up in their own spot. It was a place with bushes where they could hide and spy upon their enemy. It also had a patch of trees which helped them dearly by giving them a higher view- they could see their surroundings and see if there was any upcoming attacks they didn't know of.

So- the team set up- each in a tree as if some of their enemy happened to stumble upon them- they wouldn't be seen as they were too high up.

"Oh guys- who's up for first night-watch? We go in our normal pairs." Twilight asked.

"We could go first Twi. Since the most of you had a very... eventful day- me and Sweetie could go first." Defence volunteered.

"Yeah- it'll be fun." Sweetie told them with a smile.

"Great- is everypony done by the way?" Freedom asked.

"I'm still having trouble with mine." Twilight admitted while trying to tie her 'bed' to the tree.

"I thought you already knew." Trap asked.

"These knots are weird Trap- you know that. " Twilight replied attempting to do them again.

"Well- i can't really blame ya. It took me forever to get mine right." Trap stated with a sigh.

"We all have our difficulties Twilight. It's okay to have them. I mean- we're all here either because of problems and personalities or because of improvement." Sweetie told the group.

"Or to prove a point." Illusion stated hanging in front of Sweetie all of a sudden from a tree branch making her jump in fright.

"Yes- or to strangle a stallion called Illusion." Sweetie muttered annoyed at Illusion.

"Okay guys. I get it. Now can somepony help me out please?" Twilight asked annoyed.

"Already there." Defense said going over to Twilight.

While Defense was teaching Twilight how to tie a knot- the rest went along to check their positions. Sweetie went out to front, while Freedom and Illusion went to the sides and Trap went to the back of their hide-out to check for any unwanted attacks.

"Pretty pink pony princess spotted you guys!" Illusion called out grabbing the team's', mostly Twilight's, attention.

"Pretty pink pon- No way! Twi! It's Cadence!" Freedom called out both confused and amazed that Cadence had made it all the way out there.

"This isn't right... why did she come out here?" Sweetie asked.

"Oh no! She's being chased too! Guys, let's move! Everypony in their positions!" Twilight ordered. 'This WILL be successful.' She thought.


Cadence knew she was being chased. She had been ever since she left the equestrian border. She had ran since then. It was hard, and she had never felt so tired in her life. 'Don't look back now.' She thought trying to not faint whilst being chased.

They were close to her. Right behind her. She knew that. But she wasnt up to failing yet, and she definitely wouldn't give up without a fight.

She was panting. She knew she couldn't hold on for much longer. 'Why am i thinking this? Who am i kidding? I can't do this…' She thought.

She was slowing down, they were so close to catching her. She felt she would pass out right there.

"FORMATION 2.31!" Screamed a voice all of a sudden. Cadence looked up to see 6 (because i can't be bothered to write a number) ponies flying towards them.

Twilight, Freedom, Defence, Sweetie, Trap and Illusion were all in a bird's migration position, or the arrow head position as ponies called it.

"Move outwards! Each pony take on four. Sweetie, take Cadence back and give her a quick check up! The rest of you are with me! AM I CLEAR?!" Twilight shouted.

"YES MA'AM!" They all shouted back with a salute while landing.

"Okay Cadence! You're going with me. These guys can take care of the rest." Sweetie told Cadence while dragging her away.

"This is going to be fun! Warm up to a fight no less!" Freedom told Twilight.

"YOU'RE OUT NUMBERED! YOU CAN'T ESCAPE US THIS TIME!" Shouted the leader of their enemy, who had a burning yellow mane and tail, and a fiery orange coat. However, while the rest of her recruits had a similar colour scheme, they each had a silver suit, while she had gold.

"WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT LIGHTNING!" Trap shouted back.

"EVERYPONY! REMEMBER WHAT WE WERE TAUGHT RIGHT AT THE FIRST LESSON?!" Twilight shouted while getting her archery set out.

"THE OLD DUDE DRILLED IT INTO OUR BRAINS! OF COURSE WE REMEMBER!" Defense shouted back.

"THEN LET'S PUT IT INTO USE! TEAM READY?" Twilight stated.

"READY!" They all shouted in return.

"GO,GO, GO!" Twilight screamed at them making then move forward into battle.

Sweetie and Cadence managed to get back into the hiding spot without anypony noticing. It wasn't too far off but Cadence had to be half-dragged.

"Come on. Let's get you all patched up!" Sweetie told Cadence with a warm smile.

"What's going on there? Why are they fighting?" Cadence questioned with worry.

