Twilight and her friends made haste for Canterlot. After she broadcast her over the air message, she rounded up her friends and they took off for the capital. They didn't bother taking the Friendship Express, because it would've been too slow. It certainly was no Crystal Express. Twilight flew ahead of the group, with Spike flying beside her. Rainbow Dash flew on her left, carrying Applejack, and Fluttershy flew on her right, carrying Pinkie Pie. Rarity and Starlight both used their magic to float and keep up with the group, and Maddock was flying alongside in a magic chariot that Twilight had given him for Teacher's Appreciation Day a couple days before.

"Twilight?" Spike asked

"Yes, Spike?"

"What are we gonna do when we get there? What if Sapphira's already attacked?"

"If she has, then we'll just have to fight back."

"But what about friendship, Twi? I mean, doesn't it solve everything?"

Twilight was taken aback by Spike's sudden bluntness. Yes, it was true that friendship solved a lot of problems. As the Princess of Friendship, she knew this very well. Now she realized that there was a dark side to friendship that she had yet to accept. It had toyed with her mind in the past, but she had always slung it aside and ignored it. She just couldn't bring herself to accept this truth: friendship cannot solve everything.

Even in Equestria, if ponies came to blows about something and decided to end a friendship, her crew of singing, dancing, friendly ponies couldn't always bring them together. Sometimes friendships ended and they stayed that way, and sometimes it was for the betterment of all parties involved. Still, though, she found it an incredibly difficult concept to swallow.

"Twilight?" Spike said. She shook her head and came out of her trance-like state. "Sorry, Spike. I know this is gonna be hard to believe, considering I am the Princess of Friendship and run the School of Friendship…but no, friendship cannot solve everything."

Hearing not only Spike's gasp, but the gasps of her friends around her, she continued, "I know. Even I didn't want to believe it at first, but it's true. Friendship can solve a lot of things, and it's wonderful when it does. But sometimes ponies are beyond friendship's help, and I believe Sapphira is one of those rare breeds. She has shut the door of her heart, locked it, and put a million mental and social deadbolts on it in order to keep up her bigoted philosophy. Yes, friends, Sapphira cannot be helped by our friendship…and I've come to accept that."

"But then," Applejack said, "how the hay are we supposed to stop her?"

"We may have to…have to…" Twilight stopped and sniffed, "…kill her."

Another loud gasp was heard. "But, Twilight," Pinkie said, "nopony's killed another pony since before Celestia was crowned Princess!"

"I know, Pinkie," Twilight said, "but that may be about to change. I am not gonna allow Sapphira to hurt or kill any more of my friends. Little Martha was just starting out in life, and I'm not gonna allow her death to go unpunished. Whether that means I throw Sapphira in prison for the rest of her life or I kill her in the heat of battle, so be it."

Spike looked up and saw the dark, yet determined look in his best friend's eyes, and realized that she was right. They weren't going to solve a friendship problem, they were going to defend Equestria. If that meant killing whomever happened to be in front of them, then that was the way it was going to be.

The other ponies in the group made the same realization as the young dragon. Fluttershy couldn't ever see herself doing something like that, so she began crying, as did Pinkie. "Twilight…" Pinkie sniffed, "…I…I just…I can't!" Twilight turned and gave her an understanding look. "I know, Pinkie," she said, "I don't like it, either. In fact, I hate the idea. I want to believe that friendship can solve this problem, but even I know when reality defeats fantasy."

Pinkie nodded and tried to look strong, but failed miserably. Her eyes betrayed the fact that she wanted to go to Canterlot, throw a great big party and completely change Sapphira for the better. Her mind flip flopped as it projected images of her being in a fight and having to kill another pony. She shivered at the thought.

Twilight took notice of this. She stopped as they got close to the city and spoke to the whole group. "Girls…we're going into a hell not of our own making," she said, "this is going to be worse than any punishment Tartarus could ever inflict upon you. I've always said that friendship isn't always easy, but it's definitely worth fighting for. At no other time do those words ring more true than this. It's time to fight for our friends. If that means we have to shed the blood of our enemies, so be it. I'm appalled by this entire situation, but it is what it is. We have to win here today. If we don't, then Equestria as we know it will be gone forever. Whatever happens, guard Princess Celestia with your very lives if necessary. If you don't make it, know that you will be treated as a hero in Equestria and in the world beyond forevermore. I decree it, and I make it so as a princess of Equestria! Friendship may not be able to solve this problem, but we will fight for our friendships and rid Equestria of this menace! Who's with me?!"

This little speech earned a positive yell from the group, and they turned to charge into Canterlot. They got as far as the top of the wall, before the sounds of clashing horns, hooves, and wings stopped them. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie looked around and stopped dead in their tracks. Beneath them, ponies were actively slaughtering each other. Blood stained the beautiful plazas of Canterlot. They saw the bigoted ponies ripping the wings off of pegasi and sending them screaming into the dark. They saw the forces of Equestria holding down the bigoted ones and driving their horns and hooves into their hearts, leaving them gasping for air and bleeding to death. Both mares felt like crying. How could ponies do this to each other? Couldn't they just be friends and get along?

Meanwhile, Twilight surveyed the carnage, looking for Celestia. She couldn't find her on the battlefield, so she gazed up to the castle. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that familiar, rainbow colored flowing mane in one window. "OK, guys," she said, "I see the princess. Let's fly up and check on her and then we'll join in the fracas."

"The what now?" Rainbow Dash asked

"The battle, Dash," Twilight said before taking off. The group followed and they landed on the balcony before bursting through the full length window. "Princess Celestia!" Twilight said cheerfully, "thank goodness you're alright!"

Then they saw something that made them stop and drop their jaws. Princess Celestia was there, but she was in an indestructible magic bubble. A certain other pony stepped forward and said, "hello, Twilight," in a very chilling voice. This was a voice they knew all too well from earlier that night. It was Sapphira.