A/N: Well, this one was probably 1 or 2 months now since I started writing this. Being in college isn't easy I tell you.

In other news, I have gone to see Rainbow Rocks in theaters. I remember the excitement as soon as the film started to roll within a second. Me, a friend and a pegasister next to her were cheering loudly. I swear we must have been the only bronies in the theater watching it, but I will have to make sure that I join up with a group of bronies in the big city. And now, one more chapter. Then it's a bit of a small hiatus. When I say hiatus, I do not mean that the story is over, please stop assuming that. It ain't ending anytime soon. :)

And now... review responses! (To those I messaged, don't worry! :) )

PGHOST04: Thank you! :) Don't worry, I'm used to people typing in Spanish, though I'm a more fluent English speaker, I am trying to learn the Finnish language.

Guest: Here you go, another chapter!

AVP5: Deadpool is a cool and funny character. You want to find out how Shining Armor will react? Here you go. Enjoy! :)

SparkyFonzerri: As I said, the story isn't ending anytime soon. During my break, I'll be finishing up a side-story related to 'Learning To Live' called "Into the Friendship Castle".

godzillafan1: What is special about Brayden's blood? Well, it's not really possible that he's actually an alicorn. For the honest truth without releasing any spoilers that are major or minor, that'll be something 'BIG' to tell around Chapter 30 - 35. A little tired of reading it? Well, I will be taking a break to work on a different story after Part 2 of the next chapter is written, so it's all good. :)

P.S. It's October month! I know what that means: watching The Walking Dead and horror movies, playing Five Night's At Freddy's and trying not to get scared to death, plus trick or treating. Now I know what you're thinking, I'm too old to trick or treat. Now allow me to quote Pinkie. "Too old for free candy? NEVER!"

The sun shone brightly in the clear sky, bringing light to all of the land of Equestria. It was going to be another beautiful day, but of course the context of where I was is the real question here? I wasn't in Ponyville, waking up as usual. I was in a completely different part of Equestria. No, it isn't Canterlot. Where I actually was for the first time in my life was: the Crystal Empire. The home of the crystal ponies all packed close to the Frozen North and the Crystal Mountains.

I'm walking up one of the Crystal tiled streets with the seven of my friends and looking all about at the buildings and the crystal castle that shone brightly by the sun's reflections. Despite the air smelling warm, I could somehow feel the essence of winter from somehow remembering the Season 3 premiere. Even then, I could still feel it. Among in the street other than my friends, I could see a couple of the crystal ponies walking about to chat amongst each other. A few of them turn towards me for a few quick glances filled with curiosity. They were starting to wonder about me. I couldn't really focus on meeting any of the crystal ponies right now. There was a ceremony that I had to attend and I was doing this for the princesses.

"Seems like only yesterday when I was saving this place from being totally destroyed." Spike bragged, which he has done so many times by the time we were packing up all the way to getting off of the train here. Even the obvious Crystal statue of Spike gave away that he was the saviour of the empire. "Hey, you guys remember that?"

"You've only mentioned it about fifteen times on the train here." Rainbow Dash said, already sounding like she was starting to get a little annoyed by Spike's bragging.

Rarity was the first to speak out of this, considering that Rainbow is also quite a bragger as well. "Yes, and we never hear a peep out of you about your exploits." She said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice to her.

"Point taken." Rainbow says, giving off a bit of an embarrassed snicker.

"I'm really glad that all of you wanted to come," Twilight says to me and the rest, giving off a smile before it fades shortly after. "There's not really going to be anything exciting though, all I have to simply do is smile and wave as the dignitaries arrive."

I stop walking to turn towards the rest of my friends to listen in on the conversation. Rarity was the first to speak out among the rest. "Yes, but you get to smile and wave like a princess."

"How exactly is that different than smilin' and wavin' like not a princess?" Applejack asked, sounding why Twilight sounded like she was in doubt of that role.

"It isn't." Twilight says, and both of her ears flop down and her face turns sad.

"What's wrong Twilight?" Fluttershy asked.

Pinkie Pie pops up over from the group next to Twilight, pulling on her face. "Why the looooooooong face?" She says with a happy tone in her voice to try and make her feel better. Pinkie lets go of Twilight's face and I watch Twilight rubbing her head for a few moments. That definitely did not make her feel any better, even getting her face pulled by Pinkie herself would probably hurt, so I'm still lucky that I haven't had my face pulled yet by her.

I needed to have a chance to speak and I walk over towards her. I bend down on one knee and Twilight turns towards me with her purple eyes looking at mine. "Is something wrong Twi?" I asked with a gentle and curious tone in my voice. My right hand moves to her mane and begins to gently stroke it.

Twilight gives out a bit of a sigh, looking at me. "I've just been feeling a little unsure about things lately. It doesn't seem like my role as a princesses equates to all that much." She says with an uneasy tone in her voice.

"That's just silly." Applejack says, putting a smile on her face. "Ya got a real important role in Equestria."

Fluttershy trots towards me and Twilight. "Princess Celestia wouldn't have asked you to come along if she didn't think so." Her calm voice says.

Twilight ponders with these words that Applejack and Fluttershy said for a couple of moments, then her ears rise up again. I can tell them the words made her happy again. "I guess you're right." Twilight says. I move my right hand off of her mane and get up back onto my two feet.

"Of course we are." Rarity says, starting to trot with me and the others again. "Now hurry along! You don't want to risk having that important role diminished because you were tardy for your regal meet and greet."

I continue to walk alongside the streets of the empire, seeing the crystal ponies trotting about and enjoying their day. But I have already started to notice that there were a few joining up in groups starting to follow all of us to the castle. I take a glance behind me and can see that all of them are looking at me and following me. They were taking an interest in how different I was among them and everypony else. But I didn't have time to talk with the crystal ponies at the moment. Maybe some other time when I'm not too busy, I'll be able to chat with all of them.

The crystal ponies eventually do move on after following me to see what I was and why I was here. I find myself under the reaches of the Crystal Castle. In the centre of the bottom of the castle, it is for the very first time that I have ever seen the Crystal Heart with my own eyes. The very tool used to protect the empire and that stopped the dark unicorn king, Sombra. He exploded, so there is a zero percent chance that I might ever see him again. But just in case he does, I've got the Song of Order ready.

Yeah, I know what you might be thinking yourself. Where has the Song of Order been since you have used it back when Nightmare returned? Do not worry about it, the claymore is safe back in Ponyville at Twilight's library, enclosed to make sure no villain ever steals it. It does bring worry to me if the blade was stolen, they would probably end up with a negative effect from it, just like what happened with Sunset Shimmer as an example via the Element of Magic, back when my friends still had the elements before giving them to the Tree of Harmony.

I approach the double doors of the castle and press my two hands onto the right side of the doors to push it open. I stand by the door and allow the seven of my friends to enter into the castle. Spike was right behind them because the 'ladies first' slogan was always very true even in Equestria.

"Thank you Brayden." Twilight says to me while she trots past me, bearing the warm smile on her face. I nod with a smile, moving one of my hands briefly in a loving gesture.

I continue to hold the door open for the rest of my friends, and I wait until Pinkie Pie passed by me. After she has passed, I closed the door right behind me and turn towards the set of crystal stairs, proceeding forward upward into the castle.

I reach up to the top of the stairs and proceed forward down the halls of shining crystal. I can hear the sounds of my friends' hooves trotting on the crystal floors. Down the hall was I would picture, the throne room. In the distance, I could see a pink color waiting on the throne for all of us. I knew that this was Princess Cadence. But much closer ahead, patrolling the hallways was the white unicorn stallion… known as Shining Armor.

"Twiley!" I could hear Shining Armor call out and trot forward towards me and my friends. He was smiling and I watch as he and Princess Twilight share a brother-sister hug. After the hug, he says "I am glad that you and your friends could come to attend. I'm really sure that the Maretonia dignitaries will enjoy seeing a new princess in Equestria."

"Well, I really want to do my best if I have to make the first impression on them." Twilight said, sounding really confident in her voice.

Shining turns towards her other friends, and many thoughts come rushing into my head. Will Twilight's brother Shining approve of me or not? I could already picture that he was going to make sure that he had his eye on me to ensure that I did not try to hurt Twilight in any way. Seriously? I would never even try to hit her or get angry at her. I am way too kind to hit a girl and I've already said that I never will, so end of story right there.

"Who's this?" Shining asked her while he was trotting towards me. "Is this Brayden, the one you've been talking about?"

"That's definitely him." Twilight said, trotting beside me and taking my left hand with her right hoof. Her gentle hoof helps to calm down a bit of the wild thoughts running through my head. "He was the one who in the letter I sent to you; the wielder of the Song of Order. I also forgot to mention-"

"Oh, I'll get this answer!" Pinkie Pie says, jumping up and down. "Brayden is also her special somepony!" Both I and Twilight are just blushing right there because of Pinkie just blurting out what Twilight was just about to say. Now, I'm expecting some of the bad thoughts to come true, but Shining lets out a happy chuckle from his mouth.

"It is nice to meet you Brayden." Shining Armor said to me, moving his front right hoof forward for a hoof–shake. I move my hand forward, gently gripping onto his hoof and giving it a shake. "But in question, you do not seem to be a pony, what are you?"

"I am a human." I said, letting my hand go from shaking his hoof.

Shining places his hoof back onto the crystal tiles and looks at me, saying "Human? I don't think that I've ever seen one before like you."

"Totally, because I know where he's from!" Pinkie blurts out again, preparing to do another long Equestria Girls speech about me, and I'm blushing from embarrassment. "He's from another world called Earth where he was trying to escape this group known as bikers that he owned money to and that we are apparently a famous cartoon show in that world called-" She was interrupted with Applejack placing a hoof right into her mouth, quieting her in a friendly way.

"Pinkie, we've all heard that same story already." Rarity said, already knowing about it the first time. "I'm sure Prince Shining Armor here can know about it some other time. But right now, he's kind of talking to Brayden at the moment, so let them introduce one another if you please."

