Long ago, before the war, the fire benders and earth benders worked together to create a beautiful monument of glass. The monument was a miniature replica of the great earth pony city of Fillydelphia and was for the longest time considered one of the greatest creations made during the times of peace. When a clumsy maintenance pony accidentally knocked it off it's shelf it is said a thousand ponies wept at the loss of their greatest treasure.

Those shattered pieces of glass were still nowhere near as busted as Rarity as she pitifully tried to sneak back onto her ship and walked straight into her aunt's leg. "Ah horse apples," she squeaked as she slowly looked up... into those eyes... filled with...

"Rarity!" Hugs! Why hugs? Anything but hugs! Scolds, yells, even rages! But not hugs! "I was so, so, so worried! Don't ever do that to me again! I was afraid you'd done something drastic and... Why are you wearing those on your hooves?" Her voice was bursting with joy as she swung her niece around in a powerful grip, her tone sliding into curiosity and just a touch of suspicion as she saw the metal weapons on her niece's hooves.

"These? I... uhhh... felt like going for a walk. Clearing my head. After the incident with the Avatar I needed some time to think. These kept my hooves dry..." the princess lied pitifully as she tried to keep from looking her aunt in the eye.

"Rarity. Don't lie to me. Please tell me the truth. You didn't try to go against Trixie..." Her aunt's face was filled with worry now.

"I..." she grasped for the words. Should she lie? Tell the truth? Both? "Yes, I did. But don't worry! When... when I got there the avatar was already escaping. I raced back as fast as I could. I think I know where she's headed.”

"Oh? How is that?"

"I saw her... and I have a plan to catch her. Please have the ship taken up. I'll be up soon to give directions." The princess slowly pulled from the larger unicorn's grasp and walked away, doing her best not to show her face to her aunt.

"..." Celestia watched her for a moment. She knew the child was lying, she could see the bruises through her coat. But... seeing life in her niece's eyes again brought a smile to her lips. If Trixie wanted to come after her niece... Well, the general could try it over her cold dead body. Besides, she was in more danger of bad tea than she ever would be from that wind bag.

------

The wind bag glared at the tail thwacker her soldiers had brought her. Whoever had attacked her fortress had used this. Despite that, all that it held were a few small strands of purple hair. Useless! After a few moments of frustrated glaring her eyes wandered from the weapon to the letter on her desk.

General Trixie,

News of your recent success in capturing the Avatar has spread throughout the nation. Her greatness, Nightmare Moon, has decided on a new task for you to complete. You are to head to the Air Nomad's city of Cloudsdale and take over the siege. Using your talents our glorious ruler and wielder of all the power in Water Nation expects you will bring it under hoof and wipe the unsightly city from our skies.

Trixie glared at the letter with more annoyance than the weapon. She needed to track down the avatar! She didn't have time for this! Once word got out that the avatar had escaped the prison then Nightmare Moon would be furious! Her eyes glanced to the small pools of blood on the ground, left by the previous shadowbolts as a hoof moved up to hold her swollen jaw. Slowly her lips curled into a wicked smile as her mind began to plot. Oh yes. She knew exactly what she would do.

"Snips! Snails!" The two were in her office in seconds, looking nervously at the ground as they awaited her anger, but it didn't come. "Call a meeting. All ponies are to come, even the shadowbolts. It will be held inside the great hall. When all ponies are accounted for, I want the doors sealed except for the primary entrance, which will wait until I enter. No pony will leave until after I speak, understand?" The two feebly nodded. "Good. Then begone!" As the two scampered away like frightened bunnies, she turned to her desk and slowly brought a glass of water to her lip.

She was the Great and Powerful Trixie. If that old mule on the throne wanted Cloudsdale... Well, she would have it. For now.

------

Twilight's mouth felt like a desert. The heat was beating down on her relentlessly and she couldn't even remember the last time she had something to drink. All her supplies had been lost when she was captured and all the edible plants the two passed looked as dry as she felt. Even Spike had given up on talking as they walked, too tired to even complain. She'd been so desperate at one point that she had tried sucking on a stone, an old survival trick she'd heard of when she was younger, but all that had done was fill her mouth with dust and a foul taste, which left her sputtering and trying to clean her tongue.

So when she finally did come to a small dirt path she was ecstatic to see fresh hoof prints and wagon wheel marks! While they were heading the wrong way from where she thought she had to go, she didn't care. Other ponies! Perhaps she could get something to drink, possibly even eat? "Come on, Spike!" she said excitedly as she tossed him onto her back and galloped!

