"Swee-tie Belle, break-fast!" Rarity sing-songed, and started humming a tune about friendship, having a big adventure, a beautiful heart, being strong, sharing kindness, and having fun. The smell of pancakes and eggs wafted around her as she stood over the oven, and thought about how her day was going to proceed.

'Today is the day Twilight was finally going to show off the new spell she and Starlight Glimmer have been developing. Those two fillies have worked their tails off trying to get it to succeed. While it's perfectly fine to be passionate about something you love; the poor dears went and turned it into an obsession! Twilight looked worse than the time she tried to prevent a disaster of some sort.' Rarity thought, as she effortlessly used her magic to flip the flapjack in the air, and caught it within the pan she was using.

'I know just what those fillies need. A full day at the spa! Oh, wouldn't it be just divine. To soak in the hot-tub for a few hours and just relax...' Rarity let a dreamy sigh escape her, and swayed on her hooves while imagining the pleasant warmth of the soothing water around her.

"Sweetie Belle, get down here before your food gets cold." Rarity called again, this time her answer came in the form of tiny thumps as she followed the sound downstairs.

Sweetie Belle came through the kitchen doorway; just as Rarity finished setting the second steaming plate on her younger sister's side of the table. "Sorry Rarity, I couldn't find my sewing kit. Is it okay if I borrow one of yours? The Crusaders are going to be my backup singers at the talent competition, and our costumes still aren't right."

"Absolutely not young lady," Rarity stated primly. "I've told you many times before, that you need to start learning how to be responsible, and to look after yourself," she says while sitting down at the table, and placing a napkin in her lap.

"Says the pony who begs me to organize her work studio for her every time I visit," Sweetie Belle snarked with sarcasm while doing the same.

"I don't understand how you can do that for me so incredibly well, but can't do the same for yourself," Rarity sighed.

"I'm the little sister; it's sort of my job to be irresponsible," Sweetie Belle shrugged.

"You're not a little filly anymore, you have your Cutie mark now, which means learning to take care of things on your own, like a responsible mare would. You just need to retrace your hoofsteps; I'm sure you'll find it." Rarity said primly with a hint of finality, then taking a bite of her eggs. 'Perfection as always Rarity!' her internal reverie was cut short as her younger sister spoke again, this time, with a little more volume than necessary.

"Oh, come on sis, can't you help me out? At least let me borrow the kit you keep in your saddlebags," Sweetie Belle took a big bite of her pancakes, and continued to speak with her mouth full. "Shu'ly oo don eed i'd ahn a isit do dah cahstle?"she finished with a big gulp.

"One. That kit is for fashion emergencies only. Two. I don't recall ever giving you permission to go through my saddlebags. And three. A lady doesn't talk with her mouth full," Rarity emphasised, dabbing her chin with the cloth napkin, while keeping her composure befitting a lady of class.

"Well one. You never use it. And two. When I saw it, it was still all wrapped up in its package, which means you never use it! And three-"

"Young lady that is enough out of you! Now if your finished, go to your room and stay there until you learn respect and to take better care of your things," Rarity said firmly with her voice raised.

Sweetie Belle put her hooves down, and shoved herself away from the table; causing the dinnerware to shift, and their drinks to spill a little. "I'll gladly go back to my room, just so I can get away from you!" Sweetie shouted at her older sister, before storming back upstairs with heavy hoof stomps and mumbling something about 'lady this' and 'lady that'.

"I CAN'T WAIT FOR MOM AND DAD TO TAKE ME HOME; 'CAUSE WHEN THEY DO, I DON'T WANNA SEE YOU EVER AGAIN!" Sweetie Belle's squeaky voice shouted, before slamming the door to her room, and a muffled scream of frustration a moment later.

Rarity sat with her lips pursed and cheeks heated with anger. She stared at the kitchen door for a moment before lowering her head and laying her ears back. She stared down at her plate looking completely downcast. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath which turned into a sigh at little sister's attitude. She breathed again and again until she felt calm enough to finish her meal. Which she didn't really want anymore; her day already not going as well as she thought it would.

'Stay calm Rarity, keep your composure. Sweetie Belle isn't a filly anymore; she's a young mare now, and you need to be firm with her. You didn't do anything wrong...' Rarity's internal pep-talk did little to ease the pain she felt from her younger sister's words.