Applejack removes her gamboge hoof from Pinkie's mouth allowing her to speak. "Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie Pie says, bouncing up and down with the continued happiness she had.

Shining paused for a moment and then continued to talk with me. "So, from what I've heard from Twilight so far, you were the one responsible for helping to save Equestria from eternal night and somehow convinced Nightmare Moon to redeem herself."

"Well, something inside told me not to kill her." I said, with a memory of that scene reflecting back to me. "Plus before I even came to Equestria, I promised that I would never even try to hurt anypony no matter what. If anything tried to bring harm to anypony, I will no doubt do everything in my path to make sure they don't hurt my friends or anypony living here in Equestria."

"So that must be why Princess Celestia knighted you after that." Shining told me, but then comes a little closer. "But from how I've been seeing her today, it looks like she is trying to hide something and by how she's hiding it… she sounds a little sad."

"Sad? But from the visits I've been for Canterlot, I've always seen her looking really happy." I said, as I watch Shining turn around and trot forward towards the throne room. I walk alongside him with the rest of my friends catching up with the both of us.

"I've always seen really happy as well. But this feels different." He told me. "Something apparently came up yesterday back at Canterlot. I wanted to get more information, but Princess Celestia didn't want to talk about it. Princess Luna had to speak out for her, saying that it was best for only between the both of them."

"Would they get Princess Cadence involved between their private business alone?" Twilight had asked, trotting next to her brother.

"I think they will classify that information until the right moment, either than that… I really don't know what's going on with Celestia or Luna. While Celestia feels to be a bit sad, Luna seems to be standing by her point and defending her statement." He said.

"Well, we shouldn't worry about what the princesses have to think." I said, trying to drift from the worried conversation. "If it is their own private conversation, then I suppose we let them talk by themselves about what they have to hide. For reasons why Princess Celestia is sad, she's probably having one of those days."

Shining continues to trot, pausing the conversation briefly to think about these words. "Yeah… you're probably right. There's nothing to worry about." He says, sounding a little more relaxed about it. "I'm acting a bit too curious about it."

"It's a time to celebrate. It's only the small possibility that the dignitaries might encounter me during their visit, but I think just like everypony else, they won't react so harshly against me being here." I said, changing the subject onto something else.

"The Duke and Duchess would probably be honored to meet you if there weren't so busy," He said. "Judging how they've been mostly around other ponies, this will probably be the first in their lifetime to ever witness you among them for a brief moment. But with the status that Princess Celestia had given to you as a knight, you should be proud with such a ranking."

I turned my head towards him. "I accept any kind of honor that is given to me. But to be honest, I think this is the first time that something like that has ever happened to me in forever." I said. "I don't think I've ever been given such a rank before."

"First time is always the best, and also the time when you get nervous about having that status." Twilight says to me. "It's almost in the situation I'm dealing with as a princess. Except, well you just do your job like every royal guard… defend Equestria. And don't worry, that isn't to let you down. It's to give you some hope."

"Thanks Twilight," I said with a smile on my face. "I always know you have the right words to say to me in times like these."

Twilight exchanges a smile towards me, knowing that she has accepted my thank you. Finally, everypony goes silent and I turn my head back to face the open doors.

It was none other than the throne room of the Crystal Empire. Two rows of crystal guards were seen standing to greet all of us in our arrival. Standing close to the throne was the princesses Celestia and Luna. Accompanying them was Nightmare Moon who was standing right beside Celestia, giving a grand smile on her face when she sees me. On the throne taking her seat was the Princess of Love herself that I was going to meet. Princess Cadence.

The guards trumpet their crystal fluglehorns as I pass above them, but lower the volume a little bit just so they don't damage my ears. Thank goodness about that, the last thing I would kind of want is to become deaf and not hear again. I walk along slowly in a formerly manner to show appreciation in the hall of Princess Cadence.

"Brayden?" I could hear Twilight say to me, taking my left hand with her right front hoof and holding onto it. My head turns to see that she is right next to me. "You know you don't have to be so formal… be yourself."

"Sorry." I said to her, smiling.

Twilight giggles. "There's no need to apologize, it's only a suggestion." She returns.

"Sorry." I said again, blushing.

Finally Twilight trots forward past me while I am next to Shining Armor again. I can already tell that Princess Twilight and Princess Cadence were going to do their greeting they always did, but with the episodes I've seen, I haven't seen them do it in a while. I watch as she continues to trot forward, but of course bumps into that fellow Pegasus guard that every brony knows and likes to love or hate him. Flash Sentry.

"I apologize, Princess Twilight." Flash says, backing up after that surprise.

"It's alright." Twilight says, forgiving him for the bump. For me, I have my eye on Flash just in case he has any funny ideas. But at the same time, I shouldn't really worry as Twilight doesn't seem to look interested in him. But any moves made by him on her will send me flying towards him with a warning to give to him. But it's not like I would attack him. I have no reason to.

"Your majesty," Flash called out to Princess Cadence sitting on her royal throne. I watch as she gets up on all four hooves off of her crystal throne and onto the tiled ground. "Princess Twilight Sparkle!"

I watch the pink alicorn trot towards her and the rest of us with a smile on her face. She comes forward towards Twilight and stops a few feet away. "Hello Twilight." Cadence says. "I haven't seen you since the Equestria Games."

"It certainly has been that long, hasn't it?" Twilight asks. At the same time, she is glad to see Princess Cadence in the flesh once again. Now the only thing to think about is how lightly she'll take me being in her empire. "Lots of things happen once every time we see each other."

"Just like with the tatzlwurm." Cadence returned, putting a smile onto my face. I remembered when that episode first aired. "Three's A Crowd" is one of the best episodes I have seen all because of Discord himself. Sure he does irritate me a bit, but still I have respect for the draconequus.

"Well, there's that and the Nightmare Moon returning."

"Speaking of her, this must be Brayden that you have been talking about." Princess Cadence said, trotting over towards me and looking into my brown eyes with her purple eyes. "I have heard a lot about you. Twilight mentioned you a few times in the letters she would write to me."

"Well, that definitely is me." I said, and finally bent down on one knee to bow to you. "It is an honor to meet you Princess Cadence."

"I appreciate the honor, but you do not have to bow before me." She says with a giggle stimulating out of her mouth. "I welcome you to the Crystal Empire with open hooves."

I bend back to my normal stance and look at her. "I appreciate the welcome, Princess Cadence."

"Also, you don't have to call me Princess." She says, keeping her smile. "Just Cadence will be fine."

"Of course." I said. After that, there are moments of silence filling in the throne room. No crickets are chirping, just the sound of silence. "So, what's next now that we're all here?"

"Well we have a couple of minutes until the ceremony begins. Feel free to make yourself at home as possible." Princess Cadence offered.

"Thank you." I said with appreciation in my voice. "Also, can I have permission to give you a friendly hug?" I didn't want to tip off Shining Armor who was right next to me seeing this.

"A hug?" Princess Cadence said. "Of course Brayden. You can give me hug, no need to ask for permission."

I walk a step forward and open up the both of my arms and gently move them around the pink alicorn's neck, giving her a gentle, friendly hug. I can feel Cadence's right front hoof go around my back and can feel her returning the hug. Okay, you already know how many moments the hug lasts, so after that we release from the hug.

Princess Cadence looks at me again. "I think Nightmare Moon wants to talk with you." She says to me.

I nod in understanding with the smile on my face, walking past Princess Cadence and moving forward towards the three other princesses standing there and they seemed to be waiting for me. Nightmare Moon looks rather excited, as if I were a celebrity. To me though, it's just me as the boy who helped her to be set free from the darkness.

"Brayden." Nightmare Moon smiles to me, trotting towards me with a hoof opened up by her offering a hug from her to me. I smile at her and move forward, placing my two hands gently around her neck and feeling her black and warm hoof gently hugging me. I and she share the hug for a few moments and then we let go. "I'm really glad you could come along with Twilight and the others to see me help out with the greeting of the dignitaries."

"I wouldn't miss out on this for anything." I said to her, seeing her cyan cat-like eyes looking into mine. "I understand that while still trying to adjust again… there's been some ponies still frightened or mad at you for your actions."

Nightmare Moon blushed a bit in embarrassment and had a look of sadness drawn onto her face at the same time. Her ears flop down and she looks down at the ground. Oh no, I must have accidentally said the wrong thing and humiliated her. "Yes Brayden… that is true." She says to me.

I gently place my right hand onto her shoulder. "Nightmare, you are more than just somepony wicked, you are probably one of the nicest mares that I have ever met. You gave much such a wonderful present." I said to her in a gentle and calm voice to help her.

She looks right back at me. "Y-you really think so?" She asked.

I nod and share a smile with her in assurance. "They just need to adjust to having you around. You're not a danger to any of them. Not anymore." I said. "You're on our good side, even mine and I've always thought you were one of my favorite ponies."

Nightmare's ears stood right back up and she looked happy once again. "Why thank you… I am flattered you think of me in that way." She said, placing one of her black hooves onto her chest. "Oh, and just a heads up, I wouldn't really suggest talking to Princess Celestia at the moment. There is something about her… she seemed rather silent since this morning. You'll want to talk with Princess Luna."

"Somepony mentioned me?" Princess Luna said, trotting right beside Nightmare. She had a smile right upon her face and looked just as majestic as she always had been.

Across from both of the mares, I turn my focus towards Princess Celestia. She doesn't seem to be looking at me. She's just looking down at the ground with an almost-sad look upon her face and in deep thought. Her ears are flopped down a bit, but her mane is still flowing like it always has been. I begin to wonder what was wrong, and I could just ask to see.

"Brayden?" I can hear Princess Luna saying to me.

My attention is snapped away from Princess Celestia and back towards Luna and Nightmare. "I apologize Princess. I drift off into space like that sometimes." I lied with a smile on my face to look innocent.

"You were looking to my sister." Princess Luna stated, knowing that I had lied. "I do not think she wishes to be spoken to at the moment other than me."

