“Wait, you want me to do… what?!”

    Twilight Sparkle, Princess and Element of Magic, stared up at Celestia in utter shock, violet eyes shrunken to pinpricks and ears splayed in dismay. For her part, Celestia managed to retain a serene, if sad, look at her student, pink eyes filled with sympathy. She had expected this response from Twilight, and could not blame her at all for it.

    “I’m so sorry, my precious student,” she replied sadly, “But I must ask you to begin your duties to Equestria. And I’m afraid… well, that requires a journey.”

    A great white wing gently draped around the shell-shocked purple alicorn, guiding her across Celestia’s private chambers to a long, circular table. Knick-knacks from down the millenia littered the top- an ancient helmet, a magically preserved white flower, several cracked, well-read books- but had been scooted to one side, allowing a great white map to be spread out across the mahogany surface. Twilight’s academic mind swiftly cut through her whirling thoughts, and she stepped up to scan the velum.

    It was hoof-drawn, showing a large landmass- easily the size of the Equestrian subcontinent. Swirls and rolls showed both air and sea currents- Twilight would have to ask Rainbow Dash about them, she knew far more about weather patterns. Rainbow Dash. Pain rocked through her heart as she thought of her best friend. Telling her she had to leave…

    “I-it’s an interesting map, Princess,” she admitted, glancing up at Celestia, “But… my f-friends… I can’t just leave them for… what, again?”

    A small smile graced Celestia’s muzzle as she tapped the map, “For this, Twilight. This is a new continent, recently discovered by the Equestrian Survey Fleet. We have given it the name Southron, as it lays on the Great Southern Current.”

    The Princess of the Sun sighed softly after a few silent moments.

    “We must claim it, Twilight. I am sure you have heard of the recent… antics of the Minotaur Empire?”

    Twilight gave a subtle wince. Almost every pony in the know of politics had heard of the recent Minotaur invasion of North Griffonia. Both warrior races, the loss of life had been horrific on both sides, and Princess Cadence and Luna had gone north to try to bring peace. The Griffons and Ponies had long been cordial, if cool, neighbors, and the Princesses had been afforded due respect in their lands. The Minotaurs, however, had rebuffed them at the very border, with several thousand warriors gathered against the Princesses and their retinue. Luna’s wrath at the disrespect when she had returned to the castle had been the stuff of legends.

    “Indeed,” Celestia replied with a faint smirk at Twilight’s expression, “I believe they are preparing for a vast war, possibly against Equestria itself. We simply cannot allow them to gain access to a land so close to our southern border, lest they catch us between two points of strength.”

    Twilight’s ears were slowly splaying once more. This all made sense, of course. It was Princess Celestia, she had undoubtedly planned for this the moment Southron had been discovered. That still didn’t mean Twilight had to like it.

    “But… Ponyville… my friends…” she mumbled weakly, treacherous tears filling her eyes.

    Again, the great white wing swooped down, pressing the little alicorn against Celestia’s warm side. The Princess’ muzzle nuzzled into Twilight’s mane gently.

    “To rule a nation, you will need a Court, my dear student,” she replied softly, “Advisors. Confidants. Subjects. Soldiers. Perhaps you do not have to leave behind so much as you think?”

    That kindled a spark of hope.

    “Maybe,” she admitted, mental gears turning, “If I can convince them to leave Ponyville… it’s their home too. But… I’ll try.”

    Twilight sighed, haunches hitting the ground with a soft thump. Thoughts of losing weight drifted through her shell-shocked brain.

    “This is all so sudden, Princess.”

    Celestia’s wing squeezed a bit tighter, and Twilight jerked in surprise as wetness drizzled onto her ear and cheek. Looking up, she was stunned to see tears flowing freely down Celestia’s muzzle. Celestia- the Sun Princess, the strong ruler of a nation millenia old. Sorrowful for the burden she had to place on her student. The two stayed side by side for well into the evening, soft voices whispering plans for a new future. It would be tough work… but Twilight would do it. For Celestia.

******************

    “...well, dang. Ah can honestly say Ah never saw this comin’.”

    Twilight chuckled weakly at Applejack’s quip, nervous eyes going from friend to friend. After returning from the meeting Canterlot, she had decided to waste no time- waiting would only make her nervousness grow, and make it harder to break Celestia’s plan to her best friends. And after explaining it all… they looked stunned.

    “So… let me get this straight,” Rainbow began slowly, frowning nervously, “Princess Celestia wants you… to go to some new land, with a whole bunch of ponies you don’t know… and make a country out of it? ...without us?”

    Well, here she goes. Twilight let out a long breath, levitating out several folders and setting it in front of each of her friends.

    “No. I want all of you to come with me.”