Her heart soared when she saw the wagon marks veer off the path and she heard voices just over the next rise. She ran as fast as she could and leapt! There they were! Ponies! At least a dozen of them, all unicorns. They had a number of wagons with them and were in the middle of filling large vases with water. It took her a few seconds to realize they weren't filling them by hoof. They were using water bending! It also took her a few seconds to realize leaping off a small hill when you don't know what's beneath you is a very bad idea. She shrieked and flailed as she slammed into a startled unicorn, sending both of them, as well as Spike, careening into the water and shattering the vase the unicorn had been filling.

The avatar groaned softly, slowly pulling up from the water as she coughed and hacked. Well, after swallowing... she didn't know how much water, she wasn't thirsty any more. Or really hot. But she was being stared at by a large number of confused unicorns. Right. Water benders. Lots of them. She needed to act fast! She slammed her hoof down on the head of the still confused unicorn she had landed on as her horn burst into flame! She thrust her head forward as the fire burst outward, setting the wagons aflame and scattering the ponies as they shrieked.

"Stop her!"

"Put out the wagons!"

"She's a fire bender, catch her before she gets away!"

While they were disorientated she quickly bit Spikes tail, carrying the dragon whelp as she ran as rapidly as she could. She had to get to that city immediately. As she came to the path she sparred a glance behind her and caught a glimpse of three unicorns in hot pursuit. Oh buck me why does everything have to be so hard?! She flipped Spike onto her back. "Hold on!"

"Ahhhhhhh!" Was his only response as he held onto her neck.

It wasn't long before her legs were burning and her heart beat so fast it felt as if it would burst from her chest. She could see it! The city! Its massive walls stood as a testament to earth bending power and as she drew closer she could see earth ponies outside the wall, just a short run away. With a final burst of energy she raced towards them, hearing the hoofs beating behind her in hot pursuit. She had to reach them! The guards looked up at her in confusion as she galloped towards them. "Help!" she shrieked. She couldn't keep going as she tripped and fell, crashing to the ground in exhaustion as her vision blurred slightly. "W-water benders... Please... H-help..." she gasped out as the earth ponies galloped towards her.

"What happened? Whats going on?" The closest one asked.

"She attacked us. She lit our wagons on fire and tried to fry a few of us," one of the unicorn's said as he galloped up.

"No! D-don't listen to them... Water benders... They... They're..." Twilight tried to gasp out between wheezing.

"We know they're water benders," the earth pony said as he stomped a hoof down. Bars of stone suddenly shot up and encased her.

"What? But... but..." Her head swam as the other earth pony grabbed Spike by his tail, though he scratched and bit at the pony.

"You're under arrest."

------

Trixie glanced at the doorway as she slowly entered the large hall. Her soldiers filled the hall and even the shadowbolts had come, though they looked annoyed to have been summoned. The room fell silent as she moved to a small podium near the back, two large vases of water positioned besides it. Snips and Snails moved behind her like shadows. The entrance closed, with a water bender on each side of the door, as she took her place at the podium. Her eyes glanced over at her soldiers. With a bit of smugness she could tell her own soldiers were afraid. Good. It would make this all the better.

"Every pony. The Avatar has escaped after only a short time as our prisoner," she snapped as she slammed a hoof down on the podium, watching in amusement as many of them jumped. "You useless lot allowed another pony to breach our defenses and release her! I should have the lot of you imprisoned!" Oh yes, they were shaking now. Time to hit them with the finale. "But it is with a heavy heart that I cannot blame your incompetence for this act." Confusion spread through the crowd though they were wise enough not to speak. "You see, there was a traitor amongst us. The leader of the shadowbolts. Shadowheart."

"Bull quarters!" One of the shadowbolts jumped to the air, struggling to stay aloft and not hit the roof. "You can-" He crashed to the ground, his body encased in ice as ponies scattered to get out of the way.