"Sorry." I said with the apologetic tone in my voice. "I won't bother her then."

Princess Luna gently takes my hand with her hoof and looks into my eyes. "You do not need to apologize," She says, feeling a little sorry about how sorry I felt. "My sister's only feeling a little down on the weather about something. But she'll eventually pull through and talk again. Only rarely does this happen."

"I see." I said, nodding in understanding and putting my two hands together.

Princess Luna gently rubs her left front hoof against her right front arm. "I too am worried about what my sister is going through," She says. But I can sense that there was something about that tone in her voice. She was trying to hide something from me. "I'm not really sure if it was the result of the experiment that I was working on."

"Experiment?" I said, with an eyebrow raised and my curiosity being brought into my mind. I will admit that I wasn't really a chemist, but I was already starting to wonder what went on that ultimately resulted in the both of them being held back from my birthday party. For Nightmare Moon, I don't quite question her because it's understanding that she was still trying to get over the issue of everypony fearing her still.

"Nothing." Princess Luna said, raising a hoof with an almost surprised expression crossing her face. She then cleared her throat a bit to try and balance away from the subject. At this point I can see Princess Celestia start to trot past the both of us.

I turned towards the moving Princess and reached out for her with my one right hand. "Celestia…" I softly called out for her to hopefully catch my attention. She doesn't seem to hear my call though and trots out of the room.

"Don't worry about Princess Celestia." Nightmare Moon said to me from behind. The black mare places her soft and gentle hoof onto my left shoulder. I turn my head towards that direction and begin to look at the mare. "She's going to be fine."

I gently turn around and gently take Nightmare Moon's hoof. "I guess I'm just starting to worry about her a little bit."

I could hear the sound of two other princesses trotting towards the three of us. I let my hand stray from Nightmare's black hoof and turn around towards Princess Twilight and Cadence. The pink alicorn herself looked rather prepared for the event that was bound to happen at any moment.

"I hope I am not interrupting anything." Princess Cadence said with a bit of question in her voice.

Princess Luna smiles and says "You're not. What is it you need, Cadence?"

"Well, I was hoping to talk with Brayden for a few minutes before the dignitaries arrived and the ceremony to welcome them." She said, with the same tone coming through. "If I may, would you both mind if I borrowed him for a bit?"

Princess Luna let out a smile and said "Of course. But do be quick. It'll be any minute now before the train from Maretonia arrives."

I finally begin walking again, with Princess Cadence trotting alongside me. The both of us exit the throne room and both I and Cadence turn to look at each other. She seems to have a specific look marked upon her face. I can tell that she probably has a few questions about how I and Twilight are doing.

"So what do you need? What do you want to talk about?" I asked to bring some conversation into the silence between us.

She kept her smile and said "So, you are Twilight's special somepony. With the letters that I receive and send to her, I heard you and her went off on a first date to the lake and then the amusement park. How was that, since she only mentioned it? Most of our letters to each other is mostly Equestrian politics."

"It was good Cadence," I said, placing the both of my hands together. "There were a few bumps before I confessed to her and during the first date."

"Bumps?" Cadence said, moving her front left hoof and placing it onto my hand. "Did something go wrong? Please do tell me, I will understand what went on."

"Well," I said and finally sighed. The memories of those moments came rushing back quickly to me. "It all started when Pinkie revealed to her and my friends that I was from another world far away from here called Earth. She gave out the details about this place being in a show and in the end; Twilight was pretty disappointed in me for not telling her the truth. For the date, she burst at one of the security guards for calling me a 'thing'."

"Oh my." Cadence said. Her voice sounded a little shocked about what I told her.

"I had to make sure she would feel better from it. She was crying and I was doing everything in my path to keep her calm and showing how easily I would forgive her no matter what she does." I said. "I told her that mistakes like that will occasionally happen because of how different I am. And… of…" My mind gets distracted by the hallway with the open door from across.

In the open room, there stood that magical portal just shining. It was the portal into the alternate universe of Equestria. It did not seem to look very active though; the portal still seemed to be closed. But my thoughts are drawn to Sunset Shimmer. Is she doing alright and is she okay? Something inside my mind told me to go through the portal to that dimension.

No. I couldn't. I just knew that I couldn't have the right timing to do it at the moment. With the ceremonies and my schedule looking a little tight at the moment, I would have to have my visit to the Equestria Girls universe delayed.

"Brayden, I don't think anypony except royalty is allowed into that room." Princess Cadence said, her voice dropping a bit and sounding a bit alarmed. "The first time that something happened was that one of Celestia's former students came through and stole Twilight's element of harmony, it was-"

"Sunset Shimmer." I said, still distracted by the gaze and temptation to go through the portal. But since the portal has been closed since, it'll be another while until the portal re-opens. Something continuously inside is telling me subliminally to go in and see Sunset, even though she probably won't know me. Finally, I shake my head a bit to snap myself out of the gaze, turning back towards Cadence.

"Now, I am sorry about those incidents that happened, but overall I want to wish you and Twilight the best of luck in your relationship." She said to me. Her hoof moves towards my shoulder and is placed onto it.

I look into Cadence's purple eyes and said "Thank you. I am planning on giving me and her some time together until I eventually decide to pull the string and pop out the big question to her. But for that, me and Twilight need to feel a little closer."

"Do not worry." She said. "Take all the time that you need. Just remember, every healthy relationship will eventually hit a bare patch along the way so do expect a fight once in a while. But I know you and her will both forgive each other every time."

I smile and feel the confidence of me and Twilight's relationship build up inside of me by her words of advice. With these words, this might as well help me out in finding other things to do with her when both Twilight and I go on another date. But if Twilight definitely has something planned, I'll accept what she has in mind.

"Princess Cadence?" A guard softly called out, in hopes of not disrupting the both of us in our conversation. Cadence turns toward the crystal guard with a blank, normal look on her face. "The train with the dignitaries has just arrived. The ceremony is about to begin."

"Okay." She whispered right back to the guard. The crystal guard trots off and Cadence turns her attention back to me. "I have one more advice to give to you about Twilight."

"Sure." I said with a smile. The smile fades quickly when Cadence takes my right hand and holds onto it with her pink hoof.

"I know you won't bring harm to anypony, but please listen." Cadence said with both a caring and worried tone in her voice. "Please don't hurt Twilight's feelings. If you do, she'll be left alone again because she's never been in love with anypony in her lifetime. I mean sure that her friends occasionally tease her about a stallion… but there is something about you that seems trustworthy. If you break up with her, she'll be left broken."

I take my other hand and gently hold onto Cadence's hoof which is also holding onto my other hand. "I promise, Cadence." I said, assuring her that everything will be fine.

Cadence finally let go of my hand and begins to trot in the direction we were going. "The dignitaries have arrived in the empire. I'll be outside with the other princesses. I suggest you join Twilight and the rest of her friends at the balcony outside of the throne room." She advised to me.

"Alright," I said, waving to her. "We'll talk later."

"Indeed we will, the next time we talk will probably be with you and Twilight." I could hear her say and then trot down a different hallway. It was of course loud enough for me to hear what she said. Once she was gone, I begin walking down back where I came from the throne room back there.

I walked back into the throne room and looked towards the open double-doors of the open balcony. Applejack stood there, waving me over. "C'mon now Brayden. Them dignitaries are here and it'll be so fun to see 'em." She said to me in her southern accent and trotting over to me.

"I haven't heard of any other cities in Equestria other than Ponyville, Canterlot, Manehattan. How big is Maretonia?" I asked her.

"Well," Applejack stated. "Ah haven't visited that city before in mah life, but somepony told me that it's 'bout the size of Canterlot."

"I see." I said to her and walked alongside her outside towards the balcony. Twilight stood close by the edge of the balcony with one hoof over the railing. I didn't want to distract her during the ceremony so I just stood beside the rest of my other friends while this was happening.

A few minutes had passed and the large gathering of crystal ponies had gathered around the palace to make way for the upcoming two dignitaries in the distance. Below me were the four princesses standing in a line and waiting for the arrival. When the dignitaries came close enough, the sound of the crystal horns triumphed through the air.

"The Duke and Duchess of Maretonia!" I could hear Flash Sentry, the guard in the empire announce loudly for all to hear.

I took a peek at the Duke and Duchess. Their appearance seemed to look a little similar to a culture that I knew of back on Earth. They almost seemed to resemble the people from the other side of the world. The side that I was never able to visit in my lifetime, still if I was there I would have eventually gone. The only problem was how much it cost for a trip there and back. I can hear Twilight's horn ignite and I turn to see what she is doing. She is looking downward towards the ground and I am wondering what is happening.

I walk over towards the edge of the balcony close by the railings. I place the both of my hands onto them and watch what was going on below for what Twilight was doing. I could see that flag below the balcony start to unfurl by her magic. I would try to help out, but two things were in the way: I couldn't fly and that was her job to unfurl the welcoming flag. Something was off about this though… shouldn't she be down by the ground with the other princesses, greeting the oncoming dignitaries? Why was she up here doing the flag job when it should have been one of the empire's guards doing this. Nevertheless, the flag was displayed big enough for the dignitaries to feel welcomed.

"That's it?" Spike said, completely surprised by quickly this went by but also a bit of annoyance and it sounded like he was complaining. "Princess Celestia invited you all the way to the Crystal Empire… just to do that?!"

Twilight turns back around and her ears drop with a sad look on her face. I turn from the balcony and walk over back to the rest of my friends. Spike then just giggles in a way to make sure that nothing about what she did was wrong. He says "I mean, wow! Really regal and important!" He had that guilty smile on his face. He already knew he said the wrong thing.

Applejack gives a gentle slap across the back of the dragon's head and gives him a nasty look. He shouldn't really be talking about this when Twilight feels very troubled about doing this job. I mean, for crying out loud she is royalty. Still though, I wondered what caused this to happened and why she felt like more a lesser princess at the moment.

