I opened my magenta eyes to the royal ceiling. Everything was too clear and nothing was messy enough for my tastes. The bed was comfortable, even more than I would’ve expected, but it couldn’t compete with my cloud bed. There were fruits and vegetables in the mini refrigerator there. As for why there was a mini refrigerator was a mystery to me but I set it down as another princess perk. I wondered if the non princesses had this also. I flew out of the room after brushing my teeth and taking a quick shower. No, I never brushed my mane nor tail, and I don’t care about doing either.

A few servants gasped at the sight of myself. They probably had never seen a messy princess who wasn’t wearing clothes. I wanted to shout that Twilight didn’t wear clothes on a daily basis but her mane was actually neat. I trotted halfway to the dining hall before becoming impatient. I flapped my wings and stopped right in front of the doors, where the royal guards, holding the same expression, opened the door and shut it behind me. Unsurprisingly, I seemed to be late. My other friends were already there, but Celestia and Luna seemed to still be in the royal hospital. Not so much Celestia, however, since she was waiting for Luna’s recovery.

Twilight waved at me, “Hi Rainbow! Did you have a good night’s rest?”

I nodded, “Yep.”

“It’s a morning buffet. You can choose from a variety of food to eat this morning.”

I said, “I know what a buffet is, Twi.” I flew over and used my hooves to balance a plate. I hated legit ain’t things or using my magic. I looked around for some hayburgers and fries, but was disappointed when neither food was there. I took random pieces of food and stacked it on my plate before flying back to my seat.

Applejack whistled, “Whoa. That sure is a lot of food.”

I shrugged, “I’m hungry.”

Rarity levitated her spoons and forks to eat her complicated pancakes, “Well, I for one, think that you should do things more eloquently, Rainbow Dash. How are you going to eat that mess?”

I said, “Like this!” I dug my face into the food and chewed on it. It was actually really good for some reason.

Applejack said, “That’s what Ah’m talking about, partner.” She dug her face into the food too. In response to our antics, Rarity rolled her eyes before continuing to eat her food slowly.

Twilight sighed, “We are going back to Ponyville today. There isn’t much we can do around here and I’m sure that there’s a lot of paperwork waiting for me.”

I sighed, my face dripping of food, “Moondancer is going to yell at me and I didn’t tell Scoots where I was going either. Paperwork sucks.”

Twilight grumbled, “You’re telling me. If you’re done eating, the train is waiting and it’s a two hour ride back. No flying Rainbow.”

I sighed, “Fine.” That’s what I got for ditching them to see the princesses I suppose.

Starlight Glimmer trotted around the castle, obviously bored. She had not received any more friendship lesson plans from Twilight to see what she would do. She already invented a couple spells throughout the night and couldn’t wait to show them to Twilight. However, she knew that Twilight’s mind would be on the invasion, not anything else specifically. She trotted out of the castle. Perhaps Trixie had a new trick that she was practicing and she needed some help or an audience.

“Starlight! Wait up,” Spike shouted from behind her, “There’s a letter for you that showed up in the mailbox.” The unicorn raised an eyebrow before levitating the letter and read it.

She gasped, “Sunburst is coming to town in a couple minutes!” Starlight teleported to the train station, just in time to crash into Sunburst.

Sunburst said, “Hi Starlight.”

“What are you doing here?”

“What? Aren’t you pleased to see me again? I discovered a new book that I wanted to share with you!”

Starlight smiled, “That’s great!” She was afraid that a new relic was in the old antique shop and that Sunburst was going to moon all over it for the next fifteen hours.

Trixie ran up the stairs, “Oh my Celestia! You guys are here? Trixie was searching the palace for you, Starlight. Trixie crashed into Spike and he told Trixie that you went to the train station. Trixie wants to show you a new trick that she has created.”

Starlight said, “Actually, Sunburst wanted to show me a new book but feel free to tag along. If you don’t want to, you could wait at the wagon. I’m sure that the book is interesting, but I promise that we’ll be at your wagon in less than one hour.”

Trixie sighed, "Trixie will wait." She trotted off the train station with a puff of smoke.

Sunburst smiled at Starlight, "Shall we?"

Starlight nodded, "We'll have to make it quick. Trixie isn't going to wait long."

"It's a simple but powerful spell, Starlight. I'm sure that Trixie wouldn't mind too much."

Starlight chuckled, "Well, let's go back to the palace and you could show me in the library."

Sunburst nodded, "That sounds like a good plan."

Starlight asked, "Are you planning on staying overnight? I'm sure that Twilight wouldn't mind if you stayed."

Sunburst shook his head, "No, I have some duties in the Crystal Empire. Princess Candence often wants me to ponysit."

Starlight nodded, "How is Flurry Heart?"

"Good. She stained the rug a couple days ago though." Starlight teleported them into the library.

Sunburst blinked, "Ok."

"Where's the book?"

"It's right here." Sunburst levitated his book out of his saddlebag and set it onto the table. He flipped to a page and Starlight read it quickly.

Starlight replied, "This spell seems simple. I'm sure that I've read it somewhere before. It says here that this is a summoning spell, right? Which means that I can make anything appear out of thin air, just as long as it exists?"