Rarity didn't have much to do that morning, choosing to halfheartedly work on a dress after doing her usual morning chores. What she really wanted to do was talk to Sweetie Belle, and was tempted a few times to go check on her; but knew Sweetie Belle had to be the one to decide when to come out of her room. Minutes quickly turned to hours, and it was time for her to go to Twilight's gathering at the castle.

Rarity went upstairs and stood outside Sweetie Belle's room, speaking softly at her door.

Knock! Knock!

"Sweetie... I'm sorry about this morning, please understand I was just trying to teach you a valuable lesson." No answer."Sweetie Belle don't be like this..." Rarity sighed, while sitting down and rubbing her temples to soothe the migraine that was building. "Listen, I'm going to Twilight's Castle to see the new spell she's been working on, please stay out of trouble. There's food for you in the kitchen, I'm not sure how long I'll be gone... Sweetie...?"

"Well...goodbye..." Rarity spoke softly, before going downstairs and picking up her saddlebags, then locking the door behind her and making her way down the road towards the castle.

Sweetie Belle saw her big sister leave home from the bedroom window, watching her as she cantered towards the castle until out of sight, before jumping on the bed and burying her face into a pillow.

Rarity met up with Applejack and Rainbow Dash who were also heading to the castle.

"I just don't know what I'm going to do with her." Rarity said, after telling the others of the fight she had with her little sister.

"Well it sounds t' me like the message jus' ain't getin' through, if Applebloom ever disrespected me, Granny, or Big Mac like that; then that filly's flanks would be tanned faster than you can say 'phonier than a two-Bit shill at a Flim-Flam flea market!'"Applejack finished with a nod and a stern face.

"That still takes awhile to say A.J." Rainbow Dash joked, while flying backwards in front of her friends.

Applejack smiled and rolled her eyes in admission of her poor choice of countryism.

"But yeah, if Scootaloo ever went off on me like that; I don't think I would be able to handle it like you did Rarity, in fact, I dunno what I would do. We'd probably end up shouting at each other until one of our voices gives out, or maybe she'll just avoid me like I used to avoid my parents whenever they'd have it out for me. I learned real quick that they can't punish, what they can't catch!" Rainbow Dash added while flying quick circles around the pair.

"While I appreciate the advice and your insight girls; I don't feel those are the best courses of action to take in this situation." Hearing about how her friends were taught right from wrong when they were fillies did little to help with her own sibling problem.

"Our parents usually took away our favorite things, but since Sweetie Belle is staying with me for the week, she doesn't really have anything other than her friends. I'd hate to be the one to take away the only thing she has." Rarity disheartened, looking downcast. She knew Sweetie Belle just needed some time to apologize, but also didn't want to become a doormat to her younger sibling.

Applejack leaned in support against the mopey fashionista as they trotted together, with the castle fast approaching ahead of them.

Rainbow Dash flew ahead to open the door and zipped inside leaving the others behind.

"I'll never forget the days when Granny would discipline me. She'd make me go pick out a switch from the orchard right before painting my cutie marks a new shade o' red." Applejack looked behind at her cutie mark--three ripe red apples--upon her flank, and winced at the memories of those days. "But what may work for some ponies might not work for others. I hope you find a way to get through to her Rare," Applejack finished, giving Rarity a reassuring smile as the two mares stopped short of the castle stairs.

Rarity gave a sad smile back, and was thankful for her support. "It's just that I know how important this talent show is to her. She's been working so hard on her singing and the costumes; maybe the pressure is getting to her," she finished in concern.

"Maybe so, but you can't let her talk to you like that; and for what it's worth, I think you did do a mighty fine job of handlin' it." Applejack gave Rarity a hug, knowing her friend was more of a mother to her little sister, just as she was to her own.

"ARE YOU TWO COMING OR WHAT?" Rainbow shouted from inside the castle foyer.

After breaking their hug, Applejack adjusted her Stetson hat and gave Rarity a confident grin."Well let's go see what this spell doohickey is that Twilight's been obsessin' over; mus' be somethin' good for her to keep it all secret from us like that," she said, before cantering off into the castle.

Rarity smiled and followed her lead.