I walked up towards Twilight and bent down on one knee. Her eyes are still closed and her head almost looking towards the ground. I gently move my left hand and place my arm around Twilight's neck gently. She moves a bit in surprise, but relaxes when she opens her eyes and sees that it is only me with her. She tries to fake a smile but the stress was slow-coming to her.

"You did what you needed to do." I said to her, gently rubbing her neck. "You could try talking to Princess Celestia about this."

"That's just it though Brayden," She said to me with the look of worry in her eyes. "If I ask her why I had to do this, I think she'll just say to me that it is important."

"We all go through that." I said to her in that gentle and calm voice. My hand gently moves from around her neck and to her back, giving it a gentle rub back and forth with my hand over her soft fur. "But I think Princess Celestia is happy that you're here. I couldn't really imagine what would happen if you didn't show up."

"Well, she would take away my status." She said, sounding concerned.

"Don't say that Twilight." I said to her. "You were meant to be a princess for a special purpose. I believed you would fit right for the role when I lived back on Earth. You shouldn't feel disappointed about it."

Twilight ponders with these thoughts for a few moments and her ears move upward a little bit, but not completely. "Y- You're right Brayden. I'm probably overreacting about this, but still I can't help but feel like there's more to my role."

"And I promise you that you will find what is meaningful to this role." I said to her.

My hand slowly moves gently back towards her neck and I hold her closer to me. My head moves forward and my lips gently press onto her forehead, giving her a kiss to cheer her up. I could see her eyes close before my lips made contact with her forehead. After the gentle peck on her forehead, I move my head away from Twilight a bit. I can see the blushing on her face. She uses her front right hoof to take my hand that's around her neck. She begins to gently hold onto it.

Both I and she gaze into each other's eyes with her nose and my own almost touching one another. Her eyes move a bit and form in the shape of a happy look. I can see her ears flip back up into a happy, normal stance. My body starts to feel really warm and comfortable while I am with her. Both me and her gently rock the hoof and hand holding back and forth slowly.

"I'm glad you're with me." I could hear Twilight say in a peaceful whisper audible to me.

I move my other hand towards her mane and start giving it a gentle stroke. "I'm glad to be with you as well. But that is not in the time of need at the moment, this is a celebration. Feel proud of yourself and be the best you can be." I said to her in a low and happy voice.

Rainbow Dash groaned in the sound that she was completely bored and says with a desperate and annoyed tone "Come on Brayden, enough of that lovey-dovey stuff already! The ceremony is done and it won't be long until the train to Ponyville arrives!"

"I'm coming, just allow me a few more moments with Twilight before I come along." I called out towards the rest of my friends while they were leaving.

Rarity was the last to stay along with Spike. "Do take all the time you need." Rarity says with a smile on her own face. She then trots off with the young dragon following her.

I turned back towards Twilight and I'm still holding onto her warm hoof. "Twilight, I was wondering… if you're not busy sometime in a few days, are you interested in-"

"Going on a date with you?" Twilight says, interrupting me. I blush a little bit and she giggles. "Sorry Brayden. Of course, I really enjoyed our first date, minus all the bumps. A second date will be fun."

"Thanks Twilight." I said. "I really have to get going, Rainbow Dash will probably drag me out by my hands if I don't hurry up."

"And I'll see you back in Ponyville." Twilight says.

I could see her wings open up and wrap around me. She pulls me closer towards me and both our lips touch and I lay a gentle kiss onto hers. She returns my kiss with her own lips and is still holding onto my hand with her hoof. After we share that gentle kiss, she unwrapped her wings from around me and I can feel her soft hoof being moved from my hand. Her wings fold up, closing.

I could feel a cyan hoof grab onto my hand and start pulling me from Twilight. I already could tell that it was Rainbow Dash and she was already impatient enough. "Come on Brayden, you're taking so long to say goodbye!" She said to me and I could tell by that tone that she was sounding really annoyed.

"Alright Dashie, I'm coming. Hold your horses." I said, moving my hand away from her hoof that was grabbing mine. It really made me a bit uncomfortable how she randomly took my hand that quickly.

"Don't call me that." Rainbow said to me, still keeping her tone but sounded sharper.

I shrugged at her. "Come on, it's a nickname." I told her. But by the time I finished saying that, Rainbow Dash already pulled me out of there. Twilight just giggles and waves goodbye to me with a wink from her eye.

Nighttime was already here and I was back at Fluttershy's cottage. I was feeling really tired and was walking between Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. All three of us moved forward across the stone bridge onto the small hill where the house lay. All of the birds were bustled into their nests asleep with their kin. Harry the Bear was sleeping there in the small cave, snoring quietly probably dreaming all about fresh honey from the bees. Most of the animals were asleep in their little homes outside of the cottage, with a few occasionally opening their eyes to see us.

Fluttershy and I stop at the front door with Rainbow slightly behind us. "Thank you so much for accompanying me and Brayden on our walk back." I could hear Fluttershy's soft voice say to the cyan pegasus, turning to face her. I turn myself around to face Rainbow as well.

"Well, it's no problem Fluttershy. It's always this fun to be hanging out with friends and attend special events with them." Rainbow bragged a bit, but in a good way. "I will see you around, probably tomorrow as usual."

I nod my head with a smile on my face and say "You have a good night's rest now Rainbow. I'll probably see you tomorrow too." I turn around, getting ready to open the door for Fluttershy to enter first.

"Brayden, wait." I could hear Rainbow say to me. I turn around to her and approach her, bending down a little. "I… I wanted to apologize for how sharp I was acting back at the Crystal Empire. I didn't want to miss our train."

I move my hand and gently take Rainbow's hoof, holding onto it just like in that lucid dream I once had. "Don't worry about it Rainbow. I forgive you for it. Patience is the key though." I said to her in that happy voice.

"Thanks." Rainbow Dash says.

"Also, can I have your permission to hug you?" I asked her, hoping her arrogance won't reject a friendly hug.

Rainbow Dash lets a smile loose from her face. "A hug? Sure, come here." I could hear her say and she flaps open her wings. I open up my arms a bit and move closer towards Rainbow Dash, wrapping my two arms around her and giving her a gentle friendly hug. She hugs me back as well, with her hooves on my back. After a few moments, me and her release the hug and smile at each other in a friendly way.

"Catch you later. It's sleepy time for this pegasi." Rainbow Dash says, flying off into the sky.

I chuckle a bit to myself and open up the door, allowing Fluttershy to enter in first. The yellow pegasi smiles at me and goes on through.

"Thank you Brayden." I could hear Fluttershy say to me.

Before I go inside, I take a moment to check up on tonight's weather. Tonight seemed like it was going to be a thunderstorm from the nearby clouds that gave the mist that was actually rain and the white streaks that went across the clouds. I already knew it wasn't going to be safe outside during the night-time. I didn't really want to risk getting struck by lightning. I also take one last look at Canterlot's shadow in the distance being covered over by the clouds below it. I finally move indoors and gently shut the wooden door behind me.

The living room inside the cottage seemed to look very dim. Thank goodness that the moon's shining bright light was spread forward through the windows, allowing me and Fluttershy to see where we were going. I take a look around the dimly-lit cottage room. Most of the animals that were inside most of the time whether it was the few birds or squirrels seemed to be fast asleep inside of their homes. Even Angel was a-snooze on the couch and snoring a bit. It wasn't too loud so it didn't really bother me.

I walked forward towards the flight of wooden stairs with Fluttershy. She is right beside me, trotting up the stairs with me. From what I knew already about being in her home, I knew that her bedroom door was down the hall from where I slept. The bathroom was located across from my bedroom door in case I needed to use it.

"You have a good night's rest." I could hear Fluttershy say to me. Her fuzzy yellow hoof reaches out to my left hand and it gently touches the skin of my hand. I turn my head towards her and gently smile at her.

I turn myself towards her, and kneel down a bit. "You have a good night as well." I said to her, and my hand moves from her hoof. I gently move my hand towards her right cheek and hold it there for a few moments in a friendly way. Her cheeks light up a bit.

After a few moments, I move my hand from her and get up back onto my feet. I walk into my bedroom and close the door behind me. What a day! Now to get myself into pyjamas and head straight to bed. I move towards my wardrobe in the room and open it up. I pick out the ones that Rarity made for me, orange and red coloured PJs. Not going into much detail, I quickly changed into them and put the clothes I wore into the laundry basket. I close the wardrobe.

I move towards the windows and close them shut and cover them with the wooden blinds, even though light can still go through, but it doesn't bother me. I finally walk towards my bed and slump down onto it. I move my feet underneath the bed sheets and pull the big one over my body, allowing me to look at the windows and door just in case.

Good night Equestria. It was another good day and it was fun to see my special somepony attend something big there. I'll see her tomorrow and Equestria tomorrow.

Somewhere in Equestria…

The dark streets of a city…

The moon shone over the foggy city and it was a curfew for most of the ponies in that town when the night came through, but not for one pony. It was the unicorn stallion, Rare Find. He seemed to be trotting down the street with a basket full of oranges hovering over him. He was on a delivery to get them to his vendor and then shut down for the rest of the night. He felt like it was rest that deserved to get, but not this late usually.

The owls hooted above him, soaring through starlit skies and twirling around in a dance among their other owl friends. Rare Find just kept going ahead, feeling nervous about somepony dangerous that he would probably run into.

SNAP!

Rare Find stopped for a moment and turned his head around the corner to see who was approaching nearby. He took a look at the streets and couldn't see anypony nearby that was supposedly following him. It was probably just his imagination. He takes a breath of relief, thanking Celestia that nopony threatening was coming for him. He turns around.

A black robed figure is standing there in front of him. Rare Find seems to look frightened nevertheless by the appearance of this mysterious figure. Rare Find could only continue using his magic to keep the basket afloat as he watched and heard the figure's still motion while he breathed cunningly.

Rare Find finally just smiles and places his hoof onto his chest. "Terribly sorry, I didn't see you there." He says, with forgiveness in her tone but still having nervousness let out.

