"A thousand years of peace... shattered in an instant. Whoever these invaders were...

I don't know if I'm ready for this kind of responsibility the council has given me. But its my job now to lead. And... while I know it will be dangerous, this... Stargate is also amazing. Just thinking about what we could learn... its exciting!

If we are to survive as a species... if our world is to survive... then we have no choice. We have to go through the Stargate... and fight the invaders wherever they are found."

-Excerpt from the journal of Twilight Sparkle

Chapter 1

Like a Phoenix

Canterlot Castle

Equestria

Voices rang out, all trying to speak over each other in an attempt to be heard. The conference chamber in Canterlot Castle, unfortunately, had very good acoustics. Celestia facehoofed as the representatives of various nations yelled at each other. One of the only representatives who wasn't joining in the shouting match was the young Princess of Love and ruler of the Crystal Empire, Cadence. The pink Alicorn just looked at Celestia, silently pleading for her aunt to do something. Celestia sighed and closed her eyes, waiting for the right moment to step in. She found it was always best to let the various leaders get most of their arguing out at the start. Let them burn off some of that energy before speaking.

Her eyes snapped open at the sound of the Minotaur representative slamming his fist on the table.

"Equestria has had this thing for fifteen years, and yet we only hear of this now?!" he demanded, pointing at the Saddle Arabia representative.

"The device known as the Stargate was found in our sovereign sands, Chancellor," he replied. "We did not have the means to study it. The Equestrians did. However it was a joint venture. How were we supposed to know it was a danger?"

"It was buried for a reason!" the Minotaur roared.

"Be that as it may," Princess Ember, the representative of the Dragons shouted. "What are we going to do about it now?"

"I say we bury it again!" the Zebrican representative shouted.

"Of course. Just stick it in the dirt and pretend it doesn't exist!"

Celestia ground her teeth together before slamming her hoof down on the table.

"ENOUGH!" she shouted, getting everyone's attention. For a minute, silence reigned in the Conference Chamber. The majestic Alicorn took a deep breath before standing.

"I understand your concerns Chancellor," she said. "However the fact remains, the Stargate exists, and Canterlot was attacked by a group of unknown warriors who came through it. The question now is... how do we respond?"

Taking the time to actually walk around the table, Celestia brought up the known facts of the incident, along with what had been learned about the Stargate itself.

"So far we've determined that the invaders were not from our world. Which means, the Stargate must lead to other worlds. We now have irrefutable, if unfortunate, evidence that we are not alone. Combining what we have learned from the past fifteen years of study, along with what was observed from the attack, we've determined that to open the Stargate, we need a sequence of seven symbols. And based on the number of possible combinations, we're looking at not just one destination... but the potential for an entire network of Stargates spread throughout the galaxy. It is my hope that somewhere out there... we will find somepony who can help us against the invaders."

"So... you're suggesting we... use the Stargate ourselves?" Ember asked.

"Yes. That is exactly what I am proposing," Celestia replied. "Every nation represented here will have the ability to contribute personnel and resources to this project. We have already taken measures to protect our citizens by taking the Stargate to a new facility in the mountains, well away from any town. The question is... what do we call this program?"

"I must protest, Princess Celestia," the Minotaur spoke up. "Why should Equestria benefit from the Stargate alone?"

"I did not say that Equestria would reap the benefits alone. Anything we bring back will be shared equally between the participating nations. However, we must have a response to this unprovoked attack."

"For the first time in a thousand years... are we... on the brink of war?" Cadence asked nervously.

Celestia closed her eyes. It was true. The peace they had enjoyed for so long...

With a sigh, Celestia nodded.

"We cannot allow this attack on innocents to go unanswered. However... considering the potential scope of this endeavor, any response must be with one voice. We must stand united."

The other representatives nodded in agreement. Based on the evidence, this wasn't just a threat to Equestria, but the whole world. After a moment, Cadence spoke up again.

"Perhaps this... Stargate Initiative... should be led by someone we all trust, but not one of us specifically. If I may make a suggestion?"

"Of course Princess Cadence," Celestia said, actually liking the name her niece came up with.

"I think... Twilight Sparkle should lead it."

Again, silence reigned in the Conference Chamber. The ruler of the Crystal Empire just nominated the youngest, most inexperienced Princess of Equestria to lead Equus' first line of defense. However the nomination was not without merit. At one time or another, the bookworm of an Alicorn had proven herself time and again against many threats, ranging from the parasprites to Tirek himself.

"I second the nomination!"

All eyes turned to the source of the new voice. The only other leader who had not joined the argument earlier. Thorax, King of the reformed Changlings, had been invited to this meeting as a courtesy, and to start getting the Changlings to be a part of the international community. While even more inexperienced than Cadence, Thorax was proving to be an honorable leader, and had earned the respect of others, although they still tended to keep their distance.

"Twilight was not only an Element Bearer, but has at one point or another helped each of us. Who else would we trust enough with something like this? Equestrian or not, Twilight Sparkle is the best choice as a neutral voice in all this, and to represent us all."

The other leaders reluctantly agreed on that fact.

