The following takes place between 11:00pm and 12:00am

It may be late at night, this didn't stop Spike arranging some books. He's trying to make like the library, before it got destroyed. He found an orb, similar to the one he spat out. He held it, feeling its weight. It wasn't heavy even though it's made of glass.

"I wonder," thought Spike.

He wanted to check on Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. He couldn't walk in ESCT and ask to see them. He had to go through clearance, which may take a long time.

He checked through one of the books to see how the orb works. He didn't bother wonder why it's there. He found the chapter on how to work it. He gazed into the swirling clouds. "I wish to speak to the Cutie Mark Crusaders."

Another orb emerged and flew into his mouth. He swallowed with a gulp, followed by a burp. "Easier to digest than that homemade gem tart."

Apple Bloom's already asleep, sharing the same room with Sweetie belle and Scootaloo. The orb managed to pass every security personnel. It entered their room. Spike's head emerged from the clouds. He tried to wake them without raising his voice too high. "Apple Bloom? Sweetie Belle? Scootaloo?"

He repeated their names, until they opened their eyes. A though came to his head. He wondered why the Cutie Mark Crusaders called it a house. They've been calling it a house, shortly after it replaced the library; courtesy of Tirek. He didn't see it as something weird about the fillies.

"Spike?" Apple Bloom rubbed her eyes after hearing Spike's voice.

"Hi, just checking on how you're doing," Spike replied.

"Where did you get that orb?"

"Found it in the new castle, or house you call it." Spike made a small giggle.

"It's just a slip of the tongue."

Sweetie Belle climbed out of her bed. Her mane and tail were untidy from sleeping. "If you must know, it feels like a prison. You have every pony watching, the clothes are exactly the same, don't get me started on the food."

"What's more, you get to engage anything exciting." Scootaloo looked bored.

"You should trying telling them. Yet we don't know much about them."

The fillies looked at each other, agreeing with Spike. They haven't tried asking a pony of ESCT want they want. They had to choose their words carefully though.

"How are Applejack and the others are doing?" Apple Bloom asked.

"They're doing alright. They're with Jack. They're probably worried about you."

"I just wish it will end soon." Sweetie Belle's more worried than the others.

Scootaloo tried to comfort her. She spoke softly, trying to cheer her up. "It will be OK."

Spike can see they have each other. He wanted to know what's going on. He's certain they wanted to know as well. All he can do is wait for them to return.

He heard doors opening. He's glad to see them return. He immediately faced the orb, feeling excited. "They're back!"

The fillies huddled near the orb. Spike saw them taking one third of the sphere. Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rarity ran after hearing those familiar voices.

Spike felt a shove, making him flew towards one of the thrones. He rubbed his head after it slammed hard. "And I thought queueing up for the latest Daring Do book was a painful experience."

Jack's impressed when he entered. Everything's made of crystal. In all his life he rarely saw anything magical. He rarely had a chance to break away from reality from all the trouble he made, loved ones he had to save, breaking the rules to achieve what he needed, getting into trouble with numerous superiors and political figures, both reliable and corrupted.

Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Applejack kept pushing each other, just to see their favourite fillies. Dash tried to see them via levitating. Rarity used her magic to carry the orb. Applejack used her apple bucking skills from head on charging to hind leg kicking.

Apple Bloom stopped them after raising her voice. "Hey! Can't you just give some space? It's an orb after all."

They each looked at one part of the orb. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo surrounded the other orb.

"Hey sugarcube," Applejack said to Apple Bloom. "How are you doing?"

"We're alright. Though it's quite boring."

"You're telling me, your clothes are… blah!" Rarity couldn't keep her eyes off the clothes the Crusaders were wearing. They wore white overalls with grey shading.

"They picked the clothes not us," replied Sweetie Belle.

Twilight came to Spike, who's rubbing his head while getting to his feet. "Spike, where did you find this orb?"

"I have no idea. I arranged some books when I found it in near one of the chests. It's similar to the one I coughed out."

"There weren't any of them when we first came in." Twilight grew suspicious.

Dark Spear confronted Jack. "We need to talk."

Jack followed him to where Brave Lance was waiting near the lake.

11:15

Jack now knew the world of Equestria. He didn't think Lance and Spear brought him outside, just to tell him the consequence of his actions. He's used to hearing the outcome of his doings. The lake he's going to is in between Ponyville and the Everfree Forest.