The figure stood still, breathing raspy once again and then finally begins to speak. "Is he friend… or is he foe, the pony wonders… I… I assure you that I am no friend…"

The figure began to move a part of his face into the moonlight, revealing the bottom of his chin and raising up one of its hands and clenching it into a fist. It's teeth was barred against the pony's curious look to wonder why he had been talking like that. "…I am Lord… Tirek."

The unicorn was about to retreat and run out of there, but the figure had already opened its mouth and unveiled a blue beam out. The beam hit precisely onto Rare's horn and began to paralyze him. "I shall take what is mine." The figure says, and then continues absorbing magic out of the unicorn while he silently screamed. And without magic, Rare Find's cutie mark had also disappeared.

Rare Find weakly fell onto the ground and could hardly move. All he could do was open his now-gray eyes and watch as the figure glowed a bit orange and ended up growing a bit in size. The figure opened his eyes, revealing them to be as yellow as ever.

The figure laughed as he passed by the weak unicorn. This figure… or Lord Tirek knew he wasn't going to be stopped this time. This was just the beginning.

The Crystal Empire

2:24am

Princess Celestia woke up. Aside from all of the gasping and supposed panicked breathing from waking up, she knew that she had a nightmare. It was strange, for she hadn't had a nightmare ever in a long time since she had banished her sister 1000 years ago. Her hooves gripped onto the sheets as if something was coming to get her, or worse.

The wooden double doors slammed open and in came both Princess Luna and Nightmare Moon. Each one of them displayed a look of worry and concern upon their faces. They had stormed into the room as they already heard the loud awakening gasp of horror that spread out from across the room. Princess Luna by far, looked very worried. "Sister, are you alright?!" Princess Luna asked with worry in the tone of her voice.

Princess Celestia moves her head towards her own head and gently takes a breath. "I just had the most terrible dream." She says.

"Why do you think we're here?" Nightmare Moon says, approaching closer to Celestia past Luna. "We all experienced the same thing. Even I could sense it in the dream realm. You know as well as I and Luna that this was not a dream, but… a vision."

Princess Celestia pushed the sheets off of her body and crawled out of bed. Whatever was already on her mind previously had to be placed on the back burner for now. She could already sense that a foe she and Luna dealt with in the past was already starting to come back. She trots towards the window, looking out from across the Crystal Empire and into the mountains of ice.

"Then we haven't much time. The stronger that he becomes… the more we are all in danger."

Ponyville, Fluttershy's Cottage

2:24am

Brayden's POV

The loudest crack of thunder rang out from across the sky, waking me up in bed. The volume of the strike sounded nearby and it scared the crap out of me. I already knew from the pegasi that morning before heading out that it was going to be pretty big.

For me, I just lie there in bed, listening to the sound of heavy rain as it comes pouring down onto the rooftop. There are no leaks thank goodness. If there was, I would have already told Fluttershy by now and she would've hired some roofers to come fix it up. There are no lights on and the entire room is pitch black. The only light that seems to come out is the lightning bolts that create white light that bounce onto the walls briefly before disappearing again. Now, I am reminded of the weather back on Earth… except this is different. I'm not even on Earth.

With the pitter-patter sound of raindrops landing onto the glass window, I could hear the far sound of hooves trotting down the hallway outside of my room. It must be Fluttershy herself. But what is she doing out of bed at this time? Is she going to check up on her critters to make sure that they're okay? I can hear the hoofsteps she makes come towards my door. I then hear my door start to peek open.

There in the doorside was Fluttershy herself, standing there with a shy, frightened look upon her face. She just stood there and was looking at me. I just stared right back here, wondering why she looked so scared.

"Fluttershy?" I asked while leaning upward in bed to look at her. "What are you doing up this late?"

I watch her as she trots into my bedroom as she has always done every morning, but seeing how this as late at night… it is a different story. Her mouth was closed, but from what I could tell: she was probably gritting her teeth together. She trots towards my bed and looks up at me. "I… I couldn't sleep. The sound of thunder was scaring me and woke me up.." I could hear her soft, innocent voice speak to me.

"It woke me up as well," I said to her. "You're not the only one."

"I can't sleep due to the thunder and lightning. Um, can I... can I sleep with you tonight? It's okay if you don't want me to, cause you're in that devoted-" Fluttershy said, before I interrupted by taking her yellow hoof.

I looked into her scared cyan eyes. "Fluttershy, I understand that you are scared. Just think this more as helping out my best friend." I told her, allowing her permission to come on into my bed.

The yellow pegasus reached upward with her two front hooves and touched the mattress of my clean bed. Once pushing herself forward, her back hooves join upward and I watch as she lies down on the bed, close but not next to me. She turns to one side to face me. I gently lie back down onto that side of the bed, facing Fluttershy.

I pull the sheets that covered me back up, but for me and her. Another flash of lightning from outside came briefly, causing her to shake a little bit. I look at her while she is shaking, and I already knew to do to help out friends who were scared. But in this situation it was much more different. I gently moved closer towards her, sliding my arm underneath her and around her with my other arm in the open going around her as well. I move my head closer to hers by the side of her head, giving her a gentle nuzzle.

I could feel Fluttershy's hooves move a bit and I could feel both of her hooves sliding around me and gently holding me closer to her, but not in a romantic way. Her cheek nuzzles with mine. After a few seconds, I move my head away from her cheek and just begin to look into her eyes. Her eyes looked so ever graceful that any moment, you would probably start thinking that I was about to go 'HNNNNG!' due to her cuteness level at this point.

I feel Fluttershy let out a bit of a sneeze and looks up at me in embarrassment. "Sorry." She says to me in an apologetic tone.

"It's okay Fluttershy." I said to her.

"Thank you for letting me sleep here with you. It is much louder where I am sleeping." She said. "Sudden bursts of thunder are bound to scare me."

"So they've always scared you?" I asked.

"Since I was a little filly… Whenever it was this bad, I had to come into my mother's room to sleep with her. It's not really easy getting over this fear. When living by myself with the other animals, I really dug underneath my bed sheets and kept it over me. But now that you came here… you're a big help to me." She explained.

"I almost never got over this fear as well. The more frightened you are, the more it is going to scare you," I suggested to her. "I did get over my fear and the truth is… where I lived, the thunder was probably louder in my room than yours."

"It was?" Fluttershy asked with curiosity in her voice.

"Yes. So everytime there was a bad thunderstorm, I would just listen to my music with headphones on at a low volume. But the strange thing about listening to music the instant you wake up is that it always feels much faster than usual."

"The music is faster as soon as you wake up?" She asked again. "I haven't really heard of something like that. I wouldn't really know either, since I haven't been your world to know about that."

"I know, it's weird when that happens." I said. "But are you sure that you're still interested in visiting Earth?"

Fluttershy's left hoof moves to my hand and gently touches it. "I'm ready whenever you and the rest of my friends are ready. The only problem is how can Twilight teleport all of us there if she doesn't know the spell to do so?"

"I'm sure that Princess Celestia knows it, but with the condition she is in right now… I can't really ask her right now. She seemed… sad."

"Oh…" Fluttershy said, and then let out a tired yawn. "It's around 2:30 in the morning. I'm going to take a rest. You should too. You don't want to be tired in the morning."

I nod my head with a smile and watch as she slowly closes her eyes to return to her sleep. "Good night Brayden." I could hear her tired, soft voice say to me.

I watch her for a short amount of time while she went back off to sleep. The sound of thunder faded a bit, so it wasn't as loud as it was before a couple of minutes ago. The light of the lightning outside continued to flash on within brief moments in the minutes that passed with me just looking at Fluttershy and watching over her as she slept.

My right hand moves from around her and is gently placed onto her gentle, soft mane. I gently move my hand back and forth across the top of the mane, giving it gentle and friendly strokes. "Good night to you too." I whispered to Fluttershy as she slept.

I finally move my other arm back around her where my other arm was, gently comforting her. I gently close my eyes and begin to relax, heading back into the dream realm to revisit my dreams of peace and everlasting joy.

Good night Equestria… yet again. I await the joy and peace that you bring me always in the morning.

The Crystal Empire

The next morning…

The leather book was placed onto the crystal table. That golden aura of Celestia's shines around the book and opens it up on the table. All four of the princesses were there at the round crystal table. It was yet another meeting, but this would be the first for Princess Twilight. The papers of the book move to the other side of the leather cover and eventually Princess Celestia stops at the page where she needed to stop at.

"Tirek and his brother Scorpan came from a distant land too far away to matter, intent on stealing Equestrian magic," Princess Celestia explained, with the other three co-leaders listening to the story behind Tirek. "But Scorpan soon came to appreciate the ways of Equestria, even befriending a young unicorn wizard."

Princess Luna decides to talk about what happened next briefly. "Scorpan urged his brother to abandon their plans. When Tirek refused, Scorpan alerted us of Tirek's intentions."

"Scorpan returned to his homeland, and Tirek was sent to Tartarus for his crimes. But it appears he's found a way to escape." Princess Celestia said, sounding a little alerted about his clever escape.

Luna placed a hoof onto the table. "We believe it happened when Cerberus left his post at the gates." She exclaims, trying not to cause a political argument between the four of them.

"That was a long time ago though," Twilight said, sounding a little worried about this. "Why is he now starting to steal magic?"

Princess Celestia trotted from her place at the table and approached Twilight on the other side. "His time in Tartarus had left him very weak. He has just now started to gain enough strength to use his dark powers."

"By each passing moment, he is growing stronger." Princess Luna said, taking her hoof off of the table after her statement.

"With his main priority set down on stealing every single magic inside all of us, it is no doubt that he knows where we are and will take the alicorn magic from us. It will make him powerful enough that he cannot be stopped." Princess Celestia said, facing everypony at the table. "But here are much worse matters that could happen while he runs loose…"

"Worse matters?" Princess Cadence said. "What do you mean?"

"Because the Song of Order has enough magic that could last a lifetime, he could probably take all of the magic inside of the blade." Princess Celestia said, but then stops and gasps. "Brayden is in possession of the blade. But at this point, he probably isn't aware that the blade is real and thinks it is still a legend. He must be stopped."