Applejack and Rarity entered the throne room together. They were the last of their friends to arrive, while the rest were already seated in their respective thrones around the Cutie Map. Fluttershy gave the two a gentle, welcoming smile. Pinkie Pie poked herself around the corner of her chair, and gave a big wave of her hooves, motioning for Rarity to sit next to her (as if she had any other choice). Rainbow Dash was impatiently tapping a hoof on the armrest of her throne, looking as if she were trying to mentally push the two of them to move faster. Twilight sat straighter and acknowledged her friends arrival with a nod of her head to each of them as they took their seats.

Starlight Glimmer was the odd-pony out, although she didn't have a place to sit next to her friends, she still looked content with standing off to the side.

Once everyone was seated, Starlight Glimmer approached Twilight, and whispered something in her ear, and received a nod from her mentor.

Spike had a pen and parchment ready for taking notes on the meeting.

Everypony quieted down as if sensing the start of the meeting. Without a word they all directed their full attention on Twilight, ready to get the gathering underway. Twilight cleared her throat and spoke in what she dubbed to be her 'Princess' voice, emulating the calm, motherly tone of her most admired teacher.

"Thank you all for coming. First, I want to apologize to all of you for being more reclusive than I normally am-"

"That's the understatement of the century, hehehehue." Applejack chuckled.

Pinkie Pie started to giggle-snort, and Fluttershy smiled behind her pink mane; the others didn't look as amused.

Starlight Glimmer frowned, looking a little annoyed. Rarity was a little miffed herself, and Rainbow Dash placed her forehooves on the table to emphasis her point.

"Don't interrupt her Applejack. I've been waiting all day to see this super-secret spell Twilight's been working on, and I don't want to wait another second. So c'mon and make with the magic already." Rainbow Dash finished, while rolling a hoof at the two magic-talented unicorns in a 'lets move on' kind of fashion.

Rarity cleared her throat loud enough for the others to hear.

"Really Applejack, it is beyond rude to interrupt a Princess while she's speaking, and Rainbow Dash; please try to show a little patience and a bit more restraint," Rarity calmly said to each of them in turn, quickly putting the meeting back on track. She was always a bit more prim and proper when around Twilight. Supposedly to set a good example for her.

Rainbow sat back in her chair with a snort, and crossed her hooves over her chest with a little pout.

'Apparently somepony missed her morning nap today, she was probably just too excited about the meeting. Twilight doesn't normally keep things from us. Even I'm feeling a little giddy!' Rarity thought excitedly.

Applejack looked bewildered around at the others who reprimanded her; not expecting so much retaliation for her little joke.

"Sheesh, take it easy everypony. Twilight knows I was jus' pokin' some fun at 'er," she said, before turning her attention to Twilight. "Sorry for interruptin' ya, Twi, I really didn't mean nothin' by it, honest." she finished with true sincerity in her voice.

Twilight smiled knowingly, and nodded in agreement to her friend's statement.

"I know, Applejack; and it's okay. I deserve a bit of ribbing for my behavior these past few months, but I can tell you now; it was all worth it!" Twilight smiled excitedly with a big, toothy grin. "As you all know, Starlight Glimmer used the Cutie Map to travel through time and space, and... Lets just say she made a few poor choices in how she used that kind of power."

Starlight Glimmer looked down in regret. Twilight placed a wing on her shoulder and gave her a gentle smile, reminding her pupil that all was forgiven. Starlight looked up to her mentor, and returned a grateful smile back.

"Since we've repaired the Map to working order, I couldn't help but ask 'What else?' What else can we do with the Map which could benefit Equestria? And so I've asked my student, Starlight Glimmer, to recreate the spell she used to-"

Rainbow Dash flared her wings, and was once again leaning over the table. "Are you crazy!? She sabotaged my first Sonic Rainboom, like, a hundred times with that spell!"

"That don't make a lick o' sense Twi. That spell; spells nothin' but trouble," Applejack said, adding her two Bits to the growing list of opinions firing around the table.

"That sounds like a very bad idea." Fluttershy also added, though making a habit of not looking at anypony as she said it.