Sunburst nodded, "Yes and now add that to a duplication spell, a come to life spell, and a hypnotic spell and it should be very powerful in war."

"War?"

"I see the attack on Canterlot as a declaration to war. The princesses were getting targeted," Sunburst replied, "It's only logical to thinking that way."

Starlight thought about what Sunburst had said, "I can't believe that I hadn't thought of that. Still, none of the princesses are for battle but they are powerful. Who in their right minds could defeat five princesses? It took a long time just to constrain Flurry Heart from destroying the castle in the Empire, according to Twilight."

Sunburst said, "I'm sure that it is possible. If they are trapped in an eternal sleep, it is much worse than death for certain."

"Twilight is the Princess of Friendship and she has never failed. She will definitely offer a hoof of friendship if that was to be the case, like she did for me," Starlight retaliated.

The other unicorn sighed, "Starlight, not everything could be solved by friendship. I know that you feel like it because you were redeemed but life doesn't work that way."

"Let's just go to Trixie's wagon. I refuse to argue with you longer in this. I believe in Twilight Sparkle and I believe that she could fix it."

"Then why hasn't the map called for anyone to solve the problem?" Starlight refused to answer as they trotted out of the castle. The wagon was a few blocks around and they stayed silent during the entire time they were trotting. Trixie was in front of the wagon, looking bored.

Trixie said, "Finally Starlight! You're here. Sunburst, do you mind waiting somewhere else? This is something that Trixie is showing Starlight only. Trixie has a few kinks to figure out and Trixie wants her assistant to help." Sunburst looked at Starlight.

Starlight nodded in return, "Sunburst, why don't you go to that old antique shop again? Surely there is something to spike your interest."

Looking delighted, Sunburst galloped away, "Well, you know where to find me!"

Starlight turned back to Trixie, "So what is the agenda for today? What is planned?"

Trixie smirked, "The Great and Powerful Trixie has a show. But first, Trixie has to talk to you."

"Is something wrong?"

"I want to show you something, Starlight." Starlight blinked, clearly not expecting the change in speech.

Starlight nodded, "I trust you Trixie." Trixie looked away, thinking of what would happen, before nodding.

The magician said, "I found a magical stone while traveling around Equestria to perform. I want both of us to touch it and see where it leads us."

Starlight said, "That sounds awfully risky. Are you sure that you don't want me to check it out first?"

"Trixie has traveled upon it many times and it has not failed. But perhaps it will take us on a different journey if we go together. Do you trust Trixie?" Trixie asked Starlight.

Starlight put her hoof on the rock with a Trixie, "I trust you, Trixie."

Trixie smiled sadly before shouting, "Activate! I'm sorry Starlight..." The winds blew around them as they disappeared from view. They landed in a cave, where a pony in the back was doing something.

Trixie called out to the other pony, "Master, I have Starlight."

The other pony turned, the black hood still upon her, "That is not what I asked of you."

Starlight said, "Trixie, what's going on?"

The unknown pony said, "Come Starlight, and I will tell you. Trixie, you have yet failed me once more. I want you to wait here. Depending on Starlight's decision, you may live or die." Starlight followed the other pony nervously as Trixie sat down, her head bowed. Starlight was led to another's part of the cafe.

The pony said, "Starlight Glimmer. I have many names. You may call me Doomsayer."

Starlight replied, her voice sounding nervous, "Doomsayer... Heh heh. You promised me answers."

"Yes, but first, I must ask you some questions. Why did you create equality in the first place? Don't you dare say that it was because of your friend, Sunburst, because losing a friend never lets someone become bitter enough to ruin a whole town."

"There's nothing more to it. It's just because of losing a friend and not wanting it to have anypony experience it."

Doomsayer said, "Ponies always experience it, no matter what. Starlight Glimmer, your original philosophy is correct. In order for ponies to get along, everypony needs to be equal. Why does bullying occur? What can bullies bully about?"

"Their special talents and how great they are. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were bullied because of the lack of their cutie marks, if the stories are true."

Doomsayer nodded, "That is correct. In order to eliminate hatred, we must eliminate inequality. Earth ponies are good at making crops grow, which occurs naturally. Pegasi are for the skies and unicorns control elements around them. Alicorns are all three, aren't they? Don't they have a unfair advantage, especially with their immortality? Now, I don't know if Twilight, Rainbow, or Cadence are immortal but we all know that Celestia and Luna are."

Starlight bit her lip, "I... Never really thought of that. While you do make a point, they are for the good."

"No, and Nightmare Moon is a perfect example of that. You can not disagree that she wasn't an alicorn that's turned bitter. If she was a real alicorn, then I doubt that the Elements of Harmony could've shattered her form. If there was an evil alicorn, they could not be killed. That's why Celestia has a stone garden but even that could not contain all of the evils. Equality is the only way of true happiness, Starlight Glimmer, and you should know. Everypony was smiling in your village after all."

Starlight sighed, "But that wasn't real happiness."

"Yes, it was. You didn't cast a spell to make them agree with you, you didn't mind control them, all you did was remove their cutie marks and they were happy. I want equality. I want true happiness. Will you join me to help me in our mission?"