"And I know just the princess who can help to stop him." Princess Cadence said with a smile on her face, looking at Twilight.

Twilight stood proud, knowing and remembering all the moments when she was brave, stood on all four hooves and took charge and the villains she once faced, but there was always another time to meet them again. But for what though? Revenge? The princess opens her mouth, saying "Yes, I'll find him and-"

"No, Twilight." Princess Celestia said, interrupting Twilight's words. She places her hoof onto her shoulder. "I'm afraid I must call in another to stop Tirek… Discord."

All three of the princesses gasped upon hearing that particular name slip out of Princess Celestia's mouth. The draconequus post-master of chaos. Even Nightmare Moon who had just stumbled right on into the room to deliver some letters of politics to the four of them dropped them upon hearing that name.

Discord.

Ponyville, 3:05pm

Brayden's POV

"…As in 'Discord' Discord?" I could hear Applejack say to Twilight. I am standing right between Applejack and Rarity while this conversation has been going for a few to a couple of minutes. Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Spike and Pinkie just watch and listen in on the conversation, just hearing about the news that was going on. The sun had moved across the sky throughout the day and was pretty far from the western horizon.

"Yes!" Twilight exclaims, sounding a bit serious about it.

"I don't think it's that big of a surprise." Fluttershy says, minus the rolling of the eyes around her and the rolling of my eyes. "He can be very helpful."

"He can sense when there is a magical imbalance in all of Equestria." Twilight explains carefully about what the result was for a magical imbalance bound to happen at any time. "The next time that Tirek steals magic from somepony, Discord will be able to track him down."

"So what are you supposed to do in the meantime?" Rainbow asks, standing there across from Pinkie.

"Nothing…" Twilight says, still feeling a bit discouraged by how she's still trying to find something worthy of her title. "Unless one of you needs me to smile and wave." She moves one of her hooves to imitate herself waving to the ponies of Equestria. Finally, she turns and I watch as she begins to trot away from us towards the Everfree Forest.

"Where are you going?" Spike asked.

"To the Castle of the Two Sisters." Twilight exclaimed with the calm tone in her voice. "I'm not really needed anywhere else. Might as well catch up on some of my reading."

"You want some company?" Rainbow Dash asks, flapping her two wings and floating lowly off the ground and into the air.

Applejack also trots forward towards Twilight and says "It has been a while since ya'll of us visited the castle. Might be fun!"

Applejack did prove a point. We couldn't really just leave Twilight alone for this one. Plus, it would be my first time ever going to the castle deep in the Everfree. I could still remember the memories when Twilight first fought Nightmare Moon there inside and found the elements of harmony with the rest of her friends. Then there was the time when all of them were there to investigate the castle while some of them believe in the story of the 'Pony of Shadows'. I'm guessing that was supposed to be a Castlevania reference they pulled. Nevertheless, it would be fun to see the historical piece of architecture.

"Maybe I could use some company right now." Twilight said, turning her head to all of us and having a gentle smile crawl onto her face.

All of us begin to trot forward down the path and into the dark forest with Twilight. I walked up closer on my two feet close beside Twilight. I already remember that I was attacked by timberwolves before and I did not need to be attacked again. But of course, Twilight knew how to protect all of us and herself. At the same time, if I had the Song of Order equipped with me, I could have defended myself. Seeing how it was back at the Golden Oaks library, it's no doubt about that I would depend on Twilight to help us out when we were in danger.

Spike was right behind us, walking on his two dragon feet. The other friends of mine were grouped together with us. Twilight led the way down the path of the Everfree Forest, lighting up the path on some part that were still dark. But there were no timberwolves in the forest, so it must have been my lucky day. I already owe the leader of one pack to make them into timber-wood for the fire.

Most of the walk to the castle was silent. At any occasion, I would turn my head to Twilight to glance at her for a few moments. She would sometimes turn to look at me with her beautiful violet eyes looking into my brown eyes. Her eyes sparkled in the sunlight and were reflected down by the nearest ponds in the forest. Even the calm and gentle river close by was gleaming peacefully with the sunlight. It was also sad at the same time because I never got that chance to see if Steven Magnet was swimming around in the river, awaiting us. I guess that he must have moved onto another place in the Everfree. I hope that I'll get to see him again soon though. After many dirt paths and obstacles that they usually crossed to get to the castle just like in the series premiere, I could see that light out of the forest just ahead.

It was the Castle of the Two Sisters, just as Twilight had predicted would be there. And hell, even the bridge still stood there with the memory of Rainbow Dash tying it up and being loyal to her friends came to me. Nevertheless, the sight of the crumbling castle amazed me. Down in the canyon below, I recognized that spot underground in the cavern that I knew was the Tree of Harmony's location.

I could hear Rainbow Dash sigh behind me, and we eventually stop to take a glance at the castle from across the wooden bridge. "I still can't believe that we had to give back the Elements." I heard her say. The rest of the group join up between me, Twilight and Spike.

"It had to be done or the Tree of Harmony wouldn't have survived." Rarity said.

Fluttershy looked at all of us and said "Twilight was right all along though, even without the Elements of Harmony, our friendship is as strong as ever."

"Ah just hope another 'friend' of ours never makes us sorry that ya'll of us had to give 'em up." Applejack says with two hints of sarcasm and annoyance in her voice.

"But Discord was reformed thanks to Fluttershy, remember?" I said to her. "There's no way that he could try to pull anything behind your backs."

"Remember when he faked his illness?" Twilight said to me, turning her head to look at me. "He made me and Cadence travel all the way to the far parts of Equestria just to find this flower to cure him. In the end, he ended up getting sick for real."

A burst of jolly laughter came right from the blue skies catching us off-guard, but it did give me a little bit of a jump. I moved my head up towards the sky, and the annoyance started to trigger inside me. Lo and behold, it was Discord himself just flying down in a very Mary Poppins style move. Though I would've smiled because of the reference he was pulling. He was even almost wearing something that resembled Mary Poppins. "Oh, you're talking about me, I presume?" Discord asks all of us, while keeping that joyful and humble tone.

"How'd ya guess?" Applejack says with the annoyed tone in her voice.

Discord's ears began to light up with fire. "My ears were burning. It's not usual that I hear somepony mentioning my name." He said. He finally conjures a glass of water in his eagle claw by that flash of light that he would usually use to teleport. He throws the water all over his head, extinguishing the flames. But from what I am seeing, it didn't at all seem that painful to him. Probably because he is the Master of Chaos, I mean Post-Master of Chaos. Kind of like how Pinkie Pie is just Pinkie Pie.

"What are you even doing here Discord?" Rainbow Dash says with question in the sound of her voice.

Discord conjures up another item in his other 'hand': a book. It was the journal that each of my friends would share when they discovered a problem and would solve it, writing about it in the end. "Oh, I'm just doing a bit of light reading before I head off on my extremely important mission." He says in a way to try and make himself seem more arrogant. He finally makes the book head back to the library and conjures up a military-like outfit on him. "I suppose you all know that I've been tasked to capture a certain escapee."

"Big deal!" Spike said, he was starting to sound a little annoyed by Discord's presence by now.

I watch Discord move his head closer to Spike, putting his attention on the little dragon. "You're right Spike. It is that big of a deal." The pipe in the draconequus' mouth blew out a bubble that had covered up Spike and it started to float upward into the air. The bubble popped just a couple of feet off of the ground. Spike was safely caught by Rainbow Dash, and flown back to the ground, safe and sound.

"Seems I possess a magic that gives me quite an important role in Equestria." He continued, turning his arrogance towards Twilight, hoping for a reaction from her. "Maybe they should make me an alicorn princess." His taunting went a bit far as soon as he conjured up a crown upon his head with a horn and a pair of wings right behind him. He imitates a bunch of blowing kisses to the imaginary crowd with a sound effect of a crowd cheering in the background just to set off Twilight. Twilight doesn't even burst at him though. I instead see her looking really annoyed.

"In your dreams Discord!" I heard Rainbow Dash shout out to him at the end of his taunting.

Discord sighs and makes the crown, horn and wings disappear with his antlers and this-that coming back to him. "Oh I never dream of such things. Ask Princess Luna." He says.

"So she visits you in your dreams on occasion?" I asked him. I begin to feel a little uncomfortable when he appears right behind me, disappearing from in front of my eyes.

"Yes, indeed!" Discord says, sounding happy again. "As much as I wish to have the ability to enter dreams, I wish she could teach me how."

A letter burped out from Spike's mouth in a green flame that was sent towards me. It was a rolled up letter with a dark blue ribbon. Discord got a bit curious and I unrolled the letter, already starting to figure out that it was most likely Princess Luna who sent it. I open it up, beginning to read the letter to him.

"To Discord,

You already know the answer to wanting to enter the dream realm. The answer will always be No. I would appreciate it if you stopped asking me for that spell and talked about your dreams involving me to your friends.

From

Princess Luna"

Discord let out a bit of a disappointed grumble. I chuckled lightly a little bit, but then cut it off when the draconequus was shooting me an irritated look from his face. Even Twilight was moving her hooves in a way to not do anything else that would upset Discord and her face looked surprised. After a quick moment, Discord brushes the look off and just pats me on the head with his bear paw. My annoyed look quickly comes back to me.

"Don't ya have a creepy magic-stealin' villain to track down?" Applejack suggested, still sounding a bit annoyed while Discord was still here.

"Yes, yes, yes, of course." Discord says to her.

I begin to watch him snap the fingers on his eagle claw. Then everything starts to feel weird, as if I was moving straight into one of those teleporting devices. The way I was being motioned by the bright flash felt like I was travelling at approximately one millisecond. But even then, it felt like the molecules that were a part of me were scrambled around and then put back together again. Once the brightness settled down, I could see that I and the rest of the group were in the cavern below the castle. In my view, the Tree of Harmony with that mysterious crystal-like box still sitting there and waiting to be opened.