"That sounds super-duper funnerooner! I could go throw a party for my mom and dad when they were just little foals! GASP! I could give mom her first foal shower by me, while I'm still in her belly; and how cool would it be to show Twinkie-Pinkie how to smile! Not only that, but I could throw a party for all the parties they missed and- mmmhmphmm!" A cerulean aura closed Pinkie Pie's mouth shut, silencing the hyperactive filly.

The other Elements voiced their protests all at once, leaving Rarity time to share her opinion.

"Twilight, darling, while I'm not against magical experimentation; this does seem a tad extreme," Rarity voiced her concern, while cutting off the magic so Pinkie Pie could have her lips back.

"I know all of you must have concerns about my decision, which is why I think it's best that Starlight explained the spell in detail, of how it works, and what it has to do with all of you." Twilight gave a nod to her student, giving her the floor to speak.

"Twilight and I have been working on recreating the spell I used on the Cutie Map. Only this time with more emphasis on the 'space' rather than 'time' part of it. Since Starswirl's spell is probably lost forever, I've done my best to remember as much of it as I could. It'll allow us to send you anywhere-"

Rainbow Dash suddenly lifted off with a single, powerful thrust of her wings. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! You aren't planning on sending ponies to the moon, are you? That's just crazy! Who the hay would wanna go there? Count. Me. Out." Rainbow Dash emphasised by shaking her head to each word and crossing her hooves, while she hovered in the air.

"Going to the moon would be super fun! Everything floats up there! And bananas! There're bananas everywhere!" Everypony looked at Pinkie as if she was crazy-er."Whaaat? Princess Luna told me all about it when I asked her in my dreams, it's not like it's a touchy subject for her anymore." Pinkie finished, shrugging and rolling her eyes.

"Ladies please for the last time, let them have a chance to explain themselves." Rarity's cheeks were flush with red, and she started to empathize with how Rainbow felt. They weren't going to get anywhere with all these interruptions.

Starlight took a breath to relieve some of the frustration that built, and continued. "By using your connection to the Map and the Map's connection to Equestria. We've found a way to send you anywhere in the world. Just imagine getting a friendship quest, and instantaneously appearing where it is! Think about it. No more long train rides, no more dealing with monsters, no more spending so much time trying to track it down. Just check in with the Map when your Marks are up and 'poof', you're there!" Starlight finished with a proud smile, and her head lifted high.

The others worries didn't need justification. Teleportation magic was dangerous if used incorrectly. Otherwise Unicorns would be popping in and out everywhere. Magic in general was very difficult thing to master, even to those with the talent for it. But when it came to Teleportation, the risk of accidentally splinching oneself - or reappearing with missing body parts - was an all too common occurrence among untrained Unicorns.

Applejack adjusted her stetson hat, making like she was scratching her head to think. "That's all well an' good, but what's so wrong with the way we've been handlin' our Friendship Quests? Sorry Starlight, I don't mean to put down all yer hard work; but it sounds t' me like you're talkin' about teleportin' us half-way 'cross Equestria," Applejack emphasised with a wave of her hoof. "I may not be a Unicorn, or a fan o' magic; but even I know there's only a hoof-full of ponies who can come close to doin' that. An' two of 'em are in this room! Sorry again, Starlight, but I jus' don' feel right about it." Applejack finished looking sympathetic and worried.

Twilight turned to Applejack to address her concerns. "I know it seems a little unorthodox considering how well we've been doing with our Cutie Quests; but I can assure you it's perfectly safe, Applejack." Twilight finished with an understanding smile.

Rainbow Dash spoke next. "But, can't you just teleport all of us by yourself; you're a Princess for ponies sake!" she said while gesturing both hooves at Twilight.

"I could do that Rainbow, but there are a lot of variables to consider. I have to know exactly where I'm going, and to do that I need to have been there before, or make several smaller teleports in my line of sight. The Map is a better option since it connects to everywhere in Equestria with stunning accuracy. There are other things to consider as well. What if I'm not around? And even if I did teleport you all, I'd be so drained I wouldn't be of any help to anypony."

Rainbow sat back down and nodded her head in understanding; and looked down thinking over everything Twilight just told her.

"So how're we supposed to get back once we've gone? We'd still have to take a train ride home." Applejack still wasn't convinced. She was surprisingly asking the right questions, despite being a quite traditional Earth pony.