Trixie lowered her hooves. "As I was saying. As the one leading the shadowbolts she was to keep an eye for any intruders that would attempt to make their way into our base," she lied as her eyes scanned the crowd. The shadowbolts were looking worried now and her soldiers were giving them wary glances. She could practically taste the fear her soldiers emanated and their relief at knowing they wouldn't be punished. "She allowed the pony who infiltrated us into our ranks, using her flagrant insubordination to create a distraction so we would be unprepared for this internal attack. When I returned to my office after the Avatar's escape, she was waiting. When I confronted her for her acts she attempted to slay me. ME! Two of her guards joined her and attempted to strike me down." Her hooves came crashing down on the podium again as rage filled her voice. "She assumed she could best me and in doing so weaken the entirety of the Water Nation! Through cowardly acts and deceit she attempted to undo all that we stood for! Fortunately I was able to slay her and the other two traitorous retches who followed her! I will be damned if I will ever allow something like this to happen again!"

Her soldiers were glaring at the shadowbolts, who were backing up nervously in the tight room. Good. Now time to give the scapegoats a small window to escape or a noose by which to hang themselves. "However..." she allowed her voice to calm down. "I do not believe that all of the shadowbolts are to blame. Her highness, while wise and powerful, made a mistake by allowing the leader of the shadowbolts too much power. Despite being a pegasus and not a water bender she believed she held the power beyond even our rulers highest ranking general. She abused this belief. As such, I am hereby disavowing the shadowbolts lest such an incident occurs again! Those who wish to remain will re-swear their allegiances first to the Water Nation and then to me. Those who wish to follow their deceitful leader may follow her to their graves. My generous offer will not last long, so make your decisions now," she ordered. Her soldiers parted as the Shadowbolts looked to her.

For a short bit silence reigned, but then, one by one they dropped their front knees, bowing to her. "Very well then. You will be taken under guard and the symbols of the shadowbolts stripped from your bodies. You will be reborn as my soldiers. Do not make me regret my mercy." She walked from the podium and through the room, head held high as she had the door opened for her. As she left the room a wicked grin flashed across her face. Only one thing left to do now.

------

Twilight kept her head down as she and Spike were led through large stone crafted halls. Were she not worried about her future imprisonment she would have found the craftsmanship amazing. The smooth edges implied earth bending, but the precision taken to craft the images carved into the walls looked hoof or telekinesis made. Soon she found herself in a large chamber with eight stone pillars and a number of earth ponies guarding a throne near the back of the room.

Sitting on the throne was a gray earth pony, with a very jet black mane. Rather than wearing a crown she wore a red bow tie. The mare gazed down at the avatar with an expression of borderline boredom and annoyance.

As the earth pony's eyes glanced over Twilight she couldn't help but feel small, weak, and pathetic. Those eyes felt like they could pierce through her. She tried to look as small as she could, dragging her hooves. "Who is this mare? Why have you brought her before me?" Even the earth ponies voice sounded annoyed.

"Your highness. She attacked us and damaged our wagons, but that wasn't as important. What is important is that she is a fire bender."

The earth ponies eyes twitched just the slightest at that. "A fire bender? Fascinating. Well mare, what do you have to say for yourself?"

"... Traitor..." Twilight growled out. She gulped nervously as she tried to muster up the courage for what she'd say next.

"Excuse me?"

"You are a traitor! The Water Nation has been attacking all the countries and you ally yourselves with them? The earth benders of my time were strong and proud! They would have never bowed to... Why are you laughing? This isn't funny!"

"My my avatar. You in fact have been asleep a long while,” the mare's eyes were filled with mild amusement as she softly chuckled.

"I... wait, what? You... How...?"

"I've been waiting for you. Your friends have already arrived and told me that you would be coming..." A grin formed on her lips. "Though I must admit I expected some pony a tad older. My name is Octavia and I am ruler of Cadence, the city of music. I would appreciate it if you would refrain from damaging the property of my subjects."

"... I... what? But... water benders! And they... wait, my friends? My friends are here? Where?! What did you do with them?!"

"Your friends are safe and sound. I assure you that we are in no way allied with the Water Nation. However, before I can allow you to visit your friends I want proof with my own two eyes. Fire b- EEK!" She ducked quickly as flame shot over her head, her poise temporarily broken.

"Errr... Sorry. But my friends? You said they were here? Where? I really need to see them!"

"Very well. Your friends are being entertained by my acquaintance. The leader of our little water bender faction. I'll have the guard outside lead you to them. But a warning, she is a tad-" she sighed as the Avatar ran off, leaving her to speak to herself and the dragon. "Insane..." she grumbled.

------

A Water Nation ship glided through the air towards a small hovering city. This city was a far cry from the noble cloud cities of the pegasi. Metal was weaved into cloud to create pathways and factories, while thick lines of smoke bursting from mighty smoke stacks. The buildings were a few stories tall and built against each other to help conserve space. Four metal docks had been created near the entrance of the massive city, though only one had a ship on it. The ship bore a skull and crossbones. A pirate ship.