Discord walks on his two draconequus feet towards the mysterious chest. "It's just that I couldn't help but notice that Princess Twilight hasn't yet opened this little chest of hers." He continued, knocking the chest a little bit. "It got me thinking, what if what's locked inside is something that could help her prove her royal worth. I only bring it up because she said that she's been feeling that her role as a princess doesn't equate too much."

"Hey!" Pinkie says, already starting to get a bit tired of having Discord lecture us all. The tone in her voice already gave off that she was suspicious. "How do you know how she was feeling?!"

Discord paused for a moment there. His face begins to mock sadness, including the tone of his voice. "Oh, my. Is eavesdropping not the way you're supposed to find out what your best pals are up to? Woe is me." He says. "Will I ever learn the intricate nuances of being a good friend?"

All of us just stare at Discord in annoyance. We already know that he's trying to stir up drama for himself and to try and have us comfort him about it. But he must be thousands of years old, therefore he is an adult as estimated by Earth standards. But the way all of us were looking at him, he was acting like a child at such a young age.

Discord finally gets the hint of the look on our faces and snaps a finger to make a motorcycle-like bike appear. "Well, in any case, I suppose now is as good a time as any for me to make my exit." He gets onto the motor-bike, putting on a helmet and starting the engine. He disappears.

"And good riddance!" Applejack shouts out to him, already letting her annoyance let loose about him.

"Yeah!" I shouted as well, taking Applejack's side.

A flash of light appeared right on top of my head. It was Discord yet again. At this point, I was almost about to burst at the draconequus himself. Seriously, we've already dealt with your crap Discord. Why are you still here to annoy us further? Go away!

"Oopsie-doopsie, I almost left with the little journal you've all been keeping." Discord said, placing the journal on top of Twilight's horn. She starts trying to balance it, feeling very uncomfortable about Discord being as close to her as possible. "What a fascinating read. Haven't you girls just learned so much? I've bookmarked a few of the more interesting passages. You really should take a look!"

I then watch Discord move his head closer to Fluttershy in a sort of hushed whisper, but in a way that all of us could hear it. "We're still on for tea later, aren't we Fluttershy?" He asks.

Fluttershy just smiles and says "I wouldn't miss it."

Discord finally walks back up towards the tree and opens up an invisible door via the golden floating doorknob into a complete white room. He puts on a singsong tone and says "Well, I'll bring the cucumber sandwiches then." He walks straight into the room, but peeks out at all of us and waving with his bear paw hand. "Ta-ta!" He finally shuts the invisible door and leaves. This time for real.

"Sometimes I think that the 'reformed' Discord is more obnoxious than the 'before-he-was-reformed' Discord." Applejack states, relieved that he finally left the area.

"Indeed." I hear Rarity behind me, agreeing with her.

I have my eye set on the crystal chest. Truly, there must be something in there. As much as Discord was annoying us, he did prove a point about what could be inside. "But he could be right, couldn't he?" I heard Fluttershy ask. I turn my head towards both Twilight and Fluttershy, listening in on the conversation. "What if there is something important in that chest?"

Twilight pauses for a moment and started to think about this. With the journal in her hooves, an idea somehow sparks for her. "There's only one way to find out." She says.

Then, there came that activity that Twilight really enjoyed in her spare time, and I had just gotten into since I came here.

Books.

Tirek's POV

In the corner of the street, I finish absorbing the magic out of somepony. I watch as they struggle to get up and run, but all they seem to do is just land on the ground, weak and tired. The moon still shines so brightly from where I am at the moment.

Yes… yes! The dream that I had all this time was coming just as true as ever! With the strength growing within me, I can finally take every magic from every Equestrian soul. Even their magic aroma tastes delicious. It was just too bad that Scorpan could not aid me in this deed. That backstabber ended up telling the two princesses at the time, and had he not had given in, I would have already won by now! But he chose cowardly instead of true strength.

I turn down another corner in the dark and foggy street. I can see another pony standing there looking very distracted. A smile crept onto my face. Now is the time to strike and steal the magic from him. It wasn't like that other orange-carrying pony I ran into when I first came here. I do not care to where this is and I do not care to find it the town's name!

I start to descend closer towards the pony. I could smell the scent of magic within him. It seemed so unusually powerful than any of the other ponies' magic I've absorbed. He is almost within my reach… I can already start to taste it. But it turns out with a different face.

"Tirek, I presume?" The strange shape-shifting creature said. But I already knew who it was… the Master of Chaos.

I stop and just look at him. "Discord?" I said in my current-raspy voice, pausing for a moment as he transformed into a bird via his magic. "You're free?"

"As a bird." He said. The bird version of Discord scratched at his beak with his feathered wings.

I smile with surprise. "Well… I commend you on your escape." I said. With his escape, I'm surprised that he is just wandering through town in disguise.

"I'm afraid the feeling isn't mutual." He said to me with disappoint growing into his voice. He transforms back into his normal self and snaps his eagle fingers. Chains appear around my two weak hands. With anger growing inside of me, I gather some power to form an orange ball around me. I fire it straight at the master of chaos, but his head splits in two to avoid being hit by the beam. Once the beam had passed, his head comes back together. He looks quite angry with me, but I do not care.

"Oh…" I said, clenching the both of my hands together into fists. "I should have known you would want to have Equestria all to yourself."

Discord is in a police offer-like outfit leaning back on a garbage bin and swing handcuffs around with one finger, but then disappears. He comes closer to me. "Oh I'm not doing this for me. I'm doing this for my friends." He said, but then turns more hushed. "But just between the two of us, it's mostly for Fluttershy." He lets out a funny face, makes a squee sound and moves his head away.

"Fluttershy?" I start to ask. No… it just could not be true. "You're not saying that you are friends… with ponies?" I start to grow suspicious.

"Surprise!" Discord cheers, popping right out of a cake with party noises right behind him. Some of the cake bits get onto my black robes, but this doesn't matter to me. I was just surprised that the one-and-only Discord would be taking sides with those cursed ponies.

"I am surprised that someone with your intellect does not see this 'friendship' is but a new form of imprisonment. Clearly you've had to abandon your true nature to stay in their good graces." I said to him, as he makes the cake disappear.

Discord plays a soft and sudden peaceful tune on the mini-harp with an angelic halo hovering over his head. Then he pauses to look at me again, swatting away the glowing halo over his head and disperse of the harp. "I have done nothing of the sort!" Discord argues in surprise. This was a sign that I could easily bring him over to me.

"Oh please, I have seen this all before. But he was always weak minded." I said, with the thoughts of my brother Scorpan coming to me. I still remember the day he and the two pony princesses came to banish me into Tartarus in the first place. I felt so betrayed, but I already know that when I'm done with Equestria, Scorpan will be the first to see. I've got business to deal with him.

"But you are Discord, you are legend, you cannot fall into the same trap that claimed my brother!" I continued, using my words of wisdom to convince him. "Help me to grow strong, and be rewarded with something far greater than friendship. Freedom." I take the hood of my robes off, revealing my centaur head to him. "Once I've stripped these ponies of their magic, nothing would give me more greater pleasure than to see their world turned upside-down. Who better to do so than the master of chaos himself? Join me, Discord, and reclaim your greatness."

He starts to ponder with this thought for a moment, looking at the picture of him and Fluttershy on a nightstand he conjured up. I pushed my face closer towards him. "Unless of course…" I said, trying to pull an intimidation to force him to join. "Pony errand-boy is the role you've always wanted to play in this world."

Discord just sighs and begins to switch between looking at me and the picture of him and Fluttershy. He was trying to make a decision, but he'd better hurry up. I've got some magic to steal. He finally turns to me and opens his mouth to speak of his decision.

Brayden's POV

The library inside the castle didn't seem to look as dusty as it did last time I saw it. Most of Twilight's friends must have got in and cleaned up around the place. I could even see the wall that lead to find that dangerous book where Spike entered, but I am not going to mention that. From what I saw in the episode, it caused a lot of trouble around Ponyville when it was used. Rarity was involved in it.

I'm just looking into a history book on the details of Equestria and its secret relics. The Song of Order was mentioned in this book a few times, but nevertheless, I could not find any specific details on the mysterious chest. Most of my friends were reading the other books on Equestria's history, even going far back into the roots of when it was born. Twilight stands there at a desk, reading from the journal. From the page I was seeing, she must have gotten curious about the bookmarking Discord had done and began to read through them.

I am at least getting a few other details about the claymore. This was written when the Song of Order was still down as a legend and not the real thing. In this book, it has estimated when it might have been created around the birth of Equestria's existence. But the Song of Order told me already that itself was created back before the main three races were even born, forged in the magic fires, deep in one of Whinnepago's forgeries. If the place still existed, I would probably journey there to check it out and to see if the alicorns who once dominated Equestria were still there. But again, the Song of Order told me that they gave their power to Celestia and Luna to save their race from extinction. But what is the cause of their extinction if they aren't there?

Equestria was quite a beautiful, but mysterious world sometimes.

"I think I've found something!" I heard Twilight call out to all of us. My head drops from the book and I place it down onto the nearby table, walking over to the desk Twilight was at with the rest of her friends. "I've been reading our journal, and there is something interesting about the sections that Discord book-marked." I watch as she turns to Applejack, who just trotted up next to me. "Applejack, do you remember when you had to tell everypony that the tonic that Granny bought from the Flim Flam brothers didn't really work?"

I watch Applejack take off her Stetson hat, revealing her pale olive coloured mane. "How could ah forget?" She said. "It was one of the hardest things Ah ever had to do. But in that moment, Ah knew Ah had to be honest. Ah just knew it. But what's that got to do with openin' the chest?"

"I've found that each one of you has had to face a situation where living up to your Element of Harmony wasn't easy." Twilight explained, and then turned to my best friend. "Fluttershy, it was when you realized that the way to show kindness to the Breezies was by forcing them to leave your home."