"That's the best part. Once you've completed your quest, the Cutie Map will lock-in on your location and bring you back! I even impressed myself with that one. It's my best work yet!" Starlight beamed with pride of her accomplishment.

The others didn't look as impressed.

Fluttershy was the first to speak. "So, um, does it only work when we have a quest? I know you couldn't of had that many missions, Twilight. Not that it's a bad thing." Fluttershy finished just barely above a whisper, as all of her friend's eyes were on her, causing Fluttershy to shrink and hide behind the forelock of her mane.

Starlight gave her a nod and a smile for such a excellent question. "It did at first, but now you can use the map to go anywhere you care to go, anytime you want!" Starlight's smile grew wider. The other ponies still looked a little uneasy. "Just think of it as one of the perks to being an Element of Harmony." she added.

The two magic-talented Unicorns waited patiently for more questions, until it seemed like nopony else had anymore to ask.

"I think if we do a demonstration that should erase any doubts anypony has." Twilight said more to her pupil than the group.

"I'll go first so you can all see how it works." Twilight stood up and placed her hooves on the table and spoke clearly. "Crystal library, Crystal Empire." The map appeared and scrolled north sending hills, valleys, rivers, forests, towns and finally a snowy tundra quickly passing by in a blur. The Map slowed to a stop with the magical hologram of the Crystal Empire showing at the center of the table. The others 'Ooh'd' at the astonishing detail, as tiny motes of light mingled up and down the snowflake roadway of the Crystal Empire.

Twilight's cutie mark faded into existence floating above the city for a few seconds, before shrinking down into the map a bit north of where the monolithic Crystal Castle stood in the empire's center.

A sudden gust of wind blew through the throne room causing the unknowing ponies to yelp in surprise as their manes were whipped around in the less than gentle breeze. A white dome covered in magic runes appeared above the Map, while Twilight floated up into the dome without the use of her wings. The dome shrank around her body and in a flash she was gone!

The tension in the air was palpable as the ponies waited for their friend's return. Starlight Glimmer just smiled and kept her eyes on where the magic dome disappeared.

Applejack rose up in her seat and sat straighter. "Now wait just a pony pickin' minute. You said that our cutie marks would bring us back after finishin' a Cutie Quest. But Twilight jus' went without one. How in the hay is she s'pose t' get back without usin' her own magic?" Applejack asked with a frustrated pout.

Starlight looked at her knowingly. "What makes you think she left without a quest in mind?" Starlight answered mysteriously; her smile pervading through the farm pony's glare.

The white dome was back as suddenly as it appeared, and with it the gust of wind as well. Twilight gracefully floated down without use of her wings from the concave, and landed gently on the table. The dome shrank in size and was once again gone in a flash, while Twilight sat back on her throne; then produced a book from under her wing.

It was the same book that taught them everything they needed to defeat King Sombra! 'History of the Crystal Empire' was etched in the book's cover on two golden plates - one on top and one on the bottom - with three gems arranged in a fan between them. She levitated the tome up with her magic, and floated it around for each of her friends to see.

Applejack leaned back in her seat, crossing her hooves over her chest. Looking none too impressed as the book passed in front of her, while following it with her emerald green eyes and a raised eyebrow.

"Remarkable." Rarity breathed with a hoof on her chest.

"Hee, hee!" Pinkie Pie laughed, while clopping her hooves together in excitement for Twilight's success.

Fluttershy leaned forward and smiled demurely, after brushing her mane out of the way; looking curiously interested as the book floated by her.

"That's so awesome!" Rainbow Dash praised and squished her cheeks together.

Applejack broke the revelry with a huff. "Can somepony explain t' me how she got back without a Cutie Quest?" She asked in frustration. Making it clear that she was not a happy pony.

"Oh, oh, OH, pick me, I know!" Pinkie Pie waved her hoof in the air like filly in school trying to get the teacher's attention. "Twilight just thought about what she wanted when she told the Map where she wanted to go, and when she got what she wanted it brought her back!" Pinkie answered while swaying her head to each word and finished with a happy squee; knowing she answered correctly, and couldn't wait for recess to start.

"That's right, Pinkie! When you tell the map where you want to go, just think of what you want to accomplish, and when you're done it'll bring you back." Twilight chirped as she brought the tome back to her and concentrated, in a poof of purple sparks the book was gone. Most likely returned to its shelf at the Crystal Library.