    Each folder held several bundles of documents, and as her friends read through them, Twilight could see each of them look back at her with a mix of emotions. Applejack looked dubious- Minister of Agriculture and Internal Affairs. Her papers outlined her duties as being in charge of all the farms and foodstuffs they would have to bring with them. Not only that, but she would have a group of ponies dedicated to outing corruption within the fleet. Rainbow Dash looked stunned at her papers- Captain of the Aurora Guard, and Commander of the military forces. Celestia was giving them a portion of the Sun and Night Guard reserves, along with a division of the Equestrian Marines to go with the fleet. It would be up to them, however, to recruit more before the journey.

    Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy looked about ready to explode- one in excitement, and the other in nervousness. Pinkie Pie would become Minister of Entertainment, in charge of keeping spirits up during the trip and the initial colony creation. She would have an entire ship full of party supplies, ready to go. Fluttershy had been ennobled, and set in charge of the myriad animal and insect species they would be bringing with them. Bees were going to be needed for honey, and several goat and cow families had volunteered to come along with them. She stared up at Twilight with wide eyes, surprising the Princess with a smile- tremulous, but there.

    And Rarity… well… was Rarity. Ennobled to Countess, the fashionista was set in charge of Twilight’s Court, and would be set over the various Guilds that would be sending representatives with them. Prancing around in glee, Rarity was already spouting out ideas for dress uniforms for the guards and servants, and planning out the decorations for the palace they would simply /have/ to build to house a Princess.

    “Twilight?” Rainbow Dash asked softly, sidling close, “What about Ditzy?”

    Thankfully, this time Twilight could smile, another folder floating up.

    “Every nation needs a postmaster!” she replied cheerily, eliciting a smirk and chuckle from Rainbow Dash.

    Rainbow Dash, surprisingly enough, had been one of Twilight’s strongest supporters in her relationship with the clumsy mailmare; having spent several weeks with Ditzy Do at a flying convention in Cloudsdale, the proud flier had found that Ditzy Do was far more than just the supreme klutz most viewed her being. She was, in fact, a hard-working single mother, doing her very best to provide for her unicorn daughter, Dinky Do. Well, not so much single anymore, now that Twilight had all but moved into the mailmare’s apartment, quite happy to tutor Dinky in magic and take care of her while Ditzy worked. It had been an interesting, and sometimes stressful, endeavor, but one Twilight wouldn’t trade for the world.

    Letting out a shaky breath, Twilight Sparkle looked over each of her friends, smiling softly.

    “So… girls… will you do this with me?” she asked softly… then eeped at the instant ponypile glomp she received.

    “Yah know darn well we ain’t gonna leave you by yerself, Twilight.”

    “Indeed, darling. It will be hard to leave Ponyville behind, but this! This… is your destiny!”

    “Yep! It’ll be fun, like a super-duper-amazing adventure!”

    “A-as long as w-we’re together…”

    Twilight stared up at her friends in awe, and not a little shame at ever thinking they’d give up on her. She draped her fluffy wings around them, smiling tenderly. She had her Court, and it was the best one in all of Equis.

*********************

    “P-postmaster General?” Ditzy Do breathed, doing her absolute best to focus both eyes on the blushing mare in front of her.

    Ditzy had returned home from her daily rounds to find Twilight waiting nervously on her couch, a folder settled on the coffee table. Worried that something had gone wrong during her Canterlot trip, Ditzy had rushed over to her… and found her life completely changing. The folder had spelled out- though it took the wall-eyed Ditzy a fair amount of time to piece it out- that she and Dinky would be apart of the Royal Court with Twilight. Ditzy Do would become Postmaster General of the nation, and be in charge of all information coming in, and leaving their borders. Dinky would have the all the privileges of a noble when she came of age. Being the daughter of the Princess’ consort would give her a completely different future than the one she had in Ponyville. To say it was shocking would be a massive understatement.

    A pair of soft, gentle forelegs drew Ditzy into a hug, and the mailmare immediately nuzzled her way into Twilight’s mane, taking in a soft breath. Vanilla and book leather. The best scent in the world. Her wings extended just as Twilight’s did, their primaries locking together; their pegasi magics flickering and flowing together in an intimate display that still left Ditzy breathless. Twilight’s breath was hot against her ear, and a bolt of pleasure raced down Ditzy’s back as the little former librarian gave it a loving nip.

    “I couldn’t leave you, Ditzy,” she whispered, tone heart-felt, “I-if you can’t come, t-then… then I’ll h-have to say no. No m-matter- mmf!”

    Ditzy smirked at the babbling alicorn, her soft hoof pressed firmly to Twilight’s muzzle. While she was adorable when she went on and on, it would be best to stop her now.

    “Twilight… of course we’re coming with you,” she told her firmly, grinning, “I love you… and so does Dinky. Nothing on Equis could stop us from being with you.”

    Utter relief and tears filled Twilight’s eyes, and Ditzy darted forward to replace her hoof with her lips, pressing Twilight firmly back against the couch. No matter where on Equis they may have to go, as long as Ditzy had Twilight Sparkle, all would be right.