Celestia wasn't surprised by her pupil's report. Earth's layout and culture were much like their own. What set the two apart were their contrasting degrees of suffering. Sure, equines died and lost loved ones, and sometimes they fought, but humans had it so much worse. That's what Twilight's attention was fixated on. There seemed to be no end to their pain.
"Maria...I've never felt a life force so cold. The storm in my dream...All she wanted was to wash everything away...To cleanse blood and tears from mankind's history. It wasn't her father who first awakened her soul. It was something Older...Deeper...More primal and serene..."
"A victim of her own creation. She's locked herself in a cycle of agony. Only she will be the one to break it."
"If only it were so easy. You said yourself humans lack our abilities. They cannot change the world they live in; only the world that lives within them."
"Perhaps that is why Maria entrusted her strength to you. She believes in the good our race can do."
"Maybe, but it's a bold assumption to make. We barely know each other, and most of what I've heard's secondhand."
"You are not the only one who can see into the hearts of others. What Maria sees may differ, but what is real remains the same, and sometimes, the two perspectives align. She would've known you without a single word spoken, sooner or later."
"Then what should we do? It seems like there's no right answer here."
"Only do what you think is best. You believe in their kindness, don't you?"
"I want to, but I'm not sure if I can. Humans are unpredictable. Putting ourselves in their care leaves us vulnerable. I need some time to think. It's the only way I'll be able to make an informed decision."
"Remember what I told you. While wisdom stems from thought before action, often, your mind reiterates what your heart already knows."
Twilight was stunned. No matter what her friends did, they were all in harm's way, whether they liked it or not. The worst humanity could do was expedite their end, but there was always a chance, no matter how small, that they could also prevent it. Perhaps that was the Alicorn's true test of faith. She would never know until she tried.
Throughout the first week of training, Maria sent several gifts, all of which were sent through by Zane. The packages consisted of albums, clothing, and books detailing various survival techniques and weapons types. On their days off, Twilight and her friends would slip by to visit. The more they got to know Zane, the more comfortable they felt. He was mellow and collected - a calming presence through sands of ever-fading hourglasses. They enjoyed spending time with him, and he welcomed them into his heart. For the first time in a long time, his loneliness began to dissipate, and life held meaning once more.
"How'd you like the stuff Maria sent?" he'd asked during one of their visits.
"I never knew music could evoke such complex ideas and emotions," Twilight admitted, "The same sound can see the world through so many different lenses. Maybe someday we'll bring the sound Equus, but not now. Such a rapid shift in civilizational structure would uproot our collective consciousness. It'd have to be done slowly to make sure everything works as intended."
"In a way, I envy you. You guys live simple lives with relatively minimal strain. Not to mention your heads are screwed on way better than ours. Hopefully if this ever does go public, we'll actually learn something that sticks. I'm tired of people being shitty to each other."
"I know. Living on Earth isn't easy, but so long as you maintain decency, you'll be welcome on Equus with open hooves. What we value is compassion, humility, and respect above all else. If we aid each other through a combination of virtue and resilience, I believe things will work out, and it's not just us. The princesses have faith in you, too."
"I'll do my best not to let 'em down."
The days passed slowly, but with purpose. Little by little, Twilight's friends grew more powerful, and so did she. Unlike Shining, there was no one around to impress. During his educational tenure, the stallion focused on conquest in lieu of true self-improvement. While battered and broken on the outside, Twilight had long surpassed him within. He just didn't know it yet. Finally, the moment of truth arrived.
Two days before the group's scheduled meeting, Twilight and the others returned to Earth, heading back under the guise of a diplomatic alliance. The Alicorn supposed it wasn't fully inaccurate. Unless given reason to believe otherwise, Earth and Equus were in fact partners, if only temporarily. Zane led them to the car. Twilight recognized the machine, having seen it in passing before, but was unsure of its function.
"Maria gave me Emily's address. It's gonna be a long trip. We'll pick up some food on the way."
"I'd teleport us there if I could," Twilight replied sadly, "but I can only move between places I've been to before. I suspected the journey would be longer than usual."
"Dunno if you're prone to motion sickness, but we'll stop if you start feeling sick. Maria's got the same issue."
"I've been there," Spike said stoically, "It's not fun."
"Keep your eyes on the horizon. It helps for some people."
"May as well give it a try. Couldn't hurt anyway."
Twilight sat next to Zane, her friends piling up in the back. Rarity helped buckle their seatbelts to the best of her ability, though their close proximity posed its own set of challenges. They'd have to make do until a rest stop came along.
"Check the glove box," Zane requested, "Maria sent me something a while back, but I never got around to using it."
Twilight obliged, unearthing a rectangular device near some batteries. A plastic cartridge rested on the opposite side.
"It's a Gameboy. Maria imported me a copy of Pokémon Green from Japan. Figured I'd use it during slower days at work, but I'm pretty much always busy between repairs and filing."
"Twilight knows what that's like," Spike teased, "It's hard to get a break in when she's around."
"I can't help it," Twilight defended, "If things aren't done, my brain can't stop fixating on it. I have a strong compulsion to be productive. It's how I've always been."
"Might have OCD. Brandon's a shrink at the hospital in Georgia. He might know what's up."
"OCD?"
"Obsessive compulsive disorder. It's a personality disorder that limits control over thoughts and actions. When something breaks your routine, you probably feel stressed, don't you?"
"That's an understatement," Spike chimed in, "More like she nearly loses her mind."
"There may be some mild autism involved, but the symptoms in your case aren't too severe."
"Huh," Twilight realized, "Ya know, I never really though about my medical history. I guess it wasn't enough of a problem to warrant a diagnosis. Mental health treatment back home isn't exactly up to snuff just yet. Might need to do more research into that."
"Don't worry about it too much. From the look of things, it's not as pressing of an issue as it is for us. I doubt you've experienced depression or suicidal thoughts before."
"Generally, we're a pretty happy planet. We live each day with our own meaning and personal fulfillment. Then again, I suppose the trauma factor doesn't come into play very often. I wish we could do more to help."
"You're here to save people. That's something to be proud of, right?"
"Yeah. I think it is."
Twilight switch on the power, using the tips of her hooves to control the game. It was basic and bare-bones in places, but for a time killer, it was more than sufficient. She let the others have a crack at it too. The group stopped by McDonald's on their way out of town, having skipped breakfast to leave as early as possible. Twilight cast a cloaking spell to conceal their identities. Zane was grateful their digestive tracts could handle human food. It made shopping so much easier in the long run.
Halfway to Arkansas, the group stopped at a motel. Zane rented a single room to cut down on cost. Money was expendable, but not unlimited. They had to budget for gas and meals.
"Sorry I couldn't get more space. Money's kinda tight right now."
"It's okay," Rainbow assured, "We can sleep anywhere. Benefit of firm anatomy."
"I've got enough for a few snacks. There's a vending machine outside if you're hungry. Gotta keep our energy up. Who knows how this is gonna pan out."
"No matter what happens, we're in this together," Twilight affirmed, "If you trust Maria, then so do I."
"I'm about to head off soon. You guys should do the same."
Twilight nodded. After changing into a set of pajamas, Zane climbed under the comforter. He kept the light on one side until the others were ready for bed. They found places to rest, closing their eyes in wait of a new dawn...