"So! Would anypony else like to be the first to try it out?" Starlight smiled brightly. It was her first time really contributing to the group. She practically vibrated in excitement, almost unable to contain herself as she waited for her friends to try her spell.

Applejack was the first to answer.

"Nope. Ah still don't like it. I'll ride a Zeppelin b'fore I use magic to get around," Applejack's said looking away with a haughty pout, and her hooves still crossed. The farm mare's infamous stubbornness was bound and determined to rear its ugly head today.

"Me too, it's wonderful what you've managed to do Starlight, but it still scares me a little. Sorry." Fluttershy apologized as she shunk further into herself; hoping she didn't offend her.

"It's cool and all, but I prefer to just fly wherever I wanna go. So you can still count me out." Rainbow Dash said as she waved her hoof around nonchalantly.

"Meh-yeah I dunno, I just nicely ask the animators to change the background for me whenever I want to go somewhere. They love my jokes! So, yeah I don't really need it either."

Rarity looked at Pinkie, then around at all of her friends. 'What was that all about!? Am I the only pony who's hearing this? Nopony was going to give the spell a try?' Rarity thought to herself.

"None of you have to use it if you don't want to. Just know it's there if you ever need it, and if you do, Starlight has my every confidence that it's safe." Twilight tried to put her friends' minds at ease, but Applejack only scoffed and looked away again.

Starlight's own confidence wavered the longer she waited. Nopony was willing to try the spell she worked so hard on. They weren't going to give her spell or herself a chance.

Rarity noticed her friend's melancholy mood, and suddenly raised herself up in her seat. "I'll be the first go, darlings; I'm feeling a bit bold and adventurous!" She exclaimed with a foreleg and a hind hoof raised; striking a pose.

"O-Okay! Just place your hooves on the table, then state the name of the location you'd like to go, and don't forget to speak very, very clearly, and be sure to have a clear goal in mind." Starlight's heart was beating so hard she thought it could explode. Twice.

"Nice knowin' ya." Applejack wasn't having any of it, but at least looked concerned as she watched Rarity activate the spell.

"I'll be sure to bring you all back something amazing, darlings!" Rarity strapped her saddlebags on and placed her hooves on the Map just as Twilight did, and spoke clearly:

"Canterlot-"

"Rarity wait, yer cutie mark!" Applejack shouted suddenly.

Rarity felt like she'd been struck by lightning. In her excitement she didn't realize just how nervous and scared she actually was. The shock of Applejack's outburst faded enough for Rarity register what she said, before looking behind at her own flanks. Her cutie mark was glowing. A clear indication of a friendship mission in the works.

The map scrolled south and soon stopped with the mountain city of Canterlot at its center, with Ponyville to the southwest. Her three-diamond cutie mark appeared on the map, hovering above the capital.

Rarity was relieved to see that her Cutie Quest was in the same location as her own goals. She looked around the room to see if any pony else was going with her, but as she looked at her friends flanks none of theirs were glowing as well. Her mark then appeared in Ponyville, then Manehattan, Vanhoover, then everywhere. Her mark was disappearing and reappearing faster than even Pinkie Pie could keep up with. Dozens upon dozens of diamond marks dotted the landscape.

"Quick, deactivate the spell!" Twilight shouted as her and Starlight's horns glowed, filling the room with brilliant shades of pink and purple light. The gust of wind was back, only this time it was far more fierce.

Rarity was frozen in panic as her hooves slowly lifted off the table against her own will. She looked up into the white dome; the interior of which looked like an endless abyss. Rarity's panicking mind convinced her it was the maw of a beast about to gobble her up. Sensing the end, she called to her friends for aid.

"A little help, please, girls... Girls? GIRLS!"

"Hold on Rarity!" Applejack jumped and hugged Rarity's hind leg with both her hooves, as both ponies continued to rise into the rune-inscribed bowl. The spell was undeterred by Applejack's efforts.

Rainbow Dash grabbed Applejack's waist and pumped her wings for all she was worth. Then Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy joined the daisy chain of ponies trying desperately to save their friend from what was sure to be a terrible fate. Rarity was halfway past the bottom lip of the dome, and could feel her body stretching.