"Well said Thorax. Now... it will take some time to bring the Stargate Initiative online. That gives us all time to prepare for the first mission. We need specialized equipment, and we need personnel. I will summon Princess Twilight at once. Everypony else... should return to assess what can be contributed. As of this moment... our world is at war."

Ponyville

Equestria

Being a quaint, peaceful little town on the edge of the Everfree Forest, Ponyville was not exactly the place you'd expect to see a lot of trouble. But over the years... that's exactly what came. During Tirek's rampage, the town library was actually destroyed, but was actually replaced by a tree shaped castle, which became the home of one of Ponyville's most well known residents, as well as the replacement public library.

Snoring could be heard from the library as Spike walked down the hallway. Rolling his eyes, the little purple dragon poked his head in and started trying to find the source. It wasn't long before he found the familiar purple bangs and horn of his best friend, and the closest thing he's ever had to a mother, poking up from the top of a book. Climbing up onto the table, he discovered Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, sound asleep with her face mashed into a book.

"Fell asleep reading again..." he sighed before poking the Alicorn. "Twilight... wake up. Breakfast."

"Five more minutes..." Twilight mumbled.

"Come on Twilight, before you start drooling into that book."

"Muah?"

Cracking open an eye, Twilight looked around to ascertain her location before focusing on Spike. She groaned before lifting her head from the book, and brought a hoof to her face.

"I did it again didn't I?" she said in a tired tone.

"Another good book?" Spike asked with a smile. "Or were you trying a new spell to absorb the words through osmosis?"

"Very funny..."

Getting up, Twilight stretched her legs and wings before making her way to the kitchen. While she had servants now, she still preferred to do things herself. Much to the chagrin of said servants. And Twilight couldn't deny Spike was right. It was a good book. A story about exploring worlds beyond Equus. As they walked, Twilight became more and more alert.

"So... want to know what's on the agenda for today?" Spike asked, pulling out a clipboard.

"Might as well," Twilight sighed. "Better not be more mediating disputes. Celestia... those get old real fast."

Spike looked at the clipboard... then crossed about ten things off a list, intending to reschedule them for later. He was about to say something when he felt a familiar sensation. With a burp of green flames, a letter appeared and the dragon caught it. Opening it up, Spike quickly scanned it before his eyes went wide. Twilight asked about it, and Spike's only response was to look over it again before turning to her.

"You've been summoned to Canterlot," he said. "And... this says its urgent."

"What happened?"

"Don't know. But... the letter literally says 'drop everything and come to Canterlot'."

Thinking for a moment, Twilight nodded before going to get herself cleaned up.

Soon after, Twilight was on the first train to Canterlot. As the landscape sped by her window, Twilight wondered what could be so urgent? What was it that Celestia couldn't tell her in the letter? Had something come up?

Canterlot City

Equestria

Rarity waited on the platform as the train pulled in. She had been in town to get some supplies for her shop when a Royal Guardspony approached her and requested that she wait for someone at the Train station before coming to the castle. While naturally confused, Rarity didn't argue.

Ponies came off the train, and it wasn't long before the fashionista spotted someone she knew.

"Twilight!" she called out, waving her over.

"Hey Rarity," Twilight greeted the white Unicorn. "What are you doing here?"

"Well... I was shopping for some high quality supplies for my shop," Rarity replied. "But then I was asked to wait for somepony here at the station. I don't even know who."

Twilight brought a hoof to her chin. This was very odd. First the letter, now Rarity. What was going on?

"I was summoned to Canterlot on some kind of urgent business," Twilight explained. "No explanation. Just drop everything and come here."

"Well... that is odd darling," Rarity mused as an armored Pegasus approached them and asked for them both to follow him.

As they went down the street, both Rarity and Twilight noticed one particular street was closed off... with signs of a battle having been fought there. Both mares looked at each other but didn't say anything. Not only that... there was a significantly increased Royal Guard presence. And they were all on alert.

"Princess, Miss Belle... Princess Celestia is waiting for you in the Main Audience Chamber," the Pegasus said.

Again looking at each other, the pair of friends proceeded into the castle.

Canterlot High School

Human World

She looked up at the statue. It was hard to believe that it was over. That she would not walk these halls again as a student. She was proud of what she accomplished, but at the same time a little sad. This was where her life turned around. She made friends here. And now...

Sunset Shimmer sighed as she ran a hand through her hair. Graduation Day had come and gone, and now the Senior class was looking to the future. Finding a job, finding love... living life. But for Sunset... that wasn't going to be easy. Unlike other students, she didn't have a real identity here. Principal Celestia offered to adopt Sunset, thus setting up for actually establishing herself and being able to live as a legal resident, but something in the former Unicorn was restless. The idea of settling down for real... something just felt off about it. Her friends were still around, but... this was something that they couldn't help with.

She was, honestly... homesick.

Sitting down and leaning back against the statue, Sunset pulled the journal out of her backpack and just looked at it. Her lifeline to her true home. Closing her eyes, Sunset just hugged the book against her chest and sighed.

Things were going to change.

She just had no idea how right she was.