A quick flashback came to when I first saw that episode and witnessed Fluttershy forcing them to leave with the help of Sea Breeze. I did feel bad for Fluttershy when she had started sobbing at the end of that scene. "Oh, the looks on their poor little faces! But I knew that, as difficult as it was, pushing them away was the kindest thing I could do." Fluttershy said with her soft voice.

"Rarity," Twilight called to her unicorn friend. "Even after Suri took advantage of your generosity at Fashion Week in Manehattan, you didn't let it abandon your generous spirit."

"I simply couldn't have lived with myself if I didn't do something special for the friends who have always been so generous to me!" Rarity said.

"Rainbow Dash," Twilight calls out to the pegasus that was athletic. "You had a chance to fly with the Wonderbolts at the Equestria Games, but you instead chose to compete with your friends."

"Sure!" Rainbow Dash said, looking proud. "But being loyal to my friends was way-"

"Oh!" Pinkie Pie said, bouncing up and down. The pink party pony I knew didn't care if she had interrupted Rainbow or not. "My turn, my turn!"

"Pinkie Pie," Twilight said, with a giggle coming out of her. "You realized that seeing your friend laugh was more important than proving you were a better party planner than Cheese Sandwich."

"Best party I've ever had." Rainbow Dash commented with a smile.

"It's clear we've all had our moments to shine, Twilight." Rarity said, placing one hoof at the table. "But I'm with Applejack. What does any of this have to do with the opening of the chest?"

"All of you had tough choices to make." Twilight began to explain. "But when you made the right one and embraced your element, it helped somepony else make the right choice too. Each of you received something from the pony whose life you helped change. I know it sounds crazy, but maybe there's something special about those objects that could lead us to the location of the keys. The chest is connected to the Tree of Harmony, the tree is connected to the Elements, and the Elements are connected to all of us. There must be a connection!" She pauses for a moment and smiles. "I hate to admit it, but maybe Discord was trying to be a good friend after all."

"So what happens next?" I asked, with Twilight and the rest of her friends turning to look at me.

Twilight trots away from the desk and to all of us. "We go and get the items we received and bring them to the chest." She simply says.

I was standing by the Tree of Harmony and keeping a careful eye around the whole place for any signs of Tirek, should he come crawling into the Everfree territory. Twilight had assigned me to watch for trouble and to defend myself and the tree if necessary. The sun was starting glow a bit down at the western horizon and it was getting close to dinner time.

The sound of hooves trotting soon got my attention. I turned my head towards the stairs at the canyon side. Each one of the Mane Six except Twilight was carrying an object in their mouth. I trot with them back into the cave where the Tree of Harmony was and watch them place the items down onto the cavern floor.

Twilight examines the items closely with a curious look: a flower, a golden bit, a spool with rainbow wool, Spitfire's badge and the rubber chicken Boneless. Her face then changes, looking a little bit confused about them. "I don't see anything on them that would give us a clue as to where the keys might be." She said, the rest of her friends looking up at her. "They're just… ordinary, everyday objects…"

Pinkie takes a hold of the rubber chicken and starts to shake him like a doll, and I already knew that when Pinkie was angry, all hell was going to break loose at any moment. "Come on Boneless!" She shouts at the rubber chicken as if it were an actual pony. "Give us that key!"

She continues to shake the squeaking rubber chicken like crazy with everypony else, including myself just watch as she just takes it all out on a single rubber chicken. I usually would laugh if I was still watching this at home, but this was serious business. You really don't want an angry Pinkie in your face.

"I don't think that's going to work." Twilight suggested, rising up one of her hooves to try and catch Pinkie's attention. In her mere frustration, Pinkie just tosses the squeaking rubber chicken straight out of her hooves and towards the box. The rubber chicken makes a soft impact with the chest and starts to fall flat towards the ground.

Then it happened. A mysterious aura surrounded the rubber chicken Boneless and twisted in a straight position. Everypony including me gasps at the event we are witnessing. The rubber chicken then undergoes a transformation, turning itself into a key and then moving all by itself into the key slot on the crystal chest. The sound of the key porthole chimes lightly.

All of us stood there for a few moments, with Pinkie's mouth just open with awe at what just happened. Her face then changed into one that could tell that it didn't really matter that Boneless was a key the whole time. "That'll be something to write to Cheese Sandwich about." She blurted out in the silence.

Within that moment, everypony just snaps out of that and proceeds to gather rest of the items onto contact with the chest. I watch as Fluttershy gathers the flower that the Breezies gave her, trots over to the chest and places the flower on top of it. Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Applejack place their items on top of the chest as well. They stand back to make way for that aura again.

The aura takes a hold of the items and twisted them into a straight way. Each key went through another transformation that was different from Pinkie's key. The most interested for me was probably Fluttershy's key because it had undergone a metamorphosis from a flower into a golden key with the back shaped a bit like a butterfly. The cutie mark of my best friend.

I watch as each transformed key slides magically into each of the four slots and hear the sound of the portholes chiming brightly like crystal. I then counted out the portholes and keys left. Only five down, one more to go… Twilight didn't get her key yet.

"There's still one key missing. The key that represents the Element of Magic… My element." Twilight says, sounding a little disappointed for not getting her key yet.

"Oh, but I'm sure that if we've gotten our keys, you have too Twilight." Fluttershy said.

Rarity trots towards Twilight from the chest. "Think, Twilight." She suggested. "When have you completed a difficult magical task, and in doing so encouraged another pony to do the same?"

Twilight ponders with these thoughts for a moment and she turns to look at Rarity. "I haven't. If I had, I would've written about it in the journal." She says.

"Don't worry Twilight." Spike said, standing right next to her. "I'm sure that you'll get your key eventually." He is right after all, she'll be bound to find it. And with that, he lets in a sharp inhalation. Out of his mouth, he burped out in green flame a letter with a red ribbon, already knowing it was from Princess Celestia herself. Twilight takes the letter and begins to skin through it to see what was going on and why Celestia contacted her. "What's it say?"

Twilight lets out a gasp and looks at me and the rest of her friends. "That I'm needed in Canterlot at once!" Her voice said, sounding very alarmed. Was it Tirek that made her alarmed?

"Do you want me to come with you Twilight?" I asked, as she begins to trot out of the cavern door.

"No, stay here in Ponyville. I fear this might be dangerous and urgent by the writing of the letter. I want you safe." Twilight warned me, taking the scroll and then opening her wings, flapping them to lift her into the air. I watch as she takes flight into the skies of Equestria towards the mountain city of Canterlot.

"I hope everything is going alright for the princesses." I said, sounding a little worried.

Fluttershy places her soft hoof onto my hand. I turn my head away from the skies and towards her. "Well, the princesses are just doing their job to ensure the safety of Equestria and everypony." She told me.

"But what if it is Tirek himself?" I said, striking my heart with worry emotionally.

"Don't worry, I think he is still a bit far from Canterlot." Fluttershy says with that assuring tone in her voice to keep me calm about him. "Or at least I think so. We should let Twilight go with her duty as Princess for now. You've got some dinner to get. I don't want you to starve."

"You're right. I'm probably overreacting." I said, putting a soft smile onto my face. Even the sound of my rumbling stomach gave it away. I begin to walk with the rest of my friends back out of the canyon, up the stairs. I turn to Canterlot one last time, with a hint of worry coming to me.

I hope Twilight and the princesses are okay.

Twilight's POV

I came bursting through the open castle doors, knowing that I had opened each one with my magic. I just about came galloping into the throne room where Princesses Celestia, Luna and Cadence were, sitting there by the throne. Nightmare Moon stood by them, still haven't been given that role yet since she had been redeemed, or most likely a slow redemption still being fixed thanks to my special somepony, but I'm sure she'll find her true role soon just like me. Celestia sat on top of the throne's cushion looking down at me while I continued to catch my breath.

"I came as quickly as I could!" I said, catching my breath and with that alarmed tone in my voice. "Is something wrong? Is it Tirek?"

I watch Celestia lower her head in disappointment at first and then raise her head. "I'm afraid I put too much trust in Discord and the effect that would have upon him." She says in her mother-like tone of voice. After the few moments of eerie silence, she then spoke out the truth. "Discord has betrayed the ponies of Equestria and joined forces with Tirek."

A feeling of anger and betrayal came into me. "How could he do this?!" I said, sounding betrayed. "I thought our friendship meant something to him! I thought he had changed!"

Princess Celestia got up off of her throne and trotted down slowly towards me. "Tirek has stolen enough magic that he now has the strength to steal flight as well. Without Pegasi to control the weather, there will be no rain in Equestria." She continues. "There is word that he has also gone after Earth ponies as well. Without their strength, they will not be able to tend the land."

Princess Luna moved from her spot and trotted down with Cadence next on the left beside Celestia. "Ponies will no longer be in control of their world. That power will belong solely to Tirek." The night princess says to me.

"It is no doubt that Tirek is also after alicorn magic." Celestia explains. "With Discord by his side, we will not be able to stop him from taking it."

"Once it is in his possession, his power will know no bounds, and all hope will be lost." Princess Luna says, starting to sound worried about it.

"There is hope though." Nightmare Moon says, trotting closer towards me and the rest. "Doesn't Brayden have in possession, the Song of Order?"

"I'm afraid we can't let Tirek be aware that the Song of Order is here." Princess Celestia warned the black mare. "If Tirek stumbles upon the news of the Song of Order's existence, he'll try to seek Brayden out just to steal the magic from the sword, rendering it useless. If he does have that magic, we'll lose far more than hope. Everything we know will be gone."

"Somepony needs to warn Brayden about this." Nightmare said, sounding very worried about my special somepony.

"Twilight should warn him about Tirek and the consequence of the sword's magic being stolen." Princess Cadence said. "She'll know what to do."

"First though, we must turn to the only solution worthy of helping us out. It is only by making this sacrifice that Equestria and the lands beyond might be saved." Celestia announced and made a pause, with all of the princesses looking at me. Even Nightmare Moon.

"…We must rid ourselves of our magic before Tirek has a chance to steal it from us."

All I could do was gasp in horror.