Applejack felt her slipping and tightened her grip; calling upon all her Earth Pony strength, until the spell whirred with power and Rarity was suddenly yanked from her grasp. Rarity was gone in a flash of magic; leaving the other ponies falling into a heap upon the crystal table.

Twilight and Starlight stood together gawking up in shock at where Rarity disappeared. Their horns were still alight and chiming with their individual magic, while they worked their mouths to say anything to break the silence which pervaded after the flash.

"What happened... What went wrong?" Twilight whispered, asking the question more to herself than anypony. Starlight answered her, only because she was only one close enough to hear her.

"The- she- she had a Cutie Quest appear right as she told the map where she wanted to go. It must've confused the spell. It didn't know where to send her so it- Oof!" Applejack tackled Starlight Glimmer dropping her to the floor. The angry orange Earth pony looked down at the pink Unicorn with fire in her green eyes.

Applejack shouted down at her, keeping Starlight pinned between her legs. "You couldn't leave well enough alone, could you!? Look at what you done! Rarity's gone! She's gone! She's-" Applejack choked as her eyes teared up. Twilight rushed over, digging her shoulder into Applejack's neck, and throwing a hoof around her in a comforting embrace. "I had her... I had her... and I let her go..." Applejack whimpered into Twilight's shoulder as she held her, while Starlight dragged herself out from underneath the upset mare.

"Let's not assume the worst just yet." Twilight tried to console Applejack and the others, while rubbing her back with a wing. "It's possible she just ended up someplace else. We just have to look for her." Twilight finished with rising confidence.

The others stood ready in an army line nearby with confident, determined looks upon their faces.

"We'll do whatever we can to find her!" Fluttershy spoke with conviction, which bolstered the others; who all stood straight as soldiers.

Twilight Sparkle held her head high, and spoke to her friends just as a princess would address her subjects. "Spike. Write a letter to the Princesses telling them everything that happened, and send them a transcript of today's meeting."

"Yes, mam!" Spike saluted with the quill in his hand, and immediately started scribbling furiously over a parchment.

"Rainbow Dash, I want you to spread the word around every town and city starting with Canterlot, it's the most likely place she will be found."

"On it!" Rainbow Dash saluted, and zipped off leaving a rainbow trail in her wake.

"Everypony else, start making and sending out missing pony posters, and ask everypony you come across if they've seen a white dome appear out of nowhere." Twilight Sparkle instructed the others.

"Right!" The group said in unison, before galloping off.

Applejack started to leave as well, but turned back to face the others staying behind. "You'll find her, won't you Twi?" she asked worriedly.

"Of course, Applejack, I'll do everything in my power to find her. She's not gone just... misplaced." Twilight answered with confidence; unwilling to show any of her own worry for her friend's sake.

Applejack nodded and gave Starlight a frown before galloping off.

"Twilight, I'm so sorry. I never thought a quest could-" Starlight tried to apologize before being cut off by her mentor, who kept her eyes locked on the map with her horn aglow.

"It's okay, Starlight, accidents happen. There was no way you could've predicted what the outcome would've been. We've never even thought of the possibility of a quest appearing while the spell was active. I never... Look, all we can do now is start eliminating all possible places she didn't end up."

Starlight wasn't sure if her teacher ever stopped channeling magic, and couldn't help but admire Twilight's focus. Until an idea struck her.

"I'll go get my notes. Maybe there's a way I can reverse the return tracking spell, and use that as a way to locate her. Maybe even bring her back." Starlight started to gallop out of the throne room, before being stopped by Twilight's voice.

"Good idea. And Starlight!?" Twilight called after her pupil.

Starlight looked back at her teacher, and their eyes met across the room.

"This wasn't your fault," Twilight reassured her.

"Yes it was," Starlight Glimmer said in regret, before galloping away and leaving Twilight alone with the map.

"Rarity, wherever you are, I'm so sorry; I promise I'll find you," Twilight whispered, while her eyes shimmered and tears threatened to fall.

She stared down at the map, still riddled with an uncountable number of three-diamond cutie marks.

"I'll bring you back!"

I promise things do get better. Thanks for giving this story a chance!

Sorry about stereotypical Rarity at the beginning, I'm not satisfied with it either, but I currently can't think of anything better that's also relevant to everything else.