"I wish you would reconsider niece. Rogues such as these are... not to be trusted," Celestia mumbled with a smidgen of anxiety in her voice as the ship drifted into the dock. Their soldiers went to action, lining the ship up, but even they were obviously anxious about this plan. They constantly looked over their shoulders and warily watching the creatures who were walking on the iron paths of the city.

Rarity glanced to her aunt. "Trust me aunt. You told me yourself, so long as we are willing to pay the fee nothing will happen. We'll be in and out before we know it." As the ramp lowered from the ship she began to slowly walk down it. She couldn't help but feel a little excited. This new plan was a stroke of genius! She should have come here to begin with. The rogue city of Los Pegasus. Shifty looking ponies roamed the streets, though they were not the only things. Large bird like creatures that walked on four legs, with long curved beaks and razor sharp claws, mingled with the smaller ponies throughout the streets. Her aunt called them griffons, apparently a non bending species that were known for their ferocity and might.

After a few moments Celestia walked down the ramp after the princess, a unicorn on either side of her. "Very well, but allow me to deal with them. I've had dealings here before," she grumbled. This place was dangerous and she despised having to come here. She'd even had to leave her kazoo back on the ship, not willing to risk anything happening to it. If only she could do the same with her niece.

"Of course auntie. I trust you." Slowly the little caravan began to walk through the iron city, passing by buildings and catching the occasional strange look. After a short time they stopped in front of a small bar called 'The Diamond Mule'. Rarity couldn't help but cringe as they walked inside. The place was filled with ponies and griffons drinking and rough housing. A thin layer of smoke lingered in the air like a fog. Celestia headed towards the back, taking a seat across from a one eyed old griffon who was shuffling some cards.

"Care to test your luck, stranger?"

"Yes. Three bears, ducks are wild," Celestia said as the cards started being dealt.

Rarity was flabbergast. "You're going to play a card game? Auntie, we need to-"

"Niece, shush. I'm sorry, she's still quite young. Respect for her elders is still quite difficult for her,” the mare glared at her niece before turning back to the griffon.

"No harm no foul. We were all young once." The old griffon said as he dealt them each five cards. "Three bears you say... an interesting game. Don't get many asking for that around these parts. What brings you here?"

"I'll go first." she glanced at her hand and tossed down a card with a blue bear. "We're here looking for a mercenary. But not just any, the best."

"Mercenary? Well you've come to the right place." He tossed down a green parasprite. "We've got plenty here."

"Any in particular you'd recommend?" She tossed down a yellow daisy.

"The yellow daisy... An interesting move. Not many ponies would play that card."

"I'm not many ponies," Celestia said as the two looked in each others eyes for a moment. Well, eye to eyes.

"Fascinating." He tossed down an orange pony. "I may know a griffon. Bit rough around the edges but if anyone can get the job done, she can. She's not cheap though."

"We have the money." She tossed down a brown duck. "Bear. I believe this match is mine."

The old griffon chuckled. "Indeed it is. Now, what you're going to want to do is..."

------

Twilight was jumping around like a filly, having to resist the urge to go 'yes yes yes' as she followed the mildly annoyed guard pony through the halls. Soon the two stood in front of a small door. "Your friends should be asleep in there. Please try to keep the racket down, some ponies will be trying to sleep now."

"Okay!" Twilight grinned from ear to ear as she reached a hoof out towards the door, but stopped. Would her friends forgive her for the harsh things she said? She had hurt them and they deserved better than that. Not only that, by showing herself to them she was putting them in danger again. It wasn't fair to them. It was... Buck it. She could tell herself that all she wants, but she knew the moment she left, all she'd be able to think about was them. All she'd hope for was that they'd find her. The thought of leaving when she was so close to seeing them brought tears to her eyes. She wouldn't. She couldn't. Not again. Even though they had only known each other a short time she didn't want to imagine what it would be like without them again.

She gulped and charged forward, pushing the door open and ran inside! And... the room was empty? There were four beds, each made, but no pony was here. The lights were even off. Did they leave? Did they abandon her? No! This isn't fair! Octavia said they were here! SHE SAID SO! They didn't want to see her any more. Tears began to go down her face. They must have heard she was here and left. Why? Did they change their minds? Did they-

"SURPRISE!" The lights of the room came on! Twilight jumped up so quick even her mopey face got whiplash. Her friends were here! They came out of hiding, Pinkie from behind the door, Rainbow and Fluttershy from under the beds. Tears of joy flowed down her face as she tried to determine who she should hug first! She never got a chance though, as three pairs of hooves wrapped around her.