"Those guys have been trying to get to places they shouldn't. They want the heart of every forest. If they manage it… it'll be horrific." Sweetie explained, while cleaning a deep wound that was caused by Cadence straining herself and hurting herself too much.

"What's so different about the ones they are targeting?" Cadence asked, wincing at the stinging.

"Each forest is magical. They all have abilities of more than a billion set of alicorns like the forest of the tiger. That one gives you the strength of a Tiger itself. Each magical forest has a group of 6 ponies to protect it. Each pony granted the power of the forest." Sweetie explained finishing off her first wound, and wrapping it up.

"What about your forest?" Cadence pressed.

" The wild heart… is the forest of Ability." She replied with a smile, "It grants us the ability of every other forest and it enhances us with an even stronger ability to fit our personalities. Like Freedom and Twilight are the two main leaders of the six of us as they are like pure leaders. While i still fight, My strongest ability is to be sure everypony is fit and healthy enough for a fight or to practice. I take care of any damage at all. Defense works with… well… defence . He works to make sure it's good enough. He's like… fourth fifth rank between all six of us. Trap is part of the plotting when we're getting rid of anypony… if needed. Both she AND illusion are both the same so they work in the same place within our group. Trap however, understands and recognises physical traps. Illusion understands magical traps. Oh… and illusions."

"wow… " was all Cadence said with an amazed face.

"Well, here we go! All done!" Sweetie pipped happily.

"What weapons do each of you use?" Cadence asked.

"Well…. Trap uses a slingshot…"


Trap took into the air, using her wings to knock out one of her components. Taking out her slingshot, and aiming it at an angle. Letting it go, it flung into the air and hit two more of her components.

"Nailed it." She chuckled as she got ready to face her fourth.


"How about Defense?" Cadence questioned.

"A hammar. He uses a lightning hammer…" Sweetie replied with a smile.


Defence swung his hammer, and hit it forcefully into the ground. It sent out lightning into the direction of his component, knocking his out and sending him to the ground.

"Who's next up?" he asked with a smirk.


"And Illusion?"

"He Lassos. With a rope." Sweetie replied once again to the questioning princess.


Illusion roped his next first opponent, dragging him quickly along with the rope, letting it go and making the stallion go against another of whom was fighting against him.

"Who's the next guy?" He questioned with a smile.

"What about Freedom and Twilight?" Cadence asked curiously.


"Well… Freedom uses his sword…"

Freedom used his blade to knock his opponent to the side, sending him aside into another. It wasn't hard as there was a slight wound on the others. But he was a fair fighter…. Sometimes.

"Who's the next lucky victim?" Freedom asked with a smirk.


"And Twilight Uses her magical archery set…"

Twilight set out her arrow before quickly setting it out, missing her opponent.

"HA! YOU MISSED!" Said her first opponent. Twilight smirked.

"Who said i missed?" Twilight asked with a smile. Her opponent looked back only to see the arrow going straight back towards them. Towards HIM.

"Crap…" he said before beginning to run, the arrow moving right behind him.

"Is this meant to be a challenge?" she questioned with a smile, as she moved onto her next pony vict- opponent. (Yep… i did that….)


"And i use ribbons." Sweetie said with a smile.

"How do you use ribbons?" Cadence asked.

"While the easiest to break, it's easy to replace and with the right amount of force, you can sent a pony flying to the moon if you wanted." She replied.

"Seriously?" Cadence asked amazed

"As serious as i can get." Sweetie replied with a giggled.

"All over and done!" said the voice of Trap, who came walking into their hiding place with a smile.

"Oh please, It was easier than easy." Illusion commented.

"I know right?" Defence said walking close behind them.

"How did you do Twilight?" Freedom asked the lavender mare.

"They fell for the missing the arrow thing again." Twilight simply replied.

"Wow… that stupid huh?" Freedom stated

"Hey guys! How did it go?" Sweetie asked.

"It was a nice warm up. But i think somepony hit my leg at one point…" Defence replied.

" Need me to take a look?" Sweetie asked.

" LOVERS IN THE HIDEOUT!" Trap suddenly shouted. Sweetie glared at her, but she only smirked.

" Oh shut up Trap. Leave them be." Twilight commented.

" Don't you go talking princess annoying! I be seeing the way you look at Freedom over there." Trap commented with a teasing look.

"How about you and Illusion? Don't think i miss them times you look at him" Twilight replied.

" Okay you two. Let's stop before another war breaks out. Were all only friends here." Sweetie stated.