"We brought you here because we know you're our reliable ally." "Our sources say that the leader of the changelings is in Equestria as we speak," Brave Lance told Jack.

"You think the leader has a connection with Sect?" Jack asked.

"We don't think so. It's likely the changelings in Sect aren't your typical kind," said Dark Spear.

Jack's wondering why they're telling him. He thought the other ponies should know about it. They fought changelings before. "Don't you think they should know about this? They know what a changeling is and what it can do."

Dark Spear thought Jack is not getting it. He understood what Jack's saying, yet he has an agenda. "Jack, our ancestors have been protecting Equestria from Sect. They've been foiling their plans since the very beginning. Giving vital information to average equines, who aren't up to our level, raises the possibility of placing them in danger."

"We're different from your average unicorn, pegasus and pony. We have superior intellect. We couldn't risk putting the innocent in a dangerous situation. Witnessing loved ones die with blood on their hooves." Brave Lance is more reasonable to Jack than Dark Spear.

"It's vital that no pony will participate," Dark Spear said gravely.

"They helped the Wonderbolts," Jack protested.

"That's because we managed to help them with no harm. We know what Sect can bring to harm every pony."

Jack turned and walked. It looked like he's about to quit. He stopped to give them a reminder. "I understand your concerns. As for the situation we're in right now, it's not me who makes the final decisions."

11:30

Sigma and Tau browsed through the castle. They searched for the figure that spied on Celestia and Luna. The lights were dim, making them difficult to see. Sigma turned on a lamp, right before something jolted past his back.

Tau turned to the stairwell and Sigma followed. They couldn't risk get caught by who or whatever was tailing them.

"I never thought I should ask, why are we running away?" Sigma asked.

"I think it's the changeling leader. You know she'll cream us if we're caught," Tau answered.

11:45

Jack's reasting in a room. Instead of sleeping with Mane 6, he's staying in a rented cottage. He looked at his gun. He'll run out of ammo soon and he doesn't have magazines on him. He wondered if anybody's living in the Everfree Forest.

Ponyville is in deep slumber. Jack just walked and entered the forest with ease. He can imagine the ponies having difficulty with their sleep.

He followed the path, treading off is risky to him. He didn't want anything weird to happen. He avoided poison joke and hid from the timber wolves. He couldn't understand how any pony can survive with vicious creatures and magic plants.

He came to Zecora's hut. He found the door open. He pushed the door more. It's empty, the cauldron's bubbling. He pulled his gun. He carefully treaded while avoiding the jars and masks. He hid behind the cauldron before Zecora entered. She carried a basket of sap.

Jack looked up to find Nu. He was aiming his horn directly towards Zecora. He pulled a silencer from his back pocket, installing it on the gun barrel. Instead of warning her, he aimed up and used all of his bullets. Nu struggled to breathe, he watched the cauldron come closer. He landed on the rim with his head.

A blast of energy from the horn hit Jack. He fell over in pain. Zecora rushed to aid. "Why are you in my hut in the night? Other than you saved my life."

"That unicorn was going to kill you. I only came to see if there were any creatures in the forest. Now I know there are."

Zecora looked at the wound. "That injury looks severe. I have the medicine right here."

She reached for the shelf, opened a bottle, emptying its contents on the injured abdomen. Jack watched the wound heal before his eyes. He had to tell Zecora about Sect. "There's an organisation planning to cause terror in Equestria. That's why I came. Though it's likely Equestria made me."

"You arrival may be a mistake. But the timing is right now we're at stake," said Zecora.

Jack felt baffled about a rhyme-talking zebra. He can tell she's wise, caring equine. "There's something you should know. It's about Celestia."

11:59

Celestia felt relieved, she needed time to recover. Luna's near the bed comforting her. She can't imagine why some pony want her dead. "I don't understand. I don't know why some pony would resort to killing me. The ruler of Equestria."

"Knowing who your enemy is the first phase." A voice Celestia familiarised spoke inside her bedroom.

Luna stood guard. She searched around for the source. She even popped out from under the bed. She pointed her horn near one of the windows, the drapes were partially covering it. "Whoever you are, show yourself. Don't make me use my horn."

"I know that voice." Celestia felt the painful memories coming back.

One of the drapes rolled back. A familiar alicorn emerged from the shadows. "A lot has changed since I first arrived."

Celestia's shocked to see... Queen Chrysalis!