"I... I'm so... so sorry. I never meant what I said. Please forgive me. I'll never say anything so stupid or mean again," Twilight said through the tears, hugging her friends back. When she was trapped in that horrible prison she had thought about this moment continuously, imagining how amazing it would feel. It wasn't as good as she imagined. It was so so so so much better. She never wanted to let go.

"We know Twilight," Rainbow said as she ruffled Twilight's mane. "I couldn't stop laughing when I heard what you said. You're way to square to ever mean that stuff."

"W-what? But..."

"We know you didn't mean those things, Twilight," Pinkie echoed in a chipper tone. "Friends always look out for each other! We woulda come after you right away, but then Rainbow wouldn't have had enough time to heal and Fluttershy wouldn't have gotten her new power and the entire blue spirit arc wouldn't have worked as well unless we got sick. Though I guess Rainbow was kind of sick with her wing but that wouldn't have worked not to mention Fluttershy would never suck on a frog even if they were frozen." She giggled happily as she hugged Twilight... Not noticing as the three ponies stared at her with looks of utter confusion.

"What does... Never mind. How did you find me?"

"Script!" the ecstatic pink pony said as the group hug finally ended. "We got cake! To celebrate us being together again!" She darted out of the room and came back a moment later, pushing a big triple layered chocolate cake on a cart. “Guess what, you're never going to believe who else is here! Octavia and Dj Pon-3!"

"I told you to stop calling me that. My name is Vinyl. Vinyl!" A unicorn mare entered behind Pinkie. Her mane and tail were blue with bright cyan stripes and over her eyes she wore the strangest glasses. Twilight had only seen a few ponies who had glasses before, but these ones were different. The lenses were a tinted purple instead of clear, seemingly fashioned of thin cut amethyst. The mare's head turned to the unicorn as a grin spread across her face. "You must be the avatar. Your friends have been telling me all about you and we've been wondering when you'd show your face around here. Allow me to introduce myself. General Vinyl Scratch, leader of the water benders in Cadence."

"Also her stage name is Dj Pon-3,” Pinkie added helpfully.

"There is no stage and I am not on it! But anyway, I know you've met Octy so that's done. And we've heard all about your adventures and your plans to take down the Water Nation."

"Ah... W-well, they aren't so much plans to take down the Water Nation as just stopping a terrifying monster from escaping..."

"Either way you're willing to put a hoof in the gears of that old biddy Nightmare Moon, that makes you okay by my book." Vinyl reached out and patted the purple unicorn square on the back.

"You knew Nightmare Moon?" Twilight stared at the mare.

"Course. Totally. Up. Tight. Back when she was married I was her general... Before the..." As the mare's voice trailed off Twilight couldn't help but feel the water bender was looking away behind the glasses. "That's not important. Let's just say I didn't agree with all the steps the Water Nation was taking and I got out of there with my most loyal soldiers. After a little bit of convincing we were able to stay here and we've been helping keep Cadence safe ever since."

"So there are a lot of water benders here then?"

"Well, I'd hardly call us a lot. But probably the highest concentration of water benders who aren't technically loyal to the Water Nation."

"That's great then! You can teach me water bending!" Twilight sprang forward, but stopped as a hoof was put in front of her face.

"Easy there, kid. You've still got a lot to learn as it is. Your friends tell me you don't even know air bending that well. I'm not going anywhere, so just go and learn the others and then come back, okay?"

"But... I need to learn water bending eventually. I might never meet another water bender! This could be my only chance..." Twilight hung her head in defeat.

"Now don't be such a worrier kid. I'm not going anywhere, so you can learn the others and then come back here. Heck Octy can probably teach you some earth bending... If you suck up to her. Don't be in such a rush to learn it. Fire bending and water bending don't get along to well, so it's gonna be a buck and a half learning it as it is."

"Fine, fine..." Twilight grumbled. But then perked up. "Although... There is one thing you could do for me."

"Hm?"

"You have a number of water benders, right? There's a spell I want to teach you." Twilight grinned as she looked at the confused unicorn, glee bubbling up from within. Perhaps she could finish part of her duties after all!