"Okay! Here's how things are gonna go. Illusion, Trap. I want one to check out the back and one the front." Twilight ordered.

"YES MA'AM!" They both shouted before heading off.

"Sweetie, Go check Defence. Then report back on how he is." Twilight ordered.

"YES MA'AM!" Sweetie shouted before going to see Defence.

" Freedom, think you can handle both sides while i help Cadence?" Twilight asked.

"Wait- she's staying?! Twilight, she has no experience in this!" He stressed.

"Nor did we, but we learned! And i'll take that as a yes, now go!" She ordered with a smirk.

"Ugh…. YES MA'AM!" He shouted after groaning.

"And you're coming with me, we're both gonna talk." Twilight stated, speaking to Cadence.

"So… war? Twilight what's all this about?" Cadence asked. Twilight sighed.

"If i was to guess, Sweetie filled you in on mostly everything?" Twilight asked. (That's what she said :P)

"Mostly. But who are they?"

"We call them M.M, Magical Manipulators. They basically want all the powers of each forest. They haven't taken anything as they decided to go for our forest first. Since this is the forest of Ability, it gives them a step forward to completing their goal. But, if we allow them, not only will they cause chaos, they will begin attacking Equestria bit by bit. Nopony- and i mean Nopony will be able to stop them. Whats advanced for Shining armor, is basics for us. Making us the strongest force in the world. Equestria has the second best with the Crystal Empire third place in the world for best force. We have the ability to analyse and use whatever you guys have against you. Which makes us the best in fighting. But we cannot choose who to be with and who to be against, as three of us are royals, and the other three are very high nobles." Twilight explained.

"That… is a lot to keep at bay…" Cadence stated.

"Maybe so- but believe me- the work pays off…" Twilight told her with a smile.

"Maybe so… but how am I gonna survive if i need to know how to fight to survive? I mean… i've never needed to know how to… magic did it all for me but it seems useless here..." Cadence sighed.

"We'll teach you." Twilight told her with a smile.

"Twilight… i can't do it… I'm a princess- i can't-" Cadence was cut off by twilight.

"I thought the same before i ran here. I thought i wasn't capable… But being princess is no excuse to now learn these things." Twilight old her sister-in-law sternly.

"I don't know…" Cadence said biting her lip.

"Learn defence at least Cadence. You don't have to fight- but learn to defence yourself at least. Or you'll definitely get hurt during the time you're here with me and the team." Twilight said, "i'm not gonna make you, but remember, it's high time that mares stand up for themselves."


In canterlot castle, Princesses Luna and Celestia were sitting in their throne room. Lunna going through some of her own paperwork, while Celestia was speaking to her husband, MagicStar, about their own force of protection.

It was weak, no lies. Compared to Twilight's little "group" it was weak. They needed to get stronger somehow. How- however- they did not know. But they were going to definitely find out one way or another.

"So- maybe we should make the guards train more often?" MagicStar suggested.

"I don't think it's skill… we're the best force in the world. Skill is no problem. But we're lacking something they're not. What… i do not know." Celestia replied.

"Sister- maybe we should leave it. Thou art stressing thyself out." Luna spoke with worry.

"No worries Luna. I just feel a little more security is needed." Celestia told her younger sister.

"Love- maybe she's right. You've been stressing yourself out from the start of the day. You don't need to worry- if something comes up- we'll be ready." Magic spoke calmly to his wife.

"Maybe…" Celestia told them whilst searching for more things as to what she could do.

"Sweetie… You need to relax, we'll just need to get them to train a little harder so they're on high alert more." Magic told his wife.

"No… They're doing something we're not. They have very good skills… and from the looks of it… they could beat half an army on their own. I dislike this…. i dislike it very much…" Celestia told them putting her papers down.

"But doesn't that mean that Twilight is safer?" Magic asked.

"She should be here not there! Being here is safer."Celestia exclaimed with a sigh.


"But what if she does not make it? What if she fails us?" Said as voice of a pony in a room, looking at two orbs, one being on Twilight, and another on Celestia.

"She won't. We will not fail. She will not fail. I feel it." Said another voice.

"I assure that she will make everything right. She's been trained enough, and has the determination of like any other pony we've seen! We chose the right pony." Said a third voice….

One we all know, and one of whom we shall hear again...


Alright! I've officially given up trying to type up 6000 words! I'm gonna start with 4000 again, maybe 5000 f i feel like it. But yeah- as always- SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE... AGAIN!

But i hope you enjoyed!

Magical out! :P